Falling...

Harvest time.  The word autumn comes from Latin meaning the end of the year.  The seasons make so much more sense like this.  Maybe because I have a winter birthday, but to me the beginning of autumn when the crops are being removed from the plot marks the end of all the excitement of 2018.

I say this a lot, but the rest of this time of year is me preparing for my birthday and the fun of next year.  My daughter went to Sorrento in a group this summer.  I don't have time to go away.  Whenever I'm having a day off I start to think I should be doing something productive.  Restless doesn't begin to describe it. 

The school holidays also mean youth club work for teaching dance.  Every year I tell myself I should do summer school work.  I used to attend theatre school in the summer, so now it's time to give back, I think.  I did sign up to do some this year, but on the first day I wasn't feeling the love.  There don't seem to be so many pupils doing it for love rather than their parents signing them up to get them out from under their feet.   I organised a fashion show for the children, with them learning to style out some very interesting looks and perfecting their runway walks.  

Something always breaks at home when I'm needing it in a hurry, and this summer it was the shower.  The horror of having to have a hot bath instead of a brisk shower before dashing off somewhere in that scorching heat.  The repairman who kept doing the sharp intake of breath before scratching his chin and disappearing away to the van for another clip or washer.  He was displaying what old ladies used to call 'the parting of the ways' which was a polite way of saying builders' bum back in the day.  Hopeless at repairing things, and just as slapdash in his inability to wear a belt or pull up his trousers.  He came back on three later occasions!

The heat caused me on several occasions to almost doze off, even when I was meant to be typing in an office based setting for a commercial.  I'm certain they have better air conditioning in a real working office.  

I'm loving working for River Island regularly, especially the chance to get hold of the new looks as soon as they appear and even some other interesting looks.   There are always other castings for fittings agencies, as well, and wonderful opportunities to try on top end designer gear, eveningwear and well cut outfits that I wouldn't normally wear.  There is always lingerie and swimwear too, just in case you imagine I'm feeling luxurious.  There's nothing less luxurious than pulling on and off skimpy outfits in the minimum time and attempting to present them well to the designers.  Luckily they want to see what they look like on real women but the importance of presenting yourself well doesn't disappear because of that.  

Despite the designer gear I still have to wear 'real' affordable clothes for any events I'm invited to, so shopping in Camden and anywhere where there's something a little different is important.  Adding curls to my hair or painting on some especially neat eyebrows is awful in the heat as well as finding the perfect look.  

I think I got it right a couple of times recently.  A green wrap around dress for a wedding, and a black lace number for a model management launch at The Bureau.  What do you think of this...

This month the usual, music video, tv commercial, fittings for River Island and Sahara.   Hope there are a few more parties to come... more opportunities to post Instagram pictures, I'm addicted to them at the moment.  

A new fittings job for The Fold (based in Chelsea) next week.  I love the clothing for professional working women which is so far away from the looks I have for teaching dance or my usual life.  I'm blessed to be able to try on other people's lifestyles for my work.  

See you soon.