{Image from Author's Personal Collection}

The Jenny Packham skirt. Rolled up at the waist to make it a little shorter. Rejected for this evening in favour of skinny jeans, converse and a t-shirt once I remembered that it may be a 30th birthday but the party is in Camden and vintage rose dry-clean only skirts do not mix with heavy music and rum and cokes at 2am.

The Best Job In the World

I wrote a few weeks ago about Holly (who is a close university friend of our very good friends B&C) being on the shortlist for the Best Job In The World.

Well, thank you to those who have voted for her.

But please - vote again, and again, and again (you can vote once per day) and help Holly get to go to her island.

Thank you.

---end of announcement---

In need of another party outfit...

Another weekend, another birthday. Another outfit required. A 30th this time, so perhaps a little dressier than jeans.

This is what I would wear if I had money to spend:

{Image by Reiss}

It actually reminds me of a vintage Jenny Packham skirt which I do own but is floor length and high waisted. Similar ruffles though. And pale coffee coloured, not blue. But maybe with a white t-shirt and brown ankle boots and a cardigan it might look ok. But where it is, I do not know. I shall have to try and dig it out.

Fire at Chancery Lane

fire, originally uploaded by rachel-catherine.

And the reason why I was able to get home from work early - we were evactuated due to a fire in the building behind ours and risk from propane cylinders.

A Party Outfit?

Jeans 2, originally uploaded by rachel-catherine

I think I need to work on my photography skills as well as my posing skills... Yet, for an image snapped in a mirror in a dark kitchen without a flash using a blackberry and then crudely lightened using a photo editor programme, it could be worse.

Sadly my jeans weren't as distressed at the front as I remembered so the look didn't work quite as well as I'd hoped. They were rather more distressed on the back though, which is why I required a longer top. Actually, that is a cardigan over a top. I should have taken the cardigan off to photograph it, but then I would have been even later than I actually was...

In need of a party outfit

Impending redundancy = no shopping.

No shopping = wearing something I already own.

Wearing something I already own is getting d.u.l.l. So I have been looking through my favourite style and photography blogs for some inspiration for tomorrow evening.

{Image by Garance Dore}

{Image by The Sartorialist}

Yet, it is a night in a pub. Albeit one in central London, for a friend's birthday. Can I wear my old Citizens of Humanity Jeans (ripped and old and faded and usually worn rolled up on holiday) with a pair of platform sandals and look stylish... or just plain silly?

{Image from Author's Personal Collection}

Or maybe I should just stick to my tried and tested outfits and use my time to look for a new job...

Dos Hermanos visits the WI

and writes about it here. Not quite what he was expecting, it seems. Still, I enjoyed icing the cupcakes and learning a new skill to boot.

I need a bedroom like this...

{Image from Design Sponge}

I think I need to de-clutter our bedroom a little... And maybe paint it blue too.

And people get paid to write this?

According to Shane Watson in the Sunday Times, by aged 25 I should have achieved the following:


- Achieved party notoriety/a groovy look — like Alice Dellal
- Travelling stripes (outside Europe)
- A tattoo or nonregulation piercing
- Have talked to a genuine celebrity
- Have DJed, gone out with a DJ or sung backing vocals
- Had at least one serious boyfriend
- Worked as a waitress/in a bar
- Proficiency in an instrument or sport
- Discovered your best feature
- Got serious about photography

And want people to say: “You’ve done an incredible amount for your age”

I am 27. I have a hole in my tummy button where I used to wear a bar until it got too annoying banging into my desk which was the same height (how middle aged) and I obviously have had at least one serious boyfriend given that I get married in three months time. I have travelled outside Europe and done well at things but it seems I have failed because I have not dated a DJ, discovered my best feature or talked to a genuine celebrity...

And what do I have to look forward to? Well, by 35 I should have:-

- Been head-hunted for a new job
- Been taken to lunch by your boss
- Been on a business trip abroad
- Lived abroad
- Bought your own flat
- Been bought jewellery by a man
- Socialised outside your age group
- Hatched a plan for your own business
- Successfully negotiated a pay rise
- Discovered your signature style
- Discovered the importance of women
- Established a shoe collection

And want people to say: “You could do anything you set your mind to”

Well, I have managed 3 of them. Looks like I have got a bit of work to do...

Seriously, I can't believe people get paid to write this. And in The Times as well.

London Fashion Weekend Catwalk Show I

London Fashion Weekend Catwalk Show I, originally uploaded by rachel-catherine.

Woe may be me, but help it not be Holly too ...

A friend of a friend is looking to get the best job in the world. You may have seen it advertised on the BBC and various other places. She has managed to get to the final 50 and we can help make her day at least by voting for her here. Thank you.

Woe is Me

{Image by W2 Products}

It is not a good time to be in my profession. It is a worse time to be coming up for qualification and soon to be redundant. That said, it is not a good time for many professions. I don't really know what else to do. I have been applying for every job for which I am suitable in my field in every part of the country. And still nothing. I just have to hope something comes along or who knows what we shall do.

At least this mug (paid for by the cleaners who broke my original one) is cheering me up in the meantime.

(Normal blogging to resume once I have a moment when I am not job hunting, wedding planning, in hospital or worrying...)

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung, originally uploaded by rachel-catherine.

What a difference a month makes. 4 weeks ago this scene was buried under several inches of snow. Today sunlight streams through the window and it feels as if the world has woken up again.