It's not all beer, charity shopping and hedonism here, you know.
Some people are under the misguided belief than anywhere north of London is a cultural wasteland. Wrong! We even have pretty houses like these modern town houses we walk past on the way into town.
Yesterday we watched the Bayard Colts perform traditional Black Country street theatre in the town centre.
Amazingly we watched the entire performance without a drop of rain ruining it, it had the decency to wait until we got back in the house. An hour of sunshine works wonders (and topped up the tan a treat).
We spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out our spare bedroom in readiness for Krista and Chris's stay.
Remember me mentioning a new patchwork creation? That'll be this curtain. I'll have to watch what I'm wearing if I pose next to it, most of the fabric's offcuts from dressmaking projects!
If that wasn't excitement enough in the evening we went over to Liz and Al's to celebrate his 40th (yeah, he's the baby of the bunch).
Wearing the vintage trilby we bought him.
It was supposed to be a garden party but the weather was dodgy so we had to celebrate indoors, which was a real shame as they'd almost killed themselves laying a path, erecting a gazebo and making it all look beautiful.
Liz painted this picture as part of Al's birthday present. They're off sailing (Al's passion) around the Greek islands in a fortnight's time.
The boys (Jon, Adrian and Al)
The girls (as quietly and conservatively dressed as ever). I had no idea I was so brown, what's going on?
Jon gets the party started
Joined by the others.
The lucky boy got two cakes.
Bombay potatoes, chicken curry, Curried goat, sweet potato and chick pea curry, basmati rice, vegetable samosas, mutter paneer rolls, vegetable pakoras, aubergine salad, tomato & olive foccacia....
Liz and Adrian braved the elements until the wind got insufferably wild.
 |
| 1970s maxi courtesy of Sarah Misfit, button hair slide from talented Liz |
It's August Holiday weekend here in the UK so fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow for car booting. We're at our last festival of the summer next weekend and I'll be getting withdrawal symptoms if I can't squeeze in a rummage between now and a fortnight's time.
See you soon!
Fun times!! Looks like your spare room is just Krista's style. She'll sleep like a baby in there.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Al! Every one looking fabulous, shame about the weather meaning you couldn't fully enjoy the garden, but I'm sure there'll be loads of other chances. I do like your spare room, I'm sure Krista and Chris will love it x
ReplyDeleteLoads of fun. I do like a bit of street theatre.
ReplyDeleteThe room looks fabulous..they're gonna love being in there.
That's a wonderful painting...Liz is super talented. I'm so impressed.
And how gorgeous do you three look?
xxxxx
I want your guest bedroom to be MY bedroom. Those curtains are sooo fabulous and pretty. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see some street theatre like that! That birthday cake is great and looks like you are all having a whale of a time. What wonderful maxi dresses you are all wearing!
ReplyDeleteI love that maxi!! I also adore the guest bedroom, too. Great job!
ReplyDeletexo
Great to see some street theatre, it looks good fun.
ReplyDeleteYou did a fabulous job with your spare room, she and Chris will LOVE staying there!
Happy birthday to Adrian, the party looks great! Fabulous food. I always love to see you and the Lizes frocked up, all of your dresses are gorgeous, as are the ladies in them!
Liz's painting is beautiful, isn't she talented?
Hope the weather allows for a car boot tomorrow, good luck if you go! xxxxxxxx
Loving the curtains they are totally gorgeous! Christa is going to be a lucky girl to sleep in such a lovely room.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your friend Al. Looks like he had a fab time! And you all looked lovely in your dresses.
What a talented lady your friend is love her painting!
P x
The trio of ladies ... tougher than the Supremes!
ReplyDeleteI love to see you and your friends, you are the best dressed girls in the world!The party seems very funny, everyone is so happy and this post is full of joy, I really like street theatre performances!Sarah's maxi dress is stunning and so are you!I
ReplyDeletecan't wait to see Krista reaction when she'll arrive in that amazing room that you prepared for her and Chris, that curtain is a masterpiece!
Love
Looks like it was a fun (and colourful party!). Shame about the weather forcing you inside. Very nice cakes indeed. And that play looks so neat. We're excited to be welcoming Nick's uncle visiting all the way from Newcastle this week. But I didn't make a nice curtain such as yours for our esteemed visitor. Boo me!
ReplyDeleteThat was an enjoyable post! I feel like I've spent a weekend with you! Love the dresses. And the food!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing you and Krista together!
Happy Days! x
The street theater looks so cool!! We have Civil War Re-enactors and folk in 1860's garb around town all the time.
ReplyDeleteI adore the curtain--Krista will be in heaven!! The spare room looks so cozy and inviting.
I must say you gals looked fab in your colorful maxi's and the FOOD sounded scrumptious!!
Have fun tomorrow whatever you do!!
{{hugs}}
Tamera
Great photos looks like you had a fab time.
ReplyDeleteAww I hope Stephen Squirrel is ok, we have pet insurance but they never cover teeth! Typical.
Thank you for your kind comments that was so nice of you.
Have a fab day tomorrow whatever you do x
Looks like a great party and I love your maxis. Liz's painting is brilliant - clearly a very talented lady. Those curtains are fabulous and I have curtains in the same material as the purple floral fabric, but in a different colourway - they're amazing.
ReplyDeleteHope the car boot gods smile down on you tomorrow. I should be car-booting in a field myself but I have to work :(
Nikki x
Loving the bright, bold and fabulous (obvs)outfits you ladies are rocking - rain or no rain, you'd need sunnies if you stared at you all too long! ;) x
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you today... found something I will eventually post when I get some more bits together. But the thing that really got me thinking about you is that we purchased three cabinets, metal, from the 30s-50s in original condition that I'm going to try and incorporate into our sad kitchen. Yours is so fab and has me thinking with a weird tiny kitchen in huge old house that may be the way to go. Off the rack just won't work, and I'd like to keep the integrity of our 1930 home. Love the street theatre and those town houses look so festive with al the flowers! I have an idea, your cooking makes me drool. Could you start a feature teaching how to make some of your delights? I'd love to learn to make Indian food but can't eat curry (boo!) nor can my husband have too much spice do to a stomach problem (reflux is NOT fun!) I would even host you on my blog if you wanted to try it out! Think about it...
ReplyDeleteXXX Suzanne
A gaggle of gorgeous women!!
ReplyDeleteY'know,I wouldn't mind at all if all that was going on in Walsall WAS beer,charity shopping and hedonism.Suits me!But I guess a little culture doesn't hurt....
Happy Birthday to Baby Al!! What a delicious feast,and all that divine coriander,my fave herb....MMMMMMMM.Feck you 3 chicks look foxy!Fab frocks all round!And jeez you ARE incredibly brown!!!
The spare room is looking just lovely!Krista and Chris will be perfectly content there,I feel!The patchwork curtain is a treat!Yeah,it's funny when you match the decor;I used to make a lot of cushion covers out of scraps,years ago,but got tired of blending in!!
Love Helga!! xxxXXXxxx
Holy awesomeness! You all three look spectacular - I especially love the fab fluttery sleeved floral maxi. And all of your men are mega spunkrats. That painting is GORGEOUS. The curtains are GLORIOUS - and I adore the bed covers too - Krista will LOVE staying in that beautiful room. Happy Birthday AL - TWO CAKES!!! WooHoo!!! Vix, you look fab in that great maxi - so glad you like it! Love you more than CAKE! Sarah xxx
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY need some patchwork curtains in my life. Shame we're in an apartment with blinds or making some would be what I got up to this next week. Looks like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteAh, the dresses, the dresses! You all look fabulous, Vix - no matter if you party indoors or outdoors. Happy holiday hunting! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Al! What a feast! I wonder if you did a quiz whether people could match your outfits to the curtains. I looove that patchwork piece. Your guest room looks incredibly inviting.
ReplyDeleteI love a taste of the sweet potato and chick pea curry! The curtain is brilliant, highlighting your enchanting guest room. And I'm totally in awe of the maxi triad.
ReplyDeleteOh Vix the spare room looks adorable love the curtain it came out wonderful!! And Whoa!! that looks like a fantastic Birthday look at all that Yummy curry :) and great friends what a way to ring in 40 ...I turn 40 in two years I hope my birthday is spent with friends and curry as well that sounds like a good combination hehehe :) ~Hope you enjoyed the weekend and that rain held out for you ~Love Heather
ReplyDeleteYour spare to looks a dream. That bed oh my I freakin' love it.
ReplyDeleteYou gorgeous ladies and gorgeous maxi dresses and all that gorgeous food I'm salivating.
You've had quite a weekend. And Krista is gonna be so comfy in the spare room. 40 seems like ages ago to me.
ReplyDeleteOh darling I just had to look at this about ten times! You are looking gorgeous! Happy Birthday to the baby of the bunch Al and the painting Liz did is incredible. Talented she is! I love all three of the dresses you have on, but yours especially sweetie! The spare bedroom is so adorable and you and Jon are too sweet! The curtains are impressive and I will pose in front of them for sure!
ReplyDeleteAll of this food looks delicious, and has me drooling. The company looks fantastic too! I'll see you soon love!!!
XXOO
Krista
Your new set of patchwork curtains are AWESOME!! I love them... they just scream happiness.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Al!!
All of you ladies have fantastic frocks. And yes you are the brownest of them all. *heheh*
The cakes are fantastic, Al must have really liked them.
Why does that mummer have giant turnips for hands? I guess it's another one of those quaint English folk traditions.
ReplyDeleteLovely guest room you have and you're so sweet for making such gorgeous curtains in time for Krista's visit.
Looks like a lively party and you and your friends are smashing in your print maxis.
Best of luck for the car boot sale. May you find many treasures.
Your spare room is beautiful Vix, lucky Krista! I love that patchwork curtain,but I love everything about the whole room.
ReplyDeleteThe party looks like great fun, and your friend is very talented, I thought that painting was a Turner at first glance! xx
oops, meant to add, I'd love to see the dress you made with the black and white model material in your curtain, I've not come across it in my blog hopping. xx
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fab night, I am quite jealous lol. You are so good at curtain making, my curtain making is restricted to separating a duvet and adding a tab to each side lol.
ReplyDeleteV
xxx
Oh you three ladies look so amazing in your wonderful maxi dresses!!!!!
ReplyDeleteEveryone should have to cakes I think. Happy 40th to Al.
Hope the weather was great for car boot sales Miss Vix.
Sending a squirrel hug.
Love v
Even your spare room is amazing - I love your house! Also those curtains you made are so cool. One day, when we get a house of our own I'll hopefully be able to make fun things like that (its hard to get inspiration to dress your house up when you're renting). I love the photo of you with your too friends - you all look FABULOUS in your maxi dresses!
ReplyDeleteLiz's painting is superb - I love the glow in the sky. What a brilliant present to receive. That spare bedroom looks like the perfect room to house some special friends. It looks very glam, especially the colour of the walls xxx
ReplyDeleteYou three all look fabulous in your maxi dresses and that looks like a great party. The food made my belly rumble lol. I bet Krista will love staying with you guys. Xx
ReplyDeleteahhh, looks like Al had a good party! those cakes look scrummy! And yes you do look like a sunkissed goddess in that dress! beautiful! Love all the pictures you really captured the spirit as you always do!
ReplyDeleteI was in Birmingham for a training course last week and spotted a bus headed to Walsall-made me think of you!
hope the weather is better your end today-Bristol is getting washed back into the channel with all this rain! xxxxxxxxxxx
Looks like a really fun party, you and your friends all look so lovely in your party frocks!I've just a weekend without going into one single charity shop i'm off work today and itching to go out! Enjoy your rummage! xx
ReplyDeleteLooks like seriously fun times!
ReplyDeleteI love that curtain :)
Don't you all look gorgeous in your maxi's! Your spare room looks divine too, it's nicer than my actual bedroom! XO.
ReplyDeleteI love that street theatre. We have some great cultural stuff up here in the wilds of the Midlands, no matter what the toffee-nosed London critics think!
ReplyDeleteI am bowled over by Liz's painting, it is just gorgeous. And that looks such a fun party!
It's grim today, so I don't know whether you've got to the car boot. Fingers crossed xxx
You ladies are among the most stylish people I know/read about! Loving the curtains, might start collecting fabric scraps as I'd love to make a throw similar. Hope you had some carboot success! Mine was v. limited x
ReplyDeleteTrust me, all that Indian Food looks so gorgeous, it makes my mouth water, though I can go have those potatoes anytime on a stall at the street corner!
ReplyDeleteThe girls and you look Fab, Vix!
And that curtain? Its Amazing! I am going to steal your idea as soon as I collect scraps enough. Your friends are going to have a real lovely room to stay in!:)
Love from Mumbai,
Shubhi's Revels!
That event looks like a lot of fun! It also looks like you all had a blast at the party! Your dress is fab! Also, your food photo makes me want to order Indian food tonight :)
ReplyDeleteYou ladies look magnificent!! Looks like a great night, mouth watering at that table of food! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat curtain is divine, love how the sun shines through it, almost like a stained glass window. Well done, the bedding is heavenly too. Glad you did not have rain while you were out. Happy 40th to your friend, the food looked yummy as ever... and so did you all too
ReplyDeleteThat curtain is the bomb and your maxi dresses are so beautiful, looking fierce ! Kisses
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Looks like you all had a great time. You are still very brown from your hols, lucky you.
ReplyDeleteWe are off to busfest on the 8th as we are still after a camper van, so are hoping to get a few ideas.
if you've any advice it would be gratefully received,
X x
You ARE very tanned - it's all the Cher thing, isn't it? I love your little spare bedroom - perhaps one day I'll get to sleep in it! It's so nice seeing you and Jon and your friends together; there is always yummy food and fancy frocks. Two Cakes, and a beautiful painting, Al was a very spoiled birthday boy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a trio of fine floor length dresses showcased by a bevy of beautiful women.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Midlands boasts a huge variety of cultural events. And I love the fact that theatre is always so much cheaper than London.
Great pictures! You look gorgeous in that dress! I am loving the patchwork curtain. Things are always much more special when they are homemade.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Al! Quite a shindig.
ReplyDeleteYou know how much I love your patchwork curtains. I need to get my bum in to gear and make us another pair for our spare bedroom - thanks for the motivation
fab party...am hungry now and it's only 9.40am..... loving the maxis!!x
ReplyDeleteEntertainment, fashion, cuisine, society pages...this post has it all!! Looks like you had a wonderful time at the party. I'm guessing you prepared some of the food?
ReplyDeleteYour guest bedroom is perfect. You'll have bloggers lining up at your door wanting to be the next ones to visit!
Good times! You gals look smashing in your lovely maxis. xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour bedroom is gorgeous! Lovin the new patchwork drapes!
ReplyDeleteLove your curtains! I also love those town houses, so pretty! I grew up in a townhouse but it looked nothing like those ones xxx
ReplyDeleteWe had wonderful weather when we were there, so fingers crossed for you and dear Krista when she comes to you, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The food looks amazing! Love the patchwork curtains and I think I just saw a painting in a similar style to whats above the bed... Mid-late 60s redheaded beauty. Looks similar anyway.
ReplyDeleteoh those drapes are wonderful and just make the room. what a great way to spend a birthday too. what a lucky guy to have friends like you!
ReplyDeletexo
ha-ha-ha, the baby of the bunch! I really like that as I'm 40 also.
ReplyDeletexx
Maya
Happy belated birthday wishes to Al looks like you all had a great evening. Those cakes are brilliant and so is the picture your friend painted. Loving the spare room your friends will love it. dee xx
ReplyDeleteyou party photos always make me smile. It's not a cultural wasteland in Walsall at all, nor is it a culinary one, you always have the best food! (it's a local produce wasteland in Wycombe)
ReplyDeleteThat bed looks beautiful, what a gorgeous room! Not long now! I can't wait to see you all! XXXXXX
I so much love your spare bedroom! I would be my master bedroom. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you must have so much fun at the birthday party. So cool to see that everybody is so beautifull dressed up. Love the dresses.
xx
Errm Bank holiday + fine weather does not equate. Ah well all you need is good company for a good party :D
ReplyDelete