For the third year running I'm taking part in A Buyer's Archive inspired by Elise, to keep track of my spending on clothes and accessories.

THIS YEAR

Once again all of this month's purchases are pre-loved, and all of them will be in my August capsule.


Fat Face denim shorts £4.25
I actually purchased these last month but forgot to include them in June's round-up post. They're a lovely length and really comfortable.

Khaki cropped jeans £10.99
I mentioned that I was looking out for a pair of these, and these were the exact ones I had in mind, having seen several people wearing them on Instagram. I found them on ebay for a buy-it-now price of £10.99 (free postage) and bought them without a second thought. They turned up just in time for the cooler weather (and when I say cooler I mean not tarmac melting hot!).

Jigsaw sequin top £3.20
I had a hankering for a sequin top too. I am a little annoyed that the ebay seller didn't mention a mark on the back of the top, and that some of the sequins are missing, but it's still a nice top, and it was only £3.20. I like that it's a dull sequin, so it has a sheen rather than a sparkle.


LAST YEAR

Next striped top £4.79
This has never been worn. It's lovely but doesn't suit me.

Blue shirt, £3.25, originally from H&M.
This was a great purchase, it's light and easy to wear and goes with so much of my wardrobe.

Floral shirt, originally from Oasis, for £3.25
This hasn't been worn either, again it's nice but just not very me.

Floral skirt reduced from £60.00 to £25.00
A sale bargain, excitedly worn the day after I purchased it. But not since. But I will, maybe for my traditional birthday breakfast at the local greasy spoon cafe?

Yoshi 'Yes' bag
Originally £65.00, down to £30.00 with a 20% discount, making it just £24.00. It's been used a lot and will probably be around for a while.


Total for July £18.44

Total so far for 2018: £242.66

Total at this time last year: £392.39

Left of £600.00 budget: £357.34

I've got more than half my budget left with five months of the year remaining. And I've purchased more pre-loved items than new this year, score currently stands at 14 new vs 23 pre-loved.

What have you been buying this month?

Look out for the #buyersarchive hashtag to see others taking part. 

People are often intrigued by the life of a farmer, I think it has something to do with being at one with nature, working outside, a sort of hunter-gather type thing.

A lot of people say it's a profession that appeals to them, but it's more of a lifestyle than a job. Andy was born to it, and I can't imagine him doing anything else.

My life as a farmer's wife is not a traditional role. I don't help on the farm on a daily basis, I'm not 'hands on'. The farm is arable so luckily we have no animals to tend to. I say luckily because it means he gets at least one day off a year. Christmas Day is the only day I can guarantee he won't try to head out to work, but I'm sure he would if he thought he could get away with it.

I've spoken about harvest on here before, and I often mention that we don't get a lot of time to spend together, but I do think that because of that, the time we do have together is really special. It's hard to take something for granted when it doesn't happen very often.

What being a farmer's wife means, for me, is that I take on the responsibility for everything in the home. I do the decorating, gardening, and sort out things like having a water softener installed, or arranging for cavity wall insulation to be installed (fitted? put it? what do you do with cavity wall insulation?).

My role is sorting out all the life stuff that Andy doesn't have time for, it might sound very 1950s housewife, but I see it as important as it helps Andy to focus on what he needs to do. Farming is becoming increasingly difficult, there is so much to do, all the time, everyday. It's relentless, and if I can help him by making sure his clothes are clean, there is food to eat, and I remember to send birthday cards to his extended family, then it's the least I can do. We might go about our days separately but we're a team.

I do end up doing a lot of things alone because Andy is working. Evenings out, weddings, dinner parties, family events. It can be a solitary life, but I'm comfortable in my own company so it works for us.

I would like to see a little more of him though, it has to be said.

I help on the farm in small (very small) ways, I taxi him between farms, and I am an escort driver when he's moving large vehicles, usually at some ungodly hour of the morning when the roads are mostly clear.

I've learnt to drive a loader, albeit only on the farm. It's not something I ever imagined doing, much like using a ride on lawnmower, and having a genuine need for a pair of Hunter wellies. I never imagined that I'd cook pheasant and venison, let alone that which I'd probably seen wandering outside in our garden. And I didn't know what grain diving was until I met Andy.

The life of a farmer's wife has many quirks. Sometimes sitting in tractor cab with him while he works constitutes a date, and when we drive anywhere you can guarantee we'll take the scenic route so he can see what's going on on other farms (something they all do). And you can never watch Country File without him shouting at the TV. And he'll point out all the historical agricultural inaccuracies in any period drama you watch.

In the summer I'll only see him during daylight hours if it's raining. Last year I got up really early one morning to do a carboot sale and he said to me 'it's nice to see you standing up and wearing clothes'. He'd been going to, and returning from work, after I went to bed and before I got up.

His pockets will almost always contain grain, and I find it scattered all over the house. My kitchen floor will only ever be clean for the time between washing it and Andy arriving home, and we have to do everything spontaneously because making plans is impossible - everything depends on the weather.

When everyone is hoping the sun will shine I often find myself wanting rain, scanning the sky for grey clouds. And I've discovered it's possible to have too much weather. Torrential rain, heavy hail storms, high winds, and snow can all have a devastating effect on crops. I've never been more aware of the weather than I am now.

It's a unique way of life but I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes it's hard, but I'm very proud of what Andy does. I'd like to help more, I just need to continue to find ways I can do so.

If you're not keen on sheep, look away now.

At the end of a few days away we recently visited The Royal Norfolk Show. My favourite part of which was wandering around the sheep pens. If I'd thought about it at the time I would've made a note of all the different breeds and written an informative post, but I didn't, instead I chatted to, and gazed at these adorable creatures, and took way too many photos.

This is a series I'm calling 'Sheep Who Couldn't Be Less Bothered'.
















Cute, right?

My spring outfits were dominated by three things. My red floral skirt, a pair of pink brogues found in a charity shop in April, and a navy bowling bag I discovered in the Pile of Things to be Listed on Ebay (it's safe to say that it won't be returning to the pile).

Looking at these outfits I'm reminded of how gloriously warm spring turned out to be, before summer came along with it's tarmac melting heat. I'm not complaining, I'm not, I'm just a bit hot.

I'm loving my July Capsule. It's probably the best one so far. I love being able to wear all of my favourite summer clothes as much I am, most summers aren't warm enough for this (see not complaining). (But it is a little hot).

Do you remember those chocolate biscuits called Break Away? Can you still get them? Not that this post has anything to do with them, it just popped into my head as I wrote the title.

Anyway, Andy and I had the chance to go away for a few days at the end of June. We headed to North Norfolk where we stayed for two nights in The Victoria Inn, Holkham, before spending a day on the Norfolk broads in Wroxham, and a night in Burnham Market at The Hoste.

The weather was divine, which always makes a difference to a holiday in this fine country, the hotels were excellent, the food was amazing, and the company wasn't bad either.


We arrived at The Victoria Inn with enough time for me to go through my 'I've just stepped foot inside a hotel room' ritual, which involves me popping on the kettle and taking multiple photos of the room whilst Andy keeps out of the way. I then make tea and drink it whilst unpacking my various bits and bobs. On this occasion I also had a tiny Victoria sponge I found in the mini fridge, I did let Andy have a little bit.


We headed down for supper and sat in the conservatory, ordered our meal and were soon joined by other diners. We were entertained as each and every one of them placed an awkward order, asking multiple questions and changing their minds again and again.

The waiters had endless patience, and yet we felt good that our order was so straight forward. Nobody was going to be spitting in our food.


After supper, which ended with the most amazing chocolate and cherry trifle, we headed out to Holkham beach, which is divine. We didn't have long as the car park closed at 9pm. We made it back just in time but we had long enough to enjoy the vast open expanse of beach, feel the crunch of sand beneath our feet and smell the salty air.


Back in our room we enjoyed a complimentary mini bottle of Prosecco as the sun went down and the mist rolled in across the fields. I was already feeling incredibly chilled out.


Even on holiday Andy gets up early, so we were first down for breakfast. Eggs Benedict and gallons of orange juice and tea.  Then it was back to the beach, we went for a long walk in the surf, searched for pretty seashells, retrieved a shoe that I managed to drop without noticing, and then sat in the glorious sunshine and just relaxed.



As lunchtime approached and I started to wilt in the midday sun, we decided to check out Holkham Hall. Lunch was the first port of call, a hungry Hazel is a grumpy Hazel. We wanted to hire bikes but bike hire is limited to a few dates over the summer. We opted for one of the short walks instead. It was lovely to escape the sun in the shade of the trees, and with Holkham Hall as a backdrop we saw several deer going about their deer business.

By the end of the walk I was finding it hard going, you know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen.


We popped into some shops close to The Victoria and I got myself a sunhat, which was probably a bit late.


Back at the hotel we checked in to our second room. As we'd booked last minute we had a room change, which was actually rather nice as we got to see more of the hotel. After a restorative cuppa, and another mini Victoria Sponge, it was time for supper.


The food was amazing once again, but after only one mouthful of my dessert (I know, what a waste!) I felt a little odd. Back in the room I had a soak in the huge bath, and Andy went for a wander on the beach. Feeling a little better I read for a while but then suddenly felt cold. Yes, cold, in ridiculous heat. I think I'd been in the sun too long and it fried my brain a smidgen.


The next day we headed off to Wroxham for a day on the Norfolk Broads. Our little boat was ready and waiting for us and off we went. The sun was relentless, so thank goodness for the sunhat! The plan had been to stay on the boat overnight but after a while we decided to take the boat back and find a nice hotel. The sun just got too much. I don't like to complain about hot weather, I love the sun but I can't stay in it all day.


We opted for The Hoste in Burnham Market as our shelter for the evening. With hotel room ritual done we just chilled out for a while, which was the main reason for this mini break. Andy lives life at 110mph most of the time. It's wonderful to see him relax, de-stress, and have absolutely nothing to do. He just can't switch off at home.


Again our meal was very good, we certainly ate well on this break. I wasn't looking forward to having to cook our meals when we returned home. I very quickly got used to having someone else prepare our meals and make our beds.


The next day we'd planned to drive home after breakfast but Andy suggested we have a wander around Burnham Market, and then go to The Royal Norfolk Show. I jumped at the chance to bunk off for another day.

Burnham Market has a number of lovely little shops, one housing the biggest hat shop known to man on the first floor. I wanted to stay and try on some of the more ridiculous hats but I was frowned at by a lady, I don't know if she worked there or owned the place, or was just browsing herself, but never-the-less her disapproving frown was enough to discourage me.

The Royal Norfolk Show was lovely. We spent most of the time wandering around the sheep pens, peering at the fleeced creatures, I wondered how they survive in this heat.

We spent some time in the poultry tent, which only fuelled my desire for some chickens. And I  awww and cooed over the bunnies. The flower tent was beautiful, but eventually I let Andy wander around the tractor stands.


Then it was time to come home. It was nice to be back and give my cats a big squeeze, but I did feel a bit flat, Andy went out for a drive to make sure no fields had blown away, or something. I ignored unpacking for several days, and grumbled the next morning when the waiter didn't show up to take my breakfast order. But, we are planning another break in October, I mentioned my desire to travel on a sleeper train, and Andy seemed taken with the idea. Roll on October!

Every once in a while I pick up a new hobby craft creative outlet addiction.

This one came about thanks to a bag of Bri Nylon wool. My Mum is often given odds and ends of yarn as she is known, amongst her friends, for knitting for charity. Anyway, Mum said she was going to donate this wool to a charity shop as it was horrible to knit with, and, in her opinion, not a very nice colour.

I hate to see anything go to waste, I took it saying perhaps I could knit some frogs or aliens... or something.

But when I felt the wool I understood my Mum's reticence to knit with it, it feels horrible. It's 100% Polyamide, and makes my hands feel odd after touching it. My thoughts of knitting with it went out the window, but I wasn't to be defeated, I was determined to do something with it.

An idle scroll through my Pinterest feed gave me the answer.

Pom pom wreaths!


I have pom pom makers and set about making some. I raided my wool stash for other colours and soon I had a pink and green wreath, of which I was delighted. It's mounted on a cardboard ring, but it was pretty flimsy (this one folds itself in half), so I knew I'd have to find a better way.


A bit of a scroll on Amazon and a one-click payment later, I had some 10 inch wire rings coming my way. Refusing to pay postage costs I had to wait patiently for them to arrive, all the while making pom poms of different sizes and colours.


The rings arrived on a Saturday morning and I immediately abandoned what I was doing to start my wreath production. A few hours passed without my noticing and it was only my rumbling tummy that brought me out of my woollen bubble. By this time I'd made three wreaths.


I'm going to sell them at a charity craft stall in September, and at another in November. My only problem is, and maybe you can help me out here, I don't know how much to sell them for, what do you think?

If you need me, you can find me under a pile of pom poms...

The first weekend in June was Andy's birthday. He still went to work on the Saturday, so I spent the day pottering. In the evening we went to his parent's for a steak dinner and a birthday chocolate cheesecake. On Sunday our plan was to drive into town to find a birthday present for his Mum and have a pub lunch on the way home. Andy tried crab for the first time and loved it. We then set about doing tasks around the house and garden that I needed his help with e.g hammering stakes into the ground for our Cherry Blossom tree. Then we went for a drive, it was a beautiful evening.

The following weekend was dominated by garden stuff, I cut the grass which takes a couple of hours, and my brother popped over with Andy's belated birthday present, and some cucumber plants for me. Later in the evening Andy and I sat outside in the fading sun making plans for the garden. We have a row of old conifers that need to come out, then we need a fence, and planting to go along it. I love making such plans for the house and garden. On Sunday Andy had a really busy day at work so I pottered and read a lot. In the evening we went out to dinner with my Dad and my brother and his family to celebrate my Dad's 69th birthday. A plan for his 70th is underway.

The next Saturday was Photo An Hour. On the Sunday Andy and I got up early to tackle the annual hedge cutting. Andy did the cutting, I handled the clearing up. This meant picking up all the cuttings, putting them into the loader bucket and then driving the loader to the bund and depositing them there. This took until mid afternoon. I can tell you that hours of bending down, and back up again, works the glutes, to the extent that I could hardly move when I woke up the next day. Or the day after that. I was fit for little else in the evening so we had a really simple supper of pizza and salad, and we watched some football but I can't remember now who was playing!


The following Saturday I had a little charity shop jaunt in the morning, only to one in the local village but I came back with a few bits and pieces. A pink top, a ball of wool, a book, and a game. Then I helped Andy with some roguing (dictionary definition - remove inferior or defective plants or seedlings from a crop), my definition is 'weeding a massive field by hand'. It was hot and the wheat scratches your arms, but it's nice to be out there with Andy, although I put my foot down at him calling it 'a date'. This has the same effect on your glutes as clearing hedge cuttings, although this time I didn't spend quite so long doing it, I still felt the effects the next day. Andy then had to see to some more irrigation and I cut the grass again. The evening was the Germany vs Sweden game.


The final weekend of the month we'd only been back from a short break for a few days and I thought Andy would be working but he took the afternoons off, on the Saturday Andy took me to watch Grass Track Racing.

On the Sunday I went to see my brother and his family in the morning, and in the afternoon Andy took me to watch Tractor Pulling. Both of these things I'd never been to before and I enjoyed both, ice cream and burgers where involved as well as a lot of noise and dust (grass track racing), and noise, smoke, and dust (tractor pulling). Stupidly I wore a white shirt on both occasions and came away distinctly grubbier than when I arrived.

And that was June. Six months of the year done and dusted. It'll be Christmas soon.