(no subject)

[slemslempike]

My parents were watching the Mrs Bradley Mysteries last night which have a theme tune saying "you're the starch in my collar" as a metaphor for how he can't live without someone. Which to my modern sensibiltiy is laughable, the idea that you couldn't imaginge a life with a limp collar. Though perhaps its just my slovenly ways - maybe starch is indeed the key to happiness. (The other lyrics include "cream in my coffee" so I don't think we're talking oxygen level necessity anyway.)

I am, like jekesta, spending more time that I really wish to on The Simpsons Tapped Out, building a town and completing tasks. I don't mind The Simpsons, but I'm not a huge fan so sometimes I don't really get what's going on. But I like earning rewards, and building libraries, and saving up doughnuts and then immediately spending them on a mysery box.

My neck plague does not appear to be abating much. It's stopped spreading to my face, I think thanks to the cream, but the lumps are still red and painful in my neck. I shall keep taking the rest of the antibiotics (2 more weeks, I think) and cross my fingers - also be better about applying the cream twice a day instead of when I remember to be bothered.

I asked this elsewhere -

I am looking for cross-body messenger style bags that:

are big enough to fit a 14 inch laptop bag plus a book etc
Do not fasten with velcro or buckles
Are interesting, maybe a bit unusual to look at (I like stripes, skulls, stars, brightish colours, and dislike flowers and hearts)
... but not so interesting as to be deeply unprofessional as it'll be a work bag
Available to buy in a shop in Southampton or Central London, or online from a place that can ship to the UK within 1 week
Not more than about £40 - preferably less

Bonus for -
smaller pockets in and outside as well
water resistant
won't show dirt too much

I've previously had a Queen Bea trucker, which was pretty good, but won't ship in time and is now out of my price range, and have since been relying on rather battered backpacks. I've had a look at ebay and etsy without much luck, I think I'd need specific shop recommendations there to find anything.

The best thing I've found so far is this: stripy bag, which is nice... but I don't love it. I don't know why.

This month is reminding me why I don't want to work from home. I miss my colleagues, I am unproductive all day and then do guilty panic working into the night, and I never feel like I'm off duty because I could always potentially be working.

Comments

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

TK Maxx is very good for bags. I've bought the handbag type from them before, but they have a massive range. Definitely worth popping in to the nearest one.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I am slighlty scared of TK Maxx, but I need to go to town tomorrow anyway so shall try and be brave.

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

Aw, what you're looking for sounds exactly like my bag, but I got mine on a stall in Camden and apparently the label doesn't sell things on Amazon anymore. Otherwise I would totally recommend them. (NB: you can't have my bag)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

What's the label - might they have some on ebay?

*does not come and steal your bag even a little bit*

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

70sup. This is an example of the type of bag I have, but with a different design - they don't have any with skulls that I recall, but they're definitely not all flowers. I'm not sure the label was that widespread, but they did used to sell some on amazon - if you can find one on ebay, I think they do tick a lot of your boxes.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

They are so cool! Sadly I can't find anywhere that sells them, so I think I will jsut have to play the long game and keep my eye on yours...

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

Let the cold war begin.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's the particular colour combination on the stripy bag that you don't like? I don't mean specific colours, but the combination in total.

I think this bag is too small and horses may not be your thing, but might be worth looking for the name elsewhere.

And this one probably isn't professional enough, and the comics design might not be your thing. (Why has no-one done this with Bunty/Jinty/Mandy comic strips?)

The Cambridge Satchel Company does do satchels in bright colours - expensive but possibly worth looking for on ebay etc?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I kept coming back to the stripy bag, so I think I am going to get it and learn to love it. But I would buy the heck out of a girls' comics one!

[jekesta]

I really like the stripy bag you link to which isn't helpful because you don't but still. tkmaxx do have a lovely bag department.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

My TK Maxx doesn't, it turns out. Or rather, it has lots of lovely bags for people who don't want a messenger bag.

But looking at the bags has made me like the stripy one much more. Especially all the lovely pockets. So I think I'm going to buy it and learn to love it.

[jekesta]

Brilliant. I love how they market it as something that will make your colleagues jealous. If you hate it can I have it?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Yes you can.

I shall report back on the effect on my colleagues when I show it off to them. I am looking forward to the pen holders in the front pocket. Maybe it will make me magically organised.

[whatho.livejournal.com]

Leather messenger bags are a Jaisalmer specialities. The shopkeepers claim it's camel leather but apparently it's pretty much all goat. They're cheap and they age pleasingly. But you'd need quite a big one for a laptop bag. And no-one will ship them. And it'd take me some months to personally convey one to you. This is not very helpful. Sorry.

I want to fritter time away on online games but my connection is not quite fast enough to reliably load still photographs. My suffering is great.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

That is suffering indeed. I am glad I found out about this game when I did in fact have enough internet to do it, it would have been too cruel of Alice otherwise.

Your bags sound nice. Apart from their inaccessibility.