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Wednesday 19 May 2021

Meet My Pink Thug - And Link-Up

Taking a stroll past her clematis montana in full bloom:  Gail Hanlon from over-50s style blog Is This Mutton

Some good news for the island this week  (my name for the UK). We're now allowed to mix indoors, six people from two households. And eat indoors in restaurants and pubs! Also on the list: cinemas and theatres are reopening  (socially distanced seating) and gym classes can resume.  We can also go on holiday to countries on the green list. In reality, this is Portugal.  Although the list includes places like Australia, they have not opened their borders.

So some good news in terms of getting back to some sort of normality, although it's all slightly clouded by the Indian variant of Covid 19 and the havoc it may yet cause. The government didn't restrict flights from India until April 23, purely because Johnson was going there for trade talks  (flights to Bangladesh and Pakistan had been suspended on June 9).  

Our next round of freedoms, to be announced in June, may yet be curtailed because the boffins are concerned that numbers will start to rise again.

An all white outfit with green bow top and mules for over 50s blogger Gail Hanlon as she poses in the garden next to a pink clematis montana

I may be experiencing some of these new freedoms myself today (Weds).  I have the day off.  Mr Mutton is off on his bike holiday, cycling a thousand miles from Land's End to John O'Groats.  It's been a fraught few weeks for him. Was the holiday going ahead? Would GWR be running any trains? (The service was more or less suspended for a week because of cracks that were discovered in carriages). 

But now he's ready to go, Covid tested, sleeker of frame, having lost 8 kilos (16 pounds) and weighed down with new cycling apparel and gadgets.  

He will be going by train to Land's End so I'm going with him to Paddington station to help if necessary. The carriage for bikes, and the carriage where he's sitting, are at opposite ends of the train so if the train is late, or on time, there's barely any time to accomplish both.

Last time I did this was at Euston. I had to push his bike along the length of a very long train, with interested mamils (Middle Aged Men in Lycra) casting their eyes over his fancy wheels and thinking I was lucky to own a bike like that, even if it did look a bit big for me.

Gail Hanlon from over-50s blog Is This Mutton in white boucle jacket, white A line skirt and lime green mules and blouse

Once I have waved the train off, the rest of the day is mine.  Some of the museums are reopening for the first time in months on this very day, as are some of the cinemas.  I'm quite tempted to see Nomadland, although it isn't showing in the Leicester Square cinemas. Or I could go into a clothes shop for the first time since before Christmas, even if it's just to indulge in the atmosphere of somewhere like Selfridge's. A nice little lunch, indoors, is also a possibility.

Meanwhile there's talk of a team lunch next week, which will involve going back into the office for the first time since February last year.  At the moment you can book using an app if you want to work in the building, but there are only a limited number of places. I was quite keen, but some of my colleagues, being in their 20s and 30s, were less so because they haven't yet been vaccinated.

Today's Photos

The clematis was looking so wonderful I had to take some photos. There are three clematis montana along the fence, two pink and one white;  it actually looks best from the lane, outside the garden, because I often chop too much off during the summer when really it should only be pruned immediately after flowering. I'm going to try to resist the temptation. The smell is wonderful, a bit like marzipan. 

They're often described as thugs because they're so rampant, but I love how they have hidden the fence, and how they help to enclose the garden and make it seem more complete. 

I shopped my wardrobe: everything is old. The skirt is regularly stocked in M&S each summer and I have it in 3 colours. 

I was thinking of doing a post where I talk about how I created the garden, with before and after pics. Would that be of interest?  Let me know in the comments. Also - what are the first things you plan to do following the relaxation of rules?  (Or what did you do, in countries where the rules are already relaxed). 

Sharing this post with: Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #LinkupOnTheEdge at Shelbee on the Edge, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Thursday Moda at Elegance and Mommyhood, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Style with a Smile  at StylesplashStyle Six at Coast to CoastTFF at Doused in Pink, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style,  #Iwillwearwhatilike at Not Dressed as Lamb, Lizzie in Lace Confident Twosday at IDoDeclaire, Beauty by Miss L, Rena at Fine WhateverFabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette

Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, where readers can find new blogs to read, and bloggers can find new readers. Last week we had a bumper number of entries which I was thrilled about. 


Readers' Favourites - Most Clicked

Laurie from Vanity and Me with her post "HM spring summer linen neutral style." showcasing the elegant, luxurious style that Laurie is renowned for.


Cheryl, from Cheryl Shops, with What to Wear in May - a colourful skirt, a denim jacket and a cute bag. Love.


Is This Mutton Favourite


I was thrilled to see Canadian blogger Sheila from Ephemera joining the link-up for the first time. Sheila's post:  Mom-Day and Jab-Day Greens, and a Fascinator Flashback. Sheila puts together beautifully colourful outfits and has the most amazing shoe collection.  A lot of her finds are thrifted.


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1 comment

  1. And here I on a vacation cycling 50km a day...... good of John! And mamils!! Had to lol!

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