Endings and Beginnings

Happy New Year!  Today dawned with patches of blue sky and a peep of sunshine here in the Rhondda Fawr.  It's a welcome relief from weeks of endless grey.  My last blog post was back in November, so there's rather a lot to catch up on.  For each event, one picture, and a description.  A whistle-stop tour of the last two months of my 2018...

My mum and I went for a rather festive afternoon tea at lovely Miskin Manor.  They were just starting to get their decorations up, and it was lovely to see a bit of colour to brighten up the drab weather.  I wore my late 1930s coat, along with a dress by Pretty Retro, and a fedora from M&S.

May and June Purchases

It's a bumper post, two months in one!  Time has galloped past, so I was struggling to remember what I've bought exactly, and had to look through my PayPal and bank statements.  I was away in Spain for a week at the start of May, and then there were a few weekend commitments that restricted my trips to charity shops and car boot sales.&newersp; Somehow I have still managed to have shopped quite a bit...

On my way to a wedding, a quick pitstop in a Welsh village resulted in two hats.  I wear 'baker boy' styles quite a bit in winter as they are quite wind/rain proof.  The assymetric brown hat has a very '20s feel on.  I think the baker boy was a quid and the brown one about £7.

April Purchases

I'm late with this shopping update, but I have some buys that are too good not to share!  The first April purchase was these Laura Ashley trousers, just £1.  I found them in a heap of clothes on a tarpaulin full of puddles at the car boot sale.  They're a bit loud, in a '60s kind of way.  I think that's why I like them.  I haven't worn them yet, because I don't have anything quite like them already and am wondering how to pull together an outfit around them.  I'm sure inspiration will strike one day.

Birthday in a Fish Shop and Other Stories

This year, it was a rather unusual birthday.  Normally I go on a day out in the UK, perhaps visiting a National Trust property and having a picnic.  It's always weather dependent, and in the days before I am anxiously looking at the forecast.  Not this year - sunshine was guaranteed in Spain!

The day started in our apartment with a lovely breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, followed by the most gorgeous pink raspberry dessert from the popular Ruiz bakery, and a cheeky glass of pink cava to get things rolling.  It was going to be a day of sight-seeing and walking around, so I wore a simple white shirt dress that covered my shoulders, comfy sandals, and a headscarf to keep my hair off my face a little.

We hot-footed it across town then to the pick-up point for the mini-train.  Our destination was the famous Nerja caves, that we'd never actually been to before on any of our previous stays.  The ride is quite fun, through the streets of Nerja and then out on to the main road to the next little town of Maro.  The journey passes by lots of agricultural areas, a historic aqueduct, and the ruins of factories from a time when the sugar industry was at its peak.

March Purchases

March was mainly about online shopping rather than visiting the charity shops.  I was on what I like to call a 'PhD retreat' whilst my husband was away in America for a couple of weeks.  This involved sitting at my laptop in the kitchen, typing furiously for most of the day.  I was allowed breaks for food, walks, and household chores.  But no shopping breaks.  It did curb the shopping considerably, but not completely.

First up, a Laura Ashley archive dress.  This dress was brought out in 2011.  I know, because I blogged about it at the time.  It was £125, which I couldn't afford.  Years of stalking it on Ebay, and I eventually found one for the right price (£20).  I bought the blue colourway, they also did a pink one, and a lime green.  It's shorter than I would like (isn't every dress?!) but I could see myself wearing it on holiday.

February Purchases

It's time for the monthly shopping update!  Last month was a bit spendy, so I deliberately tightened the purse strings this month and stuck to all second-hand clothes.  I don't think I even ventured through the doorway of a 'proper shop'.

We've had a few particularly cold spells (currently really cold spells with the 'Beast from the East'), so it seemed sensible to stock up on a couple of long-sleeve poloneck tops from the charity shops' winter sales.  The purple one is an M&S thermal (£1) - with sparkle - and the other is just a Primark one, but is silver with a lot of sparkle (£2.99.  Why not stay cosy and still feel a bit partyish?

I Shiver

Something a bit different today, as my husband has released a fabulous new, filmed on-location music video!  Despite being just 4 minutes in length, it's like a mini-film.  It even has stunning aerial photography.  You would be forgiven for thinking that this video was shot somewhere in America rather than the unlikely Rhondda of South Wales.  Over the Christmas holidays we had quite a few heavy snowfalls and it transformed the landscape into the perfect setting for a Welsh Western.  (That's not so strange - back in the '70s, they filmed some of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid up the road).

I'd be incredibly grateful if you could give it a watch.  Independent artists have a tough time getting heard against the noise of mainstream labels.

You can watch the video below embedded in this post, or click here to go to the video on Youtube.

I'm such a proud wife right now, though I stayed cosy on the sofa during the making of this video and left the gallivanting around the mountains at night in the snow to the professionals!

A Festive Recap

My oh my, what a month!  I hope that you all had a lovely break over Christmas?

December for me has been filled with visiting friends and family, days out to National Trust properties, lots of cooking, and a spot of dressing up.

I can't possibly write blog posts about all of the adventures I've been on, as I'd still be publishing them in the Spring, so here's a brief pictorial roundup instead.

Above: Cardiff's arcades looking fabulous in fairy lights

November Purchases

So, did I get a bit spendy in the Black Friday sales?

Nope!  I didn't do any Black Friday shopping whatsoever.  I wasn't really that tempted to be honest, and the day was spent wallpapering instead.  A new skill for me, so it was an educational and cheap day's fun.  What I did buy in November was either off Ebay or from charity shops and car boot sales.

First up was this sweet vintage brooch, charity shop (£1).  Signed 'Sphinx', which I didn't know anything about until I read this on the Susan Caplan website: "Founded in Cheswick, England, Sphinx created costume jewellery of unparalleled quality. International fashion houses purchased and sold them as their own. Sphinx frequently did not sign their pieces so that they could be marked by said houses."

Tenby

I like to grab the opportunity to travel at any time of year, even if it's just for a few nights away here in Wales.  Last weekend was a chance to catch up with some friends, with a couple of nights away in Swansea and Llanelli, followed by a day trip to Tenby for the annual blues festival.  The weekend started with quite a heavy night, catching up with good friends not seen in a long time (which always makes the drinks flow faster for some reason?), so I was rather fragile the next day.  I'd recovered sufficiently by the Sunday though, and although it was very cold, it was still looking rather beautiful when we arrived in Tenby.  It's a quaint place that even looks appealing in the grey and drizzle.

My husband was playing at the festival, and we were crammed into a tiny cafe overlooking the beach.  His show was the first stop on the blues trail that day, so it was a bit oversubscribed, and they were turning people away at the door.  It was a lot of fun - the festival has a great atmosphere, and after his set we were able to catch the end of a friend's set and have a bit of a catch-up.

I don't have that many photos to share from the weekend, but there are a few that show Tenby looking incredibly pretty.  It will probably be our last visit to the town in 2017, so it was a fond farewell until next year.

October Purchases

The month's shopping started off slowly.  I held out until the 10th October before making a purchase, when I found a skirt suit online at Secondhandrose (£18ish).  I like the bright, floral skirt suits that have been popping up by designers such as Gucci, and filtering down to brands like Traffic People.  I was pleased to find this vintage one.  It's more of a summer weight one but that gives me time to do some alterations to it, as I want a shorter skirt and a more cropped jacket length.

September purchases

I was about to publish this post when I suddenly remembered another item that I'd bought in September.  A quick hunt through September's photos revealed that I'd actually missed half a dozen items off my purchases list, whoops!  So this is a re-edited version, with more things added.

I still feel a bit guilty for racking up the purchases, despite the majority being charity shop bargains.  I rationalise that it's ethical, it's contributing to charity, and it's affordable.  Perhaps it's a subconscious thing.  Years ago I dreamed of living in a minimalist house - something like on the Grand Designs TV programme.  I imagined one of those wardrobes where each garment hangs freely and neatly in ascending length, creating a pleasing sense of order, rather than being rammed up against a hundred competing items in no logical pattern or colour or print.  Now, I love having so much choice, so much colour.  The possiblities!  I have to accept that unless I am on a short trip somewhere and forced to live out of a very small suitcase, I will never have a minimalist wardrobe.  I'm embracing maximalism instead!  So, here are the totally unnecessary purchases I made in September...

I wanted a special souvenir of our trip to Nerja this year, being our 10 year anniversary, and I ended up with this beautiful handmade necklace by Anuka, a jewellery designer from Madrid.  Not the best photo, but it will feature very soon in an outfit post so you can have a closer look then.

August Purchases

So what did I buy last month?  As usual, it was a fairly eclectic mix.  First up are a couple of very practical purchases.  A sparkly zip-up top from the pound rail, brand new with tags - it will do as a cover-up after an exercise class. I've increased my classes and now do kettlebells, spinning and yoga each week.  I might as well get my money's worth out of my leisure card.

The blue lace-up shoes are Somerset by Alice Temperley at John Lewis.  An Ebay bargain.  I wear lots of different styles of flat lace-up shoe, they are my 'everyday' shoe for when I have a fairly active day.  On weekdays, I wear lace-ups for the journey to work (which invariably might involve running for a train...) and then change into other shoes in the office.  I know, very '80s, but at least they're not white trainers with socks (like in 'Working Girl', I love those scenes of the NY rush hour).

Astronomical Autumn

I intend to have an astronomical autumn this year.

The shops are full of autumn clothing, and my Instagram feed is gradually showing a changing colour palette.  We've come back from a week in Spain to find it much cooler, and for nearly all of the leaves to have fallen from one of our cherry trees.

But, there are still signs of summer around!  Certain scents and flowers linger on, and we've had some lovely warm sunny spells (in between the downpours, admittedly).  You see, while most of us think that 1st September is the 'official' start of autumn, that's not quite true.

Meteorological Autumn follows the calendar, and runs from 1st September to 30th November every year.  Astronomical Autumn falls on different dates each year.  In 2017, it will be from 22nd September until 21st December.  This is when the Northern hemisphere starts to tilt away from the sun, bringing cooler temperatures.

I don't blame the shops for using meteorological autumn, but I'm going to try and hold on to summer a little longer if I can - we've got just under two weeks of summer left!  I've been roaming the hillsides quite a bit since returning from holiday, enjoying what nature has to offer at this time of year.  So, please enjoy some photos and bear with me as I catch up on my social media and blog.  I'm back to work tomorrow after a whopping two and a half weeks off, so it will be a busy week.

Breaking in Clogs with Chambers Leather Balsam

Do you have a pair of clogs?  Do you actually wear them?

If you answered "no" to my second question, then I'll hazard a guess that you find clogs too painful to wear.  You're not alone.  Clogs are reknowned for their ultra stiff leather.  My last outfit post where I was wearing a pair of Swedish Hasbeens prompted a few questions and comments about how I managed to break them in.  They were as-new when I bought them from a charity shop.  The leather was incredibly stiff, and even just trying them on was a bit painful.  That's probably why they were in the charity shop!  I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to wear them, but I took them home anyway.

July purchases

We're well into August now and the last of the sales seem to be petering out.  I'm not even going to pretend anymore that I'm "not shopping", especially in sale season.  But, before I show you what I bought in the final sales, here are July's purchases.  It's your monthly insight into my shopping-obsessed mind.  As usual, I bought a lot, but I sent a lot of it back.  Such frustrations!

It would have been rude not to buy a lovely 1960s' coat for £3 from the car boot sale.  It's heavyweight and will keep me cosy and stylish.  The label says "Fortown".  Yes, I will wear it to town.

June purchases

I know we're actually in August now so this is well overdue, but where does time go?

Well, with me I'll be honest that time mainly goes shopping.  Shopping for food, online shopping, thrift shopping, window shopping, car-boot sale shopping, summer sale shopping, garden shopping, DIY shopping, travel shopping, present shopping.  You get the picture.

June wasn't too bad, I think I made some wise purchases, and threw in a few wild-cards to keep it interesting.  In Norfolk I bought a cotton 80s shirt dress (£4.99), a '50s veiled cocktail hat (£4), and a German traditional costume bodice (£6.99).  Yes, you read that correctly.  I knew what it was the moment I saw it in the shop, and had to try it on.  It's my size, though I'll need a padded bra to do it justice.  The shop assistant was very amused that I was buying it; apparently he had a bet on with the rest of the staff as to whether they'd ever sell it.  My husband said they hadn't factored me in.

Above: vintage '80s shirt dress, traditional German bodice, and a '50s cocktail hat

The Marvellous Mavis Staples!

Last night my husband opened the show for the legendary Mavis Staples at the Tramshed in Cardiff.

Yes, I just wrote that.  I think Chris had to pinch himself when he was on stage.

May Purchases (and Birthday Gifts!)

May was put on restricted purchasing after April's bumper haul.  It was, however, my birthday at the start of the month, so I did make a few little purchases, because a girl's got to treat herself.  It ended up being the month of shoes.  I bought five pairs.  Well, seven, but two got returned.  Whoops!

In Dorchester, I bought some like-new minty Spanish leather shoes (£5) from a charity shop.  It was Dorchester's Sunday car boot sale that proved most fruitful though.  A few antiques sellers caught my attention and I bought off one stall, an Elle silk scarf (£5), some yellow beads (£1), a bangle (£1), and an early plastic acorn brooch (£3 - I still haven't done that Twin Peaks inspired outfit that I promised...).  I also picked up some navy Clarks shoes, again hardly worn (£1.50). 

My Husband Launches His New Album!!

It is with great excitement that I share some news with you today - my husband, Christopher Rees, launches his new album today!  I'm not sure that all of you will have known that my husband is a musician.  This blog is a very small window into my life, and though I have mentioned my husband more and more over the years, the focus is on our leisure time and vintage related hobbies.  Outside of that though, my husband is a talented singer-songwriter with a long career in music.  I'm sure you'll agree that releasing an album is an amazing achievement and I'm proud to share the news here on the blog.

Welsh singer-songwriter Christopher Rees returns with his long awaited new album,'The Nashville Songs' on 30th June 2017 - an inspired collection of songs co-written with some of ‘Music City’s finest writers.   

I took the photo used to create the cover image, and am ridiculously pleased about it.  I have delusions of grandeur that I'm now "Porcelina - music photographer".  Sounds good, don't you think?