Ireland and after...

Have you had a great bank holiday weekend? Ours was nicely chilled out with nothing too strenuous to do but first to back track to my last post.

Hello again!

I'm afraid I got my beaches mixed up in my last post. Above is me on Rossnowlagh beach; the last beach outfit photo featured on the other post was me on Coral beach, St.John's Point. 

Everything I'm wearing in this photo is charity shopped except the leggings which are from by Tu at Sainsbury's. The orange boiled wool jacket is by Fenn, Wright and Manson: 8.00 from the Day Hospice shop in Kempston; the tunic is from the 1.00 rail in Keech in Great Denham; and I finally found a plain green shirt in the animal charity shop in Donegal on the 1 euro rail. All jewellery charity shopped. Headscarf present from a friend.

And talking of Donegal do you recognise this woman with Ben Fogle?

 I was in the SVP charity shop (St. Vincent De Paul) in Donegal and a woman was standing next to me at the counter. I had asked to look at an amber type necklace and the woman standing beside me began to tell me about a real amber necklace she bought from a charity shop for 2.00 many years ago. Her face looked so familiar and then the penny dropped.  Her name is Judith Hoad and she was featured in Ben Fogle's series 'Lives in the Wild'! I told her I recognised her from the series and she threw her hands up in mock horror! We had a great chat about lovely Donegal where she has lived for the past 25 years.

I was expecting to go to the food bank on Tuesday but youngest grandson had a Teacher Training Day, so I couldn't. This was Tuesday's outfit. Everything charity shopped. Trousers by Monsoon, 3:16 charity shop, 3.00; top by M&S 1.50; my Barnardo's; kimono jacket was from a Royston charity shop and about 3.00. The Mary Jane's are by Clarks but I can't remember where I got them - it was only last year!

All jewellery charity shopped, except this ceramic brooch, which I bought in Donegal. It was made by a Northern Irish artist in Co. Antrim. I try to buy at least one piece of artisan made jewellery every time I go to Ireland.

I walked with my group on Wednesday; it was the annual bluebell walk to see the bluebells in a couple of local woods in nearby Wootton and Kempston. We walked 7.5 miles and had pretty good weather; the promised rain held off until overnight.

I don't think they were as prolific as last year...

This lovely fellow was dressed to kill. 

Wearing a protective coat against the threatened downpours he looked extremely stylish - a horse fashionista, one might say! I believe the stripes on his protective coat are to confuse and keep the flies at bay...

In the afternoon I had a rummage in my Barnardo's as I had an appointment to attend on Thursday afternoon and had to leave promptly at 1 pm. I'd missed my Monday session at Barnardo's as it was a bank holiday, so I was going in on Thursday morning instead. I got lucky at Barnardo's on Wednesday's afternoon rummage and bought a pair of trousers for 2.00 and a tunic top for 3.00.

 Everything charity shopped. Denim jacket by Dorothy Perkins and bought about 5 years ago. Needless to say I can't remember where I bought it from! The skirt is by French Connection and was bought in the 3:16 charity shop for 3.00. Blue top by East from a 1.00 rail somewhere. Striped tights; birthday present from my daughter. Grey velvet brogues; Primark sale 5.00. Scarf as before.

All jewellery charity shopped. The earrings are a recent acquisition from a Donegal charity shop and cost 1 euro.

This is the skirt I bought with some of my Christmas money and the one I tried to return to M&S only to find it had been reduced to 2.69! I find it very hard to know what to wear with it. It needs to be something quite fitted as the skirt is made of thick material and is quite flared. I can only think of a red crossover top I have or a white blouse with black jacket which is quite formal. Any suggestions? Nothing tucked in -  think about my spare tyre...

These are the trousers I bought at Barnardo's for 2.00. White top 1.00 rail somewhere; jacket 1 euro in a Dublin charity shop. It's by Precis. Shoes from PJ Shoes retail in Kempston.

Scarf and jewellery charity shopped.

On Saturday I went to spend the day with my son and wore this. Heart top; Barnardo's 3.00. It's by Glamorous. Trousers by H&M; can't remember where or how much. Black lace top by Next 2.99 Red Cross and shoes by Zara 2.99; Barnardo's last summer.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Earrings from Sainsbury's.

The last week of April was a busy one for me. I did the school run on Monday but also took youngest grandson to our local hospital where he's starting a course of UV treatment for his eczema. By the time I dropped him off at school it was gone 11 so I volunteered at the charity shop from 12 until it was time to pick the grand kids up again from school at 3.30. I picked up an orange dress/tunic reduced to 1.50 whilst I was there. I also had eldest grandson and girlfriend staying for a few days as they waited to move into their new place...

 I managed a short town walk at the weekend and spotted another previously unseen blue plaque to this radio and music hall star. This was on De Pary's Avenue which makes 3 blue plaques on the one street!

This was Tuesday's outfit. Everything charity shopped. Trousers by Zara bought from the 1.00 rail in the 3:16 charity shop. Sleeveless top 1.00 rail somewhere. Yellow linen shirt by Wallis 3.99 at my Barnardo's. Scarf same place; 1.00. Shoes Donegal charity shop; 3 euros.

You may not notice anything different about these photos but there is! I took them myself. I found a tripod for a camera phone online and this is me experimenting...

It caught me just as I moved...

This was my very first attempt - no feet!

All jewellery charity shopped, except earrings which were a present.

I volunteered at the food bank after a three week break. It was good to be back. My friend Lynne who volunteers with me on a Tuesday was off to Peru the next day! Hasn't the world shrunk? When I was young the thought of anyone going to Peru for their holidays would have been as astonishing as men going to the moon...

On Wednesday, I decided I wanted a lie in and didn't make the group walk which was from the village of Northill. Instead I got up at my leisure and went for 7.5 mile walk from Sharnbrook to Felmersham to Radwell.

Here's a bit of Wisteria porn for you.
 The two below are from houses in Radwell. The smell was divine; I hadn't realised that Wisteria had such a heady scent.

These last three are all on the same street near where I live. I've renamed it Wisteria Avenue!

When I got home I went for a good old rummage in town. I only got as far as the bus station charity shops as I ran out of money! I always set myself a budget when I go rummaging and unless I see something so fabulous I have to buy it,  I stick to my cash budget. I bought a brand new wipe clean tablecloth for my table. Decorated with sheep (!) from Dunelm BNWT; retailing at £22.00 (it still had its price sticker on it) I paid £5.00! I bought a mug for 30 p which I used on Thursday, as I was poll clerking for local elections. Of course I bought some jewellery; 2 necklaces; I brooch and 1 pair of earrings. I bought a jacket for me from Debenham's Maine range from a 50p rail at the Independent charity shop; and a H&M hoodie for one of the grandsons from the same rail. Finally I bought some Uniqlo checked grey trousers for 2.00 in the 3:16 charity shop which is where I bought the tablecloth.

Here's Wednesday's outfit.
I'm still getting used to taking my own photos. These were taken using the selfie function on the phone camera. The ones above weren't; it was me trying to position my self in the right spot/angle and click. It was hit and miss as you can probably tell!

Everything charity shopped. Orange dress; 1.50 from my Barnardo's; it's by Asos. Jacket by M&S from a Kettering charity shop 4.00. Leggings 1.00 rail somewhere.
Clark's Mary Jane shoes; 10.00, Oxfam;Newport Pagnell.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I bought this necklace in the Hospice Boutique - I think...
 
 I wore the Uniqlo trousers the following day with a white top and an animal print jacket, as I was poll clerking for the local elections and needed to look 'professional'. The polling station was in a local school just across the road from where I live. It was such a long day. Up at 5 am; at the polling station by 6.30 am and we finished just before 11 pm. I was so shattered I couldn't be bothered taking photos!

Friday was busy. School run, hairdressers, food shopping, school run again then drove youngest grandson and his Dad home. I was glad to sit down in the evening and chill out with the TV and a book.

On Saturday OH and I went for a rummage to Emmaeus. It was bright and sunny but the wind was very cold and we had both rain and hailstone showers. I wore my M&S camel cape which was a present from OH years ago. I also wore my 'ruby slippers' 2 euros in a Navan, Co. Meath charity shop. My ankles were frozen!

Boden trousers part of a BOGOF deal at the 3:16 charity shop; 3.00. Jacket from the Red Cross; 1.99 and I think I bought this top in the Cat's Protection League and paid about a fiver for it.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I bought some jewellery and a few CDs in Emmaeus. This is a round up of the jewellery I've bought lately.

The pearl necklace was from Emmaeus and cost 1.00. The starfish brooch was 2.00 and the three strand necklace 1.50 from the Keech Hospice shop in town. The brown and gold beaded necklace was 1.00 from the Salvation Army.

The brooch was bought in Emmeaus for 1.00 and the bottom three bangles were also from there; 50 p each. The large floral bangle was a 1 euro Donegal purchase and the floral top bangle was 50 p in the Salvation Army. I can't resist a painted bangle!

We enjoyed the finale of 'Line of Duty' on Sunday evening and we have the whole series of 'Follow the Money' to catch up with.  I see Spiral will be returning to BBC4 soon - yay!! It's one of my favourite police dramas of all time. I  have only one of my birthday books left to read. I recently picked up a copy of a Mary Wesley book called 'An Imaginative Life' which I had never read before. It has spurred me on to reread all of Mary Wesley's books so I shall be hunting for them in the charity shops (I have one already) and filling in the gaps with the library. I'm also waiting for the latest Robert MacFarlane book 'Underland' to come through from the library reservations.

I haven't done the big swap over yet. I know a lot of you have already, but I'm a bit cautious and the weather isn't the warmest at the moment. I have put my winter coats and jackets away and taken the summer coats and jackets down, but that's as far as I've got. I'm still reluctant to put my boots into storage under my bed! Maybe by my next post the weather will have become more summer like. Here's hoping!

Ireland and before...

The week before I went to Ireland I was at Barnardo's on Monday as usual. I spent the whole  morning 'decoding' the stock on the shop floor. It was called 'culling' at the Red Cross, which brings images of dead seals to mind! Anyway, it means getting rid of stock that has been out on the shop floor for a while; checking the date on the label, deciding whether it is to be sent on to another shop or ragged or even reduced. Whilst I was doing this the Manager was reorganising where the clothing went and generally refreshing the whole shop. It certainly worked, because as an example, a rather nice pink coat from Zara, which had been languishing on the pink rail (the shop colour codes the clothes) for weeks was moved to another part of the shop and bought ten minutes later by a young woman! I enjoy the decoding as it gives me a chance to look through what there is on the shop floor in detail; and I put aside four reduced items for myself. A bright green M&S cardigan; a dark blue summer cardigan by M&S; a pair of red patterned floral - or so I thought - leggings by Nike and a cream tunic also by M&S. All the M&S items were reduced to 1.50 each and the leggings to 2.50.

Everything charity shopped. Tunic by Adini and leggings by Nike from Barnardo's. The pattern on the leggings is actually camouflage not floral! Oh well! The jacket is by M&S and was charity shopped in Kettering. Black Next boots charity shopped in Oxfam.

 All jewellery charity shopped. Scarf from Primarni.

I had a wander around a few of the Bedford charity shops on Tuesday afternoon as I had stuff to do in town. I bought a book and a shoe rack. This purchase triggered off another bout of reorganisation when I got home; this time of shoes and boots. I now have four storage boxes under my bed two of which contain shoes - soon to be boots - when I swap over to my Spring and Summer wardrobe; but that won't be until after I come back from Ireland and will depend on the weather! The new shoe rack is filled with my shoes and when I clear my boots off the existing shoe rack I will have space for all my shoes and sandals in one place and can see what I have. Usually they're in several different places and I like the idea of them being together.

I didn't want to get up early again on Wednesday and walk with my group, so I set off in the afternoon to walk from Sharnbrook to Felmersham. I absolutely loved the aubretia outside this house in Sharnbrook and what the photo doesn't show is that it continues along to the right and round a corner!

I spied a thatched cat!

Cherry blossom is still around but it won't be long before there are petals everywhere...
I had a very pleasant 5.5. mile walk. I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Green Woodpecker or Yaffle. They make a sound like a maniacal laugh and it can be quite startling when you're  walking alone!  I  caught a glimpse of it a few seconds later. I also heard Great Tits and Skylarks.  I saw Blue tits, Coal tits, a Blackcap and the usual suspects; Wood pigeons, Magpies, Rooks, Blackbirds and Robins. I think I saw what is called a Reed Bunting but I can't be 100% sure; the blasted things never stay still long enough for me to fix them in my mind's eye so I can check in my bird books when I get home! And as soon as I whip out my binoculars for a closer look they fly off..

This was Thursday's outfit. The trousers are loose above ankle ones; my first pair of these and bought as part of a 3.00 BOGOF deal at the 3:16 charity shop; which in effect makes them free. They're by Boden and I like them!

Kimono by Top Shop charity shopped last year but can't remember where; the top I've had for a few years now was also charity shopped but can't remember where.

Mary Jane's charity shopped somewhere and all jewellery charity shopped.

On Friday,  I went to the hairdressers then walked with my friend Lynne. We walked 10 miles. From Biddenham to Bromham to Kempston West End and back to Bromham.  Part of where we walked followed the 'Clay Trail'; so called because it used to lead to Stewartby village where the London Brick company was located for many years. Bedfordshire soil is famously clayey or claggy and ideal for brick making. We stopped for tea and cake at Bromham Mill and then walked to Biddenham where Lynne lives and where I'd left my car. A lovely walk and it got quite warm and sunny near the end.

A cowslip meadow.

Some early bluebells.

I bought this dress in the Keech Hospice shop, I think; it was only a few months ago but I can't remember how much it was; under a fiver anyway. The tights were a birthday present from my daughter. Boots; Matalan retail.

Oh dear! Charlie's dead. (My slip is showing!) This is what we called it in London where I grew up.

And again...

All jewellery charity shopped except necklace bought from a local shop called 'Simi and Lola'; sadly now online only.

Saturday's outfit.

I spent Saturday washing and packing for Ireland. I have to write a list and then tick everything off because if I don't we'll leave something important behind. One year I drove off leaving our brand new electric heater for the caravan behind!

Everything charity shopped except the boots; as above and blue top under the tunic/dress which I bought in Primark ages  ago. The dress/tunic is by Lily and Me.
The tights were bought in Traid in Brixton on one of my recent London forays. They're made of bamboo and were brand new; still in the packet, very warm and I paid 5.00 for them.

All jewellery charity shopped.

The rest of Saturday I spent catching up with final episodes of 'The Missing Series I' which OH and I started to watch after watching the recent series; 'The Missing Series 3'.  We also watched The Missing Series 2' so we've watched the whole series now, but in reverse order; 3.2.1! I've also nearly finished reading 'The Corner' (628 pages). I'll be able to finish it in Ireland and then I have plenty on my Kindle to read and there are lots of books in the caravan waiting to be read.

 We got up early on Sunday and caught the afternoon ferry from Holyhead. This is us docking at Dublin Port. For the first time in the five years I've been travelling this route we were asked to produce our passports and driving licences! I'm blaming Brexit...

We stayed with my cousin Eamon and his wife, Ann for a few days and had a really lovely time. They live in Kells, Co. Meath. We went sightseeing and managed to find a few charity shops in Navan where I bought a pair of 'ruby slippers' for 2.00 euros.

The view from Slane Castle

Castle at Trim

Lovely Georgian door in Kells town.

An ancient Celtic cross in Kells church yard dating from around the 9th century. They keep a facsimile of The Book of Kells in this church but it was closed when we visited. The original Book of Kells is in Trinity College, Dublin. We spent a day in Dublin where we did an open top bus tour of the city:

The GPO building in O'Connell Street.

Lovely Georgian houses in a Dublin Square.

Another lovely Dublin building.

The Mansion House in Dawson Street home to the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

St. Patrick's Windmill or the Guinness Tower.

 Áras an Uachtaráin
Home to the Irish President and situated in Phoenix Park.

National Museum of Ireland.

We made it up to Donegal on Wednesday...

There she is! Ruby Super; our second home. It's the one with the car outside in case you're wondering...

Apart from generally chilling out, visiting relatives and having a great time we spent the remainder of our time in the caravan. There were several charity shop expeditions to Donegal town, Killybegs, and Ballyboffey; as well as a visit to Sligo to see various cousins.  We also made it to Leitrim to see my elderly aunts and a cousin.

Everything above was charity shopped except the boots. Dress by Masai; cardigan bought in a charity shop somewhere years ago, tights can't remember and scarf from my Barnardo's. This was taken by the River Garravogue in Sligo town.

All jewellery charity shopped.

The Irish Famine memorial at the quayside in Sligo.

There are hundreds of these memorials all over Ireland and Famine pots that were used to feed the starving Irish during the famine period  (1845 - 1849) or 'The Great Hunger' as it is known in Ireland. I
The Donegal town famine pot and money for food during the famine was donated by the Choctaw Nation to the people of Donegal. I must take a photo of it when I'm back in the summer.

The blue boiled wool jacket was from the 1.00 euro rail in a Dublin charity shop; animal print dress 1.00 rail in RSPCA; Ampthill. Leggings from Tu retail and boots as before.

All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.

Donegal has some wonderful beaches

The sun had gone in here but came back out again. This is Coral beach at St. John's Point.

Here it is again with the tide in...

This is Narin Strand at Portnoo.

And although you can't see much of it here this is Rossnowlagh beach. I'm wearing my beach shoes - an old pair of Clark's loafers charity shopped years ago. Skirt by Apricot; charity shopped and although it doesn't look it in this photo it is green. Striped top 1.00 euro in Killybegs charity shop and green cardigan 3.00 euros in same shop.

All jewellery charity shopped.

It was a lovely break and we had a wonderful time but it's good to be back! I'm off to catch up with your blogs now as the Wifi was non existent at the caravan park. I wonder what you've all been up to?