Keeping Up Appearances

I was hanging out a pair of shorts on the washing line yesterday and I realised that I've had the same pair for the past 13 years (making this the 14th summer of continual use.)  If I remember correctly I bought them in the sale in Ann Harvey in Nottingham in the summer of 1996.  They're nothing fancy, just plain navy blue with an elasticated waist and are made from some type of man-made fabric - which is probably why they've lasted so darn well.  The amazing thing is that I can still fit into them after so many years as my waistband (and backside) have definitely grown a bit since the mid 90s.

Those shorts got me thinking about how differently I view the clothes I wear about the house and those I wear out and about.  Most of the items I wear around the house and garden are years old, often rather raggedy, and always uber comfy.  I don't really give a damn what I wear when I'm gardening, cleaning or cooking, and I'm always such a mucky pup anyway that it's best to be wearing old clothes when I'm doing housework.  It's the same with my night clothes - gawd help me if I ever end up in hospital as I only ever wear mismatched vest tops and old trackie-bottom type items in bed.  As you can imagine, those are tres alluring (not) and certainly not the sort of thing that would look good in a hospital bed.  If I ever get taken ill suddenly poor old P would have to be dispatched licekty spit to buy me some decent nightwear, failing that I'd have to wear a hospital gown for the whole time!!

But the clothes I wear when I'm out and about are always clean and tidy and most of them are pretty new - to me at least.  A lot of them are from charity shops or car boot sales but most of them have been acquired in the last couple of years.  I've never ever thought of myself as a Hyacinth Bucket type character but it does seem, with clothes anyway, that I'm keener on keeping up appearances than I thought I was.  Funny how just looking at a pair of shorts hanging on the line could make me realise that.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment regarding Mum's recent spell in hospital - we both really appreciated all your kind words and wishes.  I'm still with Mum in Bristol and she's doing fine although her confidence has been badly knocked by having had such a nasty atrial fibrilation attack out of the blue - and she's been feeling so well lately too.  She's taking things slowly and, fingers crossed, will soon be back to her usual good health. 

Comments

[Maureen]

So glad to hear your Mum is getting better. She'll benefit from some sunny weather after your hard winter.
I love the story about the shorts because I have a few things I still hold onto, and quite often still wear, not least is a M&S coat I bought in 1999..still good enough for work.

[sharie]

Sending healing vibes to your mum.

Your comment about your shorts got me thinking back to a pair i had last year that I finally discarded. They were peach ones I bought with my mum off a market stall when I was about 16 and they never really fitted well. They were my 'spare' shorts and refused to wear out. Last year (still looking brand new) I sent them to the charity shop.
Odd how some clothes you hang on to and on to.

[Shaz]

OMG i think we were separated at birth ......i too sleep in old t shirts and tracky bottoms or shorts and some are over 10 yrs old . I have house clothes and shopping clothes as well as camp clothes and sightseeing clothes for caravan hols....lol

[Ann at Singing teaching in Paradise]

And I have nighties which are over 15 years old, and faded as they are I would'nt swap them for all the nighties in China!

[michelle h.]

I love "Keeping Up Appearances" and Hyacinth! It's one of the few British shows we get to see here in Texas, USA.
Blessings to you and your mom.