And one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

I started Saturday with manly domestic duties, including planting two lavenders out the front. I would have planted three, to start a front hedge, but there's a sodding great concrete slab going right to the front wall and the side edge. Still! Gardening! (Ow.)

The evening was at Sam and vexen's wedding reception at the Penderel's Oak in Holborn as arkady's plus-one. The crowd was mostly the usual netgoths. The Leffe was very nice, thank you. I got a zillion photos. Including the conga line to "Locomotion" led by bluehelen.

This morning Arkady went for a riding lesson at Lee Valley Riding Centre. It's a terrible shame they don't allow photography, because parts were most amusing. She had a marvellous and productive time, though she's very unsure about their fondness for the riding whip and will likely go somewhere else next time.

This afternoon I remembered what enormous fun it is taking a young girlie out and treating her as a 1:1 scale dollie to dress up in goth finery. quiet000001 is po' and distressed and life sucks, so Arkady and I took her out to show her a good time. We got her a black satin Vollers corset with a velvet band for the bust and ordered some size 39 red flame New Rock Formulas, just like the ones in the icon. (We went into the shop with the sign from this one and they had the Transformers in the foreground of the icon, but only in 4 and 8, not 6 or 7. Bother!) Oh, and some fancy laces for her Docs. She will be seeing the Backstreet Boys next month in the US and will be going backstage and attending the soundcheck in the corset and boots. "Yes, you're very big with the goths." Arkady got herself a flouncy frilly Phase skirt, some fluffy satin arm warmers and red and black ribbon bootlaces. Scorpion have New Rocks half-price, but Arkady resisted by telling herself "that's two riding lessons." I got a bag full of Nightmare Before Christmas goodies for redcountess. It took for fucking ever — I should know better than to expect shopping with two women to take less than all afternoon — but was completely worth it. A pint at the Dev afterwards with Kris goggling at the purty boys and girls. She'll be at November B-Movie.

We ordered the boots from Future Designs (who actually made our new coats) and I mentioned the idea of size 47 Formulas for me — they're only mass-produced in sizes 39 to 42, you see. ... They can get New Rock to do them. :-O Hand-made one-offs for an eyewatering £240, but they can do them. HOLY SHIT. Those should arrive in four to six weeks. I will be one very happy girl indeed.

I came home to deal with the kitties' (or more likely just Neo's) fine work in peeing on the bed. Febreze, flip mattress. Gah. He is ... backward. At twelve weeks (today), he should be able to hold on for the litter tray. Which he can just about work, even if he's only just figuring out that he's supposed to cover up his poo. Arkady will be lending us Tom for a while so he has an older cat around to teach him how to be a cat and clout him as needed.

Update: Kris' pics of the corset.