FOUND - Military Style's Music To My Ears

I found this military belt at Full House, a clearance and antiques shop on Park Street in Deal, on the Kent coast. Due to its location as a point of embarkation for ships anchored in the Downs, Deal has been associated with The Royal Marines since it was established in 1755. Deal Barracks was constructed shortly after the French Revolution and it was the East barracks that would eventually become the home of the Royal Marines School of Music. In 1989 it was bombed by the IRA resulting in the death of 11 Marine band members as well as many more injuries. In 1996 a special musical ceremony saw The Royal Marine Band Service move from its home in Deal to new quarters in Portsmouth. Every year the Marine Band returns to a bandstand in Deal for a musical display that attracts over 10,000 people. 

I was concerned about wearing the belt, but I've been assured by servicemen and women alike that it not disrespectful for this civilian to wear the well-made and stylish accessory. I paid just £12 for this very special bit of kit. 

TRY THIS - The Arts & Crafts of Style

I found these hand-made, recycled wrist warmers at a tiny market situated in what's called the Undercroft in Deal, Kent CLICK HERE. A twice-a-week affair, it hosts 6 to 10 tables offering everything from homemade baked goods to wee watercolour paintings. Sue Evans, a local crafter, created these lovely gloves by cutting up a used jumper and 'felting' the sleeves. This, as she explained, is the simple process of washing wool on hotter and hotter settings until the desired effect is achieved. Sue fashions wrist warmers, along with bags and hats from interesting, colourful 2nd-hand cardigans and pullovers.         

I wear these 2 ways. Over a pair of thin leather gloves they look rather stylish - call it Dickensian Chic - and effectively combat winter's chill. I also pop them on indoors. Curled up on the sofa, enjoying an old film or Bargain Hunt (oddly compelling), these soft arm accessories are akin to slippers for your hands. Add several hand-made one-off pieces, like these, to your wardrobe to ensure stylish individuality. Cost? A fiver.

TRY THIS - Stylish Buys & Sparkling Skies

I found these sparkling paste bangles at a Saturday 2nd-hand market in the seaside town of Deal, Kent. This small but perfectly formed buyers' delight is located in Union Road car park in the 'Old Town' CLICK HERE. Traders are friendly but pack up promptly at 3pm. Once the market moves on, Deal's clutch of antique shops, vintage emporiums and charity shops will keep a 2nd-hand shopper happy for the balance of an afternoon. I'd plenty of spending left over from my bracelet buy, these dazzlers were just £3. 

On this visit to Deal we booked in at bright and cozy Turnstone Cottage CLICK HERE. Teaming with quirky twists and turns, the seaside 2-bedroom home, stocked full of amenities, is the perfect HQ for exploring the Kent coast. The Middle Street Fish Bar is a 'must eat' CLICK HERE and The Ship, also on Middle Street, has a relaxed but traditional pub vibe. The new fast trains whizzed us into Deal from London St Pancras in under 90 minutes - sparkling sky and sea beckoned us the moment we disembarked. This lovely little (high speed) whistle stop has become my home-from-home, a peaceful but buzzy village with lively pubs, 2nd-hand hot spots, welcoming people and an unending view of the sea. 

TRY THIS - It's A Small Town, Big Deal

I wish I could claim I found this necklace washed up in the beach. In fact, I found it in the seaside town of Deal on the Kent Coast. And it's indeed one of my favourite places for a great deal of fun and relaxation. From the Astor Theatre CLICK HERE to The Royal CLICK HERE, from The Ship CLICK HERE to The Sarecans Head CLICK HERE, from the 2nd-hand shops in the Old Town to The Fox & Spindle CLICK HERE where I bought a huge hand-knitted scarlet scarf, Deal may be small but it's sensational. The Pier offers lovely views and both Deal and nearby Walmer Castles reveal the area's naval history. 

On our last visit we stayed at Dunkerleys CLICK HERE, a friendly, family-run hotel on the seafront that was comfortable and spotlessly clean. But the highlight of the weekend - Harriet's of Deal CLICK HERE. Quite simply the best tea room I've ever been in. The banana cake rivaled my grandma's. I found this old necklace at a house clearance business on Sondes Road - it sat on a huge piece of brown furniture, that sat among dozens of pieces of huge brown furniture. Don't let furniture put you off. House clearances often include boxes, drawers and bags of old, forgotten bits of chic 2nd-hand, but you've got to be in it to win it. So go inside and LOOK. These white-washed hand-knotted glass beads were £15.

FOUND - City of the Future Visit

I love cities; city breaks, cityscapes, city life, city style - it all appeals. I've been to the biggies - NYC, Paris, Rome, Moscow. I live in London but have also inhabited Cleveland, LA, DC, and Harare. I've visited Johannesburg, Krakow, Barcelona, Antwerp, Lille, Venice, Edinburgh, Lisbon and Bruges. I've been to Phnom Penh, Saigon and Osaka. I've seen Tijuana and Bulawayo. But I've never been to Tel Aviv. Rather than Israel's second city, I found this souvenir box in a charity shop on the Kent coast. Turns out Tel Aviv boasts the largest collection of Bauhaus buildings in the world (examples are on the box). Nicknamed The White City, Tel Aviv was the home to German Jewish architects who came to the area in the 30s after the rise of the Nazis and it's they who are responsible for the 4,000 Bauhaus structures in the city centre. This kitschy box is the perfect house for my earrings. It cost £3.