Wednesday 27 April 2022

We Can Work It Out

 


Hello! After sharing tales from my mispent youth I'm back with normal grown-up activities, no psychotic Mediteranean males, just cats, clothes and chat.


On Monday, after Wii Fit & breakfast I spent the day photographing and listing on eBay. I'm saving most of the vintage for festivals so a lot of the things I'm listing are contemporary pieces, although you can't get more 1970s than that glorious bikini, can you? Much as I love it, I prefer my beachwear a lot more skimpy.


The Dilli Grey maxi skirt got another outing, worn with a vintage Alpnani block printed blouse and a 1970s belt with a snarling lion buckle. I wore my Docs as I'd arranged to walk into town mid-afternoon and meet up with Kate, a friend from school. A family friend was having a clear-out and Kate had kindly rescued these two vintage crepe cocktail dresses from the bin.


Back in the eighties I'd have lopped a few inches off the hem and worn these early-1960s dresses out clubbing, accompanied by ripped-up black fishnets and eight-hole Doc Martens. Although they fit perfectly and I love the fringing on the San-Clair dress, I'm not that little black dress girl any more but I know I'll soon find someone who is.


After tea we started watching Borgen on the BBC i-Player, a Danish political thriller series which, for some reason, we've never seen. We were rivetted.



On Tuesday we swam for half a mile then treated ourselves to a Spoons breakfast. We looked around the charity shops, Jon bought New Order's Blue Monday on 12" vinyl (not that we haven't got at least three copies already) whilst I snaffled a Boden denim dress and a handprinted wraparound skirt for the stockroom. Back at home Ollie was waiting. We'd not seen any cats for days but I'd discovered Mr Trousers fast asleep on the doormat before we left home.


Dressing for the baths is always a challenge, no matter how cold it is walking down, I'm always boiling hot on the way back. Jackets have to be light enough to roll up and throw in my bag. Other than earrings, I don't usually bother with jewellery unless we're popping into Spoons and my hair is always up ready for the swimming cap. I swim in my Barry M kajal and mascara, they never budge.


This was my first Dilli Grey dress, snaffled from eBay for a knockdown price a year ago this week.


We'd skipped lunch and had an early tea as Jon was helping Al and Liz shift 2 tonnes of secondhand paving stones they'd bought online. There's only room for three in the works van so I stayed at home and read until Jon returned, filthy and knackered. We shared a can of Shipyard Ale and had an early night.


On Wednesday, after my Wii Fit workout, I wrapped the ebay sales, handwashed a couple of my Indian dresses and hung them out on the line to dry.


Mr Trousers paid us a visit and, once again, got off his tits on cat mint.


An overcast day at a pitiful 9°C, it was back to boots for me, which I wore with a vintage Indian gauzy cotton midi dress and an early '70s Anokhi jacket to do the post office run, buy a cycle helmet and try on some sunglasses. The gloom did have its advantages though, it was the perfect day for photographing black garments to list on eBay. 


We've taken out membership to the baths, paying a one-off fee which entitles us to unlimited swimming, use of the sauna, steam room and gym in all four of Walsall's leisure centres for a year. Membership works out at £30 a month for the pair of us - we're spending £20 a week on swimming so it'll save us loads of money even if we don't take advantage of the other facilities on offer. I used to love the gym but haven't been years and Jon's never ventured into one his entire life so I called and booked an induction for this afternoon (Wednesday). Jon's not keen but I can always go on my own if he decides its not for him - I'd love to get back six-pack and rippling biceps of my youth! 


I'm not sure what Jon's going to wear but I'm sorted, here's the £2 leggings & £1 vest I bought from the clearance charity shop on Sunday. There's always loads of women's workout gear in the chazzas, maybe it's because the donators feel like they can't keep turning up to the gym in the same outfit, not something that bothers me. 


I'm off to pump iron (or maybe not) then it's rum, cola and The Great British Sewing Bee. 

See you soon!

46 comments:

  1. Well done you on the swimming
    Hope the gym induction goes well

    Mr Trousers is rather magnificent, isn’t he
    Siobhan

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    1. Hello Siobhan, lovely to hear from you.
      The gym induction was great, the chap was lovely and gave us both a personalised plan - loads of useful tips to help Jon with his knackered knees. We had a workout and bumped into one of our Glastonbury gang. Take care! xxx

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  2. had done the same to this - fabulous - LBDs back in the 80´s/early 90´s..... today i still love a LBD - but in midi lenght like coco´s original.
    your first dilli gray is stull a stunner - love the coloring and the bold pattern!
    chapeau to your sporty ambitions! should take an example.... ahem.
    mr.trousers is so very cute!!
    xxxxx

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    1. Thanks, Beate. I like longer dresses these days, too. Maybe one day one of us will find a Chanel original at a flea market, starnger things have happened.
      The induction was really good. Jon was so intimidated when he walked in but did really well. Hopefully some strengthening exercises will help his poor old knees.
      Mr Trousers is so cuddly, I think he only visits us to be cuddled! xxx

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  3. How'd the gym session go? I bet you have a few aching muscles tomorrow.

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    1. It was really good, Cherie. The instructor tailor-made a plan to strengthen Jon's knees and walked us through every piece of equipment so we both knew what we were doing. My shoulders are aching already! xxx

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  4. That 1970s style bikini is glorious indeed and I can't believe how fabulous that fringed LBD looks on you. Still, I guess there's a time for everything, and your Dilli Grey and Indian block printed dresses, maxi skirts and blouses are so much more you! I particularly love your very first Dilli Grey dress: those colours are so gorgeously Springlike.
    Mr. Trousers off his tits on cat mint makes me think of our first cat, Poesie, who used to be the same.
    I've never set foot in a gym either, but then again I must be one of the least sporty people in the world. Nevertheless, I can't wait to hear how you both - and Jon in particular - get on. xxx

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    1. That bikini is a stunner - its been in my wardrobe for ages but I've never got around to wearing it, it deserves a better home! I'd love those dresses to go to a teenager just getting into vintage, they'd make fantastic prom dresses, wouldn't they?
      Mr Trousers make us laugh so much, he's so silly.
      Jon muttered "This is my worst nightmare" when he walked in the gym and saw loads of people on treadmills and lifting weights but the instructor was so lovely, he's given him a special programme to strengthen his legs and hopefully help his knees. I met a lovely lady who read my blog! xxx

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  5. Squeee! Sewing Bee!
    and I love Mr Trousers off his tits on catmint - that lovely far away look through his squinty eyelids is just perfect :)
    I am not a gym bunny however give me a hill side or a footpath disappearing into the distance and I am a happy bunny! Good luck with finding your 6 pack and rippling muscles from your youth - I'm still looking for my misspent youth, not had much luck (yet!) haha

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    1. I'm so excited about The Bee! That and Interior Design Masters are my favourite TV shows!
      Isn't that cat ridiculous?
      I'd love a hill side to climb up - sadly lacking in Walsall! I really enjoyed my gym session and once Jon was over the initial horror, he realised it wasn't too bad (helped by bumping into a couple of mates!) xxx

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  6. That first Dilli Grey dress is fabulous. Sounds like a perfect evening. Have fun. X

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  7. That must be the most glamorous going swimming outfit I have ever seen! I'm going myself on Friday - with my father-in-law who has recently forked out an arm and a leg to join a gym so he can use the outdoor pool. He gets a free once a month guest pass. We're the same as Jon - never set foot in a gym. I look forward to seeing whether Jon adds "gym bunny" to his list of bunny guises. :-D I agree with you about the fitness clothing. I smile at the number of women I see carrying bottles of water, in box fresh trainers and barely worn workout gear. Mr Trousers does make me laugh. He can't get enough of that cat mint can he? xxx

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    1. Yay! I'm so pleased that you're having a swim, there's nothing better for clearing your mind.
      The gym session was really good, I loved it and once Jon got over the intial horror of loads of people in sportswear doing active stuff, he quite liked it. I had to tell him to get off the exercise bike, he'd done 5 minutes more than the workout plan! xxx

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  8. Your bath/ gym membership is real value. Our Y has gotten so expensive it's hard to justify using it. Plus, the hours are too limited, and pool too small.

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    1. That's a shame that your leisure centre is expensive and the hours and facilities aren't great. We're really lucky here. For years we were named the Walsall Wobblies in the British press as we had the highest obesity rate in the country. The council went all out to encourage residents to exercise, with well-maintained gyms & pools at inexpensive membership rates plus free exercise classes and outdoor gyms in many of our parks. xxx

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  9. Borgen is really good. It helped me to understand a different form of government

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    1. We loved Spin, a French political drama. Highly recommended if you can find it. x

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  10. I think you will get your money's worth out of the full gym/pool membership, Vix. I am not a fan of gyms either, but having a strengthening routine is SUPER helpful as we get older. I've got an upper body and core routine that I've been doing for a couple of months and I've really noticed a difference in my posture (and my waist is even smaller!).

    I love seeing all the cool clothes you find - and wear! I'm so glad you rescued those dresses, and saw your comment above - I always hope that my old clothes/vintage goes to someone who'll be so excited about it.

    Mr. Trousers is so cute! Hee hee, "off his tits" is such a funny expression. Happy almost-weekend, Vix!

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    1. It made sense to take out a membership, Sheila. I want to be fitter and healthier in my old age. Swimming has made a difference to my posture in the five weeks we've been doing it and I feel so much more confident and happier. I really enjoyed the gym, it was a bit daunting at first but it was so welcoming and a lady came over and told me how much she enjoyed my blog - which made my night!
      I know you get as much pleasure as me when you find the right person to pass a garment on to.
      Mr Trousers is such a silly cat, he has me in stitches! xxx

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  11. So glad you joined the gym . I enjoy weights and do les Mills body pump class twice a week and some lovely swims. I's such good value having membership as I do all my olaplex hair treatment in the sauna or steam room with unlimited hot shower afterwards! Your dilly grey dress is so pretty and your gym wear is great too.

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    1. I took a leaf out of your book, I know how much you enjoy your gym visits. I saw that one of our gyms offers a Les Mills class, I wasn't sure what it was. I like the idea of the deep conditioning treatment in the sauna although the showers in our changing rooms can be very hit and miss! xxx

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  12. Ooh, the fringed black dress looks dreamy on you! Beautiful you!
    I must say that that 70's looking bikini is DEFINITELY me- I like that sort of larger bottom half! Sadly, it's an 8...my bum wouldn't fit!
    CRACKING up at cat getting stoned! He looks sooooo funny!
    I do love your beautiful Dilli Grey garments, especially the longskirt- it looks so good with a wafty blouse!
    The gym membership sounds super reasonable! Not so cheap round here sadly! You look good in activewear!x

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    1. Thanks, Kezzie! I'd have lived in that fringed dress a few years ago. I'd love it to go to someone who'll find loads of fun events to wear it to.
      That bikini is gorgeous - and it's never been worn! I found a skimpy non-vintage one in snakeskin in a chazza this morning, that'll be going on holiday with me very soon!
      Mr Trousers is ridiculous, can you believe that dazed expression on his furry face?
      What a shame your gym isn't affordable. Walsall doesn't have a lot going for it, but excellent sports facilities & great swimming pools are a plus point!

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  13. Hello Vix
    I’m playing catch up and dipping in quickly before we rush off to wait for the delivery of mums new bedroom furniture. The big move is Saturday and there’s still things to do despite being organised. It’s so good to catch up and read of your new swimming and gym routines. Well done both of you. I’ve managed a blog post and a little me time. Need to get on with the prep and sale of mums house after next week then hopefully life will be my own again after that. Lots of love from us two xxx

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    1. Hello Stranger! Good to hear from you. It sounds like you and Liz are going through exactly the same at the moment, with moving your Mums into retirement flats. Exciting for them, hard work for you! Hope it goes okay and you're able to have a bit of me time soon! Love to you both! x

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  14. I'm happy to hear of Mr Trousers and Ollie visiting again! Mr Trousers is very funny with his cat mint.
    I love how you paired those LBD with blue tights. It is fun seeing you wear them even if you won't keep them as they are not your thing anymore. The denim dress looks great on you too. That would sell in no time with the denim trend being on the rise.
    The block printed blouse and maxi skirt outfit is perfect on you.

    So great you're doing swimming. I think that's a good monthly price, even if you don't end up using all the facilities. I wish Mostar had more swimming options. The hotels pools here are ridiculously expensive. One of the things I miss about Split is the very affordable Olympic pool time. I don't like gyms. Maybe I just haven't found the one. Today I spoke with a friend whose daughter is a silk dance instructor. I might try that.

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! That cat is absolutely ridiculous, we love his visits!
      Those dresses are beautiful, so well made and stylish. The fringed dress has a boned bodice that gives small-busted girls lots of va-va-voom!
      Denim is back, isn't it? The production causes so much environmental damage that it makes sense to buy secondhand or shop your wardrobe, doesn't it? That dress I found would make a lovely duster coat, too - very versitile!
      Silk dancing is beautiful, what a lovely way of keeping fit. We're lucky with our leisure facilities. As I mentioned in my reply to Sam, we were the fattest town in Britain for a long time so the council made a real effort to offer good facilities at affordable rates. xxx

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  15. Good luck with the gym! It's my idea of hell and I've never been so I'm with Jon on that one...of course your leisure pass ticket makes sense. As I'm an oldie it only costs me 2.40 per swim; it's 4.90 if your not an oldie!

    Lovely Indian dresses and jackets and happy anniversary to the first Dilli Grey dress. I loved the 1970s bikini and if I wore bikinis that would be my type! The denim dress was gorgeous. I just relegated 2 to the donations bag; one maxi and one knee length. I need a fitted style and neither of these 2 were fitted and didn't look right on me. I'll keep looking and will find the perfect one - one day!
    xxx

    Mr. Trousers is hilarious and he did look really off his tits....

    So pleased 'Sewing Bee' is back; I always learn something every time I watch it.

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    1. The gym was really good - Jon grudgingly says that it's not as bad as he thought it would be. Even if he just uses the exercise bikes and leaves me to the weight lifting, at least he's being more active!
      It's £2.40 a swim for the over 60s here as well. I've got five years to wait for that!
      That bikini is so lovely but a bit too covered up for me. The denim dress is gorgeous, Boden denim is great quality, mind you, at the price it is on their website it needs to be!
      Mr Trousers is the maddest cat I've ever met. He only visits to get his cat mint fix.
      Wasn't Sewing Bee great? Loved the make of the week and the right person went home! xxx

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  16. I used to love going to the gym - years of flinging a burly motorbike about = strong girly; I can do free weights but the machines are far safer for (no balance) me at least!

    My goth heart of years-gone-by went pitter-pat at your black collection - I am sorely tempted by those winklepicker boots lol.

    Mr Trousers is an absolute darling.

    Take care all xxx

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    1. I love a strong girly - hopefully I'll be one if I stick at it!
      I don't like pointy toes but those boots are gorgeous, I was very tempted to keep them. Like I need more boots!
      Mr Trousers is insane, he's got whiskers like a Victorian gentleman! xxx

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  17. OMG!!! I just love your attitude!! Kajal and mascara whilst swimming.... not to forget that killer body.

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    1. One has to maintain one's standards, even when swimming! xxx

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  18. I am a little black dress girl, but nowadays I need a big black dress... I do go to the gym, but your gym wear is much more stylish than my 'cheapest gym tat in Matalan' ensembles. Yours looks fab.

    Mr Trousers looks like he's moving in with you - he seems so happy. Cats know good people.

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    1. I wear Souluxe leggings for my Wii Fit workout which I bought from a charity shop. When I googled them I discovered they were Matalan -they're really comfy and keep their shape brilliantly.
      I'm not sure what Mr Trousers wants, he doesn't eat much but loves rolling around on the rug with me! xxx

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  19. I think that you will soon have your biceps and 6 pack Vix because you look toned to me already x

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    1. Thank you so much, Flis! I always want more! xxx

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  20. Thank you, Vix, for reminding us that turquoise is not limited as an accessory to denim and Country-Western wear. Ye little black dress, black jeans, black anything! benefits from that infusion of vibrant blue. * Methinks you have acquired a floofy feline friend.

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    1. Thanks so much, Beth! I'll always try and squeeze a bit of turquoise into everything I wear even if it's nail paint! Our friend is very floofy! xxx

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  21. Abs on abs Vix! I love a little black dress, with wellies of course. Oooh, that Mr Trousers, someone should get him a dealer ;) I am saving the Great British Sewing Bee for a lazy afternoon after lots of heavy garden work. Hmmm, well that's the plan, we shall see xXx

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    1. Thanks Lulu! You will love the new series of The Bee. The hi-tops blew my mind! I did a course in shoemaking once but my creation was something I'd never want to wear (a black pointy shoe with a kitten heel - yuk!) xxx

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  22. I loved Borgen and am hoping there is another season. Looks like Mr. Trousers has a catnip problem ;). I stopped going to my gym when COVID struck and I haven't gone back since - I'm trying to get back to it but I know I'm so out of shape after two years of no workouts! Good on you and Jon for giving it a go.

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    1. We're up to season two of Borgen now but are giving it a break until we're back from our travels. i do love a bit of political intruige, even though we get it on the news most days! xxx

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  23. Always lovely to see you rocking in these Dilli Grey and Anokhi fabulous pieces, and shaking those fringes (even if not clubbing anymore).
    Mr.Trousers rocks!
    Blogger comments form is driving me nuts, sorry!
    besos

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    1. Thanks for endeavouring with the commenting, Monica! I hate it when Blogger changes things for no good reason! 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