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...

OOTDs and Edward Bawden

Look - a sunflower! Probably courtesy of one of the birds who feed at my bird feeding station - they dropped a seed and it grew and grew. We used to have a huge sunflower on the other side of this one but after several years it has ceased to bloom. That's okay we have a replacement now.

 A Saturday outfit. All jewellery charity shopped.

This outfit excluding the jewellery cost 7.98 in total!

Trousers from Tesco; 99p rail at Barnardo's in Ampthill; tunic Tesco Outlet 5.00; jacket, 99p rail Age UK, Wellingborough. Pumps; 99p at Barnardo's Great Denham.

Scarf, present from my friend; Natalie.
On Saturday 16th, OH suggested a visit to Emmaeus which is in a village called Carlton about 10 miles from Bedford. Emmaeus is  a UK based charity and community working together to help the homeless. It was originally started by the Abbe Pierre in France but there is a network of shops all over the UK.

 They sell mostly second hand stuff but very little clothing!  Hurray - no temptation for me! We were looking for a stool for the bathroom; our old one broke last week; and a wok and cafetiere to take to the caravan. We found neither cafetiere nor stool, but I did find this gorgeous dressing table set for 1.00. Most women had one of these on their dressing tables when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s.

I also bought this lovely throw which I'm going to use as a Christmas tablecloth.

It's doubled over and look it has tassels! It was 2.00.

We also bought  an elephant cushion for the caravan; we have two already so this one makes the third; a wok for 5.00, and a a kitchen bin for recycling with a slow close lid for 2.00. Bargains galore at Emmaeus on Saturday.  They do lovely tea and cake, too. Only another month to go before I can have another rummage...

Some OOTD photos.

Friday 15th September outfit. Linen trousers (which for some reason look shiny in these photos) 1.00; Red Cross Shop, Navy blue top 5.00 sale Forever 21; Kimono - (1 of 4 that I bought in Ireland); 3 euros in a Donegal Town charity shop.

Pale pink suede shoes 3 euros in Killybegs charity shop.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings and watch. I need a haircut...

During the week of 11th September I managed to get some wear out of my linen tunics/dresses. I don't get to wear too much of my summer wear when I'm in Ireland (it's usually too cool) so I was trying to get as much summer wear worn as possible using leggings/cardigans/jackets for warmth. Transitioning, in other words! I wore a vest/camisole under my tops throughout my stay in Ireland and have continued with it since I got back. I'm turning into an old lady...

Deep blue dress/tunic, made in Italy; charity shopped; striped top underneath M&S; charity shopped; orange shoes; charity shopped. Leggings; M & S; charity shopped. My feet are a mess; I have sun burnt patches in the shape of my Mary Jane shoes and where the sun didn't reach, my skin is pale. The end result looks as if I have dirty feet!

All jewellery charity shopped.

Navy blue linen tunic also from Italy charity shopped; top and leggings charity shopped. Shoes from PJ shoes but they've been relegated to the charity shop bag as the red coating is beginning to wear. Look at those white legs...should have put on some fake tan.

All jewellery charity shopped. I was wearing three bangles; two red and one navy, but I took them off to do the washing up and forgot to put them on for the photo!

I've managed to get back into a walking routine. The first week I was back I was walked twice on my own: 6.5 mile walks each time. The week of 11th September I walked three times; I did 10.5 miles trying to recce a new walk and got lost - so what's new? Then a 6.4 mile walk and on Sunday 17th bright and early I did 4.1 miles making a total of 21 for that week. The week beginning the 18th I did my first walk with the group in about 2.5 months. It was good to meet up with everyone again. We walked 7.2 miles from Westoning to Harlington; onto Pulloxhill and back again.

We saw these lovely creatures:

Alpacas! They have the cutest faces and were very friendly.

I wore this to the Food bank/library on Tuesday. There were only three of us in at the Food bank so we were busy. The dress was bought for 1.99 in the Red Cross before I went to Ireland; I didn't take it with me because I didn't think the weather would be warm enough, but I had a brainwave and put a top underneath it  (charity shop 1.00 rail) and a pair of green leggings (Sainsburys retail). Shoes are from PJ shoes. Scarf charity shopped. These dresses were being sold on Bedford market in a range of colours for 15.00 each back in June.

Shiny!
All jewellery charity shopped.

I had a dental appointment on Thursday 21st and finally managed to get to the Edward Bawden exhibition at the Cecil Higgins  Gallery in Bedford.

Everything is charity shopped except the shoes which were bought at the Tesco outlet shop. The kimono is one of the 4 (!) I bought in Ireland.

Have you noticed I've changed where I take my photos? I was bored with the sitting room as a backdrop so changed it to the hallway. Did you spot a basket sitting on the stairs? It's a special stair basket designed in a step shape. The idea is you put the things that need to go upstairs in it and take it upstairs all together.   I'm the only one who bothers! I bought it ages ago in a charity shop for 4.00 but can't remember which one.

I bought this necklace at a car boot sale about 10 years ago for 50p. Earrings donated by my daughter.

Now to the exhibition:
During the years 1981 to 1989, Edward Bawden donated the contents of his studio to Cecil Higgins Art Gallery. This collection of over 3000 items covers his entire oeuvre, from his early student days at the Cambridge School of Art in 1919, to commissions from the Folio Society in the 1980s, and includes a series of linocuts based on commissioned work, and printed specifically for Cecil Higgins Art Gallery. The association between Bawden and Cecil Higgins Art Gallery began in 1977, when he was commissioned to design a tapestry to celebrate the tercentenary of the publication of Bunyan’s 'The Pilgrim’s Progress', and Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. For source see here

This had pride of place in the exhibition

The Edward Bawden (1903 - 1989) exhibition was very small but very interesting. What a prolific artist he was.
From posters for the tube...

Designing dinner services for Wedgewood to be used on cruise ships

Linocuts

Film posters

I didn't spend as long as I would have liked at the exhibition as I had to get back for middle grandson who was coming for dinner but I will visit the exhibition again; there's plenty of time as the exhibition doesn't finish until January 2018.

I finally got my hair cut on Friday and walked 5.5 miles I walked with a different group on Saturday and did 7.4 miles making my total for this week 21 miles.

On Sunday I went to see my son. Everything charity shopped. Top by East; white jeans unknown label; Navy loafers by Next BNWT, 5.00 last summer.

All jewellery charity shopped. I bought the necklace for 3.00 in the week from Cancer Research. I'm not buying clothes but if I spot a nice bit of jewellery I'm not going to pass it by now am I? I only popped in to say hello to the lady I used volunteer with at Save the Children. She now volunteers at Cancer Research and I'm at the Red Cross - but only until the end of October.

On the way back from visiting my son we stopped to take a photo of this house (just outside Newmarket) with the dancing/boxing hares on the roof! I've seen pheasants, cockerels, foxes and even a duck made of straw on a thatched roof but this is the first time I've seen dancing/boxing hares. Aren't they fabulous?

I have another cultural event lined up for early October. Through reading 'Jane's London' blog here I found out that there are a series of literary walks around London. Two of my favourite things combined; books and walking! I have to choose which event to go to and it will probably be a Thursday so I'll tell you more about that in my next post.

Sunday and Monday were lovely warm sunny days. This is what I wore to the Red Cross on Monday. I had a cardigan underneath but had to take it off as it was too warm. The tights were fine and didn't feel too warm; they were 60 denier which isn't very thick.

Skirt from Old Navy; charity shopped for 99p at Barnardo's. It's gone into the charity shop bag - it's not me. Shirt; 1.00 rail at Red Cross. Denim jacket; Dorothy Perkins; charity shopped years ago; Navy loafers as per Sunday's outfit.

Beads charity shopped; earrings from Sainsbury's.

This is what I wore to the Guild House and library on Tuesday. I bought the dress on the 99p rail in Barnardo's in June and put it away for transitional weather wear. The black top worn underneath is from Primarni retail. Shoes and jewellery charity shopped.

I've just had a lovely girl from IPSOS on the phone doing a survey about use of media. I was able to say quite truthfully that I spend less than 30 mins a day on my laptop and phone apps. I couldn't have said that a fortnight ago...