On selfies and technology...

I'm getting better at these selfie photos. It's useful when OH is not around. In fact, I'm thinking of buying myself a selfie stick if I can find a cheap one somewhere! I have tried using my camera which my daughter bought me about 7 years ago but unfortunately my Chrome book and it can't talk to each other. I've also downloaded an MP3 album which I paid for and can't get it to play on my Chrome book either. It will just have to wait until the eldest grandson comes to visit and I'll get him to sort it out!

This was Fridays' outfit.

Top charity shopped some months back; from £1.00 rail somewhere. Loose trousers; a recent  charity shop purchase but can't remember where -  they are black with greeney blue, lime green, white and tan splodges; sandals are the T strap Clarks I mentioned in my previous post and this is the sixth year I'm wearing them. They'll probably outlive me at this rate! Bangles charity shopped.

Necklace bought from local shop 'Simi and Lola' and the earrings are from Sainsbury's, I think, They're pretty old now at least five years or thereabouts...

I had a relatively lazy day on Friday, did the school run and some chores around the house then got stuck into another book. I got an email from the library telling me a recent reservation (the latest Anne Tyler) had arrived so that's another one to cram in before I go away. I still have two reservations outstanding (the latest from Annie Proulx and Sarah Moss) so I think I had better cancel them and re reserve when I get back.

This is what I wore on Saturday. I went out walking by myself to recce another walk (nearly 8 miles) and I just put my walking boots and socks on. The top is made of cotton so it is quite cool - just as well as it was very humid.

More Sainsbury's earrings and necklace bought in Oxfam in Newport Pagnell last year.

Skinny jeans; Cat's Protection League last week £2.99, Cotton tunic; Wallis bought from independent charity shop in town. £3.00. Slip on shoes; Primarni. Bangles charity shopped.

I think I'm fairly good at using new technology and I've just downloaded and discovered 2 new things. The first came via a letter asking if I had heard about something called 'Streetlife'. Some of you here in the UK maybe familiar with it already, but it was new to me. I signed up to the website and its remit is wider than one street; it covers the whole of Bedford and some of the surrounding villages. It's very useful; people asking for recommendations of tried and tested tradesmen, buying and selling objects, requests to join a book club etc.

The second thing is an app for the phone called Schpock - the boot sale app. It lists items for sale in your area. I have already bought something - a lovely rug for my landing. This isn't my landing but the landing in the upstairs of the pub where I collected it from. The floor actually sloped to the right but as the pub goes back to the 17th century this shouldn't be too surprising.

The pub had this amazing dresser -  the publican told me it was constructed by his friend from floorboards taken from a terraced house in Staffordshire.  I love the collection of Staffordshire blue and white pottery.

And these rather unusual individual seats like church pews were also part of the pub's lovely interior.

This was Sunday's outfit.

We went to the 'Black Tom Street Jumble'. The area of Bedford where I live is called 'Black Tom' after a highwayman who operated in the area in the 18th century.

I bought a lovely pair of sunglasses, new with tags on; originally from Allders Dept store and marked £69.00 - for £1.00! I also bought quite a few body creams, some cherry scones and a blue jug. Oh, I nearly forgot -  a pair of colourful striped tights!

I bought this top last Monday at Save the Children where I volunteer. It was £2.50.

White jeggings bought last summer and white lace pumps; Primarni.

Earrings, bangles and watch all charity shopped.

I wore this on Monday. I bought the trousers in the independent charity shop in town. The top was also charity shopped last year at the end of last summer and I hadn't yet worn it. It's by Monsoon and a deep and glorious purple.

I bought these sandals at a local shoe outlet for £8.00. Very comfortable, and as I left my other pair of red shoes at our mobile home in Donegal I wanted a pair of red summer shoes to wear here. All jewellery is charity shopped as well.

On Tuesday I went to see my friend in Cambridge. Her son's ashes had come home that day so I went to see how she was and I brought her a posy of flowers from my garden. We went out for a meal and then I drove back in very heavy rain.

I didn't remember to take photos until bedtime on Tuesday evening, hence the selfies. This cotton dress is Italian and charity shopped earlier this year but I can't remember where. It's linen, creases like buggery, but very comfortable and cool.

Mary Jane's charity shopped in Ely and all jewellery is charity shopped as well.

On Wednesday I walked with the Ramblers and we walked in Milton Keynes along the Grand Union Canal doing almost 8 miles. It was a lovely walk and although I dislike Milton Keynes, the city, the countryside is beautiful. It was also a really nice day; not too hot and with a cool breeze at times.

This was Thursday's outfit.

Every thing is charity shopped. Dress is from Store 21, cardigan from M & S, sandals from Leeds charity shop.

All jewellery charity shopped. The earrings are a recent purchase from Keech Hospice shop, necklace from the RSPCA in Newport Pagnell. Bangles from a range of charity shops - too many to mention. I mixed red and green bangles to echo the colour in my outfit.

I bought a couple of more items this week - despite my vow not to! A pair of Hobbs navy checked Capri trousers (£3.99) from British Red Cross; one of  the few things that weren't £1.99! A floral dress from ASOS (£3.00) from Save the Children. I hummed and hawed over the dress on Monday and then on Thursday went back to buy it. It won't be useful for the holiday because of the material, but it will be useful for the cooler months worn over jeans or leggings and cardigan or a jacket. You can't pass up a bargain now, can you?

I also bought myself a selfie stick with a clicker and need to get practising. It's not always a good idea to rely on other people to take your photos and hopefully this will help when I haven't got anyone to hand.

This was what I wore on Friday. I don't usually wear leggings much in the summer but I had started out in skinny jeans but then dropped a can of coke which sprayed me all over, so I had to change out of them.

Leggings M&S; shoes local shoe outlet. Green top British Red Cross £1.99. Kimono same place, same price.

Earrings - independent charity shop 50p.

Bangles - charity shopped.

The reading has been going well. I'm on the last novel but I still have two more non fiction books to read and I should manage this before the 28th when we go away.

I'm planning on walking on Saturday, I have youngest grandson to stay on Saturday evening and middle grandson to stay on Sunday night. It will be the last week of the school run run next week. Hurray!!

It's the River Festival here in Bedford this weekend. I will be there on Sunday on the Rambler's stall trying to persuade the public of the benefits of walking for pleasure. I hope the weather stays fine.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Counting down to the holidays...

On Friday I went walking with the Ramblers. We did 9 miles in total; starting out from the village of Wilden, walking to Ravensden and Renhold and back to Wilden. It rained lightly a couple of times but it wasn't cold at all, and near the end the sun came out. I have new walking boots and they're great; the downside is, of course, they have to be cleaned - one of the most horrible jobs I know, along with cleaning the cooker, unblocking the sink or toilet, and ironing.

Sunday was a lovely day. Unfortunately the housework needed to be done as it hadn't been done the week before when were away  in Leeds.  Where are the housework fairies when you need them? I hate housework but it has to be done and I couldn't leave it for another week. The relief when it's finished and I think - that's it for another week - thank the Lord and pass the gravy!

 Trousers; Lidl. Most trousers are usually too long for me, with some honourable exceptions (Next regular, M &S regular), so I either fold up the hem or I have to resort to scissors and sewing. As I hate sewing this doesn't happen that often. It's a curse, you know, having short legs!

The green sandals are from Clarks and this is their 4th or 5th summer. I have an identical brown pair and I bought both pairs in the Clarks summer sale. The brown ones went down to 17.50 but these ones only went down to 22.50. I expect they'll last for ever; Clarks shoes/sandals usually do. I have a t strap, light blue pair of Clark sandals, again bought in the sale, and they're 6 years old!

Top, camisole, bag, earrings, cuff, watch and beads - all charity shopped.

 I have bought some a lot of clothes over the past two weeks. A  Zara winter coatigan in black and white for £6.00; a brand new with tags, beige (yes - that is the dreaded 'B' word) raincoat by Lorraine (Kelly, I think) at J.D. Williams - £4.00! A pair of trousers from Lidl.  2 pairs of trousers at the Cats Protection League and 4 tops in Newport Pagnell, sandals in Leeds, another pair of trousers and a tunic top from the independent charity shop in town; a skirt from Save the Children - I'm back there on Monday; I have never yet managed to leave the shop without something! And, I haven't mentioned the jewellery I've bought...oh dear, I have a really bad addiction to charity shops and the buying of their contents. On the plus side I have got rid of some trousers, tops and my old navy raincoat so my wardrobe hasn't got any fuller. And I have a complete holiday wardrobe ready for Spain. 

We leave for Spain on 28th July; my daughter, middle and youngest grandson and me. We are back on 4th  August and I shall leave for Ireland a few days later. I will be booking the ferry later this week when I get my pension. I'd like to stay until the end of September but as I help out with childcare I will need to be back for the start of the new term.

I went to a very poor church jumble sale on Saturday morning and bought a top for £1.00 - I couldn't believe it. When I was last at a jumble sale everything was 20 or 30p. I guessed it might be 50p now, but I was flabbergasted at a quid per item. I was too shocked to say I'd leave it, so that's yet another top to add to my collection! I am not going to go round the charity shops at all now -  I need to keep any spare money I have to spend in Ireland.

 I checked out the exchange rate for sterling to euros on Monday and it is very poor...

Monday's outfit.
Trousers; Tescos - bought with voucher. Everything else charity shopped including bangles, earrings, beads and watch.

I took a leaf out of Goody's book at 'Eat the Blog' here  to mix and match the colour of the bangles. I've mixed orange with green here.

I wore this outfit to the funeral on Tuesday. The jumpsuit is from M&S and I've had it for about 4 years but  never worn it before. I bought it with OH's annual Christmas voucher. He always used to give it to me and I'd spend it in the sale. He now gets an Amazon voucher and keeps it!

The jacket is charity shopped as is the hat, (both are from Next) and all the jewellery. is charity shopped. The wedge sandals are also charity shopped but although they were bought recently, I can't remember where.

The funeral service was beautiful and very moving. It was a very sad day but my friend was very brave and dignified throughout.

Wednesday's outfit - everything charity shopped.

I walked with the Rambler's on Wednesday. We walked 7.5 miles and it was a glorious day. Much of the walk was by the River Great Ouse and is called the Kingfisher Way.  We walked from Blunham Village to Tempsford Village to Great Barford Village and back. We didn't see any kingfishers, unfortunately.

I went on a Rambler's Amble on Thursday and we walked 5 miles. I had quite a lazy day and didn't even go for a rummage.

However, on Monday I rescued a black linen Next dress from the ragbag at Save the Children, and I bought a Kanga Collection, London (i.e.vintage 1980s, I think) loose kimono type top in 100% polyester, but brilliant colours, for £2.99 in the YMCA in Cambridge, on Tuesday.

 I also popped in to the British Red Cross on Wednesday and bought a floral pouffe which I'll use as a footstool in my study; I can then read in there with my feet up; as I do downstairs. And the other thing I bought was this bag which I'm going to use for a holiday handbag:

Because it's made of material it will fold up flat into my suitcase. We're flying to Spain with Easy Jet and they don't allow handbags and hand luggage in flight. It still has it's price tag of £1.99 on. I love the colours and the different floral patterns.

Thursday's outfit.

Everything charity shopped except shoes which were bought from the Very sale online a few years ago.
Dress - car boot sale in Ireland in 2014; cardigan Salvation Army charity shop about 4 years ago.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I'm on a reading mission at the moment. I keep a small notepad and write down all the titles of books I'd like to read. I usually get the recommendations from a range of book reviews. Every so often I'll go through the list and see what the library has. I did this recently and with a couple of reservations coming in as well, I've 8 books to read before I go away on holiday. I don't want to take any with me as they'll take up room in my luggage; I have a Kindle for holiday reading. I can't see me achieving all 8 before I go away, but I'm doing my best - it  originally started out as 12 but I've managed to read 4 already. Update, I finished another one on Thursday evening so only 7 to go before the 28th!

I have no plans for the weekend other than a bit of walking and on Sunday there is a big street jumble sale which I'm looking forward to. This will be the second one of these I've attended and I really enjoyed the last one.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
xxxx

Busy, busy, busy...

I'm almost scared to type this in case I tempt fate; the comments problem seems to have gone- except that I have lost all my previous comments. This is very sad as I have had many lovely and very amusing comments, but when you switch from Google to Blogger comments you lose them. I just have to accept it and move on!

What is good is that several people have said they had previously been unable to comment - but now they can!

Here's some of my dried hydrangeas in a lovely Maltese glass vase my friend gave me. Her son's funeral is on 5th July and it's going to be a very sad occasion, but we will celebrate his life in the best way we can.


I had a pretty hectic week last week hence no posts.  On Monday, I did the school run, then went to volunteer at Save the Children. On Tuesday I was at the food bank and went walking in the afternoon. I got slightly lost and ended up walking over 9 miles. I was very tired, went to bed early and slept like a log! I went walking with the Ramblers on Wednesday and got very wet as it rained all morning. We did over 7 miles, nevertheless.  I did a little bit of rummaging  in town in the afternoon and picked up a few nice items.

On Thursday, I was a poll clerk at a local polling station. My day started at 5 am and I was back home at 10. 20 pm. A long day but very enjoyable. (I am devastated at the outcome). On Friday,  it was the school run and food shopping in the afternoon.

On Saturday, we went to Leeds to spend the weekend with my OH's army buddy and his wife.

My OH was in the army for 6 years in the 1970s and stationed in Germany. He made some very good friends there and in 2013 we attended a reunion of his battalion in Southport.  It was the first reunion he had attended (oh the power of Facebook!) and he caught up with people, some he hadn't seen for over 40 years! Later in the year we went to stay with one such friend and his wife and we spent this weekend with them again - and a very good time was had by all. I even managed to visit a couple of local charity shops whilst we were in Leeds.

This  week was less busy, thank goodness. I was at Save the Children on Monday; haven't yet had the chance to operate the new till but I was able to help my colleague log in!

This was Tuesday's outfit. No food bank this week.
Capri pants and shirt from British Red Cross last week. Green sandals from Leeds charity shop - Gemma's Hospice, £5.99. White vest, charity shop £1.00 rail.

Bangles and watch charity shopped. Earrings from one of those shops that sell everything and the necklace was a present from my lovely next door neighbour.

 I managed to go rummaging in Newport Pagnell on Tuesday afternoon and picked up a few bargains.What did I buy? I bought some bangles and a pair of earrings  which cost me £2.00 and 3 tops for 50 p each, plus a pale green kimono jacket for 50p, too! The tops came from Keech Hospice - some of the reduced garments were 30p. What I really am after is some red skinny jeans as mine are too big for me and fall down around my hips which I hate. I didn't find any but that's what I keep looking for...

The weather scuppered my plans for walking on Wednesday. I was hoping to recce a new walk to lead another one in December; they're looking for volunteers at the moment. The Ramblers need the details by the end of the week and I'd need to recce the walk several times first. I'm hoping I get the chance to do it before this week is out. I know the route I want to take but it has to be walked first.

This is what I wore on Wednesday, although I was mainly bundled up in a huge thick cardigan, left behind by my grandson, as it was wet and chilly on Wednesday.

I think you might spot me in a crowd in this cardigan! I needed cheering up and bright colours always help.

I bought this cardigan online before Christmas, when I was waiting for a yellow cardigan to arrive as a Christmas present. It was too light for winter wear, when it arrived, but I hung on to it for summer wear. The vest top was from the British Red Cross in last week's rummage. Black skinny jeans; Lidl and yellow loafers; Tesco outlet store.

Beads, bangles, earrings and watch all charity shopped.

On Thursday the weather was much better and I got out  and recce'd the walk. It's just on 7 miles so if I can get to do it again over the weekend I feel confident enough to pass the details on and get ready to lead another walk.

Skirt bought from Save the Children last week for £3.00; it's by Country Casuals and I just love the print. The white top is one of my Tuesday 50p bargains and originally from Monsoon, and the linen jacket I've had for about 8 years now. Every year I contemplate getting rid of it and every year I end up keeping it - and wearing it! It's very useful when a cardigan might be too warm.

The white loafers are charity shopped but originally from River Island. I bought them from the RSPCA shop last year.

The necklace is about 6 years old and is from Sainsbury's, earrings bought from Save the Children last week.

I made a discovery today regarding charity shops in Bedford - I discovered another one! I've lived here for more than 35 years and I didn't know we had a Cat's Protection League charity shop in a place called Kempston, which is about a mile outside of Bedford. I made a point of going there today and it was worth the trip, because I picked up a pair of green palazzo pants and a lovely cobalt blue pair of skinny jeans. No red ones, unfortunately. When I count all the charity shops; including the one that sells used furniture specifically, we have a total of 18 charity shops between Bedford and Kempston.

I've got nothing planned for the rest of the week except some walking with the Ramblers on Friday and by myself at the weekend. Middle grandson is coming to stay over but he'll be glued to the football!

I hope your weekend is fabulous.

Comments problems...again!

All the previous comments on the blog seem to have disappeared! I have  

therefore removed the' comment via Google +' as I keep having problems with the comments on the blog. I think it is maybe because of this. This is just for a trial period to see if things improve - or get worse! Please don't stop commenting - I really enjoy reading your comments! If you usually use Google+ to comment you can still comment directly from the blog post (I think).

A mixed bag

The last few days have been a mixed bag.
My friend's son died on Thursday evening. He was only 35 so it's  a deeply sad and tragic loss of a life. I had taken her to see him on Thursday; we left the unit just before 8 pm and he died about an hour later. May he rest in peace.

Moving from deaths to births; last week we celebrated 3 birthdays. My youngest grandson was 6 and my OH's twin sisters were 60, all on Saturday. We went to London for the twins birthday party and one of them had baked two birthday cakes:

The other sister's name is on the left hand side.

Those are two little teddies each wearing a diamond necklace, a frou frou skirt and a hat with a pearl in it; all entirely edible! With the exception of the necklace and pearls, of course.

Such marvellous cakes! They put the cake I made for my grandson - chocolate sponge with chocolate icing and covered in Smarties - to shame. But I know which cake he'd prefer!

This is what I wore to the party.

Everything, except the sandals were charity shopped. I bought the black and white top last week in the British Red Cross shop. The trousers are from Spain (just lately quite a few things I've bought have been made in Spain) from the Children's Society. The turquoise coat was bought about 2 years ago, but I can't remember where. The last time I wore it was see OH's niece perform at the Donmar Warehouse in London. An all female production of Henry IV - it was brilliant!

 I've finally painted my toenails!

Sandals from the Tesco Outlet store - £4.00.

All jewellery except what's on my left hand was charity shopped.

This was Friday's outfit - a bit more practical as I had a very busy day. I did the school run, did the food shop, dropped donated items to the food bank and to Save the Children, did a wash and hung it out, had a quick rummage in the 3:16 charity shop, changed over handbags (what a pain that is), picked up the grandchildren from school and then drove youngest grandson and Dad home, came home and cooked dinner...

The cardigan is a recent buy from the British Red Cross - all the clothes there are £1.99.

I also bought a rather lovely Charles Rennie Mackintosh type mirror in there as well. That was a bit of a coincidence because the print on the cardigan is reminiscent of CRM!

The mirror still has its price sticker on it as I haven't yet decided where to put it...the mirror I mean, not the sticker!

I'm hoping to buy a new chest of drawers that will be just for me so I can keep most of my clothes in one place. Currently, I have underwear and short sleeved or sleeveless tops in one chest of drawers; nightwear and long sleeved tops in another chest of drawers. Both sets of drawers shared with OH. Belts, gloves, slips and swim wear in boxes under my bed. Tights and leggings in my bedside chest of drawers.  I keep my socks hanging in a bag on the side of one of the chest of drawers. If I could get rid of the stuff under the bed into a chest of drawers I'd be happy!

Necklace was my mum's and the earrings were a present from OH. I'm wearing brown lipstick for a change but I do prefer red lippy!

Here's Monday outfit - what a weird day it was. Heavy rain showers interspersed with brilliant sunshine but not cold when it rained, so that was something to be thankful for.

A better view of my CRM mirror.

Everything charity shopped including jewellery, Linen trousers = a crease fest!

Jacket bought from Beales Sale about 3 years ago.

`

I didn't get a chance to play on the new till at the charity shop today. I was too busy culling and steaming!

Hope you all have a fab week.