Handbags and Gladrags

I have been given a challenge by the gorgeous and delightful Exmoor Jane, the maker of the best scones in the West Country!

She has tagged me to reveal the contents of my handbag (purse to those across the pond) Oh my, if I do this you will see how very mad I am. Handbags according to Jane show a snapshot of who we are as people. Oh dear....

Years ago my sister and her fist husband would tease me and make them show me what was in my bag. They couldn't believe how I kept it.

So hey I'm grown up I can take it......

Here goes.

First off the bag itself is a wonderful dark purply/pink soft Mulberry bag with a flap that just flings over the front. The underside of this flap is the same deep colour only suede. In the middle of the flap is a big brass disc with the Mulberry trademark on it. Yes it is a designer bag, and yes I'm bonkers for spending that sort of money. Blame the pay out I got on my pension and David's death as they were the two things that made me feel I needed and could afford a pressie.

The bag has one small pocket at the back, this contains a red leather old fashioned cigarette case that holds my Angel cards. A small red leather photo frame containing three pics, my sons and my first dog. A tourmaline stone and an Oxfam carrier bag neatly rolled up ready for use when I get any shopping. Finally in this pocket is a small silver card case with my business cards in.

The main body of the bag holds a gold leather make up bag, containing my powder compact and four lipsticks, very small handcream and a lip salve. There is also a brown leather make up bag same as the gold one, this contains, indigestion things, wintergreen sweets, a pen, my tiny ipod, and any other really useful stuff I need.
A Liberty handkerchief, of which I have a collection of about 10 bought by my sister over the years, so that gets changed frequently, plus a packet of tissues as I don't like using my precious hankies!! My Olympus camera, always ready to take that shot! A small black leather change purse, made by the same company as the makeup bags and the photo frame,all by Penhaligons. Two glasses cases, one with my prescription sunglasses, I can't drive with any sort of glare going on, and my reading glasses without which I can't see. My new and lovely purse/wallet bought last weekend with my niece in Liverpool. It's snakeskin with loads of pockets for useful things and feels lovely.

Then finally in the phone pocket is my mobile, unless I'm at home when it is usually sitting by the laptop.

All these things are placed just so, neatly and tidily, they all have a place. So when I go abroad I never take any other hand luggage, as all I have to do is add a book to read and my passport, which needless to say is in it's own bright red passport and document case.

I know, I'm obsessed, it has been pointed out before.

And I have a passion for leather things. This is for two reasons. The town I came from, Walsall, was the centre of the saddlery industry world wide, so I was brought up amid wonderful leather things, and I adore the smell of it. Plus my mother had a red leather writing case that I also adored as a child, I loved the colour and the feel of it. It now lives in the top drawer of my desk and holds precious documents. And still when I get it out to locate something I love the feel of it, although now the colour is a bit faded, well it is as old as me!

So there you have it, extremely tidy,obsessed with good quality things, adores filing, does not tolerate rubbish or stray things infiltrating my life, has a passion for order. And we won't even think about the number of cashmere jumpers I own.....
Suffice to say I am my Grandmothers grandaughter as she always knew the value of good quality and style. And I am my Father's daughter as he had everything just so, in his desk or office or briefcase or wardrobe.

So I suppose if I analyse my bag it is a constant source of my past, my present and my future, all of which are important to me.

This is a tag BTW, but I don't like handing out tags, so if the mood takes you to reveal this inner sanctum of your life, go for it!

Oh yes and I nearly forgot, my purply/pink gloves the same colour as the bag.... oh I need a lie down now after all this confessing!