Another birthday!

Hello again!

 I walked with my group again on Wednesday; we started from the marina in Bedford and had an urban walk  of 6.5 miles through different parts of Bedford. One of my fellow walkers, who has lived in the town for 50 years, wasn't aware of some of the paths we took! It was a totally windless day - such a contrast to the previous week.

This was Thursday's outfit. Everything charity shopped. The blue trousers were bought from the 3:16 charity shop last week in a BOGOF deal for 3.00. The top was a 1.00 rail bargain from Barnardo's. The white Mary Jane's were bought from Oxfam in Newport Pagnell for 10.00. All jewellery and the scarf were charity shopped. The beads are navy blue but look black in this photo!

I had a pretty busy day on Thursday. I went walking by myself in the morning; 7.5 miles; did the food shopping; delivered a couple of no longer used tables to grandson's mum; did a whites wash; cleaned out the wood burner and cooked dinner.

Middle grandson is very interested in politics and we watched with great interest the news that evening; the latest Brexit  revelations  - or should that be the 'couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery' fiasco?

Primroses in the wood...

My walk on Thursday was to recce the bus walk I'll be leading in June. When I'd recce'd it before it was too short at under 6 miles. I needed to make the start, which is from the village of Sharnbrook, a bit longer so it brought the walk up to over 6 miles. I'd tried three times to extend the start of the walk and I finally cracked it on Thursday. I found the right footpath just a a couple of hundred yards further on. My plan is to  recce the whole walk on Sunday right through to Pavenham village, which is where the walk ends and we catch the bus back to Bedford. OH will pick me up in Pavenham and take me to Sharnbrook where I'll pick up my car.  Hopefully it will be nearer to 7 miles now that I've managed to extend the start. Nearer the time I'll recce the whole thing again but this time catching the two buses.

This is an old windmill in Sharnbrook village built in 1880 and converted into a house. It has an observatory on top and next to it is a Huf house. 'Huf Haus is the world's leading firm in selling houses in the Bauhaus architectural tradition based on the German Fachwerk.' (Wikipedia). Each house can be constructed according to individual floor plans. I saw my first ever Huf House when it was featured on a British TV programme called 'Grand Designs'.

Friday's outfit. Everything charity shopped. Trousers 3:16 charity shop: 3.00, black Next top 1.00 rail; yellow linen shirt by Wallis; 4.00 bought from Barnardo's. The manager kept this for me as she said it was 'me' and I do like it but it's too small; I can't do it up. It doesn't matter, I just keep it open! Mary Jane's as before.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings made by an artist in Donegal and bought for 18 euros.

On Friday I had a sorting out day. I had errands to run in town first and then got on with it. I made more shelf space on my non fiction bookshelves in my study by weeding out most of the academic textbooks I no longer need or use. I haven't done any teaching for more than five years so they're off to our local Oxfam bookshop. I also sorted a black plastic bag and a half of clothes for the charity shop. I reorganised the study while I was sorting out the books and went to pick up the children from school feeling I had achieved something. I do like a good sort out and now I have a bit more room on my bookshelves upstairs.

Saturday was OH's mum's 95th birthday. We set off for London soon after midday stopping at Marian's on the way to say hello and for me to introduce OH to her.

This was what I wore. Black swing coat; home made and bought at a car boot sale for 2.50. The brooch, which is of a bird of paradise was bought in a Baldock charity shop for 1.25. It was the first wearing of it.

Everything charity shopped except the black velvet trousers. These were from M&S and I bought them at the beginning of 2013, in the sale with an M&S voucher I got for Christmas. I wore them a month later to meet my brother Julian for the first time.

The jacket and matching vest are made of a crinkled material which is drip dry (hurrah!) and are by Chest -  I've never heard of them. I was in Barnardo's; Great Denham about a year ago and the manager was just putting them out on the shop floor; I snapped them up for 3.99. The headscarf was also bought there about two weeks ago.

All jewellery charity shopped, Beads; 3.00 from the Day Hospice boutique last week.

Now for some birthday party photos:

OH and his mum.

OH's daughter and her Grandma.

OH's grandchildren.
The boys are twins but so not identical! There are three sets of twins among OH's siblings...

Two of several birthday cakes...

There was singing and musical instrument playing and there may have been dancing but we had left by then - it was a truly wonderful day. Imagine being 95!

On Sunday I woke up to a beautifully sunny day so I decided to take advantage of the good weather and recce my bus walk in its entirety. OH picked me up at the other end  in the village of Pavenham. The walk will be about 7.3 miles in total but I walked 8.3 miles because I missed a foot path twice and had to retrace my steps.

A lot of the walk is by the  River Great Ouse. This is Felmersham church in the distance about 4 miles into the walk.

Felmersham Bridge built in 1818.

I love this house! Felmersham village.

On Monday I volunteered at Barnardo's. They had a sale on all the dresses 1.99 per dress so I bought two! A navy cotton one by John Rocha and a red tunic style one by Adini. You can't look a gift horse (or bargain) in the mouth - as the saying goes!

Everything charity shopped except leggings; 5.00 Forever 21 sale and boots online retail.
The pale blue top is a tunic by Ghost bought last week from Barnardo's. It's been on the rails for weeks and I thought I'd better grab it at 3.99. It's really a summer top but topped with a cardigan it was warm enough for a quite mild March day.

Scarf and jewellery charity shopped.

On Tuesday I was at the food bank and after I had finished I took my unwanted books to Oxfam and a bag of stuff to a charity shop. I had a quick rummage at the Castle Road charity shops and bought two necklaces for 99p each at the Children's Society. I then came home and spent a few hours sorting out my scarves. I started a new bag for the charity shop having decided to get rid of more than a dozen scarves. Now my head scarves are all together in one place, and I keep the square ones in a hat box on top of my cupboard just next to them. These are only my headscarves. I have 'normal' neck scarves on the coat hanger downstairs and two drawers in the hall table full of more folded up neck scarves. I have a box of Pashmina and Devore scarves under my head and a box of shorter 'tie round your neck only' scarves under the bed as well!

I used the old scarf hanger to hang my blue and red necklaces on and added three further hooks on the other side of the cupboard for my ever growing necklace collection. I shall go through my necklaces before I go to Ireland in April and bring a few more to leave there - yes, I've got more necklaces in Ireland but only a few!

I know. I have a problem...

Talking of necklaces (!) I went back to the Day Hospice Boutique on Wednesday after my walk and bought a necklace I had seen the last time I was there. It was still there I'm pleased to say! You can see it above just above the right grey boot.

I wanted a lie in on Wednesday morning. I've been waking up very early lately; often just before or just after 6 am. I get up at 6.30 am on Mondays and Fridays, when I do the school run and at 7.15 am on other days. So, rather than get up and join my walking group I decided to walk on my own. I set off at midday having done some jobs around the house and decided to walk from Milton Ernest and recce the walk I'll be leading in May. It's the reverse of the walk I led in February. It was a lovely walk of just over 7 miles; it wasn't cold and the sun ventured out near the end. I did see a lot of dead things, though. The remains of a female pheasant; an eviscerated rabbit and a desiccated rodent of some sort. Then I spotted these:

Spring lambs! And these:

Wild violets.

Nature is always balanced in the end.

I'm dumping this tunic; it's by Apricot but it's not the right length.  Can't remember where I got it from; possibly Ireland. At least you can see my lace effect leggings by M&S. Christmas present from daughter. Black boots by Next;  5.00 in the Salvation Army in Rushden.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Thursday's outfit.

Everything charity shopped except boots and leggings; online retail.

Tunic by Adini 1.99 from Barnardo's this week. M&S kimono charity shopped for 3.50 on a trip to Kettering earlier this year.

Only bangles and watch charity shopped. Necklace about 5 or 6 years old; Christmas present from daughter. Ring bought in Sainsburys and earrings were bought in Debenhams in the sale for 3.00 in January.

Friday's outfit. Dress by White Stuff and bought from Barnardo's; Great Denham for 3.99.
Orange shirt by Next; can't remember but probably 1.00 rail somewhere; boots present from daughter. Scarf also charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings; Sainsbury's.

On Saturday I went to visit my son and in the evening my daughter took me out for a Mother's Day dinner. We went to a local Turkish restaurant where I had a vegetarian dish which was delicious.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings; Sainsburys.

Everything charity shopped except brogues; Tesco outlet shop 5.00. I am breaking all the Fashion Police's rules here - I'm wearing navy blue and black together!! Shock, horror!!  Arrest me!
The navy skirt is by M&S and was bought in Oxfam, West Hampstead for 2.49. Jacket; 3:16 charity shop 1.00 rail; ruffled blouse by H&M; can't remember. Lace tights bought so long ago I can't remember but I think they're at least 10 years old.

This was my Mother's Day present. Homemade flapjacks (scrumptious) and a teeny tiny cactus in a pot. When we were in London for my birthday, I ventured into Urban Outfitters with my daughter and after 20 seconds was bored. I spotted some home ware and went to have a  look where I spied this tiny cacti. I didn't buy it because I thought it wouldn't survive the journey back to Bedford but my daughter bought it unbeknown to me!

Sunday's outfit

Brown's and greys.

I was feeling the neutrals at the weekend, it's good to ring the changes now and again. Tunic by Masai; can't remember which charity shop; cardigan by Jigsaw 1.00 rail 3:16 charity shop; leggings M&S retail; boots by Next 5.00; Salvation Army in Rushden.

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings which were a present from OH soon after we first met almost 21 years ago. The necklace (3.50) is the one I went back to the Day Hospice Boutique for.

On Sunday I went out for a walk, The clocks had gone forward by one hour and I was bit time restricted, so I walked locally to Queens Park; along the river to Great Denham; through the golf course to Biddenham then along the by pass and back home. 6 miles in total. It was a windy but sunny day and I was really glad I ventured out. Sometimes it's so tempting just to stay in and lounge about...

We're off to Ireland at the weekend so I will be taking a
blogging break of about 3 weeks. There is only very poor WiFi at the mobile home park as you know; but when I can I will try and keep up with all of your blogs and comment.

I'm so looking forward to seeing Ireland again and dear old Ruby Super!

A new family member! Birthdays!

You know the Chinese saying/curse 'May you live in interesting times'? Well, the week of my birthday was one of those. I posted my blog a few days earlier than usual because of the Sunshine Award nominations, and on the day I posted I received a call from my second cousin in Ireland to say he had something to discuss with me. He had signed up for Ancestry DNA some months ago and had found a close match in the UK: he'd received a response and was able to tell the matchee she had a first cousin (me!) living less than 50 miles away from her.

Please meet Marian and her daughter Katherine:

Marian is my maternal aunt's eldest child born in 1953, out of wedlock, and adopted (the same as my brother Julian) and therefore my first cousin. She and her daughter came to see me last Friday. It was an emotional  meeting but it was so lovely to meet them both. I was able to show Marian pictures of her biological mum and of her extended family in the UK, Ireland, Chicago, Florida and Honolulu; where we have first cousins.  Marian had no idea her mother was Irish. She was pretty overwhelmed by the whole thing. I'm not surprised; I couldn't begin to imagine how I would feel in a similar situation.
So now I have 'new' cousin and best of all she lives in London so I can visit her easily and vice versa.

Last Thursday's outfit: I had planned to go walking but the day was horrible so I just added a top and cardigan to these leggings which I keep for walking as they're thick and warm...

I look like I just got off my horse!

Everything charity shopped except boots; present from daughter.
Checked leggings 49p; Barnardo's, Great Denham as was the cardigan by Next: 3.99. Can't remember where I got the checked top from...

All jewellery charity shopped. Photo taken at the top of the stairs for a change!

So, last Saturday was my birthday. I had a brilliant day.

Neck scarf 50p 3:16 charity shop; bag by Dune present from my daughter; headscarf: Primarni. All jewellery charity shopped.

This was where we started from; Sir John Soane's Museum. It was a bit of a disappointment. I thought it would be a more domestic interior but Sir John was an avid collector (purloiner?) of classical antiquities. I'm not very keen on all that  classical statuary, heads, and very old paintings so we whizzed through and out again. I'm a philistine, I know...

Everything charity shopped except jacket; another present from my daughter, and leggings; M&S retail. The dress was from 1.00 rail at the 3:16 charity shop and although the material is light it was quite warm. I love this dress because of the spots and the draping. Boots by Next; charity shopped in Salvation Army, Rushden for 5.00.

We went for a drink in Lincoln Inn Fields:

Me and the daughter

I decided we should go to the British Museum as a) I'd never been and b) It was supposedly nearby.

We never found it! We passed this demonstration outside India House on Aldwych. Then we carried on walking and crossed Waterloo bridge:

The plan then was to walk to Tate Modern, but we were all cold and a bit footsore so we hopped on a tube and went to Camden where the restaurant was for my birthday meal. I went for a rummage around the charity shops on Camden High Street; daughter went retail shopping and OH and brother went to the pub! We were all very happy with our choices and then met up at the restaurant along with brother Julian and nephew.

From L to R: brother Julian, nephew Daniel, me and daughter; brother Tony. OH took the photo.

We had a wonderful boozy dinner at The Mango Room in Camden eating Caribbean cuisine which we all love. I had sea bream and it was delicious. I'd definitely go back there again! It was a really good birthday. I got some lovely presents; books and CDs from my wish list; tights; perfume; cash from two of my brothers; flowers from grandson; Julian bought me a beautiful candle; and check me out, I found  an Armani skirt (below) in a Camden charity shop, Mind, and my daughter bought it for me as part of my birthday present!  What a very lucky and blessed woman I am.

On Sunday we spent the day with my son.

I wore my new skirt to the charity shop where I volunteer on Monday.

Flowers were from my cousin, Marian. Everything charity shopped except boots; Matalan retail and tights; e bay.

Such a pretty skirt! Made of wool with embroidered flowers by Armani bought in Mind  in Camden on Saturday. Green homemade jacket; Red Cross shop a few years ago; it would have been 1.99. Can't remember where I got the green ruched top from.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings - donated by my daughter.

I have been visiting fewer charity shops since I started volunteering at Barnardo's. Last week I bought a few bits in Barnardo's on the Monday and went rummaging on Saturday in Camden where I bought a bangle for 1.50 and that was it! This week at Barnardo's I bought two summer tops for 3.00 each; and 2 scarves for 1.00 each. I will always look in the 3:16 shop every week  as I pass it on my way to town and I just never know what I'll find in there. Apart from nice clothes I've bought a lamp, several rugs and lots of household linen and bits and pieces from here over the years and lots of wonderful books. When my eldest grandson was small he always spent his pocket money on toys from here and I've bought both clothes and toys for all grandsons, too.

On Tuesday, I was at the food bank as usual and had errands to run in town even though it was lashing down and very windy. On my way back I popped into the 3:16 where they're doing a BOGOF (buy one get one free). I bought a pair of loose blue trousers and got for free a pair of Boden trousers that are loose and mid calf length. Now this is a length that I dislike on me and I'm still not sure about them, but I will wear them on the blog and see what you think. If I don't like them it won't matter; they were free and I can always re donate them!

This rather tiny church was just outside the town of Sandy set in a lovely cemetery.

On Wednesday I walked with the group having not walked at all with them the previous week. We walked 7 miles in Sandy around the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) sanctuary. It was an extremely windy day; the remnants of Storm Gareth were felt. Unfortunately, the strong wind gave me a really painful earache and jaw ache for the rest of the day...

On Thursday I did the usual food shopping, did more errands in town and cooked a big dinner for us all as it was eldest grandson's 24th birthday the next day. He's off to South Africa for a holiday with his girlfriend, so this was the only chance he had to come down. He's been to South Africa before and had an amazing time. He feels a real affinity with the place but that's not surprising as his grandfather  (my ex-husband) was South African.

I bought the skirt in Oxfam on the sale rail for 2.99 when in I was in West Hampstead  the week before. The top is also charity shopped about four or five years ago but I can't remember where. Cardigan charity shopped at the independent charity shop in town for 3.00. Tights charity shopped. Shoes; Primarni sale.
I seem to have bought quite a few skirts lately; I may have to do a challenge and wear  a different one every day for a week.

All jewellery charity shopped.

We forgot to take photos of the birthday meal and like a lot of men I know grandson is not keen on having his photo taken; but I did remember to take a picture of the cake the daughter made for her birthday boy!

Yummy!

Friday's outfit. It wasn't a very good day for walking so I decided 'd go and spend my birthday money instead! Everything charity shopped. Boots, 1.00 euro in a Donegal charity shop; they're children's which is why they were so cheap. I thought I'd left these in the caravan so was surprised to find them in the wardrobe when I put my brand new retail green canvas Mary Jane's away I bought with my birthday money from Sainsburys. The leggings which I usually keep for walking were 49p from Barnardo's reduced rail. The tunic I can't remember where I bought it and the striped top is another 1.00 find somewhere - I've had it for years.

I bought this necklace for 1.99 from the Sue Ryder charity shop. Earrings are daughter donated and all other jewellery is charity shopped.

I spent some more of my birthday money on some charity shopped jewellery and I also bought myself a Magnolia tree. I had one a couple of years ago and asked OH to plant it for me. He planted it at the allotment! We gave the allotment up  eventually as OH didn't have the time to keep it up and I don't like gardening and we forgot about the magnolia tree. Now I have another one and it's already planted and in my garden. I hope I have more success with this than I have with the Wisteria which has only given us a single bloom in the 5 years we've had it! I also bought myself a new coat (below) for 6.00 in the Cancer Research shop in town. I still have a little bit of birthday money left so I'll probably spend that at Barnardo's on Monday...

I went to see my cousin Marian on Saturday. We had a lovely day just chatting and drinking tea. I had planned to go for a bit of a rummage whilst I was there but the time just flew by! I didn't want to stay late as I dislike driving in the dark; I find the glare of oncoming headlights makes it difficult for me to see even though I have anti-glare coating on my glasses!

Saturday's outfit.
Everything is charity shopped except the boots which were daughter donated. The black cord trousers are by M&S and were on the 1.00 rail at the Red Cross. Yellow shirt bought  in a Donegal charity shop for 3.00 euros. Can't remember where I bought the yellow kimono jacket from and it was only last year...

All jewellery charity shopped and the scarf is one I bought from Barnardo's at Great Denham last week for 1.00.

This is my new coat. It's an Italian label and is trimmed with black and some silver chain. It also has hook and eye fastenings along the front if you want to wear it done up. I put an old coat in the charity shop bag that I've not worn very much at all . See, I'm trying my best with the 'one-in one-out' thing!

I'm slowly reading 'The Corner', by the writers of the TV series 'The Wire'. It's an ethnographic study of a corner of two streets in West Baltimore in the 1990s where a lot of stuff goes on. The focus is on one specific family and their activities and relationship with the corner and all the people who come to it. It's quite a harrowing read (drug use and misuse. violence, guns  etc) so I dip in and out of it; I highly recommend it. In between dipping in and out of this book I'm reading my way through my birthday books and enjoying them immensely.

On Monday I volunteered at Barnardo's.  On Tuesday I was at the food bank and in both places I was very busy. It is a very rare occasion I get to sit down at either place!

I used up the rest of the  birthday money I had on Tuesday afternoon whilst out looking for a white sheet to turn into a Roman toga for the youngest grandson; I finally visited a charity shop that is in the grounds of a hospice not far from where I live. A fellow walker had reminded me about it on last week's walk. I bought myself some yellow trousers; an animal print kimono; a necklace, a brooch; a pair of earrings and three books. It's a lovely shop held in a shed in their tranquil grounds and I'll be coming back again.  It is very spacious and the goods are displayed in a really attractive manner. It's called a boutique and that's certainly the vibe you get when you walk in. They had several lovely necklaces so I hope next time I go back at least one is still there waiting for me!

Tuesday's outfit. Everything charity shopped.

Blue kimono, can't remember. Blue tunic by Tu; 1.00 rail Barnardo's, Ampthill. Blue leggings same place and same rail; blue boots, Red Cross :1.99.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings; daughter donated.

I'm off to London again this weekend - that's three weekends in a row. It's OH's mum's 95th birthday so there's a family party to celebrate. I'm wondering what to wear...