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, getting 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 countless times I initially found myself getting irritated by Christopher Nolan's interpretation but, once I 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 and I love that we're still being entertained by a story written at least three thousand years ago.

It's the revised make-up look in closer detail. Several of you have mentioned how much lighter my hair is, it's not intentional, merely 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.

In other news 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 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 they often command insane prices (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 need a stick!

This Kashmiri crewelwork silk rug was £2 in a other 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!

My most momentous news is that tomorrow (5th August) is Jon's 60th birthday and the celebrations have already begun. Last night Liz and Al picked us up and we had a few beers 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 present early ....

 

I think he liked it! 

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

See you soon! 

Eat, Sleep, Watch Football....Repeat!

The promised hot weather and sunshine wasn't forthcoming on Friday morning and it was cold enough for a jacket when we walked down to the baths. However, emerging from Spoons after breakfast, it was starting to warm up. 

I wore a 1970s St Michael vest top, a me-made Anokhi fabric maxi skirt and my Jesus Saves 1970s belt. As I'm an aethist I'm hoping there's a goalkeeper called Jesus playing in the World Cup to make it more relevant! 

It was warm enough to sit in the garden when we got home - which we did! 

In the recent National Trust members magazine, they'd shared a couple of recipes from one of their publications, Irresistible Salads. Jon made both and we enjoyed them so much that we ordered the book. This Lemon, Rocket and Burrata Pasta Salad was another winner.

After the fabulous opening ceremony at Mexico's spectacular Azteca Stadium on Thursday evening and Mexico's well-deserved win, we're now well and truly invested in the World Cup, 2026. On Friday night it was the turn of Canada who drew with Bosnia & Hertzigovina. Neither of us had the stamina to stay up for the 2am USA vs Paraguay match afterwards.

On Saturday morning we watched the game over breakfast. 

After the match we went for a walk around the block before spending the rest of the morning gardening. I wore this 1970s Oasis Trading maxi skirt with a me-made halter top (made using the same Anokhi fabric as yesterday's skirt) and road-tested my newly charity-shopped Tevas, which were an absolute dream to walk in. 

 Although it wasn't exactly tropical I did manage to lie outside reading until late in the afternoon. I started my 43rd book of the year, Philip Kerr's A Man Without Breath. Set during WWII, charismatic Nazi-hating Bernie Gunther, a Berlin police detective, has been enlisted into the German War Crimes Bureau to investigate the Katyn Massacre of 1940. Josef Goebels wants proof of Russian involvement in the hope of destroying the Western Alliance but the truth turns out to be far more damaging. The Bernie Gunther novels (there are 14 in all) are currently being serialised for television and will star the fantastic Jack Lowden on Apple TV later this year. 

Saturday night was another (late) night of football although we went to bed before the Scotland match, watching it on catch-up on Sunday morning.  Continuing with my run of wearing me-made clothes I wore this dress which I made in 2014 using a pair of vintage Grace Sullivan for Heals' Treetop screen-printed curtains and a Kenzo for Butterick dressmaking pattern from 1971.

We went for our usual walk around the block before spending the rest of the day outside (and the evening in front of the football). 

How gorgeous are these roses? I think they're called Carnival but it's been six years since we planted them so I could be wrong. 

Monday was swimming day and, ever the optimist, I left the house with bare arms and sandals. There were issues with the main pool and the management opened the brine baths early so we regulars could get our fix. We used to use the brine until swapping allegiance to the gala pool. I'd forgotten how hard it is swimming in 34°C salted water, it was like wading through treacle! 

I wore a 1960s Jantzen beach dress (nylon with padded boobs) with my denim waistcoat. I tried sitting in the garden for an hour or so when we got home but was defeated by the cold wind.  

Later on we had to go the hospital for my annual appointment with the Opthalmic department - happily there's no change so I'm still just verging on borderline with my Glaucoma. 

The evening was, once again, dominated by the footie!

On Tuesday (today!) I had an appointment with Michael the osteopath and, with a shared love of travel and football, we got on like a house on fire. I wasn't expecting miracles but I felt so much better after I'd had my treatment. At home I realised I'd climbed the stairs like a normal person rather than clinging on to the bannister and going up a step at a time. 

Needless to say, I didn't walk round to the clinic in my black lycra cycling shorts & sports bra - although that seems the outfit of choice for the majority of women these days - instead opting for this embroidered linen sundress from Zara (via the charity shop).

Liz, back from her holiday in St Ives, popped round and we sat outside chatting in the sunshine. I tried to sunbathe for a few hours after lunch but it clouded over....grrr! 

We're both already nervous about tomorrow. Come on, England!