What I did In October

 

Northern Lights

Early in the month we were blessed with the most spectacular display that nature could provide. 

The northern lights!

I’ve not seen them before, but it was something definitely that I hoped that I would see once in my lifetime.  I was so lucky that it happened quite spontaneously.

My son phoned to suggest I look out at the north west night sky.  And this is what I saw!

The intensity of color was mind blowing.

The lights were seen elsewhere in the UK. Above is a photograph sent to me by a friend in Northumbria.

The lights were different throughout the uk. 

I know the photos are perhaps repetitious, but I was so excited. I just could not stop clicking.

Sorry about the repetition but I just couldn’t stop snapping!

Earlier in the evening, the lights took on a totally different spectrum, much lighter and softer.

The pastels were extremely pretty too. Yes, not as dramatic as the reds and greens that appeared later in the evening but pretty all the same.

My photographs were taken from my bedroom window or in the front garden, so I didn’t have to spend two weeks traveling up to Norway to see the spectacular, at most I just had to step outside the front door.  So easy! 

Thank you, nature you did me proud. 

Black Tie Do

I was also blessed with an invite to a black tie event. This was my first in 15+ years. I was able to dig out from the archive several evening dresses that I’ve never been able to give away, even though I did believe I would never go to a black tie again in my life!

This August Silk slip dress was my choice for the event. 

It was nice to get dolled up and OUT!

 Funny how life throws these things at you, some good and some not so good. This evening was definitely good, but the aftermath, not so much.  A day later I contracted Covid, probably at the event, and ended up feeling poorly for three weeks and still counting.  It did put my weekly posting schedule back a little, but that’s life.

Moth holes!

As I said, this was our first black tie event in close to two decades. TP discovered that his tux had been feasted on by naughty little moths.  We did think to attempt to repair the holes, but as they were on the shoulders of the jacket my darning would invariably be visible to all at the ball, so I bit the bullet and bought him a new suit from

good old Marks & Spencer‘s. 

Move over James Bond, there’s a new smoothie in town. 

We were very impressed with the speed of delivery, the quality and the superb slim line of the dinner suit.

 If you happen to get an invite to a black tie event (yes I know that’s not so likely as we age) …

https://www.marksandspencer.com/slim-fit-tuxedo-trousers/p/clp60676326

https://www.marksandspencer.com/slim-fit-tuxedo-jacket/p/clp60676325?color=BLACK#intid=carousel_FUNH_AT_PHOENIX-SIMILAR_END_PDP_16_1:23754ea8-2054-4081-9ff1-052283645308

… and should you too discover that moths have done some serious damage to your hubs’ suit too, then I strongly recommend heading over to Marks & Spencer‘s and having a look at what’s on offer there. 

Oh and a friend recommended these moth traps to thwart the pesky little blighters.

https://amzn.to/3YS90Me

  🤞 they work. 

Purchases

Coming up in a post soon will be details of the jeggings I’ve become rather addicted to. Here is a little sneaky preview.

Yes, jeggings have become a vital element of my retirement uniform of late.  #iwearwhatiwant

And talking of my retirement uniform, let’s move on to 

What I wore

The short answer is not a lot. What with prepping myself for the ball which takes a surprisingly long amount of time as you age, and then the Covid weeks following the ball, there is not a lot to report.

Khaki jumper, gilet and khaki jeggings (as I say, more on them in another post) 

Grey cashmere jumper and jeans, the old gilet fave again 

Another day, another variation on grey jumper and jeans, here with an added grey cardi.

As I age I am drawn to long jumpers. 

And you will not see a front tuck exposing this 75 year tum!

The silver and pearl pendant was handmade by a local lady about 65 years ago. 

Gosh, I did make grey jeans my October uniform and grey my colour of the month!  Here with a long line grey hoodie and sketchers. 

I’m nothing if not consistent!

But I did get out of uniform once!

Here’s my waiting-at-the-bus-stop outfit.  

Black jeans and blazer, red cashmere jumper. 

And I took this outfit on a bus ride into town for a date lunch with TP!

Cheers!

 So yes, it’s been mostly a jumper and jeggings/jeans sort of month. I’m hoping that as I start to feel better, I will up my game, but three weeks after contracting the pesky virus and I’m still not up to scratch when it comes to dressing - just ditching the daytime PJs has been a big thing.  So sorry, not sorry! 

And that, dear reader, brings us up to speed on the month of October. Not a lot to report, could do better on the outfits front, but we’ll find out if I do in next month’s enthralling episode of What I Did In …!

A la perchoine,

Mary x. 

And whilst you’re here, it would be nice if you subscribe to the blog, ‘‘tis but a moment’s work for you and it helps me to gauge how I’m doing. 

Thank you!