Monday 27 March 2023

It's A Tragedy (and Other Stories)

 


Hola! Hope all's well in your world. Here's what we've been up to recently.


On Thursday, after a swim and a 'Spoons breakfast we went charity shopping in a nearby Birmingham suburb (as opposed to a Black Country town). This £3 River Island balloon sleeved denim jacket was a near perfect match with the Lee shirt I was already wearing so I kept it on and, to maintain a semblance of order in my capsule wardrobe, I donated one of my suede jackets to the Kinky stockroom.


What's the oldest thing you own? Mine's the brooch I was wearing on Thursday, whilst the silver mount is "only" Victorian, the ammonite is 450 million years old!


Friday saw yet another trip to Birmingham, this time to see the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's Greek Tragedy, The Penelopiad at The Old Rep Theatre. 


I can't remember the last performance I attended at The Old Rep but I was still at school and it would have been something I was studying for O or A Level, either William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer or John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. I certainly wouldn't have been able to (legally) enjoy a glass of wine during the interval like we did on Friday!


Famous actors who have trod the boards included Lawrence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, Derek Jacobi, John Gielgud, Julie Christie, Toyah Wilcox and Brian Cox.


Taking my lead, Lord Jon also purchased some Vooglam frames and had his prescription lenses fitted at Specsavers (he's been wearing varifocals for years), picking them up on Tuesday. I reckon he could get a job on The Repair Shop as Jay Blades's double HERE.


Cut into a dark corner of Hades in the year 2023, is a door into the heart of a story we haven't heard before: that of Penelope - ancient Spartan Princess, Queen of Ithaca, wife to the trickster Odysseus. Tired by millenia of stories lauding her husband's exploits from the interminable male perspective, Penelope is stepping up to set the record straight and spin a yarn of her own. But her side of the story can only be heard if we  also hear the motley and piebald stories of her maids, who suffered the ultimate cost for their loyalty to this fabled queen....


The book is amazing and I wasn't sure if a theatrical adaptation would do Margaret Atwood's writing  justice but needn't have worried, the performance, by an all female cast, was magnificent and received a standing ovation. Several of us wiped tears from our eyes as the curtain fell.


We walked across town from Station Street to the Indian Brewery on Livery Street, where Nikki and I often have lunch on days out. Jon hadn't been before and was very impressed with the Masala fish and chips and fantastic range of Birmingham-brewed craft beers. I went for a Fat Nan (spiced aubergine and potato with coriander, capiscums, tamarind sauce and sev).




 Despite the ongoing bus strike the Walsall-bound train wasn't busy and, after a brisk walk back up the Hill of Doom, we had a few rums and tuned into the final part of Canadian thriller, The Wall: Cover Your Tracks (French with subtitles) which, after a decent start, ended disappointingly. We started watching Maestro in Blue, a Greek series in Netflix filmed on Corfu and Paxos. The scenery was gorgeous but the plot didn't thrill us.


Despite dire warnings of torrential rain and a sharp frost, Saturday turned out to be dry and sunny - if a bit on the chilly side -  and we spent the day in the garden. My visit to Winterbourne with Nikki on Wednesday got me in the mood. After months of neglect there's loads to be done but at least we've made a start.


I planted the Candytuft in the chimney pot when we bought Stonecroft in 2005 and it returns every year (sometimes blooming twice). I snaffled a sprig of the Euphorbia in the foreground during one of our lockdown walks (remember them?) and it's huge.


That week back in December when the temperatures dropped to -12°C killed off several of my cyclamen, this one's hanging on.



Vintage horseshoes awaiting a coat of Rustoleum - unearthed by detectorist, Rob. His sister, Liz, bought me the barrel for my birthday, Jon filled it for the first time to check it was watertight - it is! We've since added a solar fountain.


We tidied borders, emptied out dead plants and weeded between the cracks in the Staffordshire blue bricks. The house is south facing and with the sun out it was warm enough to take off my cardi.








The herb bed was looking rather sorry for itself a few weeks ago but seems to have sprung into life ....Greek oregano, pineapple mint, black peppermint, lemon balm, carraway, thyme and chives have all survived. I'll add parsley, coriander and basil when the danger of frost has passed.


I sorted out the terracotta pots....


Under the watchful eye of young Mr William Woolberforce. (Did you spot Jacob?)


The evening was spent in the company of the magnificent Idris Elba watching Luther : The Fallen Sun, currently on Netflix and written by Neil Cross, the scriptwriter for the Luther TV Series as well as for Spooks. The end was so intriguing, if you've seen it let me know what you think.


Officially the first day of Spring, Sunday was bitterly cold and although we'd planned to pick up supplies from Aldi we ended up just calling into the clearance chazza and deciding to make do with what was left in the fridge/cupboards.


I wore a vintage Adini dress and my bruise-coloured leather coat and wished I'd stuck a polo neck underneath it...bloody weather! 


We spent the rest of the day listing stock on eBay (me) and working on Gilbert (Jon) before watching the England match with half of a Lidl sour dough pizza and a beer. Go boys! The rest of the evening was spent with season three of the brilliant Finnish subtitled cop thriller, All The Sins on Walter Presents.


Monday was bitterly cold, again! I normally have to peel off my sweatshirt midway through my workout but it stayed put this morning. After breakfast we popped over to our favourite Black Country town for a spot of charity shopping. The stockroom's full to bursting but we need to keep at it in readiness for the festival season (three confirmed so far!)


I wore one of my Dilli Grey dresses and trusty Afghan coat.


The manager of Banardo's worked for Selfridges for 14 years and her window displays are always fabulous. Unfortunately the glass was far too reflective to do her artistry justice but I loved those paper flower heads and the optimistic nod to Spring even if it still feels like the depths of Winter! Unlike most of the Banardo's shops she's dispensed with the hateful colour coordinated rails and organises them in clothing type instead (shirts, knits, tee shirts etc.,) I emailed the charity to tell them how much better it was. Who in their right minds goes charity shopping thinking "I must buy a pink top today?"


The rest of the day has been spent washing, ironing and eBay listing (me) whilst Jon's attempted to tackle the pond (very carefully as there's already frogspawn in there).

Here's this week's charity shop finds...


Clockwise from top left: 2016 Adidas track top; handmade cable knit jumper; 1970s travel bag; 2 x chores jackets;1980s beaded belt; Chinese embossed silk duster coat; Rocawear jacket, Jay Z's clothing label; 2 x chores jackets; 1980s ski suit; 1980s patched high waisted jeans; Italian 100% linen jumpsuit; 1970s Lesuede leather jacket; Raw denim jacket by Blackblue with tags attached; 1980s spotty tea dress; 1980s Wallis midi skirt; Cath Kidston London Bus duvet set (for a dressmaking project); 1970s French cortelle jumper; Moss Bros collared waistcoat; Pop Boutique cotton fine knit; Spray painted jeans; 1970s Kangol straw hat.


1980s St Michael camel hair & wool jumper; 1980s St Michael novelty print shirt; 2 x 1980s washed silk shirts; owl tapestry jacket; Adidas tee shirt; 1970s wool waistcoat; Leather Converse hi-tops; Joe Browns novelty print shirt; 2 x vintage hand knits; Levis Western shirt; 1970s Hardy de Paris tank top; 1970s wool waistcoat; 1970s embroidered cotton kaftan; Lands' End embroidered cotton midi dress; Greek Kori-style woven maxi; Puffed sleeve Indian cotton jumpsuit


I'm making mushroom pesto pasta for tea and then that's it, the fridge is officially empty (apart from wine!) I hope Lidl have some Waste Not boxes when we've had our swim and Spoon's breakfast tomorrow.

See you soon.

45 comments:

  1. It's lovely to get back into the garden again! I did a bit of planting up of bulbs last week but our garden needs a massive clear up; we have run out of time and will have to do it when we get back from Ireland. OH is hoping to get a few hours in after work; now the evenings are brighter for longer but it depends on the bloody weather...

    Loved your outfits and the chazza finds were marvellous. I loved the Greek maxi dress in particular.

    We are well overdue a theatre visit; I wish we could afford to go regularly. OH's niece and her partner are actors and there's something of theirs we want to go and see in June.

    I was interested in what you said about Barnardo's. Your shop must have a supportive area manager to be able to go their own way. We've asked ours to drop the colour coding but they won't; saying its charity policy. It drives me nuts. And it drives me nuts when I'm chazzing shopping, too!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's just been too wet or cold or windy to do much outside, hasn't it? It certainly looks a lot better now all the dead things in pots have been removed. I'm looking forward to getting my geraniums back outside and treating myself to a few bits from the garden centre when the danger of frost is over.
      That trip to Ireland has soon rolled around, how exciting!
      Isn't that Greek dress lovely? I was gutted it wasn't my size.
      Its such a treat going to the theatre. Birmingham Old Rep's tickets are between £10 - 14 so not a lot more than the cinema. We're off again later this week, Liz bought us tickets for Xmas.
      The Banardo's manager has been pleading with the powers that be not to colour code the stock and they decided to give it a chance. With her years of experience in high-end retail you must be a bit of a catch for the charity, the shop always looks fantastic. I can't do colour coded chazzas, I lose interest after the dresses and skirts! xxx

      Delete
  2. That jacket with the balloon sleeves..amazing find!
    I am craving a pizza. The show sounds great.
    I haven't seen Luther.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Hena! Home cooked pizza is a staple in this house, especially with a beer.
      Luther is one of the BBC's best ever cop dramas but not for the feint-hearted, it's very scary! xxx

      Delete
  3. We watched Luther - there was much shouting Wotcha, cheers for the big tweed overcoat and wishing that they'd bring Alice back please. DSU Martin Schenk stole it lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've been shouting Wotcha at each other ever since! It was good to see the tweed coat and the knackered Volvo again (and Idris!) We miss Alice. Schenk's brilliant. The ending! Are those 007 rumours true? xxx

      Delete
  4. I remember all the work you put into your garden and yard during lockdown - I bet it wasn't too bad to clean it all up again, as you'd done the groundwork so well back then. I spotted Jacob! The black kitty is so lovely. Heh, I see a couple of Adidas in your thrift hauls - have I been influencing you? :D

    I looked at that Luther on Netflix, but they don't have any of the actual shows there. FYI, most Canadian-produced shows are shite and best to avoid!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Garden's not quite as bad as it was before lockdown - thank goodness. Isn't William a beauty? He's an unneutered male and is so loud and shouty but loves being picked up and cuddled.
      It's Jon who's the Adidas fan. I do have one top in my collection though, it was Sarah Jane Adams who made me start looking at them in a new way but you always look inspirational in yours, too! (https://vintagevixon.blogspot.com/2022/03/buy-buy-baby-week-in-secondhand-finds.html)
      It's a shame you can't get Luther, the TV series but I think the film works without having watched them. Idris Elba is mesmerising and London looks incredible!
      We loved Cardinal - that was an amazing Canadian cop thriller. xxx

      Delete
  5. Oh, and LOVE Jon's new specs! So fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The girls in the opticians were all trying them on, they loved them too! xxx

      Delete
  6. I'm assuming Margaret Atwood's Greek Tragedy, The Penelopiad. Was a play. Last play I went to was "The Play That Went Wrong"
    Coffee is on and stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we went to the theatre to see it. I don't know The Play That Went Wrong. We're going again on Thursday, friends bought us tickets for a different play for Xmas! xxx

      Delete
  7. There are a few items of clothing which I have owned for at least 30 years, and a large piece of 40 million year-old amber in a pendant, which is a trifling youngster compared to your ammonite.

    Well done for getting in the garden - same here. So frustrating that it's been too wet or cold or windy to get out for what seems like weeks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't owned anything made from amber, just some copal beads its poor cousin!
      I'm itching to get more done in the garden but the weather just won't play nicely. I'll have to make do with sewing a few more seeds on the windowsill! xxx

      Delete
  8. Looks like you've enjoyed an altogether fabulous weekend. I must check out those Vooglam glasses, I keep saying I will, but don't get around to it. When my 1 pair of glasses breaks and I can't see well enough to drive, then I'll remember! Your garden is fabulous. Alas my little yard is north facing, so it only gets little slivers of sunshine early in the morning and late at night, and at the moment there's no sunshine in Scarborough for it to get anyway! Even so, I'm sure it will buck up soon. Have a good week, good luck with your Lidl box :) xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It wasn't bad at all! Our garden is south facing but when all the trees are in leaf it might as well be underground. The weather's equally dire here, too. It always seems worse after the clocks change.
      Get those glasses sorted (or at least order the frames). I'd hate for you not to be able to see to drive!
      Lidl box sorted! xxx

      Delete
  9. Your garden looks amazing - I didn’t realise you had such a fab outside space. Love the collection of clogs - essential outdoor footwear back in the day. I would love to see the play. I have just this morning finished reading The Women of Troy by Pat Barker for book group on Monday. The beauty of Pat’s writing is all in the atmosphere I find which allows the reader to fill in the detail. I am sure you have read it too. Your days are so full Vix and I love reading about them especially on a rainy day like today. I wonder what you are going to make with the bus duvet? Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Sarah! Those clogs amuse any children walking past on their way to the infants school around the corner. Our garden's a constant battle, there's so many trees (and 14 with protection orders on them) so when everything's in full leaf it's like living in a forest. The Autumnal leaf sweeping certainly keeps me fit!
      I loved The Silence of The Girls. I've downloaded The Women of Troy to save for our next trip to Greece and amd resisting the urge to read it now. You're right, Pat Barker's a wonderful writer, I've never been disappointed with anything I've read by her.
      Yesterday's filthy weather meant a day with the bus duvet and the sewing machine, all will be revealed soon! xxx

      Delete
  10. No chance of continuing with our garden chores and projects last weekend, as we had three days of almost non-stop rain :-( Of course, now that I'm back at work, the sun is shining!
    Loving the balloon sleeved denim jacket, your ammonite brooch, and Jon's new glasses. And all of your brilliant outfits of course, my favourite being the last one: the Dilli Grey and Afghan coat.
    I'm hearing you on the colour coding in the chazzas. Most of ours are the same, although they do group by clothing type and size as well. So, basically, they've got a rail of colour coded skirts in size S, then it all starts again in size M, etc. Some shops even have labels with the colour name printed on it. For the colour blind, perhaps ...
    I haven't been to the theatre since my school days either! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here! After Saturday's sunshine it's back to the incessant rain...grrr! All that hard work will be in vain if i can't get back in the garden soon!
      Colour coding and sizing sounds like an utter nightmare. A lady in a charity shop asked me what size I was after the other day and I looked at her askance - I told her I'll buy anything if I like it, I'll always find a way of making it fit!
      Liz & I usually buy us theatre tickets for Xmas so we go annually but it was the first time we'd seen something intellectual as opposed to frivolous (that's tomorrow night!) xxx

      Delete
  11. I saw that production advertised somewhere and meant to tell you. I should have guessed you'd be on it. Glad it lived up to expectations.
    We made a start on garden tidying yesterday in the sunshine. Bliss! I love your vintage horse shoes and your terracotta pot collection is huge!
    We are so behind on Luther. Somehow that series passed us by and every time we try to catch up, the series disappears. I think it's back on iPlayer so will try and make time for it as we liked what we saw.
    Fabulous outfits Vix - your Afghan coat is a thing of beauty, as is that amazing window display. I wish more charity shops would follow suit and get creative with their displays.
    You've had a great chazza haul this week. If ever you spot any decent jackets or tops in XL, let me know. Gareth's got quite broad shoulders and tends to opt for XL, but there's rarely anything good in his size! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet you got the SFF email - that's how I heard about the Penelopiad. It really was excellent.
      It feels good to get a bit of work done in the garden. I was planning to tackle the last clump of bamboo but the weather hasn't played nicely at all.
      Luther will blow you away, it'll leave you speechless and Idris Elba is utterly captivating as the troubled detective. It is back on the I player, I'm tempted to watch it again but I'm not sure my nerves will take it!
      I've been so grateful for the Afghan lately but I'll be glad to cast it off and switch to lighter stuff - come on Spring!
      You need to come and have a rummage in the Kinky Shed, that's if you can squeeze inside it! xxx

      Delete
  12. I love her window display, you can tell she's ex-Selfridges. Yep, I used to hate having to 'colour-block' my rails at the charity shops I worked for. And training new managers to colour-block and size organise was sometimes quite hard work. We always had to choose two colours per 'carousel' and another 'pop' of colour to highlight them.

    It's lovely seeing Jacob out and about, although he's sensible to keep to some shelter with this changeable weather. Does he just live outdoors or is he an inside and outside little friend?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She's got such a good eye, the shop was absolutely shocking before she took over. I don't get that colour-blocking idea at all, when something's put back ion the wrong rail it must drive the staff mad, it's bad enough if someone puts a coat hanger the wrong way round in our festival shop!
      Jacob's still only going out for a few hours a day (temperature permitting).When the threat of frost is over he'll spend all his time outside. xxx

      Delete
  13. Hi Vix. Fab post. Thanks for the tip off about The Indian Brewery. That food looks great and have just been looking at the menu online. We were in Livery Street the other weekend but the other end so missed that but definitely next time. That window display is brilliant. Agree about the colour coding of rails. I went in a charity shop the other day and it was done just on clothes sizes. So much easier and refreshing. Desperate to get in the garden. Roll on the warmer weather! Love all the terracotta pots! Louise (Midlands) X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Louise! I wonder where you went on Livery Street! We walked past the OCs on Friday and I though of you as you'd mentioned popping in the other day, it was rammed!
      The Indian Brewery is fabulous, the quirky soundtrack will keep you in there for ages. The Chaart Attack is amazing if you aren't hungry enough for a Fat Nan!
      Now I've made a start on the garden I'm desperate to do more but the weather's been abysmal, hasn't it? xxx

      Delete
  14. I'm always saying "I'll buy food tomorrow". Then tomorrow comes.... and I have nothing edible!! Sigh, The follies of the single woman.... Looking forward to seeing how your garden bursts forth in spring and summer. It was an absolute treat following your gardening during lockdown.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! That's me! lived alone for years - I dated Jon for almost ten years before we moved in together, I've still got the empty cupboards and fridge of a single woman! xxx

      Delete
  15. I love your bruise coat and your afghan coat. Your Dr Barnardos chazza has a lovely window display, I prefer the ones that don't do good displays to be honest as they are less conspicuous and there's more chance of me finding something wonderful! BIrmingham looks like a great place to spend time, I wonder if I can pursuade hubby to take me on a trip. We have such a long list of places we want to go...... We saw a tortoise the size of your Jacob whilst away - we were surprised how fast these creatures can move! Betty (Elderberry-rob)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Betty!
      Birmingham's fab, there's so much to see and do and it's really friendly, too. Not quite as exotic as India but plenty of fabulous curries!
      Much as I don't want too much competition in the chazzas if they don't get enough customers through the doors they won't reach their targets and they'll get shut down - this one's already threatened with closure.
      I love seeing tortoises wandering about in the wild, there were lots in Gujarat, too. They don't half go when the sun's on them! xxx

      Delete
  16. The theatre looks very well looked after. Bettany Hughes has a new prog on Saturday nights and I'm sure she mentioned Penelope in last week's prog. Fed up buying foodstuff that increases in price almost daily! When are prices going to come down we wonder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't watched the new Bettany series yet, I must get on to it! I hate to be a pessimist but I can't see food prices ever going down now. Fingers crossed that Lidl keep doing veg boxes or I can see a lifetime of existing on turnips! xxx

      Delete
  17. Hello Vix, oh how lovely to go to a good theatre show and enjoy a glass of vino in the interval! Jon looks like he's straight off The Repair shop. They need to get him in as a van tinker specialist. Seeing your garden again, I've just realised how much I've missed seeing it over winter. Hopefully the blue bricks will warm up soon & you'll be able to barefoot it around again :) xXx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. p.s. As per usual, I am terribly behind on blog reading. I spy that I've missed some good'uns so shall have to return to check them out.... xXx

      Delete
    2. You and me both, bab! I'm having an epic catch-up whilst Jon prepares tea!
      I love gardening and I'm ashamed of what a state it's in! xxx

      Delete
  18. I love the sound of masala fish and chips. It'll soon be warm enough to display your gorgeous clothes in amongst the spring flowers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jon said it was delicious - even better than Spoons' (and with a more attractive clientele!) xxx

      Delete
  19. I'm with you on the colour coordinated racks. The chazzas are like boutiques round here. Your theatre trip sounds wonderful. I haven't been to anything like that.in years. Arilx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Colour coordinated racks go into Room 101 along with Primark, fast food chains & people who swim widths! xxx

      Delete
  20. It's good to know some of your plants survived the cold - it seems to have killed all sorts of things off. We lost a cordyline, and we're still waiting to see if the pomegranate bonsai survived. At least it looks like the days have been bright and clear, if cold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think there's been a national mass murder of cordyline, ours is on its last legs and all of the ones in neighbour's gardens are looking half dead. I've given ours a haircut and shall see what spring brings! xxx

      Delete
  21. Vix ,John looks like drew from salvage hunters in the first photo lol xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Atwood is an amazing writer, I imagine it's hard to do her justice when it comes to adaptations of her works....one more reason to welcome adaptations.
    Your garden is wonderful!
    Love all the outfits. :)

    ReplyDelete

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