A new beginning...

Hello again!

As I  started to write this post I had been without my mobile phone camera for almost three weeks. The good news was my phone could be repaired but it would be another week or so before I got it back so there are more fuzzy photos. You have been warned!

 All jewellery charity shopped.

Skirt by Adini; charity shopped. Tunic bought in Donegal charity shop - probably not the best way to wear it with this skirt.  Oh well - my first 2019 outfit mistake.  I wore the tunic to travel back from Ireland in back in early September but I wore it with jeans; it was so hot when we got off the ferry it was a shock! The boots are retail and came courtesy of OH who got some vouchers for a high street store at Christmas. He gave them to me and I found two jumpers for him and a pair of grey suede boots above for me. I just had to pay an extra fiver and they were mine.

Everything charity shopped except boots and leggings.

I got back into my walking regime after an almost three week break. I hadn't intended to have a break but between shortened days due to early sunsets; miserable weather and sheer busyness before Christmas; it was only when it was all over I got my self in the frame of mind to go for a reasonable walk. I walked 6 miles on the Sunday before New Year and 5 miles along the river on New Year's Day. Everyone was out for a walk! It was so busy, thronged with families and dogs and children. The sun was out and stayed out for quite a while which must have been the trigger. I lead my walk on the 30th January so need to get on with a few practice runs. I really miss walking when I don't do it. It has become a part of my everyday life now.

Everything charity shopped except grey suede boots as above. Tunic charity shopped in Co. Donegal; cardigan charity shopped last year but can't remember where. Leggings online retail.

On New Year's Eve I was child minding. My youngest grandson stayed up to toast the New Year in with us, and we watched an impressive fire display standing on our street just watching the neighbours in all directions letting off their fireworks. 

All jewellery charity shopped.

I volunteered on Wednesday at the food bank as Tuesday was a bank holiday. We were climbing over crates and over each other there was so many donations. All very welcome and thank you to the people of Bedford for their generosity and kindness.

I had an idea that evening which I put into practice the following day. As you know, I have too many clothes (!)  and storing them has become an issue. It was brought home to me when I couldn't find  specific items in my wardrobe. I knew I hadn't given them away. I did find them eventually (weeks later!) but they had got pushed behind or under something else.  Time to remedy that!

I have a chest at the end of my bed which was originally used to store bed linen but I had commandeered it  a few years ago to house some of my summer clothes. I bagged up two black sacks of summer clothes and put them in the loft. I moved the bed linen out of the cupboard in my bedroom and replaced it in the chest. Then I reorganised my wardrobes. I took out all my cardigans; folded them and put them in the cupboard in my room. I now have all my jumpers and cardigans and trousers in one cupboard;  below the cupboard housed in 3 large drawers are; my nightwear; my leggings; my short sleeved tops and my long sleeved tops; all tee shirt style.

 In the wardrobe, I put all my tunics on one rail with all my skirts and waistcoats/vests and on the rail above I stored all my shirts and tops. I have another rail in another room which houses all my jackets, dresses and kimonos. Finally, I share another rail in a cupboard next to the bathroom with OH where we store our coats and my maxi dresses. How I would love to have all my clothes in one place in one room. I can dream can't I? I could actually do this with my study, but if I had to choose between the clothes and the books; the books win! I know I am lucky to have so many clothes and somewhere to store them so I'm not complaining.

 I felt so much better when I had done this; I could actually see what I had. I could move the hangers along the rail - they were too tightly packed previously to do this! I also re-donated quite a few items which helped free up space, too. It was a good way to start 2019, I thought and all I have to do now is:

1) Buy less stuff i.e. clothes

2) Practise 'one in - one out' wherever possible.

On the last day of OH's holiday, the Thursday after New Year's Day, we went to London to see his mum. It was lovely to see her. She's 96 in March! It was a bitterly cold day and we just had time for a mini rummage in Willesden High Rd and Willesden Green. All I bought was  a blue Beanie hat by Bench for 1.00! Wasn't I good?

 Seen on the corner of Willesden Green, this is the smallest barber's I have ever seen.  One chair only! Where you can see the mirror on the door behind the chair, that was the length of the shop!  It was just a very tiny triangular space with a barber's shop inserted! It's hard to convey how tiny it was in this photo but you would have had difficulty swinging half a cat; never mind a whole one!  Mind you, £7.00 seems a good price to me for a haircut; they start at 10.00 here in Bedford...

This is what I wore. I was sorry I didn't wear my grey leggings instead of these (charity shopped) grey tights which had tiny coloured random squares including yellow ones. My legs were cold.

Yellow dress Tu sale; boots; Matalan retail, top under dress by Country Casuals; charity shopped about six years ago. Kimono charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings bought in Donegal  and made by a local artist.

On Saturday, it was my grandson's 14th birthday. I made him a chocolate button chocolate cake with sparkler candles. He was very pleased.

Happy birthday, Isaiah!

I love this tunic but I always look like a sack of potatoes when I wear it. Charity shopped somewhere but I can't remember where. Lace effect leggings by M&S; Christmas present from daughter. Boots by Oxfam. Scarf gift from a friend. Top underneath tunic by M&S; 1.00 rail charity shop.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Amongst my stack of painted bangles are the two I bought in Northampton last week.

I managed to read 113 books in 2018. A large number of books are read in July and August when I'm at our mobile home in Ireland. Plenty of time to read. I often stay up all night to finish a book when I'm there because I can always have a lie-in in the morning...

Daughter took these
 photos. All jewellery charity shopped.

Checks, spots and stripes.

This was the best of a bad bunch of photos. Taken from the other end of the hall so you can see all the coats and coats over the banister...OH always take photos from the stairs so all the mess isn't seen!  Checks, spots and stripes. Everything charity shopped. I bought the knitted top in Ireland and the spotty blouse is a 1.00 rail find from Great Denham, Barnardo's. These check trousers are very warm. I can't remember now where I got them from but they're good winter staples. Striped scarf also charity shopped.

My phone was to be delivered on Tuesday so I didn't make it to the food bank that week. It was good to have the phone back and the quality of the photos will now get better! I had various errands to run in town on Tuesday afternoon so as well as a trip to Great Denham to hand in my volunteer application to Barnardo's and have a rummage; I also fitted in a short walk. When I last went to Barnardo's in Great Denham they were really desperate for volunteers. I picked up a form and decided I would like to volunteer in a charity shop again and why not in one of  my favourites? All I can hope is that it doesn't close down like the other two I volunteered at did!

Everything charity shopped except the boots - online retail. Dress; Phase Eight 2.99; Barnardo's Great Denham; jeans can't remember where; Kimono by Indigo; M&S, 3.00 Age Concern Northampton.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Both Barnardo's and Keech Hospice in Great Denham had sales on. Irresistible! I bought a blue/grey/yellow tunic and an asymmetrical roll neck top in Great Denham at 99p each. Keech had plenty on offer. I bought a skirt; a pair of trousers; (summer weight), a  long, short sleeved cream cardigan; a long sleeved grey floral top and white and grey knitted tunic. all at 1.00 each. So, 7 items bought for just under 7.00. I re donated 5 items; overall gain was 2 items in.

I had planned to walk with the group on Wednesday but I had set my phone to do updates overnight. I completely forgot this would mean the phone switches itself off and consequently the alarm didn't go off in time. I hate having to rush so I took my self off for a walk. It was a very cold day with a strong. icy wind but it was sunny! I recce'd my walk and finally got the route right. I  made it 7.3 miles by the end which is spot on. But oh my goodness, was I knackered by the time I got home. I'm out of practice and it felt like it. Never mind; I'm getting back into my walking routine now. On Thursday I recce'd my shorter walk (an amble) that I'm leading in February for the Ramblers. This one starts and finishes at the same place as the longer one but the middle part is different and at 4.5 miles almost 3 miles shorter.

On Friday I set off on my long overdue visit to Hilary in Devon. We had a lovely time.  Lots to catch up with! On Saturday went to visit her daughter and twin grand daughters in Exmouth. We hijacked their scooters...

We got rained on but soon dried out. We went out for a meal and did several lovely walks. Look at these beautiful 16th century almshouses in Tiverton.

I'm taller than the door!

I was sorry to say goodbye to my friend of 53 years but hope to be back in Devon in May half term week when I will probably take grandsons as well. Although the 14 year old may not want to come - he's got very grown up all of a sudden and doesn't want to hang out with me as much as he used to. That's okay; they all go through this phase. This is the fourth teenage child I've had in my life and the one thing you know about the teenage years is that they/you get through them and they come out the other side as lovely individuals. Only one more to see through...

Kimono bought in Co. Galway charity shop; dress by Primarni retail; tights charity shopped and boots Matalan retail.

All jewellery charity shopped. I'm wearing giraffe earrings as the colours went with my outfit and beads.