Cool For Cats

 On Wednesday evening, after muttering This is my worst nightmare under his breath, Jon wasn't as intimidated by the gym as he thought he would be, helped in part by bumping into a couple of friends who, unknown to him, were regulars. I even met a lovely - and very fit - girl who reads my blog. The instructor couldn't have been more welcoming, walking us around and explaining how every piece of equipment worked and what it did and, after a chat, created a personal workout plan for us both, which we did and thoroughly enjoyed (okay, maybe I enjoyed it more!)

We spent the evening watching The Great British Sewing Bee and Interior Design Masters and on Thursday morning, after my Wii Fit workout and breakfast, we headed off to our favourite Black Country town for some charity shopping. Jon was a bit achy, I didn't feel any different so I shall increase the reps with the weight training next time. 

For the stockroom we found a 1960s St Michael dressing gown, a 1980s Yves Saint Laurent velvet pencil skirt (with the tags still attached!), a 1980s cotton circle skirt, a 1980s leisure shirt, a 1970s track top by Rodeo, a pair of vintage deadstock rugby shirts (made in England), some English-made 1990s suede sandals and some leather trimmed jeans by quirky Italian designer label, Save The Queen

Here are the keepers: 

• Faith snakeskin bikini with a rose gold whipstitch trim
• Free People "Hot Tropics" culotte jumpsuit 
• Paige American-made Jane jeans.  
• A 1970s straw bag 
• Vintage leather gloves 
• Fat Face organic cotton and recycled rubber plimsols (now back in the stockroom as Lord Jon can't fit his orthotics inside them) 
• Boden Breton-style tee shirt 
• A chambray blouse
• A large framed print of the iconic 1960s Nymph by JH Lynch. This was £7.95 - there's one currently on Etsy for £490! I've been after this for years!

I love a good trying on session! I had no intention of keeping the jumpsuit - it was destined for eBay and I needed to check the size before I listed it - but once on I loved it, its made from a heavyweight viscose with adjustable shoulder straps & is fully lined with pockets. It's the perfect length (not trailing on the floor) and bright enough to burn your retinas. The snakeskin bikini has gone straight in my travel bag and the chambray blouse is one of those useful things that should slot seamlessly into my wardrobe (especially with the American Apparel shorts I bought last week).

There was only two words to describe Thursday's weather - bastard freezing. It was back to thermal leggings & boots under my Dollyrockers maxi and Cheryl's old suede jacket. Never mind the clothes, I bet you're far more interested in my feline photobomber. This is Minnie from two streets away. We often stop to have a chat (she's very vocal) when we're walking past her house on the way into town but it was the first time she'd visited us.

Isn't she gorgeous?

After an afternoon of washing, steaming and rubble shifting, we had a buffet-style tea of out of date cheese, biscuits and pickles before spending the evening watching Secrets of the Museum and more Borgen. In bed I started my twentieth book of 2022, a deliciously graphic murder mystery set during the San Francisco smallpox epidemic of 1876 and based on a true story. Emma Donaghue's books never disappoint. You might be familiar with the film based on her book, Room - highly recommended if you've not seen it.

Friday started, as it usually does, with a session on the Wii Fit and some parcel wrapping. After breakfast Jon did a post office and supermarket run while I listed a few things on eBay before getting changed and walking down to the baths for our twice-weekly swim. We managed forty lengths, clocking up a total of 1.05miles this week.  

Along with a vintage Kashmiri wool work waistcoat, I wore the chambray blouse and Paige *Jane* jeans I'd found the previous day. 

The quality of these Paige jeans stood out a mile when I ran my hand across the denim rail in the clearance charity shop. I loved the overdyed navy shade and the zipped ankles and pockets and, I knew by the Made in the USA tag that they weren't some high street fashion reject. When I googled them back at home I discovered this model, the "Jane Zip" , currently retails in John Lewis for £220. 

 

I know - no jewellery (bar the earrings), plimsols and jeans! The only vintage I'm wearing is the waistcoat and the 1970s sunglasses and, you know what? I still feel like me. 

Our next escape is within touching distance so I hand-washed the dresses I'm taking and hung them on the line to dry. In contrast to the previous day, it was warm enough to sit outside and read in the sunshine, leaving Jon to tinker with Ebbie. The evening was spent drinking rum, watching the final episode of Slow Horses and then more Borgen.

On Saturday morning I was up first making tea and ironing one of the dresses I'd washed the previous day. After an hour of reading in bed, I stripped and changed the bed whilst Jon made sausage sandwiches. I pegged the washing on the line and continued with my ironing wondering why I had to love such voluminious dresses. 

If you're wondering, the charity shop steamer is great on everything but cotton - for that only a steam iron will do. 

Ollie called round for breakfast. He'd not graced us with his presence since Thursday.

Shortly followed by Mr Trousers who, after rolling around the border and flattening the tulips, came in for a nap.

It was a glorious morning. We walked down to Palfrey Park and spent half-an-hour at the outdoor gym, successfully managing to use all but the monkey bars which had us collapsing in a heap at the base laughing till we cried. (Click on the collages if you want to see them in more detail.)

The tulips & grape hyacinths were blooming in the wildlife area and there was frogspawn in the pool.

We walked to Caldmore, which I've written about HERE, treating ourselves to some Punjabi snacks from Ashirwaad, the pure veg sweet centre.

Back at home I stripped off to my bikini and lay on the lawn with my book. Jacob stomped around his enclosure, delighted with the dandelions we'd snaffled on our walk and Kitty, the pretty tabby from next door, played the stick game with Jon before collapsing in a heap beside the wood pile.

Sunday is the start of No Mow May, where British gardeners are encouraged to lock away their mowers for the month and let the wildflowers in their lawns bloom, feeding our native pollinators. Join us and sign up HERE

Jon got the lawnmower out to mow several pathways, leading to the compost heap, the greenhouse and the pond. 

Here's what we'll be eating later - veg seekh kabab, Punjabi pakoras and Mirchi pakoda (battered chillies) with naga chilli sauce. This platter, including the sauce, was £4.50 - a reward for our workout this morning and is the first time we've bought food from a takeaway since October 2019.

See you soon!