Power To The People!

Source

 Yesterday we took to the streets to protest against the council's decision to close Walsall's Leather Museum (again!). Council leader, Mike Bird (seen telling a campaigner to "shut up" HERE), has claimed that the museum, housed within a Victorian leather factory, is not financially viable and that the council can no longer afford the running costs so, in their infinite wisdom, have purchased a derelict building at the cost of £745,000 in which to rehome the collection. Unlike the current premises, the former shop has no revelance to the leather industry, the council will need to spend even more money to fit it out and it may take up to TEN years before it opens to the public. 

If Mike Bird has his way, in less than a fortnight's time, Walsall's last remaining heritage asset will be gone. 

In a campaign spearheaded by local fashion designer, leatherworker and absolute legend, Lauren Broxton, two hundred concerned residents met in the shadow of the statue of Sister Dora (another Walsall legend) and after rousting speeches by, amongst others, Lauren and our brilliant MP, the Rt Hon. Valerie Vaz who has succeeded in getting the building a Grade II Listed status (although a reform councillor tried to take the credit - and yesterday was conspicious by his absence) , we marched up Park Street to the sound of Billy Bragg's There is Power In A Union and, emulating the women of Greenham Common, joined hands and formed a human chain around the Leather Museum. 

You might be able to spot Jon, Liz, Al and me HERE

This is what I wore for an afternoon of hail, wind, sunshine and rain followed by a few hours in Wetherspoons. A 1970s Louis Caring maxi dress, a vintage suede coat and an Aldo wool fedora bought from a charity shop 12 years ago. 

@vixbrearley #50andovertiktok #1970saethetic #vintageclothing ♬ Power To The People - Ultimate Mix - John Lennon

The previous day (Friday) we went for our third swim of the week. We're getting used to the new baths although we still haven't found the showers! 

My TikTok gang keep asking about my jewellery so I filmed it. 

@vixbrearley #jewellery #vintageclothing #1970saethetic #50andovertiktok #maximalist @All About Audrey ♬ Rooms on Fire - Stevie Nicks

I found this cotton All About Audrey kaftan on Vinted last year for £4. Although I've worn it around the house, Friday was the first time I'd ventured outside in it. I think these "Goddess" dresses are designed for women with substantial bosoms as the hem dips at the front on those of us less well blessed. It took a lot of swearing before I managed to cut and hem it so it hung right but it was worth the effort!  They're the perfect effortlessly dressing dress.

 On Thursday, after a visit from Liz, we walked into town as I needed a few bits and pieces although I came home without the main thing I wanted, some gel insoles for my new-to-me Missoni X Converse ( I really ought to write a list!) Needless to say, we popped into the charity shops as we'd not been in them for days due to the swiming pool being out of action and, of course, everyone wanted to know where we'd been all week!

I wore the wool Bus Stop maxi skirt I'd bought from Vinted a couple of weeks ago along with my Ayesha Davar cheesecloth blouse and the Kuchi pendant I'd recently bought. 

@vixbrearley #1970saethetic #vintageclothing #vintage #50andovertiktok ♬ All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan

On Wednesday, this idiot will have been living with us for three years. Look at his milk beard! 

He's such a lap cat, he absolutely loves his fuss.

Today (Sunday) might be the first day of Spring but it feels anything but. I was excited to see the bluebells starting to pop up when I walked down to the compost heap earlier. 

There's signs of growth on the apple tree, too.

And it's always a joy to see the forsythia.

The poor magnolia got a right old battering with Wednesday's hail and high winds. 

But luckily, we've got another one in a gorgeous dusky pink.

 It felt like a day for jeans, the Free People "Jayde" flares I bought from Vinted , teamed with a 1970s Indian cotton blouse (Vinted, 2024) and the Jesus Saves belt (made by the Baron Brass Buckle company in the 1970s).

This weekend we've been watching Russian Doll, an insane black comedy starring the mesmerising Natasha Lyonne who plays a video game designer who keeps dying on her 36th birthday only to find herself reicarnated at the same party, destined to relive her death day in all of its glorious varierties again and again and again. Oh.my.god....it is so f**king good! 

See you soon! 

 

Mile High Club

 Good afternoon! After only swimming once last week, on Monday we visited one of the borough's other pools, going back today as the technical issues at the Gala show no signs of being sorted and, as usual, I'm basking in my post- one-mile swim euphoria.

Faced with trepidation I wore my comfort blanket aka my beloved 1970s Pakistani kaftan, bought from eBay eight years ago and still as vibrant and beautiful as ever. Wearing this I feel ready for anything!

Tuesday was a morning spent pottering and, with all our tasks ticked off the list, we headed over to Birmingham to visit a couple of our regular chazzas.

After last week's False Spring it was back to the Winter layers. I've been on this planet for almost 60 years and I'm not daft enough to pack away anything just because the calendar says it's spring. If you've been following me for a while you'll be familiar with my vintage 1960s Indian velvet maxi dress, green wide brimmed hat and my witchy sleeved velvet jacket, like old friends they emerge from the depths of my wardrobe year in and year out.

We snaffled a few decent bits for the Kinky rails and I was delighted to find the Cancer UK bookshelves groaning with "uncorrected proof" paperbacks (books sent out by publishers for review). Many years ago I had a journalist friend who edited the literary section of a well respected broadsheet but he couldn't keep up with all the books he was sent so used to pass them on to me to review, my name never appeared in the paper but I used get a real kick from seeing my thoughts in print!

Jon loves Pendleton and adores tea so he was pleased to spot this large Pendleton mug for £1...it passes his exacting standards and retails at £30....I'd better take care when I do the washing up!

Look at last night's rainbow! That's no filter, the sky was positively golden when we were eating our tea and shortly after that vision of gorgeousness we had the most atrocious storm which went on for most the night.

For this morning's swim I wore my vintage 1960s Mythical Beasts maxi dress by Shubette of London, last seen worn whilst swanning around Rome (HERE). My roots were shocking, hence the reason I kept my cap on in the house (Jon's just redone them!)

The weather continues to be all over the place. This afternoon we've had hail, gale force winds and snow. I swear the magnolia tree is a bit stupid, it waits for the worst day possible to burst into flower.

I listed a dress on Vinted that I wore on repeat a few years ago but wasn't feeling it any more. I managed to sell it for the price I bought it for and this is how I spent my takings..on Vinted, of course!

An All About Audrey recycled sari dress, still with the tags attached (the seller bought the wrong size and left it too late to return).

A spectacular 1960s cotton velvet maxi skirt from Dollyrockers.

Although they aren't generally great for those of us with arthritic joint pain, I've wanted some of these Converse x Missoni since they came out 12 years ago and at £7 I couldn't resist. I shall buy a pair of insoles and see how I get on (I can always relist them if I can't walk in them). 

A Kuchi pendant and a vintage velvet bag, handmade by the seller. 

This week we've been watching Danish cop drama The Pushover on Channel 4's Walter Presents, which was pretty good although the constant ad breaks drove us to distraction. 

Its rum night tonight and I'm not sure whether to start Taylor Sheridan's new series, The Madison or watch a film instead although, after today's early swim, there's always the chance one of us will fall asleep in front of the TV!

See you soon! 

'Ullo Jon, Gotta New Motor?

It's been a strange old week, the pool has been plagued with technical issues and we've not been able to swim since last Monday, an absolute age! With the issues still not sorted we're planning to use another of the borough's pools tomorrow. 

Our annual membership gives us a choice of four but only the Gala is within walking distance and I hope it's only temporary as our two mile walk (there and back) is part of our fitness regime, not to mention that there isn't a Wetherspoons round the corner for our post-swim breakfast. 

 This week its been so misty that I've barely been able to see down the garden when I've been doing my Wii Fit workouts but by mid morning it has burnt off and it's been deliciously warm and sunny. When I walked into town to do my parcel drop-offs I didn't even need a coat.

I found this amazing vintage Indian dress in the £2.99 charity shop last year. The handloomed cotton is a bit too thick for the Summer but it's perfect for now.

I swear these tulips are multiplying, I only planted a dozen (Wilko's bulbs, planted during Lockdown) and now there's 17. Not that I'm complaining, nothing says Spring more than a red tulip.

On Thursday, for another walk to the various locker boxes and drop off points around Walsall I wore a vintage Oasis Trading wrap skirt with one of my All About Audrey blouses and my vintage denim waistcoat. 

 

Meanwhile Jon went off on a mission to find a replacement for Patrice (below), our 22 year old Citroen in Lucifer Red, which has reached the end of his life...not bad for a car that cost £500 as a stop-gap five years ago!

Here's our new car, a gunmetal Nissan Qashqai (yes, just like the carpet bag I bought last week and the troal people I blogged about!)  and compared to Patrice she's a mere whippersnapper at just 15 years old. The vendor couldn't believe Patrice was still on the road. 

Her registration contains the letters XAP so we've named her Pax after the Roman goddess of peace, 'cos we all need a bit of that in this crazed world we currently find ourselves in.

Meanwhile I picked up a Vinted parcel..a gorgeous tooled leather bag, listed as Satisfactory and priced at  just £3. And how's about this for weird...the seller was from Yorkshire and inside the bag was a 1970s bus ticket for West Midlands Transport, our local bus company and, even more bizarrely, it was issued on my birthday! I'd intended to sell it but I think it's a sign it's a keeper, don't you?

On Friday we tested out Pax and headed to the charity shops in a suburb of Walsall where we occasionally find the odd gem, although aside from a chores jacket for Jon on this occasion we came back empty-handed, a rare occurence! 

I withdrew some of my Vinted money and treated myself to a dress from All About Audrey's sale. I think my friend Betty might also have it. It needed taking up by about 5" and the belt loops were in a very weird position, both easily rectified, and I'm very pleased with it. One of those easy on, easy off, non- crease dresses which are perfect for travel. 

This has been my favourite spot all week and I'm powering through my reading pile like a thing possessed, I've just started my 5th book of the week.

Saturday was another beautiful day which kicked off with a walk in the sunshine and was mostly spent outside.

Aside from my Frye boots, whuch were from eBay 10 years ago, my entire outfit is from Vinted, an original 1970s silk maxi skirt, a contemporary art silk wrap top (last seen in Tenerife dancing with the locals) and a vintage velvet Afghan waistcoat.

I nearly put the necklace I was wearing on Vinted as I'd not worn it in years (given to me by a old neighbour) but wanted confirmation as to its ethnicity and so posted a few photos on a well respected tribal jewellery forum of which I'm a member. Apparently it's Saudi Bedouin and quite desirable (over 200 people liked it!) so I'm giving it another chance!

Bedouin Woman with child, 1948 (Source)

Bedouin Woman, 1910 (Source)

This week we've finished Landman (already desperate for season 3) and watched Gone, a murder mystery on ITV which was enjoyable but left a lot of loose ends. We've started season 3 of The Capture on BBC which is riveting and mind-bending in equal measure. 

We've also seen a film, Good Boy, which stars one of Britain's greatest actors, Stephen Graham. It's one of those absurdist films (like Bugonia) which I love, where a family capture a teenage deliquent in the hopes of retraining him. 

After another walk to the lockers and parcel shops, today has been another day of pottering. I'd not worn this vintage Chelsea Girl cheesecloth maxi in ages and yet again, it's been warm enough to just throw a waistcoat over the top.

Thanks for reading, see you soon!