Friday 3 July 2020

The Distancing Diaries - Day 104 & 105



On Thursday (day 104) I was up just after 6am. I caught up with blog comments, did my daily Wii Fit and took a mug of tea upstairs to Jon. The weather couldn't seem to decide what to do. After a fairly sunny start the sky had clouded over and we'd had a couple of short, sharp showers. Once we'd eaten our fruit & yoghurt I'd resigned myself to a day of pottering around the house.


I'd planned to paint the legs on the kitchen cupboard but after talking it through, we decided to stain them instead and, as the wood stain was at the back of one of the sheds, Jon said he'd do it after he'd been on the weekly grocery run.


I got dressed and swept the dining room rugs and the stairs then, as the sun was back out, swept up the debris from the lime tree & watered the patio plants. Needless to say that the minute I'd finished it decided to rain.


The postman arrived with a parcel. I've been on a quest for the perfect white summer blouse for years, I'm forever buying them in charity shops and am never satisfied when I've tried them at home, modern ones seem to cheapen the vintage clothes I wear with them. When I spotted this 1970s Ayesha Davar cheesecloth beauty up for auction on Ebay, my heart skipped a beat & I knew she was the one for me. Ayesha Davar clothes can fetch £££s so I was thrilled to win it for significantly less than my top bid. 


Back from his shopping expedition, Jon found the woodstain and sorted out the cupboard's new legs,  salvaged from Project Coffee Table. This cupboard started life as a deadly dull unit from Ikea's Clearance Corner in 2007, we've used planks from the pallet stash to hide the laminated sides and jazzed them and the doors up with my DIY chalk paint. The work surface used to be the top of the coffee table.


After our lunchtime noodles, the rain had mercifully eased, I spent a few hours in the garden, watering & weeding the veg patch and pinching the tomato plants' side shoots - thanks for the tip, Annie! Meanwhile Jon continued working on the electrics in Gilbert (a never ending job.)


 I decided a bit of self-care was in order. Before lockdown & unsure as to whether online shopping would be available, I'd stocked up on a couple of different brands of semi-permanent hair dye in the darkest shades left on the shelves. The first one I tried (Clairol's Natural Instincts in Black) had been disappointing, if I followed the instructions and rinsed the dye off with water my hair felt sticky and my roots needed redoing within three weeks. Unable to stand the blonde/silver stripe running down the middle of my scalp any longer I tried L'Oreal's Castings in Dark Chocolate. The dye rinsed off with water without any problems and my hair does feel lovely. The conditioner, which I never normally use, smelled absolutely gorgeous. Let's see how long the colour lasts.


Please don't tell me not to dye my hair, I might have been born blonde but I can assure you that I've had a lot more fun since I took to the bottle back in 2006.

WEARING; Vintage gauzy cotton Dollyrockers maxi (Second to None, 2010), 1970s Phool quilted Indan block printed waistcoat (Second to None, 2019)
Tea was salad with cheese and a slice of spelt bread drizzled with olive oil. Jon was already nodding off by 7.30pm so rather than risk him missing something good we decided to watch whatever was on normal TV which turned out to be The Antiques Roadtrip & Ambulance.



Friday morning rolled around again (our fifteenth since lockdown began) and I was up at just after 6am again. Despite the rain, the lads seemed quite happy to venture forth, possibly to discover why the birds had been making an unholy racket since dawn.

Stephen has been camped out under Gilbert for most of the day, he's obsessed with the mice that live in the rockery.

After my last Wii Fit session of the week I loaded the washing machine with tea towels, dusters and towels, resigned to the fact they'd have to hang up to dry in the utility room as the rain looked set to stay for the rest of the day. After our fruit & yoghurt breakfast I placed an online order with Superdrug for some replacement toiletries, hung up the washing and threw the rest of the contents of the laundry basket into the machine before getting dressed.


I'd hand-washed my new-to-me blouse after I'd unwrapped it yesterday, adding a capful of white vinegar to the final rinse as it had that terrible perfumed washing powder smell I hate. As it was dry, it seemed a shame not to wear it.

WEARING: Vintage cheesecloth blouse by Ayesha Davar & 1970s Anokhi block printed maxi skirt with quilted hem (both eBay), 1930s Lamani coin belt worn as a pendant (flea market find, Goa 2003)
 We'd decided that we wanted a wooden top for the Welsh dresser base in the kitchen and Jon, rather than facing the hoardes at B&Q (and spending money!), decided to search the woodpile for something suitable, deciding upon one of the Edwardian panelled doors we'd liberated from a skip.


Taking advantage of a break in the rain, Jon cut the door to size, sanded it down and stained it. As the wood stain was in easy reach I decanted some into a bowl and redid the stairs as I'd noticed when I swept them yesterday that they were looking worn out in places.


I told the lads not to use the stairs while the wood stain was drying, typically I was the only one who forgot!


After our lunchtime noodles Jon gave the new worktop another coat of woodstain blasting it with a hairdrier to speed up the process. He needs to box in the pipe (visible on the right of the photo) and do a bit of tiling and then that corner of the kitchen is finished.


Over the last week I've added a Rajasthani painted wood peacock, a Kashmiri enamel tray and a Raj-era slide rule to my railway sleeper shelf. The slide rule was supposed to be one of Jon's birthday presents next month but I thought he needed cheering up while he was suffering with his back.


Always happy for an opportunity to use his power tools, Jon got the drill out and hung our retro tin signs. I've had that P&O tin sign for years, it used to live in the garden. The other two are new (to me), Ebay finds I couldn't resist!


Meanwhile I also had a project to be getting on with.


We bought our Spanish occasional table from a jumble sale years ago. With handy screw-off legs it was perfect for taking to vintage fairs but sadly, the wonderfully kitsch top was ruined when the shed roof collapsed in the rain last month.


Hooray for sticky-backed plastic! Click HERE for the eBay seller I buy mine from (other sellers are available but this one despatches really quickly and wraps it well.)


In the absence of any vintage fairs for the foreseeable future it'll live in the spare room. I'm not risking a leaky shed again.


Stephen's still outside watching the mice in the rain. Frank's a lot more sensible, snuggling up on his blanket in the warmth.


Tea was vegetable tikka massala with garlic & coriander nan and potato wedges (for Jon). It's Friday which means rum and cola is on the agenda. I'm not sure what tonight's viewing pleasure will be although Gardener's World is on at 8pm and Bettany Hughes' Greek Odyssey is on a hour later.

Stay safe, don't go mad in the pub tomorrow and don't travel abroad until you've checked your travel insurance!

67 comments:

  1. Hi Vix - first again! What a groupie I have become since stern Google has allowed me access! Another great post. Both you and Jon are amazing in the way you can recycle what is at home and this is one of the reasons why your house is unique. We've had constant rain here which is good for the garden, lets face it! Of all the jobs that needed done, I decided that today was brass polishing day. Long ago, I had a collection of Indian brasses which, more often than not, cried out for a clean. Now I have only a few (non Indian) brasses which have screamed for so long! Not a glamorous job but results are rewarding! I have researched "sticky back plastic" online (Blue Peter, we love you!) inspired by your transformations. Haven't found what I want yet, but I will! Kitchen keeps progressing. Well done you two and in such a short space of time.

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    1. I'm so glad Google decided you could play, it's been a joy getting to know you over the last few weeks, Catmac!
      Has your weather been any better today? Gloomy here all day but warm and mercifully dry. We've both managed to get stuff done in the garden which we hadn't expected to.
      Brass cleaning is really rewarding, I used to love helping my Grandma back in the day, the transformation was like magic. What a rewarding way to spend your time.
      The end is in sight in the kitchen now, there's a couple of jobs that actually require buying stuff, we've seached high and low and we haven't got the right thing!
      Hope you're having a lovely weekend. xxx

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    2. Thank you, Vix, that means a lot! A day of gloomy showers with a dry patch and some warmth at the end of the day. Just spotted a rabbit out in the garden grrrrrr! Will need to find a way of repelling it because when you have one rabbit .......

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    3. That sounds a bit like it was here yesterday minus the rabbit! Hope you manage to scare him away. xxx

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  2. Goodness, what a trip down memory lane, thank you. I had a cream/white cheesecloth top in the 70’s that I lived and died in. Not as gorgeous as yours - much more plain, but I adored it. Wonder what happened to it . . . you are a dratted woman.- another search to add to my saved list on eBay!

    Can you please remind me where the wonderful tiled sticky back plastic came from?

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    1. Cheescloth was the best, wasn't it? I was amazed to find that blouse and even more to actually win it. I did spot a couple of lovely plainer ones yesterday, I can't for the life of me find them now, I've gone eBay blind!
      I've just added the link to the seller I bought my sticky backed plastic from. The make is DC Fix. xxx

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    2. My pleasure, Sticky backed plastic rocks! xxx

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  3. I definitely wouldn't suggest you changed your hair, it's so you and it looks lovely...but you also looked great blonde. You carry both off very well!
    The cheesecloth blouse is perfect, the sleeves are fab and I love the length.
    It's a nightmare doing the stairs, when we do ours I always remember, too late, something I've left at the top!
    Thank goodness for sticky back plastic, that table is looking good again.
    No pub for me tomorrow, madness!!
    Have a great weekend Vix. xxx

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    1. I dyed my hair after I'd had my hip replaced, I think I'll forever associate me being blonde with being crippled with pain.
      This morning I realised that the painted treads showed off how worn the landing was, it's like the Forth Bridge in this house, something always needs doing! this time I organised myself properly and took everything downstairs that I thought I'd need.
      Same here, the only drinking establishment we'll be entering is our lounge!
      Have a fab weekend, Sally! xxx

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  4. What a lovely pic of Frank - he and Stephen are two of my favourite internet cats.

    And what a gorgeous blouse. But yes, why all the dreadful perfumed detergents. I bought a lovely vintage clutch bag years ago and the previous owner had obviously tried to detract from another smell by putting a ghastly perfume on the lining! I read on the internet that bicarb of soda would absorb the smell but it was very messy and in the end I replaced the lining.

    I am convinced that all the awful chemical 'fragrances' are as well very bad for our health - walking down the detergent, air freshener, cheap perfumed candle, etc., aisles in the shops is a horrible experience. Rant over!

    Thank you for all the pleasure your posts give in these difficult times.

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    1. I really agree with your rant about smells!!! I saw a Netflix documentary about artificial fragrances recently - it was horrifying. They don't have to say what's in them, and they are really bad for our health. I hate the smell of them and consider it a form of air pollution, hard to escape at times. I've recently discovered little bags of charcoal that you hang up to get rid of bad niffs instead of using air freshener and they really do seem to work and leave no smell at all.

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    2. Thank you so much, Julia, you've made Stephen and Frank's day! I bribed Frank with a bit of catmint, he's a devil for not looking at the camera.
      What a shame about the clutch bag. If you combine one part vodka and two parts water in a spray bottle and spritz it on the offending smell it often helps. White vinegar is great, it seems to absorb the hateful smell.
      I'm in total agreement with you and Shoshi over how all those chemical smells must be bad for our health. It's been a long time since I was in a shop but those cheap scented candles turn my stomach.
      Thanks so much for reading and commenting, it's lovely to hear from you.
      PS Those charcoal sachets do sound interesting.

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  5. Happy Friday night ! Creative, frugal, artistic colourful and beautiful collected vintage hmm just thinking of adjectives for your home and indeed your wardrobe and you. I come on here and think what can I say in response to all this wonderfulness! I love the display on the railway sleeper shelf, and the table come up great. I reckon sales of sticky back will go up! I love that you made a generic Ikea piece so unique too. Don't even get me started on that white blouse(she sighs) I spent years trying to make this place feel like mine so to see a home so well loved as yours just makes me happy. I feel like every single photo deserves a remark but I will not rave on. Here's to drinking at home enjoy your rum and your weekend. I hope to finish putting new chippings around the rustic garden and there is a collection of bevilled mirrors to play with but hmm not as good as you at displaying things must think on that Shazxx ps love the fact you became brunette makes a change from everyon trying to be blonde and it is so you.

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    1. Happy Saturday night, Shaz! You are generous with your praise and i really appreciate it!
      Sticky backed plastic and DIY chalk paint have become the symbols of lockdown in this house.
      Trying to make a home reflect the personalities of the inhabitants is so important. That's why those makeover programmes always used to leave me cold. I'd rather see bad taste than no taste.
      Despite the grey skies it's been a dry day here, hoping you had the same and were able to get those chippings down and the mirrors up today. I bet they're looking brilliant.
      Blonde was never me, I don't know why it took me 39 years to realise it!
      xxxx

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  6. You were beautiful as blonde, but stunning as a brunette 🧡 I am a natural reddish blonde also, and unfortunately it is the only shade that suits me. But I'm hoping a white hair when elder, like my grandma had 😍

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    1. You look beautiful with your natural hair. xxx

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  7. the white vintage blouse is perfect! tiny bodice and BIG sleeves - wonderful, excellent proportions.
    so sad the spanish dancers on the table got soaked, but rescueing the piece with fake tiles was a good idea. your kitchen furniture and decorating is coming together nicely - must bookmark the stained (instead of painted) legs, its much more practical with all the mopping in a kitchen......
    almost same time you changed from blonde to black i changed from black to silver - and never looked back. ok - it happened by nature, but if not i had to do it with chemicals at least because i was in need for a change and still be so happy with it - so i totally understand your radical change and sticking with it.
    xxxxx

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    1. I'm so happy with the blouse, the sleeves were even bigger and fuller than the photos, and it breathes new life into all my vintage skirts, unlike the cheap modern tops which sap the lif out of them!
      I did love those Spanish dancers, people were always trying to buy the table off us at vintage fairs in the past, I wonder how they'll react now...if we ever do another one?
      I loved your raven locks but your silver hair is absolutely stunning, too. xxx

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  8. Oooh Vix, I love the new vintage blouse! It's gorgeous and really suits you too. Great tip about removing the smelly detergent too - I hadn't heard that one before. With my ME I have mild chemical sensitivity and find a lot of artificial chemical fragrances intolerable. In our old house we had a septic tank and had to be careful what we put down, and I started using Ecover products which I still use - much more natural and I don't get upset by the smell.

    Love what you've done with the table. It's a shame the original picture got ruined but your Moroccan tile-style sticky backed plastic is great! You two are adding so many individual and quirky touches to your gorgeous house and really making it your own. You have a real eye for vintage stuff and bargains and know how to upcycle or transform them too. It's a real skill.

    I love your hair colouring - hard to believe you were once blonde! I used to be very dark, and as I got older and started to cover the grey, I went lighter. During my cancer year, to keep myself going, I went multi-coloured - orange, purple and blue lol!! Nowadays I can't be bothered any more because it grows so quickly and I was always having to do my roots, so I've left it to go ever-lightening grey - hope it goes a beautiful white one day and not a dreary mess!!

    I love your lilac outfit and especially the quilted waistcoat. Really gorgeous.

    We've had rain later in the day here - it was really windy all day and I managed to get 2 loads of washing out before the rain started.

    Hugs and strokes to the lads,
    Shoshi x

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    1. Thanks so much, Shoshi! I saw that blouse and knew it had to be mine! I was thrilled to win it and was amazed when it turned up even more beautiful than the eBay photos - love it when that happens!
      I hate synthetic smells and it must be a lot worse for you. White vinegar is brilliant for shifting that horrible "lillies on LSD" smell that seems to be the washing powder of choice in the UK. Honestly, I'd rather something smelt musty or damp!
      I loved that you coloured your hair to help you deal with cancer. I think your natural colour is lovely.
      Hooray for line-dried washing. It's been really gloomy here all day and so I hung mine up in the utilty room, I should have risked the washing line and it's stayed dry - gah!
      Much love to you and the girls! xxx

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  9. Your lavender outfit - so-o-o gorgeous. When we went into lockdown, I did a quick trip the day before to the small local supermarket to get a box of hairdye. I held out from using it until we were allowed out and about. (Such fortitude!!) Clairol - useless, L'Oreal - good, schwarkov (spelling?) even better but impossible to find. After doing the old lady thing of going lighter and lighter - from black I was finally using dark blonde, I finally put my foot down and went back to light brown - aahh, now I feel like me again.

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    1. Thank you so much! That dress is one of my Autumn festival staples, I'm always surprised at how vibrant the colour is in photos.
      I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought Clairol was useless, I was beginning to think I'd done something wrong when I applied it.
      Well done on going back to light brown and getting your identity back! xxx

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  10. I have been dying my hair since the age of 17 ! It’s been every colour of the rainbow. Infact it was unicorn coloured for pride last year. But it didn’t last long as it was a nightmare to care for. I don’t get a long with major brands, they erm bugger my hair up. Give me Jerome Russell bleach, directions, adore and the gypsy shrine and etude house and I am a happy bunny. That blouse is to die for. Sadly my breakfast isn’t as healthy as yours, as cereal is NormaLy full of sugar, so it is breakfast bars and coffee.
    I am like you if Paul paints something and he tells me not to touch, I touch it, I am such a ditz. But what can you do. I am always worse than the kids. We are off to Tokyo Tower as the middle one has to do something for school. And you have to book a slot, so I booked an early one and then get it out of the way. Ohh it’s super Saturday, what a bloody joke. Sounds fun NOT !!!

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    1. Hello Allie! Loving the sound of the unicorn hair but I bet the upkeep was a right royal pain. I've seen Jerome Russell stuff in Superdrug, that's a proper hairdressing name, isn't it? I can imagine a 60 year-old bloke with a permatan, leather trousers and hair like George Michael's in 1984!
      I lost weight for my 50th birthday as the pounds were starting to creep on. The first thing I did was give up breakfast cereal, it is full of sugar (and expensive, too!)
      Whenever Jon mops the kitchen floor and shouts, "stay out of the kitchen" I'm in there second later, head like a sieve!
      Hope you're having a good Saturday. I haven't heard any sirens or helicopters....yet... maybe everyone is listening to BoJo after all! xxx

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    2. That sounds like Peter stringfellow lol bless his heart. RIP. Yeah the bags of cereal in japan are tiny 250g I think? Royal milk tea was the flavour of minute at the minute I think. But the kids need their sugary goodness, at least it’s not natto!! Look that one it up, it bloody stinks . Light threw his straight back up. Ohh never have a Japanese breakfast it ain’t pretty!!!!
      Mum said it was all quiet n the western front yesterday and asked if I got my care package, so I know there is one on its way yippee !!!

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    3. I've just looked up Natto, how vile does that look? Mind you, I never got miso soup, either, it was like drinking the sea!
      Yes, I think everyone behaved pretty well yesterday, I was expecting the eavenue to be like it is the the day after New Year's Eve, awash with takeaway wrappers and disgarded drinks cans but it was spotless.
      How exciting about your care package, you must tell me what you got when it arrives 9our post has really speeded up again now, it's back to normal!) xxx

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  11. Your new blouse is a real investment, it will go with so many things. I have never seen an Anokhi skirt in red like this, plenty of envy here! so very pretty and fresh. brand hair dyes these days are very good for the hair and have built in conditioners. Diacolour is another one you could try from Sallys (online) I am super excited as I have an appointment at the hairdressers on Monday - wahay!!

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    1. Thanks, Betty! I was prepared to blow the budget as I knew the blouse would go with everything. I was amazed to win it. I loved the colour of that skirt, I always go for the reds and rusts when i'm in India, they don't show up the dirt as much!
      I haven't heard of Diacolour or Sally's - I've bookmarked the website, thank you! xxx
      PS That's so exciting to hear that you've bagged a hairdressing appointment. I bet you can't wait!

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  12. p.s. you could do a tv program of your diy creations! the kitchen cupboard looks really good and all from repurposed pieces - well don Jon :)

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    1. Thank you so much! You'd need subtitles to understand us! x

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  13. I've just watched the final of 'Scotland's Home of the Year' (available on IPlayer) and one of the houses in the final three contained all sorts of handmade furniture just like your upcycled Ikea cupboard, which looks amazing. The house itself was an old boathouse situated in Stromness in Orkney and was a drab, grey exterior from the outside but inside, well, WOW! Not sure whether I liked the winning house (a Victorian conversion in Glasgow's West End) which was very 'Trump-esque' in places but the owner, an interior designer, did most of the work himself 'on a budget' (which made me laugh because anyone who can afford to buy a flat in Glasgow's West End does NOT live on a budget!).Anyway, your house is looking beautiful and would be a worthy winner in any lifestyle competition!I'd vote for you and Jon. Happy Saturday to you. xxx

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    1. Hi Annie! I'll have to watch Scotland's Home of the Year, it sounds right up our street! I'm intruiged by the Trump-esque house, that must be like a footballer's wife's house, only worse!
      Hope you're having a super Saturday! xxx

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    2. Thank you for the tip, Annie. I've just watched the final and really enjoyed it. The Glasgow Flat was amazing but wasn't my winner either. Loved the homes of the two runners up.

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    3. Thanks so much for the suggestion, Annie! We watched six episodes last night, such a diverse assortment of homes - so far I'm madly in love with that West End flat and the tiny fisherman's cottage. xxx

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  14. That new-to-you cheesecloth top is beautiful on you and your tin signs are fab, especially the Air India one. Sorry to hear that the rain trashed your Spanish themed coffee table. It was a beaut. Though you've done a great job of refurbishing it.

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    1. Thanks, Fig! Isn't that Air India sign fab? They're my favourite airline, the crew look like Bollywood stars and they walk up and down the aisles with a huge bottle of gin in one hand and a massive bottle of whiskey in the other and refuse to take no for an answer! xxx

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  15. When I was booked to appear onstage as a presenter, the better event planners made a point of telling me about their backdrop design so that I could dress accordingly. Your new blouse is truly "such stuff as dreams are made of", Vix. Those sleeves! Pity you didn't make a video segment for its debut in your Midsummer's Dream greenery so we could see your wings in motion.

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    1. Hi Beth! Those event planners were so tghoughtful to let you know about the backdrop design so you could dress accordingly (and not disappear into the background). A Midsummer Night's Dream is my favourite Shakespeare play! xxx

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  16. Betty thinks you should do a tv programme, so do I. Based on your blog. I think it would be a series that could run and run, like that Chateau one. Do we not know any producer type folk out there to commission it.
    I’ve still got that pic of you on my camera somewhere of when you where blonde and curly. I think we had matching curls in days gone by.
    That blouse has been worth the effort of finding one, the sleeves are great.
    Back home now after lunch out with Mum, it went really well. So nice to have someone else do the cooking.
    Have a nice evening at your local. I’ve no doubt Philip will be having a glass of cheer in ours in front of the telly haha. Xxx

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    1. Gawd, you'd need subtitles with my appakling accent!
      I know the photo you mean, we looked like twins. I absolutely loved my spiral perm in the 1980s, my hair never needed washing and got better and better the dirtier it became.
      All those "it'll do" blouses will be making their way back to the charity shop, if we ever go into one again!
      I'm glad you had a lovely day with your Mum and got spoilt and waited on.
      Enjoy your evening, cheers! xxx

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  17. that blouse is beautiful. I like the table better with the stick on stuff.

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    1. Thank you! Much as I loved the Flamenco dancers I agree, I prefer the fake tiles! xxx

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  18. What a great find the blouse was and it looks fab on you with the maxi skirt. Good things come to he/she who waits...

    I am loving your kitchen revamp; I love the little sneaky peeps you're giving us and can't wait for the big reveal. That sticky back plastic is the dogs whatsit's isn't it? The coffee table looks wonderful. My mum used to have one like that - the Spanish ladies, I mean. The tin pictures are lovely, too.

    I do agree you look better with darker hair but you're bucking the trend here; from what I can see everyone and his wife wants to be blonde! Hope the colour you've found is the one...strangely enough on my latest blog post I'll be including a photo of me with naturally, dark curly hair!

    Aren't you tempted to go to the pub?

    Take care
    xxx

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    1. Hello Vronni!
      I remember seeing a photo of you with dark hair and you were stunning (not that you aren't with your gorgeous silver locks!) I know what you mean, everyone seems to want to be blonde - we're never happy with what we've born with, are we? I'd kill for curls, too!
      I was so happy to win that blouse, it's perfect with everything I've tried it with so far, well worth a bit of a splurge although it still worked out cheaper than buying something from Monsoon or East!
      A friend did post a photo on facebook earlier of her sitting outside a pub in rural Herefordshire with a pint of cider and I must admit I was a bit envious. Not sure a Saturday night in Walsall's Yates's would be quite as attractive!
      Have a fab Saturday night! xxx

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  19. We are definitely sharing weather again. It was quite blustery today, with on and off showers. Your kitchen cupboard looks lovely with the wood-stained legs, and your new-to-you white blouse looks gorgeous on you. You were definitely meant to be dark-haired. It suits you so much better than blonde. I guess you were just born with the wrong hair colour :-)) Your kitchen is looking fantastic, and lovely are those retro tin travel signs. I do have a bit of a weakness for old travel posters. The revamped table is looking fabulous too. You've given me a couple of ideas for using sticky-backed plastic. I'm sure people will be flocking to the pubs as mad. I wouldn't want to go near one for the foreseeable future. xxx

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    1. We really do seem to be weather twins! It's been mercifully dry all weekend here but the wind! I'll have arms like Popeye if I have to do any more sweeping.
      I agree, I was born with the wrong hair colour, I never felt like me until I was dark haired.
      I love old travel posters, I bought Jon a vintage travel poster calendar Xmas and we get excited when it's time to turn the page, where will it take us to next?
      I can't see the fun in social distancing in a pub, they are supposed to be social places aren't they? I'd rather stay at home! xxx

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  20. Getting up at 6 am...I'm glad that I won't be doing that for a week or two. I will have to get up at 5 am tomorrow but that is to catch the catamaran. I won't tell you not to dye your hair black because I can't imagine you with any other colour, perhaps with dark brown but that's almost the same thing. It feels odd seeing you with blond hair, like seeing a different person- and one wearing a business suit. Not saying that blond doesn't suit you, I'm just not used to seeing it on you. How lucky you were to spot that gorgeous Ayesha Davar vintage cheesecloth blouse, it's a dream. A white blouse looks great with everything. I really like the look you created with it as well. That blouse by looks amazing paired with Anokhi block printed maxi skirt from the seventies. I also like the coin belt worn as a pendant. You also look gorgeous in that purple maxi.
    Your stairway decorated with art looks awesome. Your garden is as lovely as always. The kitchen looks great. The table looks brand new- and fabulous.

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    1. I hope you managed to catch your early morning catarmaran!
      I was a different person back when I was blonde. After I had my hip replaced I felt like I'd been reborn and what better way to mark the occasion than to reinvent myself with the hair colour I'd spent my life wishing I'd been born with?
      xxx

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  21. A happy and safe 4th of July to you and Jon! With the spike in Covid virus we passed up 2 parties for today, we are still so paranoid of it and do not want to risk being crazy! We are having a great time staying home safely in our house and land with the river in our back yard. Peaceful and beautiful. I love the plastic you put on your festival table, wow looks just like gorgeous tile! Looks wonderful in your spare room with the drawers you covered, love them!! The blouse is perfect for you. Love your new kitchen, wall color is fantastic!!I do not think we will reach the 75 degrees outside today as the weatherman predicted all week, only saw a peep of the sun a couple of times. I pity my poor cats if they hear our country neighbors lighting off the horrid fireworks this evening. I have never been fond of them since I lived in Okinawa when I was in high school and we bought some fireworks for the 4th and a kid came over and lit a box of matches and scared himself and he threw it on the living room table that had our works spread out......holy toledo, my Father yelled for us to all go outside until every last one went off in the house, it was a freak out that has never left our minds, talked about it for years, needless to say, I never bought another one since I was 16 yrs. old!!No one was hurt thank goodness!! Have a great weekend!!

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    1. Happy belated 4th of July to you, Chrystal! The date also marked the UK's Independance Day, the day our pubs, cinemas and hairdressers finally reopened. Luckily for us there were no fireworks - hateful things. Our cats loathe them, I hope yours have calmed down after your country neighbours set them off.
      Your experience at Okinawa sounded absolutely horrific, it must have frightened the life out of you all!
      Sending you loads of love! xxx

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  22. Hi Vix, I've got to say that you and Jon are marvellous at reusing items you already have to make/repair something!

    I can't believe Jon made that wooden fable top - fantastic!

    I love your red skirt with your new blouse. It is such a perfect find! X

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    1. Thanks, Jess! We'd much rather make do and mend if we can, new stuff lacks personailty, I want our house to reflect ours. xxx

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  23. One of my sister in law took the plunge and had natural super dark brown hair and now a blond.
    I been quite a few shades of burnetts and now I been playing around with fun colors.
    I love old doors and seen as yard art, which is way cool

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    1. I'd love to know if chaging her hair colour has made any difference to your sister in law's life.
      I'm a bit obsessed with old doors, if I see one dumped in the street I have to drag it home! xxx

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  24. That blouse is a treasure. I know what you mean about modern ones cheapening an outfit, but it is so hard to find white vintage without stains. Speaking of stain, the stairs look great!

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    1. Thanks so much! I hear you about the stains, there's loads of vintage items on Ebay that the sellers describe as "stained but it'll probably wash out", I instantly lose interest, if it was that easy to get rid of them surely they'd have washed the garment before listing it? xxx

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    2. PS Like what you did there with the stain connection! x

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  25. I've really enjoyed seeing all your home improvements, and watching your garden flourish over the last 100 days or so.
    Your blouse is really lovely, I have a mental clothing wish list that I would break my spending ban for. One day I'm sure all our clothing prayers will be answered by the pre-loved gods.
    How lovely to find a good alternative lockdown hair dye. I'm really glad that I have such a low maintenance hair style. People will now be flocking to salons now they're open again, I could do with a trim but am happy to wait, I can cut my own fringe. You seem much more of a dark haired soul than a blonde. I've never understood the 'blondes have more fun' thing, they get more hassle from idiot men but they certainly don't have the monopoly on fun!
    xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Hazel! It's been really lovely to share normal life on my blog and have the time to appreciate the house and garden rather than rushing about like crazy peopel.
      I was amazed at how mnay men I'd known for years suddenly became a lot more flirty when I'd dyed my hair, I hoped ditching the blonde would have the opposite effect! xxx

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  26. Lovely to see you wearing your recently purchased cheesecloth blouse!, you look particularly gorgeous!. I have a weakness for this fabric and totally agree that it's difficult to find a quality white blouse these days!.
    Your purple/mauve dress and waistcoat are so Stunning! and love how they match the flowers around you. You totally Rock!
    I'm amazed at your fab revamp of the dull Ikea unit, it looks really cool (love particularly those handles!) and thanks for opening my eyes to the possibilities of sticky-backed plastic!.
    Love particularly these retro tin sings on your kitchen wall!, actually I love every detail!
    besos

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    1. I love cheesecloth, too - it's so hard to find, too!
      That Ikea unit looks loads better now, it was bought as a compromise and we've lived with it in it's boring state for years, its so good to like it now! xxx

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  27. Oh, Frank is so cute cuddled up there. I just want to snuggle him.

    I adore your new white blouse, Vix! I get what you mean about the modern fabrics not working right with vintage pieces.

    I do like your look with blonde hair, but you remind me very strongly of Lucy Lawless (she played "Xena: Warrior Princess" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xena)), who was a natural blonde but dyed her hair for the series. She just suits dark hair better! I like your darker brown that's on your ends.

    "Stephen Squirrel and the Rockery Mice" sounds like a detective novel.

    Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Sheila! Frank's such a pretty cat for a boy, it's that pink nose and big green eyes.
      I'm so happy with that blouse, it holds its shape so well, much better than the floppy mediocre modern ones I've been wearing.
      I didn't know Lucy Lawless was a blonde, we used to watch Xena rekigiously back in the day. Eva Green is also a natural blonde but has been dyeing her hair since she was 15! xxx

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  28. Running behind with my blog comments again . The white blouse is gorgeous , love those sleeves . I do know what you mean about the fabrics , they would be just plain wrong with your vintage skirts. As for your hair , dark really is just you, suits your style. The garden is looking so loved as is your house , it must be so satisfying. xx

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    1. Thanks, Jill! Older fabrics always seem better quality, even the rayon or polyester garments feel different to their modern counterparts. I'm happy to have a blouse that goes with all my skirts now rather than different ones for different skirts, too much faff! xxx

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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