Thinking about stopping...

 

Hello again! Where did January go...?

When I left you back in the middle of January we had just entered into a very cold and icy weather spell. I never let the weather deter me from swimming though and went for the usual swim on Tuesday afternoon after finishing at the food bank in the morning. I was back to making up food parcels as one of my colleagues had gone to New Zealand to visit her daughter and would be away for about 5 weeks. Meanwhile the crates of toiletries and hygiene products continued to accumulate in the middle warehouse. Even if I'd had the time to sort it all out there was nowhere to put it...

Wednesday was cold at 4 degrees but very bright and sunny. I walked with my group from Deepdale in Potton close to  the Sandy Heath TV transmitter. This main local TV transmitter covers Beds; Cambs; Suffolk; Northants; North Herts and NW Essex. I'd never been so close to it before but it's always visible from any higher ground in Bedford; especially at night when it is distinguishable by several eerie red glowing lights. Our walk was 7 miles in length and took in the village of Everton and Gibraltar Farm where we visited the RAF Tempsford Memorial Barn. Set amid the remains of a secret WW2 airfield, this barn was preserved as a memorial to Allied agents who parachuted into Europe. You can read more about it HERE.

Remnants from Armistice Day 2022.

I spent much of the afternoon finishing my last Christmas gift book; 'Random Commentary' by Dorothy Whipple; a memoir of part of her adult life as a writer.  I was interested to see that she had lived in Mapperley in Nottingham and then moved to Barton Seagrave near Kettering; where my mum and brothers moved to from London in 1999. I lived in Mapperley from 1976 -1977; when I worked in a unit for children with learning disabilities based in Nottingham city hospital. I loved the people of Nottingham; a very friendly bunch of people. They called everyone 'duck'; said they were 'starved' when they were cold; called someone in a mood; 'mardy' and called a bread roll a 'cob'. I then moved onto reading the last of my Deborah Moggach books. I totted up the books I'd read in 2022 and found I had read 98 in total. I still don't understand how I read more books

 when I worked!

I went for my swim on Thursday morning and after eating a late breakfast I was getting ready to do the weekly shop when the phone rang. It was my hairdresser wondering where I was. I hadn't transferred the appointment to my new 2023 calendar and had of course forgotten all about it. Luckily she was able to fit me in for the following Thursday. This was Thursday's outfit. Skirt has been worn on the blog several times before; both skirt and jacket pre-loved. Pre-loved belt by Diesel. The green shirt from Zara was a belated Christmas present; chosen by me because I'd wanted a green shirt with a collar for absolutely ages. All jewellery pre-loved. Thursday is a hectically busy day for me and I collapsed onto the sofa at about 7.15 that evening having taken the youngest grandson to basket ball practice; gone to the farm shop for kindling; to Lidl and Aldi for groceries; unpacked and put the groceries away, sorted out the fire hung up a wash and made dinner. Next Thursday I'll have to squeeze in a hairdressers appointment as well...

It was an unofficial bus walk day on Friday. A small group of us met at Russell Park in Bedford and walked along the river to Great Denham. We walked right to end of Great Denham where there is a new cafe and stopped there for coffee and cake before walking back via Queen's Park and through town. I ran a few errands in town and by the time I got home I'd walked 8.75 miles. I spent the afternoon  in my walking gear with my feet up reading and doing blog stuff.

Saturday's outfit

Everything pre-loved except the boots. Skirt found in a West Drayton charity shop; jacket by Betty Barclay; pre-loved belt and polo neck from my Barnardo's. Both my earrings and necklace were found on my way back home from Friday's walk in 2 different charity shops and both were 1.00 each. I wore my fur coat; a scarf and gloves as it was an icy, foggy day to start with.

I think my necklace might be back to front!

My daughter and I had a day out in London on Saturday. By the time we arrived in London around midday; the sun was out and it was bright but still very cold. We went for a meal at the restaurant where my eldest grandson is one of the managers and what a delicious meal it was, too. It was lovely to see him. Before that we went to West Hampstead and Golders Green for a rummage. Between the two places there were 8 charity shops. I finally found a cross body bag at London prices but I was fed up of looking for one by then and paid the price willingly. I also bought a wooden print of a 2016 New Yorker cover to hang alongside the two I already had on the dining room wall. I found an interesting book in a bookshop along the way as well. Just before we made our way to the restaurant in Soho we went to Oxford Street (aka - hell on earth) where we went to Zara for my daughter and queued in the refund queue for 30 minutes - I kid you not. After that brain numbing and back aching experience we were so glad to get to the restaurant and sit down.

Mural in Carnaby Street - too much reflection, sorry...

Carnaby Street decorations

I realised I hadn't worn my jump suit for quite a while so with thick tights underneath I wore it to Barnardo's on Monday. I think I bought the jumpsuit at Barnardo's; boots from Tu; Christmas present from my daughter; polo neck under the jumpsuit by Tu; retail. All jewellery pre-loved. It was minus 2 degrees in the morning and it took ages to scrape the ice off my car. It didn't warm up much throughout the day.

The jumpsuit was a nightmare to get off for the loo; whoever designed it deserves to wear it for a week!

We were stocktaking until 11 am then I went to Kempston post office to do the banking. The morning flew by. I spent the afternoon making soup from Sunday's leftover chicken; doing a wash and catching up with blog land and 'Happy Valley'. I'm so frustrated I can't watch the whole series on i Player.

Both Monday and Tuesday were very cold. Each time I left home the temperature was minus 2 degrees and 4 degrees when I went home. I don't have the central heating on at home when I'm on my own as it's just horribly expensive and it seems daft to heat the whole house when I'm usually in one room. (I have turned off the radiators in a couple of the rooms to help save fuel, too). We have the heating on for an hour or so when we first get up and then I use an oil filled radiator to heat the living room. By the time OH gets in from work I have lit the fire and we stay in the one room all evening. Inspired by Beate HERE and Ann HERE I invested in a 'cherry pit pillow'. I heated it in the microwave to test it out initially which was fine; but then tried warming it on the top of the fuel burner; which heated it more but unfortunately I manage to scorch the cover leaving it on too long! It works very well, nevertheless, but doesn't retain heat as long as a hot water bottle. To keep me warm when I'm up I use the cherry pit pillow and in bed I use my hot water bottle. I find it's my hands that take the longest to get warm...

I wore this to the food bank but never took my coat or scarf off whilst I was there. I was still making up food parcels. Everything pre-loved. The trousers by Yessica (old C&A label) have been relegated to the donations bag as they don't fit well; polo neck by Primark; cardigan very old. Boots by Kickers; recent find from the Daycare Hospice shop. All jewellery pre-loved. Went for the usual mile swim in the afternoon and it was a no cooking day - we had fish and chips for dinner.

Apologies for the crap photos; I'm still experimenting with my phone camera. Unlike my previous one the selfies are coming out fine but not the others...

I wore this on Wednesday. I didn't walk with the group as the walk was too far away and would have entailed me leaving home around 8.30 am; when I might have got caught up in rush hour traffic. No, thank you. Once again it was cold but the frost which had been covering every available surface had been washed away. We had drizzle off and on throughout the day and the cold was the chilly, dank sort that you can feel seeping into your bones. I can't wait for the spring. Everything pre-loved except the leggings bought from a Store 21 sale years ago and the recently acquired New Look boots. Dress by Tu and polo neck by Isle. All jewellery pre-loved. 

I ran errands in the morning including a trip to Aldi where I forgot the very thing I went there for! Had a rummage in the Daycare Hospice shop near my hairdressers as I wouldn't have time on Thursday. I found a nice pair of navy cropped trousers by Phase Eight and a tank top. I went to a couple of shops looking for a side table but didn't find one. I wish I had bought the one I saw a few weeks ago in the Daycare Hospice shop but at the time I didn't realise I needed one...

Thursday was a lot warmer than the previous days. It may have been the rain but at one point during the day it was 9 degrees. Still needed layers; coats, scarves and gloves...

These are the cropped trousers and tank top bought on Wednesday. Worn with my Isle polo neck and boots from Tu; present from my daughter. All jewellery pre-loved. I didn't go for a swim as usual on Thursday. I'd overdone the heavy lifting on Tuesday at the food bank; lifting by myself instead of with a colleague and seemed to have pulled a muscle in my neck. I thought I should rest it and not over strain the muscles - so I did. I went to the hairdresser then home to get ready; off to the farm shop for coal and kindling. Then off to Lidl and to pick up youngest grandson from school. Home to cook dinner, hang up a wash and sort the fire out; then off to take grandson to basket ball practice after dinner.

Friday was unofficial bus walk day and 7 of us met at a garden centre and explored the 'new' village of Wixhams. The area was originally known as 'Wixhamtree;' which during WW2 was an ordnance depot. There were about 7 lakes and lots of children's playgrounds spotted; as well as a huge retirement village complex (they keep inviting me to open days!) a small shopping centre; 2 schools and a community centre so more like a small town, really. A station had been planned but no one knew when it would be completed as it was still under construction. It was an interesting walk of more than 5 miles and we finished with coffee and cake -  as always.

Everything I wore was pre-loved. Of course I walked in proper walking boots and socks; I have to otherwise the plantar fascisitis would flare up again. Trousers by New Look; boots as before; jumper by Tu and yellow suedette jacket was a find in the Castle Road junk shop whilst looking for a table...I still haven't found one. Jewellery pre-loved.

We started watching a new 'Walter Presents' Danish crime thriller 'Grow' on Thursday evening and continued with more episodes on Friday evening. The two brothers who are the main protagonists in the drama are brothers in real life and the series is highly recommended. So tense in places I forgot to breathe...

Boots retail as above;

Christmas present. Leggings also retail but old. Pre-loved dress bought from Vinted during lock down when the charity shops were closed. All jewellery pre-loved. OH and I went for a rummage to Wellingborough on Saturday after I'd walked to the big Sainsbury's for a few things I'd forgotten to buy on Thursday. I found a fur collar for 1.00 which will fill the neck gap of coats and jackets quite nicely...

Sunday was a strange sort of day. I spent most of the day in the car. I drove to Birmingham to pick up Priscilla and then drove to London to drop her at my mum-in-laws; then drove back to Bedford. Just in time for dinner cooked by OH and very welcome it was, too!

Back to Barnardo's on Monday where I did the banking and then processed donations all morning. I found a green tank top and summer weight tunic/dress which will be put away for the summer. I wore these trousers which were by M&S but unfortunately too large so will be re-donated; top by Laura Ashley and yellow suedette jacket by F&F; all pre-loved as was all the jewellery.

In the afternoon I walked into to town to get my eyebrows done and then walked to the Cecil Higgins  art gallery and museum to see this exhibition -  only to find out they close on Mondays. I shall go on Wednesday instead after I walk with either my group or the recce I need to do before I lead a walk on the 15th February...

If it's Tuesday it must be food bank day. We are really feeling my colleague's absence; the numbers of food parcels has increased but we have decreased. We worked really hard and we both stayed on a bit longer to complete one food parcel load to go out to one of the distribution centres. After I had to go to town to buy birthday cards for my son who'll be 43 next Monday - where did those years go? Then it was off for a swim x 48 laps; home to make some vegan coconut and raspberry slices for my daughter and to cook dinner.

Everything pre-loved except the boots. Dress by Tu; jumper underneath by Bon Marche (aagghhh!); leggings by M&S. All jewellery also pre-loved. I chilled out reading my latest and last book of January:

I've been thinking about giving up blogging. It's very time consuming and whilst I enjoy it very much I've noticed that just recently the number of views/visits of/to my blog have decreased considerably. Although I don't get a large number of comments that doesn't worry me; but the lack of views does. Roughly speaking the number of views decreased on my last post by about half and the most recent post has only had about a quarter of the usual amount of views. I shall think about it some more and make a decision one way or another and let you know in what I hope won't be my final post!

The return of the big chill...

 

Hello again. I'd like to thank you all for following my blog, reading it and commenting throughout the year. You make blogging worthwhile and I'm very grateful for all your support!

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As I said in my previous post my mobile phone was stolen on 6th January. I had gone to the Cat's Protection League on Friday where I hadn't been for a while. I bought a colourful square coaster made of felted balls which I thought would be good to place a plant pot on. As I paid for it, my phone must have fallen out of my bag onto the counter unnoticed by me and the volunteer who took my payment. I realised when I was in Lidl my phone wasn't in my bag when I went to apply my Lidl Plus vouchers, but thought I must have left it at home. Although I must say I had an uncomfortable feeling about it; as I felt sure I had taken it with me. After a thorough search at home and ringing it several times, I rang the charity shop. I was told that a man was seen picking up a phone from the counter but when challenged by the staff stated it was his! My phone had a purple leather case embossed with a floral design and although this may be sexist I doubt a man would choose that type of cover. It's such a pain when this sort of thing happens; blocking the phone and arranging for a replacement but it's all been sorted now and I have a new phone. It's really important to me as I rely on my phone and tripod to take blog photos and photos when I'm out and about.

This photo was taken on a day when the light was very poor but when I still had my old phone. Everything pre-loved except the boots from New Look, retail. Dress bought in a Co. Longford charity shop; polo neck by John Lewis. Tights found years ago and all jewellery also pre-loved.

On Friday evening we all went out for a meal to celebrate Grandson's 18th birthday. A very good time was had by all. Isaiah is a man now; able to vote; fight for his country; enter in a credit agreement and get married without parental permission. He can finally attend doctor and dentist appointments without an adult needing to be present - hurrah! He was doing mock A level exams the first week of January and has applied to 5 universities to study law in September. 

The birthday boy is sat next to me...

We had a quiet weekend doing the usual housecleaning and I cooked Sunday dinner. I also went for a 6 mile walk on Sunday morning along the river.  Over the weekend we started watching a German series on Netflix called 'Woman of the Dead'. Gripping! By Monday my new phone had arrived but the sim card hadn't so I couldn't use it. I went to Barnardo's on Monday having had a 2 week break and it felt good to be back. We were inundated with donations and I spent all morning processing them.

Source: Google

On Tuesday it was back to the food bank after a 3 week gap. I spent the morning trying to find homes for the toiletry donations that we had amassed. There wasn't room for all of them so there were several crates still to be unpacked and sorted. I also made up 6 crates of toiletries to go out to distribution centres. We have temporarily reverted to the old system of putting out the toiletry and hygiene items and allowing people to select what they need. This was the system in use before the pandemic and social distancing. Hopefully, I'll be back making up hygiene bags in the next few weeks. I didn't take any outfit photos as I was still trying to set my new phone up; it took middle grandson and me until Tuesday evening to do so. Thank goodness for grandchildren! I went for the usual swim on Tuesday afternoon and swam a mile. I went for a short  4 mile urban walk on Wednesday, went to Aldi in the afternoon and stopped in the Castle Rd charity shops for a rummage but bought nothing except a pair of boots...

It took me a while to get to grips with the camera on the new phone and I finally remembered to take an outfit photo on Friday. On Thursday I went swimming in the morning; then on to the farm shop and Lidl. On Friday it was unofficial bus walk day and we walked from Jordan's Mill in Biggleswade and along the river Ivel for 4 miles. We stopped for coffee in Biggleswade town centre. When I got home I went into town to run a few errands; collecting youngest grandson's school jumper from the school uniform shop; going to Superdrug and Savers for toiletries and household items and I visited Poundland where I buy Argan oil for my hair. Poundland has been strangely empty of late; I think the large B&M which opened in the town centre more than a year ago has taken away a lot of their business.

Everything pre-loved except the polo neck by Tu; Sainsbury's retail. Vintage jacket from Children's Society; skirt can't remember; the boots also by Tu; were Wednesday's find in the Mercy in Action charity shop in Castle Road. I found the purple tights ages ago and this was their first outing. I always buy tights if I see them (in packets) in charity shops and needless to say I have an extensive collection. That's just as well as all my tights seem to go at the toes and tend not to last long - with the exception of my Snag tights, of course. All jewellery charity shopped; the earrings were bought in a Cambridge charity shop when I took Priscilla there last week.

Saturday was wet and windy; even so OH and I went for a good old rummage. We went to Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard. I found nothing in Aylesbury except a cheap belt; in Leighton Buzzard, however, I found a round wicker cross-body bag with a leather strap; a plaid jacket on a 1.00 rail; a pair of purple lounging bottoms with fleece lining; 2 books; one of which was for my daughter and a bottle of perfume. 

I don't think the camera on my new phone takes as good photos as my old phone. Although it recognises the remote clicker I use with my tripod; it won't take photos so I've had to set the timer to 10 seconds and run to get into position! As it seemed a relatively mild day on Saturday I wore this dress which I bought BNWT from the Children's Society before Christmas; it's my size but too big so it will be re-donated. Leather over the knee boots bought from my Barnardo's 2 years ago. The cardigan by Wallis was a pound rail find at Barnardo's in Ampthill.  Bag bought from Vinted. All jewellery pre-loved.  I also wore a scarf and gloves but by the end of the day I was sorry I hadn't worn a warmer coat is it became colder and wetter as the day progressed.

In the evening we began watching the Australian series 'Mystery Road; Origin'. We'd watched the first series and thoroughly enjoyed it. This series goes back to Jay Swann's beginnings as a detective. Australia looks so dry and dusty in this series.

SOURCE

I've also been watching and loving 'Happy Valley'; Series 3. The writing, acting and plotting is superb. OH is not a fan so I've been catching up when I can...

SOURCE

 I cooked a vegan dish on Sunday: 'Jumbalaya' and cooked Tofu for the first time for dinner; OH made a chicken curry. 

This was Sunday's outfit. Everything pre-loved. Dress which is one of my favourites by Desigual; a gift from Vix HERE a few years ago; tights by Snag; boots as before and polo neck by Primarni. All jewellery pre-loved.

Monday was freezing. It was 4 degrees according to the car temperature gauge and as well as several hailstone showers we also had a short shower of snow in the afternoon. The big chill had returned. On my way back from Barnardo's in the afternoon I spotted a Sparrowhawk in a tree. One of the advantages of some trees losing their foliage in winter is that it make it easier to spot the birds...

I was a bit disorganised on Monday morning; I'd got my outfit ready the night before as I always do; once I was dressed I didn't like it on. Then it was trying to think of what to wear -  which is much harder when you have too many lots of clothes. In the end I discarded the skirt and jumper and opted for jeans, this peplum top and a jacket by LB for extra warmth. Everything pre-loved. Jeans by M&Co; top by M&S; boots bought online retail; all jewellery pre-loved. Trying to decide what to wear took ages and I was running late by the time I got to Barnardo's. 

 Again donations had been stopped on Monday to allow us to catch up with the huge influx of donations that came in over the weekend. We got a lot done and I always feel very satisfied to see a clear space on the floor; where before the space was filled with donations! It helps of course to have 2 volunteers on Monday mornings. Monday night was very cold and in line with my disorganised morning; bedtime was a disaster. I'd made up a hot water bottle (or a 'hottie bottie'; as  my brother Julian calls it) and put it in the bed while I was taking off my make-up and brushing my teeth. When I got into bed the hot water bottle had leaked. I tried drying the hot wet patch with the hair dryer which then stopped working; in the end I got the iron out and ironed it as dry as I could... it was still a bit damp when I got back into bed but I'd had enough by then. I can't really complain about the leaking hot water bottle; it was a Christmas gift from my colleague Mandy, whom I worked with in a further education college in Luton, between 2002 -2004. That hot water bottle was almost 20 years old!

It was -3 degrees when I got into my car on Tuesday morning to go to the food bank. I wore lots of layers. Everything was pre-loved. The cardigan by Next; was a Barnardo's find about three years ago. The pinafore dress by Nutmeg was a find on Monday; again from Barnardo's; as was the Uniqlo polo neck. Underneath that I wore a camisole. Tights as before. I have a grey pair identical to these but couldn't lay my hands on them.  The boots by Kickers; were a recent Daycare Hospice find when I dropped off a bag of donations. I was looking for a small side/occasional table and came out with boots instead! Necklace and earrings both pre-loved.

On Wednesday I'm walking with my group to a place called Deepdale; I've not walked this walk before so I am looking forward to it. On Saturday I'm going to London with my daughter for the day and we'll hopefully see my eldest grandson while we are there. I tell you all about it in my next post and as you may have realised I'm back to posting on a Tuesday. Until then stay warm!