A Family Reunion...in Norwich!

Hello again!

I had a great walk on Wednesday of 7.5 miles around Sharnbrook and Souldrop;  villages about 6 or 7 miles from Bedford. We walked through quite a lot of woodland and this notice caught my eye. The woodland was cleared to provide feed for animals at London Zoo! I love that a use was found for the leaves and branches; and of course trees can grow more branches and we can grow more trees. The Colworth Estate was partnered with the Acer Conservation Trust to do this. Take note other landowners! The Colworth Estate is a science park owned and run by Unilever. After the walk I went to Aldi and Sainsbury's for some stuff for dinner and then picked up the youngest grandson. I made dinner for us all and then took him home.

Swam the usual 45 laps on Thursday morning. It was strange coming out of the pool into a chilly outside. The coldness of the weather won't deter me from swimming though. This was Thursday's outfit. Everything charity shopped. Jeans by East; top by Classic and dress worn as a kimono/jacket by Boden. I think I bought these boots online the year before last or they may be charity shopped; I just can't remember...

I went to do the weekly Lidl food shop after my swim and then came home and waited in for a couple of deliveries. I finished my book and did a wash whilst I waited. I also took in a delivery for my neighbour from one of the delivery drivers. I had a wander around the garden; we still have fuschias blooming; a stray dahlia has popped up and we have some orange chrysanthemums blooming. The small begonias in the planter are still going strong as are some of the busy lizzies, pansies and cyclamen. I'd picked up a small notebook from a charity shop reccently for 50p and decided to use it as the garden notebook. I've recorded all the plants we have and those we can expect to return year on year. I'll also use it to jot down ideas for plants and useful garden tips and hints

All jewellery charity shopped.

I decided to tart up the blog by changing the theme etc on Thursday evening. Not sure if I didn't make a big mistake but don't seem to be able to get it back the way I want. Oh well. I should have remembered 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'!! Anyhow it's done now and all the same features can be accessed by clicking on the arrow at the top and then menu bar at the top of the page...

What on earth is she wearing, I can hear you say. Well, I agree. This is a weird knitted pinafore type thing I bought from a 1.00 rail in the Daycare Hospice back in the summer. I'd put it away and forgotten all about it. I wore it on Friday with leggings underneath (M&S retail as were the boots) and a Chico's shirt over a Next tee shirt - both charity shopped.  I don't know if it would look better over trousers; possibly my thick black and white checked winter trousers? I'll hang onto it and try it with something different before I decide to get rid of it. I wore this outfit for a walk (4.8 miles) along the river accompanied by a scarf and gloves and it kept me warm!  If I'd remembered I could have worn a beret as well. Pinafore thingy has buttons along the side under the arms but a big slit up to the top of my thighs...

Hmmm - it's not very flattering is it? I seem to have the most enormous chest in this photo...all jewellery charity shopped. Updated to say it went in the charity shop bag!

As well as going for a walk on Friday, I sorted out my bangles; putting some into the charity shop bag that were too small for me; potted up some Trandescantia cuttings for my sister-in-law and cousin,  and recorded stuff in the garden notebook. OH had the day off as we were going away for the weekend so we did the housework and the washing in order to have a free day for exploring Norwich on Sunday. I also did most of my packing as we wanted an early start on Saturday morning.

My brother didn't come with us in the end. He'd come down with Covid a fortnight ago and still wasn't feeling up to a weekend away. He was gutted as were we but it was probably for the best. He is recovering but hadn't quite fully regained his sense of taste or smell...

This was where we stayed; Dunston House hotel just outside of Norwich.  The reason why Norwich was chosen as the venue was that it was roughly a 2 hour drive for everyone and we came from Bedford, Brighton, Croydon, Gainsborough and Wisbeach..

We explored Norwich once we'd arrived. Norwich is the most complete medieval city in the UK and we took in quite a few of the sights and about 8 charity shops. It was a lovely city and we would like to go back again and explore further.

We started here at part of the city's walls which were conveniently opposite the car park and a RSPCA and a PDSA charity shop!

St. Peter Mancroft church

Beautiful Art Deco flag pole bases overlooking Norwich Royal Market.

Norwich Guild Hall front and back.

This building had been a church but now seemed to be a cafe. The photo on the bottom right is the entrance to to St. Ethelbert's Gate.

You can see it was a chilly and blustery day! I wore a jumpsuit picked up from Barnardo's on Monday. By Tu it was only a size 12 which I didn't think would fit me but it did. What a bugger it was to get out of when I needed the loo; not very practical but very comfortable to wear and it had pockets; always a bonus. I wore a patterned polo neck top underneath. Everything I'm wearing in this photo bar my underwear was charity shopped.

Some of the buildings we came across on our wanderings around Norwich. The top right photo was of one of the houses in the Cathedral Close.

Norwich Castle; a 12th century keep. Clearly undergoing some restoration/repairs given the huge crane beside it...

Some murals of cats and a dragon spotted on our wanderings.

Below on the right is Pulls Ferry, once a 15th century watergate. Out of sight in this photo below the path is the River Wensum. On the left is a view of the river, which runs through Norwich, taken from a bridge we crossed.

This was the remains of a Monastic infirmary 1175 - 1200 just beside the entrance to Norwich Cathedral (below). Norwich Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral whose building commenced in 1096 and was completed in 1145 with the stone spire being erected in 1480; the previous one being made of wood and covered in lead. There is a second cathedral in Norwich which is a Roman Catholic one; St. John the Baptist Cathedral.

The Cloisters.

Some details from within the cloisters.

As well as taking in the sights the charity shops provided us with some goodies. I bought a pair of animal print jeans; a skirt by Per Una, 3 necklaces and 3 pairs of earrings. I also bought 5 books; only 2 from charity shops; the other 3 came from an interesting shop we found in one of the indoor shopping centre we took a shortcut through.  Called 'The Honesty Library' -  where you are trusted to pick your books and pay the suggested donation at a shop two doors away! I found 3 books in here from the old Boots Circulating Library (1898 - 1966) by forgotten or neglected female authors; Elizabeth Goudge, D.E. Stevenson and Marghanita Laski. (The last two authors have had some of their books re issued by Perspehone books).

Once we had chilled out  back at the hotel and rested our aching feet; we got ready to meet up with the family in the bar and then onto a restaurant about 2 miles away.

I wore this dress which I found earlier this year in the 3:16 charity shop. It's from the 80s, I think, made of a warm woollen type material by and I wore it with thick tights and the grey boots charity shopped from my Barnardos. The pleather jacket was a present from my daughter some years ago but I noticed that the collar had begun to peel...

Scarf and all jewellery charity shopped.

Here we all are; one aunt and uncle with their two daughter's; Rachael and Kathryn (my first cousins whom I'd never met) and their partners; three other first cousins (Martin, Trisha and Chris) and their partners whom I hadn't seen for over 50 years in the case of Martin and Chris; and over 40 years in the case of Trisha! We had such a lovely evening.

Me with the Uncle Johnny and Judy, his wife. I brought the photo album I inherited from my mum as it contained a lot of old photos of my father's family; some of which my cousins hadn't seen before. That's what's sitting on Judy's lap and why I've got my specs on. It was lovely to meet up with everyone. My father's family are all jokers and love playing practical jokes; just like my brother Tony....

I went for a 35 minute swim in the hotel on Sunday morning followed by a very hearty breakfast. We said our goodbyesto everyone; most of whom were spending another night at the hotel. Then we set off for Blickling Hall near Cromer; a National Trust property about 25 miles away from the hotel.

Entrance detail to Blickling Hall. The date (1619) is when the building of the Hall began. The Hall was built on the ruins of a previous house occupied by the Boleyn family and Ann Boleyn is thought to have been born here. Built for Sir Henry Hobart by Robert Lyminge who also built Hatfield House, it was later inherited by his son John Hobart who was created Earl of Buckinghamshire. It then passed down to the Kerr family; the Earls of Lothian. It became a National Trust property in 1940 when Sir Philip Kerr bequeathed it to the National Trust.

The kitchen.

The hallway and stairs.

The Long Gallery and detail of the stucco ceiling.

We had a  brief look around grounds and lake; apart from espaliered fruit and lots of vegetables in the walled garden there was also a flower bed full of dahlias which were just coming to an end...

Such gorgeous colours!

We stayed and had a cup of tea in the cafe and after a look around the shop (so much temptation!) we bought a jar of  Blickling Hall tomato and onion chutney; it was gone after 3 days...

After a lovely weekend it was back to the normal weekly routine. Barnardo's on Monday where we were busy, busy, busy. We had too many donations of summer clothes (nowhere to store them) and had to stop them. I sorted out the men's section and reduced items for the 1.00 rail. I bought myself a new pair of walking socks before leaving - much needed; I have holes in my old ones. I had to run an errand in the afternoon and on the way back stopped at the Daycare Hospice Shop where I found a Gerry Weber black leather jacket for 7.95 to replace my pleather one.The charity shop gods were obviously looking out for me on Monday! I spent the rest of the day making dinner and catching up with blogland.

I needed a long yellow cardigan in my life and as I couldn't find one in the charity shops, I bought this one online. Yellow trousers by M&S and grey boots from my Barnardo's; striped tunic/dress 1.00 rail somewhere. The scarf was out of the 50p box in my Barnardo's.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Tuesday turned out to be a surprisingly good  weather day and quite mild. I wished I had time to go for a walk but after the food bank where it was non stop; I went swimming in the afternoon and did my 45 laps; then it was home to clean out the fire, put a wash on and make dinner.

This was the Gerry Weber jacket I bought  on Monday and everything else I'm wearing was charity shopped.

Scarf and all jewellery charity shopped. 

My hair needed cutting and that was happening on Thursday; meanwhile out came the headscarves plus they kept me warm. OH got his booster jab by going to a walk in pharmacy on Tuesday morning. He had no side effects other than a sore arm the next day.

On Wednesday I didn't walk with my group. Firstly they were walking in Woburn and I'd walked there recently with the Saturday group and secondly I needed to recce the walk I'd be leading the following week. It had been quite a while since I recce'd the walk and thought it was 8 miles; in fact it was just over 9 miles by end! Too long for a Wednesday walk so I'd have to do a different walk on the actual day. Blast! I was wet and knackered by the end of 9 miles; it drizzled on and off and my boots aren't waterproof so I pampered myself with a cup of tea and a slice of apple cake at the garden centre where I'd parked. There was a surprise waiting for me when I got in; a parcel from Vix HERE containing some long desired Nasturtium seeds and a book by Phillipa Gregory. Thank you so much, Vix! I'm sure I'll enjoy it and I can pass it on to cousin Marian who is a great historical fiction reader. It's the first time I've heard King Henry VIII described as a serial killer but that's what he was when you think about it!

I went to Aldi to buy chicken wings for the grandchildren's dinner and picked up the youngest grandson from school. I had a conversation with him on the way home as follows:

Me: What would you like Nanny to buy you for Christmas?

Youngest grandson:  The only thing I need is a glue stick; mine has dried up...

How sweet! He told me he didn't need anything else.

This was Thursday's outfit. I went swimming but only swam for 45 minutes as I had a hairdressers appointment to get to. It was a shame because I managed to swim 36 laps (1.2km) in that 45 minutes and if I had the remaining 15 minutes left to swim, I might have broken my own record and managed 48 laps or 1 mile...next time maybe.

The entire outfit was charity shopped. The Gerry Weber jacket was last Monday's find; the skirt  by M&S; the jumper by Next (daughter donated). Shirt underneath no label. Thick grey tights also charity shopped and the grey boots by Manteray were from Barnado's.

All jewellery charity shopped.

 Thursday meant food shopping but first I went to the farm shop to top up on coal and kindling before going to Sainsbury's and Lidl. Once I'd unpacked and put the shopping away; I cleaned out the fire and cooked dinner. In the meantime I had a long conversation with Bernie my friend in London - one hour and forty-nine minutes - thank goodness I get free phone calls in my phone package!

I got the youngest grandson his glue sticks on Friday morning in Home Bargains where I went on an errand run. I also went to Waitrose to buy soda bread; to the post office to post off a parcel and I also had a rummage in the Castle Road charity shops. I found a warm turquoise tunic dress (I've had the same one before but in a wine colour and it had been cut short - too short for me so it was redonated) a pair of blue floral Vans pumps; a red animal print jumper; a multicoloured necklace; an animal print cross body bag and a shower proof walking jacket that comes down to my knees. My current one is only hip length and has been redonated. I was so glad I went!

After a couple of days of neutral colours I wanted colour on a dull, grey day. These are the animal print jeans picked up in Norwich last weekend. They're by Bon Marche...the shop that caters for women of my age and is usually full of frumpy stuff. I never look in there but have to pass it on my way to the eyebrow salon. These jeans are an exception to their usual stuff, I think. Dress by Tu and striped top underneath by F&F. Boots by Primarni. Everything charity shopped as was all the jewellery.

I spent the afternoon doing a wash, cleaning out the fire and sorting out the front garden; cutting back plants for the winter and covering them in bark chippings to protect them. I was very surprised to see the stocks still had some flowers on them (when did they pop up?) and will cut them back once the flowering is over. It also looks as if the delphinium in the back garden is about to rebloom; it must be the mild weather we'd been having. I don't cook on Fridays so made scrambled egg and tomatoes for my dinner followed by yoghurt and fruit. I've been watching 'Dalgliesh' on Channel 5 - the 70s fashions and styles are so nostalgic. It's my Thursday and Friday evening watching although we've found a couple more 'Walter Presents' series we'd like to watch on Saturday evenings.

On Saturday, it was a grey and gloomy but dry. I debated walking with the Saturday group who were walking in Grafham in Huntingdon but didn't really fancy it. I walked into town instead to pick up a few ingredients for a sweet potato and lentil chilli I was making for Sunday dinner; along with roast chicken and all the trimmings for the rest of the family. It was easy to make and tasted great and should taste even better the next day. I wore the same jeans as I wore on Friday and a big, chunky yellow jumper; an outfit not worth a photo for the blog as it was a bit uninspired but practical.

I've gathered quite a few vegetarian and vegan recipes from IG and am planning to try them out on a weekly basis; next week's dish is 'Vegan Shepherd's Pie' also made with lentils but green ones this time. The chilli contained onions, garlic, celery, red and green peppers, sweet potato, sweet corn, brown lentils, spices and spinach.

I went for a walk on Sunday morning walking to Ravensden and back across fields and tracks; 6.5 miles in total.  I wore my new shower proof jacket but it didn't rain until later on in the day...I've passed these cottages numerous times on this walk but this time there was a pub sign outside. Apparently the cottages were once a pub called 'The Case is Altered' which was here from 1796 to 1996.

When I got back from my walk it was the usual Sunday housework and making dinner for the family.

This was my Sunday outfit. The skirt (M&S) was bought in a Norwich charity shop last weekend. The white top by Next; cardigan by Whistles and long suede boots all charity shopped somewhere.

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings which were bought from eBay. The bangle was from a Notting Hill charity shop.

The light was really poor on Sunday and the best I could find for a selfie was in the bathroom...

I spent the evening catching up with blogs; writing my blog and reading. I also booked tickets for Kenwood House for me and cousin Marian for later on this month. I'm looking forward to it and we planned to go for a rummage in the Golder's Green charity shops afterwards. On Saturday evening we'd started watching a Croatian cold war thriller from 'Walter Presents' called the 'Guardian of the Castle' and we watched another episode on Sunday evening.

Monday's outfit. Tunic/dress broight from the Daycare Hospice shop in Castle Road. Red striped top by F&F charity shopped. Tights by Snag and boots bought online. It was a chillier day than of late and the tunic is very warm being made of a fleecey type material.

All jewellery charity shopped.

Back to Barnardo's on Monday where I was kept busy unpacking donations, hanging and tagging them. I bought a top from the 1.00 rail.

When I got home I cleaned out the fire and made chicken soup from yesterday's leftover roast chicken.  Homemade chicken soup has to be one of the most comforting foods and just right for grey, miserable days.  Middle grandson popped in to see me and I made him a cheese toastie and cup of tea. I hung up my washing and did more blog catching up and writing. In the evening I watched 'Outlaws' and finished my book of country diary pieces from The Guardian newspaper by women writers. I'm very fond of nature writing and always buy such books if I see them in the charity shops. I've now built up quite a collection and am reading my way through them.

The foodbank was busy today as usual. I put toiletries away and then made up 50 single hygiene packs and 12 family packs.  Afterwards I went for a swim and did 45 laps. I won't be swimming on Thursday as I'm leading walks on both Wednesday and Thursday this week; then that's it until the new programme starts in the New Year. We're having our Ramblers Christmas Lunch on 8th December so that's another thing to look forward to. I'll leave with you Tuesday's outfit dressed for a chilly grey day - again!

Skirt by French Connection;  wine jumper by Oasis; jacket by Elizabeth Scott. Boots as before. Everything charity shopped including the wine coloured tights.

All jewellery charity shopped.

That's it for another fortnight, take care and enjoy your week!

 

Busy days

Hello again! How quickly that fortnight comes around again...

I was going to walk in Ampthill with my group on Wednesday but on Tuesday evening we had torrential rain that went on all night. That meant it would be very muddy in places and as I don't like mud I decided not to go. I'd planned to go for a walk on my own but that didn't happen either. I did go to Aldi and into to town to run some errands. I went to the High Street and looked in the charity shops. I bought a book and a dress to wear on Christmas Day! How organised am I? I even picked up tins of Quality Street and Celebrations last week as well; they've been put in the loft for safe keeping...

This was Wednesday's outfit. The coatigan was bought a few weeks ago at The Day Care Hospice charity shop and I didn't need it on Wednesday as it was warm, but I didn't realise until I went outside. Trousers by Yessica (C&A brand) from the same place and jumper by Tu; picked up in a charity shop somewhere. The boots were donated by daughter and all jewellery was charity shopped. I bought 3 pairs of ball earrings in red, turquoise and grey  for 5 euros in Oxfam  in Sligo when we were there in September. The earrings are put on back to front; the reverse of the way you usually put earrings in. The post which also has a tiny ball; goes in first through the back of the ear then the ball is pushed onto the post from the front. It took me a few goes to get it right!

I went for a swim on Thursday morning and did the usual 1.5km. It was a much cooler day and I needed a jacket. It started out at 9 degrees and by the afternoon reached only 12 degrees. This was the denim skirt I bought in Cambridge on Saturday. I shall turn the waistband over in future when I wear it as it is a bit longer than I like. The top by Primarni is years old and the boots by River Island were charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped except the ring which was a present. The cuff was a nuisance. When I went to pay for my shopping in Lidl it flew off my wrist and almost hit the checkout guy in the face! When I'd put the shopping away I then went to three different places to drop my grandson's CV off. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he gets something soon. B&M are desperate for staff but they only pay 16-18 year olds the minimum wage for that age group which is £4.62 per hour.

Another chilly day on Friday. I had planned to spend the day with cousin Marian and we had booked to go to Kenwood House in Hampstead. It was free entry and not too far from where she lives in London. Unfortunately, she had an abscess in her gum and was feeling pretty crap and cancelled: I went to see my friend Bernie in London instead. We had a great catch up at her house and then went to the charity shops in West Hampstead; where I couldn't resist a felted yellow coatigan which cost 15.00. That's London pricing for you but I loved it. I had a similar dark blue coatigan that I'd had for a few years so that was put in the charity shop bag in exchange. 1 in, 1 out. We had a meal out after our rummage and I got home quite late in the evening. OH and middle grandson had gone to the cinema to see 'Venom' so I got back to an empty house. This was what I wore to London:

Everything bought from charity shops except the boots which were bought online. Loose trousers by Jane Norman; top by Pepperberry and the jacket by Fenn, Wright and Mason. 

All jewellery charity shopped.

On Satuday I walked to the library to return my library book and then spent the afternoon at my friend Ann's catching up. I hadn't seen her since Jamaica Independence Day when we met in the Market Square. It's crazy; she only lives about 2 miles away! We've planned to get together and go out for a day in November.

Everything charity shopped except the boots which were yet another pair donated by my daughter. The trousers were by H&M as was the striped tunic. The top underneath by John Lewis.

This was the coatigan I bought in the West Hampstead charity shop on Friday. I put in the washing machine on Friday evening and it was dry and ready to wear on Saturday! It doesn't have any fastenings but when I was in Cornwall back in April I picked up about 5 felt brooches for 20 p each in a community charity shop in Pentreath so I shall use those as ad hoc buttons. I fastened it with a brooch with red stones here.

All jewellery charity shopped.

On Sunday morning my daughter and I went for a 5 mile walk;  in fact it was the walk I'll be leading on November 18th - a Thursday Amble. I'm leading an 8 mile walk on the 17th as well. I did the housework when I got back from the walk and cooked Sunday dinner for grandsons and OH.

 This was what I wore on Monday to Barnardo's. Everything was charity shopped. The wide legged cropped jeans were by Toast; the striped top from 1.00 rail; the cardigan had no label. The pumps were from Barnardo's and picked up a few weeks back.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I started later than usual at Barnardo's as I had a doctor's appointment on Monday morning. I'd had a telephone consultation with the doctor the week before and she asked me to go and be examined. All is well. I just needed some oestrogen cream in a delicate area...old age is not for sissies, you know! I finished at Barnardo's by 3pm; then went home and did a towels wash, cleaned out the fire and cooked dinner. I caught up with blogs and comments in the evening. I noticed reading the 'Persephone Books Blog' HERE that there was an exhibition of Laura Knight's art; 'A Panoramic View' at the Milton Keynes Gallery. I decided  to book myself a ticket and go sometime soon. It runs until February 2022 so there's plenty of time...you can find out more HERE. I watched a new series called 'The Outlaws' on Monday evening and it looks quite promising. I like having something to look forward to watching on TV most evenings. On Tuesday it will be 'Who Do You Think You Are' and on Wednesday evening 'Shetland'.

Ruby Loftus Screwing a Breech Ring, 1943 by Laura Knight.

On Tuesday it was back to the foodbank. They'd missed me last week and the manager said if I didn't do the hygiene bags they didn't know how'd they manage as they give out on average 60 bags on a Friday! I made up 67 hygiene bags in total and towards the end we ran out of washing up liquid to put in them and were very close to running out of soap, too. If you want to donate to your local food bank check online first to see what they need urgently. We often have gluts of certain types of foodstuff and not enough of others; and often have hygiene item shortages. The hygiene items we give out as standard are; soap, shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste; washing tablets or liquid (for clothes), washing up liquid, cleaning cloths or sponges, cleaning spray or wipes, toilet paper and when we have them we also give out tissues and handwash.

Skirt by M&S; jumper; no label  ; jacket by Elizabeth Scott: Boots bought online and tights by Snag. I needed the jacket as the warehouse was a bit chilly to start with.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I went to Waitrose to pick up some soda bread on the way back from the food bank and also stopped at Home Bargains for some more bird food supplies. I spied this mirror there and as I'd had the old one for about 15 years decided to update it. I love arch shaped mirrors and windows. It was very cheap, too. I'd like the black one for my bedroom but then I'd have no wall space left to hang my earrings on...

This was Wednesday's walk from Caldicotte Lake in Milton Keynes. We walked along the Grand Union Canal towpath for about 2 miles. There were some lovely narrowboats and house boats. It was a very overcast day but it didn't rain and it was quite warm. The walk was just under 8 miles in total and good dry paths. There are many lakes in Milton Keynes and miles of walks around them and apparently the different walks link up in places.

 This appeared to be a canal side art club. The smaller square states 'I'm  not bad; I'm just drawn that way'. You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

This unprepossessing building below is a rear view of part of the Open University campus which is based in Milton Keynes but the majority of its students study off campus and come from all over the world. About ten years ago I did an Open University short course in Creative Writing and enjoyed it very much.

After the walk I stopped in Newport Pagnell and had a rummage. I bought a small fish dish and a pair of sparkly earrings to go with my sparkly Christmas dress and a I found a 50p bargain which will feature layer in this post.  As I was driving towards the car park in Newport Pagnell I spotted a delivery robot trundling along the pavement! It was doing exactly the same as the one in this video HERE. 

It's the first one I'd ever seen but they are a common sight in and around Milton Keynes, I believe. I stopped at Aldi on the way home and picked up some items from my weekly  shopping list. No robot delivery service in Bedford!

I went swimming on Thursday morning and did 46 laps. I wasn't sure what to wear so opted for a dress as they're the easiest of things to wear. Dress by Stella and charity shopped in Ireland (I think), tights by Snag and boots bought in Sainsbury's sale. Jacket by Country Casuals and was a charity shop buy.

I wore the cardigan (also charity shopped) by indoors as the dress had short sleeves. I would wear this dress with trousers in the future as it's a bit shorter than I like on me.

All jewellery charity shopped.

After swimming I went to the farmshop in Sharnbrook for more coal then on to Lidl for the rest of the weekly shop. I then collected the youngest grandson and he came back to my house as he was staying the night. But I also dropped him to basketball practice at 5.30pm and collect him at 7pm. In between I made dinner for us all. I was glad to sit down and put my feet up in the evening by the fire and get on with latest read from the library.

After a leisurely start to my day on Friday I took the youngest grandson home and went into town. I had a list of things to do (in my head); return book to library, get eyebrows done, buy new mop head, go to Boots. I did most of these and even went to the pound shop to pick up some nuts but when I got home realised I'd completely forgotten to get my eyebrows done! I couldn't be bothered to go out again so I'll go on Monday instead. I got very lucky at Wilco. They had a rack with all plants reduced to 20 pence each. I bought two miniature cacti and a large Kalanchoe plant in a ceramic pot and all for the princely sum of 60p!

Wearing a pink jumper by Next and a homemade (not by me) vintage top picked up at the Vintage Kilo sale in Bedford earlier this year; Marilyn jeans by M&S and boots donated by daughter. All charity shopped. I like the top very much and have a couple of skirts it would go well with. I also bought a long sleeved top from the same vintage kilo sale and planned to wear it on Monday to Barnardo's or to the Food bank on Tuesday. I have to admit I'd forgotten all about the two tops...

All jewellery charity shopped.

I made a 'Very Veggie Lentil Bake' for dinner and very good it was too. As there was too much for OH and I to eat and my daughter wouldn't eat it because it contained cheese; I froze a portion for my brother, Mark who is a vegetarian. Next weekend we're off to Norwich for a sort of family union with some family members from my Dad's side of the family. I'll get to see cousins I haven't seen for more than 40 years and get to meet two first cousins I've never met before! Mark doesn't want to come (he hates travelling) but we'll be picking the other brother up from Kettering so I can give him the vegetarian dish then.

You might have wondered why is there a random, not very good, photo of some rhinoceroses (rhinoceri)? The reason is I took this photo at Woburn Safari Park which we walked through on the group walk on Saturday. The walk started at Ridgemont (very close to the ginormnous Amazon warehouse in Milton Keynes) then to Woburn. There were several footpaths through the Woburn estate and this one went past the enclosures of the elephants, giraffes, wallabies, various kinds of deer, bison, some strange looking creatures which we couldn't agree were sheeps or goats; and then the rhinos. I've posted photos of the other animals before as I've walked through Woburn several times on group walks but this was the first time from Ridgemont. We walked 6 miles in total in very pleasant weather. We crossed under the M1 motorway at the start and over it via a bridge on the return section.

I spent most of Sunday in the garden cutting back the perennial plants and covering the pots with bark chippings which will hopefully protect them from frost and keep the weeds at bay. I had also planned to plant out seeds and bulbs but there wasn't time as the clocks had gone back on Saturday and it got dark by 5 pm! I should get it done in the week; weather permitting...I made dinner for us all and spent the evening chilling out watching the final episodes of 'Paris Police, 1900 which had quite an abrupt ending, I thought. I also finished my book about Sissinghurst by Adam Nicolson which I bought at the library sale the last time I was there. I am hoping my crochet mojo might return soon as we are back to long dark evenings and I like to crochet when I watch TV.

Trousers by M&S; top by F&F; grey tunic from 1.00 rail picked up last week and grey boots by Manteray; all from Barnardo's charity shop where I volunteer

Scarf and all jewellery charity shopped.

I picked up this black Liz Claiborne jacket for 50p in the Keech Hospice shop in Newport Pagnell. Boots as before; polo by H&M also charity shopped. Skirt bought at QD for a charity shop price last Christmas.

All jewellery charity shopped.

It was a much cooler today on Monday and the morning was quite chilly so I turned the heating on for a while. The first time in the morning for a long time - well it was November! At Barnardo's, I met the new manager at last; and she seemed lovely and very easy to work with. It was a busy morning but I got a lot done; removing much of the lighter and summer type wear from the rails; thinning them out. In the afternoon at home I hung out a wash to take advantage of the robust breeze. I had my eyebrows done then came back and did some housework that I didn't have time for on Sunday and cooked dinner.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays it would be much easier for me if I just wore 'leisure wear' and dropped the make up, because of swimming and walking but I just wouldn't feel right. I don't have leisure wear anyway; I have some 'yoga' pants, I think they're called (charity shopped) and of course my walking gear and I do quite often spend the day in my walking gear if I'm not going anywhere after a walk. However, almost everyday I get dressed and put my make up on; I did all throughout the lock downs. This was what I wore today but ditched the jacket, one of my favourites, because it wasn't warm enough and wore a  green long cardigan instead. When I got in the car to go to the food bank it was 6 degrees and on the journey home the temperature had climbed to 12 degrees.

Tuesday was a busy day.

The jacket is a home made vintage one bought in the Red Cross when I volunteered there. The top is the second from the Vintage kilo sale; the label says Tussi; trousers by M&S; boots by River Island and both charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped.

I made up hygiene bags at the food bank making 65 single packs and 10 family packs. I put a wash on and cleaned out the fire when I got home then went for a swim where I swam 46 or 48 laps; I lost count, but I did at least 1.5km.  When I got back I was no sooner in then I had to go out again for my booster jab. I have a very sore arm as I type this and hope it wears off by tomorrow's walk with my group. It's only in Sharnbrook so not very far away and I have a lot of stuff to do when I get home so it will be yet another busy day. I'd rather be busy than sat around twiddling my thumbs!