What to do when you've got 101 things that need to be done but you can't be arsed to do any of them? Write a blog post!
It was swimming day on Monday and aware that it was the school holidays, we got to the pool for 7.30am, but it was already rammed. At one point I was sharing a lane with five other swimmers, in the end I swum my usual mile but it felt like a lot more after avoiding all those bodies! You'll be pleased to know that we finally managed to find the showers, it's only taken us a week.
I wore this vintage 1970s Indian block printed maxi dress by Geeta Enterprises of Delhi I bought from Vinted a year or so ago along with a charity-shopped Indian silk screen scarf and felted hat I've had for years.
On Tuesday I had parcels to sort out so we headed into town and had a look in the big clearance charity shop where Jon found a pile of vintage leisure shirts ready for the festival season.
I thought I'd give my new to me 1970s Dollyrockers crushed velvet maxi skirt a trip out, combining it with my All About Audrey marmalade wrap top and my trusty Falmers vintage denim waistcoat and All About Audrey shared my video on TikTok.
My skirt reminded me of a Victorian silk velvet jacket I'd bought for £3 from a charity shop a few years before lockdown and which had been festering on my mending pile ever since. The cuffs are ludicrously small and my hands - considering the size of me - are disproportionately big so I decided to unpick the sleeves....
This glorious piece of cotton velvet was part of a damaged 1970s skirt which used to belong to Nikki. I cut out a couple of triangles and inserted them into the sleeves, hand stitching then into place...
Ta-dah...Victoriana with a psychedelic twist and now I can get the cuffs over my bastard massive hands!!!
I've been selling the jewellery I don't wear on Vinted and obviously the money has been burning a hole in my pocket. The naughty algorithm has noticed that I love tribal and Indian silver jewellery and alerted me to two pieces that had been incorrectly listed. Both items arrived this week.
Listed as a "A metal costume jewellery bangle" I could see this little beauty was something special and snapped it up for £6. Both the coin and the contemporary bangle test for silver and the coin was minted during the reign of Shah Mubarak, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate between 1316 and 1320, making it over 700 years old!
This weighty metal bangle was listed as a "Thai Cuff" but the style indicates that it's actually a Bedouin piece from around 1900.
It's 1st April which marks our 34th Never Had A Wedding anniversary!
Needless to say, we celebrated in our usual inimitable style, exchanging handmade/recycled cards at the crack of dawn and sharing the fast lane at Darlo pool this morning. Jon surprised me with a gift, too - a 75p plant spray from Lidl - which he'd spotted in the middle aisle when he'd popped out for a tub of Greek yoghurt.
(Jon had to put his slippers on mid-shoot to answer the door to the postman.)
Will we be dining out tonight? No, I've already taken my makeup off and put my kaftan on. Its Wednesday...it's rum and cola, last night's episode of Sort Your Life Out which we missed as we were watching the England game and I think I've spotted a packet of popcorn in the cupboard.
Who says romance is dead?
Happy never had a wedding anniversary you two lovelies.
ReplyDeleteWe are fans of Sort Your Life Out.
I’d dread to see our house in that warehouse heehee. Philip’s in love with Dilly xxx
Thanks, Lynn and Philip!! Sort Your Life Out is one of our guilty pleasures. Jon loves Dilly, too - I love Rob! xxx
DeleteYour outfit with the All About Audrey wrap top and denim vest is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHappy 34th anniversary without getting married!
Wishing you a lovely evening with rum, Coke, and popcorn.
xoxo
Thanks, Andrea! The colours seemed so right with each other, a blast of Spring colour. xxx
DeleteMega-congrats, enjoy rum & coke night, and the next 34 years as well, xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! xxx
DeleteWith gifts like that, I can see why you've been together so long. Happy anniversary! X
ReplyDeleteHaha! Too right! Thanks, Jules! xxx
DeleteWe had some lovely stay at home anniversaries. You really learn it's the little things that make love and partnerships work. I think Jon's slippers look quite grand, but of course, you always do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam! Yes, we don't need those extravagent gestures, they're often just to impress other people than those who matter.
DeleteJon never wore slippers but now he's obsessed with them, I blame lockdown! xxx
who said romance was dead ! Congratulations to 34 years of not married life - enjoy rum and coke tonight 🙂
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate! xxx
DeleteHi Vix, I am catching up on your posts as I am curently visiting family.I really enjoy seeing what aptly chosen piece of music you have selected to play in your Tik Tok videos. I love how you are happy to return to favourite items and to illustrate the myriad ways in which an often- worn dress can be given a new look according to the weather and the mood of the day. I knew that denim waistcoat would be useful! Well done on the recent sales and the new jewellery purchases. I popped to a local market yesterday and bought some nice dangly silver earrings and a lapis lazuli bracelet in the twinkling of an eye. The stallholder was a real rock chick and absolutely bedecked in huge pieces of jewellery. It was a great stall. I think I may need to return there before too long. X
ReplyDeleteI wondered where you'd been, Alysia! I hope you had a fabulous time visiting the family.
DeleteYour jewellery purchases sound gorgeous and I love your description of the cool stallholder, she obviously has great taste.
You're right. you can wear things on repeat and never feel like you're wearing something again, even a diferrent pair of earrings or a scarf can make all the difference! xxx
I think you might have liked stallholder, she looked like a woman who had a few good stories to tell and a groovy taste in music.
DeleteHappy Weddingless Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did to the pink silk jacket, it's given it a new lease of life. Your new jewellery is really fab too. It's fun to change things up. I bloody love Vinted! Xxx
Thanks, Annie! Sometimes inspiration just strikes, hopefully I can wear that jacket now, it's a crime not to.
DeleteVinted is ace and terrible at the same time! xxx
The taxmen will love you. They have had every penny and then some from a friend in death duties, and she gets nothing from his pension because her partner of 25 years didn’t want that piece of paper, even when he was on the way out.
ReplyDeleteAren't you a bundle of joy!
DeleteSorry to rain on the parade. I wish you many more happy and healthy years together.
DeleteDon't worry, you didn't! Thanks so much! Xxx
DeleteCongratulations we will be celebrating our 36 Weddingless Anniversary at the end of November :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicky and many congratulations for yours in November! I hope your partner is already scouring the middle aisle in Lidl for a suitable gift! xxx
DeleteHappy not-married anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maeve! xxx
DeleteMany congratulations. We always celebrate the number of years we've been together rather than our wedding anniversary. Just means more somehowx
ReplyDeletechuckle, that reminded me that I always remember the day and date we met but can never remember the day we got married - (I can even remember the conversation we had that first day haha)
DeleteIt makes more sense counting the days you've been together otherwise it's like saying that the time before a marriage was irrelevant. xxx
DeletePS Kate, if it wasn't 1st April I don't think I'd remember the date! x
Congratulations to you both on your 34 years.
ReplyDeleteWell done on the tribal pieces , they are wonderful , you are lucky girl. The little velvet jacket is just lovely , glad you could fix those tiny sleeve ends. As usual all your outfits are fabulous.
Thanks so much, Jill! xxx
DeleteCongrats to you both you look fab in the photos, but then you both always do. Hope you enjoyed your popcorn! Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue! xxx
DeleteHappy not married anniversary. You don’t need a ceremony and a piece of paper to be in a good strong relationship, that’s for sure!! I was laughing about your massive hands, but glad you were able to adjust that gorgeous top to get over them! That Bedouin bangle is amazing, it looks heavy though. Xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise! xxx
DeleteHappy Never-had-a-wedding anniversary. 34 years and obviously still devoted. Lovely. I too inlove Sort your Life Out. It's such a lovely, heartwarming programme. I love Rob, he is magnificent. Stacey is such a lovely,warm person.
ReplyDeleteThanks you! I love the whole SYLO gang but Rob's my favourite, too - he works so hard and always has a huge smile on his face! xxx
DeleteAbove comment is me, Carole R.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carole! xxx
DeleteHappy Unniversary Both. Loving SYLO too but my goodness, seeing a!I that plastic in the warehouse is rather disheartening. I love Joe's batch cooking prog too.xxx
ReplyDeleteThat amount plastic is dreadful, isn't it? I used to think that when I went to car boot sales and see families selling off their kids toys.
DeleteI'm not into cookery programmes but I bet he's a joy to watch, i like it when he helps out on SYLO! xxx
Congratulations from me as well
ReplyDeleteSiobhan x
Thanks, Siobhan! xxx
DeleteHi Vix, happy never been married anniversary to you both! I enjoyed your TikTok video, am tempted to have a go myself some time. Your marmalade top is delightful, it must have earned its keep as it is so versatile, ditto your denim waistcoat. Im popping in to Audrey's at the weekend (I have some items put by to collect as its more fun to try in the store, plus great excuse for a train ride and day out!). I can't believe you have picked up an antique tribal bangle of such significance, it's amazing - probably museum worthy! Betty
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betty! You ought to be brave and try TikTok, I love seeing everton'e outfits in motion, a flat photo doesn't quite cut it.
DeleteI'm excited about your trip to Audrey's this weekend. They've got a flash sale this weekend, haven't they? I'm doing my very best not to look but who knows what will happen when I've had a glass of wine later! xxx
Your romance is never dead, and you two are more wedded to each other than anyone who has been through an 'official' ceremony. Sort Your Life Out and popcorn sound like a perfect night to me ... this series has been particularly good hasn't it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sue! I agree about this series of SYLO being particularly good, how sweet were those kids in this week's episode, even Jon liked them! xxx
DeleteHappy Anniversary, dear Vix & Jon!, nothing better than a 75p gift to keep romance going! (I mean it!. I still have a plastic ring Mr.A. gave me as a present years ago and still put a smile on my face). Our own 33th Real Anniversary is 4th of April! (we don't celebrate our wedding anniversary!, that's red tape!).
ReplyDeleteAlways fab to see you in your block printed dresses and lovely waistcoats, and that cool crushed velvet piece in fab colours!. And that silk jacket you upgraded looks amazing, well done! (totally understand it took years, my own mending pile keeps growing!).
besos
Hello Monica and thank you! I love that Mr A gave you a plastic ring as a pressie and that you celebrate your anniversary 3 days after us (and together for 33 years!)
DeleteI'm great at tackling the Kinky Melon mending pile but terible at dealing with my own! xxx
Congratulations on a wonderful love affair with so much fun and joy included! Long may it continue. JanF
ReplyDeleteThank so much, Jan! xxx
DeleteBeth here, wishing you and Jon a glorious celebration of your life together: may the milestones you've carved lay a beautiful pathway forward for many years to come! *
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your adventures with us, particularly the ingenious solutions to the peculiar challenges the pair of you have hatched over the years you've posted this blog (a personal favorite is Jon's unearthing his record awards to brighten up the interior bathroom).
Hello Beth! Thanks for the well wishes. Oh yes, Jon's gold discs still take pride of place in the bathroom! xxx
DeleteHappy anniversary, you two!
ReplyDeleteYou should do a post on what you would wear if you were to get married. I'd love to see the vintage look you'd put together. X
Thank you and that's a brilliant suggestion! xxx
DeleteNot sure why my last comment is coming up as anonymous.
ReplyDeleteFrom Jess of Dreaming-of-vintage-treasures.blogspot.com
Thanks, Jess! x
DeleteWhy
ReplyDeleteThe pride in not being married ? I’m a little confused. Congratulations though !
Thank you! I take pride in every aspect of my life and for getting to 59 without conforming to what society expects a woman to do! x
DeleteI admire you Vix and Lord Jon - We only married because the bloke I was living with at 20 said we should for tax - Good vibes sent your way - flis xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Flis! People keep going on about the tax...my Mum always used to say to me "Principles won't make you rich" and I always used to reply "But sticking to them makes me sleep better at night!" xxx
DeleteHappy 34th unmarried anniversary, Vix and best wishes to you both :) Here's to another 34 years! You don't need a piece of paper! Love Sort Your Life Out. The amount of things people have when you see them all laid out is mind blowing! Louise (Mids) X x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise! I love that so many of us love Sort Your Life Out, it's mindblowing how much people hold on to and often heartbreaking when you hear the story behind their hoarding. xxx
DeleteHappy non-weddingiversary to you both! I am addicted to Sort Your Life Out! in fact anything about hoarding or clutter has my attention, I think it's to make me feel better because I can secretly think at least I'm not THAT bad!
ReplyDeleteThank you, G! Its such a lovely watch (although its hard not to cry sometimes!) and I love how Stacey and Dilly aren't preachy or judgmental when they're in the warehouse. xxx
Delete