Dotty old woman goes shopping

I have been in and out of clothes shops today and caught sight of myself in one or two mirrors, my goodness what a frump I look. My usual casual attire makes me look like a scruffy old tramp, as most of what I wear is second hand. I tend to dress for comfort and that means clothes which keep me warm. As these are mainly dark colours, I could easily be mistaken for a navvy off a building site, without the flourescent vest, ha ha.  

I am in desperate need of a haircut as well which doesn't help, so I popped into a hairdressers shop which I have used before. I begrudge paying more than a fiver, but my hair is looking a bit shaggy due to me chopping at it with a pair of dressmaking scissors. The young girls working there looked as if they have just come out of school, I tried to describe how I wanted it cutting. They looked at me in bewilderment when I said I wanted the sides cut to the bottom of my ears, and some length leaving in the neck, and layers put in to get rid of the afghan hound look. It was suggested a bob style would be nice, as it wouldn't look right with the sides and back two different lengths. I said no, I wanted it shorter on top. I was given some books to peruse to choose a style. Something told me this was not going to work, so I made my excuses and left. I went in Savers and bought a colour for it instead, I will lighten it a shade, that will perk it up. 

I really would prefer not to see myself when I am out, it just reminds me that I look older than I feel. In my head I am still twenty something, but in truth I am becoming a dotty old woman. Mind you, a lot of the younger generation expect you to be a bit doolally, so it's ok to have a bit of banter with them. I find myself talking to complete strangers sometimes. Today I spoke to two women when I was in Primark, and asked them if stick insects shopped in the store, because some of the leggins were very skinny. They looked at me in a sad sympathetic way and hurried off. I was in the queue for the tills, and waited for my turn. I couldn't make out what the voice over the tannoy was saying, then the young lad from the other end shouted, 'can you come down please'. They don't think of people wearing hearing aids when they record the announcements for those things. I can't hear it with all the background noise going on.

Anyway, what was I doing in clothes shops. I should say that my priority is to search the charity shops first. If I can't find what I want then I will go to a normal shop, and look for a reduction in a sale. I wanted a pair of shorts, some loose fitting leggins, a pair of ultra lightweight sandals, and a pair of cottony shell type black jog bottoms. What I did get is this pretty bag from the Hospice shop for £1. Seems daft to buy one when I know I can make a bag for virtually nothing, but this really caught my eye. As well as using it I can copy the design and make some more.  

I got a pair of grey shorts for £2, almost new. My waist is 29 but I can sew some darts into it and wear a belt with it. The Hospice shop is the best one in town. They keep their prices reasonable and are always busy, and they have some good stuff in there, no tat.  

Now this is a bit strange. I bought the jog bottoms from Sports Direct and it says size 8 on the label. I am usually a size 10 or 12. Anyway they fit perfect so a good buy. I had a chuckle when the girl on the till asked if I wanted to buy a bag for life, only 75p. I said no thanks, and proudly showed her my two bags which I made for nothing, and they will outlive me, ha ha.

Then I looked in Primark for the loose fitting leggins, I want to wear them underneath the jog bottoms as an extra layer. I held up all the sizes and they looked ever so small. I know I am a bit on the thin side but I am not a stick insect. This is ridiculous, I ended up buying a size 18, eeeek, and they fit, so work that out, crazy.  

I love these fluffy socks, reduced to £1. Just the job for walking, roll them up when cold, and down when warm, and nice and soft on the feet.

I called in at Skippingdale Shopping Centre on the way home, I was looking for some new cat litter trays, as mine are getting a bit past their best now. They are stained on the bottom even though I scrub them out regularly. They were too expensive in The Range, and there was only one in Poundstretcher, and I want four. So I gave up. While I was there I popped into Poundland, and guess what I found? The same cat litter which was £1.29 a few weeks ago in Home Bargains, but then they ran out. Here it was £1 for a 10kg bag, Amazing. They didn't have any trolleys so I had to borrow one from Iceland to transfer the ten bags back to my car. I'm pleased, that was a good saving, the young lady assistant said I bought all they had. Shame, I would have got more if they had some. 

Anyway, I've been rambling on long enough, I'm falling asleep. I'm not going anywhere over Easter, would rather stop at home on bank holidays, too much traffic on the roads. I hope you all have a nice Easter. Hello to my new fan, Leslie from New Orleans, thank you for your email, and welcome. Toodle pip.