Another summer trouser suit

Hello, and how's your Sunday going? We've had a big gale blowing across the Isles of Scilly over the past few days, but at last the wind is dropping. Polly and I have relocated to give you a different aspect of the island today, showing Bryher in the background, which just so happens to be staging its annual Summer Fete this afternoon. I'll be at work by then, but I'll clip the doors open so that I can enjoy the live music. Fingers crossed for the good weather to hold!

Earlier on this season I declared that this is the year of the trouser suit and here's another one from my collection. Today's outfit isn't new, but is new to me. It's from M&S, but goodness knows how many seasons ago.  I bought it in a charity shop when I was in St Andrews in January with the sole purpose of wearing it on my flight to Cape Town. It's a size bigger than I usually wear which was ideal as I seem to suffer a bloated tummy when I fly. I avoid eating completely and don't drink carbonated drinks, but I still get a painfully tender stomach. Looking back at the photos from the airport in Cape Town, I'd say all of me looks pretty bloated!

Not so much a trouser suit as culottes and matching pyjama top if you wish. The low slung waist and pleated trousers make for a lovely comfy fit. I've added a vest top in similar colour underneath. The label on that says White Stuff which I think I bought many, many moons ago. The button fastening on the top is very clever and well worth a mention. Good ol' M&S have designed the buttons closure to overcome that dreaded gaping over the bust area by adding buttons on the underside of the shirt which don't show through either - how very neat!

All today's jewellery is second hand too. The necklace I picked up in a charity shop when Sasha and I were out shopping together last summer. When we got outside she gently told me that this necklace along with two others were hers, donated only the previous day. I love that we've all gained from this experience: she by getting rid of unwanted pieces and me for finding things that were useful also by putting money into the pockets of our chosen charity. Hurrah! Oh, let's not forget my sunglasses today as they're by Guess, for a change!

These platforms were a River Island purchase, but goodness, that must be at least 10 years ago if not more. I kept them in a box under the bed for yonks and couldn't bear to get rid of them even though I didn't want to wear them. It's funny how you can fall back in love with something after a break isn't it?

I decided to make a concerted effort to avoid any newly-bought-from-the-high-street items in today's offering. My trips to the mainland often result in my being seduced by the latest trends which drags me away from my ideals of buying recycled clothes. I do my best, is all I can say. I bet you're the same.

And finally .... I'm touting a new magazine this week. The Simple Things feels like it's got its finger on the pulse of life currently. The tempo is chilled and all about savouring the moment, whether it's during a camping trip and eating al fresco or how to incorporate mindfulness into our daily life, the mag was a joyful discovery for me.

Some of you may recall me (ages ago) mentioning that I was going to featured in a magazine, and here I am. A big thank you to those involved for getting me into print to showcase my island life. I'm putting a copy of this away so that I can remind myself of my 15 minutes of fame when I'm old and decrepit!

On Tuesday the gallery will be hosting our second-to-last summer show - how did that happen so quickly? Please join me later on this week to see how that one went, along with the outfit of the day. 

In the meantime, have a super week!

Anna x

Is summer on the wane?

I don't know about you, but I suddenly feel summer is already showing signs of leaving us here in the Northern hemisphere. Every time we have a day or two of prolonged showers I fancy that the sun, when it returns, isn't shining quite as brightly. Do you know what I mean? With this in mind, I'm searching through my clothes to bring out anything summery that you may not have seen yet this year.

The outfit of the day is all new, bought either in London or Truro over the past month. Makes me sound like a real gadabout doesn't it? Anyhooooo, here we have this delightful lace top and pleated skirt both from Zara. I'm having a love/hate relationship with this brand currently. Loving it because of the pieces which feel fresh and exciting and hating it because of my mental battle with fast fashion. Please note however, that as I sit here writing, listening to Radio 2, I've heard that Pablo Isla, the Head of Zara UK has just announced his intention to make the brand more committed to helping their customers to recycle their old purchases and that by 2025 the brand will be using more environmentally green fabrics such as cotton and linen as well as recycled polyester. The more cynical amongst you may say that it's merely a ploy to lure clients into the store as they drop off their unwanted goods. I think that any attempts to slow down fast fashion has to be good.

Yes, I totally love this uber feminine ensemble and wafted about all day long feeling rather pleased with myself. Seeking out joy surely has to be my mission statement, especially when I'm dressed like this. It seems so much easier to spread the love when you feel lovely.

The lemon spotty skirt led me choose these two citrine rings that I was gifted back in 2017. See the post here. I often browse the Gemporia website when I fancy a gemstone shopping spree - well a girl can dream, can't she? I'm sporting my old favourite sunglasses by Quay Australia. 

I decided to take a break from the white sneakers look this time, plumping for these wedge sandals by Europen which I recently found in TK Maxx in Truro. 

 

A final note about the outfit of the day. My dear friend Rachel, on seeing me today, declared that I looked like I'd stepped straight out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and started to recite the words of the song Truly Scrumptious. Thanks Rach, that made my day!

                                                                                                  Anna x

Summer show 4

This was Saturday evening, the 3rd of August and the fourth of our summer exhibitions at Gallery Tresco. Artist Chris Hankey joined us for the reception party, enjoying the opportunity to chat to our guests, explaining the locations of his work and his inspiration for this beautiful collection. See the full August line up in our brochure here. 

The outfit of the day wasn't meant to be this one at all, but the promised sunshine didn't appear making the flimsy frock I had planned look completely out of kilter with the grey weather. A last minute flurry of trying on commenced at 5.20pm which, when you consider that I was due at work at 5.30pm, made things a bit tight! Even as I legged it along the road to the gallery, I wasn't convinced that this was actually what I wanted to wear, but it was the only outfit that didn't need to be ironed, making it the winner.

I've worn this lace jumpsuit before, but not with these accessories which almost almost constitutes a new outfit doesn't it? The brand is Darling London and I found it at TK Maxx a couple of years ago. 

I added this (pre-loved) metallic belt to cinch in the waist as the cut of the all-in-one is bit straight. On reflection it may have looked fine without, but I was in a mad rush and didn't have time to co-ordinate a proper look as such. The necklace was from the Topshop sale this summer, as were the sunglasses and the rings are from Boots. 

I've had these pale gold sandals for ages and wish I could tell you what brand they are, but I slipped out of them at the end of the party when we were closed. I tootled around the gallery clearing up wearing some silver flatties and then left these glamorous heels at work. Do message me if you really need to know the brand and I'll check later today.

Cue a few actions shots for Polly before the rain appeared.

The post party shots are always the best, much more relaxed. Chris had a great evening, ending with a red spot for his first sale and talk of a commission to come. Chris's work is showcased across the whole of the island from the Ruin Beach Cafe to the Flying Boat Club spa and in many cottages in between too. The commission piece will be a copy of the large painting housed within the changing room at the spa - a painting that is much admired. 

And that's it folks - another show opened and another to come in less than 10 days now. Summer is rapidly slipping away bringing about a slight sense of panic in me. In just over a month's time I hope to swim the full 360 degrees around Tresco island. I don't know exactly how far that will be, but I think it might be about 7 miles, depending on the effects of the tide. My training, or lack of, is always at the back of my mind as I try to plan for another long stretch into deeper water away from the balmy turquoise shallows that are my daily playground. If the weather is reasonable on Saturday, Steve and I hope to venture out to the craggy North End of the island where the waves around Kettle Rock crash and surge in a way that creates fear in my belly rather than joy in my heart when I think about it. But, I've set myself this challenge and won't be happy until it's done. 

Wish me luck with the training!

Anna x

High summer on the Isles of Scilly

High summer on the Isles of Scilly is all about a state of being rather than doing. Keep it simple and you can't go far wrong. We often sneak in a post-work beer on these beautiful days when the sun is still high in the sky at five in the evening. We hopped aboard our boat and went a-looking for a corner of beach to call our own for an hour or two. But honestly, everyone seemed to have the same idea as us. We opted instead to pull up onto a sand bar revealed by the low tide.

A cold beer for Steve and a cool swim for me is all that we ask on a day like this.

I love this central trail of white shells along this beach. Mother nature at work here.

These footprints remind me of hieroglyphics.

Bridgette Jones would be envious of these legs that go all the way up to here.

The tide had turned and Steve said he wanted to sit in the dinghy until we were washed away. But first, I wanted to see how quickly the tide would maroon me. The following shots were virtually only seconds apart. I could hardly believe how quickly the tide flooded in.

For a millisecond I had my very own tiny of tiniest islands!

And this was us, floating off on the tide.

Soon this entire sandbank would belong to the sea again. We and the seagulls were evicted from our temporary tenancy, the rattling of shells the next incomers on the tide, adding to nature's decoration.

The sun sinks behind Bryher as we tootle gently home. Time for Steve to run the dog while I rustle up some dinner. Summer is my favourite time.

                                                                                         Anna x