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I signed off my last blog post by wishing you a good weekend and here we are, on the cusp of the next one. Thank you so much for those of you who left a comment especially with advice regarding my diagnosis. For those of you not in the UK, our NHS is fantastic & we are incredibly lucky to have it but I will not be having a new hip in the next few weeks!
Although the target is 18 weeks, from diagnosis to clinical intervention , a hip replacement typically takes between 20 - 36 weeks and, in some cases, 50. I haven't even got an appointment with the consultant yet. If you know my story, you'll remember that my first hip, which through a undetected birth defect, had been causing me problems since the age of 11, wasn't taken seriously for over 27 years so anything's an improvement on that!
On Saturday we went for a walk around the block. I wore a vintage Anokhi maxi skirt and this 1970s embroidered blouse bought from a junk shop in Corfu town. I finished reading My Husband, a great book with a surprising ending. With Trump seemingly determined to sabotage this year's World Cup I'm not as excited as I usually am but after we watched the England vs New Zealand friendly I started getting into the mood, ordering a new Three Lions flag to replace our old one.
On Sunday I wore this India Imports of Rhode Island maxi skirt with a gauzy cotton All About Audrey blouse for my now-daily Project keep the hip moving walk around the block. In need of a World Cup Wallchart we were forced to buy the Sun as it was the only paper with one. What a disgusting, salacious, rancid rag it is (it went straight into the recycling bin). If that's the UK's most popular newspaper no wonder there's so many ill-educated, bigoted morons roaming our streets.
I started (and finished) reading No Small Thing by Orlaine McDonald, an deeply emotional read exploring the impact of trauma and poverty on the lives of three generations of women on a South London housing estate. If, like me, you adored Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other, you'll love this.
Monday was our first swimming day of the week and with the weather so miserable, it was pretty quiet at the pool. Rather than look around the charity shops we decided to straight home after our Spoons breakfast, getting in just as the heavens opened.
I wore my beloved Anokhi maxi dress with one of my many All About Audrey wrap tops (this was a Vinted find), the ideal way of wearing your strappy dresses all year round. I started reading Creation Lake by Rachel Kuchner, a Booker Prize shortlisted thriller about an American spy infiltrating a network of eco-activists in Western France. Espionage is probably my favourite genre and it's a great read so far.
Taking advantage of a rare dry day, Jon put the festival trading tent up in the garden on Tuesday morning. As he'd rejected my offer of help I vacuumed and dusted upstairs.
If I stare at my wardrobe for long enough, a new combination of clothing invariably slaps me around the chops...like this Naked Generation (via Vinted) blouse and this vintage '70s block printed wraparound skirt by Papillon. I was having a good foot day and was able to wear my Lottas for walking down to the parcel shop although I kicked them off when I got home and spent a couple of hours tackling the weeds.
Currently empty but at least it's up!
It was the turn of England's mighty Lionesses to play on Tuesday night and although they beat Ukraine, their place in the 2027 World Cup isn't guaranteed. I shall keep everything crossed for the play-offs later in the year.
After we'd picked up some essentials in the newly opened OneBeyond (a UK discount chain with a surprisingly good array of stock) we went to the matinee performance of Savage House at Walsall Light. I hadn't read any reviews, I saw this poster and just knew we needed to see it. I love a powdered wig!
Set in the 18th Century amidst an outbreak of the pox and a Jacobite uprising, Sir Chauncey (Richard E Grant) and his wife, Lady Savage (Claire Foy), dream of an aristocratic lifestyle, believing their opportunity has finally arrived when the celebrated Duke & Duchess of Devonshire invite themselves for dinner but their preparations soon descend into ironic decadence and bloodshed. A marvellous satirical observation on class and power and wickedly funny. We both loved it - Withnail and I with Wigs! - although the elderly lady in the seat in front of us loudly whispered to her friend, I didn't expect sex and swearing!
I popped around to my friend Vicki's for a couple of hours, drinking wine, chatting about Greece (she's just back from the island we're off to soon) and, as she's a chiropractor, getting some helpful advice & tips on all things hip. Back at home I continued with the drinking...it was England's last friendly before the World Cup and the rum was flowing. The crazy weather in Florida caused the match to kick off an hour late so it was past midnight by the time we'd thrashed Costa Rica 3 - 0.
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| A wood mouse (not Algernon) |
The evening took on a rather surreal feel when a cute wood mouse sauntered past us on his hind legs and vanished behind the tv. He looked so haughty that we decided to call him Algernon. As fast as lightning William chased after him, reappearing with Algernon dangling from his mouth. Jon managed to capture him and release him in the garden unharmed, if a little dazed.
As I went to bed so late I was going to forfeit my Wii Fit session but, as usual, I was awake before 6am and it seemed daft to lie in bed for the sake of it. I ended up really enjoying every minute of my half-hour yoga session.
Our lads aren't playing till next week which is just as well as my new flag hasn't turned up yet!
I'm off to catch up with Blogland before The World Cup takes over my life.
Hi, re powdered wigs, did you see the film ‘The Libertine’ Johnny Depp as the 2nd Earl Rochester? I loved it and still have the dvd. Loving your outfits and hope you get to choose your surgeon for the new hip 🙏. Jan D
ReplyDeleteHello Jan! I've not heard of The Libertine, I'll see if I can find it for when the World Cup's over. Thank you! I've got a doctor's appointment next week, I'll try and chivvy him along and ask who he's referred me to. xxx
DeleteIf you are not already sorted re your hip surgery, are you aware that the NHS ‘Legal Right to Choose’ allows you to decide which NHS hospital & Consultant you prefer to be treated at/by, just ask your GP for a referral. We live just outside Ashby de la Zouch and my partner requested the GP to refer him to Mr Shakir Hussain at Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and it was done, result!! Jan D.
DeleteI think that was available as an option when I had my first hip repacement, jan, although I couldn't fault Mr Siddique, my surgeon who has sadly now retired. xxx
DeleteWe had a very lovely Anokhi shop near us, when I was a teenager - such beautiful things! I love the All About Audrey wrap tops, I must check them out. I agree about Tevas, fab sandals.
ReplyDeleteKeeping moving is definitely the key. I'm absolutely sure it makes a massive difference. Fingers crossed your surgery is sooner rather than later.
Savage House sounds great. Another vote for The Libertine, if you haven't seen it.
It's such a shame there aren't any branches of Anokhi in the UK, you can't even but it online although the collab they did with EAST a few years ago occasionally pops up on Vinted.
DeleteI shall definitely track down The Libertine once the football's over. xxx
My neighbour's son went off to Boston yesterday. I hope he's not wasting his money. I never invest too much hope in my national team but miracles have been known to happen. Those scenes from various Scottish airports of bagpipes and people singing Flower of Scotland are cringe-worthy! It's appalling that your hip was ignored for 27 years. You must have been in such agony as a child. Have you read The Women by Kristin Hannah?xx
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is me!!!
DeleteI thought it was you! The ticket prices are insane as as for banning fans from walking to matches whilst tripling the cost of train fares, absolutely appaling. Mibd you, I'd have loved to have been in Mexico City for the opening ceremony, what a show!
DeleteI've added The Women to my Kobo wishlist, thank you! xxx
Good Ole, Harry Kane is back I see. I don't know many players by name in the Premier or European League, but remember him from Tottenheim. Despite the World Cup being here, we'll see relatively few games due to the hoops in streaming services to pay for and find games. I'm sorry your wait for the hip could be so long. You of course look fabulous and will in Greece. Will you be up to festival trading? Wish I could join and lend a free hand.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Harry Kane is back. We were chatting to a German guy in Kos a couple of years ago and he said that the England players were all the true gents of football.
DeleteWhat a shame you have to pay to see the footie, there'd be a national outrage if that happened here!
We're just doing three festivals this year, we've been offered seven but I've got to be sensible. If only you weren't across the ocean, your services would be most welcome! xxx
I didn't know that your friend Vicki is a chiropractic. I'm sure she has some helpful advice then. I hope you'll get the hip situation resolved and your appointment as soon as possible. Life with any kind of mobility or health issue is hard.
ReplyDeleteI love your collection of outfits as always. Your choice of books is excellent, too. I might check out them out once the summer break starts.
It's great to have a knowledgable friend! xxx
DeleteHave you seen Dear England?
ReplyDeleteI saw it on the stage, and need to watch the 'real life' version.
I'm stunned at those Tevas. What a bargain. They look brand new. They'll be perfect for your Greek trip.
I'm really pleased to hear you're getting your hip sorted. I know it's not stopping you doing things, but it's still a real nuisance not to mention painful. When I struggle with the ongoing discomfort from my op I take inspiration from Frida. She always got up, dressed up and showed up. What a woman! 🙂 X
I haven't! I remember seeing it advertised at the cinema as one of their National Theatre collabs but it clashed with Glastonbury. The TV series looks brilliant, I hope it'll still be avaialble on the I-Player once the footie is over. I'm sure I've bored you with how I used to organise Gareth Southgate's monthly talks with aspiring young entrepeneurs when he was with Villa in the 1990s, he was one of the nicest, most courteous and inspiring men I've ever had the honour to work with.
DeleteFrida was such an inspiration! xxx
I shall look out for Tevas sandals as I have terrible problems with my feet, osteo-arthritis and Freiberg disease which is a flattening and thickening of the metatarsal bones on both my feet. My physiotherapist niece says keep walking every day and do stairs, otherwise you get bungalow legs. Haven't we had some terrible weather, it was like stairods here, and all my gardening jobs have been put on hold. Hugs. Xx
ReplyDeleteHello Gill, your foot condition sounds rather challenging. Teva's aren't cheap but they are worth every penny. I don't know how I'd get around without them!
DeleteI've loved today's bit of sun but Shefali says we've got a storm on the way in a bit! xxx
I was going to suggest The Libertine it is very good and very, very rude. When my Husband and I saw it in the cinema an elderly couple in front of us kept on tutting and after only ten minutes walked out in disgust. We thought it was great. We are going to see Savage House this weekend. I love your description of Withnail and I in wigs. That's another one of our favourite films. I hope you enjoy the World Cup despite Trump doing his best to scupper it. I really don't like football but of course hope we do well for all the fans. I'm a rugby league girl. All your outfits are fab as ever. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for The Libertine, I definitely need to see it!
DeleteI hope you love Savage House as much as we did. I had no expectations and was blown away with how much fun it was. xxx
I hope you won't have to wait too long for your hip operation, Vix. I can't get any enthusiasm for football (boxing is my thing) but I will be subjected to it whether I like it or not as the men in the family are all obsessed! You have some fun outfits this week - I love my silky Audrey dress, its so good for travel as it doesn't crease and just drip dries very fast. I wish she would do some bright colours (orange is my favourite), I keep looking in hope. Betty :)
ReplyDeleteHello Betty! I don't mind the Olympic boxing (not as brutal) but I adore international football (of both sexes), I'm already knackered from sitting up till aall hours watching it!
DeleteYou need to have a word with All About Audrey about them making some brighter coloured dresses, I'd buy them, too! xxx
My mum ended up going private to have her back operated on, but she wasn't prepared to wait as long as she'd have had to. (She has pretty low pain tolerance.) I hope things move faster in the Midlands!
ReplyDeleteWe saw the Wig Film over the weekend, and it was great fun. I saw the trailers on IG and decided we had to see it - which meant a trip into Bath as only the local arthouse cinema was showing it. I hadn't expected the ending to be quite as downbeat, but... they deserved it, really!
I hope your Mum's well on the road to recovery now, Mim. I think Walsall's waiting lists are slightly better than average!
DeleteThe Wig Film was so much fun. We're lucky to have an independent cinema within walking distance from home. When the ABC was demolished in the early 1990s our film choices were limited to the big budget trash they screened at the out of town multiplex! xxx
The snobby wood mouse is hilarious, what a funny story!
ReplyDeleteYou look great in your outfits. It was cold here too, because of the north wind.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get an appointment with the specialist soon and then have your surgery relatively quickly.
xoxo
Thnaks, Andrea! The mouse has come back, I think he likes us! xxx
DeleteI hope that you get an appointment with the Consultant very soon. Those Teva sandals were a good find. I suffer with neuropathy in my feet so wearing any fancy sandals that I have already is painful. I am an old lady in sensible shoes now! I like the sound of Savage House, I do love a costume drama. Have you watched TIp Toe on Channel 4 yet. Heartbreaking and terrifying but such good drama. Carole R.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carole. My referral letter is now on the app so things are moving along.
DeleteYour neuropathy sounds horrible, Carole. I'll sacrifice fancy sandals for velcro fastening ones I can walk in any day.
I've not seen Tip Toe yet but you're the second person to recommend it in as many days. I shall endeavour to watch it once the footies over. xxx
My friend and I (in our late seventies) saw Savage House at the weekend and enjoyed it very much. The music is brilliant and reminded me of the Barry Lyndon film; I didn't notice the swearing and there was sex but no nudity as of course the women had big skirts and no underwear in the eighteenth century!
ReplyDeleteWasn't it a fabulous film, Hilary? We bumped into one of our friends at the cinema and she's in her eighties and was howling with laughter throughout. Eighteenth Century behaviour was a lot more bawdy and less inhibited, the Victorians spoiled all that! xxx
DeleteI came here to say the same as the first commenter - I watch The Libertine the other day and it's brilliant! I also watch him in Jeanne Barry, which he played King Louis XV. I'm not fluent in french so needed to add subtitles which I really don't mind as it adds to the authenticity. I had no idea Johnny Depp was fluent but then read he became so after being married to Vanessa Paradis for so long. I highly recommend both! Rachael 💕
ReplyDeleteOnce the football's over I shall definitey be checking out The Libertine & Jeanne Barry Rachael - I'm not sure how they managed to pass me by. I'm not a huge fan of Johnny Depp but loved him in Fear and Loathing! xxx
DeleteI'm sorry to hear you are going to have to wait for your hip replacement longer but well done for persevering with the moving. How wonderful that you found the Tevas! I just saw one of my favourite Instagrammers, Zoe Tehran I went to a Teva event last night and got some lovely ones with customised bits!
ReplyDeleteThe mouse is so cute.
You sold me that movie by saying Withnail and I!
X
I had to Google Zoe Tehrani, I do know who she is after all, she's an amazing woman! Its no surprise she's a Teva fan with all her adventures. Their hiking boots are said to be the very best.
DeleteSavage House is so good, I think you'd love the classical soundtrack, too - the way they used the violin to illustrate excruiciating pain is nothing short of genius.
Wood mice are so cute, William's so gentle with them but I could do without them running around the lounge! xxx
50 weeks! I hope it's sooner than that. Love all your outfits especially the pink skirt. The House Savage sounds good.. will be adding it to my watch list.
ReplyDelete50 weeks or £15,000 - that's what keeps me going! xxx
DeleteI hope you won't be waiting too long for your hip replacement, but I imagine you'll keep on keeping on in the meantime. I was remembering how much you enjoy swimming, just the other day. I think I need to get into a habit of going again, albeit gently to start with. X
ReplyDeleteYou ought to have a look at swimming, Jules, a little more gentle on your body than the running I know you enjoy! xxx
Deletehadn't heard of Savage House but will look out for it. Saw a French film Colours of Time Saturday, a delightful 5/5. Disclosure Day was seen today - a big yawn 1/5. Hope you get more sun this week Vix xx
ReplyDeleteColours of Time looks great, I shall keep alook out for that. I couldn't get excited over seeing Disclosure Day, much as I like the actors and Spielberg, I shall give give that a miss. The Odyssey's out next month, can't wait to see that! xxx
DeleteThe film sounds very good. We used to find mice popping up unexpectedly where Humphrey had brought them.in and released.them. We now have a humane mouse.trap to catch them.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, its well worth a trip to the cinema, we were in stitches! I don't need a humane mousetrap, I have Jon and a Tupperware pot (and a cat with several of his teeth missing!) xxx
DeleteSounds like your week and been as busy as ours. In between all the naff stuff that goes on in our lives we had a great night at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester at Tony Blackburn’s 60’s show. The day after we were at the Lowry to see the Ballad of Johnny and June Cash. It was fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThen it was on to Lytham to see our favourite band My Darling Clementine. We’ve seen them nine times now.
Then Saturday I had a full day at the Festival of Stitch.
My friend had her hip done privately as she was in so much pain she couldn’t carry on. She said it was the best thing she’s done.
Hope you get a date sooner than later Vicky
Lots of love from us both xxx
You have been busy, Lynn! I saw on Facebook that you were off to see My Darling Clementine, I hope they were as fabulous as they usually are. I know aboslutey nothing about Johnny Cah, I really ought to see the film and educate myself. I love the sound of the Festival of Stitch!
DeleteI hope your friend's recovering well after her hip replacement. Several people I now have paid to have theirs done privately. I'm not sure which is the more painful, parting with £15,000 or waiting! xxx
I don't usual like films set during the 'powdered wigs' era, but this one looks like it could be an exception, and with the mention of Withnail and I (in wigs) I will just have to watch it. Poor little Algernon, I'm glad Jon was quick enough to rescue him.
ReplyDeleteSavage House is well worth a trip to the cinema, bawdy and naughty and great fun. Like you, I normally can't be doing with posh folk poncing around in wigs!
DeletePoor little Algernon, William brought him back the following day (sill alive thank goodness!) xxx
Well done on capturing Algernon (hmmm, this makes me want to read "Flowers for Algernon" again!), William!
ReplyDeleteDespite Vancouver rolling out the worldwide red carpet for FIFA, I have zero interest in the World Cup.
I really need some solid sandals - I'm going to watch for Tevas in the consignment shops now. I would have fought you for those (especially now that I know we are the same size shoe!).
Richard Grant in a powdered wig? Sex and swearing is exactly what I'd expect.
ReplyDeleteNow for a truly outlandish, outrageous suggestion for festival tent equipment. Would Jon be up for experimenting with a "bobbing chair" frame so that you'll have a spot to sit whilst still maintaining the ability to move and shift the weight on your hips? It could be as simple as two inverted tee-frames with a cross-bar, a seat on bungees suspended from the bar --- or as elaborate as an Indian doorway framing a seat taken from a howdah. Please, do investigate the benefits of being able to flex and stretch while seated! (Think of the photo ops!)
Oh my gosh, look at the cute mouse!
ReplyDeleteI would have screeched though haha. X