The Emerald Isle 2016

This is my daughter and I, taken when out walking in Donegal. That's our local lake in the background. My floral top was 50 cents in the local charity shop and I'm wearing my Bedford market earrings. Daughter and two grandsons came out for 6 days. The boys still argued but not as much as in Spain...

I managed to read 10 books whilst I was in Ireland. Eight of them were about Ireland or the Irish people; or set in Ireland; or written by an Irish author. I like a bit of themed reading!

Last year, quite by chance I picked up a book in the local charity shop in Donegal to read whilst I was there. and it was set in the very area where I was staying and featured the local 'big' house and the family of that same 'big' house. That was a lovely coincidence and it was a very good read.

This is my beach collection at the caravan. It's called a caravan but it is actually a static mobile home. 

I'm always looking for sea glass when I go to a beach and this year managed to find a green and a brown piece. I also found the interesting turquoise blue thing at the front of the picture, but haven't a clue what it is. It could be a piece of plastic for all I know, but I liked it. Of course the thing I really want to find while beach combing is a big lump of ambergris...a greyish brown mass from the whale's digestive system; a sort of whale poo but very valuable!

This is at St. John's Point in Donegal -   it was a pretty breezy day...

I bought this yellow top in a charity shop in Sligo when I went to visit some of my (many) cousins. I also bought this in the a different charity shop for 20 euros and it has pride of place in my living room now; it's 'The Flower Seller' by Diego Rivera.

This is the interior of one of the cottages at Glencolmcille in Donegal. It's a folk village with representations of ordinary peoples' cottages in the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s. There is also a fisherman's cottage, a pub cum shop (they were often combined in the past and I remember them as a child)  and a schoolroom from the 1850s. It was very interesting and informative.

This representation of a 1800s cottage has great meaning for me. Until about 1969/1970 my Granny cooked on an open fire like this. Fuelled by turf (peat) cut from the bog by my Grandad and brought home by ass and cart to be stored in the barn for winter and beyond. 

The whole contraption over the fire is called a crane; it swings in and out of the fireplace recess and the pots and pans and griddle hang from it over the flames. The pot to the left in the hearth was what my granny baked her bread in - it was placed in the fire with hot coals on top of it. The bread was delicious. She also had a two burner kerosene stove but most of the cooking and baking was done over the open fire. When I went back in 1971 she had a range. She was delighted with it but I missed the open fire.

The little stools by the fire are called 'creepies' -  presumably so you could creep closer to the fire...

This is the same kitchen in the 1900s; still with the open fire for cooking.

1850s schoolroom. (The screen was for the tourists benefit)! Every pupil was expected to bring a sod of turf for the fire each day they attended...

The pub/shop.

You'll be waiting a long time for a pint here, mate!

Glencolmcille, Donegal.

That's enough of the cultural stuff!

I didn't take many OOTD photos. This one was taken on the decking and I had just finished washing up  - see the big wet patch on the front of my top? Everything charity shopped except the navy blue and grey loafers bought with a Christmas present Debenhams voucher.

Everything charity shopped except shoes from local (Bedford) retailer and earrings from Bedford market.

I bought the mac for 7 euros in the charity shop in Killybegs. It's from Mango and much needed in Ireland's wet climate!

I had an absolutely lovely time in Ireland. 4 weeks of reading, walking, sightseeing, visiting relatives, having relatives visit me, pottering about and a bit of charity shopping; I couldn't have asked for more except, perhaps, a few more sunny days...

I'm back...older and wiser!

I got back on Sunday night at midnight after 5 weeks away. I had to get up for the school run on Monday morning and to volunteer at Save the Children. I so wanted to stay in bed. I didn't get my unpacking done until Monday afternoon.

I wore this outfit before I went away and these photos are from then. I wore it again today but with a different pair of trousers - white linen ones with the legs rolled up. The top came from the Save the Children shop and was £4.00. The top was just right just right for the very humid day it was today.

On the plane to Malaga with my two younger grandsons; Isaiah aged 11 and Amari aged 6. They fought like cat and dog the entire week we were in Spain....

My lovely daughter, Jessica. This was taken in Comares our nearest town - it was beautiful, with lots of Moorish influences.

This was the first time I'd been to Spain. It was too hot for me. I thought, because we were staying in the mountains, it would be cooler. It wasn't. I melted. I wilted. I'm hopeless in the heat. My brain goes to mush; my eyes hurt and water; I burn...you get the picture. I spend all the time seeking shade and haven't got the energy to do much. Next time we'll go in May or June and probably without the kids!

This was the villa where we stayed. There were 3 apartments and ours was down the steps to the right of the pool. Amari learnt to swim underwater and pick up things from the bottom of the pool. We spent a lot of time in the water...

Daughter driving up the mountain to the villa. It was like a corkscrew with the amount of bends; there was no barrier and the drop was hundreds, if not thousands of feet...I hate heights and had to close my eyes or shield them each time we went up or down the mountain. My daughter had never driven on the right hand side of the road before and she was brilliant - if a bit stressed by it! I can't drive on the right hand side. I get my left and right muddled up in my daily life and wouldn't trust myself with driving.

Our final day in Malaga  was spent partly at the shopping centre by special request of daughter. I bought some perfume - Aqua Allegoria 'Herba Fresca' by Guerlain. At least it was cool in the centre. I wanted to see the Pablo Picasso museum but the kids would have been bored so that will have to wait for another time.

Everything charity shopped except the shoes (and the child!) which were bought online several years ago. I've had to dump the shoes as they got very dirty and discoloured after a trip to the beach, where there was gravel and dust but no sand! The sunglasses; which were originally £79.00 and got for £1.00 in the Black Tom Street Jumble; were left behind by mistake in Malaga airport. I was gutted.

Lovely mural of Malaga harbour - we went there but I forgot to take photos - the heat of course - luckily this was at Malaga airport.

We came back on Friday 5th August and on Monday 8th August I was at Holyhead to catch the 2.30 am crossing to Dublin -  more of which in the next post.

See you soon!

I'm off on my hollyers!

This what I wore on Saturday. I went to visit my son and then we went out for birthday dinner with my brothers and OH (can you see him in the mirror)? We had a lovely evening and the food was really good.

 We ate at a pub called 'The Hare' in Loddington, Northants. My mum had her 70th birthday party here. It's strange to think that I'm now only 8 years away from 70. I definitely think that once you've reached 70 you're old!

Everything is charity shopped except the sandals which are from the Tesco outlet store. This is the only cotton maxi dress I have. I'd like more so I'll keep looking...

Shame about the bra strap! 

Twisted pearl necklace, charity shopped, earrings from Sainsburys. All bangles charity shopped.

On Sunday, my bird table collapsed; the wood had rotted at the bottom. I went out and bought a new one and you can see it here to the right of me. I just hope the birds like it and use it as much as the old one. I'd just begun to attract Goldfinches on the old bird table so I don't want to lose them. 

The pottery bowl on the floor was originally a large pot made by mum's best friend's eldest son when he was 14  - and he's 60 next year! The cold made the top half of the pot crack and fall off, but the base makes a perfect bird bath!

All items charity shopped.

Earrings 50p at the Independent charity shop  in town. Necklace present from my lovely neighbour.

I bought this hat in the British Red Cross shop on Thursday morning and it's coming to Spain with me along with a similar white lacy one.

Yes, we're off on Thursday to Comares in Spain.  Me, my daughter and the two youngest grandsons. I'm there for a week, back home for 2 days, then off to Ireland until the school's start back in early September. Lucky me!

As you can see I'm still playing about with th selfie stick!
Tuesday's outfit. Everything charity shopped except the shirt which I bought in an on line sale
last year.

The top is the tie-dyed Lipsy one I got on the £1.00 rail when I was in Ampthill last week.

Earrings from Sainsburys and necklace charity shopped at the Keech Hospice shop for £1.00. I also bought a yellow one in here as well.

On Wednesday I finally got round to hanging my Charles Rennie MacIntosh type mirror, which is why the old one is in the hall waiting to be re homed somewhere.

This is Ben Bulben mountain and Cassiebawn Castle, home of the Mountbatten family, in Co.Sligo, Ireland. I have one cousin who lives at the foot of Ben Bulben and another who lives at the foot of the hill where the castle sits. I'm so looking forward to seeing them all.

There's a very poor internet connection at the mobile home park where I stay in Ireland, so I won't be blogging but I will try and keep up to date with all your blogs and posts, whenever I can find some WiFi. I shall miss you!

I hope you all have a lovely summer.

xxxxx

Heat, skip diving and swollen ankles...

Saturday's outfit.

Oh boy, it was hot and humid.

Dress, ASOS bought at Save the Children for £3.00. Leggings (only because I went walking and didn't want my legs scratched by nettles, thistles and rampaging wild grasses!) M&S. Flip flops, £2.00 in the Salvation Army, bought when I popped into town to the library to return the books I've read - and they're real leather!

This is taken with my new selfie stick.  Bangles, earrings and beads charity shopped. I look hot and bothered. You should have seen how I looked when I finished my walk of 6.5 miles; the sweat was rolling off my face and on to my clothes!

It was so hot my lipstick disappeared...

I helped out at the Rambler's stall on Sunday and it was very busy. After 2 hours of standing around in the heat as well as walking there and back; my ankles and feet swelled and I was shattered. My middle grandson came with me and managed to win a Brazil football shirt on one of the stalls so he was well pleased!

I was too tired to bother with photos on Sunday but I wore my new navy check Capri trousers and a navy top with orange and yellow accessories.

In case you're wondering what a group of Rambler's look like (!), here we are in front of the Albert Memorial in Kensington Park Gardens, London June 2016. As we were walking in London I didn't need to wear my regular walking gear. I've got a waterproof jacket (tied round my waist) and a rucksack but no water proof trousers or walking boots. Luckily, neither were needed.

Before volunteering on the stall o n Sunday, I was up and about at 7 am - thanks to the youngest grandson who had stayed over night - he's an early riser. By 9 am I had baked this honey cake and decorated it with lavender flowers from my garden. It was delicious.

For the first time ever, since I started there last October, I managed to leave Save the Children shop on Monday without a single item of clothing!

Nothing, nada, zilch. I'm very proud of myself!

Once again it was a scorching day and I wore all cotton garments to keep cool...

I look very dumpy in this picture but then I am dumpy, anyway! OH was focusing camera down on me which, I think, is not the most flattering angle. Must mention it to him. I'm still playing around with the selfie stick.

Everything charity shopped except the white cotton trousers from Lidl a few weeks ago. Shoes bought in Cancer Research in Ely, top from British Red Cross £1.99, last week.

There weren't many of us at the food bank on Tuesday. On holiday, I expect. I'll be joining them next Thursday!

 I'm playing about with the selfie stick here and yes, that's a pink clicker and the stick is pink, too, but what do I care when it was less than a fiver?

Trousers recent buy at British Red Cross as is the top, both £1.99 each. Not much jewellery, it was too hot!

I'm chuffed with these leather flip flops - £2.00 at the Salvation Army.

My right foot had begun to swell in the heat...

I'm really enjoying myself here! Necklace was my mum's. Earrings 50 p at Keech Hospice shop.

Gladioli were my mum's favourite flowers. I bought 2 bunches in Lidl for 1.79 each on Saturday.
The jug they're in is my oldest charity shop find. It dates to 1878 and I really like it. I bought it in the Keech Hospice shop in Kempston for £1.50 last year. Flowers always look good in it.

Next to the food bank where I volunteer on Tuesdays, there is a company that does house clearances. They always have a skip outside and items just sitting beside it. Last week I helped my self to a leather football, which, since it has been pumped up, (with a brand new football pump - essential if you have football mad grandsons) is absolutely fine.  I also 'rescued' a metal watering can. It turned out to have a teeny tiny leak but it's perfectly usable and could even be turned into another plant pot, if needed. This week they had a wooden steamer chair - very weathered; the wood had gone that silvery colour, but perfectly serviceable. It's sitting in my garden now!

I had a brilliant idea on Tuesday evening. Because it's been so hot I haven't been able to go walking much - but then I had a brainwave. Why not get up extra early, while it's cool and go walking? So by 6.55 on Wednesday morning off I set and I walked 7.5 miles. It was lovely; it was hot but not too hot. I got back home with plenty of time to do other things.

These are what might called 'bastard massive' trousers. A phrase coined by Vix of 'Vintage Vixen, here ! The trousers were charity shopped about 2 years ago. Top from F & F sale, (Tesco) last summer; sandals from Clarks 6 years ago. All jewellery charity shopped. I don't often do bare arms but it was so hot I didn't care.

What other things did I do? Well, I haven't been to Ampthill for a while, so off I set. I bought my daughter an electric rice cooker for £2.50; picked up some shorts and t shirts for middle grandson, bought my brother a glass tankard with 'Happy 60th Birthday' on it - he's 60 on Saturday. I also bought myself 2 tops; one from the £1.00 rail - a Lipsy top and it's coming to Spain with me. The other top is a denim shirt which I'll take to  Donegal. I have another wardrobe there...not much summer stuff though, because so far I haven't experienced much of the Irish summer. I always seem to miss it!

I have now packed away all my outfits for Spain, so for the next week I'll have to rely on what's left in the wardrobe. That shouldn't be too difficult; I've got loads of clothes...

I did the same thing on Thursday morning got up early and set off walking. I tried a different route today but went wrong somewhere in an enormous field - either that or the map is wrong; highly unlikely. Anyway, I saw this sign en route:

How sweet!

Strangely enough, I didn't see many bees but in the 'bastard massive' field, I have never seen so many butterflies/moths. It was a hay field and the hay had been cut and left to dry in rows.  The perimeter of the field was alive with a variety of moths and butterflies. It was wonderful. On this walk, I also saw a sparrowhawk resting on a pole, a crying buzzard, two beautiful hares and a lot of rabbits!

After I dropped the grandchildren at school on Friday morning, I set off for a walk. It was much cooler today and I had a great walk. This week I've walked 20 miles in total; 2 x 7 miles and 1 x 6 miles. I plan to do the same, get up early and walk, next Monday and Tuesday.



I was a bit pissed off today because of this. This is a 'kissing gate' designed so that only one person can go through at a time - but you could lean over the gate and kiss the person coming through behind you. No, I haven't done it yet! Anyway, it's at the entrance/exit to a field and a public footpath; the sign saying 'Public Footpath' is directly opposite it. But wait a minute - have you noticed it's been padlocked? This means it can't be opened, so access to the footpath is denied. Not to me, I climbed over the gate beside it. I shall find out who the landowner is and report them.  To whom I don't yet know but I'll find out! The footpath is a public right of way and the land owner cannot deny access to the public without a very good reason.

Despite this sort of thing occasionally happening, I absolutely love walking. I love walking on my own and  in a group. I love exploring the countryside and towns and villages. I love the sounds of the birds singing, love to watch the changing seasons and I love the high I get from simply getting out in the fresh air and experiencing the elements. It's a great way to clear your head or think a tricky situation through. Whatever it is with walking, I always feel better for it.

Everything charity shopped except the shoes which are from a local shoe outlet.

I'm off to visit my son tomorrow and then in the evening we're going out for a 60th birthday meal with my two younger brothers. My older brother has a gig in Trowbridge tomorrow night so can't make it. I plan to chill out on Sunday and enjoy the weather; if it's not too hot I might squeeze in another walk. I'm on the last of the library books, too, so I have just managed to squeeze them all in.

We are in for a lovely weekend so I hope yours is fabulous!
xxx