Our happy place

Goodness me, a whole week has flown past and I haven't posted a thing. Life has been really busy with a mix of work, socialising, and kids' stuff, which is all good. It might be a challenge initially, but I'm sure I can find a blogging rhythm which fits with my new work schedule.

No looking back wistfully - onwards.

I bought this dress during a lovely day out in Nottingham last Saturday with my dear friends Vix and Tania.

Beautiful, aren't they?

I just love meeting up with these two sweethearts; we potter and browse and chat and laugh, there's always a comment or two from folk about what we're wearing, and the traditional Wetherspoons lunch is cheap and cheerful. Just like us.

Firemen, sweeper-uppers, and Vix. 

Her blog post about our day is here; she has better photos than me, I was useless and took hardly any.

We chatted to the lady from Sherwood WI who had been partly responsible for the yarn bombing. She told me that the conversation turned rather naughty while she knitted those leeks. Can't think why...

A Wetherspoons in an interesting building with a mobility scooter parked outside; ahhh, we're in our happy place. 

We're waiting patiently for out 'Spoons sponsored lunch. Or weekend away, whichever they would like to offer us. Now that would be a freebie worth having.

Tania and Vix lit up the city centre with vintage colour and big smiles. 

The My Sight charity shop had some cracking stock...

but unfortunately Tania nearly got stuck in that vintage beach set, the quilted velvet coat was just too plain and brown for Vix, and the Shelley's platforms were too big. Oh well.

 

I like the feisty quotation from Nottingham-born writer Alan Sillitoe; Once a rebel, always a rebel, and it's best to be a rebel to show 'em it dun't pay to do you down. 

And after a final pint and a natter, that was that. Our days out always go much too fast,

but we rarely go home empty-handed. 

These well-chosen gifts from Vix and Tan demonstrate the beauty of vintage/secondhand shopping - quirky individual pieces, both useful and pretty, which needn't cost the earth but make perfect presents.

Early 1980s New Looks of California cotton dress - £5, Sunshine Vintage Bazaar

Belt and bangles - charity shopped

Sandals - retail (sale)

I've done two days at work this week, and my brain is buzzing with induction and training information.

Yes, I'm just like this little fella, bumbling about but trying to do the right thing and remember it all.

Not much chance of that, but I'm doing my best, and enjoying it!

xxxx

Knock Knock, Who's There?

Hmm, who could I have been meeting today in Chesterfield for a browse around the weekly flea market?

Vix and Tania, of course!

There we are, posing in the Ladies after a boozy lunch in Wetherspoons while a very kind woman took photos of us. She didn't seem to think there was anything odd about that at all, and neither did we.

It was a grey start to the day; earlier in the morning, the poor market traders had set up their stalls in high winds and snow.

But friends bring their own sunshine, don't they?

Vix and Tan perused the boxes on Joseph's stall, while Joanne tried on (and bought) a Gudrun Sjoden wool waistcoat. 

Is anyone bothered about the future of Top Gear or One Direction? 

No, thought not...

There is always an eclectic mix of merchandise to be found on the market.

Ballot boxes and brooches...

kitchenalia...

1950s hand-painted eggs...

annuals from the Fifties to the Eighties...

vintage games and toys...

and the biggest packet of fags in the world.

We weren't the only Seventies-clad chicks at the market today...

but I think Tania and Vix might have been the only women trying on 1970s matching maxi skirts in the loo.

Gorgeous!

And what do you know, six hours flew by in a blur of chat, browsing, laughs and gossip, and then they were gone.

But see what I mean about good friends bringing the sun?

And lovely presents from Vix too; 1970s fabric, pattern and pendant. Thanks, love!

Not much beats a day with good pals, does it? 

Tomorrow, the family and I are heading to Manchester for a long weekend, so I'll catch up with you all on our return. 

Have fun out there!

xxxx

Once upon a time, there were three little girls...

Forget the police academy and Charlie;

these kickass angels were hunting for bargains, not crooks!

 There is something deliciously naughty about playing truant from the normal routine, and heading off for a cheeky mid-week trip out with your mates.

Yesterday, Vix, Tania and I descended on Burton on Trent for a day of charity shopping, chatting and laughing, with a little bit of boozing thrown in for good measure. 

But first, the very serious business of chazzing; eight charity shops, and that's without photos of the PDSA and furniture store. 

Did I say serious?

Not exactly...

Vix went home with only one of these items; try as we might, Tan and I couldn't persuade her to buy the 1990s catsuit (which looked amazing), the fleece (which didn't), or the 1960s hat.

The 1970s suede skirt, on the other hand, was perfection. If you look carefully, you can see an old chap in the background on the right; he followed us around the shop, and watched in delight as Vix tried the skirt on under her frock. All his birthdays came at once with that flash of shapely arse.

Tania took tea, then joined the Navy. And I concur, she has Great Style.

Burton has some attractive architecture around the market square...

and look, Sajid was there with his gorgeous braid and trimmings, so popular on our last bloggers' day out in Walsall.. 

As we approached his stall, he kept a very straight face and said if you want a date, Vicky, you only have to ask... 

This little fella looked pretty pleased to see such luscious ladies too. Just the right height for teeny tiny Tan; Pool Boy had better watch out. 

 

Balls to Christmas. I don't want to think about it yet.

Of course we hit the local Wetherspoons, and of course we took photos in the toilets.

We weren't very good at selfies, it must be a yoof thing. 

 See what I mean?

But do you know what we are good at? Apart from making each other laugh and putting the world to rights?

Well, charity shopping, naturally.

I bought;

a vintage Welsh wool cape, a tan leather saddle bag, and a pair of studded leather ankle boots.

1960-70s Eclipse wool cape, hat and bangles - charity shopped

1970s French-made Tricosa maxi skirt - antiques/collectables centre, Matlock

Boots - retail

At last; a cape I can wear without the T.Rex arms effect!

Thank to Tania for spotting it, and to both ladies for helping me work out how to wear it...

What a fantastic day. 

We talked (a lot), we giggled (loads), we browsed and shopped and ate and drank, and the day flew by. 

And the moral of the story? Don't wait for Charlie to take you away from all this, or for someone else to suggest a day out or a meet-up. Just go for it, you'll be so glad you did. And if you manage to flash a pensioner and take some rubbish selfies in the process, then the job's a good 'un!

PS. Vix's post about our day is here. Keep a look out for Tania's too - I have a suspicion there will be some classic photos featuring Deranged Face (my speciality. You're welcome.)

xxxx

I met some gin-soaked bar room queens in Walsall

It is a truth universally acknowledged that when vintage-loving bloggers meet up, there is much chatting, laughing and shopping.

And yesterday was no exception.

 

Walsall's vintage Aladdin's cave, Second to None, full to bursting with amazing stock at great prices, and a lot of happy shoppers.

Serious rummaging went on, fuelled by cans of gin and tonic and vodka and orange, thoughtfully supplied by Hostess with the Mostest, Vix.

There's Tania and her friend Vanessa with Vix, Em and Annie in the top pic, and Gisela checking out the handbags.

Trying on and posing for photos is all part of the fun.

 Vix is a supermodel, of course, whether she's wearing a 1970s pimp-tastic vinyl and faux fur maxi coat, a Dollyrockers frock, or a 1960s suede jerkin over a bikini. 

And look at the amazing print on the dress Em is wearing.

Tania tried a 1960s floral housecoat and an early 1980s C&A jumpsuit (anyone else thinking Anneka Rice in Treasure Hunt?)

Emma rocked the faux fur and a 1970s shirt with a fantastic print.

Annie was taken with the late 1960s/early 70s Indian cotton maxi with the fantastic sleeves, and Fiona also went the hippy route with a beautiful Indian block printed wraparound skirt.

What did they buy? Hmm, you'll have to wait till the lovely ladies do their own posts and show you!

Lunch in a Wetherspoons pub is de rigeur - cheap, cheerful, and boozy. One of Walsall's Wetherspoons is in St Matthew's Hall, built in 1830 as a library. Isn't it a beautiful building?

Bloggers hit the streets!

That's Em in the beautiful green coat; Fi wearing a fantastic tartan maxi skirt, and Gisela in a fab frock and denim jacket. Tan is rocking her curtain couture dress, Vanessa's jeans show off her amazing legs, Lyndsey is working the vintage dress and Converse combo brilliantly, and Vix is doing some excellent pattern mixing. 

Don't they look great?

Walsall's stunning Victorian shopping arcade. 

The trimmings stall on the market got a lot of love.

Look at Tan's little face - ooooh! Fi and Em have matching buns. I refer to their hair, not their bottoms. 

The boxes of braids, pom poms and sequins could be a visual metaphor my blogging friends - colourful, fun, sparkling and beautiful. Cheap, too.

Vix reliving her past - teenagers arranged to meet their dates at Walsall's famous 1970s concrete hippo!

Gray's Herbal Tablets - the working man's friend for cold nights and mornings. 

Anyone need any hair? Vix asked, as she took us for a browse in the Asian beauty shop.

So after a final drink, we went our separate ways after another excellent day out.  Thank you, darlings, for your wonderful company.

And what did I buy?

This delectable 1970s cape-sleeved maxi...

 

but titter ye not, it's by Frederick Howard, not Frankie. 

And this 1960s beauty, for when I come over all Regency lady.

Surprising, I know, but I do occasionally have an Elizabeth Bennet moment. It's happened before, you can read about it here if you like.

1960s David Butler maxi dress - Second to None

1970s wool hat - flea market

Bangles, necklace and shoes - charity shopped

I can't recommend meeting up with fellow bloggers highly enough - it's a joy.

And if you can't do it in person, then a virtual get together over at Patti's Visible Monday is the next best thing - see you there! 

 xxx