Birthday weekend

Yes, the fun continues...

Off out for dinner with my OH and brothers on Friday evening. We went to Kettering to an Asian restaurant.

Everything except watch, boots and earrings is charity shopped. The black and white check Zara trousers were my latest acquisition last Monday at British Red Cross,, £1.99 .

Orange top Next; charity shopped; black jacket; David Emmanuel, charity shopped.

The restaurant in Kettering is one we've been to several times before and the food is delicious. I had Goan fish curry. It's probably the closest I'll get to Goa! For dessert I had a fabulous mango and coconut ice cream creation...

On Saturday I went to visit my son and I wore my new OTK boots, my lovely daughter bought me for my birthday.

Everything charity shopped except boots, leggings and leather jacket. Tunic; Age UK sale rail £1.49, waistcoat/sleeveless jacket; The Children's Society.

I love the boots. I love the colour and they are so comfortable.

Necklace RSPCA and earrings Salvation Army.

It's been a great week and tomorrow OH and I are out walking in the morning. Everyone is coming for dinner so that's a brilliant way to end the week,

I hope you all have had a lovely weekend.

Birthday week

This was me on my birthday on Wednesday - just about to cut my cake!

Skirt charity shopped in Donegal last year. Top £1.00 rail at Keech Hospice worn over a floral top charity shopped about 5 years ago. Earrings, beads and bangles all charity shopped. Although you can't see them, I wore grey ankle boots charity shopped a couple of weeks ago.

I had a lovely birthday. 62 years old and I still feel 18 inside! That's the weird thing about getting older; your body changes and ages, but inside you're the same person you always were. I wonder if I'll feel the same in my 70s and my 80s - should I live that long. If I'm still blogging I'll let you know!

I got some lovely presents. Some walking poles and some tan over the knee boots from my daughter. I've had a hankering for OTK boots for a while but all the ones I saw had high heels. Unfortunately, these were a little too porn movie for me; then the lovely Anna of 'Anna's Island Style' suggested flat, OTK boots. Brilliant! No more porn star look.....

 My OH bought me two Persephone books here from my wish list;  a floating book shelf which I want for my bedroom, so I can keep what I want to read to hand. There are some other things he bought me but they haven't arrived yet and I don't know what they are - ooh the suspense!

No, it's not my house! I wish it was. It's unusual because it's a clapboard house with a thatched roof. Thatched houses in this part of the world anyway, are usually made of stone or brick. I thought it was unusual so I took a picture.

I went walking today in Ravensden;  another village in Bedford. I walked 5 miles, heard and saw skylarks and various other birds. The air was filled with birdsong AND the sun came out - briefly!

This pump may have been the original village pump - it was outside the thatched cottage on the roadside; I thought the mini daffodils and crocuses around it were lovely.

When I used to go on holiday to Ireland as a child, in the 1960s; at the end of my maternal grandmother's road was a pump like this. People used it daily as several houses didn't have mains water.

This house (one of two) was across the road from the thatched cottage. It has a date plaque under the window gable which says W and the date 1800. At first I thought the W was for William IV, but his reign started in 1830. It is more than likely the name of a local landowner of the time and this was probably one of his worker's cottages.

I bought this top at Save the Children last week. I love the pattern but I'm not keeping it. I look pregnant in it according to my OH!  It's not a flattering shape if you have big boobs!  I knew it wasn't really right for me but I liked the pattern, the colours and the fact it has velvet trim on the sleeves and bodice.  A case of heart rather than head. Oh well, in the charity shop bag it goes. Jeans M&S, charity shopped, boots Tesco outlet, 2014.

I wore this knitted waistcoat over it for warmth; charity shopped last year.  And, because I'm old fashioned in many ways I have a vest/camisole underneath for even more warmth! Necklace and earrings charity shopped.

I mentioned the 1960s earlier in this post. I've not long finished 'Exposure' by Helen Simpson which is set in the 1960s, and concerns an ordinary family (is there any such thing?) who get involved, unwittingly, in an international espionage incident. It was such gripping reading I forgot to breathe in places; then I watched 'Happy Valley' and  forgot to breathe in that as well. All this not breathing is not good for a 62 year old you know....

Problems with my blog

There has been a problem with Blogger which has affected my blog. I can't always see the comments people leave me although I get the Google+ notification telling me I have comments and it allows me to see maybe two lines of the comment but no more.  When I have replied to a comment, or in one case, when one reader replied to my post - both the comments and replies disappeared!   As a new blogger I find the comments  people leave me both encouraging and enjoyable and without them there seems little point in blogging. 

The Blogger help forum is full of people with similar complaints to mine and the problem has persisted since 25th February. I am therefore removing the Google+ link as a temporary measure to see if improves the situation. Please bear with me.

Yet another kimono!

This is the fifth and final kimono in my wardrobe. It was actually the first one I ever got - a Christmas present from my daughter, about two Christmases ago. I wore it on Saturday with slouchy jeans, charity shopped at British Red Cross shop, £1.99. A green top from La Redoute, bought in their sale about 4 years ago. Black creepers on line retail. Earrings from Sainsburys, of course! Necklace bought recently in a local shop -'Lola and Simi'. Bangles and watch charity shopped.

This is what I wore to go out with my daughter on Mother's Day. I had planned to wear a dress but it was cold and I'm going out next Friday with my brothers for a birthday meal, so I'll wear a dress then. Everything I'm wearing apart from the boots, jacket, and earrings is charity shopped.

Trousers Age UK £1.99; grey spotted shirt charity shop last year - can't remember which one; white jumper £1.00 rail Keech Cottage Hospice shop; boots donated to me by my daughter; jacket Christmas present from daughter; scarf one of 4, present from step daughter.

The meal was lovely - I had three courses as it was a special Mother's Day menu. Normally, I can't manage 3 courses but the starter was small as was the dessert. I also got a Jack Garrett CD and some chocolates. I am very lucky, I know!

I hope you all have a fantastic week.

It's definitely Spring!

After a monochromatic look last week I wanted more colour on Monday.  Plus, it's springtime! I bought this yellow dress from E bay before Christmas. It looked asymmetric in the photos on line- it isn't - but I do like the colour. I used to really dislike yellow and for some reason I now love it!

I wore the dress with my colourful Bench top bought from the 3:16 Christian charity shop. I also wore one of my gold brooches just underneath the scarf.

 The scarf, from Zara, was a birthday present from oldest (and newest!) brother. He's 11 months older than me and we met for the first time in March 2013 - almost 3 years ago. I am going to write a post about my 'new' brother at some point. 

Earrings are a new addition from Sainsburys, bought when they had 25% off. Lapis lazuli ring is my favourite of all my rings and was bought as a treat for myself about 10 years ago.

The tights were bought in a charity shop ages ago and I've only  begun to wear them in the last few months. They are warm and quite unusual. I got three compliments on them on Monday in the shop! Shoes are from Tesco on line sale with 50% off.

I aim to leave Save the Children on Mondays empty handed but again I couldn't do it this week! When I got in they had completely reorganised the shop and had donations brought from other StC shops, so there were a lot of new items.

 I did very well. I bought a dress which was rescued from the ragbag for 50 p. A wine coloured knitted tunic for £3.50. A lovely lime green shirt; M&S again for £3.00. I also bought a pair of earrings and two bangles.

It was cold on Tuesday so I dressed for warmth! Under this knitted tunic I bought on Monday at Save the Children, I have a white top rescued from the ragbag. These are spotty, skinny jeans bought from a charity shop last year and boots from Tesco outlet.

Oh Gawd! I look a right misery in this photo. I'm not - I'm nearly always cheerful and happy! I'm wearing a metallic look necklace, silver disc earrings, bangles including the spotty ones I bought last week and a watch, all charity shopped. The middle bangle is quite unusual. It has an interesting bolt type catch. I've had it for about 10 years now. I can't see any mark or name on it, unfortunately.

On Wednesday we walked from Waresley Woods and did 6.5 miles. It's only 12 miles to Cambridge from here. It was muddy,  cold, the wind was very strong and icy and on the way back it rained. I learned my walking trousers were not waterproof; enough said.

I went walking again on Thursday from Cockayne Hatley church and we did 5 miles.  Such a marvellous name. It would make you want to go there just for the name, I think! The first ever Ramblers walk I went on was from this place. It was a glorious day, bright and sunny but chilly. There are primroses, snowdrops and daffodils everywhere you look across the countryside. We saw a Kestrel, two Buzzards and a running fox.

This is the carving in the chancel of the church which is called the church of John the Baptist It dates back to the 15th century. 

If you'd like to know more about Cockayne Hatley there is a link to a good article here by Candida Lycett Green

This is what I changed into when I came back from walking. I had to go into town  to do a few things and do the food shopping.

Trousers bought at the British Red Cross as are the blue suede boots. Both were £1.99 because all their items are £1.99. The gilet was also charity shopped a couple of years ago but can't remember which one.

This top was bought at Store 21 in their sale on a recent trip to Rushden.

I'm using this photo to join in with 'SpyGirl' Anne's here link up for Navy/Ink blue.

Necklace years old from Primarni and earrings charity shopped, too. Oh dear, I've just noticed a bit of plastic hanging loop hanging out!

On Friday I went out to recce the walk again. Although we walked 7.5 miles I have to start from where people can park and the route we did on Sunday would only have been 5 miles. Today I managed to start at a car park and plot a 7 mile walk. I'm so pleased with myself! The walk has a bit of everything; some climbs, woodland walking, field walking, and a little bit of road walking; plus there were no stiles. This is a bonus because some people have difficulty getting over stiles....

Of course I wore walking boots and gaiters when I was walking, but a  passing, friendly dog jumped up on me and left muddy prints over my tunic. I managed to brush it all off when I got home but had to wash the coat.

I'm wearing a floral top charity shopped over a tunic bought from the Christian 3:16 charity shop on Wednesday for £4.00. Boots from the Reuse centre and leggings from Sainsburys.  Scarf, one of 4, gift from step-daughter. Pink bracelets charity shopped and watch. Pink earrings retail NOT Sainsbury's!

I'm being taken out for dinner on Sunday for Mother's Day by my beautiful daughter. An excuse to dress up!

Help please!!

 Hi - I'm having problems with the comments on the blog. I'm receiving Google+ notifications that I've got comments but when I get linked through to the blog to read them they're not there! I can't even read them in their entirety on Google+ because when I get to the end of the message as it appears on the screen  in Google+ (usually mid sentence) it takes me to the blog where no comments exist! It's very weird and very frustrating. If anyone can help please email me....I love reading people's comments and I'm missing out on them.

Black, white and red

This is a view from Maulden Woods where we walked 7 miles on Wednesday, It was a glorious day, cold, crisp and lovely sunshine. It's perfect walking weather. I f you have layers on (and you should) you can discard them. I had 4 layers on and only discarded my gloves but kept the layers on. I was hot and sweaty at the end.

It was back to the usual weekly routine this week. I got 5 tops for my grandsons at Save the Children on Monday where I volunteer but nothing for me! I've been there since the middle of October and it's the first time I've left with nothing for me. In fact my Save the Children shop is in need of donations, badly. 

Our shop is situated in the town  centre in a pedestrianised area. It is therefore difficult to drop off donations by car and we suffer for it compared to other charity shops. For example, we have a new Sue Ryder shop that opened last summer. You can drive into their car park and unload your bags of donations. The last time I was there - about 2 weeks ago they had a sign on their door saying 'No more donations, please'.

This is what I wore on Tuesday when I volunteer at the food bank in the morning.

Everything is charity shopped bar the leggings which are from Primarni and about 3 years old.

The tunic dress is of unknown origin, the fur and suede gilet is M&S but bought in a Donegal charity shop. Boots are Zara from British Red Cross and I've had them for 4 years now,

Earrings, bangles and watch charity shopped.

On Tuesday, I went for a walk and did 5 miles. I had a browse in a couple of charity shops and bought a pair of long black socks with tartans bows for 99p; 2 cream and black spotted bangles £1.50 and DKNY watch for £4.00. I just need to get a battery for it.

This is Thursday's outfit. You can tell I like kimonos! I have 5 and have featured 4 of them so far on this blog. Here where you can see 2 and here.

I had a disaster with my leggings this morning. I splashed bleach on them. I was pretty annoyed as they were leggings I bought with the voucher from M&S my colleagues gave me when I retired almost exactly 2 years ago. I went straight to M&S and bought a replacement pair. (I rarely buy any clothing at M&S unless I get a voucher for Christmas or birthday, although I seem to buy quite a lot of M&S stuff in the charity shops). Such an essential part of my wardrobe and I ruined them with bleach. I'm afraid I've ruined many articles of clothing because I'm careless with the bleach. You'd think I'd learn wouldn't you?

I bought this tunic on Saturday last for £1.49. One of Age UK sale rail bargains. The boots are from Next and a Christmas present about 3 years ago from my daughter. 

This is my DKNY watch. I went into town and got a battery put in it.

Earrings bought at a local craft fair. The necklace, which was 99p in a charity shop, is weird! It's twisty and bendy and can made into any sort of shape. I've also worn it as a sort of choker with no clasps, it just hugs your neck.

I'm on the last part of Book 4 of the Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante and I have enjoyed them so much. I'm now thinking about what to read next.....

 On Friday I went on a bus walk. We catch a bus to a destination, walk and then get a bus back to where we started from. We were going to Sandy but walking back to Bedford which is 10 miles! If I did it, it  would be a personal best for me in terms of distance walked. I've done 9 miles in Donegal, so should be able to manage that extra 1 mile! Well, we missed the bus to Sandy so caught the next one which took us to Moggerhanger and walked from there - 9 miles in total by the time I got home. Personal best remains the same!

I went to see my son this Saturday.

This boiled wool/felted skirt is from M&S and bought last week from a charity shop. Top is charity shopped and I've had it for at least 5 years.

Zara boots charity shopped, red tights retail on line. I want a thicker pair and have put it on my birthday list.

 Earrings Sainsburys, necklace charity shop in Donegal, ring, bangles and DKNY watch charity shopped. My daughter has taken a fancy to the watch so it may not be mine for much longer....

Tomorrow (Sunday) I'm dragging OH off to recce a walk with me. I've offered to lead a walk on June 15th so need to get my route organised and committed to memory.  I've got maps and a walking partner so it should be straightforward. The last time I walked it back in October, I took several wrong turns and was out for four hours! It should be at least a 7 mile walk so that's my Sunday sorted!