Buying, Wearing, Watching, Growing.....

After some unseasonably warm weather, May has reverted back to dismally average temperatures but I didn't bother with a jacket on Wednesday morning as I'm always glowing after our swim. These Indian cotton quilted waistcoats are perfect for this time of year, it's just as well I have a few! The one I'm wearing over my India Imports for Rhode Island maxi is a 1970s Chelsea Girl original.

Fed up with my ongoing hip issues, I took my frustrations out on the garden, attacking the ridiculously overgrown patio border. Four hours later and I could finally see my Agapanthus and Phlox "Mount Fuji" again. 

Before (above) and after (below).

I felt even better when Jon brought me a mug of tea and the news that he'd booked a holiday for next month. Yippee!!!!

On Wednesday night we started watching A Perfect Spy, a 1980s adaptation of the John Le Carre novel, currently on the BBC iPlayer. A bit dated but still enjoyable. 

On Thursday I thought I'd give these charity-shopped cords an outing and, while I was at it, test out my Lotta's by walking to the parcel drop off shop. Amazingly both my arthritic toe-joints and hip fared pretty well and I made it there and back without having to stop for a rest. 

The cords were originally from Tu, Sainsbury's supermarket's in-house label. I never thought the day would come when I'd wear supermarket fashion but I think these are the first trousers I've ever worn in my life that are the perfect length.

After spending a couple of hours tackling the horrifically deep bamboo roots in the border I'd cleared, I altered a vintage wraparound skirt I'd bought from Vinted last week....beautiful but dangerously long, with my issues tripping is a real concern.

These wrap skirts have a curved hem so once you've measured how much you need to take off the length, you'll need to go along the hem,  marking the exact measurement with tailors chalk every few inches and then cut an inch below the line so allow for a double hem. If you turn the skirt up without trimming off the excess fabric the hem will be too bulky and it won't hang correctly. Be brave and don't forget, measure twice, cut once!

Here she is, four inches shorter and the perfect length with flat footwear. The previous owner bought it on holiday in Barcelona in the 1970s. The seller was at pains to let me know that it has faded over the years (hence the £5 asking price) but I always think that it gives clothes personality and only adds to the charm.

Talking of Vinted, I also snaffled this All About Audrey sari silk maxi dress, still with the tags attached, for £8. Nobody's going to miss me in this!!

On Thursday evening we continued watching A Perfect Spy with a break for Race Across The World. How lovely are the people of Uzbekistan and Kystostan? The scenery is pretty spectacular, too. Shame about the food, I think I'd starve to death!

Friday was another swimming day.

 

When I'm not sure what to wear I always seem to gravitate towards this All About Audrey maxi dress (bought from their website in 2024). If I subscribed to that cost per wear thingy that some women do it'll probably owe me money! I'd completely forgotten about this amazing vintage Kashmiri woolwork jacket I'd snaffled from Vinted for £5 last year. It's perfect for this time of year.

 

As usual we had breakfast in Spoons followed by a look around the charity shops. 

Today's finds..a pair of handmade plus-sized cotton dungarees, two leisure shirts, a tooled leather belt, a 1960s Austin Reed cord jacket with a fur collar, a 1980s bronze raincoat by Totes and some repro lace-up knee high boots.

And some too-cheap-to-leave vinyl.

We had another session in the garden. Jon set about breaking up Jacob's pen (sob!) and I potted up some houseleeks that grow like weeds in our garden.

 Once again it's Friday and therefore rum night! On the agenda tonight is the latest episodes of Criminal Record and Scotland's Home of the Year before more of A Perfect Spy.

Have a bostin' weekend, chin chin!!

See you soon!!!