Keep on keeping on!


Hello again!

Thanks for joining me today. It was only 24 hours ago in the spring sunshine that Steve and I took these shots in the green heartland of Tresco. I was feeling bright and bouncy in this colourful outfit and delighted to have something to share with you for my next feature. And then I woke up this morning with a real dose of the blues, brought on, I think, by disturbed sleep. Since I was a child I've been a poor sleeper with the slightest of worry impacting on my ability to drop off to sleep. I'm often still awake at two or three in the morning, reading as I try to wear myself or rather my brain out. The lack of mental stimulus currently is what seems to be showing with me now. Much as I can be physically tired, my brain is churning away the moment I switch the light out.




Anyway, I thought I'd follow my own, and often used, advice of Keep on, keeping on. We're all suffering ups and downs during lockdown and a dose of the blues is probably the least of our worries. Loneliness, financial hardship and worse of all, loss of friends or family members all overshadow my down in the mouth days, and yet we ought to be able to reach out to others in similar situations eh? My moods aren't consistent at the moment, but who can honestly claim to be coping all of the time? Lean forward and give me a virtual hug right now and I'll return it with gusto!




When I look at this shot the first thing I notice is how much I need a haircut. It's almost two months since I was last at the hairdresser and wonder how long it will be until I get back again. I'm already toying with the idea of scarves and hairbands as I see so many other woman resorting to currently. 




I need my colours done too!




I decided to add a pair of earrings to my look today as a distraction from the lack of hair style. These are a vintage pair of yellow and white beaded earrings bought from a friend who sells vintage clothes and jewellery online. See her Instagram feed here Madamefifipresents. Annie and I first met in London when we were both attending the casting audition for JD Williams a couple of years ago and have been friends ever since. I'm also sporting another new pair of Radlely sunglasses featuring sweet two tone frames.




As for the rest of the outfit, well you may have seen it all before, but not together. The Levi's denim jacket is most definitely vintage as I stole it from Steve when we first got together over 40 years ago. It definitely has improved with age - a bit like him I have to say! The bright pink chinos are by Boden (a couple of years ago) and the trainers were from TK Maxx last year.




The embroidered runners are by Replay and were a joyful find when I was at the Harrogate branch of TK Maxx. 




I found this fabulous Frida Kahlo tee shirt in Primark last spring and went on to buy five more for friends as well as my daughter. I fancy I was threatening to showcase us all wearing it together but never got around to that. We could maybe try again later this summer if things pan out well?




The glorious handbag was a purchase when I ran riot in London charity shopping with my dear friend Ben. We had a great weekend together, but I must admit his energy outlasted mine and I had to retreat to the welcome comforts of a bath long before the shops closed, but not before we had filled my shopping bags with ample loot. See the spoils strewn across my bed as his house here. The yellow bangle was from the same time and the rings are both pre-loved too.










I'll leave you with this lush and verdant backdrop of Pool Road on Tresco. A month of sunshine and showers has the island looking as beautiful as ever. I'm enjoying my daily jaunts outdoors and took a lovely little video from the beach on Pentle Bay last week - click here to see and hear the theraputic sounds of the sea. 




I'll be back again on Friday with another offering for the Dress Up Friday feature. Please do swing by again - I'd love to hear from you!

                                                                                        Anna x

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20 comments

  1. What a treat your last photo is one of my most fave views. That jacket has done well. i love my Boden pink chinos. I have been making scrub hats and bags for NHS workers locally. One of the patterns I found on youtube I thought was rather chic and not hard to do. I didn't think it was suitable for scrub hats tho so didn't use it for that. I think your hair is looking nice in these photos.In the past I have often had people say that to me just as I have decided it needs cutting. I don't have it cut often as it's fairly curly and a bit wild looking even when its just been cut. I like the colourful bag with this outfit. Leaning forward to give you a big virtual <>> Tessa xxx

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    1. Thanks Tessa. I know what you mean about those compliments just as we're due to have a haircut - it often happens to me too! Glad you like the outfit and also that the Pentle Bay image is so well received by you and hopefully others.

      Leaning forward with a big hug to you my dear x

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  2. I love your lovely casual and bright outfit, Anna! Pink and yellow are so harmonious together, like the flowers in Frida's hair. Aw, that is the sweetest thing, that you're wearing Steve's old jacket! So sweet.

    Your hair looks great! I'm so thankful I went for a drastic chop in February - it's basically been growing out for two months now.

    I sleep poorly too - I have to just roll with it.

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    1. I'm still learning how to dress down for the lock-down period, and so was delighted to come up with this colour fest of the day. My daughter has borrowed this jacket in the past, but I always track it down again.

      You're right about the sleep thing. The more I focus on it, the worse it seems to get.

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  3. Oh that s nothing Anna! It s been four months, almost five, since I have been to my hairdresser! Haha, it s awfull! Yours is noth! Have a happy Sunny Day!

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    1. I think you have the advantage over me with your lovely long tresses needing less trimming than a shorter style. I'll just have to go with it for the next few months too x

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  4. Sorry to read that you're sleeping poorly and feeling blue lately, I think it's completely normal and it's better to embrace it as a part of life and keep on, as you said!. Sending hugs!.
    Love your comfy outfit, the fab color combo, the stunning colorful details and yellow accessories!. Love your sneakers and bag and how well they go!, and love your Frida t-shirt and pink trousers!.
    besos

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    1. I've been consoled by friends and family who all say the same Monica - it seems to be part of our new normal and therefore not something to worry about. Today is more of the same and I feel better about that.

      I thought you might appreciate all of these colours thrown together. Cheers x

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  5. Today is my birthday, and it is a bit different from the norm. Virtual hugs from my kids and grands are not quite as satisfying...but we do what we must, to keep safe. Sending love your way: thanks for sharing your beautiful island with us <3

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    1. Happy birthday Diane and thank you for joining me on your special day! You're so right - we must do what we can to keep safe. It's lovely to hear from you and I'm delighted that you're enjoying the blog x

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  6. Keep on keeping on is all we can do, isn't it, through the good days and the bad. And we can still cheer ourselves up by wearing fabulous clothes, like you are doing here. The pink chinos, Frida tee shirt, funky bag and embroidered runners are all vying for attention. Don't start me talking about the hair, though. I'm at my wits end with mine these days ;-) Gorgeous image of Pentle Bay, and I wanted to say how much I've been enjoying your little soothing videos on Instagram! xxx

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    1. Clothes therapy is what so many of us blogging types rely on for our daily lift and I must admit it would be sad not to have this joyful activity in my life. You and I are big fans of colour therapy too and thank goodness for that!

      I wonder if I'll resort to cutting my fringe soon - would you?

      The videos are such a pleasure to share with my followers as they bring a real sense of island life to everyone x

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  7. Oh, how I love that Tee shirt Anna and the message it conveys; it looks great with your chinos and, I love the story of your denim jacket; it has history :)
    Hair ...well, I’m practically scared to look in the mirror; I have done a home hair dye job, but my fringe is needing cut and my eyebrows tinted... I do think that yours is still looking good.
    Sorry to hear about your sleep issues. I find myself staying up quite late in order to have a shorter, but better quality sleep; I find that Bach night Rescue Remedy helps too.
    Thank you for posting the beautiful view of Pentle Bay, it’s a welcome sight and soothing to the soul.
    Looking forward to more of your uplifting posts. X Phyl.


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    1. Thanks for your kind feedback Phyl. This was all about dressing down but still being colourful and is so very me.

      Bad hair days seem to be much more frequent nowadays, but I'm not brave enough to tackle my hair myself or even let my hubby loose with the scissors yet...

      Thanks for the sleep tips. I'm trying a sleep pillow spray at the moment and it was better last night x

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  8. Lovely and just you Ann - I have some of these pieces so will try and 'copy' my way. xx Jacqui x

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    1. Cheers Jacqui. I'd like to see your copy when you've done it x

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  9. I wish I could dive in and give you a hug Anna. I often feel the same. Imagine meeting in London again, seems like a distant dream. Love the outfit, there are so many fabulous finds here. Love the trainers! xx

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  10. I'm hugging you! I feel the same. Up one day. Down the next. I try to take a break from the news and that helps. I love your shirt. I will try to remember that saying. Also, I think the length of you hair is a nice change up. Your hair looks really healthy and lush so maybe long length isn't so bad?

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