I feel the heat...

All jewellery charity shop except earrings from e bay.

Hello lovelies!

Well, I have been a busy bee for the past couple of weeks, but first I must show you just a few of the wonderful things I saw on our visit to the V&A museum.

 I have to go back as there was so much more to see.

The photos of the jewellery didn't come out very well but this is one of the better ones. It features coral and turquoise jewellery from the 1920s. How amazing is that coral tiara? The coral daisy type items are two hair pins and a brooch/pin. Some of the jewellery was breathtaking.

Moving on...

A retable (altarpiece) by Raphael about 1410.

I managed to visit the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art:

Istanbul circa 1731.

I didn't think to photograph the information panels so I can't remember from where and which eras these beautiful dishes came from.

Now to the clothes:

Alexander McQueen - 1990s

Early 1900s

The coat is by Liberty of London 1905 -1910. The yellow mantle by Paul Poiret 1913.

1925 - shoes by Lilley and Skinner! Remember them?

Utility clothing 1940s

1960s - Pyjama suit by Emilio Pucci about 1968. The  orange dress is by Courreges. I used the chequered outfit as inspiration for an outfit. See below.

1950s. Embroidered dress by Norman Hartnell.

This last  item was both unusual and very clever. A patchwork embroidered wall hanging made in 1820 out of overcoats and military uniforms.

I don't find clothes from the 19th century and earlier centuries as interesting as the clothes from 1900 onwards and this is reflected in the lack of photos from those eras. Sorry! There were quite a few displays of them though and if you like fashion, style and clothes then the V&A is for you! I wish they had even more clothes on display...

After all that beauty and glamour you'll have to make do with me now!
This is the sweater dress I bought for 99p in Barnardo's in Ampthill. Cardigan also charity shopped, by M&S. Headscarf; charity shopped. The one around my neck can double up as a sarong and was brought back from Jamaica by OH for me quite a few years ago.

Navy leggings; M&S 1.00 rail and blue boots; 1.99 both Red Cross. 

This outfit below, is the one I wore last Sunday when I went out to  Sunday lunch with OH and two of my lovely brothers. Julian was getting over the horrible bug that's affected very many people here and stayed at home. 

The outfit was inspired by one of the outfits seen at the V&A; unfortunately I didn't have a chequered brooch to match so made do with my 50p zip brooch instead! Just seen in the head and shoulders photo below. Everything I'm wearing is charity shopped except the black top and the boots which are from Sainsbury's.

Skirt 1.00 from 3:16 charity shop; cardigan charity shopped is by F&F (Tesco). The black top is one of two I bought in the La Redoute sale about three years ago.

I lost one of these earrings later on in the day. I'm always losing earrings and it's my own fault because I'm often too lazy to put the backs in. You'd think I'd learn by now wouldn't you? I have a bag of single earrings that are missing a mate. I live in hope the mate will turn up one day. Strangely enough I lost a silver and coral earring about a fortnight ago and this week OH found in his car! A few years back i lost a copper steel pan earring OH brought me back from Jamaica at the same time as the scarf (see above). About a month later I found it in the gutter (slightly flattened) near to where I often park my car! So you can see why I keep the odd ones just in case....

Outerwear

Scarf charity shopped; jacket (Fenn Wright Mason) charity shopped in the RSPCA in Newport Pagnell; 5.00.

On Wednesday afternoon, having led my 7 mile walk for the Ramblers, I went to meet my ex colleague for a coffee in a cafe in the village where she lives. It was lovely to catch up; I haven't seen her for 18 years!

I gave my charity shopped Boden velvet coat an outing. I thought it went well with my Primark sweater dress bought with a Christmas voucher. The navy ankle boots were bought online retail. Scarves charity shopped.

Oh dear, my thermal vest is showing...

All jewellery charity shopped.

Dress charity shopped in Donegal for 3 euros. Crochet cardigan 99p rail last year at Barnardo's. Leggings; Sainsbury's retail. Scarf charity shopped. Boots; present from daughter. You can see the newly opened chimney breast in this photo. The plaster was still very wet. When the guys took out the bricks and rubble they found this fragment of one of the original Edwardian tiles; part of the original hearth. Isn't it beautiful?

The chimney sweep came last Thursday and there was no mess at all! Once the plaster has fully dried out we need to repaint the chimney breast. By last weekend the hearth was laid in the fireplace; we had bought coal, logs and kindling; plus a coal bucket and companion set. We were ready for the burner to be installed on the Monday. On Sunday we moved the furniture out of one room into the other. It was exhausting.The dining room was now back to where it should be - beside the kitchen, and the living room was reinstated to its original place.

On Thursday I also got two (!) parking tickets. This year is the first year the council are not sending us out reminders to renew our resident parking permit. When I went to my car Thursday lunchtime to go and do the food shopping there was a parking ticket on it. My resident parking permit had run out the day before - the last day of January! When I parked up again and unpacked my shopping I went back to the car with a  temporary parking permit from my book of visitors permits; I'd been given another parking ticket! I've contested both of them. I'll let you know the outcome.

I spent a lot of the last week cleaning up and waiting in for workmen to arrive but I found time  to get to the hairdressers and one day to do some errands in town. I paid a quick visit to the Mercy in Action charity shop. I bought this no label tunic in there for 3.00 and a cotton jacket for summer for 2.00. The leggings are M&S; charity shopped and I'm wearing a  Primarni blue stretchy top underneath the tunic  as it is very low cut! Navy boots as before.

I didn't get much reading done either last week, but I have got on really well with grandson's blanket. I have now sewn all the squares together in strips and have started to sew the strips together. Next thing will be the border and then the awful chore of sewing millions of ends in; hey ho. My next project will be a throw for my bed in shades of violet and lavender.

All jewellery charity shopped. I forgot to put bangles or rings on!

This week has been very cold but from Monday evening we had the warmth of the new stove to look forward to. A new routine has been established; OH comes in from work and lights the stove;  with me having done all the necessary cleaning out of the stove and filling up of coal buckets etc during the day. It is such a pleasure to have the stove and as we won't have the TV connected up in that room until the 7th March it's also been very peaceful...

On Tuesday I volunteered as usual at the Food bank and the library.

On Wednesday I went for a rummage in the afternoon. I'm sorry I didn't go walking as it turned out to be a lovely day; very cold but bright and sunny with a clear blue sky. I decided to go to Newport Pagnell and Olney instead. I was looking for a basket to put kindling in and I found one in Age UK in Olney. In Newport Pagnell my favourite charity shop was closed for refurbishment so there were only three to look in. I bought a brooch for 2.00 in Age UK Newport Pagnell; a necklace and purple bangle for 50p each and a turquoise checked shirt 2.00 from the sale rail in Willen Hospice.

This will be my new setting for photos - my living room.
 Everything charity shopped except the boots from Sainsburys. Skirt; M&S, top; can't remember, cardigan bought in Donegal charity shop.

All jewellery charity shopped including the necklace which was a present from OH.

On Thursday new windows in the kitchen and bathroom were fitted and a new back door. Hopefully we'll feel the benefit of them soon.  I noticed the difference in the bathroom on Friday morning; it wasn't freezing cold first thing in the morning!

Oh dear: I am such a mucky cow. I've got soup on my tunic. Of course youngest grandson, who was photographer for the day didn't tell me. Yellow tunic; Sainsbury's retail. Floral leggings; retail sale. Boots; online retail. Blue top under tunic charity shopped; 1.00 rail, Jaeger jacket 99p rail; Barnardo's in Great Denham. Scarf charity shopped. All jewellery charity shopped.

This weekend I'm off to see my son on Saturday and hope to get a bit of walking in on Sunday. I haven't been walking at all this week and I've missed it. I am really fed up with the damp and cold and the frequent gloom; I can't wait for some proper sunshine! What about you - what are you up to?

Until next time...

It's getting warmer chez Vronni...

Hello again!

The rather odd title will have more meaning when you read on but meantime
I've been on a Dorothy Whipple reading binge; recently reading three of her novels in a row. I enjoyed them so much I wanted to read more. With the exception of a book of short stories I've read all of DW's books now and I have a big sense of loss. If you're not familiar with DW she was a popular author earlier in the 20th century who sank into obscurity until rescued and republished by Persephone Books in the early twenty-first century. Her books are quiet, understated stories about people; their lives, loves and mistakes and always beautifully written. Highly recommended. 

I went out for a 6 mile walk last Friday morning; did some food shopping and picked up the grandchildren from school. Another grey day so I tried to brighten things up with some colour. Everything is charity shopped except the shoes from Primarni 5.00 on sale and the shirt from Tu at Sainsbury's, also on sale. I don't like paying full price for anything! The dress is by Joe Brown's and I've had it for about four or five years now. I can't remember which charity shop I got it from. Tights charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped. The earrings were one of the 7 pairs I bought in St Neot's on an earlier rummage. Scarf charity shopped.

I wore this on Saturday. Checked dress; The Children's Society, 4.29, Cambridge. Cardigan; M&S charity shopped somewhere. Top under dress by Primarni. Boots present from daughter. Scarf charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped except earrings; Christmas present from OH.

I had a very quiet weekend and did quite a lot of crocheting. I'm now on to the third set of squares for eldest grandson's blanket - 20 x yellow circles in a black square. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this I'll be on the final set of squares. I've decided to go with more red circles as I have a lot of red wool left. I had to go out and buy a ball of black wool as I didn't have enough but I'm hoping to use up all the red, yellow and orange wool I left over when I do the blanket border. I'll make quite a deep border.

On Tuesday I took the youngest grandson to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge for an appointment. This was my outfit. Everything is charity shopped except the OTK boots - online retail.

The jewellery is all charity shopped. The earrings were another of the seven pairs I bought last week in my St. Neot's rummage.

On Wednesday, I went walking on my own again. I find it very difficult to get out if bed on these dark mornings so I can't always make the group walks in time - they start at 10 am and I usually have a 20 or 30 minute drive to the meeting point. At the moment it's easier to walk on my own at a time of my own choice. Wednesday was very windy, cold but with a beautiful blue sky and some sun. Yippee! I recce'd my walk for the Ramblers and did 7 miles. I saw a flock of Redwings which made my day. I'd never seen a flock before. I didn't have my rucksack with me so no binoculars but I'm almost sure they were Redwings...

On Thursday evening OH and I went to our other local cinema, Cineworld to see 'Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri'. A brilliant film which I first heard of here at 'Mrs. Miniver's Daughter'; a lovely blog about books, films, exhibitions and sometimes, food!

I walked again on Friday this time with the Ramblers and did the Friday bus walk. We caught the bus to the village of Turvey and walked to the village on Olney in Buckinghamshire; 7 miles away, then caught the bus back to Bedford. It was cold but very bright and sunny. A lovely walk with lovely people. We finished with tea and cake whilst waiting for the return bus...I rarely travel on buses so it's always a treat for me and I always see things I haven't noticed before! I changed  into this when I got back to pick the grandchildren up from school.

 Every thing I'm wearing here is charity shopped. The top was from a 99p/1.00 rail somewhere and the jeans more than likely came from the Red Cross 1.99. Both are by Next.

I went to Kempston in the week and had a look in two charity shops. I bought a few things in the Keech Hospice shop including this striped cardigan above for 2.25. They had 50% off coats, jackets and skirts. Trying to get rid of as much winter winter clothing as possible, I expect before they bring out the Spring/Summer clothes. People have reported seeing snowdrops so it means Spring is on the way. I've seen cherry blossom but it certainly doesn't feel like Spring!

Last Sunday I had planned to go for a 7 mile walk with my daughter but it rained, sleeted and snowed -  so that was the end of that idea! I wore this outfit on Sunday. More monochrome! The velvet trousers are the bottom half of one of those velour track suits and it and the spotted top and waistcoat were all charity shopped. I'm wearing my black BNWT New Look Chelsea boots bought in Newport Pagnell at the Willen Hospice shop for 6.00.

I like these sets of photos together but I can't remember how the heck I got these three together like this. Of course I did it on my phone which complicates matters..

All jewellery charity shopped except the earrings which I treated myself to from Sainsbury's.

Tuesday was volunteer day. I wore this sweater dress I bought last week in the Keech Hospice shop for 3.99. It's by Tu (Sainsbury's) and although I already have a navy sweater dress; this one is made of fine wool, has a V neck and two pockets. The striped jacket was bought in the same place at the same time. Scarf and boots also charity shopped.

All jewellery charity shopped. Earrings another pair of the 7 I bought in St Neot's a couple of weeks back.

I've been very busy over the past weeks researching online and running around to get a range of quotes. My house was built in 1906 and although we have central heating; it's a very cold house as we have the original sash windows at the front and wooden floors. I've decided to replace the kitchen window, back door and bathroom window (all put in in the 1960s) with UPVC ones, which will help retain the heat. Not pretty I know but functional. The glass in standard UPVC windows is seven times thicker than the glass in my windows - so one of the guys who came to give me a quote told me! I'm also going to open up the chimney breast in our original living room and install a multi fuel stove. That should help warm the house up when needed and we can move back in there. We swapped living rooms about three years ago and our original living room is bigger.

If I have enough money left (!) I want to replace our kitchen as the current one is a cheap one installed by my friend's husband in 2005. Also, it is such a small kitchen I've never had room for my fridge and freezer in there; I would like to have a kitchen where these two appliances are integrated instead of being out in the hall....

 I had planned to go walking on Wednesday but it was a rotten day - very windy and wet! Instead I visited various local places that stock solid fuel stoves and a kitchen specialist shop. I bought a solid fuel stove and by my next post it may be in place, burning wood or coal - fingers crossed! However,  as I was in Ampthill that, of course, means Barnardo's and the 99p rail. I did so well. I bought a tunic; another sweater dress, a pair of cropped jeans, a short sleeved top, a long lightweight coat, another scarf (yes really!) and some long blue beads - all 99p.

What was even better than my bargains was that I met an old colleague in Barnardo's who is now volunteering there. I last saw her in 2000, so it was lovely to meet her again. We're going to get together very soon.

Comfy clothes for trekking around the shops

Everything charity shopped. M&S jeans; Primark denim shirt; Fat Face cardigan. Boots present from daughter.

All jewellery charity shopped.

On Thursday, OH took a day's holiday and we had a day of culture in London.  We were in London just before midday. Our plan was to go to the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum; have dinner out and then go to Shepherd's Bush Empire to watch 'This is the Kit' in the evening.  I first heard this band on Irish radio in the summer and bought all their albums when I got back to the UK. They are firm favourites of mine now; you can have a listen to them here. I saw they had a concert on in January so I booked some tickets - in October! They are appearing in Cambridge at 'The Junction' on 26th. If I'd known that back in October I would have booked tickets for Cambridge; only 30 miles away but then I would have missed out on a fabulous day in London...

Home made vintage  swing coat bought at a car boot sale, scarves charity shopped, boots from Sainsburys. Leather gloves; Christmas present from my friend Ann. This is what I wore to London and kept on for most of the day. It was a chilly but sunny day and the Empire, too, was pretty cold until all the seats filled up with people.

The Zara tunic was bought in Barnardo's on Wednesday for 99p; jacket M&S; charity shopped in Kettering. Leggings also M&S retail.

All jewellery charity shopped including another pair of the 7 pairs of earrings bought in the Hospice shop in St. Neots.

 'The Lovers,' by Paul Day is at  St. Pancras International but I have never seen it before! Probably because it's outside the station and I'm usually inside heading from the mainline station to the tube.

It is a truly wonderful piece of sculpture. This is one of the many detailed sections from the plinth.

The V&A was fantastic. I had never been before despite being born in and living in London until I was 18 and for some periods after that. I'm nearly 64 now and thought it was time I went! Better late than never is my motto.

We were there for about three hours and I only managed to have a look at the fashion section - not the Balenciaga Exhibition sadly; it was booked up; the jewellery section and briefly, the ceramics. Another trip is required to see the rest of the things I want to see! After  standing for many hours looking at beautiful objects and yes, I admit it, almost dribbling at times; I developed back ache and we, very extravagantly, got a cab from the V& A to Shepherd's Bush where we had dinner and went to the gig.

'This is the Kit' - 25th January 2018 - on stage at the Shepherd's Bush Empire doing the final encore!

It was a wonderful day and the gig was fantastic. I'll post more about the exhibits at the V&A in my next post otherwise you'll be here all night reading it! I should also have completed Grandson's blanket and can show you the finished article.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and for those in colder climes, stay warm!