Hello everyone
I’m back and actually apart from the shock of experiencing British weather, which is so much cooler than the weather we experienced on holiday (7C 44F this morning, in contrast Gdansk was 28C 82F) I am glad to be back.
Regarding the warm weather we had, I’m not saying it’s totally good, as everyone said how unusual it was to have hot weather at this time of the year. But it was gorgeous weather with not a single rainy or cool day, and naturally I’d taken all the wrong clothes! I mean the last time I’d been to Norway in September I wore tights under my jeans as it was so cold. Not this time, and while I’d brought, pretty much, all the right clothes for the evening, I definitely did not for day wear. I packed 5 long sleeve tops, plus 2 warm sweaters, rain gear, a woolly hat and an umbrella – all unused and unworn. Fortunately I had packed 3 short sleeved tops and wore those every day, plus two lightweight trousers and wore those most days as well! I confess to buying two more t-shirts in Gothenburg, plus a cotton summer dress in Visby – they were really needed!
Well a few pics are coming your way. and not all about my clothes as there was one outstanding day I want to tell you about.
Phew, we’ve just arrived.
I adore cruises with Saga as they pick you up from your door, and if you share a car it’s free! We arrived early and were the first on board ship, btw, for anyone who goes on those larger ships, there are never any queues on the two Saga ships, even when boarding.
Now below this isn’t a cruise pic, but one taken a couple of weeks before the cruise, but it’s kind of a ‘before’ photo. I was awfully white and pasty when I went on board ship and still suffering from post-viral fatigue. That white spotty dress made me look like one of those white faced clowns. And in another pic I look positively grey. So I’m not showing the photos of me wearing this dress on board ship, because it brought all my paleness to the fore.
But now here’s the ‘after’ photo. Several days on board ship have gone by and I’ve had a facial and a massage in the Spa, and instead of pasty me here’s a brighter me – and also the best dress of the holiday.
I am positively glowing and all down to being waited on hand and foot plus a lot of gorgeous food being put in front of me!
This below is once again ‘before’ and can you see the difference? I’m pale there and glowing above – that’s what a cruise does for me! But this is also the best dress.
I bought the dress from the website of New Look – which may surprise some Brits as New Look isn’t high end at all, but this dress is 100% cotton and lovely with it. I can’t find the dress on the website but here’s something similar. Btw, for you shoe lovers – I wore the same pair of very old sandals every single evening 🤣 They are comfy (and scruffy if you look closer) and I love them. And significantly they went well with every single evening outfit – that’s being frugal!
I will show you a few more outfits in the next blog I do, which will be very soon, but for now I want to tell you about an epic day we had in Oslo.
My aunt Peggy, who died in 1958 at the age of 47, was a secretary during the war in the London office of the Norwegian SOE.
But she was far more than just a ‘secretary’ as I was told she gave the Secret Agents their guns and suicide pills and kept their personal effects and wrote down their details. She knew about every important secret operation, and after the war visited all the relatives of the agents who died. Within a certain circle she was very well known in Norway. I think I might have told you that from the age of 7 to 11 I went up by train (on my own!) and stayed with her every summer for a month in her cottage in Cheshire.
On her death I inherited several items belonging to her including a beautiful Bunad (Norwegian costume) supposedly, although I have no proof, given to her by King Haakon.
Well, I’m 78 now, and what would happen to it, when I kick the bucket, hmm? So I saw this cruise was going to Oslo and booked it, and then contacted the Norwegian Resistance Museum and asked them if they’d like to have the Bunad, and they replied, oh yes, absolutely, anything of Peggy’s.
So on the 31st August, a day that was unusually hot for Norway, and which was also our 50th Wedding Anniversary, we traipsed off to the museum and donated the Bunad, plus the brooch or tie-pin below (which you can see on the photo at her neck) plus some other items and the original of the photo you see above.
In turn we were shown two photo albums that Peggy had made herself, post war, of all the agents and people she knew. I include a translation of the writing in Norwegian.
The day continued to be epic as, I didn’t say, Peggy had died in Oslo so we were quite adventurous and went on the metro to the cemetery where she is buried. Sadly there is no longer a headstone but we knew roughly where she was buried and kind of guessed it was her grave, when we found a space where undoubtedly there had been a headstone and there we laid some flowers.
What a day! We were so pooped (we did over 12,000 steps) that in the evening we didn’t really celebrate our wedding anniversary. But here’s a pic of both of us later in the cruise with that really nice dress I keep just for cruises. Personally I felt the whole cruise was a celebration of our 50 years together.
There will be more photos of the cruise coming very soon. But I just wanted to share with you, the amazing day we had in Oslo. I am so glad the museum accepted the Bunad as I truly feel it is now in the right place – it has gone home.
That’s all for now, with love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
What a memorable day ! Loved the history behind your Aunt Peggy .
Penny you look fabulous and definitely glowing . Cruise life suits you ! Happy 50th anniversary to you &Bill x
I was definitely glowing then. Think it had something to do with being waited on hand and foot and not having to cook and wash the dishes 🤣
I remember Aunt Peggy very well despite her having died so many years ago. Those holidays with her were amazing and fancy being put on the train in the care of the guard at age 7!!!! I obviously survived!
Thanks Yok 😊
Congratulations! And thanks for sharing the wonderful Aunt Peggy!
Congratulations on your 50 th anniversary. What a fascinating story about Aunt Peggy. And you do look well on your cruise.
Thanks Julie and glad you liked the story of aunt Peggy 😊
She was wonderful, my aunt Peggy, and I’m so glad I had those holidays with her as a young child.
And thanks Arlene for the good wishes re: 50 Years! 😊
It seems sad that the Norwegians couldn’t keep her headstone….
I have been thinking about that – whether the headstone can be replaced. As for why there is no headstone, apparently the family is meant to pay a fee for the upkeep of the headstone. If it stops (and it obviously must have when the last of her brothers and sisters died) if anything happens to a headstone then it is not repaired.
But I have thought about it….and am thinking how I can pursue it. Thanks Angela 😊
Thank you for sharing another wonderful adventure Penny! It’s so important to mark those special life milestones and you do it with such style! I don’t really hold with ‘ influencers’ but you are such an inspiration, which is an entirely different thing ! Congratulations on your wedding anniversary
Aww thank you so much, Melanie, for both the congratulations and your kind words 😊
So glad you had a wonderful time Penny. I think you looked lovely in your lovely dress even before you went away, but the cruise photos show what some rest and relaxation can do. It was fascinating to read about your Aunt Peggy. What a wonderful lady. It’s good that you have your own memories of her too, even though you may not have appreciated exactly what she did at that point.
Yes, at that young age I definitely didn’t realise what an amazing woman she was. She didn’t have any children and she was close to my father which is probably why she invited me to stay with her. They were great experiences too.
Thanks so much for your kind words 😊
Amazing to learn about Aunt Peggy. Her wartime exploits would be a great book – non fiction or fiction.
Yes, indeed they would make an interesting book! Thanks Nicola 😊
What a good story! And how nice is the thought that the museum has it now. Happy anniversary! So , on the day you were married, I turned 8!
Oh my word, Nancy, ahem, I am such an old biddy!!!! 🤣 And yes, it is so good that the museum has the Bunad as goodness knows what would happen to it, when….
Thanks Nancy 😊
So pleased that the cruise turned out so well, right day clothes or not – a great excuse for some retail therapy! – and your evening dresses really filled the bill! Sea air obviously did you the world of good, Penny, and hopefully set you both up for winter.
What a wonderful woman was your Aunt Peggy! You must be so proud of her. And proud too, to reach your Golden Wedding anniversary. Congratulations!
Looking forward to seeing the rest of your wardrobe…
Zepherine x
My aunt Peggy was lovely and I’m so lucky to have some great memories of her – the holidays were really quite epic too as they were very adventurous and probably wouldn’t happen these days as we were packed off with our sandwiches (I had a companion, a nephew of uncle Edwin) and stayed out all day damning a stream with no adult supervision whatsoever. Can you imagine that now!!!
Thanks Zepherine 😊
Oh, Penny, this is the sweetest post ever though I don’t think sweet is quite the right word. I’m so glad you had your aunt’s Bunad and the museum wanted it. How cool they knew exactly who you meant! She must have been quite important to the Norwegian people in the know.
You look so refreshed and absolutely glowing in your cruise photos. Perhaps, you should become one of those couples who sell everything and just live out their lives bouncing from cruise to cruise. Have you heard of that? I guess it’s not really much more expensive than just staying in your own home.
Having just returned from the UK and Ireland, I can tell you I packed mostly the right things, but I did take along some things I never wore…like sleeveless tops (someone told me Scotland is hot and humid in August…obviously they’re not from Central Indiana where we know hot and humid). I also took a pair of sandals and a dress for dinner out, but there was no time to change. And, no one else dressed up. I am going to remember these things for my next trip whenever that might be…hopefully January…and to London and Liverpool. If you have any tips for getting from London to Liverpool relatively inexpensively (I saw train tickets for $300), I’d appreciate them. This is going to be mother/son trip but I still want to meet up with you, Gail, and many others!
Thanks for sharing this special day with us.
Oh, and Happiest of Anniversaries to you both!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Before I say anything else – here’s a link to National Express
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/destinations/liverpool/london-to-liverpool
Going by coach from Victoria Bus Station would be the cheapest way to get to Liverpool – and you’d see a lot of England too!
As for the cruise – it was great but I could never do more than 2 weeks at the most as there’s never enough vegetables. I mean it’s lovely food but I do like my veg! Otherwise this entire cruise was fab – and I did feel very rested, until that is we got back. One week later I have just about finished the washing 🤣
Yes, the whole trip was awesome especially our day in Oslo.
Thanks so much Marsha 😊
That sounds like an absolutely stunning cruise, and a real celebration of your life together and your aunt’s. How lovely to be able to donate those items to the Resistance Museum and to see her valued in thar way. I hope the rest of the cruise was relaxing and fun. It’s odd how, of the clothes we pack, some turn out to be the real stars of the show, but often in just that situation. They often fade into the background when we return, or at least that’s what happens to me. Looking for to ‘ The Crusie II’. Trish S
It was great to donate the items that I had belonging to my aunt. I mean what would happen to them once I’m not around???? Also the Bunad was in amazing condition considering it’s as old as me – 78! So glad they accepted it.
You will get the Cruise Part Deux very soon! Thanks Trish 😊
Congratulations to you both on your 50th. wedding anniversary.
I am so pleased you enjoyed your cruise and was just the tonic you needed.
It was so interesting reading about your Aunt Peggy and her part in the war. You must have been so pleased they were happy to add the dress and medal to the museum to be kept for perpetuity. Sad to read your aunt died so young.
My aunt had a heart condition from her encounter with Rheumatic Fever as a child – in the days before antibiotics I think this was quite common. Her sister also had a heart condition from this disease but survived into old age. It was such a good thing to donate the Bunad to the museum and know that they still remember her.
Thanks for the congratulations Jill – yes we made it to our 50th! 😀
Thanks for this interesting post, Penny. Another successful cruise: yummy food, good spa treatments, honouring your Aunt Peggy (riveting tale!), some right/wrong/old/new/fab clothes and comfy shoes, plus a special anniversary with your handsome fella – both looking swell!. Congratulations.
In friendship Mary xxx
Thanks so much Mary 😊
You and Mister F are looking great in your photo. The cruise sounds amazing! We have been very lucky here in New York with the weather. the last few weeks were nearly perfect, one gorgeous summer day after another. There are signs of Fall of course, the days are shorter and the trees are changing color already So interesting hearing about your Aunt Peggy. I was in Oslo five years ago We only spent the day and would love to go back, but probably not, still I have wonderful memories. Love from New York, Darby
Yes, Oslo is lovely and I was very impressed that there were so few cars around and the ones that were, are all electric. Next year I shall go back and do all the sights and art galleries.
Glad to hear New York is having good weather – we are hearing a lot about the wild fires in California.
The cruise did us the world of good – but Mr F got Covid, we think from someone on the last day. Ah well, there’s a lot of it about.
Thanks Darby 😊
What an amazing woman. I’m so glad you chose to donate her items to the museum. For generations to come people will learn about your aunt and her contribution to freedom. I’m in awe!
Congratulations on your golden wedding anniversary too, of course. 💐
Yes, it was absolutely the right thing to do as I have no idea if the Bunad would’ve been looked after when I died. The items I was told wouldn’t be put on display until or unless there is a specific exhibition but they are there for future researchers to understand more about the origins of the Resistance. So glad I did it – they are in the right place.
Thanks for the congrats Pauline – 50 years! 😊
I love historical fiction set during WWII so I found this really interesting! I think it was wonderful to donate her items to the museum as others can now enjoy another piece of history. You look lovely on the cruise, I am so glad you are able to take such a holiday most years. Happy 50th anniversary!
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Yes, my aunt was amazing although when I was young I had no idea of her exploits. The items I donated are not going to be on actual display but they are there for posterity and for researchers aiming to understand more about the origins of the resistance in Norway. And the Bunad is definitely in the right place as I am not sure it would have been kept safe after I passed.
Thanks so much for the congrats, Mireille – 50 years! 😊
Many congratulations on your 50th anniversary Penny. Lovely account of your travels thank you xx
Thanks so much Vivien – the whole trip was great but the day in Oslo was very special.
Your aunt Peggy sounds like an amazing lady! What an interesting life she had. You look very happy and relaxed on the cruise – looking forward to seeing more photos. Happy 50th anniversary and thank you for linking!
Emma xxx
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Fascinating. Your precious aunt must have been quite a woman. It speaks volumes that she was trusted with so much information and responsibility. I am sure the museum was quite touched by the thoughtful donations of your aunt’s special belongings. What a wonderful way to be sure her memory lives on.
Global warming? How crazy that the weather was so opposite for what you had experienced in previous visits. I have come to realize that I generally pack too many layers and too many dressier things when a tee shirt and jeans would serve me better. Your special evening cruise dress is lovely. And you certainly wear a little bit of sunkissed color very well. Yay for a massage and a facial, for 50 years of marriage, for big smiles and making wonderful memories.