William, It was Really Nothing

When I signed off on Tuesday we were off to celebrate Liz & Adrian's joint birthday and we did, with a trip to The Avion, Wetherspoon's Aldridge branch followed by a curry in Laboni. The boss surprised us with a huge chocolate and ice cream gateau...chin chin!

The following day Liz and I caught the bus to Birmingham. Although I usually catch the train to Brum, the bus stop is a five minute walk from our front door and the X51 (the express service) takes just 25 minutes.

We wandered through the very grand Great Western Arcade and had a drink in Coffee 200 Degrees on Colmore Row. 

Wednesday's destination was the Victorian Radicals exhibition at Birmingham's Gas Hall. It was my second visit (I went with my friend Annie HERE) and Liz's first.

I think I photographed absolutely everything the last time I visited but there's so much extraordinary beauty I couldn't help myself. Above are some Morris & Co stained glass panels.

I'd sell my soul for that middle necklace although I'd settle for the one on the right, featuring Ariadne and studded with huge diamonds. 

The colours in Henry A Payne's work make me go a bit giddy!

More delicious William Morris textiles.

I love The Keepsake by Kate Bunce so much that I bought myself a fridge magnet in the museum shop so I can see it every day. Those dresses, that bag, the hair!  

Updated for my friend Kezzie. Along with fellow artists, Henry A Payne and Arthur Gaskin, Kate Bunce was a lecturer at Birmingham College of Art. In this photo, taken in 1897, Kate is the second seated woman, on the right hand side (in a floral apron), the dark haired girl at her feet was her sister Myra and believed to be the model for both Musica and The Keepsake. 

  

When it was held in Birmingham in 2022, visitors to the Commonwealth Games were stunned by Birmingham's incredible architecture. It's of no surprise to those of us who worked in the city for years although there's always a tiny detail we've missed. The building above and the next but one I've photographed is The Birmingham College of Art.

Below is the Birmingham Institute, built between 1888 - 9 as a private member's library. In my previous life I was responsible for the fine dining at The Bank of England, also situated in Cornwall Street. 

 

It was Eid and most of the restaurants and cafes had huge queues. We ended up eating in the fabulously hip Faculty in Piccadilly Arcade. I loved that the pots of tea came with egg timers so we knew when the leaves had reached the optimum level of brewing! The mashed chickpea and dill sourdough sandwiches were absolutely delicious and huge.

After a wander around the shops (and being complimented on our outfits by all and sundry) we hopped on the bus back to Walsall and were drinking mugs of tea at our kitchen table 40 minutes late. Thanks for a fab day out, Liz - see you soon! 

On Thursday it was back to business as usual for me and my evil twin. For swimming & 'Spoons, I wore a vintage Indian Imports of Rhode Island maxi dress  (eBay, 2018), an Indian silk screen printed scarf and a Greek fisherman's cap.

Today (Friday) it's been an Anokhi maxi dress (bought from their Chowpatti Beach branch in Mumbai) with a Bhanuni by Jyoti embellished blouse and a vintage velvet waistcoat (both via Vinted) for a morning of charity shopping and an afternoon of laundry and sewing. 

Whilst we were out supposedly stock hunting it's inevitable we buy stuff for ourselves, too! 

My William Morris radar led me to two huge 1970s-era Sanderson door curtains in Golden Lily (designed in 1870) at just £3.95 each. My friend Lynne's suggested a coat similar to George Harrison's Granny Takes a Trip jacket. The man on the till said they reminded him of the crazy decor in his grandma's caravan back in the 1970s, which pretty much sums up my wardrobe!

This Indian terracotta incense burner (£1.50) is perfect for our dhoop cones.

The bone china Egyptian mug (£1) features a near identical necklace to the vintage Fattorini & Sons Egyptian Revival one Jon bought me for my 50th.

I do love a basket! I know three might be a little excessive but at £2 each it seemed like madness to leave one behind (and they do have pom poms and tassels)!

Do I need another pair of boots? I do when they're leather, they're vintage, they're a UK size 6.5 and they're priced at £2!

You know you're getting old when you start finding yourself drawn to Per Una but I couldn't resist this Italian-made wool & cotton scarf especially as it was exactly the same colours as my outfit and it was reduced to a quid! 

There's also a huge pile of vinyl (mostly 7" singles) which I'll share with you next time. 

The house is in chaos, we've got builders repointing the exterior and the ongoing middle room redo. Tomorrow we'll mainly be papering the ceiling. William doesn't know whether he's coming or going and is most put out that one of the workmen told him that he was a beautiful girl earlier.

Have a fab weekend and see you on the other side!