My day off today so I took a bus to Ripon, about 2 hours away.
Last time I was there I thought it was a really nice place, I'd like to retire there one day. It didn't seem quite as nice today. Mind you, I was last there with the Silent One, still silent after 6 weeks. I'm not pining. I've asked myself whether I'd be happier now if I'd just let him carry on wiping his feet on me, and the answer is a resounding no for this rose blossom; but I miss the company sometimes, I guess we got on well 80% of the time.
One thing I went to do was to practise going into a restaurant to have a meal; not a cafe in a store, a real restaurant. I can be quite shy about that, so I was practising for Paris. Managed that, and it was a nice fishcake too.
Negatives: I went out looking ho-o-t - so I was deflated when a kind shop assistant called me 'my love' and the 20-something bus driver called me 'dear'. I suddenly felt like and old lady with permed hair. Poo.
Posivite: I went into the Bon Marche clothes shop (don't know if it's in the States? very cheapncheerful, used to be for old ladies with permed hair but has got a lot younger recently; or maybe I AM an oldy lady with permed hair.....) I'm looking for a navy blue pair for Paris. I thought I'd try on a UK16, knowing it'd be tight but Paris is still 8 weeks away, worth a try. Chickies, I had to go back for a UK14!!!!! They looked so good, I tore off the label for the guy to put through the till and just wore them home. UK14!! Now, I'm not being a killjoy when I say they were obviously cut large, they truly were - but I love that I bought a UK14!
Hey Rosinante! That is SO COOL about the size UK14!
We used to have Bon Marche in the states, but I haven't seen one for some time... the name came from the same source. I think the stores eventually got gobbled up by the company that owns Macy's.
Well, m'dear, there are worse things than being called sweet names by random people, especially in hot size 14 jeans!
Perhaps you should change the name from Silent One to Absent One?
I think that's awesome that you can do a 14!!!!!! But you know what? I don't think that the endearments that others were calling you meant that they thought you were old. I've SEEN your pictures and you are HOT and do NOT look old.
How exciting! That's great, must have made you feel good.
Speaking of Bon Marche--go to the one in Paris. Not at all for doudy old ladies with purple hair--more like rich fashionistas. Fun to look at though even if you can't buy anything. It's in the 7th, I think. I always loved looking at the purses and the jewlery.
Yeah, Bon Marche got bought up by Macy's a few years ago here in the US, at least in my corner of it. And I agree; the endearments don't necessarily mean that they thought you were a little old permed lady. They probably saw your cute new little slacks and wanted to get acquainted!
Congratulations!! And as long as comments you are getting are positive, they are NOT referring to anyone's age- I assure you!
Great job- and congrats on the UK14.
And really, how largely could they have been cut?! Don't minimize your achievements!
Well, I imagine that the Bon Marche in Paris is completely different from the UK one, based on how you described it. It's a high, high, high end department store that for some reason isn't as well known as Galleries Lafayette, but IMO is much much classier. Not that I could afford to buy anything there!
Day Out. Just wittering really
That is SO COOL about the size UK14! 
