Scarf of the moment: Le Jaguar et le Colibri

Posted on 22/03/2024 by The Librain

Well, I have been struggling with writing this post for months now. In recent years I have compiled a full scarf profile, which I call “Scarf of the Moment”, very quickly after I have purchased an Hermès  scarf. It takes me quite a long time to do this, but I enjoy the process. With this one, however, there have been so many real life events that have got in the way. I have had to write some complex and important pieces for serious purposes, so updating my blog has not been my priority.

I really want to do this wonderful design justice! So, let’s begin…

Hermès fans will know that prices for their scarves and shawls have been steadily rising over the past few years. In 2020, I managed to save up for one cashmere/silk shawl, Plumes en Fête, but didn’t plan on getting another in this expensive format. Then a new design for Autumn/Winter 2023 appeared on The Purse Forum and I fell in love! It took ages for the right colourway to appear on the UK site and I had almost given up…

When this showed up…

Le Jaguar et le Colibri shawl, designed by Montserrat Gonzales-Lugo, 140cm cashmere/silk, colourway #07 Marine, Rouge, Rose, Ref: H243919S 07.

Le Jaguar et le Colibri by Montserrat Lugo for Hermès

Description

On lifting the scarf out of the orange box and carefully unfolding it, the beautiful colours and design take my breath away. My immediate impression is of a multi-coloured feline lying lazily on a navy background, surrounded by flowers. A hummingbird hovers in the top left corner, shimmering with many jewel shades. The central part of the shawl is bordered by a colourful pattern of interlocking geometric shapes.

My version of the shawl, #07, has most of the flowers, buds and leaves in a lovely mid blue, with a few picked out in red. They are all outlined, first in navy then also with a deep yellow that stands out against the rich navy background. The Jaguar lies across the centre of the design, watching the viewer with amber eyes. The animal’s skin is decorated with a coat of many colours: pink, red, orange, green, blue, brown and white, with a multitude of shapes: triangles, rectangles, circles, and flowers, reminiscent of a beautiful mosaic. In the top left corner, a hummingbird flies, again depicted in multiple patterns to show the feathers.

The whole amazing design is surrounded by a wide mosaic border in a different style, with the coloured shapes combining into intricate patterns. Hermès Paris is spelled out on this border and the artist’s signature can be seen on the background. There is also a gorgeous contrast hem. From a distance, the warm shades of red and pink stand out on the border and the two creatures. This shawl is a riot of colour and form!

Colourways

These are the colourways for the Autumn/Winter 2023 cashmere/silk, 140cm shawls. I have added in the codes to help those of you who may wish to purchase a shawl.

H243919S 01
H243919S 02
H243919S 07
H243919S 09
H243919S 12
H243919S 14

Design story

This has been taken from the Hermès website:

Details

Here are some closeups of my scarf in a slideshow format:

How I wear the shawl

As I have not owned the shawl for very long, I have not had much opportunity to wear it. I have, however, taken photos to show a variety of scarf knots (see the next section). Below are two images that I took a few weeks ago. I think that I will mainly wear the shawl against a navy background to showcase the wonderful colourful design. In my wardrobe I have jumpers and tops, jeans and trousers, and a wool dress which would all work.

Outfit of the day 29/12/23 with Hermès’ Le Jaguar et le Colibri shawl
Outfit of the day 25/12/23 with Hermès’ Le Jaguar et le Colibri shawl

I have created a collage to show some of the clothing and accessories I might wear with the shawl…

Le Jaguar et le Colibri – possible clothing and jewellery

Scarf ties

I have knotted this scarf in a variety of ways – apologies for the poor quality of the photos.

The ties are:
Top L to R: weave knot, half-bow knot, and a draped bias fold.
Bottom L to R: two versions of a cowboy knot, and a criss-cross knot. I used a MaiTai horn shawl ring for two of these ties.

Le Jaguar et Le Colibri – selection of shawl ties

Background information

I tried to find some detailed information about the designer of the shawl, Montserrat Lugo, but there does not seem to be anything worth posting here. Please let me know if you find anything suitable.

There is an excellent video made by Hermès fan “cranleyplace” which describes the shawl. This video has information about the designer as well as a detailed review of the shawl itself. It includes a fascinating section about the influence of indigenous Mexican textiles on the design and another about hummingbirds.

A couple of sites each about hummingbirds and then jaguars:

Discover Wildlife
Hummingbird guide
Detailed facts and videos. Partnered with BBC Wildlife.

Big Cat Rescue
Jaguar facts
Straightforward article.

World Wildlife Fund
Jaguar
Detailed information about this amazing animal.

I own another Hermès scarf, L’Arbre du Vent, by the same designer. You may be interested in reading the Scarf of the Moment post that I wrote back in February 2017.

This is a quick reminder of the scarf:

L’Arbre du Vent scarf by Hermès

I hope readers have found this exploration of Le Jaguar et le Colibri both interesting and useful. Once again, if you find any errors or have any additional information that I could add, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

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Reading roundup 20/03/24

Posted on 20/03/2024 by The Librain

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post! If you read last week’s you may remember that I was sort of addicted to a historical series: M J Porter’s The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. There was one more on my list, so I read that first before taking a break from the series for a while…

Protector of Mercia by M J Porter

The book was #05 in the series, Protector of Mercia. Here is the blurb:

“A deathbed oath leaves the lives of two infants hanging in the balance. Tamworth AD833 After successfully rescuing her husband from the Island of Sheppey, Icel hears the deathbed confession of Lady Cynehild which leaves him questioning what he knows about his past, as well as his future. In the unenviable position of being oath sworn to protect their two atheling sons when Lord Coenwulf is punished and banished for his treason against the Mercian ruler, King Wiglaf, Icel is once more torn between his oaths and the secret he knows. When the two children are kidnapped, Icel, good to his word, and fearing for their safety, pursues their abductors into the dangerous Northern lands, fearing to discover who is behind the audacious attempt on their the queen, the king’s son, or even Lady Ælflæd, a friend to him in the past, but now wed to the king’s son and aunt to the two abandoned children. Alone in the Northern lands, Icel finds himself facing his worse fears. Can he rescue the children from their captor, or will he fail and lose his life in the process?”

And this was my response written on the Goodreads site:

Protector of Mercia (Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, #5)Protector of Mercia by M.J. Porter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable and escapist read! I really liked the travelling aspect of this book and the motivation behind this, from Icel’s point of view. This brought something a little different to the story and showed new aspects of our hero’s character. The ending came along quite abruptly, however, but it seems that this particular arc is not yet over.

I will certainly continue with this series, but will now take a break.

View all my reviews

I have enjoyed the pure escapism of reading a series like this, whilst living a fairly stressful life! After this book, I decided to make a random choice and this is it…

The Hideout by Camilla Grebe

This book came up on the Library’s ebook app: The Hideout by Camilla Grebe. The blurb was interesting, so I decided to download the ebook. Here is the blurb:

“The Hideout is an eerie psychological thriller from the award-winning Swedish bestselling author Camilla Grebe.

When 18-year old Samuel finds himself at the centre of a drug deal gone wrong, he is forced to go underground to escape the police and an infamous drug lord. Seeking refuge in a sleepy town in the Stockholm archipelago, he takes a job as a personal assistant to a disabled boy. But when Samuel moves in with the beautiful Rachel and her son Jonas in the remote house by the sea, he soon realizes that nothing is quite what it seems . . .

Meanwhile, the bodies of young men have been washing ashore in the archipelago and investigator Manfred Olsson fears that they have a killer on the loose.

Set against a sweltering summer backdrop, Camilla Grebe’s flawed characters come alive as a chilling tale unravels to reveal evil lurking in the most serene of surroundings.”

The book was another four star read – I seem to be making good choices at the moment! This was my short review:

The HideoutThe Hideout by Camilla Grebe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting and inventive book with a rather slow start. The pace eventually became faster as the plot climax came in sight and I became thoroughly gripped with my heart thumping in my chest!

The characters were varied and well drawn, with one who really irritated me until close to the end. I will definitely read more books by Camilla Grebe and am disappointed to see that this is currently the only one available on the library’s ebook catalogue.

View all my reviews

I do hope that all of you are reading fantastic books!

Happy reading to you all.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

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Friday post 15/03/24: Mother’s Day with my chaps!

Posted on 15/03/2024 by The Librain

Hello and welcome to my blog. UK visitors will know that last Sunday was Mother’s Day. I was utterly thrilled when Younger Son contacted us to say that he would be coming over for a few days: Mother’s Day with all three of my chaps! What a treat!

Well, I had a wonderful day. I was fortunate to receive some lovely gifts from my two sons, lots of hugs and cuddles, plus a totally scrumptious dinner. We were treated to beautifully cooked steak with dauphinois potatoes and a vegetable medley, with trifle to follow. I forgot to take a photo!

On Wednesday my treats continued. Elder Son and I went to a lovely local café for a delicious afternoon tea. I even managed to eat most of my share. Once again, I didn’t take a photo. It was beautifully presented, so that really was a missed opportunity.

I tried to arrange my gifts for the photo, honestly! Not one of my greatest skills…

Mother’s Day gifts 2024

You can see a pretty scarf and toning earrings from Oliver Bonas, plus an amazing purple orchid and miniature daffodils (my favourite flowers).

These are the items from Oliver Bonas:

Eliza Starburst Gem Inlay Statement Hoop Earrings
Eliza Starburst Gem Inlay Statement Hoop Earrings
Abstract Hearts Small Square Lightweight Scarf
Abstract Hearts Small Square Lightweight Scarf
Gifts from Oliver Bonas

I wore the scarf and earrings to the afternoon tea on Wednesday with an all-navy outfit: cashmere v-neck, cord trousers, shoes and handbag. Adding more colours would have been overkill, I think.

Here is a quick photo:

Outfit of the day 13/03/24 with items by Oliver Bonas

Happy weekend to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Posted in Clothes, Family, Jewellery, Outfit of the day, Scarves, Special days, Wardrobe | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading roundup 13/03/24

Posted on 13/03/2024 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s post. Today I am going to write about two books from the same series. I have chosen these for escapism because I have been feeling very ill and stressed out. Reading books like these really helps…

Warrior of Mercia by M J Porter

My first book of last week was Warrior of Mercia by M J Porter, #03 The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. Series like this remind me of the books I enjoyed when I was a child. Books by such authors as Henry Treece with his series about Vikings: Viking’s Dawn, The Road to Miklagard and Viking’s Sunset.

Anyway, here is the blurb:

“Icel is a lone wolf no more…

Oath sworn to Wiglaf, King of Mercia and acknowledged as a member of Ealdorman Ælfstan’s warrior band, Icel
continues to forge his own destiny on the path to becoming the Warrior of Mercia.

With King Ecgberht of Wessex defeated and Londonium back under Mercian control, the Wessex invasion of Mercia is over.

But the Wessex king was never Mercia’s only enemy. An unknown danger lurks in the form of merciless Viking raiders, who set their sights on infiltrating the waterways of the traitorous breakaway kingdom of the East Angles, within touching distance of Mercia’s eastern borders.

Icel must journey to the kingdom of the East Angles and unite against a common enemy to ensure Mercia’s hard-won freedom prevails.”

This is my response on Goodreads:

Warrior of Mercia (The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, #3)Warrior of Mercia by M.J. Porter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting and absorbing tale set in the “Dark Ages” of British History. There were a few very repetitive phrases and moments, and also some spelling and homonym issues that made me drop one star. In addition, I do wonder whether a young man of that era would have known quite so much about the geography and history of his place and time? Nevertheless, I am enjoying the series and am already reading the next book!

View all my reviews
Eagle of Mercia by M J Porter

On to the next book: Eagle of Mercia, #04 in the series. Here is the blurb:

“A mercy mission in the heart of Wessex is beset with deadly, bloody dangers.
Tamworth AD831

Icel’s profile continues to rise. Lord of Budworth and warrior of Mercia, he’s acknowledged by King Wiglaf and his comrades to keep Mercia safe from the ravages of Wessex, the king-slayer of the East Angles, and the Viking raiders.
But, danger looms. Alongside Spring’s arrival comes the almost certain threat of the Viking raiders return.

When Lord Coenwulf of Kingsholm is apprehended by a Viking and held captive on the Isle of Sheppey in Wessex held Kent, Icel is implored by Lady Cynehild to rescue her husband.

To rescue Lord Coenwulf, Icel and his fellow warriors must risk themselves twice over, for not only must they overpower the Viking raiders, they must also counter the threat of Mercia’s ancient enemy, the kingdom of Wessex as they travel through their lands.

Far from home and threatened on all sides, have Icel and his fellow warriors sworn to carry out an impossible duty?”

I found this episode much more interesting than the previous one and awarded it four stars. This is what I wrote:

Eagle of Mercia (The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, #4)Eagle of Mercia by M.J. Porter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was definitely better than the previous one with much more adventure, dangerous moments and nail-biting excitement. Our “hero”, Icel, continues on his journey to being a warrior-healer in Anglo-Saxon England, fighting Vikings and men from Wessex and getting into all kinds of scrapes and scraps.

I must admit that I’m becoming quite addicted to this series. So, the question is: should I go on to the next book immediately, or take a break with something different? Choices, choices!

View all my reviews

Well, I have to admit that I am now reading the next book – more about that next week. When I have finished, I will definitely choose something very different, I promise!

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

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Friday post 08/03/24: wearing my scarves during the Winter

Posted on 08/03/2024 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s post. As many readers will know, I rarely leave the house these days and, in fact, spend most of my time in bed. I am fortunate that I now have a collection of gorgeous scarves and shawls and I don’t want them to just stay in their boxes, unworn. So, I have been trying to make the effort to wear a scarf whenever I can, even if I only manage this for an hour or so.

Here are some of the ones I have been wearing in recent days…

  • Le Promenade de Platon by Hermès
  • Sweet Dreams - Hermès

These scarves are all by Hermès and are called:

  • L’Arbre du Vent
  • Le Jardin de la Maharani
  • Cosmographia Universalis 
  • Lazy Leopardesses 
  • Hermès Story
  • La Promenade de Platon
  • De la Mer au Ciel
  • Sweet Dreams

All of the scarves are silk and 90x90cm, except one, Sweet Dreams, which is from the men’s collection and is a silk/wool mix and 100x100cm. During the colder months, I tend to wear my scarves with cashmere or thick cotton mix jumpers as these don’t detract from the beautiful colours and designs.

Now that we are beginning to move into warmer weather (I hope), I am going to sort out a few scarves that look more Spring like. Others will be put aside until Autumn comes around. Maybe a few might sneak in over the next couple of days!

These are more suitable for Autumn, perhaps…

La Femme aux Semelles de Vent scarf by Hermès
Tyger, Tyger by Alice Shirley for Hermès
Tyger, Tyger scarf by Hermès
Daimyo Princes du Soleil Levant scarf by Hermès
Sous le Charm d’Orphée scarf by Hermès

Not forgetting some non-Hermès scarves that I love…

Olympian Gods scarf by Fetolia
Ianthe scarf by Liberty of London

What do you think? Can I still get away with any of these now? Goodness, what a silly question when I am only wearing them indoors!

Ooh, now I remember that I am going out with Elder Son for a treat on Wednesday. He is taking me for a Mother’s Day afternoon tea. Now, what shall I wear? I don’t want to get jam and cream on anything special! Choices, choices… 😁😁😁.

Happy Weekend to you all.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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P.S. I have just realised that I wrote a similar post last March from the opposite point of view, showing my Spring scarf choices! This is it: Friday post 31/03/23: sorting out Spring scarves.

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Reading roundup 06/03/24

Posted on 06/03/2024 by The Librain

Hello and welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post. I have read two very different books this week. One was a slight disappointment, sadly, the other was very different, which was interesting.

The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse

The first book was The Ghost Ship. Kate Mosse’s final book in her trilogy: The Joubert Family Chronicles. This is the blurb:

“Piracy. Romance. Revenge. Across the seas of the seventeenth century, two seafarers are forced to hide for their lives. The sequel to The City of Tears , The Ghost Ship is the third novel in The Joubert Family Chronicles from bestselling author Kate Mosse.

The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months it has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved by corsairs, manned by a courageous crew of mariners from Italy and France, Holland and the Canary Islands.

But the bravest men on board are not who they seem. The stakes could not be higher. If arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

A sweeping and epic love story, ranging from France in 1610 to Amsterdam and the Canary Islands in the 1620s, The Ghost Ship is a thrilling novel of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes and hidden secrets on the High Seas.”

Here is my response to the book from the Goodreads website:

The Ghost ShipThe Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There was much to enjoy in this book: the historical setting, the breaking of customs for women in the 17th century, action and adventure on the high seas, etc. As usual, Kate Mosse has written a well-researched and interesting tale. However, this third book in the trilogy did not reach the high standards of the previous two. There were parts that dragged and I became quite bored; other sections were too repetitive.

Some aspects of the earlier books were simply dropped for this one. I also found the relationship between Louise and Gilles irritating and why was the latter always referred to with masculine pronouns?

I hope Mosse’s next book is a lot bette than this one and that she returned to her excellent writing.

View all my reviews

I must say, having read all of Kate Mosse’s books to date, that I would love to be able to visit Carcassonne. It always seems like a wonderful place!

OK, now on to the next book…

The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray

I chose my second book at random from the Library’s ebook collection: The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray. First, we have the blurb:

“In a disintegrating and increasingly lawless Britain, a young man is travelling north.

Ben is a young painter from the crowded, turbulent city. For six months his fiancée Cara has been living on a remote island known as Sanctuary Rock, the property of millionaire philanthropist Sir John Pemberley. Now she has decided to break off their engagement, and stay there.

Ben resolves to travel to the island to win Cara back. But the journey there is a harsh and challenging one, and when he does arrive, a terrible shock awaits him.

As Ben begins to find his way around the island, he knows he must also work out – what has made Cara so determined to throw her old life away? And is Sanctuary Rock truly another Eden – or a prospect of hell?”

This book was intriguing as well as enjoyable. These are my comments on Goodreads…

The SanctuaryThe Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read and I am glad that I chose it. Although slow in places, it built up gradually, with a noticeable development in the main character. The final third was exciting and surprising in turn, with a nice sting in the tail (tale?). I will certainly look out for more by this author.

View all my reviews

I am not sure what I am going to choose for my next read. Younger Son is visiting, so the house is full with male bodies and voices! Will I even have time or the space to read? My time will be given over to hugs, talking and listening and, perhaps, we might even manage a short excursion! Who knows?

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

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Friday post 01/03/24: temptation strikes again!

Posted on 01/03/2024 by The Librain

So, after an extra day in February we have finally reached March! It’s beginning to feel like Spring is not far away, despite the miserable weather here. I am looking out of my window at grey clouds, but thinking about better days to come.

I was going through my photos on the iPad this morning and realised that I hadn’t written a post about another purchase from One Hundred Stars. Regulars will probably have realised that I love their clothes. The prints are wonderful! I fell for one in blue and white ages ago and finally decided on this throwover…

Jaipur Blue Throwover – One Hundred Stars

I think this will be great in the Summer over a white or navy vest and linen trousers. This pattern is also available in a range of other items, even a velvet throw 💙, so I’m very tempted! Their new season prints are also really gorgeous.

Here is the throw…

Jaipur Blue Velvet Throw – One Hundred Stars

We have put the wheels in motion to have quite a lot of minor work done on the house over the next few weeks. Most are fairly small repair jobs which have been annoying us for ages. Let’s hope it all goes smoothly and doesn’t raise too much dust! We will be so relieved when it’s all done.

Happy weekend to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

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Reading roundup 28/02/24

Posted on 28/02/2024 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s post! Today I am writing about the first two books in a trilogy that I kind of stumbled upon.

This is the first in the Fallen Gods trilogy:

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

So, the first book was Godkiller by Hannah Kaner, a new author. This is the blurb:

“You are not welcome here, godkiller

Kissen’s family were killed by zealots of a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing gods, and enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skedi, a god of white lies, has somehow bound himself to a young noble, and they are both on the run from unknown assassins.

Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, they must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favour.

Pursued by demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning – something is rotting at the heart of their world, and only they can be the ones to stop it.”

I was really intrigued when I saw this book (OK, it was on offer!!!). Anyway, I am glad that I didn’t overlook it as I really enjoyed it, giving it four stars. Here is my response on Goodreads:

Godkiller (Fallen Gods, #1)Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really enjoyable Fantasy read with interesting characters and an intriguing background – all of those “gods”! As a first book, it was very well written and engaging with plenty of surprises. The use of differing viewpoints is something that usually irritates me, but in this case it was important to the tale.

I have immediately downloaded the second book and am almost halfway through that one! Can’t wait for the final episode.

View all my reviews

It was definitely worth paying more for the second book…

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

As you can see above, the second book is titled Sunbringer. This is the blurb:

“Return to the world of Godkiller in this thrilling sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut

When Middren falls to the gods, your kind will be the first to die.

Gods are forbidden in the kingdom of Middren—but now they are stirring, whispering of war. Godkiller Kissen sacrificed herself to vanquish the fire god Hseth, who murdered her family and endangered her friends. But gods cannot be destroyed so easily, and Hseth’s power threatens to reform with even greater strength and a thirst for vengeance. As tensions rise throughout the land, the kingdom needs its Godkiller more than ever.

Still reeling from the loss of Kissen, young noble Inara and her little god of white lies, Skedi, have set out to discover more about the true nature of their bond. As the divide between gods and humans widens, Inara and Skedi will uncover secrets that could determine the fate of the war to come.

Meanwhile, Elogast, no longer a loyal knight of King Arren, has been tasked with killing the man he once called friend. The king vowed to eradicate all gods throughout the land, but has now entered into an unholy pact with the most dangerous of them all. And where his heart once beat, a god now burns. . .”

Once again, I became really immersed in this tale and here is what I wrote on Goodreads:

Sunbringer (Fallen Gods, #2)Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Before I write a proper response, I just want to say how amazing the covers are for these first two books! Really gorgeous.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down! The characters continued to develop and some quite surprising new directions were followed. In a way, I am sad that the book was published so recently because that probably means that the third one will take a while to appear. The world building and ideas behind this series are excellent and I am sure that Kaner has a lot more to bring to Fantasy writing in the future. Perhaps more based in this world?

View all my reviews

I can’t wait to see what happens in the third book! I hope that I haven’t forgotten the events in the first two books when it becomes available.

Happy Reading to you all,

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

 

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Friday post 23/02/24: outfit for a Very Important Meeting

Posted on 23/02/2024 by The Librain

I had to go to a Very Important Meeting yesterday. The sort of meeting that makes you nervous for several weeks/days in advance. The kind of meeting where the outcome is crucial. The sort of meeting where you need the boost from looking your best.

To help a beloved family member, I had to find all of my courage to leave the house and dig deep to support him. Yes, outfits are rather trivial in all of this, but giving some of my attention to the trivial helped. It really did.

I tried to make a collage from these items, but couldn’t get it to work, so I have simply uploaded the images. There isn’t a photo of me wearing this ensemble as I was shaking with nerves!

Hera handbag – Massaccesi
Navy v-neck – WoolOvers
Plumes en Fête by Hermès (90cm)
Bracelet in Persian Green – Massaccesi
Navy cord trousers - Lands’ End
Navy cord trousers – Lands’ End
Blue topaz earrings

The outfit was based around my new Massaccesi handbag with its glorious Persian Green leather, plus matching bracelet. I chose navy clothing as a background: a v-neck jumper from WoolOvers and cord trousers from Lands’ End. My scarf was the beautiful Plumes en Fête by Hermes with its blue, green and purple shades. The shoes and jacket were also navy and I wore earrings in blue topaz.

Here is a larger image of the scarf:

Plumes en Fête by Hermès (90cm)

And the outcome of the meeting? Positive 😁. Now we can have a rest and then face the future.

Happy weekend to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

 

Posted in Clothes, Family, Handbags, Outfit of the day, Scarves, Wardrobe | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Reading roundup 21/02/24

Posted on 21/02/2024 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s post about my reading. As I have been very busy preparing for a difficult meeting tomorrow, this is going to be a very brief post. I have only read one book this week…

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Once again, I made a random choice from the library’s ebook offer: The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. As I was so distracted by family issues, it took me most of the week to finish and, because I continue to be distracted, I could only manage to write a very brief response. I hope that my normal habits can be resumed very soon!

Anyway, here is the blurb, to begin with:

“Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple . . . until Marissa cheats. In a desperate attempt to repair her family, Marissa takes a chance on maverick therapist Avery Chambers, who lost her licence due to controversial methods.

If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in ten sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. She helps people overcome everything, from domineering parents to assault. Her successes almost help her absorb the emptiness she feels since her husband’s death.

When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course they never expected. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger. Not all of them are who they seem, and matters are about to turn deadly…”

And here is my reaction:

The Golden CoupleThe Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting and twisting thriller, told from two points of view and written by two authors. There were parts of the book which dragged a bit, but, overall, it was well worth reading. I was surprised by the final chapters (must be losing my touch!).

View all my reviews

The book was nominated for a Goodreads award in 2022, so it is worth reading some of the reviews on that site!

Happy Reading to you all.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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