Monday 18 January 2021

The Distancing Diairies - 17th & 18th January, 2021

 

On Sunday I got up at 7am, took the plants down from the kitchen shelf and immersed them in the utility room sink. I made mugs of tea,brought them back to bed and lay reading until 9am when we got up, watched Andrew Marr and toasted sun-dried tomato and olive rolls for breakfast.

 
Wear:Sleep:Repeat - my outfit consisted of Saturday's Phool jacket which I wore with my embroidered Indian cotton maxi dress (which belonged to ex- blogger Sabine's mum in the 1960s) and the William Morris for H&M Pimpernel print blouse bought from the clearance charity shop before Lockdown part III.
 

The details: Silver, coral & turquoise snake bangle (bought in Jodhpur, 2020), enameled brass earrings (FabIndia, Goa 2019) and my charity-shopped Docs (which came in their box and cost me £20).

We went for a walk around the block, as usual doing the Covid Shuffle when we encountered anyone - crossing the road or walking in the middle of the road when anyone came towards us and making a point of saying hello just so nobody thinks we're being rude.


After a bowl of noodles Jon and I went our separate ways, he worked in his music room whilst I embarked on a sewing project upstairs in the spare room leaving a trail of pins, scraps of fabric and sequins in my wake. We met up for tea and a beer at 6pm, spending the evening watching The Antiques Roadshow and the last ever Spiral (so, so good!)


Despite Stephen's best efforts to the contrary, I managed to stay in bed until 6am. After I'd let the lads out I put the plants back on the kitchen shelf, stripped the bed in the spare room, washed the covers and got stuck into my first Wii Fit workout of the week.


The sun was just starting to rise when I went into the Kinky Shed to get the stock I'd sold over the weekend and had to rush back to grab my camera to capture the dramatic sky. I'd just finished wrapping the parcels when Jon came downstairs so we had our fruit & yogurt breakfast before he left for the post office run and to do the weekly food shop.


My Wear:Sleep:Repeat challenge is into its second week. 


Today I rewore Sunday's 1960s embroidered dress with the controversial army jacket. During the 1990s, my off-duty attire - when I wasn't a pinstripe-wearing corporate whore - was camo army fatigues, a vintage 1970s kids' tee shirt and Buffalo platform trainers. I loved camo. The first and only time I visited the USA was at the back end of the 1990s, I bought a camo print & black lace trimmed vest from Urban Outfitters in Boston and wore it until it fell apart.


Thanks to Sarah Jane Adams for the inspiration although Jon made me move from my usual posing spot as he said he couldn't find see me in the bushes.


The details: Brass bell & wood bead belt (was my friends Fran's in the 1970s), Indian white metal earrings (charity shop about a million years ago), River Island olive velvet boots (Charity shop, £4.50), Banjara crescent dowry pendant (Anjuna Flea market, 2002)

The cuff bangle on the left was a gift from blogging pal, Aril.

It isn't jewellery, it's armour against mediocrity. Vix, 16/03/2015 


With terrible weather forecast for most of the week we went for a walk after Jon returned from the shops. To continue with our exploration of local places with a blue plaque here's another one, situated in the next but one street to us. Sir Henry Newbolt is of such renown there's even a Wetherspoons named after him.





The Grade II listed Doveridge Place is a handsome late Georgian terrace. Sadly it made the national news back in 2018 when one of the residents was brutally murdered (HERE).


Back at home Jon did some van maintenance and I continued with my sewing project which seems to be taking an absolute age but it's not like there's any need to rush anything, is there? I had a telephone catch-up with Liz and made arrangements for a socially distanced walk later in the week, weather permitting, and then tidied up my mess, making the bed up with the freshly washed cover.  


Tea was salad with garlic bread. We'll be watching The Arctic Murders later, that's after I've had an epic catch-up with Blogland.


Stay safe & see you soon!

59 comments:

  1. Hi Vix I was reading in the Guardian this morning about ways to enhance our exercise walks. Your posts about finding blue plaque buildings locally made me think that an app for such buildings must be out there somewhere. It would be great if more of us looked for them and shared our findings so many interesting people are lost in the midsts of time but this is one way of remembering them and their lives I think. You have some beautiful houses around you it looks like a great area. I love your fireplace the tiling is fab. My son has just used very similar tiles on their hearth, his are modern though. Your Docs are a lovely colour they always make your outfits pop even more. As ever thanks for posting, stay safe. Shelagh XX

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    1. Hi Shelagh! Your idea for the blue plaque app is inspired, I was trying to find a list online but there only seems to be one for London and not for the rest of us.
      That fireplace was from a car boot sale years ago, complete with tiles. I love the colour of them. xxx

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  2. My jewellery is my armour too. I feel quite "exposed" without them on.

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  3. am smiling at shelagh above ref the tiles - still got my rolls for when the work from home ends and my desk becomes a tiled coffee table lol. I notice Jon is strumming some favourite tunes frequently - is there something cooking on the creative front for him I am wondering? I am interested to see what you are making on this sewing project. Apparently today was blue monday (according to our HR dept who reminded us we have funny farm support if required for black dog tendencies (I guess that's me then)... I think your docs and dress would brighten any blue monday!

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    1. You'll get round to using that tile Fablon eventually, I'm sure!
      Jon gets an idea in his head and it's like an itch he can't scratch, when he's happy he'll let me listen but while he's still working on it it's top secret!
      Blue Monday? I'm not surprised, such a miserable time of year normally but with lockdown and no planned holidays I think we're all on a bit of a downer! xxx

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  4. Ah yes, now, the controversial cammo jacket! Well, I have to concede and as I've said on more than one occasion, you'd look great wearing a tattie sack!!I must say, 'my bed' is looking spiffing these days! OMG! Spiral, I want to know what happens but I don't want to know. Don't tell me!!Have a good week. xxx

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    1. You are kind! Camo is a bit like denim, more than one piece and it can look a bit weird.
      I'm sad we've watched all of Spiral now but night we found a dreadfully unsettling Norwegian thriller series called Monster over on Walter and I'm itching to catch the next installment. xxx

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  5. After you mentioned The Serpent last week we binge watched the entire series over three nights. OMG what a good but terrifying series. It was so well acted.

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    1. Wasn't it compelling? I was so impressed with the acting and could hardly breathe at some points! x

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  6. I just love coming here and seeing your outfits and accessories! I think you are the only one who could beautifully pull off the camo with that dress. I love the Docs! I enjoy your historical discoveries and all the little peeks you give around your home too :)

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    1. I love you coming over to visit, Martha! xxx

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  7. My poem for Vogoff was about jewelry being armour! I love your quote, and I love seeing all your gorgeous Indian jewelry, Vix. Yay, you did your army camo jacket! It's fabulous!

    That sunrise is stunning. If only Vizzini would wake me up to one like that!

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  8. Your wear, sleep, repeat photos are so interesting -quite innovative. Camoflage is really popular here in New Zealand - weird as we only have a small army.

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    1. Thanks, Ratnamurti! In the days before the internet every country I visited had it's own fashion but these days it's a lot more homogenised. Camo is a popular festival choice - it doesn't show the mud! xxx

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  9. I lived in Boston in the 90s and spent far too much money at Urban Outfitters. It was wonderful then, not the garbage they sell today. I'd feel strange wearing cammo now, but times are different.
    Enjoying your repeated items.

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    1. I really liked Boston and Urban Outfitters blew me away. When it finally arrived in the UK it was nothing special, sadly. xxx

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  10. You've prompted me to show my own (poor neglected) houseplants some love today. The peace lily is looking rather dusty, although I'm happy to report my spider plant has birthed again :)

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    1. Great news on the spider plant! My Peace Lilly had a wilting fit last week, I'm moved it to another shelf and forgotten all about her! xxx

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  11. I decided to be a plant mommy and plant some of those cuttings that had taken roots a couple I’m not so sure about so I called my florist friend Sent her some photos and she said they would be fine. Paul won’t drill holes in the walls so I had to order some tension rods from one of the local shops who delivered them in 20 minutes!! hows that for service. Just need to put them up now.
    Love the outfit inspo. Sadly urban Outfitters is rather crap and tacky now I used to love it but now it’s meh!! We have one in ginza, but it’s so overpriced ! Love what you are making. Take your time you will love it more.
    Mum has ordered me some balloon trousers, I can’t wait for those to come. I haven’t had a pair of those since I was a teenager I saw them on the collusion website and I asked her and she said yup no problem!!
    I want to go to the park but we are told to stay at home, so I think I will. I don’t mind walking milo round the block but I don’t want to push it. Take care and keep safe

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    1. I love the term Plant Mummy! You inspired me to be a responsible parent and pot up a couple of cuttings I'd been propagating, fingers crossed they survive, I've never tried a Mother In law's Tongue before!
      That's amazing service from that shop.
      Balloon trousers, I had to google them but I know exactly what you mean. Here they're often worn with bare ankles, clumpy shoes, a French chores jacket and a docker hat, very hipster.
      Stay safe! xxx

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  12. Your blog posts are getting better and better Vix. The wear, sleep, repeat feature is really good, especially the layout of accessories.
    Like you and Jon we fortunate enough to have a house big enough to go our different ways for a few hours a day. Philip is busy in the garage getting the van and tools ready for sale, while I’m indoors faffing. I do worry about him getting cold though. He keeps coming back in to add another layer of clothing. He’ll look like Mitchell man eventually.
    Despite the history of that lovely Georgian terrace house I could live there. It’s stunning.
    I’m trying a zoom Pilates class today. Well I won’t be going anywhere it’s pickling down.
    Looking forward to your next post. Lots of love xxx

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    1. Thanks, Lynn! It's fun taking photos of my accessories, I've had most of them for years so it's like seeing them with fresh eyes.
      We are lucky to have enough room to crack on with our individual pursuits without getting under one another's feet, aren't we? I do feel for families in flats and wonder how on earth they stay sane. xxx

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  13. i´m eyeing you sewing project with curiousity!!
    the army jacket is cool, maybe i steal the BW´s norwegian camo jacket one day.... its a great way to break the style..... the challenge is very inspiring.... love both looks!
    today i mopped the kitchen and hallway - one can fill a sofa with the dustbunnies created by a very furry cat, a long haired and two woolies wearing persons... plus the coal dust and ash from the oven.
    stunning sunrise!
    stay warm and creative! xxxxx

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    1. It's coming along, whether it'll be wearable is another matter but it's good to switch off and just concentrate on stitching.
      It's scary where all this fluff and sut come from, Jon always blames me and the cats as he says that being bald means he doesn't shed like the rest of the hairy inhabitants of Stonecroft. xxx

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  14. Good morning Vix, another great post. The detail in your Indian bangles and earrings is amazing! (bet Sheila is loving the details). I love silver. I love your dramatic sky and I sure photographing such things makes you appreciate nature more . ( I went mad in summer lockdown taking pics). You can see from your montage how creative you have been with this challenge. Blouses under dresses hmm now there's an idea. The sewing project looks exciting and must admit I am swooning over those green tiles. Another amazing house near you you certainly live in an interesting neighbourhood. Have a lovely day. Shazxx

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    1. Afternoon, Shaz! I do love my silver. The house clearance man at the car boot sale always used to joke that Jon should sell me off for scrap metal and he'd be able to go and live in the Caribbean on the proceeds. xxx

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  15. Hi Vix - what a fascinating post. A great idea to go blue plaque spotting to spice up your walks. My car is in for its MOT today. I had planned to walk back (about 3 miles with a horrible brae, narrow pavement, fast cars) but it was really icy so I walked to the bottom of the brae and had my first bus journey in well over a year. Only two other passengers so very easy to spread out. Garage has just phoned with all the work required to pass the MOT. Oh dear. Auld claes and purridge for a considerable time! So interesting to see more of Walsall. Georgian architecture is my favourite. My friend lived in a Georgian manse and it was absolutely my dream home with its original features. She's moved to a newish architect-designed house now but it's not a patch on the Georgian splendour. Love Shelagh's idea of a blue plaque app! Not that there are many in my area. The famous son of Kirkcaldy, my nearest town, is Adam Smith, the economist.

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    1. Hello Catmac! Oh no, that's bad news about your car. Well done for braving the bus, I'm glad it wasn't crowded and too traumatic for you, the expense of the car is bad enough.
      I love the symmetry of Georgian architecture and get real pleasure in seeing the odd window bricked up to avoid the dreaded Window Tax.
      I thought Shelangh's idea for a blue plaque app was brilliant, such a good way of ebncouraging us to take a bit of exercise but still staying local.
      Adam Smith is a pretty good claim to fame, I studied his Wealth of Nations (1776) for my Political History A Level! xxx

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  16. I am the complete opposite to you in that I hate wearing jewellery, so much so that I even take off all my rings when I am in the house. I have even stopped wearing earrings in my pierced ears too ... so I am bare of accessories. You would be horrified ;-)

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    1. Noooo!!! I think my obsession comes from not being able to wear any jewellery at all during my years in corporate hospitality.You can hear me before you see me! xxx

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    2. Then that completely ruins all the effort with the camouflage jacket ;-)

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  17. Thanks for doing the detail photos. The jewelry looks even more beautiful that way

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    1. Thanks, Thorne! I'm very lazy with my outfit photos, must do better! xxx

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  18. Hi Vix Hope you don't mind me posting you this but Just saw this listing on Ebay and thought of you, STUNNING RASCH QUALITY WALLPAPER, ELEPHANT WITH MAHOUT INDIAN DESIGN. 6 ROLLS. think it could be perfect in your home.

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    1. Julie! I love you! That is absolutely gorgeous, I shall keep an eye on it, the middle room is in dire need of a makeover and that couldn't be more us! xxx

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    2. Glad you like it, let me know how you get on. fingers crossed

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  19. Unfortunately there are no blue plaques in the undistinguished town where I live, but I have been looking up the oldest buildings - cob cottages with unfeasibly low roofs - and some of the odd-looking bits then going and having a good look. Spiral feels like it's heading to a car-crash of misunderstanding and between it and Spooks - still working my way though - TV is getting rather stressful!
    I like seeing the details of your outfits, do keep that up please. Are you making an embroidered breast-plate during sewing sessions? Most interesting looking.
    Have you tried Naked Glory sausages for your weekend indulgence? They are less herby than Morrisons, and narrower, which I like. I've always preferred a chipolata (which for some reason always sounds to me like a line from a Carry On film). They're getting my vote for best for sausage sandwich replacement.

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    1. I had to investigate cob houses after reading your comment, Fifitr, as they weren't something I was familiar with. Now I know I want to see one in real life.
      You will be able to breathe after you've watched all of Spiral, honestly. The ending won't disappoint.
      I'm trying to make an Afghan dress using the scraps and braid in my stash, hopefully it will be wearable in the end but at the moment the seam ripper and I have a very close relationship.
      I've not heard of Naked Glory sausages so I've added those to next week's shopping list - thanks for that I do like a sausage (she says in a Kenneth Williams type voice!) xxx

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  20. I've lost count of the number of times I've run inside for my camera in order to catch one of those gorgeous sunrises or sunsets which seem to be extra spectacular at this time of year! Sunday's outfit is fabulous, I love how you've layered that Indian cotton maxi dress with the H&M William Morris pussy bow blouse! I'm once again swooning over those blue Doc Martens!
    If I wasn't convinced by the army jacket, you have certainly won me over with the outfit you've created with it. I know, I shouldn't have doubted you :-) Jon saying he couldn't find you in the bushes made me giggle ... I'm loving the brass bell & wood bead belt, and all your "stuff", as Sheila would say. I hardly ever wear rings anymore, with all the hand washing. I mistakenly wore one of my glass ones on a visit to the charity shop, only to have it slip from my finger when I applied hand gel.
    Your sewing project looks intriguing! I always have to remind myself there's no rush, but it's not easy to ditch the habits of a lifetime! xxx

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    1. Aren't these occasional dramatic sunrises a real boost? I'm not sure Jon appreciates me waking him up and demanding he watches them with me is always appreciated, though!
      Hurrah! I've helped you reconsider the humble camo army jacket.
      What a shame about losing your ring in the charity shop. xxx

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  21. This blue dress and shoes are really cool !! 💙💙

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  22. I really like your Wear Repeat challenge and I like spotting the repeat. The blue dress is a favourite of mine- so pretty! The Camo jacket is cool. I had some green camo combat trousers from the Army Surplus shop in my teens in the 90's and I loved them! The sewing is intriguing- I can't wait to see it finished!

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    1. We ought to resurrect the camo trouser thing, they'd be great for gardening, wouldn't they? xxx

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  23. The Covid Shuffle... now if that doesn't describe it perfectly I don't know what does! :) ~Andrea xoxo

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  24. Look at that sky! At least the sky isn’t always grey and dull in winter, even if the weather is.
    ‘It isn't jewellery, it's armour against mediocrity. Vix, 16/03/2015 ‘ I love that.
    I’m working on a visible mending project at the moment, it’s taking much longer than expected. It’s only a long sleeve t-shirt I picked up for £1.50, but now I’ve started I want to finish. And, like you say, there’s no rush.
    I think I know what your next Wear:Sleep:Repeat outfit is going to be :)
    xx

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    1. Isn't it wonderful? I run upstairs on glorious mornings like that one, throw open the curtains and demand Jon has a look, it really does make you glad to be alive.
      I'm looking forward to seeing your visible mending project. It's so tempting to rush things through, isn't it? xxx

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  25. The covid shuffle - It's just a jump to the left...and the a step to the right (I hope you've got your hands on your hips!) Its so true Vix, it describes it exactly.
    That sky is so dramatic, I love it and as I was still asleep at that time it's nice to see what the dawn looks like.
    Spiral had a great ending didn't it? Very satisfying I thought.
    Hope you're having a good week.xxx

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    1. Haha! That's what I keep singing to myself. The nice thing about it is that everyone smiles and makes conversation, like the last lockdown. we're all craving human contact that little bit more.
      I was so happy with the outcome of Spiral, I feared the worse! xxx

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  26. Great catch-up post and I am still loving the repeat outfit posts and pictures.
    We watched the last episode of The Serpent last night which was fabulous.
    We will have to start hunting around for another.
    I fancy Spiral but my husband doesn't want to go that far back to start at the beginning.
    It has rained solid here for 36 hours, I hope the sun is shining for you. X

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    1. Thanks, Jane! Wasn't The Serpent fantastic? We were gripped from the very start. We've just started watching a Norwegian Noir called Monster on Walter Presents, troubled characters and religious nutters and murder galore, give it a go!
      It's been vile here all day. I'm counting the hours till I can crack open a drink! xxx

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  27. I do love that blue dress; it must be among my favourites of yours, Such a lovely colour; adore the embroidered flowers and you always look so good in it! Fabulous jewellery and it's great to see close ups.

    If that was the sewing project on the dummy it looks very intriguing...

    Some lovely houses you have there in Walsall. I find it hard to motivate myself to go out when the weather is so crappy; but I did manage to get dressed, made up etc all for a trip to Iceland and Lidl to pick up a few bits!

    Take care
    xxx

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    1. Thanks, Vronni! I'd normally be wearing that dress in India but could bare to pack it away with my more summery stuff.
      Other than wheeling the bin out, posing for a photo and going into the Kinky Shed I've been nowhere today, I'm giddy with excitement for my walk tomorrow! xxx

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  28. Love your blue maxi both ways, so inspiring mixed prints!, the camo jacket is such an unexpected piece. So amazing that you loved camo so much back in the nineties!, I was dressed in black the whole decade!.
    Love your jewellery and your attitude, dear Vix. I miss wearing rings in public, but I have to use hand sanitizer so frequently that I had to give up on wearing them. Anyway, I'm wearing more brooches and stuff, to keep my mood high!
    I always enjoy some brick architecture and those blue plaques!
    besos

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  29. I was never much for wearing camo, but I remember spending a few summers in my 20's wearing army surplus shorts, black army boots and a tank top. With my extremely short hair, I got called a "dyke" quite often! I'm not wearing my accessories much, especially my rings which before COVID I would never think of leaving the house without. I have been making a point of changing out my earrings so I don't become a total frump.

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  30. I wore army boots in the 90s... it never really struck me at the time, but it was fairly normal for students to wear things like that. I guess it was all very hard wearing. Wearing camo's illegal in Barbados!

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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