Sunday 7 June 2020

The Distancing Diaries - Day 78 & 79


Every weekday morning I wake Jon up with a mug of tea, delivered to the bedside. On weekends he tells me to stay in bed so he can return the favour but, more often than not, I'm awake first and it seems daft to lie there waiting for him to wake up. Saturday (day 78) was a case in point. I got up, fed the lads and returned to bed with mugs of tea where we read until 8.45am.


Once up I stripped & changed the bed, loaded the washing machine and joined Jon in the kitchen where he was unpacking a delivery of decorating materials which had just been delivered from Tool Station. After coffee and toast (made from Ray the neighbour's sourdough loaf he'd delivered frozen last week), Jon cracked on with prepping the kitchen walls. 


Saturday is self-care day, I epilated my legs and filed my feet,


I slathered my hair in coconut oil, plaited and pinned it up and painted my toe and fingernails with Barry M's Rhubarb.


The houseplants had been soaking in the bath overnight. After I'd given them their fortnightly feed, I put them back in their rightful positions and scrubbed the bath clean.


The lads decided to have a mousing morning, managing to catch one each and both attempting (and failing) to bring their prey into the house.


They spent the rest of the morning fast asleep.


Taking photos helps me to see Stonecroft objectively.
When I saw the picture I'd taken of the freshly cleaned bathroom on Friday I hated how tatty the blue plant pot looked and the expanse of the wall beneath the framed plant was too bare for my maximalist tastes.

I had a rummage in the cupboard under the sink & found a can of Wilko spray paint. I braved the torrential rain and stood under the shelter of the massive lime tree in the garden, spraying the blue pot metallic gold. 


From the drawerful of frames in the bedroom, I unearthed a portrait of my Great-great-grandmother and a set of framed 1920s snapshots I'd bought from a car boot sale for 50p over a decade ago.


 Isn't the woman in the knitted bathing costume gorgeous?


By now the rain had stopped so I risked pegging the washing outside on the line. I joined Jon in the kitchen for noodles and spent the next couple of hours tidying my wardrobe and reading.......


....and hurtling up the garden at breakneck speed to rescue the washing from the rain. Thank goodness for Jon's hand-built clothes dryer!


By now Jon had downed tools, called it a day and had gone upstairs to shave his head and shower. As he'd shopped with a basket when he'd visited Morrison's, space was tight and he'd forfeited his weekly treat of a packet of biscuits to accommodate a bottle of rum & cola so I thought I'd make him some.


Flour-free Peanut Butter Biscuits 

200g peanut butter
175g golden caster sugar (I used unrefined demerara)
1/4 tsp fine salt
1 medium egg


  • Preheat oven to 180°C
  • Line two large baking sheets with greaseproof paper
  • Mix peanut butter, salt & sugar in a bowl, add a beaten egg and stir until mixture forms a dough
  • Arrange cherry tomato-sized chunks onto the trays and squash down with the back of a fork
  • Bake for 12 minutes, until edges are golden and middle is slightly paler. Cool for 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack. Keep in a tin and use within 3 days. 

It seemed only polite to keep Jon company while he sampled one. They're a bit too sweet for me but the texture is gorgeous.


Tea was potato lattices with poached eggs (seasoned with black pepper) and peas. Later we watched three episodes of the new series of Cardinal and drank rum.



I was up first again this morning (day 79) so made tea and brought it back to bed where I read and Jon snoozed. We got up at 9am and watched The Andrew Marr Show over breakfast of coffee and toast. It was another day of grey skies, cold temperatures and intermittent heavy showers, so miserable & uninspiring that we didn't get dressed until 10.30am.


Again, Jon got stuck into the decorating whilst I attempted to put yesterday's washing away. Unable to shut the dressing table drawer, I tipped it upside down and filled a bag with a sarong, a pair of shorts, two bikinis, a pair of leggings and a couple of off-the-shoulder tops, ready to donate when the charity shops reopen. Every garment I tossed was a modern item from the charity clearance shop, bought not because I needed it, I'd justified my purchases because they were £1 and might come in useful one day. Lesson learnt. When lockdown ends and the charity shops reopen I shan't be seeking instant gratification with cheap impulse buys, I shall keep those £1 coins in my purse and save them for something special.


I altered and hemmed another pair of Jon's shorts then put my clogs on and, as the rain seemed to have stopped, went for a wander around the garden. I was scared to look in the greenhouse and the cloches but, other than a gherkin and a courgette which had been eaten by slugs, the rest was still looking pretty good.


The Welsh poppies are loving the rain and there's even more wild sweet peas. How gorgeous is this pink poppy I spotted, growing amongst the weeds outside the gates?


The blue anti-algae treatment we applied to the pond seems to be doing the trick, there's still plenty of frog and tadpole activity bubbling beneath the surface but the water is a lot clearer.


After our lunchtime noodles, I spent a couple of hours at the PC catching up on blog reading and comments.


After wearing its twin on Friday, it seemed only right to give my original India Imports of Rhode Island maxi an outing. With our unpredictable British summer, is there anything more practical than a cotton dress with sleeves?





Ever the critic, despite the newly painted dressing table, the decoupaged chest of drawers and the revamped necklace hanger there was still something about the corner of the spare bedroom that irked me.


Looking at the photo on my last blog post I decided it was Tina, the shape of the frame didn't sit right.


We bought this 1960s glazed print of a beautiful Spanish lady a couple of years ago for the princely sum of £3 during a Black Country charity shopping extravaganza with G'n'T and the poor thing had been propped up against a bookcase ever since. She fitted perfectly.


Tina's now in our bedroom...for the time being.


Tea was pizza with salad.


The plan for tonight is bingeing on the rest of Cardinal with a handful of the fizzy vegan allsorts Jon treated me to today.


Talking of viewing, we watched The Green Book on Friday night and loved it. Based on the true story of an interracial friendship that developed between an African-American pianist and his Italian-American driver whilst they toured the American deep south in a time of racial division. Almost sixty years on and it's heartbreaking that discrimination in all its ugliness & utter pointlessness still exists. #blacklivesmatter

SOURCE

Stay safe, stay sane & stay fabulous.

67 comments:

  1. The Cardinal series is based on the Canadian Giles Blunt Cardinal novels. I've read 2, they are very good. I haven't seen the series but can access it free so need to one of these days through our cable on demand. The gold pot in that room does it more justice. Almost all of our thrift stores opened last week but I've not felt good enough to go, maybe this week. Seem to be on the mend a little. I miss them so (hubby threatened to go without me and I had to put my foot down :))

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling a bit better. Those thrift shops can wait, tell that naughty husband of yours that it might be his birthday weekend but he has to wait till you're better before he goes out rummaging.
      I bet the Cardinal books are a good read. The series are excellent, very dark and compelling. I reckon you'd love them. xxx

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  2. Hi Vix! well I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and sad, all lives matter I so agree and then I see scenes of all the protesters and you think about the dreaded bloody virus - oh my head was swimming so then I do what I normally do and "escape" to blogland well your post really. Not disappointed - the colourful pics cheer me up . The blue kaftan is bea - u - t- I - ful! and I did get a bit of time in the garden this morning so that was good. I reckon I might have some Welsh poppies that decided to plant themselves with us! Home is where it's at at the moment and I reckon I will go feeling like that for some time. Just some things that make me giggle I too think pets should have human names our dog rescued years ago is called Phil! Also even the hubster adopted a lets do it now attitude today and got a chest of drawers fixed that has been needed doing for ages (with just a gentle hint from me) anyway will stop rambling and send a virtual hug for cheering us all up - againxx

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    1. Hello, darling! I know what you mean, what with the mass exodus to the beaches last weekend and the protests now that second spike looks more and more like reality.
      I can completely understand the need to protest and it makes me feel even more powerless by being at home, I'm just going to have to sign every petition I can and keep challenging anyone with hateful views.
      I'm glad you spent some time in the garden and that you've discovered some Welsh poppies. I've no idea where our came from but they duplicate every year. They're such cheerful little things.
      I love that you've got a dog called Phil, that's so funny. Pets need human names, it intrigues anyone passing by when we're in the garden shouting "Stephen", they must think we've got an awkward teenager.
      Hooray for a lets do it now attitude and for your lovely chap to get your chest of drawers sorted.
      Loads of love back at you for always making me smile with your lovely comments. xxx

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  3. Barry M's Rhubarb is gorgeous, and so is the outfit you wore on Saturday. That green top is divine! Fancy both lads catching a mouse, what a relief they weren't able to take their prey inside! Love the gold sprayed pot and the Spanish lady is indeed a much better fit above your dressing table. I do think my approach to charity shopping will be somewhat similar. I haven't even been to one yet, even if they have reopened weeks ago. I did pop in to Think Twice though, which was a bit weird. Those biscuits look delicious, and I'm glad to hear the water in your pond is a lot clearer. I noticed the same thing earlier today. Perhaps the rain has helped? You look absolutely fabulous in the blue twin of the dress you found on eBay, and oh my, doesn't you hair look fabulous too? xxx

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    1. Thanks, Ann! I'm not used to my nails being so dark, I was swayed by the name more so than the colour but I'm liking the change. Being a fan of all things green I thought you'd like the top, I love the little puffed shoulders, too. So typically 70s.
      I'm interested in how the charity shops are going to work, I've read a few articles about clothes being quarantined before sale, customers discouraged from touching the merchandise and card payments only (something we do already), it sounds like a logistical nightmare. I think I'll stick to browsing ebay.
      Having my hair plaited or in a top knot most of the time it seems really long when I wear it loose! I might have to get Jon to give me a trim. xxx

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  4. What do you think of the Spanish book? I have read loads of different authors since the lockdown as my friends and I swap books. I tend to prefer chicklit books. Nothing fruity or aggressive. That nail polish is pretty. Do your toenails match?

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    1. Hi Cherie, I'm enjoying the book. I do love reading about people who up sticks, buy a ruin abroad and do it up and living my dream! The only time I read chicklit was in hopsital after my hip replacement, I found it impossible to concentrate on anything heavier, the drugs addled my brain!
      My toenails always have to match my fingernails. I'm funny like that! xxx

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  5. Loved the photos of your great grandmother - it looks as though great dressing has come down through your female family line. In the DNA, you might say. I lived with a sister for a while. I love and shop in charity shops. But she was a compulsive op shopper, would go when I wasn't around, and sneak the most awful stuff into our home. The house was packed more and more with really tasteless junk. It was crowded and overwhelming. I've barely bought anything, new or old, since I moved on my own, so that's nearly a year. But today is op shop day, and I'm quite excited. Finally, I didn't write a blog post this week - I just felt too sick in my heart with what's happening in the USA, so glad I live in multi racial NZ.

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    1. Thank you so much! Even though I never met my ancestors it's lovely to have things that belonged to them around me to keep that connection.
      Your experience with your sister echoes mine with my Mum, charity shopping was a real compulsion and the house was filled with stuff she'd bought and never taken out of the bag. Looking at that pile of stuff was a firm reminder to only buy what I truly love and not just for the sake of it.
      I'm excited that you're finally going op-shopping again. Chatting to a friend the other day we agree that it wasn't the buying we missed, it was handling and looking at different clothes after three months of only having our own clothes to look at!
      We in the Uk pride ourselves on being a multi-racial society but there's still discrimination & division if you look below the surface. xxx

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  6. You must be relieved your mice didn't make it into the house. I, on the other hand, have an additional house guest somewhere I have yet to discover. I renamed Mog at 4am yesterday morning to something I'm far too polite to comment here.
    The peanut butter biscuits sound absolutely delicious, although I'm not sure if I should make any or not, as I imagine they must be very moreish. X

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    1. Naughty Mog! We've lerant from past experiences to keep the hallway door shut when it's mouse season so they can't get further with their grisly playthings!
      Those peanut butter biscuits are amazingly good, they're like posh artisan cookies, I think Jon's eaten the lot already! xxx

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  7. Tina was my favourite picture in the 60's. Although I never owned one. I prefered her to the green lady. By the way I love how your hair looks when you take it up.

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    1. Hi Caz! I love JH Lynch's ladies, I've also got Gail and Autumn Leaves but Tina's my favourite. I do have a weakness for Trechikoffs as well, I'm glad I managed to buy mine before they became fashionable, I couldn't afford them now!
      Thanks for the comment about my hair, I've never had much success with putting it up prior to lockdown, now I can do it in minutes! xxx

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  8. Think I shall be making those biscuits....Mr GBT loves peanut butter. Arilx

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    1. Jon loved them! The biscuit tin's empty this morning! xx

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  9. Apparently chasing a mouse is very exhausting! When I hang art in my apartment, I don't measure things, I just go by "what looks right", and as you discovered sometimes it's just the shape of a frame that makes the difference between "okay" and "very nice!" Can't tell if that's a swimsuit that the long-haired woman is wearing in the postcard but it's very cool.

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    1. The way those two run around, tossing the poor dead mouse 6 foot in the air and performing acrobatics is hilarious, no wonder they need a day's rest!
      You're right about the picture hanging, it's never a precise science, just a feel and moving one makes a world of difference.
      That's a proper flapper girl costume that bathing belle is wearing. I love that she was dressed in the height of fashion but hadn't conformed by cutting her hair. xxx

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  10. I love the Rhubarb colour! I could almost be tempted to wear some nail varnish on my fingernails with that colour...

    I love the gold pot, the addition of the photos in the bathroom and the fab Spanish lady reassigned picture. I hope Tina doesn't sulk at being usurped!

    I loved your cotton maxi and I agree wholeheartedly with the 'just because it's cheap' charity shop buying. I have been so guilty of this in the past and am determined not to do it anymore.

    My wood floor cleaner arrived - thanks to your recommendation - and I treated myself to some other plastic free household cleaning potions. I got a bit of a shock when I opened the parcel and saw how small the sachets were but they make 750 mls!

    The biscuits sound fab!

    Take care and stay safe.
    xxx

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    1. I didn't realise that you don't paint your nails, Vronni! I was chatting to a friend on Facebook yesterday who doesn't either. I only used to paint my toenails but started wearing it on my fingernails about ten years ago, the only time they're bare is when I'm in India. It takes a week or so to get used to my hands without colour.
      I was surprised at that tiny package of floor cleaner when it arrived. I wonder why other brands don't do the same, allowing cutomers to dilute the product at home. It would do so much to reduce excess packaging not to mention the effort in transporting it.
      Loads of love. xxx

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  11. Oh, I've had cookies/biscuits made with that recipe and they are DELICIOUS. A little sprinkling of sea salt on the top helps with the sweetness, and adds a nice salty crunch. Very dangerous to make - I can't even keep peanut butter in the house!

    I love seeing pictures of your home in all it's maximal glory. I love the updates with the gold pot and the new pictures. Wow, what a beauty that mystery lady is (that hair!). I agree with the swap-out of the other pictures. The new frame is more centred in that space.

    Ah, flush with their mouse victories, the cats....sleep. Shocking.

    Glad you had a fun couple of days, Vix! I see all the ads for Cardinal here - that's a local program.

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    1. I'm liking your suggestion with the sea salt, Sheila! I love peanut butter but I do limit my intake to just once a week, spread on a single piece of toast.I don't want to end up like Elvis.
      Isn't that 1920s bathing beauty amazing? She must have been a real rebel not to conform to the trend of the time and cut her hair off.
      Cardinal is absolutely superb, not an easy watch but great stories and a very likeable cast. The scenery is spectacular! xxx

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  12. Your beauty regimen looks impressive, Vix. I'm interested in the coconut oil on your hair. How long do you leave it in, and is it an awful pain to wash out? Long hair does require some maintenance and I use bought conditioners but would prefer natural if possible. I have some toe separators (from when I used to bother to paint my toenails but no longer do because I can never go without socks these days so nobody can see them! I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet as a result of nerve damage from chemo 5 years ago). I can't bear to throw the toe separators away because one of them has tooth marks on it from our beloved old cat Beatrice who used to chew everything!!

    Your patchwork curtains are a dream. I love the new picture over your dressing table - I agree, the frame is a much better shape for the space. It's good to move things around every now and then anyway, because otherwise you cease to notice them.

    Your biscuits look amazing. I don't cook with eggs these days so I might try with a chia seed substitute. I made some amazing almond pulp ones the other day but did manage to burn them a bit - my oven is pretty fierce. For sweetening I tend to use dates. Less sweet than sugar and with the added bonus of the fibre and other nutrients.

    Love the blue maxi dress!

    Shoshi xx

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    1. Morning, Shoshi!

      I leave the coconut oil all day. If you rub shampoo into your hair before wetting it, work it in for a minute and then rinse it off you'll find it comes out easily. Something I wish I'd known when I had a Shirodhara treatment at an Ayurvedic clinic in Kerala many years ago, my hair was an oil slick for a week!
      Your poor feet, there's nothing worse than having cold toes. What a sweet memento of Beatrice keeping your toe spacers.
      You're so right about moving things around so you appreciate them more. When Jenny Eclair was on the Grayson Perry show the other day she spoke of being surrounded by familiar objects and being desperate for something new, I'm the opposite, I've started to treasure everything we own rather than trudge round charity shops looking for more.
      I wonder if those biscuits would work if you substitued the egg with the liquid from a can of chick peas?
      That blue dress is one of my favourites, although I seem to say that about everything in my wardrobe! xxx

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    2. Thanks for the info about the coconut oil, Vix. I had visions of my hair being an oil slick (nice imagery!!). I might try this. Does it come out feeling amazing? I adore the smell, too! I find coconut oil is one of the best makeup removers too.

      The problem with my feet isn't that they are cold - it is more a case of altered sensation - numbness, tingling, pins and needles. I can't bear anyone to touch them and if I go without socks, the friction against sandals, or bedding at night, is very uncomfortable. Wearing socks in bed can get pretty hot in the summer but fortunately I have lots of pairs of absolutely gorgeous socks from Corrymore - they are mohair mix, produced locally by a small farm who win awards at the Devon County Show annually for their angora goats. The socks are extremely hard wearing and never seem to wear out, and are cool in summer and warm in winter, and come in loads of fabulous colours! I never wear anything else. I have them in ankle and knee versions, a whole drawer-full of socks! After 5 years, I think it is unlikely that the problem will resolve itself, although I have regained most of the sensation in my hands now. I'm not complaining because it's a small price to pay for being alive!! There are a lot of people far worse off than I am, after all.

      Beatrice was such a character! She and my hubby were joined at the heart - it was love at first sight, mutually, when we collected her and her sister as kittens. Beatrice lived to be nearly 17. There's such a sweet video of her enjoying my hubby giving her Dreamies on my YouTube channel! Of course, all the kitties are different and special, but she was a one-off.

      I love Grayson Perry's art show! It is so much fun, and a real celebration of English eccentricity too! He has the most infectious laugh and I love to see him working with his wife in their wonderful studio, with all his wacky projects. It's one of the best things on TV at the moment. I do agree - we should treasure what we have already got! Sometimes, though, it's hard to resist an unusual object spotted in an ethnic shop or charity shop.

      Aquafaba from chickpeas is definitely a good egg substitute. However, I cook all my chickpeas from scratch in my electric pressure cooker and hardly ever use tinned ones, and the resulting liquid is probably too dilute, and it would be too much hassle to reduce it on the stove. I usually use chia seeds (either whole or ground) with some water. Chickpea flour works pretty well, too, or ground flax seeds, depending on the recipe. It's mostly to get the binding effect of the eggs. I made some almond biscuits recently, adapted from an apple crumble recipe I found, using chia seeds to stop them falling apart, and they would have been perfect if I hadn't managed to burn half of them!! I shall definitely try them again, and also a savoury version. I generate a lot of almond pulp from when I make almond milk, and it can be used in loads of things, including biscuits and pancakes and so on. I really enjoy experimenting and adapting recipes and veganising them.

      I'm like you with my wardrobe - I have so many favourites! I had a message from the Ebay seller today trying to call off my purchase of the red maxi dress because they've found a small hole in it, and it's the only one they've got. I've asked them for more details, and said I could probably mend it, and hoping they will give me a discount! In the meantime I've also ordered another one, which is purple. My excuse is that I've had to get rid of so many clothes that were falling off me after I lost all that weight!! These dresses are amazingly cheap on Ebay, aren't they. We go to Totnes or Teignmouth every now and then and I get loads of ethnic stuff from the fabulous shops there. I just hope they all survive the coronavirus crisis.

      Shoshi xx

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    3. Dear Shoshi, one day, when we're back to normal I'd love to meet up with you, I don't think we'd ever stop talking! Maybe we should fire up the campervan and have a few nights in Totnes exploring the hippy emporiums.
      Doesn't your heart sink when you win something on ebay and a message appears from the seller moments later. I hope she offers you a discount and the sale goes ahead and it's not an excuse to back out of a transaction. Having lost weight you need a whole new wardrobe, I've got no excuse, I love watching lovely things and most of the time I'm happy for someone else to have them but a long line block printed waistcoat might have just been accidentally purchased (no-one else had bid on it, I felt sorry for it!)
      like the sound of your socks, if you need to wear somethin g all the time then you should invest in something you love, Jon's the same with glasses.
      Beatrice sounds like a character, we still miss our naughty Tortie Polly desperately, she was Jon's baby.
      I didn't know you could get electric pressure cookers, we had a 1960s Prestige oven-top one that scared us to death and we ended up donating back to the charity shop! xxx

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  13. I love the painting of people, number 8 phone

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    1. Thanks, Dora! There's a couple of artwork by friends of me (and Jon) on that wall. xxx

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  14. I love that colour of nail polish, I love dark nail polish, I love wearing canmakes dark colours they last about 10 days. And the rest of the make up is really nice as well, really affordable. It seems weird here as we would start to be getting busy here for the olympics but it’s really quiet, infact there isn’t many tourists at all, no BME marches, it’s not really a thing over here, which I find odd. Sometimes it’s like living in a bubble. Which is fine by me.
    The other dress is fab. We got some beautiful kimonos in which I could imagine you in. I have bought one to hang as it is too pretty to wear. My friend is making a cover for it to protect it. Still clearing out and going though my items. Damn lockdown made me put a bit of weight on! I will lose it again. Take care and keep safe

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    1. Thanks, Alison! I've only recently become a convert to dark nail paint (with the exception of navy blue), my hands look scarily like my Mum's when I look at that photo although she had the most amazing talons!
      Ive just googled Canmakes, it looks almost identical to an Indian brand I've seen at Mumbai airport, very pretty packaging.
      Do many Japanese travel around in their own country or it is mainly foreign tourists you're used to seeing? I bet the hotels and restaurants are devastated by the cancellation of the Olympics, they must have lost millions.
      I'd love another vintage kimono, I love them (stop it, I can feel an ebay search coming on!), they are beautiful to display if you can't wear them.
      Weight can be lost, enjoy your sorting and stay happy. xxx

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    2. Yes lots of Japanese like to travel around their own country, the Hokkaido snow festival is very popular from January to March, as is the spring blossoms in Kyoto and and the autumn they are the Japanese favourite seasons. The south is very warm and it is tropical in the summer and the north is very cold in the winter.
      I love travelling around japan, I love visiting friends in Sendai or popping to Kyoto were one of our stores are. Thanks to the Shinkansen to can get to Kyoto in 3 hours were as it would take 6 hours by car. Paul works there. Tbh I don’t think I will ever come home now. And that is really sad to say. Japan is a very respectable country and I like that. England is gone down in my estimations and that saddens me. I worry about my parents, my children, my brother and my sister all the time. I wish they could be here with me. Yes japan has its problems but not like the UK. Sorry rant over. It’s a wonderful country to visit and it can be done on a budget.

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    3. Hello Alison, much as I hate snow the Hokkaido Snow Festival looks incredible (I've just Googled it). You've mentioned the cheapness and efficiency of Japan's public transport system, I'm glad that the Japanese (like the Indians) take advantage of it and see their own country. You know what it's like here, it's often cheaper to go abroad than have a holiday in the UK.
      I dream of escaping the UK, what with Brexit and the current government, I often feel like there's nothing here for us anymore.My wanderlust is worse than ever at the moment, I've pretty much written off Greece in September and India is looking more and more doubtful. xxxx

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  15. I love your garden. I am a fan of it. Your nail polish is totally on point and this blue dress is so elegant! You are a total queen here.
    Sorry for my totally pointless comment here but I needed to complement badly. I do think so

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    1. I really appreciate your comment! Lovely to hear from you, Lyosha and glad you've finally got some warmth and sunshine! xxx

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  16. Our morning routine is Philip up first and be brings me a mug of hot water then goes off to check on the state of the world on the telly. Meanwhile I finish reading my book at an appropriate point and check out emails and social media. After my shower it’s porridge and berries and deciding on our plans for the day before laying out the garden gate display.
    Your house and garden are looking better and better as lockdown continues. I like how you have both got into the new rythmn of things.
    Looks like another wet day here. Off to the post office later and to get some compost and plants for Mum.
    Enjoy your Monday you two xxx

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    1. I loved that, I find it fascinating how we all start our days differently. That's something I've really enjoyed about lockdown, as most of us aren't going anywhere we're sharing those little details that make us unique.
      It's been dry here all day and quite warm, too altghough we've just been for a walk and it's cold on the shady part of the street.
      Hope you both had a lovely day. xxx

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    2. Wasn’t happy at the garden centre. Don’t think I’ll be going again for some time. We both felt uncomfortable and I wore a mask for the first time. We got mum’s stuff so it was worth it xxx

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    3. That's a shame. I can't say I was very keen when we went a fortnight ago, either. I'm glad you got your mum's stuff though. xxx

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  17. Hi Vix, just done a mammoth blog catch up!
    That green top is so pretty. Goes perfectly with the Barry M. I'm going to treat myself to that colour when I next do an order. I'm hanging on to use up the last of my Feature Length mascara, it's just the best isn't it?
    I like your idea of taking photos to help you see objectively. That works for the garden and clothes too. I must try to do it more.
    Agree with everyone else about the swapping out of Tina and the Spanish lady, much better :)
    I think I'm going to have another sort through my wardrobe today. I do it pretty regularly, but this lockdown has really changed my perspective. Like you, I only want to be surrounded by things I really love, not sort of think I love because they were a bargain or which are nice but not really me.
    I very much wanted to go to the Brum BLM protest, but I just couldn't face public transport even with a mask. I was very proud that we had 4,000 protesters and not a single arrest. A friend of mine went and said it was really moving.
    I'm going to try your peanut butter cookies. I can see you use crunchy peanut butter. Is it unsweetened? I only have smooth in the house at the moment, but I'll try that and report back.
    Take care xxx

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    1. Hello, Annie! That mut have been an epic catch up.
      Isn't Feature Length great? It stays on all day but comes off so easily, too. Barry M seem to have brought out loads more nail paints recently. I always used to be disappointed when I looked in Superdrug but I'm spoilt for choice on their website.
      I do love a good sort out. I'm now safe in the knowledge that everything in the drawers and hanging up are 100% fabulous although there's a bag of "not sures" I've put aside and shall reassess in a month's time.
      I'm so torn with the protests, I really want to show my support but am hesitant about being out there and maintaining social distancing. I'm delighted to hear that the Birmingham protest was peaceful although it does seem to be the case in general with just a tiny minority kicking off.
      You're fine with smooth peanut butter. Sheila commented that she'd made them and added a sprinkle of sea salt to the top. I'm tempted to add chopped dates next time although that would mean I'd have to eat them as Jon hates dates (weirdo!) xxx

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    2. Just evesdropping on this conversation, Vix - you can always use date syrup instead of actual dates, then you just get the sweetness, not the texture. I hate dates on their own (my hubby loves them) but I use them all the time in cooking for sweetening things. I bet Jon wouldn't even notice they'd got dates in anyway!! You can also use ripe bananas for sweetening but they do have more flavour than dates.

      Shoshi xx

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    3. Thanks so much for that, Shoshi! xxxx

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  18. Seeing your gold sprayed pot reminded me of doing something similar on the garden table. The surface of the table has a fine spray to this day and I've been asked about my special finish :)
    I like the nail colour and the biscuits look tasty.
    Hope the kitchen revamp is going well. x

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    1. An accidentally decorated table, I love it!
      The kitchen is coming along slowly, as Jon keeps reminding me, there's no rush! We've got all summer. xxx

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  19. I love the Rhode Island Maxi - beautiful. Gosh you are so productive on your days. Hope lockdown ends soon for you guys.

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    1. Thanks so much! Things are slowly starting to relax, non-essential shops open next week although I'm not sure I'll be first in the queue! xxx

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  20. Funny how you've noted that the name of Barry M's Rhubarb appealed to you as did the color! (I've an acquaintance who will happily slurp up any mixed drink with "sex" in the name, i.e., Sex on the Beach.) Rather like Victory Red lipstick, your new dark shade suits this deep-into-gardening phase of life into which you and Jon have plunged.
    And once again you've demonstrated that a metallic finish can be a "neutral" accent (remembering your short boots). There's a pair of simple floor lamps in my lounge that have at least 3 layers of good ol' dull gold Rustoleum masking their years of service. Spraying the pot definitely upgrades it to the decorative level of the picture frame and shelf above.

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    1. Rhubarb, it's such a great word, isn't it? I think I'd like to meet your acquaintance with the sex drink fetish, they sound like fun.
      You're right about metallic being a neutral aspect, those gold space boots seemed to go with everything in a subtle but shimmery way. xxx

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  21. Your Spanish Lady reminds me of the paintings of the Scottish artist William Russell Flint. I also have a large Sara Moon print languishing somewhere. Must look it out. If Jon has any sharp sand lying around, putting some around the base of your plants, edible or otherwise, will stop those dreaded snails and slugs from feasting on them. Your house and garden are looking really stonking. How's the kitchen redo coming along? I binge-watched 'Cardinal' yesterday!xxx

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    1. I love William Russell Flint, I can see where you're coming from, the soft folds of that lady's dress are very similar.
      Thanks for the tip with the sharp sand, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's got some stashed away somewhere.
      Wasn't cardinal fab? I was on the edge of my seat for most of it (and hiding behind a cushion, too)!
      The kitchen is getting there, slowly. xxx

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  22. Haven't watched the Green Book yet, but I live in the part of the country were it's set. I can't even imagine what living here was like at that time (Jim Crow) A couple of years ago, I came across a yearbook from 1968 that was donated. Flipping through the whole book and not finding a Black face going to the uni I work at was shocking. My uni is now around 40% Black. Times do change. BTW, my new Bathroom Shelf of Beauty went up a lot easier than I thought. Now all the make-up has a place to live and I can sit on the bathroom chair.

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    1. Green Book really is a great film, well worth watching.
      That's a really positive change that your university is so diverse these days. Times are changing, although it's taken far too long.
      Go you with your bathroom shelf, I'm proud of you! xxx

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  23. the new picture instead of tina does the trick perfectly!!
    love your nailcolor this week! and this gorgeous green blouse with golden embroidery.... beautiful.
    once i learned to top up the little waterlily bassin i own only with rainwater - no algea to speak of since. rainwater has already the little organisms that help to keep algea at bay - in clean tab water the algea is faster in as the "good" guys.
    is´t it interesting that most fast fashion does not really appeal the long way, even if bought 2.hand for one coin? i bought some sweaters once only for wearing at occasions when i fear to demage my beloved vintage stuff - good vintage is so very rare here that i cherish the pieces i have. but i never feel fab in the sweaters althought they fit me, match my colors and are not ugly at all........
    xxxxx

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    1. We're short of rainwater, we've had to top up the waterbutts with tap water, not that I'm complianing, I'm sure we'll be deluged for the rest of the Summer!
      It is strange that the newer pieces are never quite right, maybe it's in our heads but I feel like they drag down our precious vintage and cheapen it. xxxx

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  24. The Cheerful and Inviting atmosphere of your Home always brightens my Day when I come for a Virtual Visit! I'm trying to be more productive in the housekeeping so things look tidier and more organized. The Maxi and Accessories are Fabulous as always, you wear it all so well!

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    1. Always good to have you over for a visit, Dawn! xxx

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  25. im quietly working through a pile of Maybe. The stuff i buy from jumbles when i just lose the will to sort and just buy a bag full of stuff the right fat girl size without looking at the style . Its proving fun and many things i cant stand are being recycled . Cant be doing with hems that arent straight or gravy sleeves or stuff that hangs my flesh out ...lol

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    1. I bet you're discovering all kinds of long-forgotten treasure. I'm not a fan of uneven hems but I'm partial to a sleeve that dips in my curry sauce! xxx

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  26. Our thrift shops are opening back up but I haven't gone and can't imagine feeling comfortable enough to do so for some time. Like you, I'm looking around and finding I already have just about everything I need. Haven't bought much online aside from household items.

    We don't get slugs but caterpillars decimated my cavalo nero. They've left everything else alone but oooooooh was I angry. Must have picked off dozens of them. The cost of an organic garden, I guess.

    If I had a bathroom like yours I swear I'd never get out of the tub. I'd probably sleep there.

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    1. I don't fancy them either, the garden centre the other day was bad enough, having to wait till the people in front had faffed around and looked at absolutely everything on the shelf. My stress levels would be through the roof if I spotted something amazing from a distance and wasn't able to get to it if some clueless shopper was time wasting.
      Oh no, it's so disheratening when the creatures eat your produce. Caterpillars are a lot more attractive than slugs but all the same, that's just not fair. xxx

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  27. I just love your style, jewellery and home decoration. <3 I can honestly sense the beautiful energy there.

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    1. Thank you so much, you are kind! xxxx

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  28. Hi Vix
    Just made your biscuits with Grandaughter and everyone loves them! More fun recipes please! LOL xxx

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    1. Hi Tracey. Yay! So glad you enjoyed them, they didn't last long in this house! I'll have to see what else I can come up with. xxx

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  29. Lovely pictures!, I always enjoy to see what's going on in Stonecroft. And I love particularly this photo of Frank on the chaiselongue!
    I imagine this is the book where a family have a loquat tree in their spanish garden!. This kind of serendipity makes me smile!
    And I love to see which nail color you're wearing!, and your rings (I'm missing wearing rings, but I have to do so much handwashing that it's impossible!)
    Your maxi dress is gorgeous and fits you like a dream!, absolutely Fabulous!. Lovely to see you styling it!.
    And lovely that Tina was relocated on this red wall, I think she looks enhanced. And I like the Spanish Lady painting, such a classic theme, and its size is perfect!. Your dressing table looks really fab!
    I'm adding 'The Green Book' to my list, it looks really appealing to me.
    besos


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  30. Hello Vix. Hope you're well. I'm so behind with reading blogs. Love reading yours and Ann's (polyester princess).
    Love how you set time aside every Saturday for a self-care day. It's so inspiring that you take so much pride in your appearance. I must try the coconut oil in my hair. I used to use olive oil, but it just took too many washes for it to come out properly. Use it on my nails instead, which has strengthened them alot. Adore your nail polish colour. That colour goes with most of my wardrobe!
    I have that biscuit recipe and make them regularly. Sometimes I add a touch of organic liquorice root powder to it - scrumptious! Or chilli, fantastic with everything!
    I agree, the spanish lady print looks much better. Although Tina is sublime.
    You're going to love the Cardinal series. Green book is another master story of friendship, loved it.

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  31. That's a beautiful nail polish...and the rings are fabulous as well. The cotton maxi is a beauty as well.
    I love that shot of your windows and reading area. Those patched curtains are a work of art.

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix