Thrifted Brandon

After months of hard work our garden is finally coming together and luckily for the bees our lavender has never looked healthier. I’ve slowly been collecting plants from carboot sales, which are an amazing place to find affordable flowers for your outdoor space, including this adorable metal rabbit planter with a fuchsia inside that I picked up on Sunday for £4.
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I’ve always loved carboots, not only because they’re an absolute treasure trove, but also because they’re a great site of commerce. There’s no middleman, hidden fees or capitalist CEO receiving your money. Transactions happen between everyday people, and for your cash you get something neat in return, directly supporting your fellow humans.
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They’re the place where I first discovered thrifting and this idea of purchasing preloved items, as I’ve been frequenting them since I was a kid. They’ve definitely helped to nurture this belief in me that everything holds value, as long as it matters to someone. In the disposable culture we live in, there’s nothing more important we can do than pass on the items we’ve loved or no longer need to someone new. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
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(Image description: an area of Brandon’s garden, featuring a Thyme plant and Lavender plant on mixed light gravel. There’s an old concrete dog ornament, a plastic pig ornament and a wooden log. Infront is a cartoonised metal rabbit planter, holding a small pink fuchsia.)

I miss when earphones were wired and came in fun colourful designs, instead of an afterthought supplied with the expensive exploitative smartphones we’re encouraged to upgrade every few years. I picked these up on Vinted last July and they’re still going strong. I loved the fun packaging and find them very comfortable to wear - it’s just perfect they’re in my favourite colour.
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JVC was founded in 1927 as the Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan, an overseas subsidiary of the US business. The whole company was bought out by the Radio Corporation of America in 1929, including the Japanese assets. At first JVC specialised in phonographs and records, before moving into radios and then providing Japan’s first locally made television in 1939. They built a reputation as a trailblazer, putting the first VCR to use VHS on the market in 1976, the first portable battery operated radio with a built-in TV, and the iconic Videosphere CRT television which looked like a space helmet with an alarm clock in its base.
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Moving into the 21st century, they were especially known for their camera equipment, earning an Emmy in 2001 for ‘outstanding achievement in technological advancement’ for “Pioneering Development of Consumer Camcorders”. Between 1953 and 2008, Panasonic were the main stakeholder in the company, known as Matsush*ta Electric Industrial Co at the time, before JVC was merged with Kenwood Corporation, though the name is still retained. Today, JVC mostly supply audio accessories like these in Europe.
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The Gumy line of earphones are still available today, with the Bass Boost line sold from multiple retailers including BM Stores and Ebay, though this Grape Violet colour seems a rarity now so I feel lucky to have found these🍇 (bunch of grapes emoji)
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(Image description: Brandon’s white hand holding a purple plastic bubble package containing a pair of JVC’s Bass Boost Gumy earphones in the colour Grape Violet. Behind is a purple wall.)

Old Maid is a card game that can be traced back to the early 19th Century, when the rules were first detailed by Eliza Leslie in 1831 in a book for girls. In its original form it was played with a pack of standard playing cards, wherein 3 queens would be removed, leaving one to act as the ‘Old Maid’ and be a misfortune to the person that found it. It’s likely the game is even older than what is recorded, given that drinking games like this have been common throughout history, the loser bearing the responsibility of buying the next round.
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The more modern version using illustrated cards is thought to have been inspired by Wyman & Sons of London’s 1883 ‘Merry Matches’, which paired famous nursery rhyme characters, and left ‘Mistress Mary’ as the odd one out. Across time it has had many variations, with regional alterations appearing across the UK in the 2000s - ‘Scabby Queen’ in Perthshire, ‘Executioner’ in Hampshire, and ‘Raps’ in numerous counties, referring to the fact that the loser would get raps on the knuckles, something that feels very emblematic of British playground culture at the time.
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This pack was created by Really Magical Stuff under their Games Hub line, in collaboration with Grafix which is one of their trademarks. RMS were founded in the UK over 40 years ago as a stock clearance company, before moving into arts & crafts and then the toys we know them for. They’ve since expanded into China, Europe, the US and more recently Australia, providing a wide array of fun products for kids and adults alike.
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I acquired this secondhand in a charity shop, and there were a few packs on the shelf. I’m not sure where the person who donated them got them originally, as the price sticker is in dollars and the packaging refers to the American headquarters. I love the illustrations and think it’s a wonderful game because of how simple it is in construction, which is why it’s stood the test of time and brought joy to many across generations. I’ve had fun playing it with my family, and will be passing it on to my darling 💜 (purple heart emoji)
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Image descriptions in Alt Text and comments.

I was beyond thrilled to receive my first Triyit box today - I’ve been lucky enough to take part in their mini campaigns before, but never a bundle of products like this. Never would I ever have imagined opportunities like this would come my way, and I’m really grateful. Review to come soon💜 (purple heart emoji)
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(Image description: a brown cardboard box filled with products, an orange and pink gradient brochure infront titled ‘Triyit Campaign Booklet’ infront. In the box is Original Source Icy Cool Shower Gel, Pizza Express Pizza Naise, Pizza Express Ranch Dressing, Mr Porky Puffs, Fibre Up Raspberry Lemonade, John West Atlantic Salmon Fillet and Ruffingtons Dog Eclairs.)

You may think these are insect eggs at first glance - but they’re actually little homes for eriophyid mites, also known as gall mites for these little structures they create. There are various different species of eriophyid mite, many who are specific to certain plants or trees like the Aceria cephalonea on this Sycamore, also known as ‘Sycamore Cherry Mites’.
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The mites themselves can often only be seen with a microscope, and as they feed on sap from the leaves a growth chemical is released that causes these galls, which can vary in shape, size and colour. Some are known as ‘vagrants’ instead, meaning they travel rather than staying inside a gall, and can have a different affect on the leaves including discolouration and blistering.
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Whilst eriophyid mites are a known parasite, they often don’t do any lasting damage, and can be a great biocontrol agent for plant and tree species deemed invasive.
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(Image description: a close up of a Sycamore leaf, which has many small round red lumps towards the tip.)

I stepped into an icy sea today wearing my new beach shoes, and I’ve never felt more alive. I was one of few braving the cooler temp with my legs bare and no jacket to be seen, and it was exhilarating to feel the bitter sea breeze embrace my skin. As long as my bones can bear it, I’ll welcome the chill, knowing that it won’t be long until I’m surrounded by warmth again. To feel these things is to truly live.
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We found the shoes on Vinted, new with tags for £7, originally £20 from Animal. They’re great because they’re flexible and protect my feet when I go metal detecting in the water, and I can switch back into my Vans when I’m finished.
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(Image description: Brandon’s pale hairy legs standing on an algae covered rock, surrounded by pebbles on the beach. They’ve got beach shoes by Animal on their feet, which are a dark blue colour made of a breathable material and light blue accents.)

Back to this tomorrow for the first beach trip of 2026. Oh Mudeford, how I've missed you🌊 (ocean wave emoji)
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(Image description: a view looking out to the sea at Mudeford Quay, with a boat ramp leading down into the water. There's a small stone pier alongside it and a metal railing at the edge. Above is a gloriously blue sky decorated with clouds. Boats can be seen in the distance, and further back a stretch of land.)

I’ve had the privilege of seeing so many shows now, that it sometimes feel there are none left to tick off my list, but there’s still many possibilities to explore. One musical I hadn’t got round to yet was The Bodyguard, and I think in some ways I was apprehensive. Whitney is one of my favourite artists and I was critical that anyone could do her work justice.
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Instead, I was absolutely blown away by the touring production I saw at the Mayflower on Saturday. I was honoured to have understudy as my Rachel, and it was as if Whitney herself could have walked onto that stage. Her voice was exceptional, with the range and power needed to deliver such iconic ballads, and her performance as an actress was a brilliant ode to the film too.
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I was also so impressed with as Nicki too - her voice was equally as phenomenal, laden with soul and so sharp, especially on her stand-out solo ‘Saving All My Love For You’. She gave an emotional delivery as the character too, offering context as to why she’s so jaded by her sister, always lingering in the shadow of such stardom.
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It was a real treat to see as Frank. He wasn’t initially meant to be at my venue until he extended his run, and I feel very lucky he was. On that stage he personified the kind of bodyguard we couldn’t help but fall in love with. That we could only dream would hold us safe within his arms. A performance that only a seasoned professional could deliver, and his shaky rendition of ‘I Will Always Love You’ was most enjoyable too.
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Me and my Grandmother loved all the special effects that brought the piece together, especially the use of projection to honour the movie and blend the art of cinema with theatrics. The stalker storyline was completely gripping, and aided this with his tense embodiment of the role.
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The whole cast made something truly special together, and the encore at the end not only gave the audience a chance to get involved, but showcased how talented the ensemble are as dancers too. I think it’s a great introductory show for any aspiring thespian, filled with some of the greatest songs of our time. I’d see it again in a heartbeat.