Whew!

October was a month of mank. However, since for some of my friends, it was a month of genuine disasters, so I am considering myself lucky that overwork and minor stupidities were the worst things that came my way. They're tiring and frustrating, but in years to come I won't care about them at all. I wish I could make other people's problems disappear as easily.

Today I spent the afternoon with lovely friends at a baby shower. You can tell the parents and non-parents at these things: parents and people who have done the reading planning to become parents gave many, many bibs and baby burglar suits (the ones with legs and arms and usually stripes), along with towels and nappies. The rest of us gave organic everything, or high-tech tricks like the re-usable chemical bottle warmer, or handmade loveliness (which at least can go through the washer, that girl was smart).

We had to leave early, as we had a friend with us who was booked at a barbecue. I was relieved in a way, as I was knackered after yesterday's Goth Fair. Newtown and Enmore played host to the Dark Side and I had organised to pop up and meet a friend for gelati. Bravely, I decided to wear my punk platforms (I normally live in flats), and I actually have some gothy clothes. Because I am Of A Certain Age, I decided to do a Vintage Goth look, and so rolled the back of my hair over padding (this is not easy when you have long hair!) and curled up the front in Victory Rolls, then added a slick of blood-red lipstick. I was so amused by the look that I think I will need to trot a slightly modified version of it into work when we next hit deadline, so that I can work my Vera Lynn meets the Bride of Dracula mojo on recalcitrant writers. Sadly, no photos.

Sadly, too, there was not bouncy haunted mansion, but every type of goth was there, from full Victoriana, through classic (including band T-shirts from London in the 80s), to Gothic Lolita and anime, and even the little sort of furry ones who have ears and tails and little back puppy noses. They all stayed in a little group in the corner, with everyone else looking on sympathetically and hiding their giggles behind fans and parasols.

My friend deense looked fabulous in her steampunk, and lovely anna was gorgeous as always in her corsetry. The local funeral homes had embraced the event, with one putting on a horse-drawn hearse (the horses had feathers and the undertakers had top hats, but alas, no trailing crepe) and the other doing a series of talks, we were invited to one on embalming, which I turned down (deense has funeral director friends and I watched all of Six Feet Under). 

A lovely time was had by all: I had forgotten that goths were by far the nicest of all the subcultures. There is a certain necessity for manners when one is wearing a bustle or crinoline, and cooperation is needed to keep lipstick straight and hair in whatever convoluted shape one wants. There were more 'excuse me', 'thank you' and 'are you having a lovely day?' comments from the people there than I have ever heard in Newtown. And it was acceptable to say to the young people 'You look utterly gorgeous!' which I think they do need to hear sometimes, but it usually seems to embarrass them.

All up, I've seen more of my friends this weekend than I have in months, and it was wonderful, even if hunydd mocked my zombie joke! I will have to organise my life better so that I have the time and energy for socialising more regularly!

Oh and hunydd ? Just for you: 
What would Hamlet have eaten if he'd returned as a zombie?


Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanes

Whew!

October was a month of mank. However, since for some of my friends, it was a month of genuine disasters, so I am considering myself lucky that overwork and minor stupidities were the worst things that came my way. They're tiring and frustrating, but in years to come I won't care about them at all. I wish I could make other people's problems disappear as easily.

Today I spent the afternoon with lovely friends at a baby shower. You can tell the parents and non-parents at these things: parents and people who have done the reading planning to become parents gave many, many bibs and baby burglar suits (the ones with legs and arms and usually stripes), along with towels and nappies. The rest of us gave organic everything, or high-tech tricks like the re-usable chemical bottle warmer, or handmade loveliness (which at least can go through the washer, that girl was smart).

We had to leave early, as we had a friend with us who was booked at a barbecue. I was relieved in a way, as I was knackered after yesterday's Goth Fair. Newtown and Enmore played host to the Dark Side and I had organised to pop up and meet a friend for gelati. Bravely, I decided to wear my punk platforms (I normally live in flats), and I actually have some gothy clothes. Because I am Of A Certain Age, I decided to do a Vintage Goth look, and so rolled the back of my hair over padding (this is not easy when you have long hair!) and curled up the front in Victory Rolls, then added a slick of blood-red lipstick. I was so amused by the look that I think I will need to trot a slightly modified version of it into work when we next hit deadline, so that I can work my Vera Lynn meets the Bride of Dracula mojo on recalcitrant writers. Sadly, no photos.

Sadly, too, there was not bouncy haunted mansion, but every type of goth was there, from full Victoriana, through classic (including band T-shirts from London in the 80s), to Gothic Lolita and anime, and even the little sort of furry ones who have ears and tails and little back puppy noses. They all stayed in a little group in the corner, with everyone else looking on sympathetically and hiding their giggles behind fans and parasols.

My friend deense looked fabulous in her steampunk, and lovely anna was gorgeous as always in her corsetry. The local funeral homes had embraced the event, with one putting on a horse-drawn hearse (the horses had feathers and the undertakers had top hats, but alas, no trailing crepe) and the other doing a series of talks, we were invited to one on embalming, which I turned down (deense has funeral director friends and I watched all of Six Feet Under). 

A lovely time was had by all: I had forgotten that goths were by far the nicest of all the subcultures. There is a certain necessity for manners when one is wearing a bustle or crinoline, and cooperation is needed to keep lipstick straight and hair in whatever convoluted shape one wants. There were more 'excuse me', 'thank you' and 'are you having a lovely day?' comments from the people there than I have ever heard in Newtown. And it was acceptable to say to the young people 'You look utterly gorgeous!' which I think they do need to hear sometimes, but it usually seems to embarrass them.

All up, I've seen more of my friends this weekend than I have in months, and it was wonderful, even if hunydd mocked my zombie joke! I will have to organise my life better so that I have the time and energy for socialising more regularly!

Oh and hunydd ? Just for you: 
What would Hamlet have eaten if he'd returned as a zombie?


Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanes