Wednesday 28 December 2011

The Frocktasia Christmas Special

Hope you've all had a wonderful & chilled out Christmas!
Hubby & I spent a few days over in Sweden with my folks and it was absolutely fabulous.
My mum cooked up a storm and we all had several "food hangovers" from stuffing ourselves like little pot bellied piglets...oh, the joy of not giving a toss of how many calories one has consumed in one sitting!
Mum has been studying vegan cookbooks all year and managed to pull off some spendiferous dishes for me, I especially loved the meatless Swedish Christmas "ham" and fishless pickled "herring"...yum!
When we arrived it was snowing but the weather was too mild for the snow to stay put.
We squeezed in a trip to Myrorna where I was thrilled to find a pair of  vintage 70s beak boots. 
I've been on the hunt for a pair of these for years and my heart almost stopped when I spotted the shop assistant putting these out on the shelf. 
She said that they very rarely get them in nowadays and when they do they usually get snapped up very quickly, LUCKY ME!
I was so chuffed with my score that I had to put them on straightaway, they are just perfect.
I was also chuffed to bits will all the wonderful Christmas pressies that I received this year. 
Dad had bought me a stunning traditional Qatari dress when he was in Doha a while back and mum had bought a whole collection of African jewellery on Tradera for me.
I also got some awesome vintage magazines from the 1930s, jam packed with inspirational photos & drawings.
However the best present of all, was spending a few wonderful days with the people that we love!
Hubby & Julbocken (the Christmas goat) in Orebro.
Me, happy as a pig in mud! Vintage shopping at Myrorna in Orebro & finally scoring a pair of beak boots...YAY!
Festive wreath, hand made by my dad.
Amazing Christmas spread, lovingly cooked by mum!
This years Christmas frock! A fabulous vintage 1950s extravaganza ;)
Pressies & sweets galore!
I also came across a very tasty Scottish non-alcoholic beer called 'Nanny State'.
It simply wouldn't be Christmas without Kott-tomten (pinecone-santa).
The vintage magazines my folks gave me.
We've been back home for a couple of days now and I'm gearing up for a January of hardcore eBaying...
the 'TO BE LISTED' pile has officially reached hazardous heights!
Take care peeps...lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


Tuesday 22 November 2011

Cavorting in Coventry

Last weekend hubby & I paid a flying visit to Coventry where my little brother is studying at the moment.
We went to the transport museum and had mooch around the cathedral ruins.
Here are some of the pics that I took...
Room without a nice view! What was I expecting, eh?  "The Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plains". For £27 a night, I'll suffer the view & the 80s decor.
Coventry Transport Museum
Lil bro & I
We went to check out my brothers student digs, I almost got cabin fever!
We had a gander at the new cathedral and the ruins of the old one.
Coventry was badly bombed during the second world war.
We only stayed one night and we were back home in time for me to take in two markets on Sunday morning. 
Hope everyone is having a good week ;)
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


Sunday 16 October 2011

The day I met Jesus at a protest!

Today hubby and I went along to the city to take part in the Occupy the London Stock Exchange protest. When we first arrived the boys in blue weren't letting anyone near Paternoster Square and had cordoned off all the streets leading to it. They were lining up in large numbers, which made it virtually impossible to sneak through but we wandered around the area until we found a chink in their armour and made our way in to the heart of the protest. It felt very important for me to be there today cause I've been very much a slacktivist of late & the truth is that sitting on your arse, simply frothing at the mouth over how unfair things are, will never change anything. Like the great Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world". I know there's a lot of sceptics out there that think that these things are totally pointless cause they seemingly achieve very little and on the surface it’s probably true, cause yes, the fat cat bankers will still ride into town on Monday morning on their gold plated stallions after a weekend of fine dining & posh pursuits but this is not the frigging French revolution and hopefully it will never have to come to that either. I for one wouldn't want to see bankers being guillotined just sharply reminded that they are part of the human race and not masters of it. I could go on & on about this but I’m not going to, instead I’m going to share our day in pictures with you…
The Latin motto of the City of London is "Domine dirige nos", which translates as "Lord, guide us"....sometimes I wonder what Lord they're talking about?!
"The world's leading business and financial centre demands a bespoke police force, which is equipped to protect and support this unique environment, and to meet head-on the policing challenges it represents. This force is the City of London Police."...Amen Corner to that!
The city is home to more than 450 international banks, it is the recognised world centre for the insurance industry and home to the headquarters of countless multi-national corporations. They all need to be well protected from the proles.
The City is not one of the 32 London boroughs. It is governed by the City of London Corporation.
Cameron's dad was a banker, so I'm sure he feels very at home in the city and has many wealthy banker friends that like to "help" his party out with no ulterior motive whatsoever of course.
An expression says more than a thousand words,eh?! Poor thing looks like she's about to burst into tears, so would you  if you read this article about the UK national debt :(
...that will not be mentioned in this years Fortune Five Hundred list!
I have a dream that an economist messiah will appear on the scene. I mean with all these great thinkers and Nobel prize winners, surely there must be one that can think of a way to sort this out and lead the way out of  this disgusting 'profits before people', war-based economy?! 
WE NEED A PEACEFUL REVOLUTION PEEPS!
On the face of it things do look pretty grim but we have to keep believing that another world really is possible, one in which love, kindness & universal solidarity will prevail.
I hope this is just the start of a movement gaining momentum. Human beings working together in harmony can make amazing things happen!
It's time to pull down the temple of Mammon & throw out the moneylenders yet again....but this time around we have to remember not to let the buggers back in!
I commended this guy for recycling but he could have atleast scribbled out the web address. I'm not sure which I dislike most banks or estate agents?...och, it's a very close call!
I spotted a very colourful & glam senior lady in the crowd. I wanted to go up and ask her about her fabulous hat but she was listening so intently to a speaker so I decided not to interfere.
Today's ensemble:
DIYed poncho wrap, mottle dyed Indian pants, vintage 80s reverse batwing top, longsleeved cotton top, suede ankle boots, leather belt, vintage 70s sunnies, DIYed necklace & bracelet cuff.
That's all for this time peeps, I hope you are all having a fab weekend!
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx