Tea Meets Dress

I had my fortnightly spill-on-the-desk incident today, only instead of the usual full cup of water, it was a full cup of tea. And not just on the desk, but all over my chair too, and the floor, and my notebook, and my dress. In the middle of the day, soaking wet. I tried my best to mop it up, using the now ruined notebook pages, two tissues, and my scarf. I couldn’t leave my office to get anything more substantial than this, because the entire back of the dress was soaking wet and looked a bit odd. You know.

A number of things sprang to mind as I mopped the desk and dabbed the dress.

Firstly, it was dry-clean only dress. I know this, because I got it dry-cleaned last week, along with three other items, costing €50. In a dry-cleaners that doesn’t take credit cards. So I had to find an ATM. And hand over a lovely, crisp fifty euro note, to get back four items of clothes that I already own. Possibly the least gratifying  way to part with money since getting the boiler fixed.

Then I thought about the fact that I only had a sodden notebook, two tissues, and a scarf to mop up the mess. And that this is despite having written a number of posts and articles about being prepared and efficient when you’re a working parent. And one of those tips is to have a pack of wipes, spare tights and spare clothes at work. I did have wipes once, but the pack was finished (due to the fortnightly spill), and I didn’t replace them. I have no spare dress at work. Well really, who does. But still, I should probably practice what I preach, and at least have more than two tissues.

Then I worried about what I would do about the stained dress for the afternoon – hiding in my office probably wasn’t going to be a long-term solution. Would I need to do some emergency shopping at lunchtime? Hmm, things were starting to look up – I do love a bit of emergency shopping. It’s so fabulously guilt free. I recently dropped mayonnaise on a dress that I was due to wear out that night, so had to buy this one instead:

Oasis dress - office mum

 

I was very happy with the outcome – my credit card, less so. But you know, it was an emergency.

After all that thinking, I stood up to get my coat – it would hide the stain adequately while I went out for lunch and did the emergency shopping.

And then I realised that the stain was gone. So it turns out, tea doesn’t stain. I’m sure I learned something from this.

(or not)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
The social media bits:Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Share on LinkedInPin on Pinterest

16 thoughts on “Tea Meets Dress”

    1. Thanks very much! I like it a lot, and it goes with everything. So it’s practical and sensible really…

  1. I am too in awe to comment…. You own four items that require dry cleaning!
    I bought a new top for St Patricks Day. Delighted with myself for at last looking someway presentable. I sat down to speak with my son on the phone. Cue my dog deciding she wants to sit on my lap, the full cup of scalding tea is chucked all over me as she leaps up, and my lovely new top… stained, and soaked.
    What did I do? Pretended all was okay, waited for it to dry (on my body) and continued to believe I looked fabulous.
    I too learned tea doesn’t stain.
    Great excuse for you to emergency shop though!
    tric recently posted…Present envy?My Profile

    1. I’m totally into letting things dry while I’m still wearing them – I did the same. I suspect this only works with tea and water though 🙂

    1. Oh no – sardines! Of all things. Definitely stains. Tea seems great in comparison!
      Dress is Oasis – my go-to place for emergency shopping.
      Fecking seagulls eh.

  2. That’s a gorgeous dress! I bet it looked fab on you. But I’m confused about the logistics of the tea incident – how did it spill all over the *back* of your dress? Did you reverse into the mug of tea? At speed? In your chair? Inquiring minds…
    Maud recently posted…For The BirdsMy Profile

    1. So, I was reaching for a notebook on my left, with my right hand, and knocked the tea all over the chair on which I was sitting, so I sort of ended up sitting in tea. Not pretty…

    1. Well, it depends on the type of tea I think – if it’s very milky, it might leave a stain. But if like me, you only take the tiniest droplet, you’re safe. So there you go – an important public safety message 🙂

  3. Ooh, emergency shopping, I love the sound of that!Can you call it emergency shopping if it’s a rogue bit of toddler snot on a pants leg?Im reaching here I know! That dress is fab btw!
    Aedín recently posted…Mini chatterboxesMy Profile

Comments are closed.