Birthday week...family, fun and beautiful presents!

My birthday was at the beginning of October. My 25th birthday. This scared me. As did the fact that it was my first "working" birthday ever (I usually wangle a day off). Eurgh, adulthood.

So I decided to pootle off to Norwich for a week before my birthday to spend time with my fam, foraging in other peoples cast offs (carboots, junk shops, charity shops, but that was covered in my previous post), playing drunk pool and eating loads of food.
Plus opening presents, obviously! .....WHAT? I'm not too grown up for presents. Never.


So here is an ever so quick pictorial round up of the week leading up to my birthday, minus the previously shared bargains:

 

5 games of drunk pool with made-up rules and everyfink. These rules included removing the black ball until the end, so it didn't get accidentally potted before its time. Obvs.

  

  Family frolicking and dog harassment.

 

 Birthday bowling after my first ever day of going to work on my birthday.

 

Now onto the PRESENTS!

 

Typewriter cushion thoughtfully chosen by my little sister. Knitted gauntlet gloves. Beautiful vintage buttons.

 

Housekeepers box. Teatowel. Kitsch vintage baby ornaments....and a satchel! A lovely lightly worn black vintage one, a handy smaller size than my beloved Burt. I think I shall name her Betty. And although I shouldn't know the price of birthday presents, my mumma just couldn't resist telling me, for it was such a bargain. Two teeny pounds from a carboot!

 

A swiss chalet clock.

 A vintage telephone table. A working vintage hairdryer. A 1950's tree topper lady with a crepe paper skirt. A ballerina ring holder. A retro portable radio. A giant shoe horn, of course. Folding coat hanger and retractable airer, and a vintage flag.

 

A naked lady. A lovely apron. A floral ceramic earring and brooch set. Vintage buttons. A knitted hat needle case. A faux fur capelet. A lucky rabbit foot brooch.

 

This vintage 1950's card has a music box attached, so when you turn the handle it plays a very twangy version of "Happy Birthday". How fab is that?

 

A beautifully glamorous vintage pearl, crystal and cut glass earring and choker set. A pair of crochet gloves. A black velvet turban-style headband, lovingly made by my talented nan!

 Tara Starlet 40's style dungarees.

 

Sweeeeeeets!

 

 

A treat voucher crafted by my wonderful pal.

 

This absolutely phenomenal 1940's coat was brought down by a lovely lady for me from the storage room of a charity shop when shopping with my mumma. I gasped. And my mother kindly offered to buy it for me as a combined birthday/christmas present. £45 well spent indeed! It is incredibly perfect condition, fits me (well, not on the chesty-region, but that rarely happens!) and just look at those pleats. And hidden/top secret pockets, but I didn't tell you that!

 A beautiful trio of wall mirrors. I can't wait to get these up in my flat when they manage to get here.

Now I just need to find a space for them...cue clever Mr Mike's suggestion to just get rid of some of my "stuff" to make room for them. I think NOT!

 A gold crest motif, which now sits perfectly on the front of our fake fireplace.

 This gorgeous 1940's dress is a luxuriously soft cotton summer dress....but there's no way I can possibly hold on until then. Besides, blue and cream works with brown right? I'm thinking brown What Katie Did seamed stockings, a brown cardigan and a fur collar. That's wintery.

Phew! What a fab bunch of present buyers I know, eh? As you can imagine, I was all smiles.

Pip pip x

We're all going on a summer holiday....a very short one!

So the sun has FINALLY shown its face, and my what a pretty face it is too!

As we have no plans/funds to take a summer holiday, and as me and Mr Mike have been able to share some days at home, yesterday we grabbed the opportunity and hopped into my parents car (being loaned to us whilst they holiday abroad) and took ourselves off on an adventure to Southend!

We put on our sunglasses, lathered ourselves in sun cream, and off we went.

It's not often I get to get out of London, but I relish the time I do get to escape the big city for some sand/sea/country drives. Mmmm, fresh air!

When we arrived, it was incredibly busy, with plenty of people wearing FAR too little clothing, and who were mostly a leathery, lobstery sort of colour! The sea was filled with people swimming, but alas Southend council have a no dogs on beaches rule for the summer season so we could not join them ourselves. Nor could we go on the incredibly long pier, again because there is a no dogs rule. Bah! So we looked out at the pier, and all the swimmers splashing about, and took ourselves off for some good old-fashioned seaside fish and chips...

 

Then we went on a long wander back along the seafront and to the car. We hopped in and set off for a quieter part of the beach (hoping we'd find a non dog-free part). We parked up at Leigh-on-Sea on a hill overlooking the marina with a wonderful view, and wandered down towards the water. 

 

On our excursion I wore...

Green chiffon headscarf: charity shop.

Fifties sunglasses and swimsuit: vintage fair.

Coral button-up skirt: New Look.

Hawaiian print slip on shoes: Primark.

When we reached the marina, we found it was also a dog-free zone. So we perched up on a wall by the sea and I clambered down onto the beach for a paddle! I had decided I couldn't possibly go to the seaside without going in the sea at least a tad. Bliss!

I then grabbed an ice cream from a water-side cafe (it had to be done), and off we strolled back up to the car. We proceeded to sing along to Radio One at the top of our lungs all the way home...which I suppose could explain some of the funny looks we were getting!

Me oh my, what a lovely adventure that was!

Have you been able to get out and enjoy this lovely weather dear readers?

Pip pip xx

It does what it says on the proverbial tin!

Hello dear readers, I do hope you all are enjoying yourselves amidst this miserable weather.

I am still in Norfolk spending time with my family, and over the last few days it seems I have acquired a trio of items tied together by one theme....they all have specific purposes, laid out in golden font across the front of said items!

A stockings case, a hairpins box and a letter rack!

I picked up the cute little 50's/60's letter rack from my very favourite Norwich shop (the old Loose's overpriced for the most part, but full of treasures). It will look a treat on my newly organised desk!

 This absolutely glorious 'hairpins' case (also found in the old Loose's shop) is going to be just perfect for keeping those pesky kirby grips from attaching themselves to everything I place in my bag when on my travels!

And the box came with two unopened packets of hair pins too...look at that packaging!

My genius Mumma found this stockings case for me and was meant to be saving it for my birthday but was too excited and just couldn't resist giving it to me whilst I was back!

I am just swooning over these acquisitions in all their useful, beautiful, golden-fonted goodness!

Whilst on our family trip to our favourite Norwich shop, my Dad also made a purchase. A pretty phenomenal one at that! I'll give you a hint: it is much more sizeable than my purchases, and a total one off. But more on that later in the week....

 

Pip pip x

Photos from Christmas number 2....just four months too late!

Hello blogland!

It's been an absolute age and I'm really not quite sure why I've been away so long...a January full of nightshifts, then a change of job, some of my best friends moving up to London, and the continual settling into/decorating/unpacking and sorting of our flat seems to have left me exhausted and constantly busy!

But for those of you wondering, I am still here, and filled with good intentions when it comes to getting back into the blogosphere! I have certainly missed you all dearly.

*  *  *  *

Now this is a post which I have had unfinished in draft form for several months now and it seems a shame to waste it. So please excuse my absolutely incredible (ridiculous, some might even say) lateness with what is to follow...

Christmas part two: Norfolk

Having had a pre-Christmas with Mr Mike, I set off for a nightshift at work, followed straight after by a very bleary-eyed 6:30am tube/coach/train journey homeward.

Needless to say I was KNACKERED. But this would certainly not be allowed to spoil my Christmas this year. Last year was ruined by my catching of Bird Flu on Christmas eve which meant I spent the Christmas period in bed/sleeping/not eating/feeling generally awful. And I was not going to have a repeat of that!

I got myself a few hours sleep when I finally arrived home to my Dad's house, and then proceeded to start the festivities with my family and best friends. We drank mulled wine, ate mince pies, went to the pub, and then went to midnight mass (where we met a man who genuinely claimed to have once been 'The best choirboy in England', before singing incredibly badly/loudly to all the hymns).

On Christmas morning we travelled to my Nan and Grandad's where we opened presents, ate huge amounts of food (as is obligatory over the festive period) and laughed at my Nan who got so drunk she fell off her chair and crawled to the kitchen!

 

 

 Stuffed to bursting, we headed home and just SAT all evening. We watched tv and ate cheese and crackers and lots of cholocate. Just as it should be.

The next morning me and my brother headed off to my Mum's to exchange a few more presents and eat yet more food!

 

 

All in all, it was a jolly wonderful couple of days.  

A VAST improvement on last year.

Pip pip xx

Camping in the wilds of Norfolk, and some extreme make do and mend...

Hello lovelies,

Every now and again, it is nice to escape the big smoky city and spend some time taking in the fresh country air!

Last month, I took a rather impromptu trip home to join my mum, little sister and step-dad on a camping trip in the Norfolk countryside for the May bank holiday weekend. 

And guess what we stayed in.....

.....a tipi!

Not like a proper proper one, all canvas and wood, cowboys and indians stylee, but a lovely big tipi tent!

We put fairy lights and bunting up in it and everything! It was right cosy.

When we arrived, the camp was already set up, with the fire pit, 'wee shields' for those too lazy too walk up to the loo block (not me!), and a grub tent for doing cooking in! All we had to do was set up the tent, and then we could join the rest of the camp (a load of my mum and step dad's friends, and their young kids).

Easy, right?

WRONG!

The moment we got the tent up there was a very large gust of wind, followed by a large rrrrriiiippp.

Darn it.

So we spent our first hour and a half, sat on our bums in practically gale force winds, hand sewing the tent back together at the rips! 

Now that is what I call extreme make do and mend!

In the top left you can see me and my step-dad sewing the tent!

Over the weekend, the children ran around in amongst the trees and played on the rope swing and the mud slide (which is literally just a very steep dirt hill....which the children all managed to manouvre with ease, but I fell backwards, bumped my head and proceeded to slide uncontrollably down on my bum- much to the amusement of my little sister!).
The men did manly things like chop wood, stoke the fire etc etc.
The dog lounged around, got a lot of attention, and ate soooo much food.
And me and my mumma made things! Me and mum made these handsewn owls, and mum helped me battle with my "3 hour sweater" attempts, generally unpicking my mistakes and re-knitting....over, and over, and over. The gin didn't help with these attempts!

We made candles with the kids too, melting wax beads and old candles down in little tins on the fire, and then layering into paper coffee cups with a wick in...I was probably as excited as the children to unwrap my candle  when it was set! And you can see it in the little photo above, accompanied by a bit of my knitting.

I wore my Freddies dungarees the whole weekend...I'm so glad I invested in them. Until recently I never, ever wore trousers, but I invested in these after falling madly in love with the 40's factory girl look. And in the sale, they were only £25...so I thought I'd give them a try. They are great for times like this, when it is just not suitable to run around in a pretty, delicate floaty dress. Can you imagine if I'd have fallen down that dirt hill wearing one of my fave 40's frocks? I'd had a fit! They are also great for work, when I have lots of lifting to do and don't fancy ripping yet another pair of tights or snagging another dress! Or even just those days, where you just don't feel like wearing a pretty dress...I'm not the only one to have those, right?

Japanese cotton headscarf: carboot.

50's sunglasses: vintage fair.

Cotton shirt: carboot.

40's repro dungarees: Freddies of Pinewood.

I'll leave you of this photo of me, all tied up by the dog on her lead!

What do you vintage ladies wear for camping? Or do you loathe camping altogether? 

Me, I think I'm a country gal at heart!

Pip pip xx

A jolly holiday to Windsor.

Yes, recently me and Mr Mike took a wee holiday to Windsor...only a short holday, one night in the Travelodge, but a holiday none the less!

We have funny schedule between us, so although we live together, its hard to really do anything together. So I decided I wanted to take an adventure as we had a couple of days off together. We chose Windsor as it isn't too expensive to get to, I already knew my way around having visited with my mum and aunts before and it is a really pretty city!

We set foot off the train to find this....

 

Glorious union jack bunting! There was loads, everywhere!

And there were a lot of vintage cars from different eras parked up just round the shopping arcade. 

And some lovely swing music playing.

 

 As you can see, I was ever so excited by this greeting!

Cardi: charity shop.

Japanese yellow floral chiffon blouse: carboot.

1940's checked skirt: carboot, £1.

 

And look at these lovely chaps in their uniforms.

 

This was the view from our room...thats the 'Windsor Eye' you can see. That's right, Windsor has its own eye! You best believe it baby.

 

Then we went to a great pub that overlooks 'The  Crooked House' tea shop, and gorged out on an amazing meal.

 

 Sausages and mash, with gravy and a stack of onion rings! Swished down with a bottle of Rekorderlig strawberry and lime cider. Scrum-diddly-umptious!

 

After a nice stroll around Windsor, we headed to M&S, bought the above feasticle, and headed back to our room to watch films all evening.

 

I had TWO baths in this lovely blue tub. One right before bed, and one as soon as I woke up.

Since I did my back in once and for all, I have been partial to a good bath! 

But not having one in my flat, it was well worth the £23.50 just for the bath.

What a treat!

 

The next morning, we had our breakfast overlooking the castle...and an unsightly CCTV camera.

Then off we trotted for a walk down by the river and a sit in a park. 

 

The swan invasion scared me quite a bit!

"What if they eat us?" I exclaimed as Mr Mike waved his hands near their heads! I didn't hang around too long.

 

I loved this sign we happened upon on the side of an old bridge. 

Some silly sod had only gone and done graffiti on it though.

I hope he got his £5 penalty!

 

We had an ice cream, played in a maze, and bought a beautiful souvenir teatowel!

I've decided I might try to pick up one of these whenever we go on little holidays to different places.

All in all a lovely time was had and I recommend it if you are wishing for a wee escape from the big smoky city and an adventure!

Sorry this post is so picture heavy, and I hope you haven't fallen asleep!

Pip pip xx