Shelling Out

 

We have an injured tortoise! I won't traumatise you with the details but the vet reckons poor Jacob has probably been attacked by a rat. After a series of antibiotic injections administered by the amazing Vets 4 Pets team and daily baths and veterinary grade manuka honey ointment administered at home by Jon, he's gradually getting better and should be outside and in his pen after ten days of being housebound very soon.

My grandparents bought him for me in 1975 - that's me, Mum & Marcus admiring him outside Stonecroft (the house we live in now) when I first got him. 

The vet's bill ran in to a few hundred quid but when you think that he cost 50p from a pet shop in The Cotswolds and has never had to visit a vet in the fifty years I've owned him, he's been pretty good value.

Tortoise crisis aside, our week - so far - hasn't been particularly dramatic. On Sunday morning we went swimming and after a visit from Liz & Al who stopped off for coffee mid-cycle ride, we spent the rest of the day doing festival prep. Remember the wildflower meadow we planted during lockdown? It's looking pretty good after 5 years! Our neighbours love it. 

Already vintage when I bought it, this Pakistani block printed kaftan is now in its eighth year of my ownership.  

The Indian kantha bag was from the Singh family's haberdashery stall on the indoor market.

On Monday morning, with the majority of our prep done, as a reward we took ourselves charity shopping. 

Although the temperature was hardly what I'd call tropical, I wore my All About Audrey (via Vinted) crushed velvet wrap dress without a coat over the top. A lady came over to chat, telling me that she knew I'd be worth talking to as anyone who dressed like me was guaranteed to be an interesting person. 

In amongst the ferns in my garden I'm almost invisible! 

We found some decent vintage bits and pieces, now laundered and in the stockroom. Jon found this huge guitar book for £4 which is selling online for $120! Not that it'll be going anywhere. 

I was starting to run dangerously low on books. These were 2 for £1 and should keep me occupied for the next few weeks. £3 well spent! 

We went swimming this morning and, contrary to the weather forecast, got absolutely soaked on our walk into town. But, by mid-morning, it was glorious.

The Yucca was pulled out of the bins at Glastonbury in 2022, he's called Bruce in honour of Springsteen who appeared on stage with Paul McCartney the previous evening.

 

 

I spotted this tee shirt on a chazza shop £1 rail yesterday. I normally recoil from this fast fashion label like a vampire does from sunlight but you know how I love a bit of cowgirl chic! I'm sure the fashion police would be outraged by a 58-and-a-half-year old woman walking around the town in a crop top but I've got a six pack and I'm not gonna hide it....

My iconic Frye Campus boots were an eBay find in 2017, they were new in their original box with the £335 label - I paid £35. They're my go-to boot for our stall build and break-up as they're so sturdy. 

After a bit more festival prep I shed my clothes and spent the rest of the afternoon in my bikini. 

Better dash, the second half of England Vs Senegal friendly has just started. Speak soon!