Anna meets Kezzie

This sees the return of an occasional feature where I introduce you to someone of note in my life, with fashion being the tenuous link. (My apologies must first be given to "Hello" magazine, where they too run this feature, hosted by Lady Gabriella Windsor, called "Ella meets". I only discovered this whilst at the hairdresser recently and had no idea I'd plagiarized their idea.) Thus I would like you to meet Kezzie, a blogging friend who recently visited the islands on a cruise ship which was touring the British Isles. We frequently see these ships anchored up between the islands throughout the summer months, and yet it was very unusual for me to be making arrangements to actually meet up with one of the cruisers for the day. Kezzie and her mum, Ros, were on the last lap of their tour that would be travelling on from the Isles of Scilly up the English Channel and across to the Channel Isles and France before docking in Tilbury.



We met up at the Abbey Garden at mid-day and headed straight off to Pentle Bay beach for a swim. Thereafter we hiked onwards past the silky soft sands of picturesque cove after cove, stopping to take the obligatory tourist shots until we arrived at Old Grimsby where we quenched our thirst at the Ruin Cafe. From there we crossed to New Grimsby where I live, which is also where Kezzie and I grappled with the famous Travelling Yellow Skirt as we sought to strike the right pose for posterity. And then we were a hop, skip and a jump away from the gallery where I work. The gap in the sea wall elicited a huge cry of delight from Kezzie as she grabbed her camera to have her photo taken in the very spot where I pose on a daily basis. Finally I frogmarched the two reluctant sailors back along towards the quay where the local boat waited to deliver them back to St Mary's from where they would be taken off to their ship. We had such a wonderful day, and hopefully Kezzie will be posting (or heck as she already?) her account of the visit to the Isles of Scilly. I think it's much better that she gives her viewpoint than I just boast and brag about these sun kissed islands as I always do! 

In the meantime, I did manage to enlist Kezzie as my next victim for this feature, so let's get down to the questions and answers where I will intermingle the snaps of the day as we progress.


Q How long have you been blogging?
A I have been blogging 11 and a quarter years! Wow, almost a third of my life!


Q What's the best thing about blogging?
A The best is meeting (virtually or in person) and becoming friends with lovely, lovely people from all over the place. You meet like-minded individuals who have the same interests as you (and obsessions, e.g. er-clothes!) and they are interested in you! You learn and you are inspired. Of course, comments are wonderful! We love those! More comments for everyone!!!! The delight upon clicking on your post and finding a zillion comments!


Q And the worst?
A The worst... I guess being ignored when you put in effort into supporting someone's blog. Also, staying up late to comment or write posts and realising that yet again, it is midnight and you are going to be exhausted in the morning. Every time you say you WILL go to bed at 10pm and yet you think, "Just one more comment..."!!!



Q What's the day job?

A I am a primary music teacher.

Q Do you have any other passions?

A Well, music is very important to me of course- I love my flute, singing and composing music. I love making things although I am not so good at anything that involves thread or material. Cards are my thing.  I love charity-shopping. My faith is, of course, important to me.



Q If you had chosen another career, what might it have been?

A Hmmmm... well,I would have loved to be a librarian.  I applied for a job at English National Opera as a Music Librarian which I didn't get but any sort of library would be wonderful. I'd have had to retrain though.



Q One thing you'd like to change about yourself?

A Oh the sensitivity! I worry endlessly about things- worry I've said something to offend someone, that they don't like me, that people think I am an idiot, I worry when I've said something to a child at school that I might have upset them; I worry when I can't seem to communicate what I want to say clearly when I'm upset- it comes out wrong always! I wish I could switch it off but things go round and round my head!!




Q What's your favourite season and why?

A Late Spring. I adore the blossoms, the sense of change and excitement; the flurry of activities and changes; the colours, the light; the reminder that things will only get better with Summer afterwards. The relief after a long Winter. I adore it!



Q Describe your perfect day.

A It will involve a walk somewhere beautiful and natural. By the sea, surrounded by flowers or foliage.  It won't be too hot or too cold and my bag will not, unlike most of my life, be heavy. I will be with my husband CBC and family or friends.  It won't have any scary uphills or downhills but there will be a challenge. There will be  some cake and litres of Earl Grey tea.  A chance to stop and read a Whodunnit book will arise and there will be swimming- river, sea, swimming pool- I am not fussy but water is a must. There will be quiet and there will be laughing.
In the evening, we will get dressed up  (a pretty 50's dress) and go to either a Ceildh/Barndance, with the option to join in playing if I want, but I am allowed to dance. I will not muck up 'Stripping the Willow'. If not a Barndance, then it will be a swingdance evening. There will be lots of male lead partners and they will want to dance and they will be considerate and repeat a move if I muck it up first time!!!!
Miraculously, I will get home at a reasonable time, despite the late nature of these things.
Oh and there will be Thai food at some point. And lots of Tofu and Tempeh.  Can we arrange this perfect day please?


And here's Ros, our amazing photographer of the day - didn't she do well brandishing my camera about like a good 'un? Mother and daughter had barely 10 minutes to spend in the gallery before their boat arrived at the quayside. We dashed around the bay to join the queue. We said our goodbyes, making promises to meet up again sometime, then Kezzie and I simultaneously produced our small presents, as tokens of our new friendship. I urged them to get on board, and once seated I called to Kezzie to open her gift as I wanted to see her reaction.


For those of you who haven't read Kezzie's blog yet, I say, please treat yourself and do! Her writing is as delightful as she is. She covers so many, varied topics and loves the most unexpected things. From Dr Who to brooches, she is highly entertaining. Read it here. Anyway, my gift to her was a Puffin brooch, which is one of our most loved little birds on the islands. I was pretty sure she wouldn't have had time to find such a thing herself and by the look on her face I'd say it was a great surprise.


As I watched their boat head off into the distance I felt a twinge of sadness. We had been blessed with the most perfect weather making this a pretty perfect day for my first ever bloggers meet up. Living here in this remote corner of the UK I wonder how many other times I'll have the chance to meet up with a fellow blogger? And if I do, could they ever match up to the sweet-natured Kezzie?

Kezzie's dress is from Seasalt, shoes are from Rieker and hat is from a market in Croatia. My top is from H&M, trousers are from Topshop, shoes from TK Maxx (sim) and sunglasses are by Quay Australia (sim).

Today's postscript is about the Travelling Yellow Skirt see here for the full story. I shall be posting the skirt off on to the next lucky blogger (hahaha, yes I'm so corny) who is Anja in Singapore. I'm sorry to let this magical garment leave me, but I know I must. I spent yesterday finishing off my addition to the Skirt, adding a few more stitches of embriodery to bring my little icon to completion. I'll be avidly waiting and watching Melanie's blog for details of the next episode in the life of the wonderful TYS.



Anna x

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Anna meets Alison

Last month while I was away in Harrogate I happened to meet three fabulous fashionistas. See these lovely women here. These were all chance meetings, two of them on railway stations, giving us no time to stop and chat unfortunately. On my trip back home, I scrolled through my camera and was delighted with the images I'd captured, but one thing came to mind - I knew nothing about the women who had put these fab outfits together. It sparked my imagination. If only I'd had time to ask them some questions, to find out more about them, how much more interesting that would be. Even though I'd given them my contact details, none had been in touch. The photos of each of these women had gained a great response on my Instagram feed. I like that, and would love to continue with this theme. So today's post features another woman with her very own sense of style. Alison is married to a local man who grew up on the Isles of Scilly, but latterly moved away. She and her husband return here on holiday every year as many times as they can. Alison and I met up the other day for a photo shoot in the rain (it was still fun) and afterwards I posed some questions. Here's how it all went...


With her pink gamine haircut and fabulous red dungarees, Alison immediately looks like a woman who knows her own mind. And she does. So much so, that Alison would rather make her own clothes than compromise her standards by spending money on something that's not quite the perfect fit. So let's hear from the lady herself.

Anna: How long have you been gripped by the sewing bug?
Alison: I started sewing two years ago. Up until I was well into my teens, my Nana made clothes for me – I remember sending her fabric when I was away at college and a few days later a maxi skirt would arrive in the post. Because she was so good at sewing, I hadn't really bothered to learn, happy to watch her create things for me. When she died, I inherited her sewing box, and now, many years after her death, her haberdashery items have come back to life.




Anna: What got you started?
Alison: A little spark of creativity got me started – I went on a day course to make a  bag and loved everything about  it. By the next day I had bought a sewing machine and a week later I had made my first dress. And now I make all my clothes – with the exception of underwear (the learning process has begun though), knitwear (knitting takes too long) coats (one day I will make a coat, I have bought the pattern) and shoes (not even going there). It's been a whole year since I have bought clothes and in that time I have learnt a lot about the factory production of clothes and the ‘sweat shop’ conditions so it feels right to be making my own for all sorts of reasons.





Anna: How would you describe your style?
Alison: My style …. Not sure I have one! Wacky, quirky and colourful are words I have heard to describe me! I am a casual dresser but like to still look smart and well put together. For my work I wear a uniform, so out of work I like to mix and match colours and patterns with brightly coloured tights.  This spring, I made quite a few skirts and I love wearing a spotty skirt with a striped top, pink tights and a pair of my beloved Chelsea boots. I guess that's my style – uncategorised!




Anna: Where's your favourite place to shop?
Alison: My favourite place to shop is any fabric shop or haberdashery! I particularly adore Guthrie and Ghani in Moseley where I can spend hours looking through patterns, fabrics and notions.




Anna: Flats or heels?
Alison: Mainly flats out of choice. I am all about comfort and a poorly knee has meant that heels can be tricky. I wear heels for work but am always glad to take them off and get back in my ballet pumps, Chelsea boots or Superga sneakers.





Anna: How long have you been sporting this fab pink hairstyle?
Alison: My hair ….. for many years I have wanted to have my hair like Annie Lennox but never been brave enough. It's always been cropped short but to go blonde would have been a huge step from dark mouse colour. However, coming up to my 60th birthday I thought ‘what the hell’ and I spoke to my (also wacky) hairdresser and she agreed to have a go. So 9 months ago I got bleached big time and discovered pastel conditioners by Bleach London. Some days I am blue or silver but most days I am various shades of pink – as the mood takes me. I feel more me with pink hair.






Anna: What's the day job?
Alison: I work as a Peripatetic Registrar. I travel to  hotels and wedding venues conducting marriage ceremonies. It's my perfect job. I adore it – wedding days are magical and joyful and they have the added bonus that I get to see lots of beautiful outfits. I am also a funeral celebrant - it's a huge honour to conduct a perfect farewell for someone and to make a difference to a grieving family. I take great pride in both my jobs. 




Anna: Any other passions?
Alison: I like the simple things in life –  quality time with my family, good times with my special friends, preparing good clean food grown on our allotment, listening to Motown, and lazy days doing very little.




Anna: Three things from your bucket list?
Alison:I don't have a bucket list! I have never been ambitious or wanted to do anything grand. I am really not interested in travelling, sky diving or bungee jumping. I live for the here and now and am more than happy and content with what I have. 




Anna: Describe your perfect day.
Alison: My perfect day ….. taking a trip to Surrey to see my two boys, their gorgeous girls and a pug  – we natter, chatter and laugh and walk to a lovely pub for food and drink. All is well in my world after a day like that.




Anna: Three words that best describe you?
Alison: After speaking to several of my girlfriends the three words that kept coming up are: loving, funny and creative.




Thanks Alison for stepping up as my first interviewee.  


Alison is wearing dungarees and top which she made herself. Coat: Hellweathers from Seasalt. Sneakers: Superga (TK Maxx). Bracelet: Fay Page.
Anna x

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