A new beginning...

Hello again!

As I  started to write this post I had been without my mobile phone camera for almost three weeks. The good news was my phone could be repaired but it would be another week or so before I got it back so there are more fuzzy photos. You have been warned!

 All jewellery charity shopped.

Skirt by Adini; charity shopped. Tunic bought in Donegal charity shop - probably not the best way to wear it with this skirt.  Oh well - my first 2019 outfit mistake.  I wore the tunic to travel back from Ireland in back in early September but I wore it with jeans; it was so hot when we got off the ferry it was a shock! The boots are retail and came courtesy of OH who got some vouchers for a high street store at Christmas. He gave them to me and I found two jumpers for him and a pair of grey suede boots above for me. I just had to pay an extra fiver and they were mine.

Everything charity shopped except boots and leggings.

I got back into my walking regime after an almost three week break. I hadn't intended to have a break but between shortened days due to early sunsets; miserable weather and sheer busyness before Christmas; it was only when it was all over I got my self in the frame of mind to go for a reasonable walk. I walked 6 miles on the Sunday before New Year and 5 miles along the river on New Year's Day. Everyone was out for a walk! It was so busy, thronged with families and dogs and children. The sun was out and stayed out for quite a while which must have been the trigger. I lead my walk on the 30th January so need to get on with a few practice runs. I really miss walking when I don't do it. It has become a part of my everyday life now.

Everything charity shopped except grey suede boots as above. Tunic charity shopped in Co. Donegal; cardigan charity shopped last year but can't remember where. Leggings online retail.

On New Year's Eve I was child minding. My youngest grandson stayed up to toast the New Year in with us, and we watched an impressive fire display standing on our street just watching the neighbours in all directions letting off their fireworks. 

All jewellery charity shopped.

I volunteered on Wednesday at the food bank as Tuesday was a bank holiday. We were climbing over crates and over each other there was so many donations. All very welcome and thank you to the people of Bedford for their generosity and kindness.

I had an idea that evening which I put into practice the following day. As you know, I have too many clothes (!)  and storing them has become an issue. It was brought home to me when I couldn't find  specific items in my wardrobe. I knew I hadn't given them away. I did find them eventually (weeks later!) but they had got pushed behind or under something else.  Time to remedy that!

I have a chest at the end of my bed which was originally used to store bed linen but I had commandeered it  a few years ago to house some of my summer clothes. I bagged up two black sacks of summer clothes and put them in the loft. I moved the bed linen out of the cupboard in my bedroom and replaced it in the chest. Then I reorganised my wardrobes. I took out all my cardigans; folded them and put them in the cupboard in my room. I now have all my jumpers and cardigans and trousers in one cupboard;  below the cupboard housed in 3 large drawers are; my nightwear; my leggings; my short sleeved tops and my long sleeved tops; all tee shirt style.

 In the wardrobe, I put all my tunics on one rail with all my skirts and waistcoats/vests and on the rail above I stored all my shirts and tops. I have another rail in another room which houses all my jackets, dresses and kimonos. Finally, I share another rail in a cupboard next to the bathroom with OH where we store our coats and my maxi dresses. How I would love to have all my clothes in one place in one room. I can dream can't I? I could actually do this with my study, but if I had to choose between the clothes and the books; the books win! I know I am lucky to have so many clothes and somewhere to store them so I'm not complaining.

 I felt so much better when I had done this; I could actually see what I had. I could move the hangers along the rail - they were too tightly packed previously to do this! I also re-donated quite a few items which helped free up space, too. It was a good way to start 2019, I thought and all I have to do now is:

1) Buy less stuff i.e. clothes

2) Practise 'one in - one out' wherever possible.

On the last day of OH's holiday, the Thursday after New Year's Day, we went to London to see his mum. It was lovely to see her. She's 96 in March! It was a bitterly cold day and we just had time for a mini rummage in Willesden High Rd and Willesden Green. All I bought was  a blue Beanie hat by Bench for 1.00! Wasn't I good?

 Seen on the corner of Willesden Green, this is the smallest barber's I have ever seen.  One chair only! Where you can see the mirror on the door behind the chair, that was the length of the shop!  It was just a very tiny triangular space with a barber's shop inserted! It's hard to convey how tiny it was in this photo but you would have had difficulty swinging half a cat; never mind a whole one!  Mind you, £7.00 seems a good price to me for a haircut; they start at 10.00 here in Bedford...

This is what I wore. I was sorry I didn't wear my grey leggings instead of these (charity shopped) grey tights which had tiny coloured random squares including yellow ones. My legs were cold.

Yellow dress Tu sale; boots; Matalan retail, top under dress by Country Casuals; charity shopped about six years ago. Kimono charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings bought in Donegal  and made by a local artist.

On Saturday, it was my grandson's 14th birthday. I made him a chocolate button chocolate cake with sparkler candles. He was very pleased.

Happy birthday, Isaiah!

I love this tunic but I always look like a sack of potatoes when I wear it. Charity shopped somewhere but I can't remember where. Lace effect leggings by M&S; Christmas present from daughter. Boots by Oxfam. Scarf gift from a friend. Top underneath tunic by M&S; 1.00 rail charity shop.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Amongst my stack of painted bangles are the two I bought in Northampton last week.

I managed to read 113 books in 2018. A large number of books are read in July and August when I'm at our mobile home in Ireland. Plenty of time to read. I often stay up all night to finish a book when I'm there because I can always have a lie-in in the morning...

Daughter took these
 photos. All jewellery charity shopped.

Checks, spots and stripes.

This was the best of a bad bunch of photos. Taken from the other end of the hall so you can see all the coats and coats over the banister...OH always take photos from the stairs so all the mess isn't seen!  Checks, spots and stripes. Everything charity shopped. I bought the knitted top in Ireland and the spotty blouse is a 1.00 rail find from Great Denham, Barnardo's. These check trousers are very warm. I can't remember now where I got them from but they're good winter staples. Striped scarf also charity shopped.

My phone was to be delivered on Tuesday so I didn't make it to the food bank that week. It was good to have the phone back and the quality of the photos will now get better! I had various errands to run in town on Tuesday afternoon so as well as a trip to Great Denham to hand in my volunteer application to Barnardo's and have a rummage; I also fitted in a short walk. When I last went to Barnardo's in Great Denham they were really desperate for volunteers. I picked up a form and decided I would like to volunteer in a charity shop again and why not in one of  my favourites? All I can hope is that it doesn't close down like the other two I volunteered at did!

Everything charity shopped except the boots - online retail. Dress; Phase Eight 2.99; Barnardo's Great Denham; jeans can't remember where; Kimono by Indigo; M&S, 3.00 Age Concern Northampton.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Both Barnardo's and Keech Hospice in Great Denham had sales on. Irresistible! I bought a blue/grey/yellow tunic and an asymmetrical roll neck top in Great Denham at 99p each. Keech had plenty on offer. I bought a skirt; a pair of trousers; (summer weight), a  long, short sleeved cream cardigan; a long sleeved grey floral top and white and grey knitted tunic. all at 1.00 each. So, 7 items bought for just under 7.00. I re donated 5 items; overall gain was 2 items in.

I had planned to walk with the group on Wednesday but I had set my phone to do updates overnight. I completely forgot this would mean the phone switches itself off and consequently the alarm didn't go off in time. I hate having to rush so I took my self off for a walk. It was a very cold day with a strong. icy wind but it was sunny! I recce'd my walk and finally got the route right. I  made it 7.3 miles by the end which is spot on. But oh my goodness, was I knackered by the time I got home. I'm out of practice and it felt like it. Never mind; I'm getting back into my walking routine now. On Thursday I recce'd my shorter walk (an amble) that I'm leading in February for the Ramblers. This one starts and finishes at the same place as the longer one but the middle part is different and at 4.5 miles almost 3 miles shorter.

On Friday I set off on my long overdue visit to Hilary in Devon. We had a lovely time.  Lots to catch up with! On Saturday went to visit her daughter and twin grand daughters in Exmouth. We hijacked their scooters...

We got rained on but soon dried out. We went out for a meal and did several lovely walks. Look at these beautiful 16th century almshouses in Tiverton.

I'm taller than the door!

I was sorry to say goodbye to my friend of 53 years but hope to be back in Devon in May half term week when I will probably take grandsons as well. Although the 14 year old may not want to come - he's got very grown up all of a sudden and doesn't want to hang out with me as much as he used to. That's okay; they all go through this phase. This is the fourth teenage child I've had in my life and the one thing you know about the teenage years is that they/you get through them and they come out the other side as lovely individuals. Only one more to see through...

Kimono bought in Co. Galway charity shop; dress by Primarni retail; tights charity shopped and boots Matalan retail.

All jewellery charity shopped. I'm wearing giraffe earrings as the colours went with my outfit and beads.

Welcome 2019!

Happy New Year to you all and thank you for reading and commenting on my blog in 2018 . I appreciate your comments so much and get such a lot of pleasure from hearing from you. Looking forward to hearing from you in 2019.

Meanwhile, going back to 2018...

This is the 2.00 jacket I bought from the Willen Hospice shop in Newport Pagnell. It's  so warm that I can wear it without the need for a coat. All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.

A week or so before Christmas I dropped the Dutch pot lid (made of cast iron) on my phone and the screen was smashed. The display was affected as a big black blob obliterated most of it.  I had to send it off to be repaired or replaced and in the interim OH used his phone to take these photos. They're a little fuzzy and for that I apologise.

Spots, stripes and floral  -  all co-ordinating in black and white. I love pattern mixing. Everything charity shopped but can't remember where.

Boots from Oxfam.

For warmth I added the 2.00 green cardigan bought from the Independent charity shop.

I wore this outfit to the foodbank the week before Christmas. I wanted to be warm because the rear warehouse is freezing. I also wore pink gloves but not in this photo.  Everything charity shopped except the leggings and the boots - retail.

I have a confession to make. I wore this knitted dress all day - back to front! That's why it isn't sitting level at the front and the neck is a bit high. I only noticed when I was undressing for bed...

I also went for a little rummage in Kempston at the weekend and bought a rather nice orange boiled wool/felted jacket by Fenn, Wright and Manson for 8.00. Surprisingly, they had a second, green boiled wool/felted jacket from an unknown label for 6.00, but it didn't fit as nicely as the orange one.  I used to have a lovely blue wool jacket and OH washed it at too high a temperature, so it was ruined. I have a black one that I bought from a 1.00 rail somewhere but haven't worn it yet. The FWM orange jacket was my Christmas present to myself and I planned to wear it see my son the following Saturday before Christmas.

The fuzzy photos and pattern mixing continue... grey dress bought in Barnardo's 2.99; Kimono bought years ago; cost 5.00 but can't remember where I bought it. Checked leggings 79p, Barnardo's bargain rail. Boots Oxfam.

All jewellery and scarf charity shopped.

Nomads tunic/dress; can't remember, cardigan 1.00 rail, leggings online retail, boots present from daughter.

Photos didn't start out fuzzy but the final two did - why? Cameras are a puzzle to me!

All jewellery charity shopped.

Our Christmas tree, which we have had for as long as we have lived together; 18 years, decided to stop working on Christmas Eve just around quarter to five. It's one of those ones with built in lights that change colour - quite trendy back in the day. But OH nipped into town - we're only a five minute walk away and bought a new set. I wouldn't have bothered but he loves Christmas... I couldn't take photos as I still hadn't got my phone back or even knew at that stage whether it was repairable or not. It has been strangely pleasant not having a phone but a bit frustrating when I want to take a photo or check things online quickly.

Only middle grandson missing here - he'd beat a sharp exit when the camera came out...

We had a lovely Christmas. There were 9 of us for Christmas dinner; I did the turkey and all trimmings and was super organised; I prepped all the vegetables on Christmas Eve and just had potatoes, sweet potatoes and parsnips to do on the day. Daughter made a delicious Beef Wellington and a Salmon En Croute as well. Daughter's partner came later in the day with his three children and his brother and there was a riotous and very competitive game of Charades played by 14 of us!  I did a small buffet for the evening.

Those are middle grandson's legs to the left so we got a bit of him in a photo!

This is what I wore - yellow velvet dress charity shopped in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal; patterened tights charity shopped; navy blue boots; online retail. All jewellery charity shopped.

Eldest Grandson and girlfriend stayed over Christmas Day and went to the sales in Milton Keynes on Boxing Day. No public transport in our area so I drove them there and they were able to get a coach back to London from Milton Keynes that evening, as both were back at work on Thursday. It was lovely to see them. There just enough turkey left to have a very small roll for breakfast and then I used the carcass to make soup on Boxing Day.

Another skirt and tunic outfit!

Everything charity shopped except the boots which are from Sainsbury's. East skirt; tunic from Primarni 1.00 rail.

All jewellery charity shopped except Amber earrings from e bay.

Going for the Gudrun Sjoden look again; short sleeved cardigan worn for warmth. The brooch was one of the 4 I bought a few weeks back from the Keech Hospice shop for 2.00.

I was thoroughly spoilt as usual in the present's department. OH bought me a printer and National Trust membership, some perfume and lovely soaps. I got three of the books on my wishlist; a new OS map of Bedford; (my old one was so creased and crumpled it had started to fall apart); a new purse; more smellies and soaps; new leggings from M&S and bras - these were much needed - another phone charging cable - also much needed and a zipped container of multi sized, coloured crochet hooks. My brothers gave me money. So, on the Thursday after Christmas I went into town to spend my Christmas money. I bought some blue velvet leggings and a dressy skirt in the M & S sale and spent 5.00 on some jewellery from the charity shops including the necklace below which I bought from Keech Hospice for 2.00. I still had a little left over so OH and I planned a trip to Northampton for a good post Christmas rummage!

Tunic and top charity shopped both 1.00 rail.  Boots 1.99 - Red Cross Shop. Leggings retail.

Had my hair cut on Friday.

All jewellery and scarf charity shopped except the silver and moonstone earrings - present from OH many years ago.

We hadn't been to Northampton in over a year and there quite a few changes. Out of the twelve town centre charity shops only one was was closed. Age UK, one of my favourites, but there were two new huge charity superstores; Scope and the Salvation Army. They sold everything; furniture, books, Dvds and CDs, jewellery, bric a brac, clothes, shoes etc. One of these superstores had taken over the old Primark store. There was also a huge Development Aid charity shop called DAP which sold only clothes. We were a bit time limited by the time we got to these three so only had a quick look round.   I wonder if this is the future of charity shops here in the UK? Certainly the experience in Northampton was that they are getting bigger and taking over bigger premises. The two most recent charity shops in Bedford both have very large premises too. We have thirteen town centre charity shops in Bedford by the way. And within walking distance of the town another three and within a 3 mile radius another 5! And that doesn't include a large charity furniture shop in the bus station...

This is what I wore to go rummaging on Saturday...

Very fuzzy photo - sorry! Note the difference to the photos below which middle grandson took with his phone...

Outerwear -  Fenn, Wright and Manson orange jacket, 8.00; Day Hospice shop in Kempston; scarf, beret and gloves all charity shopped. That's another one of the 2.00  brooches I bought in the Keech Hospice shop a couple of weeks ago.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Black lace effect leggings M&S; Christmas present from daughter. OTK boots; online retail last year.

White shirt  by F&F; 1.00 rail and jumper/tunic also F&F; 1.95 Hospice shop.

Did I buy anything? Yes, of course I did! I bought a necklace for 87p in Sue Ryder; another necklace for 1.00 in the RSPCA, another 1.00 necklace and bangle in Cancer Research, a bangle in the Salvation Army 50p; and finally a M&S kimono; 3.00 in Save the Children. Total spend 7.37. That's my last charity shop spend of 2018. I wonder what 2019 will bring?

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!