HAPPY NEW WEEK!
I hope everyone has a wonderful week.
When I was young, I spent a lot of time on the Gulf coast of Florida. My then-husband had family there. I so loved watching the Gulf wildlife. Tonight, the area where I explored the wild is under a mandatory evacuation order. It's expected to be hit hard by the massive Hurricane Irma. (For perspective: Irma is bigger than France.) My thoughts are with the people and the wildlife throughout the southeast U.S.
Manatee, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida USAU. S. Fish and Wildlife ServicePhoto labelled Public Domain (copyright free)
Well, we are all different, OG and that can only be a good thing! I don't keep many glamorous clothes now, but when OH was Treasurer of the Town Twinning Committee we had lots of trips to our twin towns in France and Germany. Always dinners which required dressing for. Also black tie for certain events here. And yes, LINDY, nice things to wear for evenings on holiday. I used to enjoy all that but now I live in jeans and tee shirts. I don't miss the fancy occasions at all, now. OH was the social butterfly, not me!! Have donated almost all those clothes to charity shops, also all of OHs clothes, except for his kilt and all that went with it. His grandson has all that,now.
That is a lovely thought, OG, a donation in memory of MARGO. I will look into it.
OG -- If the first cruise we went on, last year, is anything to go by, then I won't be able to get into the shorts by the end!! Two meals a day with the biggest buffets I've ever seen, plus a five course meal in the evening (if you want it to be 5 - we usually skip at least two of them.) I only managed to eat one ice cream between meals, I was so full. (ONCE, I mean!) But you have to have ice cream on holiday.
My "glam" clothes are a combination of evening wear I keep by just for holidays, plus some items which can be worn at events nearer home. Certainly, we don't go to anything like as many outings locally as we used to. Once upon a time, we had several friends who all took turns to host dinner parties and it was a boost to slip into something nice and swap baby stories with other parents over a dinner cooked by someone else - until your own turn came around! We also used to attend a lot of functions at the Bowling Club, charity functions, and at some friends BBQs etc. Now it seems to be mainly family gatherings and the Golf Club Christmas Dinner.
LINDY- a chorus of 'Those were the days' seems appropriate! Yes, I remember the days of dinner parties and dressing up for them!
Not experienced at all with dinner parties. My circle was more about potlucks/come-and-share-leftovers or let's-go-grab-a-bite get togethers - that was in the 60s/70s when wearing a bra was optional! But maybe dinner parties will make a comeback: My granddaughter is taking - wait for it! - ballroom dancing lessons! The old slow,slow,quick-quick slow type and she loves it. This in a former Wild West town where they still raise cattle and lots of guys wear cowboy hats! I always wanted to learn swing but it went out of style just as I was getting old enough to go out at night and then it was the Twist and all those other gyrations. I was telling granddaughter about the town hall/big band dances my sister used to go to of a Saturday night (Ted Heath/Johnny Dankworth anyone?)and how all the girls would be dressed up in taffeta and ballerina-length dresses and she was sighing with envy! My mother used to say that if you just lived long enough, everything would come back into fashion.
Yes, ANNETTE, we were just very ordinary folk but dressed up for dances etc. And I do remember Ted Heath and Johnny Dankworth! My OH had his own band, in the Fifties, they all had other jobs but played at dances every weekend. I'm talking Scottish here, little bands. OH was the accordionist. His accordion is still here, in the attic, plus all his music.
LINDA - you make me feel like I'm in the presence of royalty with all your grand social events! Not to say I wouldn't wear something a bit smart for a meal with friends, but nothing formal - more like a supper than a dinner!
HEATHER - good indeed that we are all different - wouldn't want to meet another one of me! At least a kilt doesn't go out of fashion, and I am sure your late OH's Grandson must be thrilled to have his Grandfather's. I think you obviously moved in higher circles than me!
ANNETTE - ah, yes, pot luck suppers - more my scene! No dancing since learning "Scottish Dancing" at school - why, o why, in rural Berkshire? But before I was born, my Dad played accordion in a dance band in the village - until he volunteered and "joined up". We had his accordion a long time, then I gave it to an appeal for instruments to be sent somewhere in Africa.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
OG/Heather: We did Scottish Dancing at school too (in rural Hertfordshire). I think they taught that because the music was so lively and the music so cheery. I used to love Jimmy Shand's music. The Gay Gordons, The Dashing White Sergeant, The Glasgow Highlanders,etc. Oh my! I just found them all online! T
OG, Heather, Lindy, Annette,
Yes, I also remember Johnny Dankworth and Ted Heath. And the twist!
Like others, not many fancy occasions now. I never used to like them much, but I quite like black tie occasions on cruises.
A friend has arranged a Christmas dinner at a local restaurant for early December for a group of us, which will be black tie.
I have managed to find a new suit for OH, as he is now too slim for his old one. He hates shopping himself.
I need to find something for myself, though.
Have a great time on your cruise, Lindy. I think we are all very interested in your shoes. I try to hide my feet. They are not dainty!
My size 6 and a half are not dainty, either! But I paint my toenails, and am fussy about my shoes - comfortable shoes are a must now. I think you can tell a lot about a person by inspecting their shoes!
My OH makes up for my lots of shoes by only having, when travelling, a pair of black leather ones for evening, and a pair of sandals - plus of course, a pair of casuals on his size 12 feet!
Rosy, I find it invaluable to have a few pairs of loose evening type trousers, and several tops which can nearly all be swapped around in different combinations. They work for most occasions, with more glitzy jewellery added for the 'posh' events. Nice and comfortable, too!
OG - No one could be more 'ordinary' than we are. We had the dinner parties when we all could not afford to go anywhere else!
I remember dancing The Gay Gordons with some very reluctant boys at school, plus the other Scottish ones described. Later, we all went mad for The Twist! My sis in law can jive like a pro, but I struggle with it - I must get her to give me lessons......
Good Morning, All. Dry here, and trying to be sunny!
My Friend is popping in this morning, now that she has the go ahead to drive again: she has an automatic car anyway, which helps.