Tuesday 26 April 2016

Tuesday I got Friday on my mind

For the last year or so, I've been in the habit of taking as many Friday afternoons off as possible, making my weekends just that little bit longer.  

Lately, I've been feeling the need for some extra time for myself and for doing the things I love. Unfortunately, as I cannot afford to give up full-time work any time soon, I will have to make do with an extra couple of hours here and there.

I am very lucky that Jos, my husband, is retired, and is doing most of the housekeeping while I am at work, so that all our free time is exactly that: free time, to spend whichever way we like.

My free Friday afternoons are often spent having coffee and a good chat - as well as a vintage shopping session - with my friend Inez.  Sadly, due to circumstances, she has not been able to join me lately, and I really miss our “us” time terribly.

Before catching the bus home last Friday, I had a browse in my favourite vintage shop, ThinkTwice.


After seeing the bottom picture, Jos said that it is looking suspiciously like the inside of my wardrobe, but that's an insult really, as my wardrobe is much more organized!

The shop was having one of its famous sales, and everything was only € 4. In spite of this, I did not go completely mad, and came home with just 3 things.


All glorious 100% polyester!

These are the things I couldn’t resist:










A cute mustard yellow dress with a pretty flower pattern in white, orange and green, which fits both Angelica and me perfectly.



















A black A-line skirt with a colourful pattern which I am thinking of wearing to work later this week.

















And finally: a maxi! It was Vix who convinced me that you don’t need to be tall to look good in a maxi, as she always looks stunning in hers.


As on Friday afternoon it was still reasonably warm and sunny, we spent some time in our garden.


The dress I'm wearing is yet another one I found at Think Twice and the elephant brooch was charity shopped. 







I love wearing those red boots, which are really comfortable.

I didn't wear them in a very long time though, as they had lots of bothersome straps, which I didn't like.

Last autumn, I finally took my scissors to them and cut them all off.

Since then, my red boots have been on many an outing.














Thanks to Jos, who spent the last two weeks pruning like crazy, our garden is starting to look a bit less like a jungle, although there is still a lot of work to be done to restore it to its former glory after the neglect of the last couple of years.



In the process, we are rediscovering our "garden artwork", some of which was hidden by ivy and other rampant climbers.

Summer 2013


Now, we are waiting for the weather to warm up again to add some colourful planting and spruce up our sitting area, so that we can once again enjoy outside breakfasts in summer.

Oh, I am so looking forward to some warmer weather!

















29 comments:

  1. Ann, you look utterly fabulous in that maxi dress, what a beauty!
    You did amazingly well in the flash sale, the rails do look suspiciously like your blog header.
    The red boots are fantastic and so is the sneak peek at your lovely kitchen and garden. Don't you look a picture at your dainty table?
    It's snowing here - no chance of doing anything outside today! xxx

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    1. Thanks Vix, I knew you would appreciate a good maxi. I must say that I feel fabulous wearing it. If only the weather would improve. I want to wear my summer frocks! We didn't have snow (yet), but it's very cold and we had a fierce hailstorm yesterday. xxx

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  2. You have got a delightful garden, Ann! I can imagine you sipping tea, sitting among ivy plants ...
    Your maxi dress is very cute and you will wear it often with summery temperatures...

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    1. The garden still needs a lot of work, Dan. I'm afraid we have neglected it a bit. By this summer I'd like it to look again like it did in 2013 ... xxx

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  3. Well I can't believe it, we even have gardens the same. Ours is full of all sorts of paraphenalia including a picket fence made out of old hammers, a rusty bike, old weighscales, a wooden chair with plants on. The list is endless.
    I'm loving you in that maxi, it looks fantastic and when you've finished with the mustard frock passes it over to me haha.
    We sure were seperated at birth.
    Lynn xxx

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    1. So that's why I always felt I was born in the wrong country :-) That mustard frock looks like it's going to be a favourite. Can't wait to wear it once the weather improves ... xxx

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  4. herrliche muster!
    i really love this seventies prints - especially the huge floral ones! although i´m not a fan of polyester - the colors and patterns of that garments are gorgeous!
    fab red boots! and bravo for cutting off the tinsel :-)
    our garden was i wilderness too - but last autumn we had to install a new dirt water plant - now its a desert with lumps and bumps. much work to do....
    xxxxxx

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    1. I love a wild garden and I'm sorry to hear about yours. I hope you can get it back to its former glory. What a coincidence that we've both chosen red boots for our latest post. I really like your "gummis". xxx

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  5. I think you showed great restraint in that sale! You did buy some lovely clothes and Vix is so right where maxis are concerned - she's the maxi guru! I can't wait for it to get warmer too, I woke up to frost this morning! xx

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    1. I was good, wasn't I. I kept thinking of the lack of space in my wardrobe, but couldn't resist these, especially the maxi, which I'm very pleased with. Indeed, Vix is the maxi guru, and without her example I wouldn't even have dreamt to try a maxi. We had frost too this morning, surely we're entitled to some warmer weather by now! xxx

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  6. The mustard yellow dress will be a wonderful wardrobe addition as you can stretch it through several seasons. The maxi is glorious.

    Your garden umbrella is very mod-I love it.

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    1. Thanks Goody! That mod umbrella is actually an original 1960s one from my parents. xxx

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  7. That maxi is gorgeous!!!! You look amazing in it!!! Well done to Vix for persuading you!! How nice that they had a 4euro sale!! WOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWWOO!!!!x

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    1. Thanks Kezzie. The shop is really amazing, holding regular sales, starting from -30% up to € 1 per item on the very last day. Yes, you read that right: € 1. But it's madness in the shop on that day, as you can imagine ... xxx

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  8. Fabulous outfits all! I especially like the blue and red one - but than again, I am immensely partial to red (I even dubbed it my signature colour in a blog post on the subject last year). You can sure rock a maxi awesomely. They're such a chic, cool garment and you look magnificent in this vibrant stunner.

    Big hugs & many thanks for all of your terrific recent blog comments,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Thank you so much Jessica! I love getting your blog comments. Being a novice blogger, I am really honoured. xxx

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  9. I love the black skirt you bought, I never wear skirts any more I don't know why, then I see ones like that and think I really should wear some of mine again.

    The weather has been so cold, snow and frosts every morning I have given up hope of getting my seeds planted any time soon!

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    1. Thank you, Miss Magpie! I am wearing the skirt now by the way. I have quite a few of them, but still end up wearing dresses more than skirts. Did you see the elephant brooch? I was actually thinking of you when I pinned it on ;-) xxx

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  10. Thank you, Miss Magpie! I am wearing the skirt now by the way. I have quite a few of them, but still end up wearing dresses more than skirts. Did you see the elephant brooch? I was actually thinking of you when I pinned it on ;-) xxx

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  11. That mustard dress looked great on the pile, but all three look really impressive on. Good haul!

    I'm with you on wanting extra time but having to work fulltime. Still, at least we have jobs...

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    1. Thanks Mim, and you're absolutely right that we have to count ourselves lucky to still have jobs ... xxx

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  12. Oh gosh! All your dresses and skirts are amazing! I especially love the black and green maxi. Vix does always look amazing in hers, but so do you.

    I LOVE the elephant brooch, too xx

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    1. Thank you, and I'm honoured that you are visiting my blog. I never thought I would look good in a maxi. xxx

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  13. Firstly thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog!! I think we share quite a few similar passions and that is very cool! Gardening, photography, second hand shopping, I think we were destined to find each other. I admit I had to look up anglophile, well done you, I love my country too.

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    1. Thank you for visiting mine, Sue. It's always great to meet like-minded people. Oh, and I love cats too! Hope that yours are ok and are now being spoiled by you ... xxx

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  14. What super finds! That rail of clothes looks gorgeous and you look wonderful I your new maxi. I have two but haven't worn them in years, one is black polyester with gold sequin trim and the other burgundy chiffon xx

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  15. Thank you Melanie. By coincidence, I too have a black polyester maxi with gold trim. I have yet to wear it though. xxx

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  16. I just stumbled on your blog through folly bird and what a cool spot on the net. Great looks I love the striped dress

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