Hello everyone
Last week we went away for a short break to the exotic shores of – Worthing! Those in the UK will know that this took us all of 40 minutes by car, so it certainly wasn’t far! But that was quite deliberate as the past few months have taken their toll and we just wanted to be somewhere different. Also we met up with two old friends (on different days) and that was, I have to say, delightful. Rather than staying in a hotel we were in an AirBnb, which was a first. It was a lovely little flat which was beautifully furnished and spacious, but we won’t go again as upstairs clomped around his abode until 2.0am!
I didn’t take all that many photos as I was so excited just to be away! But the first evening we sat outside a pub drank a cold beer (zero alcohol for me) and people watched, which was great.
The second day we had lunch with an old friend we hadn’t seen for ages, which was lovely and then off we went to Worthing Museum, which has the largest collection of clothes, after the V&A, in the country.
We saw a small exhibition on, Why Do We Wear Clothes and had a lovely personal guided tour from an Instagram friend (@jojolace01) who is a curator at the museum. We saw lots of great exhibits.
Don’t you love that one? Also this, made from World War 2 maps!
I couldn’t resist the hats. Also the shoes which I barely noted, not being a shoe person!
Afterwards we walked back along the many small shops and stopped to have some tea and cake where all the waitresses dressed up as fairies!
The cake was delicious and was just what I needed after a lot of walking about in the humid heat!
The following day we met another very good friend of mine and we had a great time particularly when she took us on a literary walk around Worthing with a whistle-stop tour of four blue plaques showing us where Oscar Wilde, Shelley, Conan Doyle (and one other I can’t remember) lived and wrote their works. We then went on to a great restaurant on the pier, Perch, where we had fish and chips (it was a Friday!) which were excellent and the best fish and chips I’ve had in years.
On that day I walked over 11,000 steps – yay! I wore very casual gear throughout our 3-night stay. Oh, and did I mention I’ve had my hair cut again – with layers! That was brave as I haven’t had layers for years or a fringe!
Here’s me sitting rather slumped in my chair.
I can just hear my Pilates and 1-2-1 teacher saying, sit up, Penny! But it does show off the slightly more bitty hair style, which I’m after – I think it’s better.
On the way back I called into Emmaus, Brighton’s Summer Fair – it was really good. Bought two dresses there, one of which will do for a winter party I reckon, you’ll see that when I write my next post, which is on sizing, and the huge discrepancies thereof!
That’s all for now, but do tell me about your trips out and about – I love to hear about the things you do!
With love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
That hair really suits you!
Thanks Reb 🙂
I love your hair Penny, it takes courage to have layers put it but it really works and gives you a lovely lift. Worthing has a lovely relaxed vibe – although I haven’t been there for over 12 years (must remedy that). I hadn’t realised there was a museum so will put on my to do list. The weather has certainly been wonderful for a local staycation, sometimes a little too warm but it must have been wonderful with the sea breeze.
It was a big decision having layers, but I think now I’ve got a good hairdresser I can relax and trust her.
Worthing is a great little place to visit and tbh much nicer than Brighton as it’s smaller and easily walkable to all parts. A good place to have a staycation.
Thanks Lynda 🙂
I love your hair Penny! It suits you so well.
We also had our holiday close to home this year, at first Cullen (an hour from home) and then across to Spean Bridge near Fort William. I had decided I just could not face all the travelling to get somewhere (before the pandemic we always went to southern France – airports, hours of driving, and then such hot weather that all I wanted to do was get back into the air conditioned car.)
We were both really glad we’d decided to stay local. We had a lovely relaxing time – husband even climbed Ben Nevis (I didn’t even think about it!) The highlight of the trip for him, though, was seeing the Neptune flight of locks on the Caledonian canal – especially as a cruiser was passing through that afternoon! An engineer’s dream.
We stayed in hotels as I didn’t want to have to cook; they were both excellent. On the way there we found a great little cafe housed in the dining car of an old steam train at Dufftown station. The line has been restored and the trains are run by very enthusiastic volunteers. The cafe stays put. It’s run by a lovely lady; delicious coffee and cakes.
The exhibition you went to looks great, i love the dresses. Our art gallery (Aberdeen) has just opened a super little one on swimwear through the ages. It also includes some sun dresses, hats, parasols and sunglasses. It’s all so colourful, and interesting too to see how the advent of man made fabrics made such a difference. I’m going back tomorrow for a second look.
As for discrepancies in sizing – yes! I have everything from a size 8 to a size 14 in my wardrobe and they all fit me. Ridiculous!
Thank you Rosemary and so interesting to hear about your trips to nearby parts of Scotland.
Despite my Scottish heritage I haven’t been to Scotland for ages, not since an overnight stay in Edinburgh during the Festival on a cruise must be 10 years ago. Everyone rushed off to see the Tattoo, while we got tickets to two comedy gigs which were wonderfully funny. My ambition ever since is to get to the Edinburgh festival and stay for a week. Still possible so I must keep that in mind as one to cross off and actually do.
That exhibition on swimwear sounds great. Thanks again Rosemary 🙂
Oh what a gorgeous 50’s dress Penny! I wonder if it was from Horrockses, they did a lot of horizontal prints. I’ve found a website(Joanie) where they offer dresses inspired by the manufacturer but a bit too pricey for me.
It look like you had a lovely time ; I really enjoy UK breaks like this but I’d never get my husband to stay anywhere so close to home as he doesn’t really like hotels. We are hoping to go to Norfolk in a couple of weeks, either a boat on the Broads or somewhere on land with a day boat. We have had many holidays there and really like it. While I’m feeling well we need to make the most of this summer.
Last week our younger daughter (43!) finally got married. We had been thinking and talking about it for so long it’s hard to believe it’s actually happened! It was at 17th Century Middlethorpe Hall near York, a NT hotel. Beautiful grounds and wonderful food and service. There were just 17 of us so very intimate and relaxed. The couple are so well-suited, happy and devoted I felt quite envious !
I know what you mean about a ‘bitty’ hairstyle. I used to have short hair but now I’m limited by my sticking out ear (result of surgery) and my thin hair made worse by waiting for it to grow back which it is doing. At least it’s only the under layer on one side, not much to complain about really.
I too have seen that website and followed it for a bit but like you feel it’s too pricy.
Yes, make the most of feeling well and getting away. The Norfolk idea sounds a good one. I love that part of the country but know Suffolk better as my parents lived in Felixstowe for nearly 20 years, consequently we often return to that part of the country. Not been there for a couple of years so it’s on my list for next year.
And lovely to hear about your daughter’s wedding – congratulations and many best wishes to the happy couple.
Hair grows, thank goodness, which is what I told myself as I went into the hairdresser feeling a little nervous at the thought of having layers again – but it seems to have worked out.
Very best to you Lynda and thanks 🙂
So now you have my same “do” and oh, how flattering it is on you! I bet you wonder why you haven’t done it sooner😊 Like y’all, we’ve been doing small trips here in Georgia for the past few months. First, to the small town of Thomasville where the rich vacationed to shoot quail, many building huge mansions there. Father’s Day weekend we traveled further south to Kolomoki Mounds where Native Americans lived and sacrificed wives during burials of the chiefs. Interesting!
Oh how fascinating those spots must be. It’s so interesting to hear about different parts of the world. And although I was quite nervous yes, I am glad I got my hair styled this way!
Thanks Lynn 🙂
Afternoon Penny,
It’s good to see you ‘back in the groove’ – ‘out and about’ again, and I hope Bill is ‘tickety-boo’ too.
Isn’t it amazing the difference a new hair style can make? I hope you like it – feel it’s ‘you’. If you’re anything like me, the test will be after a couple of washes – does it work, is it too much effort etc. etc. Anyway, I like it and think it suits you very well.
There’s a lot to be said for small, short breaks: change of scene and routine, new experience(s), less travelling/effort… In Sussex, we usually have gone to Brighton, Rye or Eastbourne but, with the ‘excellent fish and chips’ on the pier and the museum, you’ve wetted my appetite for Worthing.
You asked what readers have been up to: we had a week in Dorset in April and a few days in London in May – a nice hotel/location and catching up with friends… all very nice. But yesterday we gave ourselves a little treat on home turf: our local museum has a sculpture exhibition, ‘Revealing the Human Form’ featuring Henry Moore, Rachel Whiteread, Anthony Wormley, Barbara Hepworth plus past exponents from the ‘geometry of fear’. (Heaven knows how this little local musuem managed to pull off such a major exhibition!) And I’m a bit embarrased to say I’d read about it but forgotten until a friend asked if I’d seen it and reminded me that it ends 2 July.
So, we walked into town; I did a little ‘recci’ of my favorite charity shop, we sat by the canal for a coffee, gave ourselves plenty of time for the exhibition and enjoyed lunch at a Japanese restaurant. We’re not very familiar with Japanese food (only our second time at this one) and wonder why; the food was light and fabulous, we both enjoyed a glass of wine. The service was great and it was very reasonably priced.
There’s a lot of truth in ‘a change is as good as a rest’ … it was only a day but felt longer.
Today, I returned to the charity shop and purchased the rather nice straw hat I saw yesterday. I’ll wear it next Wednesday when, lucky people that we are, friends have invited us to join them on Wimbledon Centre Court.
All the best, Mary
Hi Mary and yes, we are getting back to our usual ‘groove’ thank goodness, although I’d say the last months are still with us and I feel in the need of many more R&R opportunities. Fortunately we have an unexpected stay coming up this weekend, then the cruise, and I expect we will get up to London in the summer, then a week in Dungeness all of which should, I hope, top up our energy banks ready for the winter! And the hair is settling down well!!!
Wow, that sculpture exhibition sounds really excellent and yes quite a coup for a small museum.
Your days away and the forthcoming Wimbledon trip sound good. I am glad both of you are back to your groove too.
Lovely to hear from you Mary and thank you as ever for your interesting comment 🙂
I used to love Worthing, even did my Xmas shopping there a few times, but it’s slipped off my radar somewhat more recently. Good to know there’s still life and fun to be had there. My last trip was also in the UK as I’m not allowed to fly at the moment. So decided to take a trip firmly down memory lane to the Isle of Wight last month. The hotel was of the ‘turkey and tinsel’ variety but fine as a base, and it was lovely revisiting old haunts like the needles and the model village at Godshill, plus a few new ones – Osborne house was magnificent but slightly soulless apart from the nursery,but I loved the Isle of wight steam train. The island still seems slightly in the past, and was looking so beautiful. You don’t have to go abroad to see lovely places do you…we have so many on our doorstep!
I too was in the IOW last month, just at the beginning of the fine weather. A lovely place to visit and the sea crossing makes you feel you are going much further away. Our hotel was a 60’s relic but interesting for that and we too went on the train. My highlights were the gardens at Mottistone and Tennyson’s house which has been marvellously restored to what it was when he lived there.
Having explored a little of Worthing I’d say it was definitely better for a trip out than Brighton which is always crowded. I would go again just not to the Airbnb flat because of our lack of sleep from the guy above us!!!
Sorry to hear you can’t fly. What about a cruise? And actually I was just about to book some days away in the IoW and then we got hit by Bill’s complications and that was out of the question. We’ve run out of time now but we will definitely go at some point, partly because of your enthusiastic response to it!
I absolutely agree with you that there are so many lovely places to visit in the UK. Thanks Alison 🙂
Penny, your mini vacation looks like such fun! I love looking at old clothes and am always amazed at how much smaller people were…you can really see it in shoes. And, what fun to be served by a faery! I love your hair and think it looks fabulous! I actually got layers cut into mine a couple of weeks ago and am still trying to figure out how to get it to mind me instead of telling me what it’s going to do!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
It was great to get away and be in a different place. it was fun and lovely to meet our friends in their territory.
Fortunately, my hair has settled down. It doesn’t look like the style the hairdresser got it into but I’m very pleased with my non-styled hair as she cut it very well. Thank Marsha for the kind words about the hair and it was fabulous to be served by a fairy!!! 🙂
Love your hair!
I haven’t been to Worthing for years apart from two funerals! My grandma was in a home down there and shortly after her passing my lovely aunt died suddenly.
I currently have two uncles in Worthing hospital, both elderly.
I would love to see the clothes exhibition though.
I haven’t been anywhere exciting recently, but still enjoying life and grateful for all good things in it and especially our NHS.
I agree with you that it is so good to be grateful for what we can do and that we don’t have to go far to do this. It is so important to live in the now and enjoy ourselves. And god bless our NHS although it is creaking in parts but at least we don’t get bankrupted by our health problems.
As for Worthing, I think it is really quite superior to Brighton, it has a nice sea front and plenty of good restaurants and cafes. I shall go again for sure. Yes, it was a nice short getaway.
Thanks Carole 🙂
A few days away can be so relaxing and energising! That exhibition looks great, might go myself next week!
I’d say that the Towner in Eastbourne is the one to go to as it’s nearer to Rye and a really major exhibition of Hepworth’s work.
And you’ll never guess where we are going this coming weekend – Dungeness!! And that’s on top of our week away there in September! I guess you cannot resist Rye and we cannot resist Dungeness. It’s just two nights away but it will be sooo energising and we can absolutely guarantee a good night’s sleep there too!
Thanks Nancy 🙂
How nice that you were able to get away Penny and hopefully things are getting back to normal. I also got together with some friends I had not seen in a few years. one friend had come from Virginia where she and her husband had moved a few years ago. two live closer but I had not actually seen them in a while. my daughter and her husband joined us for dinner and it was good to have a catch up. Also last week my retirement group had their annual luncheon. On Friday my grandson graduated from high school. we are all very proud of him of course. So it was quite a busy week in all. This week has been much quieter.
I do like your hair Penny. Seeing your photo is inspiring me to book a haircut. I have a habit of letting it get too long and then feel so much better when I get it cut. And all the humidity we have here makes it hard to manage. I enjoyed seeing the photos of the exhibit. Interestingly, I just finished a novel, The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan for our book club. It is about women in WWII who get together to remake wedding dresses for brides as they ae in short supply. The book talks a lot about the “make do and mend” philosophy, nothing is wasted. and it does mention making dresses out of maps as you have illustrated. That is it for now. Hope you continue to be active and social and enjoy summer to it’s fullest. Love, Darby
I love hearing about your cultural activities and meet-ups with friends and family. This weekend we have an unexpected weekend away with our daughter and partner which will be lovely – more about that soon 🙂
The hair took some courage as I have had it long for years and then it got shorter but all one length – to have layers was a big step! Thankfully my hairdresser is excellent and I think she did a much better job than a previous hairdresser who. was always putting in layers rather badly!!!
The dress made of maps – so interesting that ‘make do and mend philosophy’. Do you remember darning socks – does anyone do that now?
Thanks as ever Darby and many good wishes from Lewes 🙂
It is always good to get away. As my husband travels a lot and we sometimes get very busy with activities during the school year, we have always made it a priority to get away several times a year, sometimes nearby sometimes far away. It is good to recharge, let go of worries and get a change of scenery. I like your new haircut!
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I agree that a change is a good as a rest and it is so nice to get away – we’re doing it again this weekend!
Thanks re: the hair 🙂
Hello Penny! It is so good to see you out in the sunshine, enjoying the sights/exhibits, and looking smart in your new hairstyle! Yes, layering in a haircut can be intimidating. Back in the day, every wrong snip could be easily seen. Nowadays, the newer, raggedy edges, enhanced by hair products, eases that dilemma…and looks so current!! I think that’s the trick of letting one’s hair go gray…keeping up a current hairstyle.
My thrift-ing outing last week was not as successful as I had hoped. But it was fun, nonetheless! The famous Mexican restaurant was closed but we still ate well and, of course, never stopped chatting! The weather was beautiful and we got quite a few steps in the coastal sunshine.
My next outing won’t be until the first week of August. It will entail both sons and their families as we celebrate their father’s memory by visiting all his favorite fishing spots in the California Sierra Nevada mountains. I am so looking forward to our get-to-gether with five adults, six grandchildren (4mos-13yrs), and a dog! We love to cook, hike, and fish. Our sons grew up camping and they wisely married women who do the same but this trip shall be a bit more luxurious as I’ve rented a large vacation home. We’re bringing a few boxes of old photos and shall reminisce and declutter over glasses of wine, making a difficult solo task palatable. This trip will be a kind of reward as I am still sorting through this widow’s journey and using it as a marker to get a few more things done. Im blessed with a supportive family.
I can see your post is encouraging others to get up, get dressed, and get out! Let us all enjoy our summers wherever we are! Do take care! Charlene
Oh Charlene what a lovely trip to look forward to. You & your family sound wonderful. Unfortunately mine is fractured by a falling out so I can’t have them all together now
Oh, Lynda, what a heartbreak that must be. I want you to know that it is not easy to keep our family peace as one son is a pastor and one son is a professor. They are polar opposites in their world view. I’m thankful that they respect each other and do acknowledge their shared likes. Their wives are also wonderful about appreciating each other. I credit my deceased husband with teaching them how to “share” and benefit from their differences. Indeed, in their own individual challenges, they have turned to each other for information…not always agreeing but looking for a trustworthy source for viewpoints different from their own.
I will add, I pray fervently for this family peace and I ask that the one son (and his family) will return to faith in God.
Thank you for your sweet comment. I pray that healing will occur in your family. Life is just too short…Charlene
So sorry to hear that Lynda – if possible hope things get mended 🙂
Hello Lynda
I’ve been late catching up with Penny this week so have only just seen your comment about family members’ falling out. That is so sad. I had the same thing happen in our clan and I got in touch with each one and told them it was totally unacceptable and that I was having none of it: Talk/discuss and then either make up and move on or at least agree to disagree and then make up and move on, NOW! Fortunately, it worked. I’m not actually suggesting you try this but I would have hoped for some consideration regarding your health as such a situation must be stressful for you. Oh, why do adults act like children sometimes! We’ve all done it, but it can cause heartache the rest could well do without. Here’s hoping for resolution soon; as Charlene wrote, life’s too short…You take care. x
And Charlene, have a lovely, happy, joyful and peaceful healing time in the Sierra Nevada mountains in August. Give them my love! x
Thanks for your thoughts Zepherine but unfortunately one party’s partner considers me part of the problem so nothing I can do. It’s been 6 years now but my 3 ‘children’ were with me for Mother’s Day this year as my health was looking very insecure at the time.
Oh wow, re: your trip away with your children and grandchildren. It sounds so out-doors with hiking and fishing and so nice that you’ve hired the large vacation home – it must have lots of bedrooms! I’ve never taken the whole family away – maybe we should do that and sooner rather than later! But we’re off this weekend with my daughter and her partner which will be lovely.
Also like your family they all get on but unlike your family there are no differences in opinions on anything – as in we all have the same opinions on politics and the environment with my daughter and son-in-law very very keen on environmental issues. Indeed my son-in-law is a member of quite a radical environmental group and I back him 100% as it is THE issue of our time. We have some great discussions.
In addition it is lovely to hear about you and your journey as a widow. I know we all send our heartfelt good wishes – there is much to live for. Wishing you every happiness – yes I do want that for you. You take every care Charlene – sending hugs across the pond virtually! 🙂
Loving your hair cut Penny xx
Loving the new haircut
We stopped in Worthing on the way to catch the ferry from Newhaven and also enjoyed Perch – loved the artwork along the pier. Whilst in France visited Blois – interesting town and amazing chateau. Thought of you as it’s twinned with Lewes, well worth a visit