Off to Greece in the morning!

Yes. it's an early start tomorrow. Middle grandson and I are off to Corfu on a 6.25 am flight. We are both looking forward to it. Meanwhile this is what I got up to since my last post.

My trip to the new cinema to see 'Blade Runner 4049' was wonderful but oh the noise! I thought my ears would bleed; it was so incredibly loud. I had a headscarf on but at certain points in the film (fight scenes. chases) I literally put my fingers in my ears because of the loudness. Several other people commented on the loudness when we came out.

The seats were very comfortable but the price of seats ridiculous at £12.00 each. The film was a  dark, dystopian tale. I would like to see the original film having now seen the sequel. (Postscript; OH got the DVD and we watched it this week). The cinema is a Vue cinema and they show filmed concerts, ballets and theatre performances, so I can see more than just films in the future.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Everything charity shopped. The navy lace shirt from the Red Cross; 1.99, can't remember where I got the top from or the trousers. Shoes; 1.99 from Barnardo's.

Everything charity shopped.

I bought this dress by George (Asda in UK, Walmart in the US) in a charity shop in Killybegs, Donegal for 3.00 euros. Leggings M&S retail. Gold shoes; 99p in Barnardo's. Grey cardigan 1.99 in Red Cross, I think. It's one of the most useful items in my wardrobe.

I wore two silver necklaces both charity shopped; as is all the jewellery.

Everything charity shopped except the silver loafers from Lidl. Green trousers from 1.00 rail in the Red Cross.

Earrings from Sainsburys many years ago; all other jewellery charity shopped; the necklace was bought on one of my charity shop visits in Ireland this summer.

Saturday morning football - oh the joys! I've dropped off, picked up and stood in the freezing cold watching all three grandsons playing Saturday morning football games. for the past 17 years. Thank goodness it's not every Saturday I have to do it. Youngest grandson seems to be finding his knee tasty!

We went to visit my son on Saturday as well. It was a lovely day but it is getting dark so early in the evenings it makes the day seems so much shorter. Or is it just that time passes more quickly as you get older?

I look as if I have lost my feet in this photo but it's because I'm standing with one leg bent forward for the 'pose'. I wore my new (to me) black and grey Mary Jane's with this outfit but didn't realise, until my daughter commented on it, that my skirt is actually navy blue not black! I bought it from the 99p rail in one of the Barnardo's before the summer. I found out on my recent trip to the Barnardo's in Great Denham that they have got rid of their 99p rail - much gnashing of teeth from me!  They have also increased their prices. The M&S jacket came from a Kettering charity shop last year before Christmas; 3.99. The blue/yellow/brown patterned top was also charity shopped but I can't remember where...

This necklace is pretty special. I took a shine to it in the window of a Donegal boutique. OH bought it for me; bless him. All other jewellery is charity shopped except the earrings which were donated by my daughter.

I went out walking on Sunday morning and with my 7.3 mile walk it brought my weekly total to 21 miles for the week beginning 9th October. I had further boot problems though; see below.

 I also sewed up one side of my crochet blanket and have started on the other side. There's only the 100 hexagons to sew the ends in for and then sew together and make a border. Hopefully it will all be done by Christmas when I can post the four blankets off and start a new one. I love choosing what I'm going to make next. I'm very tempted by an African flower blanket. It has four changes of colour though and that means 8 ends to sew in per flower. If I make 100 flowers that's 800 ends to sew in plus the sewing together. Maybe I won't!

Image courtesy of Google images 

This was worn to the Food bank and library volunteering on Tuesday 17th. Everything
charity shopped. I bought Apricot tunic in the Cat's Protection League charity shop before the summer for about 3.99. I felt Tuesday was the first proper cold day since I returned to the UK on 2nd September. I needed the layers for warmth and I wore a denim jacket for outerwear. Blue top underneath by East; 99p rail somewhere; jeans charity shopped; as were the orange shoes (Oxfam, last year) and scarf.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I had to drop off several bags of clothing to the charity shop on Thursday. I swapped my summer wardrobe over to warmer clothes so I had a good sort out and got rid of quite a lot of stuff. It took me three hours to swap over with lots of trips up and down the loft ladder. I picked up this necklace for 1.99 in the Mercy in Action charity shop - well I had to have a look didn't I? Everything is charity shopped. Skirt, East; Red Cross shop 1.99; Laura Ashley cardigan same place same price; M&S top 1.00/99p rail somewhere. Tights 99p in a charity shop somewhere; I always buy coloured tights when I see them if they're cheap and my size. I can't remember exactly where I bough the shoes from but they had been reduced to 99p; in the Barnardo's in Ampthill, I think - they'd never been worn...

I bought these earrings in a shop in Bedford many years ago but all the other jewellery is charity shopped.

I haven't walked very much this week. It's the boots you see; or rather the lack of them. When the sole fell off my boot on my walk with Lynne I ordered a cheap pair online the same day. They arrived on Monday 9th - free delivery. I walked three times that week but on the last walk I felt a stone in the heel of the right boot. When I got home I found the heel had developed a split and a stone had worked its way in. I sent the boots back on Monday and had to rely on trainers for walking; mainly around and to and from town. I'm hoping to compensate the lack of walking by lots of swimming when I'm in Greece.

I bought this tunic in Donegal for 3.00 euros. The jeans were from the Cat's Protection League, 2.99. Brothel creepers/beetle crushers also charity shopped from a shop in Wellingborough. All jewellery charity shopped. The zip brooch was 20p from the independent charity shop in town!

Saturday 21st was the last day for the Red Cross shop. It's been in Bedford for 24 years and now the nearest Red Cross will be in Luton. I went in from 9 - 1 pm to help. It was a very sad occasion but the shop was doing a roaring trade - everything 50% off! I have been buying things all week from there as it would be silly not to snap up the bargains. My best purchase has to be this tapestry cape; it cost 2.99 with discount.

It was still in its dry cleaner's plastic.

This was Saturday's outfit. Everything is charity shopped except the boots which were donated by my daughter. I cannot remember where this jacket came from but I know it's handmade and I know I didn't pay very much for it. It may even have been the Red Cross - I have bought so much from them over the years. The dress was from 99p rail in Barnardo's in Ampthill.

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings which I bought from an Etsy shop online.

It's pretty heavy this brooch so will only be suitable for coats and thick jackets...

I managed to buy a decent pair of walking boots in the Red Cross for 1.00 in the sale! They are a size too big, but a couple of pairs of insoles will do the trick. I got OH a lovely blue t shirt and the youngest grandson some jeans and a football top. I also picked up a sweet dog brooch (above) and a fountain pen; I do like to write with a fountain pen when I need to write letters or cards. Talking of which I got a beautiful card from the shop manager. There is a farewell get together with nibbles and drinks next week but I will be in Greece and will miss it.

I'll be back in a fortnight by which time I expect my Greek holiday will be but a distant memory...

A bientot!

A change is as good as a rest...

Hello lovelies! How are you all? Autumn is most definitely here. I love autumn. I love how the trees change colour and I enjoy walking through scrunchy autumn leaves. I don't like the long dark evenings and the darker mornings, but like all of our seasons here in the UK there are pros and cons. I don't like winter very much at all. It goes on for too long!

I took this on a walk through the nearby village of Biddenham.

Here are some OOTD photos

I bought both the brown jeans (Ralph Lauren) and brown patterned blouse from the 1.00 rail in the Red Cross. The blouse is from the 1990s, I think. 

The green top is by Principles. Brogues from the Tesco outlet store. The necklace was a Christmas present some years ago.

I walked with my walking group on Wednesday 27th. We walked in Maulden Woods (6.3 miles) just off the A6 in Clophill and parked in the lay-by called 'Deadman's Hill. It's called this because in 1961 James Hanratty shot Michael Gregston and his lover, Valerie Storrie, here. Gregston died and Storrie was left paralysed. Hanratty was hung at Bedford Gaol in 1962 for the murder. Despite the grisly association it was a beautiful walk and was a crisp, sunny day.

This was Saturday 1st October's outfit. Brogues as above. Kimono one of the four bought in Ireland this summer in a charity shop in Donegal. Black top charity shopped; black jeans from Lidl.

Scarf and all jewellery charity shopped.

I also walked on Saturday with the group. We walked 6.5 miles around the village of Great Staughton in Cambridgeshire to Perry and Grafham Water and back. I spied this sign on a lovely old house and it made me laugh.

I had walked two shorter walks on Thursday and Friday (3.3 and 4.2 miles), just around the local area which brought my weekly total to 20 miles.

I wore the same jeans on Sunday with Anthology (not Anthroplogy as I first read it) tunic bought in a Donegal charity shop. Country Casuals jacket also charity shopped but can't remember where...brogues as before.

All jewellery charity shopped.

For a change I wore brown lipstick all week - did you notice? They say a change is as good as a rest!

I love my red lippy and have worn it since I was a teenager. Just to show you here's a picture of me aged 40 with a group of friends (that's my best friend Ann sitting next to me on the left) on a night out in 1994, wearing red lippy. I like this picture of me because my fingers look quite long and slim in it; I  actually have short stumpy fingers and now I have arthritis in them it doesn't help their appearance!

The Red Cross shop will be closing the weekend on 21st October.  They will have three days to clear the stock and then the Red Cross needs three weeks to restore the shop to its previous state. That means by the time you're reading this I will only have one more day there...I will miss it very much not only as a volunteer but also as a customer. However, I will enjoy the time it frees up.

Everything charity shopped. I bought the scarf on a Stevenage chazza rummage; the trousers are from the 1.00 rail at the Red Cross. They tie at the ankles but it's not very clear in the photo.  Country Casuals jacket as before. Yellow top charity shopped; can't remember where. Yellow shoes; Donegal charity shop. 

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings which are from Bedford Market. See what I mean by short, stumpy fingers?

I wore this on Tuesday 4th October to the food bank and library volunteering. The camouflage top (my first cold shoulder one; I'm always late to the party!) was bought at the Bedford Guild House the last time I was there. All the summer clothes were marked down to half price so I had to snap this up; reduced to 1.25! Leggings from M & S; brogues from Tesco but charity shopped. Headscarf charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I'm taking my middle grandson away in half term. I've booked us 5 days in Corfu. I've never been to Greece before and it won't be too hot. There's a water park (grandson's top priority!) nearby and I'm looking forward to exploring the old town. I need to do more research about the area. Anyway, it means I've not put my summer wardrobe away yet although the weather is definitely cooler. I've selected almost all my outfits for the 4 nights 5 days holiday and will then switch it over on my return. I think I can manage another couple of weeks with summer clothing supplemented by jumpers, cardigans, leggings etc.

I didn't walk with the group on 5th October. I wanted to but I had to wait at my daughter's for the washing machine repairman to call. He came by 1.30 and was finished quickly so I went to see my best friend, Ann. It was a bit cool for what I was wearing; I would have been better off wearing a cardigan rather than this 1.00 rail kimono which I hadn't yet worn. No, it wasn't one of the four I bought in Donegal...

Everything is charity shopped except the shoes. The top was from the Red Cross 1.99; can't remember where I got the trousers from. I'm taking the white linen top (minus the tea stain!) to Greece with me to wear over loose trousers. I'll travel in white jeans, a top and a jean jacket and I'm bringing two maxi dresses; I'll wear one  with a cardigan and one with a light linen jacket. I'll  travel back in white jeans with a different top.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I walked by myself on Thursday (6.7) miles and on Friday 6th October I met a friend from the food bank and we went walking together. We walked a walk I had led for the Ramblers previously of 7.4 miles. We finished with tea and cake in the cafe in the park which is always a great way to finish a walk. It was a lovely sunny day and we both enjoyed ourselves. We've arranged to do it again in 3 weeks and next time Lynne will take me for a walk around Cardington.

The only downside to the walk was that on the last stretch of the walk the sole of my boot parted company from the upper! I though OH might be able to repair it for me but he said it was irreparable. I had no spare pair so went online and ordered a cheap pair which also had free delivery. I had planned to ask for new walking boots for Christmas so the cheap pair can become the spare pair. It's always a good idea to have two pairs because it can sometimes take ages for one pair of boots to dry out if they've got soaked.

Trousers and green top Primarni retail. Everything else charity shopped.

On Saturday 7th I realised it had been three weeks since I last went out for a rummage and as I'm busy next Saturday and away the weekend after it had to be 7th. I went to Newport Pagnell where I haven't been for some time. I did pretty well! I bought BNWT New Look black Chelsea boots for 6.00 - I love Chelsea boots. A warm, fringed beige and black patterned sleeveless kimono/cardigan for 3.00. I also bought a pair of tiny check brown trousers for 50p; a green necklace for 1.00 and yellow and black beads for 1.50.  I stopped in the Barnardo's in Ampthill  on the way back and bought the black and grey Mary Jane's above, (Clarks); a pink and silver identical pair and a sling back flat shoe. All for 1.99 each. Didn't I do well?

On Sunday I went walking through the nearby village of Biddenham. I walked 6.3 miles; my weekly total for last week was 20 miles. I aim to walk between 20 and 21 miles per week spread over a maximum of 3 to 4 days. So far, I'm achieving my weekly goal.

Whilst out walking I spotted these:

I think this is meant to be a peacock judging by the length of the (straw) tail.

This is clearly a fox.

I often see these additions to thatched roofs; I don't know what they're called or if they even have a special name, but the best I've ever seen are the dancing/boxing hares. See here.
It seems that you can buy the straw animal additions; I've asked Professor Google. And there I was thinking the thatcher made them! Maybe some do. I do know that thatching is one of those craft trades that is at risk of disappearing as there are few thatchers left and not many youngsters want  apprenticeships in the trade.

This what I wore today. Everything charity shopped. The trousers are off to the charity shop bag; they don't fit properly around the waist so I end up with a saggy crotch; nor do they fit around the lower leg either; yellow shirt from Dunne's Stores, charity shopped in Donegal as were the yellow shoes.

I've got a busy week ahead;  I volunteered on Monday and Tuesday; I'm walking on Wednesday and going out for a drink and a catch up with Ann in the evening. On Thursday evening I'm going to the cinema with OH to see 'Bladerunner'.  I haven't been to the cinema in years. We have a new cinema in town that's near enough to walk to and from. It opened up over the summer alongside some new (to Bedford) chain restaurants (Zizi's, Wagga Mamma's and  a Steak House) plus a Premier Inn all right by the river. I haven't been to the new area yet; I keep forgetting it's there!

All jewellery charity shopped.

Take care and as I'll be away in Corfu when my next post is due I'll post on the 21st instead...