Bank Holiday edition

This is being worked across the bank holiday weekend  which has its modern life issues such as contractions of public transport service just as other things like special markets and that take place.

The other is of course Bank Holiday was the sobering reminder than having been off school since around the third week of July, return was juts just over a week away with being new forms, possibly even a new school too.

So for the Little Gurl Tammy, it brings back lots of memories of preparing for that and for something enjoying those last week or so's carefree fun playing on your swing swaying back and forth which I love to do even if I have to fight the insects off

Summer used to include much watching of cartoons back to back and in the late 1990's and early 2000's come the summer I'd sit with ice creams watching reruns of classic older cartoons from my youth.

Fittingly then I got this box set over seven sides of original Tom and Jerry cartoons including some some networks no longer show because of changed attitudes even though the "right" moral outcome is shown.

That's a load of fun for Little Gurl me.

Classics that were forgotten

This week we are catching up with things that arrived at Tammy's while away.

Hjalmar Borgstrom  the Norwegian composer has been well on the way to being rediscovered since the beginning of the new millennium. 

Some composers do long disappear from public consciousness over time and he is one of his most important works were performed in his native Norway until the Second World War.

No one seems to know just why that was.

 Until his death in 1925, he had also played an important role as a critic too.

With the premiere of his two operas and above all the rediscovery of his extraordinarily picturesque symphonic tone poems, a new page in this story of finding acceptance.

A contemporary of Richard Strauss who studied with Johan Severin Svendsen and Carl Reinecke among others, proves to be a legitimate descendant of Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner; it is difficult to escape the captivating boldness of his programmatic concepts and their unconventionally beautiful realization.

I found these works on regular cd from WDR radio recordings encouraged by a favourable Presto review highly enjoyable.

 

Some classical music composers are well known, being household names even amongst those who aren't greatly interested such as Mozart, Beethoven,Chopin and Holst and yet others are seldom heard and even less played regardless of their musics quality.

Clara Schumann a member of well known family that included Robert whose works are much programmed in concert halls is such an example.

Clara Josephine Schumann (née Wieck; 13 September 1819 – 20 May 1896) was a German pianist, composer, and piano teacher. Regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era, she exerted her influence over the course of a 61-year concert career, changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital by lessening the importance of purely virtuosic works. She also composed solo piano pieces, a piano concerto (her Op. 7), chamber music, choral pieces and songs.

Part of the reason may down to her anxiety and issues with how she saw her own works, often requiring her brother's support to compose and have performed for the public in an era that required a certain amount of self publicity and getting sponsors to act as advocates for your music.

Secure employment even for the best was uncommon and thus over time we heard nothing of her works, indeed it wasn't until the 1996 Proms season a work was performed and on the opening night of this years prom in July we were treated to a performance of her Piano Concerto.

That artist made a recording a few years ago for Decca Records with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic coupled with selection of other piano works  and I recently bought a copy out of curiosity, finding the complexity of her scores fascinating.

The Modern Sissy

The genius of this goes back to last week where we were away at a Littles meet where we'd only taken skirts with matching socks and tights and the BabyDoll nightdress and french knickers working through the last year and a bit of getting together a look for me that worked.

We've explored over the decades various ideas and takes around what being a Sissy Gurl is, how being "Little" fits into that and different presentations from the classic more adult sissy gurl to the more child-like little one and really the latter is the one that needs the attention.

You can just go with bigger versions of what actual girls wear which works fairly well around the Schoolgirl/gurl look but that's never all she is, she goes and hosts parties and visits places like the entertainment complex with bowling rings and a cinema.

What would the legally adult gurl would want to wear as school socks while "regulation" were never cool enough to wear at a party and where do we start getting a more sophisticated look?

Tights are an option, can be patterned but do get uncomfortable and aren't always the easiest of things to put on while stockings are basically inappropriate for children and for some of us difficult to put on and attach suspenders (garter straps).

For those of us who might like the elegance and sophistication of skin smoothing tights without the struggle to get them in your feet and the right the way up, socks with an more group up wide lace band going just over the knee would work well.

A sophisticated more grown up look for a gurl at a social occasion, easy to put on, hygienic and going well with smarter dresses and skirts. 

There are other things like for those more on classic Little Gurl princess with hur plushie that need not involve ankle socks or school pereline socks.

A rose woven pattern  with an elastic top helps to take that look and add a bit of elegance and sophistication to it.

These are what I really do like though.

I've always loved the look of stocking tops although I found tights easier (but not easy with my damaged hands) and the appeal of lace but these socks are really made for Cosplay wearing with Lolita dresses both as a social thing and also at Anime and Manga conventions role playing characters.

Now there are two styles these heart ones and some rose ones and both come in packs of two, one white which works well with dark dresses and skirts and the black that you'd use typically with white.

For me they replace stockings which is something on the more adult side mistresses had found worked well on me, making the most of my legs without both some of fetish connections that stockings today had rather than until the late 1960's women who were "old enough" just wore them and the issues of fastening (and getting them on neatly).

They work with all sorts of skirts and dresses in satin, wool and mixed fibres from the more modest satin dresses aimed for sissies to mid and mini skirts in polyester  or even leather

They can easily fit within a glamour sissy look

The week saw me have with the one exception of white gym knickers for underneath a skort I wore for sports as I feel gurls like me really are better wearing feminine sports gear wearing just satin relatively plain knickers.

I found in one sense having to wear them really made me feel so much more a gurl for having soft materials, lace trimming and pretty bows.

I think in the context we are talking about here rather than what you might wear re-enacting being a school girl in the past, wearing fairly traditional uniform including the "regulation" school socks and knickers, the adult but little gurl having a social life should wear such knickers as a matter of course as they are pretty and as that gurl, you want to be pretty.

Thus going forward Tammy, who as we all know is definitely a Sissy Gurl will now be wearing such panties coupled with socks such as those shown above when she is not "at school" Tm from now on.

This is a look that is "Sissy" but is Little occupying the sweet spot that takes in Little Girl princess and adds the glamour of satins, lace without getting into anything "adult" but clearly recognizable to gurls.

Tammy is a pretty Little Sissy Gurl and benefits from presenting in a manner that suits Little Sissies.

Good Gurl!

Littles Camp Summer 2024

Well I was away last week at a Littles meet up where it was rather warm, indeed excessively so which meant I didn't actually bring a sweater, cardigan or sweatshirt with me at all and in fact I hardly wore a coat either.

 Sissikins left the house to be picked up around midday which meant the postie saw me as did the neighbours looking rather like this, more schoolgurlish and even walked among the "muggles" at Whalley Abbey without issue.

Being demure, speaking softly, avoiding fetish linked presentations and not sounding like a trucker I feel helped out.

Working in teams we made housed from card and decorated them with pink being a popular colour

We also did Home econ baking cakes and cookies of which mine were chocolate.

Rather tasty,what?

Sissy gurls win prizes as I won a dolly with a pretty dress and crown on in the outdoor treasure hunt which was most fitting as I wore a fair bit of pink.

That include by pink satin with white lace BabyDoll night dress and satin frilly french knickers which was the most suitably sissiest I have ever worn away and seeing myself really dollied up as a sissy felt just wonderful.

Also won in the general knowledge quiz was this most appropriate Guides water carrier with pop up straw which will prove useful when out either on day visits or exploring as an eternal Brownie.

We played rounders with a proper long bat  fielding and  batting in two teams and had a school sports day event where I wore a green top and my white skort with frilly socks.

It was an enjoyable time spent in pleasant company and some great home cooking.

Beyond that, I fel the bigger thing was my feeling comfortable as a Little Sissy frilled and in satins beneath my skirts - I didn't even have a single pair of shorts with me so I just had to find the inner confidence to go out and talk dressed obviously feminine.

Sissikins was a very Good Gurl not just helping out but being true to hur Sissy nature.

Away time thoughts around Little Sissy Tammy

This week is a bit on auto pilot for not actually being here today because I am away at a Littles meet more of which will follow soon when I have arrived and that as being away does both leave you with things to do afterwards like getting your washing done and just feeling a bit jet lagged.

There's always a bit of balancing act to be had between the absolute amount of outfits to take, finding a way that reflects sissy gurl me but isn't so overly BIG sissy that others may feel uncomfortable and obviously when the event is Little, everything needs to stay that way.

The other thing is when you start to pack your case you see the shape of much of what you have and it's fair to say chunks do fit more towards Little Sissy and others as Katie kind of got it right last time are more mix and match rather than being say classic LG school looks and in some way ways reflecting the way the LSG younger me would be if in a real life school.

Satin as a material has crept in quite strongly over the last year or so when I started creating a more bespoke Little Sissy Gurl Look for me, less around the adult side but from a uber feminine way, almost princess way

and I can see more of that coming in even if marketed as "sissy dresses" but being less of the highly puffed Baby Girl sorts.

Things like this, a fairly simple classic little girls but ticking all the sissy gurl boxes sort  with pretty bows, soft colours and all satin with an elasticated  waist to help create a good waist in a fairly decent length where many Baby Girl dresses tend to show your underwear.

In the sort of context I'm talking about a more Littles, more child-like context, things that go heavily into "humiliation" and the like don't belong but something like this teamed with socks with frills and bows would work with matching pink satin panties.

That is why I've bought this.

Tammy can be a very good Sissy Gurl letting it all out in a way that remains little. She just needs encouraging 

Now 12 inch 80's Pt.II

 The World of NOW, gets bigger and bigger taking in numbered volumes of Now That's What I Call Music,, Now Yearbook, themed Now That's What I Call ..... and was joined by the cd only Now 12" 80's series which looks at 12" singles from a specific year rather than the three compilations of 80's 12 inch singles.

The first bunch 1980 to 1982 are on an earlier post.

My original intentions were to group post all the series together but the 1982 edition gained two volumes which doubles the post and you will note they've done the same with this edition so it seems that the remainder will follow the two part format.

That makes it more sensible to break them into chunks and update each.

As ever this is a bare bones card wrap around cover set which is a pity as a book form with some notes as with the Deluxe Now Yearbooks would of been better as this is amimed more at music fans and collectors but we live in their world....

Disc 1 opens with two of 1983’s biggest artists with Wham!’s "Bad Boys”, followed by Eurythmics’ (over 12 minutes remix of) "Right By Your Side”before being joined by Duran Duran with "Union Of The Snake (The Monkey Mix)", and the extended “Communication” by Spandau Ballet. The Human League keeps the momentum with their massive hit "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" which I bought straight on 12 single back then, while Howard Jones and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark keeps up the Synth-Pop  with "New Song" and "Genetic Engineering" from the Dazzleships album respectively. Extended versions from Blancmange, Ultravox, and Tears For Fears  "The Way You Are" are also feature on the first disc.

Disc 2 celebrates Pop Gold with Adam Ant’s "Puss 'N Boots"one I remember from early Signal Radio here, Bananarama’s "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", plus The Belle Stars, and Bucks Fizz. Pop and New Wave fused on fabulous tracks from Haysi Fantayzee, and Altered Images with the unforgettable "Don't Talk To Me About Love", and hits from a huge chart year for Kajagoogoo and Paul Young. The disc closes with more Synth-Pop from Heaven 17, Soft Cell and a huge U.S. hit for Taco with an unexpected cover choice in “Puttin’ On The Ritz”.

Disc 3 starts from the dancefloor with the iconic "Flashdance…What A Feeling", from Irene Cara, and the stunning Electropop work-out in extended form on Freeez’s "I.O.U. (Megamix)" a personal favourite. The legendary Arthur Baker produced “Confusion” for New Order, and “The Harder They Come” for Rockers Revenge, and Forrest enjoyed a smash covering “Rock The Boat” while Modern Romance and Level 42 bought Pop and Funk crossover to the charts. This disc works towards its finale with four UK acts who all enjoyed great success in ’83 with these 12” versions enhancing already great tracks – Madness, Fun Boy Three, The Style Council, and Nick Heyward who’s “Whistle Down The Wind” was his first solo hit.

Disc 4 offers a star-studded line-up opening with 12” and remixed versions of Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson’s "Say Say Say" that took much effort to steem a sudden drop in the charts and Billy Joel’s "Tell Her About It" before The Fixx appear with their huge US hit “One Thing Leads To Another” from the album Reach The Beach, followed by Debbie Harry, and Laura Branigan who achieved a global success with “Gloria” from her first album. Hi-Energy floor-fillers from Miquel Brown and Divine, are next alongside Ryan Paris’ pan-European smash “Dolce Vita”. The collection concludes with classic dance hits from Lydia Murdock and Phil Fearon & Galaxy and a great collaboration between the legendary Donna Summer and Musical Youth.

For gathering so many interesting and important 12 inch singles of the year, a good number I personally bought at the time, this set is well worth it filling next to Now Yearbook 1983 (and Extra+Vault) before the next instalment is released. 

On October 18 Part 2 duly arrived adding some additional 49 tracks to this years selection packaged in its now common place wrap around card sleeve.

Just why these cannot be in book form like "Yearbooks" or "Yearbook Vaults" really escapes me as the material more than justifies such treatment with pictures and commentary.

Disc 1 kicks off with the U.S. remix of Wham!’s classic "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)", starting off a stellar run of huge hits in their 12” versions: Spandau Ballet with the iconic "Gold", "Who's That Girl?" by Eurythmics, Bananarama with "Cruel Summer", while Culture Club’s infectious "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" was a big U.S. and an essential 12” version. Some of 1983’s new chart stars are up next…the extended version of Marilyn’s "Calling Your Name" and Kajagoogoo’s "Too Shy (Midnight Mix)" feature alongside The Lotus Eaters, Men Without Hats and Flash And The Pan. The first disc wraps up with 12” gems including Joe Jackson’s cool, synth driven "Steppin' Out", and Mike Oldfield’s Top 5 hit ‘Moonlight Shadow’.

Within a collection of ‘80s 12” versions, Disc 2 couldn’t open with anything more legendary than New Order with their groundbreaking "Blue Monday" – released only on 12” in 1983. Some timeless new-wave follows including The Cure with the extended version of "The Lovecats", Echo & The Bunnymen’s "Never Stop (Discotheque)" and Public Image Limited with the remix of "This Is Not A Love Song". Aztec Camera’s "Walk Out To Winter" adds a touch of indie-pop before huge chart pop from Madness with "The Sun And The Rain", and TRACIE and Tracey Ullman providing a fun, upbeat interlude. The disc closes with extended versions of anthemic pop from Paul Young with "Love Of The Common People", Rick Springfield’s "Human Touch", and Yes with the ‘Special Remix Dance Version’ of “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”.

Disc 3 is all about the dancefloor, opening with one of the decades’ biggest floor-fillers from Lionel Richie with "All Night Long (All Night)", followed by KC & The Sunshine Band’s irresistible #1 "Give It Up". Donna Summer’s empowering "She Works Hard For The Money" is up next, followed by ‘80s disco classics, Indeep’s "Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life", and Divine’s “Love Reaction”. Enjoyable mash ups of hip-hop and electro-pop follow courtesy of Malcolm McLaren with the iconic ‘Double Dutch’ in its full 12” version, and Rock Steady Crew with the extended version of “(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew”. More dance-pop from Modern Romance, and Shalamar, while Booker Newberry III’s soulful "Love Town", Billy Griffin’s ‘Hold Me Tighter In The Rain’ and Level 42’s smooth "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)" round off this funky disc.

Disc 4 begins with the Monster Mix of Duran Duran’s first #1 "Is There Something I Should Know" and Heaven 17’s timeless "Temptation". Tears For Fears deliver brilliant pop on the extended version of "Change", while Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Blancmange continue a superb run of synth-pop gold with “Telegraph” and “That’s Love, That It Is”, ahead of Japan’s cover of “All Tomorrows Parties” and Annabel Lamb’s cover of "Riders On The Storm". The disc concludes in style with Yello ahead of Talk Talk’s "My Foolish Friend" and Midge Ure’s collaboration with Mick Karn on "After A Fashion" – even more sublime in its’ extended version, wrapping up this second volume of 1983’s 12” essentials!

1986 and the gurl

 

Having made a donation to a site I belong to I thought we might rewind to the past a bit this week as much as it has a bit of a hold on me.

1986 was in some ways rather like 1980 in some ways with me in that for that year I had a diary and annuals just like I did before and I read comics and mainly watched children's tv because Tammy remained very much a child.

A child who loved things like Brownies and Guides.

I was keen on nature, enjoying taking walks together with hikes, learning about how things grew and conservation such as the plight of otters and water voles.

It also was the year of the 1986 National Garden Festival which was about bring former industrial sites back into use in Etruria, Stoke on Trent, which I visited.

1986 was important for it was the year I really started to get to grips with past memories as some of those experiences had left me traumatized, not least those around trying to be your true sissy self in an era of casual queer bashing.

Listening to a radio show that played music from one week per year effectively turned and brought out a page at a time those memories as I reframed them and learned to heal.

I did like folk music although you might say I was born with two left feet when it came to dancing but I loved the pretty clothes and I started to dress more gurly that year as part of that healing process, learning to be more comfortable in my own skin.

I always like puzzles, they were a popular part of annuals which on rainy damp days such as today really helped as at least when you couldn't get out to play there were things you could do to keep busy and happy.

The Dandy always was a favourite and this is a copy from April 19th  that year with Desperate Dan on the front cover,

To return to the beginning, here's  Dandy annual for that year which I had together with the Brownies annual.