Monday 28 February 2011

Countryside, chips and charity shops

Had another lovely day out recently, this time en famile.  We each discussed what we wanted to do on our day out.  Mr J and P wanted a walk in the countryside.  Little Miss J and P wanted to have lunch in a cafe and eat chips.  I, of course, wanted to charity shop.  So, Mr J and P got out his trusty "Walks in Hertfordshire" book and we walked from Ware to Hertford and back again - 6 miles in total.  We live in London, very close to both the Essex and Hertfordshire borders.  We're always popping over to Essex, but tend to forget about Hertfordshire. 

We successfully incorporated all three elements of countryside, chips and charity shops in the walk. 

Now, at this point in the post, more efficient bloggers would insert photos of their day out - some pretty countryside perhaps or maybe some interesting architectural features. 

Not me, dear readers, here's one of some eccentric old biddy wearing one of those noses for Red Nose Day


Joking!  That's little old me!

Here's one of Little Miss J and P sporting the same nose in the grounds of the former Hertford Castle.


Anyway, let's talk about important matters like what we bought.

Quite a lot of yellow ricrac for 10p:


Ladybird books at 59p each to add to my collection:

One charity shop had a basket full of crocheted granny blankies.  Well, you know I have a penchant for those, don't you?  They were at a decent price too (£1.50 to £1.99).  The only thing about them were that they were a little small for my purposes- lap blanket size I would say.  What happened next was something that one should never do if one can help it.......I hesitated.  And during that moment of hesitation, some old dear grabbed the whole damn lot and announced to no-one in particular "I'll have all of these!".   Grrrrr, that'll teach me to dither. 

Well, dear readers, I nearly sobbed into my Fortnum and Mason hamper:


Yes, dear readers, I did say Fortnum and Mason hamper. 


A rather large wicker chest hamper (empty) complete with handles and faux leather straps.I spied it outside one of the charity shops and thought it would be a genuinely useful item to have. 


It cost £7 but it is large and very practical.  Did you notice that I'm emphasising its practicality and its usefulness?  Between you and me, I'm trying to get into Mr J and P's good books, I wouldn't want him to think that I'm bringing "more useless tat" (his words, certainly not mine) into the house.

When I got home, I checked Ebay and, guess what.... Fortnum and Mason hampers go from about £40 upwards.  Huzzah!  Score!

TTFN and may your week be bargainful.

38 comments:

  1. How nice to see you at last!! A basket is always a useful addition to the house and not useless in the slightest. My F&M is very useful, it hides all my other tat inside and looks very stylish every time I trip over it. xxx

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  2. Great CS finds - love the hamper - you got that for a great price :) I paid £5 for my picnic size on - look how much space you got for just £2 more!!

    We have red noses @ the ready here - just sad we couldn't find a pirate one - we have a nerd and a monster instead.

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  3. Sounds like a good day out & you found some great bargains too!

    Jayne

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  4. oooh can you feel the envy....I adore your hamper!!! adore it!!!

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  5. Ah yes, many a time have I dithered or waited til payday thinking "If it's still there it'll be fate" only to be gutted when it's not!

    Loving the hamber and the ric rac!

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  6. The hamper is divine!! You can palm Mr off by telling him it will be infinately useful!

    Its funny, if my family had to come up with their favourite things to do, it would be exactly the same list, in the same order!!

    Can't believe you let those granny blankets go - where's your fight woman!!! PMSL

    Thanks so much for linking up, so glad to have another fellow magpie on board xx

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  7. Wow, you got some great buys. I've just bought some jumbo rick rack and paid a lot more than you did!! Love the nose!
    x

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  8. Fabulous finds - sounds like a great day out. Ive had stuff nabbed out from under my nose too - happens to even the hardest charity shopper, its most annoying! lol. I love the f&m hamper, I got mine from a booty for £8 so you got yourself a bargains! Love all your finds. Scarlett x

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  9. What a lovely day out. And great to see a picture of you! The F&M hamper is great, and very practical for storage. x

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  10. Woweee on the hamper, great find! Gutted on the granny blankets though. Maybe she has a fledgling eBay business and was going to pretend she'd made them all herself!

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  11. The hamper is wonderful! I'm a sucker for cases and hampers and storagey things and the like and that one was such a bargain!

    I've got my Blackadder Red Nose tshirt :)

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  12. Ohhhh! I want a F&B hamper fab!

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  13. You lucky lady! I've been hankering after one of them there hampers for ages, top bargain.
    You look great in the photo, hat, scarf and coat all fabulous.
    Lisa x

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  14. it is a lovely hamper, and so useful :)

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  15. Red noses are great this year - I'll be buying mine soon

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  16. What a lovely day :) And such great bargains too :) xxx

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  17. Never dither in a charity shop! Old dears tend to appear from no-where! I work in a craft shop and they come in for cheap wool when I ask what they are making, reply is usually blankets for the charity shops.........
    Good collection of Ladybird books
    Julie xxxxxx

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  18. The hamper basket is fab thats the sort of "practical" thing i would love to come across!
    Also love the penguin books and at 59p each great bargain!

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  19. What exellent finds! Must get some red noses too, before they all sell out.

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  20. I just wrote you a message and it's been gobbled up. Where has it gone? *sob*

    A picture of you!!! I can't believe you've been keeping us all waiting and then you show one with you wearing a red nose!!! That's so funny! You look gorgeous underneath the nose. And even with the nose, if I'm honest.

    Big hug to you,

    Sarahx

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  21. I love the Hamper, what a find! x

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  22. That hamper is a super bargain, isn't it great when you snaffle up something as lovely (and useful) as that? Monkeychild will be wearing her red nose, although my nose is red from a heavy cold so I won't need a fake one!

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  23. Great hamper and yes those who hesitate loose! Darn it! Love you with that cute nose!

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  24. well done on the hamper, it certainly looks very useful for storing a collection of something in! :)

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  25. Beware little old ladies, they usually hack you on the ankles with a walking stick to get in first :)

    lot's of great buys.

    You look so alike I think it's the nose :)

    Cate x

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  26. Those ladybird books look fab & the hamper is excellent (and practical of course!)

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  27. Great buys - baskets / hampers always useful! And you look wonderful (tee hee!) Have a good week!

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  28. Sounds like a great family day out - something for everyone.

    Now I must discover what this red nose day is all about.

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  29. oh dear for hesitation - but i think you made up for it with all the other finds.x

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  30. Wow, you had quite the walk, I feel proud of myself when I do a 3 mile walk roundtrip, especially in the winter. Chips & charity shops, sounds like the perfect day all around and you found some lovely things. When I see something I like, even if I'm not sure about it, I grab it or (usually a hipster) will get it before I do!

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  31. I have a huge thing about hampers so am very envious of yours with its upmarket branding to boot.
    Almost had to get red noses only in charity shops as had a disappointing weekend of finds this week but my brother did better over at http://gigglingatitall.blogspot.com
    Magpie Monday is so fabulous and helps us get to know each other better

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  32. I love that photo of you and the one of Miss J&P. Your finds are great, especially the Fortnum and Mason basket, bargain.
    x

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  33. Wow! I have one of those hampers in my loft, I'm putting it on E-bay! :)

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  34. Ooo,hello!!
    Nice snout!!
    I adore ric rac,can't get enough of it!! And then it just sits in my drawer,anyhows!!!
    Splendid wicker hamper,you could pop a balloon on that and have a hootingly good time!
    x

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  35. Love the red nose photos! Great purchases, I especially love your new hamper, definitely a great purchase for only £7! Wish my charity shops had such great stuff, maybe I just go at the wrong time! :) x

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  36. I thought you'd like to know that I'm beginning to come out of my jealous sulk about your GORGEOUS hamper. Yup, I have forgiven you, you crochet queen, you. ;-)

    Sarahx

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