Christmas and welcome 2020!

Happy New Year to you and let's hope 2020 is a good year for us all!

The tunic challenge continues; but I warn you there is a lot of black and white...

Day 15 - Tunic Challenge

Leggings by M&S; Christmas present from my daughter last year; boots; Primarni retail. Lace tunic and heart shirt both from my Barnardo's.

I wore this to volunteer on the Monday before Christmas. There had been another 1.00 sale at the weekend and the rails were looking very empty in places so my job was to restock them as fast as I could...

All jewellery charity shopped.

Day 16 - Tunic Challenge

All jewellery charity shopped.

The last of the unfortunately, unrecyclable wrapping paper waiting to go up into the loft. Next year, I'm reverting to brown paper and ribbon and may try Vix's block print idea - see HERE

I seem to have no feet in the above photo! Leggings; retail sale ages ago. Tunic by Capri and cardigan both charity shopped but can't remember where. It was an asymmetric tunic with an interesting raised pattern that reminded me of the pattern that gets left when you've removed ivy off a wall. It's a very tenacious plant is ivy, and holds on to the surface very tightly. I say 'was' with regard to the tunic, as after taking the photos, I managed to splash bleach all along the front. It was relegated to cleaning cloths...I seem to have lots of blue tunics, so I won't miss it.

Day 17 - Tunic Challenge

This was my Christmas Day 1.00 outfit! Trousers by M&S and tunic top by Wallis; both 50p from my Barnardo's 50p sale. I think this top could pass as a tunic, don't you? In fact, I've finally worked out what constitutes a tunic. It's a top that's too short to be a dress but a bit too long to be a top. In that case I have more dresses than I thought...

I wore these lovely charity shopped 80s late 90s style shoes with my Christmas Day outfit; but after about an hour I took them off and put my slippers on. I'm just not used to walking in heels...

Earrings and necklaces; previous gifts from my lovely OH.

This was Christmas Day in our house - there were 10 of us...

Everything on my table is charity shopped. The glasses, the table cloth the table mats, napkin rings and the jugs and trays. The dinner plates were also charity shopped and the dessert dishes; but not the cutlery or crackers. Both bought in sales.  The candle was a gift from my brother Julian; but it's sitting in a small Christmas wreath that I charity shopped. The white tablecloth, which is folded down to fit this borrowed table, was a present from Mauritius from my Mauritian next door neighbour. The Christmas table mats in the foreground were sent to me by my Aunty Mary (Marian's mum) in the late 1970s from the States. I had a matching table runner but over the years it got lost so I only have the four tablemats left...

We had a great day; ate plenty, drank lots and played games. We did Secret Santa which cut down on the buying and the cost. Despite this my daughter still bought me 3 books from my wishlist; OH bought me 1 book, some slippers, some lovely soaps and an Ancestry DNA kit; of which more later...my Secret Santa gift was cash from my brother Mark and will be spent in the charity shops. My friend Ann bought me a lovely silver cuff  and I got perfume and chocolates from other family member. My youngest grandson bought me a beautiful big ball of wool in different shades of blue and green. He chose the present himself!

And on Christmas Day I made this surprising discovery in the garden - how odd. I think it may have been woken up by the mild weather...

Boxing Day at Marian's

On Boxing Day; or St. Stephen's Day/Mummer's Day as it's called in Ireland; we went to London and to Cousin Marian's. We had a lovely evening. OH made a curry out of the left over turkey and I took my rice cooker with us and cooked it there.  Julian met us there. We drank fab cocktails made from sloe gin, prosecco and elderflower cordial; they were delicious and each one had a blackberry in it. I drank quite a few it must be said, but OH was the designated driver so that was all good! I don't know what the cocktails were called as my cousin's daughter, who found the recipe on the internet, couldn't remember the name either!

Day 18 - Tunic Challenge

On Friday, as we were given a very generous gift voucher by OH's daughters we decided to combine a rummage in Rushden with a trip to Rushden Lakes; which is a newish shopping centre and has the store we wanted. I wore a brown leather charity shopped jacket; 9 euros in a Co. Dublin charity shop; charity shopped jeans, scarf and gloves.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings; Sainsbury's. They used to do such good jewellery but the last year or so I haven't been impressed at all and haven't bought any from there.

Tunic by Desigual: charity shopped somewhere and boots; online retail.

We weren't able to find anything in the store as it had a very small home section; we could have gone to another branch in Milton Keynes, but I cannot abide shopping in Milton Keynes, so thought I'd look online instead. To me Milton Keynes shopping centre is like one of the 9 circles of hell in Dante's 'Inferno'. The Rushden rummage yielded 2 brooches and 2 pairs of earrings plus a maxi dress. I was looking out for 'His Dark Materials' book trilogy by Philip Pullman; having recently watched and enjoyed the TV series; but I didn't find any.

Day 19 - Tunic Challenge

All jewellery charity shopped.

I've spent an entire week without any walking or swimming. The swimming pool has reverted to holiday hours so they only do lane swimming at silly o clock in the morning; and I just haven't fancied a walk in this weather. I need to get back into a regime next week...

Can't remember where I got the trousers by F&F from or the striped tunic; top by Oasis. All charity shopped; boots included.

Day 20 - Tunic Challenge

Everything charity shopped except boots; a present.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I wore this to volunteer on Monday. There was a new volunteer in who does our stuff for ebay; I'd not met him before. We were inundated with donations and I spent all morning restocking the rather depleted rails. Found some bits for OH as men's clothing was reduced to 50p....

The period between Christmas and New Year is one that I enjoy. It's usually quite a lazy time - no work/volunteering,  less traffic on the roads, daily lie-ins, out of the usual routine etc. I am glad, though, when things go back to normal! OH really enjoys these lazy days, too. He had to return to work on Thursday, so we thought we'd venture to Cambridge for a really good rummage on New Year's Eve Day. I still had Christmas money left to spend after all...

Day 21 - Tunic Challenge

All jewellery charity shopped except the silver cuff - Christmas present from my friend Ann. I did some food shopping on Monday and visited the Castle Road charity shops on my way back. I bought this necklace there for 1.00; a brooch for 1.00 and a lovely summer dress for 4.99. It's been put away in my summer drawer...

Back to Tuesday's rummage in Cambridge. Everything is charity shopped except the boots which are from Primarni. The leggings by M&S were from  my Barnardo's; the lace top by Next from a 1.00 rail and the tunic with lace roses on the front was, I think, charity shopped in Donegal town.

Before we left for Cambridge I went back to my GP where I had my BP checked again having been taking the medication for almost a month. My BP was as the nurse stated 'perfect'!  I still have to continue with the medication, unfortunately. We caught the Park and Ride bus once we got to Cambridge; I was able to use my bus pass once again. I got lucky and found all three volumes of 'His Dark Materials' trilogy - I was delighted.  I also bought a H&M sleeveless yellow top for 3.00;  for summer wear mostly; but I could top it with a cardigan or jacket and wear it now. We started our rummage in Burleigh Street which has 10 charity shops - 3 were closed. We then walked to Mill Road which has 7 - 3 were shut; and on the way back to catch the Park and Ride bus on Regent Street found another 2. I bought a couple more books and that was it. I still have another five pounds left to spend!

My annual read this year was 81 books. I have a pile of books on my table that are TBRs (to be reads); they include my Christmas gift books, three library books I picked up on Tuesday morning, plus the Philip Pullman trilogy. I'm also awaiting three books yet to be delivered. That's my January and February reading sorted then!

On Thursday I was at the food bank in the morning. Oh my goodness the donations have come  in thick and fast and we are stacked to the roof. We have a chocolate mountain! People came in a constant stream this morning bringing donations with them.

Tunic Challenge - Day 22 (only 13 left to go!)

All jewellery charity shopped.

Tunic bought in Ireland in 2014; trousers by Laura Ashley charity shopped somewhere. Black kimono; present from daughter a few years ago and boots online retail. That's a Christmas tree musical box (charity shopped) on the floor; it had fallen out of the bag of Christmas stuff that had gone back up to the loft...

In the afternoon I went out for 6.6 mile walk through the Bedford streets. I just have to show you
 this house which is near to my grandson's school:

They do it for charity every year but I do wonder how much their electricity bill is!
It felt good to be getting back into my usual routine; I've missed walking and swimming.

I went for a rummage on Friday afternoon and did all the town charity shops - all 12 of them! I was looking for a black top to wear to a funeral next week and found 2; one in Keech for 1.50 by Frank Saul and one in the Mercy in Action shop by Mint Velvet for 2.00. I also purchased a new tunic (I've got rid of 3 since I started the challenge) for 3.50 in the Cancer Research shop, a spotted skirt in Mercy in Action for 2.00 and a greenish blue top by Toast for 5.00 in Oxfam. The handle on the bag I was using gave way while I was out; I've stitched it several times and it was just about holding on with two safety pins...I found a nice replacement in the 3:16 charity shop for 3.50. This was Friday's outfit:

Tunic Challenge - Day 23

This denim tunic by Free People was bought in the 3:16 charity shop back in September for 5.00. It had a lace at the front but I took it out. The plaid trousers were also charity shopped but can't remember where. Boots; online retail.

I had a sort out of my clothes when I got home and put 8 items in the charity shop bag. 5 items in bought today and 8 out...

All jewellery charity shopped.

I recce'd my walk on Saturday and caught the bus back. It was  6.7 miles and wasn't as muddy as I feared. The weather was bright and dry. I stopped for a quick drink at Felmersham bridge and the water level was almost back to normal - not like the last time I took photos of our river - the River Great Ouse.

Tunic Challenge - Day 24

All jewellery charity shopped.

I took these photos when it was dark outside so the light quality is not very good. Tunic by Store 21 bought on Friday's rummage; black charity shopped jeans. Boots; online retail.

I went walking on Sunday and walked nearly 9 miles. I saw what I thought was an amazing sight; 2 green parakeets in trees near youngest grandson's school! Now, I have seen parakeets in Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Kew Gardens all in London; and I know they've spread out from London into Kent and possibly Surrey; but I didn't realise they had come this far north of London. I contacted the RSPB and left a message. I tried in vain to get a decent photo...I was so excited by the sighting it made my day!

Back to Barnardo's on Monday. Busy, busy, busy. We've stopped donations for a few days as we had nowhere left to put them!  I wore a warm dress by M&S; charity shopped somewhere. My new to me plaid jacket charity shopped recently in Olney; I think. Floral tights and scarf also charity shopped.

Boots; online retail.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Tunic Challenge - Days 25 - 35

I am heartily sick of the tunic challenge and need to finish it. Here are 11 more tunics I've worn in the recent past on the blog - all charity shopped of course.

I started out with 39 tunics. Got rid of 3; relegated 2 to jumpers; bought one new to me (see above). By my calculations that is 35; yet I still have one final tunic to wear! At least 4 of the above tunics are ones I'd wear in the summer rather than the winter but it's still a lot of tunics whatever way you look at it! Note to self; DO NOT BUY ANY MORE TUNICS.

My next challenge is maxi skirts and dresses. I'm enjoying these challenges because it's making me wear almost everything I own. I shall do a skirt and top challenge after that; by which time it will be Easter and I'll be off to Ireland!

See you on the other side...

Tunic challenge continued...

Hello to you all and may I wish you all the best for the festive season and above all a happy new year! I'm posting a little prematurely because I'll be too busy on Christmas Eve to post...

Day 4 - Tunic Challenge

What is it about getting older that makes the time go so fast? Before I knew it, it was Monday again and back to volunteering. This is what I wore. Everything is charity shopped. Jacket by Country Casuals; trousers by H&M; tunic by Indulgence.  Boots by River Island. All jewellery and headscarf charity shopped.

I like this tunic so it's a keeper.

 I spent the morning decoding the women's clothes except for coats, dresses and sportswear. We have a new policy for decoding now where we reduce everything to 50p unless it's higher end stuff and then it gets sent on to other shops or we redate it. The reason for reducing everything to 50p is because the companies that collect the unwanted clothes (rags) from charities have reduced the rates they pay for the rags per 10kg bag. The charities only received a very small amount per bag in the first place.  It makes sense to try and get 50p for something if it's going to end up being ragged anyway.

I did well and found a dressy pair of M&S trousers, a spotted top by Wallis (another spotted top to join my collection, aaargh...) and a floral print dress all for 50 p each. I also picked up another handbag...

After the food bank on Tuesday I ventured into town and finished my Christmas shopping. I'd dressed the Christmas Tree on Sunday but needed more baubles; I picked up a bag of baubles in the 3:16 charity shop for 1.00, so the tree was completed when I got home.

This is where we had our Rambler's  Christmas lunch on Wednesday. A 13th century Tithe barn; part of a hotel complex just outside the town called, unsurprisingly; 'The Barn's'. Tithe barns were used to store the rents or tithes in Europe during the medieval period. If you want to find out more about them see HERE.

We started with a 7.5 mile walk and then it was a quick change in the car to this:

I wore the scarf and earrings on the walk and wore leggings under my walking trousers. It was just a case of removing walking boots, socks, trousers and walking top and replacing it with this tunic and jacket, replacing my walking boots with OTK ones and adding some more jewellery.

Day 5 - Tunic Challenge

This tunic is long enough to count as a dress!  It's by Lily and Me and I love the fact it has pockets. It was charity shopped, but unless it was my Barnardo's I can't remember where it came from. The blue boiled wool jacket was from a 1.00 rail. Navy leggings; can't remember and the OTK boots were bought online about three years ago.

All jewellery charity shopped.

We were entertained by one of our group playing the violin and then we sang carols. I always enjoy the carol singing and there is competition between the men and women as the carols are divided up into separate sections to be sung. It's all great fun and the food was pretty good, too!

Day 6 - Tunic challenge

Took youngest grandson to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge on Thursday for his follow up appointment.  All was well. I also went to Sharnbrook to buy more coal.  I didn't need to go out and vote as I voted by post. I was going to poll clerk but changed my mind when they wanted me to go to a polling station that was quite far from where I live. It is an exhausting day starting at 6.30 am in the morning and finishing between 10.30 - 11pm. Now, I've got my state pension I don't feel the need to earn extra cash. Aren't I lucky? Some women of my age are still having to work to make ends meet.

This was what I wore on this miserable wet, cold day.

I got the beret out!

Everything charity shopped except the boots bought online about 4 years ago. They have become a bit stained and shabby looking so I want to replace them with a new pair; I've tried for months to buy a red pair in the charity shops; but have had to give up.  I will have to look online as I couldn't bear to trundle around the January sales. This year I have done really well with not buying new (for myself). I will have bought two pairs of boots; a pair of shoes and a swimming costume in total.  (Update; my navy leggings got holes in them so I have had to order a new pair. They originally came from a charity shop and I've had good wear out of them).

Tunic by Next; 1.00 rail. Animal print top by Tu; 1.00 rail. Trousers by Laura Ashley; can't remember. All jewellery charity shopped. Beret from my Barnardo's.

I added a cardigan for warmth. This one is by Mantaray; 'Faithful and True.'  Honestly, what is it with the names of clothing brands and items of clothing? I have a maxi dress with this label as well.  I can't remember where I got this cardigan; probably the Red Cross.

Well, the least said about the election results the better. As a life long Socialist I voted Labour and wanted Labour to win. I will just say how devastated I was. I was so demotivated by it all on Friday  that I didn't bother go for a swim. Our town's result's were positive, thank goodness, but it was a close run thing...

Eldest grandson sent this to me in the wee small hours!

Day 7 - Tunic Challenge

All jewellery charity shopped. No eye make up as the plan was to go for a swim...

The tunic is by Next and I've had it for years; it was charity shopped as is everything I'm wearing.
The jeans and top were from 1.00 rails. The boots from my Barnardo's.

You'd think after the dress challenge I wouldn't be wearing any more dresses would you? You'd be wrong. This is the 50p dress by Tu I bought on Monday at my Barnardo's. I love the pattern and the colour but it's a size too big so I shall cut it up into headscarves...I did, but they were too short as I should have cut them across the dress rather than in strips down the front and back. Doh! They're being used as cleaning cloths now...

Cardigan by Laura Ashley: 1.00 rail somewhere. Boots; online retail. Tights; Cat's Protection League.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I got out for a short walk on Sunday of 4 miles and I wore this tunic:

Day 8 - Tunic Challenge

All jewellery charity shopped.

This is my 3.00 outfit! All items came from 1.00 rails; Top by Oasis underneath an M&S animal print tunic and Phase Eight glittery leggings.

I wore buff coloured boots in the end but these boots (online retail) were good for walking in.

On Sunday evening I decided to start a new crochet blanket; these are the colours I selected. I'm making the 'Seashell Blanket' pattern from Attic 24.  See HERE. It's quite similar to the Hydrangea Stripe blanket except there are rows of V stitch and the shells are made of 5 treble crochets not 3. I am guessing this won't make much sense if you are not a crocheter...I can get quite obsessed with a crochet project once I get going. It's very addictive and I find it very soothing to crochet and watch tv or listen to music. I  think I would love a day where I could crochet all day with out any interruptions but I might as well wish for the moon!

Day 9 - Tunic Challenge

It was back to Barnardo's on Monday where I spent the day tagging, hanging and putting new items on the rails on the shop floor. I found a jumper with large spots for 50p and new thermos flask for 1.00. That was all. I've been very good at not buying stuff or rummaging the last couple of weeks. I hope it lasts into the New Year!

This can double up as a dress but I'm wearing it here as a tunic. It's by French Connection and is a good few years old; I can't remember where I got it from. The purple cords are by Boden; from Barnardo's 50p rail a week or two back and the purple velvet cardigan is one of the few things I have ever bought (for myself) at TK Maxx. In fact, it was the first ever thing I bought from there and I've had for about 10 years now.

Boots present from daughter.

All jewellery and headscarf charity shopped.

Day 10 - Tunic Challenge

Back to the Food Bank today. Very, very busy. It's closed from the 24th and reopens on 2nd January. That's a Thursday and I usually do Tuesdays, but I'm going in to make up a special order. Food banks are organised into warehouses and distribution centres. Some combine both on the same premises; we are lucky enough to have a substantial sized warehouse on an industrial estate and our distribution centres are usually churches or community centres throughout Bedford and Kempston. The first thing I do on a Tuesday (I'm based in the warehouse) is make up the Sally Army order. This has about 15 crates filled with things like toiletries; household goods (plates, cutlery, pots and pans etc) household cleaning items; cat and dog food; baby items, nappies, toilet rolls, staff crate (tea and coffee etc); 24 hour bags, cold packs (for people with no means of warming food) and kettle packs (for people who don't have means of warming food other than a kettle). If you thought food banks only gave out food; they do far more than that.  They welcome donations of all the things I've listed and some food banks do clothes as well. I remember living on a very restricted income when my children were very young and although I could always manage to buy enough food and make it last until the next pay packet; it was needing things like shampoo; washing powder and washing up liquid etc that were challenges to my budget.

This tunic which could also double up as a dress is by Warehouse; can't remember where I got it from. Jeans are by Next and striped tee under tunic; 1.00 rails somewhere. The little knitted waistcoat was from a 1.00 rail in the Sally Army charity shop in town a few weeks ago. Can you see my cardigan hanging on the banister behind me? I wore that on top of everything else at the warehouse!

Brothel creepers/beetle crushers online retail. I started out wearing my red ones but the sole split and was coming away from the uppers so they had to be thrown away.

All jewellery and headscarf charity shopped.

Day 11 - Tunic Challenge

I was very lazy on Wednesday and didn't go walking at all. I wanted a lie in, so didn't get up in time for the group walk in Biggleswade and although I had planned to walk in the afternoon by myself; after a short rummage in Olney I came home and got on with my crochet blanket! The last time I tried to go Olney I was thwarted by road works and closed roads, so I was determined to get there before Christmas. I hadn't planned on buying anything but you know the best laid plans of mice and men and all that... I bought a rather nice tweedy type jacket in blue by Honour Milburn for 5.00 in Age Concern; plus I also found a cheeseparer for the eldest grandson; who had asked me to look out for one for him. In the Willen Hospice Shop, I bought some reduced Christmas crackers so was very pleased with those and the money goes to the charity rather than a supermarket or chain store. I wore this:

I was experimenting, so this is a view I rarely get to see! It was set on video (not intentionally I hasten to add) but I've not yet managed to successfully insert a video into my blog and I don't think this one works either...it lasted for all of 2 seconds so you've not missed much!

The blue velvet leggings are from M&S and were bought with a voucher the OH gave me last Christmas. I think it's the first wearing of them and they were surprisingly warm. The tunic is by Gudrun Sjoden; found in my Barnardo's for 2.99.

Inspired by Monica of 'Mrs Allnut' blog see HERE; who styled a new denim waistcoat in her latest post; I remembered I had a denim waistcoat and dug it out. It was charity shopped but can't remember where.

Headscarf and all jewellery charity shopped.

On Thursday I was off to the hairdressers and then off to London with my cousin and her daughter to see the Mary Quant exhibition at the V & A. My cousin's daughter had two (free) tickets to the exhibition and kindly offered them to us. The exhibition was fascinating and brought back such a lot of memories of being a teenager in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Photography wasn't allowed; but I managed to get one sneaky shot in before I was apprehended.... There was a choir performing Christmas carols on the upper storey, the Metropolitan Police Choir; who were pretty wonderful!

I won't show you what I wore as I wore a maxi skirt; and if I ever get through these bloody tunics I plan on making my next wardrobe challenge maxi skirts and dresses.
It was a lovely day despite the wet weather and in the evening we met up with a friend and went out for a meal at an Irish pub in Hendon.

Friday was the last school run of the year - hurray! I went for a swim in the afternoon and did another 30 laps. No walking this week so far; I hope to get some in at the weekend, but the rain needs to stop first!

Day 12  - Tunic Challenge

I'm very bored with the tunics now; but the good news is I think I miscounted the original number of tunics I had and now make it 33. I've also weeded out a couple I wasn't keen on so I think after today that only leaves 21 to go!
This one was charity shopped as was the yellow tee underneath. Purple leggings and grey boots online retail.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings which were bought many years ago in Sainsbury's. Little make up as I was going swimming later.

I've done the first 15 rows using 15 different colours of my Seashell blanket. I'll keep repeating the rows in the same colour scheme until it's long enough. If nothing else I will have used up another 15 balls of wool from my stash!

It's an unusual blanket in that you can have it on any side - there's no wrong side and in fact I prefer the 'wrong' side (top) to the 'right' side....

On Saturday we did the big Christmas food shop and I had to go to town for a couple of errands after we'd finished. Walking plans were dropped as the rain came down again in the afternoon. It was a shame as the day previously had been bright and there was even a few sunshine bursts.

Day 13 - Tunic Challenge (20 left to go)

All jewellery charity shopped.

Tunic by M&S; 1.00 rail at Barnardo's; jeans by Next charity shopped somewhere; red boots online retail.

I added this cardigan for warmth; it has no label and I found it in the independent charity shop in town for 3.00 last year.

The rain stopped long enough for me to go for a walk on Sunday. I walked to Bromham and back (6.75 miles) and just look at how high the river is here and how fast it's flowing...

Day 14 - Tunic Challenge (19 left to go)

All jewellery charity shopped

Everything charity charity shopped. Cardigan and boots as before. Leggings from my Barnardo's; can't remember where the striped tunic came from.

That's it from me folks, thank you so much for reading and visiting my blog and I look forward to your company again in 2020!