Grannymar

What would I buy?

I have more than enough shoes, anyway Spring, when I am ready to shed the layers and Autumn, as my body craves to be cosseted in warmer clothes are my favourite times to spend in the shoe department.

I would like a new dress.  I actually see it in my mind’s eye, but that can be dangerous as it may not be available in any shops.

It happened once before in my single days.  I traipsed Dublin for an overcoat.  I knew exactly what it was like. The style, the colour and particularly the collar.  Grafton Street alas, had no magic in the air, Wicklow Street and South Great George’s Street were no better so I travelled north across Dame Street and through Temple Bar (it was a place for speed walking back then, and not to linger unlike today) over the Halfpenny Bridge and on through Liffey Street to Henry street.  I searched every shop.  I asked every sales assistant and none of them knew the coat I was talking about.  I must have worn out a pair of shoes that day.

Do you think I was dreaming about the coat?

I was out shopping the other day in a modern shopping centre.

Look what I found:-

Not a very clear picture taken with my phone.  This little one was leading the animals so gently and carefully as part of a promotion for the switching on of the Christmas lights.

Alas the only trees I saw being erected were cone shaped metal structures covered in plastic greenery and tiny coloured lights.  For me there was nothing Christmassy about them.

I did dally long enough to have a coffee.  The place was small with very few tables.  The coffee was good and so was the music… soft and gentle.  I actually thanked the waitress, as I often do, both for the coffee and the fact that the choice of music had nothing to do with Christmas.

Now I am off to play my music and dance about the room until 3pm.  See you then!

You can blame Gaelikaa it is all her fault. She wrote about a broken zip on her handbag. NO! She did not sent it to me for repair, and I no longer do zips, so thank you very much…. Don’t send them here!

Gaelikaa mentioned something about going shopping for a new one. I would have gone with her so that together we might enjoy a girlie giggle as we browsed and made our purchases.

Now I want a new handbag!

No I don’t.

YES I DO!

Actually I seldom carry one these days, but I do love them….and… Shoes!

BIG SIGH!

This getting old lark means that some of the shoes I like are but a memory now. The cheek of someone, telling me that I should be wearing laced or buckled shoes. Next they will be putting me back in stays! I suppose I should be thankful it is not a straight jacket they suggest. George, hide that last bit from Elly in case she gets ideas!

It made me think of all the handbags that are in my cupboard. I am trying to remember when I last purchased one….. Quite a few years ago, I think. I was in Belfast. Wandering, window shopping and browsing! It was a bright autumn morning and I was enjoying the sunshine warming my bones, and that was part of the reason I spent so long looking in the window of a leather goods shop. Handbags; it was mainly handbags on display. One section was of up to the minute high fashion – sure to be out of date and abandoned the very next week. Then there were bags covered with beads or feathers, “Sure I could make them!” I thought, but I could see why they were asking such a price. Proper beading takes time…. and plenty of it. It is a very precise art.

Next I noticed a display with bags, in the shape of gift bags covered in fabrics and the greatest excuse for fabric roses you ever saw. Now if Elly had come home from Primary school and said she made them I would have been proud and delighted to display the finished product up on the shelf with the Irish cottage ( I’ll show you that another day! ). The roses were very badly made and the bag itself was poorly finished. The price ticket said:- £50. I didn’t believe it was possible so I went inside for further inspection. Who in their right mind would give £50 for such a poor specimen? I did like the simple shape and took a closer look at how it was put together. Once satisfied, I set it back carefully on the shelf and continued my browsing.

There were several leather bags in what I would call classical designs. In fact there were a few I would put to very good use. They too, had a price ticket of £50, good value for real leather I thought. That day I had not set out to look for handbags, so I dragged myself away from temptation.

At this stage I was the only customer and there were two sales assistants, one of whom was on the phone. As I drew close to the door, the assistant replaced the telephone and shouted to the other girl “Everything 50% off!” I stopped in my tracks, with my mind working forty to the dozen. I lifted a bag and pretended to be very interested as I listened to the exchange between the sales ladies. Sure enough word had come down from on high that all goods were to be marked down to half price, effective immediately. So as they busied themselves with writing labels and attaching them to the products, I worked my way back to the classic leather bags. Fifty pounds was actually a good price for a leather handbag… but for two, it was not to be missed.

You guessed it. I bought two handbags, different styles, but in different colours. One was black and the other was navy. I was working back then so a handbag was a necessity for a girl who was away from home all day.

Clockwise from Left:  The black bag with a shoulder strap and the navy double handled one behind it, are both mentioned above.  A handmade patchwork evening bag (more tomorrow), Large tan holdall/handbag.*  Dark Green Tula Leather shoulder bag.**  Black brocade clutch evening bag.  Brown Samsonite Bum-Bag, this gets plenty of use nowadays since it holds the camera, phone keys etc, leaving both my hands free.  Navy clutch bag. and finally in the centre  A Mock Animal Skin Bag with gold trim***

*Large tan holdall/handbag (goes well with my riding boots.  Sigh!  Will ever get my feet into them again?).

**Dark Green Tula Leather shoulder bag (has matching shoes)

***A Mock Animal Skin Bag with gold trim (has matching shoes)

Well that is my stash of bags!  Not bad since most of them are ten or more years old.  I wonder which has my tuppence in it?

I went shopping one day during the week for some new toys.

The bed/chair table I purchased a few weeks ago.  It has turned out quite useful.  Tobias sits nicely on the main section which I tilt slightly forward and can work on quite easily without having to put the weight on my knees.  I know, I know!  But EVERYONE uses their lap to rest a laptop on, how else did it get the name!  The side section stays static and will hold my coffee cup, (*whisper* plus sticky bun*, but don’t tell Elly ).

On the Bed table are new socks, Coiler shoe laces, Safe-T-Strips, Soapy Soles and a sock aid.  They are all available here.

A closer look at the items: Front left are the Coiler laces, they measure about 6inches as they are, but they actually fit my walking boots.  You thread them through as normal laces but there is no need to tie the ends,  They stretch as you pull on or off the boot or shoe and are neat, comfortable and secure while walking.  Below you can see one in my well used nine year old boots.

Above them in the picture are Safe-T-Strips for the floor of the shower.  The packet contains 20 permanent adhesive strips and I see from the back of the wrapper that they are suitable for the edge of outdoor deck steps or terraces.

The blue item at the back is what they call Soapy soles a footpad with suction grip to easily clean and massage the feet without bending.  It came with a free sachet of liquid soap!

The final item with the cords and blue compressed foam handles on the right is the sock aid.  I tried it with all the socks shown below.  Since I am a very cold creature and wear socks winter and summer even in bed I needed to be able to put socks on easily post surgery.  I know it may be a few months away but by starting now it will be second nature to me and not something new to deal with.

I tried it with sports socks, fine socks and the pop socks you see  on the aid.  They all worked well and there was no bending from an upright sitting position.

The final item I have to show you are my balls!

Caught you there didn’t I!  You didn’t know about them now!

I have them for a few years now… well since I broke my wrist in 2005.

They are sponge tennis sized balls ideal for exercising the fingers.  Once the plaster was removed from my hand and a splint put on it, I was able to use them to keep the movement going.  I brought them out when I went for a walk and exercised my hands as well as my feet.  I was a very lucky lady at that time as I now have full movement in my right (major) wrist.

Now back to the exercises….

I wrote a few weeks ago about my experiences while out shopping, I described a fellow shopper who was trying on a beautiful coat. She did as we all do on such occasions, button up the coat and stand in front of a mirror, twisting this way and that to try and see the back before walking up and down the floor to get the ‘feel’ of the garment. In a high class store there are normally several mirrors strategically placed to allow us a proper back view of any garment. Alas the shop where I was that day had only the one mirror and it was on the shop floor and not in the fitting room. The assistant was pushing hard to sell the coat by telling the woman how much it suited her; perhaps it was the first hope of a badly needed sale that day, required to fill a target.

The coat would have looked well on me but I had no interest in, or intention of, buying it. I was at least eight inches taller, a slimmer build and thanks to my mother’s bony pointed finger poked in my back on a regular basis to remind me to stand up straight, could carry off the style. The little lady now sporting it was a victim of middle age spread; she was not fat but very well insulated from the cold and any thought of a waistline just a memory. The coat almost touched her ankles and fit where it hit! Alas around her waist area it sat at the back like a concertina and she was unable to see this. A size larger might have helped but it was the only one available in that style. The friend she had with her was not much help either; she seemed totally bored with the whole thing! Her only suggestion was “You could move the buttons”. Moving buttons is not as simple as it sounds; it can change the whole line of a garment and if not done professionally it can ruin an outfit!

I wanted to scream! This type of selling is a major FAIL both for the customer and the establishment! When the customer got home she would realise the coat was ill fitting and it would be relegated to keeping the wardrobe warm! She would blame the sales lady for the bad advice and never darken the door of the shop again. I hovered for a few minutes and realised that the woman wanted it to fit; indeed she willed it to fit, I knew that my intrusion would not be welcome so I bit my tongue and went on my way.

I have in the past spoken up and it was appreciated. Once I watched a woman, again much shorter than I am, try on a picture hat. From the gaggle of girls around her I realised she was a ‘Mother of the Bride’! One of the girls had a dress & coat ensemble draped over her arm. The hat was identical in colour and it had a very large brim and MOB was wearing it plonked on top of her head like an upturned flower pot! Perched like that the hat was all wrong, it made her look like a mushroom! It would hide her face and ruin the photographs. Not being able to resist I spoke up. I verified that she was ‘Mother of the Bride, and reminded her that she would be the second most important woman on the day of the wedding. As the hostess for the day the guests would want to hug and kiss her as she greeted them. Frequent collisions with the headgear would cause it to take flight and half the day would be spent trying to retrieve it.

I suggested wearing it at an angle to leave one side of the face free and visible for the photographs. Willingly she tried that but it was still not right. Hats nowadays are made in standard sizes and this was far too big for the woman’s small head. I suggested a different style with a half brim, something she had not thought of. Worn at an angle it looked well, showed off her soft face and good hair and the girls were all delighted. I also told her to take the hat to her hairdresser well in advance of the wedding so that they could discuss how best to cut and style the hair for the big day. It is not always a case of cutting the hair; there are times when it needs time to grow to the best shape.

I have one friend that I dislike shopping with. Once she enters a shop she must purchase something, usually clothing. It does not seem to matter to her whether the item suits or even fits her. Walking out of the shop with a carrier bag seems to give her a buzz. Several years ago she asked me to help her pick an outfit for a formal winter wedding. I agreed only if I was allowed to speak my mind and not just tell her something was nice, when it clearly didn’t suit her. I should have gone with my gut instinct…

My friend was at least 10 years further along the road of life than I was, about my height and heavy set. She did have some nice outfits in her wardrobe along with some very BIG mistakes. Perhaps she had come across the sales lady above!

We set out early one morning she knew where she wanted to go; I was driving so distance for her was no object, short journeys always happened when she used her car. We duly arrived in her chosen town and the search began. We looked, she tried and I gave my opinion. “It looks fine at the back, but it pulls under here” or “I like the line of the top but the skirt is way too long” and “That colour drains and ages your face, what about that turquoise?” - are some of the suggestions I made. At lunchtime we were not much further on, so we headed for refreshment.

An hour later refuelled and ready for the fray we began once more. We did see several outfits suitable and flattering for my friends shape and colouring, but alas she would not put them on. By mid afternoon I had stopped giving advice since my friend didn’t really want to hear it. Two outfits were purchased before we were finished, a navy velour pants set, suitable for lounging about the house and a flirty little cocktail dress more suitable for a summer’s evening. Neither of these outfits was suitable for the forth-coming wedding and I have never seen them since.

She suggested heading out another day but thankfully I was not available. An outfit was purchased and she showed it to me about a week later. It was a heavy machine knitted two-piece in a rather washed out colour blue, with a v-necked tunic top and long straight skirt, very suitable for daywear. The only decoration was a six inch band of a Fair Isle pattern around the tunic top at waist level. A couple of weeks later she bought a picture hat to wear with the suit in Sinamay, that fine straw that you cannot get wet…. for a winter wedding in Ireland!!!!

So what would you do?

We had a couple of days with some good weather this week so I took myself off on Friday for a couple of hours of retail therapy window shopping, browsing and some well needed exercise. There was an eerie feeling about the place not because I was almost accosted by a witch in the first shop I entered to inform me of the bargains. Yes, a witch in full costume and a large pointy hat! There was only one other customer in the premises for the duration and besides the ‘witch two other members of staff approached me to say “There is another 30% off everything in the store”!

Not seeing anything I liked or needed, I moved on to the next shop. Again some of the staff seemed in party mood or at least party dress and only a handful of customers were about the store – more browsing than shopping. It all had a feeling of late January, about a week before paycheques were due, when people were tired of the self enforced abstinence from shops and spending. It was Hallowe’en, mid-term break from schools and in previous years, time for the early birds to make a start on Christmas shopping.

I did see a lovely lined tailored waistcoat in the third shop and the ticket said £35. There were about eight of them on the rack in various sizes. All but my size had a red square sticker over the top of the hanger announcing a further reduction. Knowing that I would get good mileage with the waistcoat I took it to the pay desk. The girl scanned it for me and true enough it was reduced to just £7, I had checked it well and there were no flaws so I bought it.

In another store there were several women of my vintage looking at overcoats. One lady had a beautiful coat on and she was walking up and down. The assistant was pushing hard to sell it by telling her how much it suited her; I wanted to scream! The coat would have looked well on me ( I had no interest in buying it), I was at least eight inches taller, a slimmer build and thanks to my mother’s bony pointed finger poked in my back on a regular basis to remind me to stand up straight, could carry it off. The little lady now sporting it was a victim of middle age spread, she was not fat but a little plumper in build. The coat fit where it hit! Alas around her waist it sat at the back like a concertina and she was unable to see it. The friend she had with her was not much help either! I hovered for a few minutes and realised that the woman wanted it to fit, indeed she willed it to fit, so I bit my tongue and went on my way. That is why I like to shop for clothes when on my own.

As I walked close by a line of pay desks in another store a young lady ran quickly past me. At this stage it was late afternoon. She had a small package in her hand, but I was more distracted by her outfit. Her dress was Red, the neckline low and the skirt was short indeed very short and I could see the top of her black fishnet stockings. Ah ha! I thought she must be off to a hen party. Then I thought it was a little early in the day for that. She made her purchase and ran from the shop. It was at this stage I realised that all the while I had the camera in my pocket. What a waste of opportunity.

Working my way back to the car park I made one more stop, I could do with some new slippers. Working my way through the isles in the foot-ware store to where I would find my shoe size, who should greet me and ask if I needed help but the ‘Lady in Red’. This time the fishnets were replaced with plain black tights. I discovered the young lady was called Cora and she was also part of the Fancy dress brigade. The whole centre was involved in a week long party with staff encouraged to wear fancy dress. Not everyone went along with the idea but those that did seemed to enjoy the event. Cora said that her outfit seemed fine at home but wearing hold-up stockings when you are not used to them was not a good idea for work. She agreed to having her photo taken and here she is:

Thank you Cora, you brightened my day!

Now hold on a minute! I never said anything about killing folk. That is not in my nature. I am talking about health here and keeping everything soft and supple.

A chair that does all this:

Real massage chair mechanism

Shiatsu and Rolling massage: 4 independent rollers travel up and down back

Targeted relief of any back area

6 programs: full, lower or upper back in either massage style

Spot Shiatsu massage: massage action just where you need it!

Adjustable roller width to comfortably fit your body

Vivid LED illuminates massage mechanism

I saw one of these last week and just had to try it. It was wonderful. Elly was with me and of course she had to have a go as well. It was good that there were two chairs in operation at the time because I was not about to stand and watch her have all the fun!

Apparently I was moaning and groaning with pleasure! My daughter kept telling me to be quiet. In fact the words she used were ” Mammy, please! Anyone would think you were having sex!” What a thing for a young lady to say to her dear old mother! Chance would be a fine thing!

Well you know what’s coming…

“Well, it is the nearest thing to sex that I have had in a long time” says I.

There was only one solution for it. I bought one and took it home. I have it here on my chair by the computer and twice a day when I need to think and rest I sit back and switch it on.

Pure heaven.

Just like a Toyboy dancing up and down my back!

Is it any wonder I have a smile on my face.

The weekend was rather wet! Some might say that was an under statement. Thankfully I had no urgent need to venture outdoors. It was a time to look inward and forget I had windows.

Yesterday with more torrential rain forecast I decided to make a quick foray to the shops to top up on fresh food. Wrapped up for the weather I went to take the car out of the garage taking a bag of rubbish for the bin at the same time. As I rounded the corner I noticed the drain was overflowing. It was the water off the roof and guttering through the downpipe that was flowing along the side of the bungalow. ‘Leaves’ I thought the bend of the drain must be blocked with leaves! It would have to wait until I returned.

As I drove down the hill there were signs of debris all along the way, caused by the overflow of water from the Burn (small stream) at the entrance of the estate. Further back the burn flows beside the dams of the old flax mill and at the entrance to the estate it is culverted as it passes underneath and crosses to the other side of the road. Some years ago townhouses and apartments were built on the far side of the road and the stream further culverted beneath them. Each winter we now have problems with flood water, thankfully it flows downhill. About ten days ago I noticed a digger, traffic cones and road works signs, I never in fact saw any workmen. The equipment disappeared after a couple of days and I thought no more about it. Whatever work they did it was not sufficient for the extreme weather conditions on Saturday.

I decided not to travel far for my shopping and Lidl is the closest shop to me nowadays. So that is where I went. Great for bargains but I am easily distracted…

I wanted something tasty for lunchtime treats and to add colour to a dreary day!

Colourful it was but not ideal for a sandwich……..

They are roomy enough to wear with Ski Tubes* and keep my tootsies warm. I wore them when I went outside to clear the drain and pull some weeds.

*Ski Tubes are knee length socks without a turned heel. I use them inside my hiking boots and they are very warm. Normal socks have a seam across the toes. My toes curl under this is caused by circulation problems. The seam across the toes hurts my feet. With ski tubes it is possible to wear the seam on the underside and stay warm and comfortable. They are also longer than normal socks and go right up to my knees.

Do you wash your smalls before wearing them?

image.guim.co.uk

I heard on BBC Radio 4 News headlines at noon that “Woman suffers anaphylactic shock from underwear she bought in Primark UK”. I checked the News links but cannot find it anywhere at the moment.

What the heck was the underwear made from. Surely she washed the items first.

I twittered about it and immediately someone came back to say she never washed new items. How many others out there think New = Clean?

When we buy new clothes they look perfect, clean and crisp but are they? They usually have some form of finishing product on them, particularly blouses and shirts to give them the crisp look. In the shop alone how many times have the items been handled. Think about it. Do you pick up clothing items to examine them? Are your hands clean. Do you try them on? Have you had a shower before going shopping or have you nipped in after a hard sweaty day in the office? How many others have done that before you. Were you/they eating on the run before entering the shop… perhaps snacking on Peanuts or other known irritant.

In the making process how many hands have touched the fabrics. Did the items fall on the floor in the workshops and was it clean. So many of our clothes come from overseas sweatshops where staff are paid a pittance. If you were paid a pittance would it encourage you to take pride in your work? Is hand washing part of the culture?

If companies are focused on profit margins will they really care about the working conditions of the manufacturers or workshops.

Now your Easter Bonnet may not take washing, but please launder the clothes that touch your skin.

Happy Easter.

One Christmas morning I looked at the gift I was handed and turned over the gift tag.

To Grannymar
With all my love
Jack
I love you from here to….

I carefully removed the gift wrap and discovered the missing word:

Eternity!

It was exactly what I wanted. A Bottle of Eternity Perfume, my favourite.

Only that morning I had squeezed the last dregs from the old bottle. With excited hands I opened the box to have another extravagant spray. Well, it was Christmas day after all! I sprayed and it might as well have been tap water! Plenty of liquid but no perfume! I was so disappointed. I ran and got the empty bottle I had discarded earlier and the scent from it was still so strong after months of use, yet the new one had none.

I asked Jack where he had purchased it. Boots, Donegal Place,” he said (that’s in Belfast).

My next question was “Do you have the receipt?” Alas, Jack was not good at keeping that kind of receipt. “No” he said “But I do have the cheque book stub!”

For several months that year in the run up to Christmas, it was not possible to listen to the Radio or watch TV without hearing warnings about purchasing Perfumes from reputable Dealers. ‘Perfume Shops’ were springing up all over the place and stories bandied about of counterfeit goods being traded. Jack had gone to a reputable dealer and paid full price for the goods. There was no way I would be fobbed off.

Early on the morning of 27^th December armed with the perfume, cheque book and an Elly who was tightly holding Book Tokens for a promised visit to Crane’s Bookshop the Grannymar Clan set off for Belfast to do battle with the Big Boys. The Sales started that day so the streets were thronged with bargain hunters. We made our way to Boots and the Perfumery Dept was almost empty. Now we all know that most Cosmetics manufacturers depend on the three weeks before Christmas to provide them with their profits for the year. Once Christmas is passed the sales slump until Mother’s day in March. The empty Cosmetic shelves in front of us that day were more than proof. Eventually a young lady stopped chatting to come and see to us.

Firstly I asked if she had a sampler bottle of Eternity for me to try. She had, and I did. I was satisfied that it smelt as it should. I then produced my problem bottle and said how disappointed I was and indeed my husband was that the gift he bought for me was not up to the usual standard. I apologised that we did not have the receipt but was able to tell her exactly the day it was bought and showed the check stub. I asked her to try the offending bottle to see if she could smell the difference. The main problem that day was that this sales lady was a temporary employee and the usual Calvin Kline representative was away until after 2^nd January.

I said that with all the publicity that year about counterfeit goods, we had listened and purchased from a reputable supplier. I queried if the goods ordered and paid for by Boots were not the goods supplied. I requested that ‘my’ bottle of perfume be sent back to the manufacturers for testing. I said “I know accidents can happen on conveyer belts” and that I wanted an explanation for the lack of scent in the bottle my husband purchased. I told the young lady that I knew that in no way was she responsible for the problem. My gripe was with her employers or Calvin Kline.

She did take the bottle, my details and phone number. Elly was becoming restless so we headed for Cranes and the wonderland of books. An hour at the book shelves and a refreshing cup of coffee later we were ready for home. We needed to be home at lunchtime as Elly was bound for a party in the afternoon.

During the afternoon I realised I had a dilemma! In my haste to have the Eternity problem sorted I had handed over my evidence and my details but had not received a receipt for it. I located the phone number for the Boots branch that we visited and asked to speak to the Manager. I was told he was on holiday. Worried that my ‘bottle’ might find its way to the garbage bin and my evidence with it, I then phoned the Head Office in Bangor, Co Down. Once again I asked to speak to the Manager but only got as far as his PA. She listened to my tale in full and assured me that she would pass on the information before the close of business that day. Again she took my phone number and said they would call me back.

At 5p.m. that day I had a call from Boots in Bangor. They had checked with the Belfast Store and had requested that the perfume I left would be forwarded to them. I received an apology for my disappointment and for the fact they did not have a replacement for me that day. New stock was not due until after the 6^th January. I was promised a call as soon as it was back in stock. I assured them that my gripe was not with Boots but with Calvin Kline.

2^nd January dawned and my phone began to ring. It was a call from Calvin Kline in London. They wanted to check the details provided to them by Boots. Once again I told my story. By this time I knew it by rote. Never once in all these conversations did I raise my voice. The apologies came my way once more and I kept stressing that I was not on the make but wanted the product sold tested!

On 6^th January I had a call from Boots in Bangor to say the perfume order had arrived and a bottle was set aside with my name on it, in the Belfast branch. The manager in Belfast phoned later in the day to say the same thing and I arranged a suitable time to collect my perfume.

Two weeks later a parcel arrived in the post from Calvin Kline in London with a complimentary replacement bottle of Eternity. Later still near the end of the month when I had forgotten about the episode a third bottle arrived from Calvin Kline USA with their compliments. I never did discover what exactly was wrong with the first bottle, but the three replacements were all as they should be.

I still like Eternity and use it at every opportunity.