Monday, 7 October 2024

My final blog post



Hello and welcome! 



It seems a long time since I last posted but as you know we went to Ireland for a month and I've been very busy since my return. Before I briefly tell you about our stay in Ireland; I'll just go back to the end of August when I, with the middle grandson, went to check out Brighton and the university where he would start studying in September. It was a very long train ride from Bedford (about 2.5 hours) but a beautiful sunny day. We walked a lot! We walked to his campus which took about 45 minutes from the station and then from the campus to the accommodation; another 40 minute walk. Brighton is a very hilly place compared to flat Bedford. We took a bus from the accommodation back to the station as we both had walked enough. He seems very happy with his choice of uni and I was delighted to visit Brighton again. The last time I was there was soon after I met OH roughly about 25 years ago! Brighton had a lovely, buzzy vibe, I thought. I shall look forward to, what I hope will be, many visits in the future.


I wore this cool summer skirt from Anokhi by way of a charity shop and a pre-loved M&S jacket. The sandals were pre-loved from a charity shop in Cambridge and so comfortable for all the walking we did. All jewellery pre-loved.


Brighton has a very pebbly beach.




The pier and views from the pier or promenade. (It all seems so long ago, now).




I loved this sculpture at the entrance to this building.


Lovely Georgian houses we passed on our walk to the university campus.



A glimpse of the Brighton Royal Pavilion. Built as a seaside royal retreat for the Prince Regent and completed in three stages; also used by George 1V. The buses would get in the way...

Another random outfit - all items pre-loved.

We had a lovely, peaceful and relaxed time in Ireland. We visited  relatives but spent a lot of time just staying in the local area. I made it into the sea three times for a swim all in Donegal; and did lots of walking with the dog - who, by the way had a marvellous time. The hares that abound at the mobile home site drove her to distraction!  As soon as it began to get light she ran up and down the caravan whining and trying to get at them through the windows. We tried pulling the blinds down but she just put her long nose behind them...



We visited  Derry, twice, and finally made it across the Peace Bridge to Ebrington Square. We were very lucky with the weather having only a couple of days where it rained all day. It was bright, sunny and sometimes pleasantly warm...



On the Peace Bridge itself.






View from Ebrington Square. The red brick building to the fore is The Guildhall.

Some murals from Derry.


The Undertones - punk band from Derry.



The infamous 'Derry Girls' - a British TV show. To the left is part of the walls of Derry; it is a walled city.


As this was in a small square off Ship Quay Street housing the Donegal Craft Centre; I assume it's of the many women who worked in the shirt making industry which powered the Northern Irish economy for almost a century.

We visited the Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal where we went to Malin Head; the northern most point in Ireland. Across the sea, next stop is New York...




More closer to home in Donegal:


 Just by the bridge in Donegal town is this stone sculpture of Red Hugh O' Donnell which looks like wood. Hugh O' Donnell was an Irish clan chief and Lord of Tyr Connell (the ancient name for Donegal).


 On a walk along St. John's Point.


Rain looks demented here but was actually asleep with her eyes half open...

I took no outfit photos whilst we were away and I really enjoyed not blogging. It made me realise even more how time consuming blogging is and that I didn't miss it all; although I missed reading your blogs, I must admit. I have enjoyed my blogging 'career' and it's not far off 9 years since I started blogging in November 2015, but I feel the time is right to stop now and use the precious time I have to focus other things. I am a little closer to finding my biological father which entails a lot of time spent on Ancestry UK and communicating with distant relatives and I have an important call coming which may give me some crucial information. If I do happen to discover who my father is I promise I will post about it.

So, I'm afraid it's farewell from me. I would like to thank those who followed me and read and commented on my posts. I appreciated each and everyone of you. I've met some wonderful people both online and in real life through blogging and blogging has certainly enriched my life in many ways. Continuing on a positive note, I will continue to follow and read the blogs (your blogs) I've come to know and love and I will comment on them so we'll still be in touch that way. As they say in Ireland: 'Mind yourselves and each other.' (Look after yourselves and each other).






60 comments:

  1. Wishing you all the best. You’ll be missed. Thank you for all the time and energy you’ve put into your blog. It’s been a bright spot on the internet.

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  2. I will miss reading your blog and admiring all your lovely outfits.
    It is if course entirely your choice to stop and I can imagine it must take many hours writing such a long post. I wish you well for the future and I hope that you get some answers about your father. All the best to you and good luck to your grandson at university.

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    1. Thank you Carole, and for your kind comments over the years.
      xxx

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  3. I will miss your very entertaining blog, your lovely dog and how close you all seem and I love your cloths, you have an amazing eye for cloths (Sandy from Mid Wales)

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    1. Sandy, how very kind of you. Thank you.
      xxx

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  4. I completely understand the way other things become a priority. I hope you get good news about your father.

    Brighton's a great place; everyone I know who's lived there loves it. Your grandson is going to have a fantastic time!

    I'm one of those people who carries on liking people even when they've been out of touch for years, so even if you've stopped blogging, I'll still be wishing you and your loved ones all the best :-)

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    1. Thank you, Mim and thank you for your comments over the years. All the best to you and Mr. Robot.
      xxx

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  5. You will be missed! Thank you for all your lovely and entertaining posts over the years. I know how time-consuming blogging can be. I have noticed the frequency of my blogging has gone down, but I'm still hoping to improve that when I retire ... Nevertheless, I hope we can still be in touch, and that you'll share the news of your biological father with us! Sending hugs xxx

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    1. Ann, I don't even have the excuse of work! Retirement for me has been busier that when I actually worked but I love it. I hope you enjoy your retirement when it comes. Thank you for your kind comments over the years and I'm sure we'll be in touch one or way or another...
      xxx

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  6. Thoroughly understand your decision to stop blogging but you will be so very missed🙁. Hope that your life forward is all you wish it to be, enjoy every moment🙏. Jan in Castle Gresley xx

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Jan!
      xxx

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  7. I'll miss you for sure, even if we can still be in touch!. But I also understand that blogging is time consuming and you're such an active woman with lots of activities and interesting things to do!.
    Glad that we've shared some years of blogging, it was totally inspiring to read about your life and walks and see your fabulous outfits.
    besos & suerte

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    1. Thank you, Monica. It's a comfort to know I can catch up with all my blogging friends still which is why I'm not sad about not blogging anymore...
      xxx

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  8. I will miss you. I’ve enjoyed your posts and so inspired by your walks and swims! Best wishes.

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    1. Thank you so much. It's quite humbling that you found inspiration from my walking and swimming; I shall endeavour to keep on doing both until I physically can't any longer...
      xxx

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  9. Thank you very much for sharing your vivid outfits and your everyday life!

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  10. Very sad that you're not going to blog again, although I hope good news about your father will bring you back! Have always enjoyed reading about your walks and garden, and seeing your pics of art and architecture.

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    1. Thank you, Gail. I just felt the time was right and now I'll have more time to read....
      xxx

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  11. i will miss you - dear vronni!!
    will miss your colourful outfits with fab jewelry, the news from your lovely family and and the fotos from your walks und sight seeing tours....... much love! xxxxxx

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    1. Beate I shall miss you, too. Your wonderful eco-friendly, thoughtful posts and the views of your lovely garden. Much love to you and Mr. BW.
      xxx

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  12. Ah, when I saw that this is your "last" post, I got a bit sad. Remember when I sketched you?
    I've slowed WAY down on SpyGirl, but not ready to call it quits.
    xo

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    1. Thank you, Ann. I remember so well the lovely sketch you did of me and shall treasure it as you made me look tall and willowy and I'm short and stocky! I got it blown up into an A4 size picture and had it framed.
      xxx

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  13. Vronni, I just discovered your blog last year here in Canada, and I’ve so enjoyed reading your thoughts!! I will miss you. All the best.

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    1. Thank you, Sue and sorry it's been such a short encounter. You could always go back to the earlier blogs and if you do I hope you see an improvement in the photos and the writing!
      xxx

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  14. Welcome home, Vronni! I shall miss your blog but happy that we can stay in touch on Facebook. All the best with hunting for your father, I wonder if he's the Maltese connection in the family? My brother's off there (again!) next week. Wishing you lots of love. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix and especially for your comments over the years. Maybe when I visit my sister-in-law in Birmingham next time we could meet up? My father is most definitely the Maltese connection in the family I just have to find out who the heck he was/is!
      xxx

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  15. Thanks for sharing your fabulous outfits and your life with us. Regards Lise

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    1. Thank you, Lise. I saw today in Bedford whilst running some errands we now have a Bulgarian food shop!
      xxx

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    2. Interesting! I am sure they stock Lutinitsa which is a sauce made from red peppers. Like a tomato sauce but more interesting. You should try it. You can eat like a spread on a slice of bread.

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  16. Appreciate all the effort you’ve put into posting. Loved seeing the outfits and hearing about the walks, the sites and everything. Enjoy yourself now! Olivia in the PNW

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  17. I have loved your blog and enjoy you so much. Alas, although I am a writer by trade, I do not blog. All the best.

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    1. Thank you, Marjorie. I still have to take a photo of the Canadian Airforce crew member's gravestone for you whose plane crashed off St. John's Point in Co. Donegal. I'll make sure I do it when we return to Donegal next year and will email it to you. Take care.

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  18. I applaud you for having spent so long blogging. Your posts were always stuffed full of content and with so much variety. Must have taken up so much time, but it was appreciated. All the best to you and your family....including the lovely Rain. Enjoy life!!

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    1. Thank you, Erika for your kind comments over the years.
      xxx

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  19. I will miss your interesting posts, but I also completely understand-there's only so much time. Best to you, and I hope you find the answers you are looking for about your father.

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  20. You will be missed…enjoyed your clothing choices, your family and books you recommended! Friend from Boston

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  21. Goodbye and thank you. I came to your blog quite late but have really enjoyed reading it. Wishing you and your family all the best. Maeve xx

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    1. Thank you, Maeve and for your comments in the past.xxx

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  22. Well what a shocker. I just happen to chance upon your last blog, just when I’ve posted my first in 18mths! I agree Vronni, blogging is time consuming for someone who puts her whole heart into each and every post, as you have done. Like you I’ve found other things to pull me away from blogging that are less bendy. However I have found the blog a useful reference point time and time again, so I’ve decided I’ll try to post less frequent and shorter posts (which is difficult when we get carried away in the moment eh!).
    I wish you well with your research and everything else that is filling your love-filled days, and I do hope you find time to post occasionally, perhaps with shorter pieces which take up less of your valuable time.
    Best wishes to you and OH, Rain and the family. xx

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    1. Hello Anonymous! I wish I knew who you were. Thank you for your comment. I agree that the blog is a great reference point and I may continue to blog for my own purposes and not just publish them. I found doing the daily outfit photos a bit of a pain in the you know where and should really invest in a decent camera rather than rely on my phone. Good luck with your return to blogging. If you let me know who you are I can read your blog!
      xxx

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  23. Thanks so much for all your work on the blog, I enjoyed reading about your interesting and productive life which I find inspiring. Warmest wishes for the future

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  24. Ah, so sad to find the first post I read of yours is, in fact, your last! Something made me click on your name in Vix's post today to come over and say Hi and have a look! Wishing you much love and luck with your onward journey and I do hope your ancestry searches bear fruit!xxx

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    1. Oh thank you so much Kezzie!
      xxx

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  25. Je vous remercie pour toute la bonne humeur et l'énergie que vous avez transmis au travers de ce blog, dont j'attendais les messages avec impatience !
    Je vous souhaite une bonne continuation.

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    1. Merci beaucoup pour vos aimables commentaires, Vero !
      xxx

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  26. I echo everyone above I love reading your blog and will really miss it, but I absolutely understand it is a time consuming process. I wish you luck with your ancestry journey and lots of good wishes to you andy your family. Maybe you could pop back and give us an annual update!

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  27. It sounds like you’ve had quite an adventurous time lately, with both the trip to Ireland and a special visit to Brighton with your grandson! I love how you’ve captured the essence of the place—it really does have such a lively atmosphere. It must have been nice to see him happy with his university choice too. And wow, 25 years since your last visit—what a great way to revisit memories while creating new ones!

    We're almost at the end of the week! How's it going so far? I just posted a new blog.

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    1. Thanks, Melody. I've given up blogging but I will check your blog out.
      xxx

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  28. I just discovered your blog, so I'm a bit sad that the first post I read is your final one. I'll still go through and read more.I work as an admin for a carpet cleaning company and I really want to find creative ways to style skirts to make things a little more fun. I love the pictures you shared here and they're exactly what I'm going for. Anyway, I'm wishing you all the best in your future endeavors.

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  29. Hi Keri, thought I'd replied to your comment already but via my phone - must have forgotten to press publish! Thank you for your comment and I'm glad you were able to find some inspiration for styling your skirts.
    xxx

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  30. Oh Vronni - I hadn't realised you were stopping blogging. I too have had a very long hard think about blogging and I am gong to reduce my blogging hours hugely. And also move on to a different platform and not be the FrugalFashionShopper as I think as a planet we have to stop consuming - even the charity shop fashion is not good for the planet. So I aim to blog about once or twice a month with a different name. You always showed us the most beautiful clothes. You will be much missed.

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My final blog post

Hello and welcome!  It seems a long time since I last posted but as you know we went to Ireland for a month and I've been very busy sinc...