The Autumn Dress That Never Was

Oh how I love summer!

The days are warm, still and sunny.  I could not ask for more.

Early morning coffee outside with the birdies.

A sundowner on the patio to round off the day.

I am a very happy bunny.

Very happy actually, as I was taken out on Friday night. 

A proper date night, none of this B&Q, Waitrose and knicker buying malarky.

Now, in my previous post I touched on how I needed blogging to stretch myself when dressing in retirement and gave you a perfect example with my East black linen 2-piece which I (finally) realised I could split after 15 years!

Examples of my closed-box thinking where clothes are concerned must be like buses, because, hey, here comes another.

This dress.  I'd bought it in 2003 in September.  So for that simple reason I associated it with autumn, and winter or spring at a stretch, and wore it accordingly.  Or maybe it was because of the earthy colours , who knows.  I didn't wear it for some years, it was a slow burner.  When I eventually did it was in autumn or spring, always with brown, though when I look closely at the pattern, there isn't actually any brown there.  I knew it was a summer dress because of its weight and style yet I wore my summer dress in every other season but summer.



The Photographer wanted me to wear a flowery dress.  I tried on a brightly flowered jersey number from Madeleine here but if felt just too warm on such a gorgeous day.

I slipped on this little wisp of lined silk and it felt just right for a summer's evening.

Then I pushed the envelope further!  What about accessorising with a sludgy pink, break away from the browns?

I slipped on my pink Marks wedge sandals, my recently rediscovered pink Tula bag and slipped OTS the silky knit La Redoute cardi.  Pink worked. Matchy matchy, but I happen to like that!

And after 14 years I discovered that this dress is perfect for summer, it just needed to start seeing other accessory colours.

(You can certainly now see how I need to keep pushing myself via this blog, don't you? Dressing really is Rocket Science to this dear old Pout!)

After having gone crazy with my iconoclastic train of thought, I reined myself in a bit with jewellery.

I thought simple gold would work and as it was a special occasion I pulled out all the stops.

I added gold ormer earrings and a larger ormer to a chain along with a gold Swiss vreneli, a long-service award. A bracelet filled chukka with charms.  (There's a story there but that's saved for another time - this was supposed to be a quick post and look where I've got already ... still at dressing stage and I'm nowhere near finished!).  Diamond rings, oh it went on, I really pushed out all the stops for this date!

Then, dressed, finally, we walked along to the coast and to our favourite restaurant, La Reunion.  We enjoyed aperos on the balcony, overlooking the bay.

I wanted to make an effort for the old fella as we were out to celebrate a special occasion relating to his residential status.  He was one happy bunny too.

And because it was a special occasion, I noted that he'd also pushed the boat out with the jewellery.  He was wearing his Skagen watch.   He explained that this is his dress watch, which comes out of the drawer for special occasions.  How stylish is that?!

Me wearing my Skagen watch, doing a Howard and Hilda, I'm afraid.

Hendrick's G&T just like it's supposed to be served, apparently, with thin slivers of cucumber.

Watching swimmers cool down as I too cooled down, sipping elegantly through my straw.

Watching beachgoers barbequeing their tea on the beach.

And then it was our turn to tuck in! 

I'll just slip in tiny pics of my pea fritter with pea shoots and my cod with lentils, spinach and samphire, and hope that the dieters won't even glance at these insey winsey food shots.

Later, the walk home on a very hot and balmy evening, first back along the coast.

Then a tiptoe through the cricket field, a short cut.

A house that thinks it's castle.  And a photographer who thinks he's a spectre.

And yes, strolling blissfully, having changed my heeled wedges for something far more comfortable for the walk home on a hot summer's evening.  My faithful Clarks metallic toed flatties. (Yes, I was wearing pretty much all the gold I have, right down to my toe tips!)

You see, I went prepared.  I've done that hot summer's evening walk home before and had had the blisters to prove it!

So, I'm sitting here in the welcome coolness of this room, wondering if I am the only person on this planet who restricts herself to a specific season to wear an item of clothing, based on nothing more than the time of year she bought it or its colours.

Or have any of you fine ladies discovered after a long period of time that you were wearing something designed or appropriate for a totally different season?

A la perchoine.

Rockie III, And Other Stuff

Last night I made yet another trip to my local, the Rockie.  I met up with a girlfriend who I have know since first year Infants!

Although the day had been beautiful, it clouded up come teatime, so I went for some layers.  As it happens, the jacket didn't need to come off!

La Redoute striped linen jacket with Alexon stone jersey top and M&S stone linen trousers.

Just wanted to give you a close up of my necklace here.  It's made from belt loops and rivets.  It weighs a ton.  The colours are silver and bronze and blend in with so many outfits.  I've had it for about 20 years and it continues to receive compliments each time I wear it because its so unusual, a real eye-catcher.  I am so pleased I found it. 

When I wear such a statement necklace like this, it's enough on its own so I don't wear earrings.  Looking at the pic today, maybe that bracelet (just visible) was one piece too much.

And here's a close-up of the M&S nude wedges.  I featured them here.  They have Insolia lining so are very comfy.  They give some height but as they strap the food nicely in, I walk with confidence.  Which is nice.

Yippeeee!  Got lucky again with another window seat.  And another glass of wine!

Chicken and Leek pie.  You can see it was an embarrassingly huge plateful; needless to say, a huge amount was left on that plate.

My dining companion had a monster of a pork chop, so I got her to hold it up for you (vegetarians, please scroll quickly down).  My friend is very petite but left a clean plate, bar the chop bone!  Throughout the meal she kept commenting on how good it was.  So that one definitely comes with the highest of recommendations, should any local readers be popping in to the Rockie sometime soon.

My Rockie trips should now be done and dusted.  For a short while at least. because the temperature is warming up by the day and it just so happens that there's a lot of outdoor seating there.  A glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, a sun setting over a azure and jade sea ... I'll probably be returning very soon!


We were ready a tad too early for golf this morning, so I took a stroll outside.

And found my first rose of summer!  Isn't she pretty.  Fab perfume too.

I don't know what type she is  - if you're into roses, I'd love to know what she is.

More clumps of purple gladioli.  Such a giving plant.

Then after a stroll around Pout Estate we move on to the golf course.  Thought it would be nice to show you how I "waste away" my time twice a week!

The sixth hole involves a drive across a protected field of purple wild orchids.  Apologies, they don't show up well in this shot (these golf shots are taken with my iPhone). 

If you don't make the drive over the field, you lose the ball as it's off-bounds for tramping on. 

I sacrificed yet another ball there this morning :-(.

Here are my three golf mates.  No pics of me: 8 a.m., hair scraped back under sun visor, no make up, face puce from heat and exertion = not publish-able!

My game was good (apart from the 6th!) and it was so pleasant out there this morning  Wind just a light puff of 1-2, temperature already creeping up to 16c ... my gilet and sweater were off and I was down to short-sleeves by the second hole.  Aaahhh, summer, how I've missed you!

A la perchoine.



Date Night with Florence

Friday was a good day.  It started off well (early rise, 3rd on the trot!) and it kept getting better.

The day started sunny.  My golf was good.  Bro popped round for coffee.

And somewhere along the line we planned a date night.



Ready for dating - taupe White Company modal vest and waterfall cardi similar here.

Worn with old M&S jeggings.  If it's chilly, I wrap the cardi and pin with a silver brooch.  Simples.

If I'm wearing it that way, it gets a light ironing as the waterfalling creases the cardi somewhat.

Just wanted to show you what I was walking on.  Heels! 

These Adesso shoes are surprisingly comfy.  The taupey shade echoes my outfit but they mix with just about everything.  

And they lend a certain swagger to my walk too!

And on to the date.



We had no great expectations for this film but it was charming and poignant.  Meryl was her usual superb self but I felt Hugh and Stephen ovevrshadowed her with their brilliant facial storytelling and portrayals of their players.  They were the main actors for me.

Have you seen this film?  What did you think of it?

The lovely sun disappeared whilst we were in the cinema.  After the film, we drove along to the most westerly tip of the island, Pleinmont. 

You can see Fort Grey in the distances, accessed by a little causeway. 

We locals call it the Cup and Saucer.  Because that is what it looks like.

And into the Imperial, across from the sea wall.  It serves good pub grub.

The Hanois Lighthouse, seen here, is off the Pleinmont coast.

We fancied some good old Friday night Scampi, 

A fitting end to a perfect day and my Date Night with Florence.

A la perchoine.