Out and About

Evening, all! Hope all's well in your world. Here's what's been happening in mine since we got back from Tenerife.

 

The vintage Indian cotton block printed midi dress I'd found for €4 at the Puerto de la Cruz flea market was worn for swimming and our Spoons breakfast last Tuesday morning. Our boy has barely left our sides since we got home, he's cuddled up next to Jon in bed at night and he's even started sitting on my lap, gazing at me adoringly. 

 It was the annual Walsall Society of Artists exhibition preview at the New Art Gallery last Thursday which included several pieces of Liz's artwork including the fantastic Daft Punks behind her. The bag she's carrying is another of her creations, made from old teabags - possibly the coolest recycle ever. The exhibition runs until 2nd February, 2025 details HERE.

Before the exhibition we popped into The Light, Walsall's independent town centre cinema, to see Conclave which was every bit as gripping as Robert Harris's book. Robert Harris is such a great writer that he makes even subjects you haven't the slightest bit of interest in utterly fascinating (like religion!)

We treated ourselves to artisan pizzas, made from scratch in front of us along with a pint of Camden IPA.

I can't wait to see The Brutalist and Maria, both due for release in the New Year. 

This coat was waiting for me when I got home from Tenerife. I've had a hankering for a jumbo cord coat since falling in love with the one worn by Colin Firth, when he played Bill Haydon in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy back in 2011. I spotted this vintage beauty on Vinted and although the photos and description weren't great, at £7 it was worth a gamble. Jon found the fur collar in the bargain bin in the hospice shop for a quid. 

Worn with a block printed maxi dress and the fedora I'd revamped with a scrap of Morris &Co Golden Lily fabric leftover from my waistcaot project, this was last Friday's charity shopping outfit. 

On Saturday we met up with our Glastonbury gang for a curry and a few drinks over in the nearby village of Stonall - although a few drinks turned out to be a lot of drinks and we didn't get home until after 2am. No photos were taken but we had a brilliant time. Everything's crossed that we'll be back at Worthy Farm in June!

Wednesday was another night out. The weather was atrocious but I insisted on taking a few photos inside before we left the house.

Jon's wearing the Zara camo shirt he found in a charity shop before we went to Tenerife where it had several outings. He's got his slippers on in this photo but he didn't go out in them...honest!

This amazing fake fur vintage coat was a gift from dear friends Lynn & Philip and had originally belonged to Philip's mum. They were regulars at our stall at Stockport's Vintage Village and we didn't know them all that well when they gave me the coat, I was so touched by their kindness and always think of them when I wear it. It's very Cruella, don't you think?

This Barcelona-made maxi by NKN Nekane was an eBay buy three years ago and its my go-to going out dress. I love the huge sleeves and the hand-embroidered, sequinned details.

Due to our penchant for moody interiors you can't see my feet so here's my fabulous snakeskin boots (Vinted) and one of my tribal pendants.

We met Tony in 'Spoons, had a few beers and a pizza and, as the weather was so atrocious, got an Uber to Bilston, our destination for the evening.

I'd never been to The Robin before. Billed as the West Midlands' premiere 700 capacity live music venue, its been open since 1998 and even has a small hotel on the premises. 

Talk about biblical, the rain was so heavy the staff had to position wheelie bins to catch the water cascading from the ceiling!

The band we'd gone to see were The Icicle Works, who we'd last seen supporting Big Country in the early 1990s. 

Although Tony's a fan, the only song Jon and I could remember was Love is a Wonderful Colour, their hit from 1983 (HERE) but that didn't matter, frontman Ian McNabb & guitarist Chris Layhe, were on fine form, played a wonderfully chilled acoustic set and were on stage for over three hours before taking a seat at the bar and inviting fans to join them...We don't do VIP areas, all our fans are very important people to us. 

Another sitting down gig - that's two in two months, we're getting old! 

Proof that Jon didn't go out in his slippers, check out his new-to-him Grafters Monkey boots, so cool that he's had men chase him down the street asking where he got them from....Vinted, of course! 

The Robin has live music almost every night of the year. The following night East 17 were playing....if I'd known I'd have bought a ticket just to hear Stay Another Day....I love that song and secretly fancied Tony Mortimer (although not so much these days!)

My birthday present from Tony, a silver & turquoise bangle (my birthstone!) made in Athens and worn in Bilston.

On Thursday night we met up with the gang in The Avion, former 1930s cinema & Aldridge's branch of Wetherspoons, for a few beers. Jon and I got there first and managed to snag a table, a rare feat as that particular branch of Spoons is always rammed. A man came over to tell me how beautiful my hair was...thank you, kind sir! 

Our second curry in less than a week! And our dinner was just as delicious as it always is at Laboni. The boss gave us Xmas cards with January discount vouchers, something to look forward to in the New Year.

I wore the Egyptian Revival jewellery Jon bought me for my birthday.

The beads are made with faience, a ceramic made from quartz instead of clay and mixed with lime and copper. Although the seller listed it as 1970s, its more likely 1930s. 

The earrings are vintage Czech made from a broken Art Deco-era necklace utilising two rare turquoise scarabs and classic Neiger pinch beads. The ear wires are gold plated and feature a classic Art Deco fan motif. 

I didn't take an outfit photo on Thursday night but wore the same dress again today albeit with a hat, different jewellery and boots and my trusty Marks & Spencer purple vest. This is why I'm not cut out for Instagram, I wear my clothes on repeat! Incidentally the dress is from All About Audrey, bought with the proceeds of my Vinted sales and therefore technically free. 

New to me is this incredible fringed vintage suede bag with native American beadwork and silver studs - £4.50 from Vinted! 

 I'm obsessed with gold after watching Gladiator 2. Until I can find any two-thousand year old Roman pieces I'll have to make so with these bangles I found in a charity shop and the bits I've collected over the years. The Brutalist carved wooden ring was made by Mum in the 1960s.This brass pendant is a whopper. Its made in Jaipur by British contemporary jewellery brand, Tutti & Co and cost £1.45 from Vinted (unworn and in its original pouch!)

 

It what's known as Mad Friday here in the UK, when people break up from work, overdo it in the pub and fight in the streets or at least that's usually what happens in Walsall, the sirens have already started. I'm quite happy to have a night in front of the TV with a cat on my lap and a glass of rum in my hand. On the agenda tonight is the last in the current series of kick-ass shoot-'em-up British spy thriller Black Doves and last night's The Great British Sewing Bee, Celebrity Christmas Special (I don't do celebrities or Xmas but I do love sewing!)

Tomorrow marks the Winter Solstice, I'll be out after sun rise doing as I've done since I was old enough to wield a pair of secateurs and bringing in boughs of evergreen from the garden, festooning our home and putting the finishing touches to my Yuletide wreath. Have a cool Yule, dear readers! 

As I stand here on this celebration of Yule, the sacred wheel of the year has turned once again and it is now midwinter. As my forebears did, I do now, and so may my descendants do in time to come. It is the Solstice, the longest night and shortest day. Today I celebrate the return of the Sun. Since the summer, it has gradually become colder and darker, but from this time forwards, the days shall get longer and lighter and warmer again. The Solar year has run its course and completed its cycle and a new year begins, bringing light, life and hope to the earth.

Winter Solstice ritual (SOURCE)