Checking In!

 

I've become one of those annoying people who publishes posts without visiting other blogs. Life's pretty hectic at the moment so apologies to my blog-writing sisters, normal service should (hopefully) resume soon.

 

Before we left for Womad we went to see the superb The Invite at Walsall Light, as recommended by our swimming pal, Nigel (and The Guardian). Inspired by Olivia Wilde's updo in the film, I've been wearing mine in a similar way. 

 

After cataloguing my outfits almost daily on TikTok for the best part of a year I've taken a break, taking pleasure in wearing the same clothes on repeat when I'm not on show at the festivals. This 1970s sundress was bought from the Vintage Relics £5 rail at End of the Road in 2024.  For the first time in my make-up wearing life, I've ditched the under-eye liner and just draw a flicky line on my upper lid using these £3 pens by Trouble Maker from Superdrug. 

They last for hours, never need reapplying and I can even swim in them. They're probably aimed at teenagers but who cares?

 Tidying a drawer I uncovered a box of belly button studs I thought I'd parted with years ago. I used to change them regularly but have stuck with a ring for the last 25 years, I'm liking the change!

We saw The Odyssey at Walsall Light on the weekend it was released. Having read Homer's account many times I initially found myself getting irritated by Christopher Nolan's interpretation but, once I'd told myself that it was entertainment and not a faithful study in Ancient Greek mythology, I settled down, stopped finding fault and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I love that we're still being entertained by a story written at least three thousand years ago.

Here's the revised make-up look in closer detail. Several of you have mentioned how much lighter my hair is, it isn't intentional, just a side-effect of our gloriously hot Summer, but I'm loving the change.

 

On Saturday it was the grand opening of Liz and her friend, Simon Tew's What A Wonderful World: Two Ways of Seeing exhibition at the Rose Patterson Gallery at Weston Park in Shropshire. Their art is incredible and the turn-out was fantastic. It was great to catch up with so many friends, most of whom, in my current live in the moment mood, I didn't get around to photographing.

Photo courtesy of my friend, Annie! 

 The exhibition runs until 3rd September and both Liz & Simon will be running demos throughout, for more info check out Liz's socials HERE.

We've been frantically shopping to restock the rails for Beautiful Days and, you know how it is, when you're not purposefully looking, something you never knew you needed always pops up.

This Ulisse walking stick stool for instance. Designed by Ivan Loss in 1981, there's one on display in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and they're higly collectible (HERE) I paid £3. I'm continuing with my osteopathic treatments and my hip's pretty good at the moment but at least I can look stylish when I do need my stick!

This Kashmiri crewelwork silk rug was £2 in another chazza. It's got loops at the back so I'll probably hang it rather than have it on the floor as William is still bringing us mangled mice!

Remember me mentioning buying a couple of things at Womad? Well, here's the dendritic agate and sterling silver ring I bought from our lovely neighbours, Glitzy Vintage Jewellery...

Is it just me or does it remind you of the iconic Japanese woodblock print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai (1760 - 1849)? 

And don't faint when you see this (like I nearly did!), an Arts and Crafts enamel, silver and peridot pendant featuring a bathing nymph by, I believe, Scottish artist Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852  - 1936). I swear I will never need to buy another necklace again, I have attained the pinnacle of antique jewellery perfection! Clara and Kyle, I love you!

The most momentous news is that tomorrow (5th August) marks Jon's 60th birthday and the celebrations have already begun. Last night Liz and Al picked us up and we had a few beers in Aldridge Spoons before a curry in Laboni where, as usual, the wonderful staff treated us like royality, hanging up birthday banners and surprising Jon with a pistachio kulfi complete with sparkler!

He was allowed to open his from Liz & Al present early ....

 

I think he liked it! 

What are we doing for his actual birthday? Stay tuned! 

See you soon! 

There's More To Life Than Books (But Not Much More)

The weekend weather was glorious, so much so that on Friday night I decided to pack away the heaviest of my dresses and replace them with my sleeveless maxis I keep stashed in the suitcase on top of the wardrobe.

 I walked down to the parcel shop in this 1970s India Imports of Rhode Island maxi dress which I've had for almost ten years. 

 

As I've got my warm weather wardrobe in place I've also swapped over to my brighter lip colours. I've been on the hunt for the perfect orange for years and I think I've finally found it. Although it lacks the staying power of Maybelline's Super Stay in Heroine, their Vivid Matte Liquid in Orange Shot is a proper in your face tangerine. I buy it from eBay (I paid £3.21 including P&P) as, typically, it's now discontinued!

On saturday morning I finished The King's Sister, Anne O'Brien's brilliantly researched novel about John of Gaunt's youngest daughter, Elizabeth of Lancaster, passed on to me by my friend Lynn. If, like me, you're unfamiliar with O'Brien's work, she's just as brilliant a historical novelist as Phillipa Gregory, a riveting read.

In the afternoon I started (and finished) one of the books I'd bought when I went charity shopping on Thursday, Out of the Easy. Set in 1950, it follows Jo, the estranged daughter of a New Orleans prostitute, who lives & works in a bookshop and dreams of a college education but her plans are thwarted following the murder of an enigmatic customer.

Although we'd planned to watch a film on Friday night we ended up getting stuck into season 4 of Fargo starring Wes Anderson favourite Jason Schwartzman along with Jessie Buckley, Ben Wishaw and Chris Rock.

 I had a couple of parcels to drop off on Sunday morning so we walked down to the Lidl lockers in the blazing sunshine. It was another day for baring arms, wearing my denim waistcoat and a vintage Oasis Trading wraparound maxi.

The rest of the day was spent lazing on the lawn in the sunshine. I started and finished Who Is Maud Dixon? which, after seeing the stage play last week, turned out to be not dissimilar to The Talented Mr Ripley, full of scheming shenanigans, unbridled violence and thrilling twists & turns. Highly recommended!

It was no jacket required for my walk down to the pool on Monday morning, layering an All About Audrey wrap top over my David Silverman pinafore dress. I managed to shave a minute from my personal best, swimming a mile in 41 minutes. I wish I was as agile on dry land as I am in the water! 

Another afternoon of reading in the sunshine, this time absorbed in Dearest Intimate, a novel following the lives of three generations of women, from a cross-dressing opera star to her intellectual granddaughter, trapped in an abusive marriage. The gripping narrative shifts between rural Pre-war China, the chaos of Japanese occupation and modern day Singapore. If, like me, you're a fan of Lisa See, you'll love this.

The sun had ripened our crop of Spring rhubarb which I harvested, peeled and turned into a crumble.

What a shock to the system it was this morning (Tuesday), with a return to the oppressive grey skies and distinctly chilly temperatures.

Still, it was an excuse to give this vintage St Michael wool blouse an outing before I folded it up and saved it for the Autumn. 

With the garden waste due to be collected in the morning I did some gardening and managed to fill the bin. I would have carried on after lunch but it was just too chilly so I spent the rest of the afternoon reading. 

What are you reading at the moment?

Thanks for reading and see you soon!