In the grey of December

It was to a grey and foggy world that we woke up last Saturday, but at least it was dry after the endless rain of the week before.

We were raring to go out and have a taste of fresh air before the rain clouds would once again descend on us.

The aforementioned fresh air turned out to be quite chilly, nipping at any uncovered extremities, so we wrapped up warmly, giving me the chance to wear my latest € 4 winter coat.

This coat is such a pleasure to wear, being warm but not too heavy as some woollen winter coats tend to be. The furry collar and especially the generous amount of fur at the hem, make me feel quite glamorous.

The extremities were covered by a teal velvet hat (slightly too large, I should have added a headband to secure it more firmly over my ears) and a pair of purple suede gloves. I added a turquoise knitted scarf for extra warmth.

My choice of handbag was a dark chocolate brown tapestry one with a floral motif.

These boots are good quality leather ones charity shopped a few weeks ago. I've just realized I completely forgot to show them to you, so here they are.

They close with a side zipper, although the laces at the back can be adjusted if necesssary.

Let me show you what I'm wearing underneath!

The dress's fabric is a heavy polyester, and it has a front zipper and wide turned up cuffs.

I broke up the pattern with a caramel coloured belt and a vintage plastic brooch carved with flowers in blue, red and ivory. The beads echo the blue of the dress's pattern and I chose a plastic ring in a similar colour as the belt.

On top went a chocolate brown cardigan edged in yellow, contrasting perfectly with my two deep blue 1930s Gentian brooches. The large one came from our favourite indoor flea market while the small one was charity shopped for a pittance in Cardigan last summer. I just had to wear them together.

By the time we made it to the park the fog was retreating but the sky was still a dull uniform grey, the sun lacking the energy and motivation to break through the iron curtain of clouds.

The edges of the park were blurred, the trees veiled in a light haze, the gnarled bark of their trunks a sombre brown.

It was a typically gloomy December day on which it is quite clear that, although not yet officially Winter, nature has outgrown its Autumn mellowness.

The relentless rain has made a soggy mess of the remains of the once abundant herbaceous border surrounding the park's pond.

The delicate Cyclamen have finished flowering, leaving patches of patterned leaves in their wake, a welcome oasis of green amid the endless carpet of sodden brown leaves.

We spotted the tall, leggy figure of a heron, that most majestic of birds, almost pre-historic in appearance.

When I tried to tiptoe closer, it took flight: wings flapping and with its legs dangling, it was airborne.

I've read that the heron often keeps its neck extended when taking flight, but once in level flight coils it back in typical heron fashion, which to my surprise I caught on camera!

Near the pond, the monochrome world suddenly turns orange. Bright orange!

It is where Taxodium distichum, the bald cypress, grows.

Deciduous, its feathery foliage turns this fiery colour in Autumn, then carpets the ground until it glows as if touched by a magic wand, creating an eerie world of colour, while all around seems to be leached of it.

One has but to step onto the bridge to bring out the full population of the pond's waterfowl, including a handful of cleverly disguised gulls, in search of a handout.

Unfortunately, we'd had our picnic in the car and ate everything to the last crumb, so they swam away disappointed, but in orderly fashion!

I'd taken off my gloves so that I could use my camera (making a mental note to put my pair of fingerless gloves in my handbag), so by now the cold was numbing my fingers and turning them stiff and clumsy.

Stamping to keep warm, pulling our hats closer over our ears, it was time to return to our car and hit a couple of charity shops!

It was Saturday, after all ...

Linking once again to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style!

Window on the world

The office I spend my working days in is on the fifth floor, with huge windows opening up to a view of Antwerp's impressive cathedral (built between 1352 and 1521), across a jumble of rooftops.

After twenty two years, the excitement of having this unique view has somewhat paled, but it still prompts me often enough to get out my camera.

The weather as well as the changing seasons offer an inexhaustible variety of snapshots which never fail to delight my photographic eye.

The view is flanked by a looming monstrosity of a concrete office building dating from the 1960s on one side, and Europe's first skyscraper completed in 1931 on the other.

When the weather is stormy, the howling wind is amplified by the loftiness of the skyscraper, in whose perimeter there are currents of wind on even the calmest of days.

The rain lashing against the windows makes me look up from what I'm doing and, standing in front of the windows I look out on the soggy streets where tiny people are carrying umbrellas, their heads bent, their bodies struggling against the wind.

Looking westward, away from the cathedral and to the left of the skyscraper, I am regaled by glorious pink and orange sunsets after crisp and sunny Winter days, with a blinding fiery orange sun disappearing below the rooftops and the eternal cranes dominating the horizon.

One of the perks of working in the city centre is that I can make a quick dash to the shops during lunch breaks, although it can be quite busy, especially during school holidays and, of course, in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Another perk is that all three of the Think Twice shops are within walking distance, especially when, as in the week before last, they are having one of their sales.

These were this month's € 4 finds:

I love the print on this blouse, which features stylish vintage-clad ladies. The A-line Tweed skirt was another Think Twice find from a couple of years ago. It's currently in quarantaine, as I find it has become a tiny bit too snug. Not on Angelica though: she's much better at staying off the munchies than I am.

There was another pussy bow dress, which I have a weakness for. This one is  handmade and has a funky pattern in shades of brown.

How could I resist this magnificent wool coat trimmed with faux fur?

Its "luxury loomed" warmth will come in handy as cold weather has been forecasted for this week.

Further finds were a skirt and blouse, both featuring in my outfit of the weekend before last.

When I showed my finds to Jos, it struck me that they would actually make a fine pair, so I built Saturday's outfit around them.

A sparkly turquoise material with a black geometric print made up this gorgeous midi skirt.

The label of the black floral print blouse is so pristine that I suspect it was never worn. To keep the flowers company, I chose the butterfly (or moth!) brooch from my last flea market bounty.

I added a wide black belt with a round buckle, which must be one of the oldest belts in my collection, in terms of ownership ...

The black velvet choker was an impulse buy from a village high street shop and complimented my outfit perfectly.

For contrast, I added an orange cardie, to which I pinned the sparkly ladybird brooch from the same flea market bounty as the butterfly.

I can't remember where I got the butterfly ring, the colours of which compliment my outfit.

You've already seen my trusted Tweed jacket many times before, but as it is the perfect jacket for this time of year, it's getting a lot of mileage. This time I added a gold tone brooch with a green stone encircled by tiny pearls, bought from the Brooch Lady back in April.

While browsing at another budget high street shop in our village, I stumbled upon this snuggly "faux sheep" gilet, which happened to find its way into my basket.

We were off to do some charity shopping, but pickings were not what we'd hoped.

The floral bag is another one by Kitsch Kitchen. While they retail for € 25 or more depending on the size, I paid just € 3 for mine. For some reason, I keep coming across these bags in the charity shops. They are waterproof and so perfect for travelling.

I am always on the lookout for belts with unusual buckles, so these two were no brainers!

Boots are another weakness, but as they are worn on a daily basis in the Winter months, variety is a necessity. These are in perfect condition and only cost € 6.

Meanwhile, the postman brought a parcel from a blogging friend, which I will tell you all about in my next post!

I am linking again to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style!