Flow it, show it, Long as I can grow my hair!

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Flamingo Dancer

I know this will bring the green eyed monster out in many of you, but I am used to stirring that emotion in others, goddess that I am.

I found the hair stylist of my dreams! It is not just students who line up for hair cuts before school starts (next Wednesday for teacher me!) but teachers as well. Having left my regular stylist far behind in the city and not quite desperate enough to drive well over an hour to continue having her cut my hair, I tried one of the local stylists for my first “country cut”. I was less than impressed.

However, just 10 minutes drive to the shopping centre outside of the Village where I buy most of our groceries, there was another hair option and I struck gold.

It wasn’t long into the cut that the stylist commented “goodness your hair is thick” and I did the old reply “yes, if I could bottle the secret I would make a fortune, ha ha ha.” Disappointment was fleeting though as she continued, “I love thick hair, I love to cut into it and style it. I get such a sense of achievement taming it!” Be still my beating heart.

She excelled far beyond my city stylist! A country gem.

So, I am one more session away from achieving the look above (top layer not quite long enough at the sides yet so six weeks will do the trick), except in grey, because I no longer colour my hair. I look so scintillating. In fact, I am so fantastic that I even make myself jealous!

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possibly the most socially acceptable form of egotism

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Flamingo Dancer

Mr FD is strutting through the house feeling quite hip and somewhat of a trend setter. He does indeed feel quite in demand.

For several months I have been asking Mr FD to take the old washing machine from the back patio, along with a rejected tyre and four old dining chairs to the garbage dump. To my mind we had grabbed the lead on the Ma and Pa Kettle of modern day times, but to Mr FD we were merely starting our found art collection.

My perception of our house and yard

Mr FD's vision of our yard

Last week, in our mail box, I found a notice from the city council telling us that there was to be a large item collection this week. I am quite sure that I only found the notice because Mr FD had neglected to clear the mail box that day and so I collected the letter when I came home from school. I suspect he would have hidden it had he been there first! To be honest I could scarcely contain my excitement as I walked into the house to share the joy. Oddly enough, Mr FD didn’t initially share my happy moment.

Sunday afternoon Son, Mr FD and Mr Boy, carried the washing machine out to the kerb, along with the wheel and trim, and four dining chairs that had been shredded by a long departed cat that we camouflaged for awhile by shrouding with fabric covers until we gave up the pretence and bought a new dining set.

It was about then that the bets started. Son felt that the wheel would be the first to go, but Mr FD put his money on the washing machine going before daybreak. My opinion was that they were both crazy, and still stand by that.

Mr Fd won, as the washing machine was scavenged by 8pm that night. The tyre was gone by the time I left for school at 7 am the next morning. I felt sorry for the chairs sitting there neglected, but they went to a new home before I returned home that afternoon.

Three days later and the official collectors are yet to come, and out neighbours refuse is still sitting on their footpaths, but the FDs’ footpath is swept clean. Hence why Mr FD is strutting his stuff. He considers that our junk is of a higher class than our neighbours.

I guess it is the little things in life that do mean the most to some people, but I really do think Mr FD needs to get out more, preferably not with me! I also can’t help thinking that there is another wife out there, standing with her hands on her hips, declaring “What the hell have you brought home this time?” and wondering why she doesn’t have the divorce lawyer on short dial.

How to look good and feel great at Christmas, the Genevieve Antoine Dariaux way!

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Flamingo Dancer

A little more from the 1960s style guru Genevieve Antoine Dariaux’s A Guide to Elegance.

Xmas

Christmas is a very special occasion. You prepare for it weeks ahead of time, thinking mostly of others and of the pleasure you hope to give them. If there is one time during the year when you ought to feel good, affectionate, kind-hearted, thoughtful, and generous, it is certainly at Christmas.

It is only natural to harmonize your physical appearance with these beautiful moral qualities, and this for the average woman means a new dress, or a lovely hairdo, and perhaps a beauty treatment. Besides, it is also a means of honouring the gift you are sure to receive – because deep down in your heart, you expect your kind-heartedness, thoughtfulness, generosity, etc. (see above) to be rewarded, and in large measure too – for instance, a piece of jewellery in exchange for a necktie!

According to the type of Christmas party you may be invited to attend, the ideal outfit is a long or short evening dress, and, without going so far as to try to outsparkle the Christmas tree, it is perfectly appropriate for you to make a special effort to create a splendid appearance.

If you are spending Christmas in the country or in the mountains, or if your Christmas eve is to be a quiet evening at home or a deux, a hostess gown or velvet lounging pajamas brightened up with outfit jewellery would be just right – unless you prefer a short , embroidered felt or wool skirt worn with bright-coloured tights and a low-cut sweater top.

The point to remember is that this is a very special evening, and it merits the honour of a very special manner of dress.

Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, 1964. A Guide to Elegance pp. 212-213.