Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Botox and fillers so eloquently on my last post. I'm delighted to know that I'm not in the minority after all. Sod the Aesthetics police, here's to visible ageing! Let's age disgracefully, together we'll flaunt our crow's feet, our thinning top lips and our wrinkles...if I'm going to let myself go, I'm happy to do it in the company of so many fabulous women!
On Sunday I pulled this vintage hand-embroidered Greek blouse from the wardrobe, held it up against the rail and this Anokhi skirt and waistcoat (also by Anokhi) made their presence felt. I swear I could almost hear them whispering choose me, choose me! I'd never worn these three items together before and loved the look....some may call it shopping your closet, I prefer wardrobe alchemy. My plaits are much better with the face-framing
Although we'd been warned of high winds and intermittent showers, typical British bank holiday weather in other words, Easter Monday was beautiful. Before nesting season Jon had pruned the hawthorne and as the council's garden waste collection has resumed after its Winter hiatus, we chopped it up and got a large proportion into the brown bin, under the watchful eye of William who, with the warm weather, has thrown off his house cat mantle and returned to his erstwhile garden cat persona.
Remember how those of us lucky enough to have gardens relished working on the during Lockdown? Well, despite how much pleasure our attempts to tame Stonecroft's wilderness gave us, the return to festival season and our frequent European trips proved more alluring and it's once again become a haven for foxes, hedgehogs, barn owls, bats and the odd tomcat.
I wore a 1990s chiffon maxi dress bought from the £2.99 charity shop last year with an All About Audrey recycled cotton blouse over the top. I was thrilled to find another pair of the peep toe suede boots I wore on repeat in the early 2010s, eventually trashing them at Glastonbury. How on dearth Vinted knew I needed a replacement pair I'll never know but they popped up in my feed priced at £6 and the rest, as they say, was history!
The Gala remains closed and due to Easter closures we'd not been for a swim at our adopted one since last Wednesday (don't worry, I still use my Wii Fit on the days when I don't swim). I could hardly sleep with excitement on Monday night! As usual, it was very busy and we had to share lanes but the fellow swimmers are friendly and it was all very good-natured.
There's not been many days this year when I've been able to peg the washing out on the line.
A swimming day calls for clothes easy to take on and off, no faffy belts or rows of buttons. My beloved vintage Indian silk kaftan is perfect.
A glorious day with temperatures hitting the low 20s, after a spot of weeding I sat and read in the shinshine with my sleek companion (Jon did a tip run with the remainder of the hawthorne trimmings).
X-Rated ladybirds!
I've been plagued with arthritic pain for a while and in recent weeks have been using a walking stick to get about. The only time I'm pain-free is when I'm swimming (hence the reason I'm obsessed with going). I finally put my big girl pants on today and saw the doctor. In 2006, following my total hip replacement op I was told that I'd need my right hip replacing within a couple of years so I don't suppose I've done too badly - it doesn't mean I want it, though!
Being a stubborn cow I still insist on walking everywhere, even if it takes me a while. I was worried these Converse x Missoni All Stars might be a bit too flat but Jon found some gel insoles in the cupboard and they were fine for my two mile trek into town this morning.
My purple Dollyrockers maxi got so much love that I was stopped countless times by women admiring my outfit. One lady asked if I was spiritual, I didn't have the heart to tell her that the only spirits I'm into are alcoholic ones. The quilted Indian block printed waistcoat is a 1970s original with a Chelsea Girl label.
I've got so many pairs of sunglasses I'd forgotten about these beauties I found whilst rummaging through a basket in a Black Country charity shop last February...a pair of genuine Fendi sunglasses, no less! The model is Opal, the colour is Bordeaux and they retailed at £230...I paid £1! I might get them glazed with my prescription, they're so comfy!
Back at home we were treated to a visit from our friends Brendan and Lynn and had a fabulous afternoon chatting in the sunshine. Lynn and I have an unofficial book club so we swapped a few reads, I'm currently halfway through my third book of the week, I'm a solar powered reader!
Isn't the bookmark Luynn gave me beautiful? It's by the British icon artist, Hanna Ward (HERE).
I'm off to harness my spiritual side and crack open the Lidl white rum..cheers!
I feel for you on the hip pain and hope you get relief soon. During my knee issues, I put strain on my hip in compensation. After Greece, it's been yelling at me. I'm back next week to my favorite doc, hoping that perhaps a non-invasive action can cut the pain and I just need to do the PT exercises given as part of my knee rehab. I've just hurt too much to do them effectively. As for the garden, yard, I have the opposite problem in that it's in need of plants and color. My fun will begin once the weather is right.
I totally empathise over the arthritic pain. I wake up every morning with some new ache, different from the one the day before. Still, as Mark says, at least we wake up! The weather has been glorious today. I've been sat outside reading too. I love those peep toe boots. I always wanted a pair, but never found the right ones for me. I must look on Vinted. In the meantime, I've got a pair of mock croc 'open' style boots that I think look great with fishnets. You've inspired me to dig them out xxxx
Don’t you think it’s odd how people equate clothes with certain religious leanings? Like if you dress bohemian you must be spiritual? Whenever I search Vinted for velvets or goth type clothes it always amazes me how something will be listed as pagan or witch. Does that mean I can’t wear it as I’m neither of those things lol. The only thing I rule out is things with religious imagery on, like pentagrams or inverted crosses, but a black velvet skirt does not a witch make! So sorry to hear about you being in pain, does that mean you’re going to need your second hip replacement then? I hope you’ve got yourself a snazzy walking stick, my mum has one emblazoned with flowers and her ‘posh one’ that’s all gold sparkle. May as well accessorise if you need one. What a find those Fendi glasses are. Xxx
Hi Vix, I'm sorry to hear about your painful hip. You did the right thing though in going to get it checked out. Let's hope you are not kept waiting long for it to be sorted out. On a somewhat lighter note it is always fun ( and a bit surprising too) when we find out we already had a great outfit in our wardrobe that we had never figured out before simply by putting certain items together for the first time. I always love your Anokhi pieces- timeless. The Converse x Missoni are keepers too. I found a nice Missoni scarf in a charity shop a few years ago and enjoy bringing it out each year. X
Your garden looks a delight - a proper haven for wildlife (and cats) what more could you ask for? I drink cider vinegar and honey (in a mug of hot water) for my rickety hands and it certainly helps - I know it would not prevent the need for hip surgery but I find it stops my fingers and wrist hurting when I am gardening :) And here is to growing old very disgracefully and loving every moment💜
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I feel for you on the hip pain and hope you get relief soon. During my knee issues, I put strain on my hip in compensation. After Greece, it's been yelling at me. I'm back next week to my favorite doc, hoping that perhaps a non-invasive action can cut the pain and I just need to do the PT exercises given as part of my knee rehab. I've just hurt too much to do them effectively. As for the garden, yard, I have the opposite problem in that it's in need of plants and color. My fun will begin once the weather is right.
ReplyDeleteI totally empathise over the arthritic pain. I wake up every morning with some new ache, different from the one the day before. Still, as Mark says, at least we wake up!
ReplyDeleteThe weather has been glorious today. I've been sat outside reading too.
I love those peep toe boots. I always wanted a pair, but never found the right ones for me. I must look on Vinted. In the meantime, I've got a pair of mock croc 'open' style boots that I think look great with fishnets. You've inspired me to dig them out xxxx
The outfit is so beautiful, I love your hairstyle with the braids, a great look.
ReplyDeleteRespect for walking the 3 kilometers despite the pain, you amazing woman.
Purple looks fantastic on you!
Cheers!
Don’t you think it’s odd how people equate clothes with certain religious leanings? Like if you dress bohemian you must be spiritual? Whenever I search Vinted for velvets or goth type clothes it always amazes me how something will be listed as pagan or witch. Does that mean I can’t wear it as I’m neither of those things lol. The only thing I rule out is things with religious imagery on, like pentagrams or inverted crosses, but a black velvet skirt does not a witch make! So sorry to hear about you being in pain, does that mean you’re going to need your second hip replacement then? I hope you’ve got yourself a snazzy walking stick, my mum has one emblazoned with flowers and her ‘posh one’ that’s all gold sparkle. May as well accessorise if you need one. What a find those Fendi glasses are. Xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Vix, I'm sorry to hear about your painful hip. You did the right thing though in going to get it checked out. Let's hope you are not kept waiting long for it to be sorted out. On a somewhat lighter note it is always fun ( and a bit surprising too) when we find out we already had a great outfit in our wardrobe that we had never figured out before simply by putting certain items together for the first time. I always love your Anokhi pieces- timeless. The Converse x Missoni are keepers too. I found a nice Missoni scarf in a charity shop a few years ago and enjoy bringing it out each year. X
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks a delight - a proper haven for wildlife (and cats) what more could you ask for?
ReplyDeleteI drink cider vinegar and honey (in a mug of hot water) for my rickety hands and it certainly helps - I know it would not prevent the need for hip surgery but I find it stops my fingers and wrist hurting when I am gardening :)
And here is to growing old very disgracefully and loving every moment💜