My Easter Bonnet

When I was a little girl, I got a new outfit for church on Easter Sunday.  That outfit was "best" for the rest of the summer and I would wear it to church and Sunday school and to special family occasions.  This is my Easter outfit from when I was about five or six.

I actually remember this - the dress had a sticky-out petticoat and was white with blue flowers.  The coat was a light fabric and was blue with white edging.  White ankle socks and sandals were obligatory!

Look at the hat and bag!  I think I even had white gloves!  There used to be an old saying in Greenock about children who were well dressed - "her Mammy keeps her nice" - well, on reflection, I think that my Mum did "keep me nice".  I wonder how long I looked so perfect after this photo was taken?

Happy Easter one and all.

Love, Liz

Clowns - Love Them or Hate Them?

For some reason there are many people who don't like clowns!  I suppose some folk won't even open up this post because they hate clowns so much.

I don't mind the one above, even though he looks a bit evil.

But this one ... no, there's something really odd about him, quite unsettling!

There were both given to my Mum many years ago and she kept them on her "display unit".  My younger son hated them, so she had to put them away when we came to stay.  But, funnily enough, after she died and I asked my sons if there was anything from Gran's house that they would like, he opted for these clowns!

Do you dislike clowns?

Love, Liz

Wash Tub Blues!

Another kitchen disaster!  My washing machine gave up the ghost at the weekend, so I'm sitting waiting for my new one to arrive.

There's mounds off washing to catch up with, even although there's only hubby and I at home!  I remember when I was little, my Mum only did a washing once a week.  She had a twin tub which had to be pulled out, filled with water which was then heated up.  The clothes were done in batches, starting with the whites working down to my Dad's working clothes and my brother's football gear which went in last, because by this time the water wasn't quite so clean.  Then it all had to be rinsed and spun and the machine emptied!  Phew, no wonder she only did that once a week!

When the broken machine came out I noticed this  retro wallpaper in the space under the worktop.  Very "vintage" with its brown and orange design.  There's probably a "new" version of this on the go!  I've given it a bit of colour to jazz it up a bit.

Love, Liz

Remember 45s?

The very first record I ever saved up for and bought was a Single (45 rpm) and it was Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da by Marmalade!  I was reminded of this after watching a TV show last weekend all about 45s and people remembering their first.  Of course I have some still in the house, so after an extensive rummage I found them.

I had forgotten just how decorative some of the record sleeves were!  Particularly love this one for David Bowie's Beauty and the Beast.

Graham Parker and the Rumour - Hold Back the Night.

Theme From Harry's Game by Clannad - played this one to death, loved it so much!

Let's not forget the class act -  Spandau Ballet's Instinction and To Cut A Long Story Short.  Even some of the covers are classy!

Ok, I know that some of you are just young things, but do any of you remember the first one you bought?

Love, Liz

As a child I made my own library!

 Do you remember before computerisation we all had cardboard library tickets and the pull out thing from the book was put in your ticket.  I did all that!

I even made tickets for my young brother and my friends!  If they wanted to borrow one of my books I would take the descriptive tag out of the book and put it in their ticket.  Woe betide anyone who was late in returning a book - I remember keeping a list of my books and a note of when they were taken out.  Oh dear, such a nerd - even as a child!

I had forgotten all about this until I discovered this book in amongst all my Ladybird Books recently.  This is Enid Blyton's "Good Morning Book".  The illustrations are by Joyce Johnson - aren't they wonderful?!

As an adult I got to work in a school library for about a year.  It was one of the best jobs I ever had - I absolutely loved it!  I really should have made this my career, the early signs were all there!

Love, Liz

Maw Broon - My Hero!

One of my favourite Christmas pressies was "Maw Broon's Afternoon Tea Book".  Maw Broon is one of my heroes!  Through thick and thin she has kept her family together and happy. 

 

OK - so she's a fictional character, but I still admire her.  The Broon (Brown) family live in a tenement flat at 10 Glebe Street.  They first appeared as a comic strip in the Scottish weekend newspaper "The Sunday Post" in 1936 and are still popular today.

 

The picture above shows Maw serving afternoon tea to a group of ladies - I actually remember when my Granny's friends came round they did not take off their coats or hats when they had a wee cuppa! 

 

I've added the names!

The Broons Annual (published by DC Thomson) was issued every second year, alternating with the Oor Wullie Annual.  My brother and I got them every Christmas and just looking at the characters brings back some lovely memories of Granny reading these stories to us.  My sons also got these annuals till very recently!

 

This wee book is fabulous, containing some recipes (old and new), hints and tips for serving the perfect afternoon tea and some fabulous old Broons pages from the annuals.

 

I was going to try one of the recipes to show you, but I've not got enough butter (Maw Broon would not approve!) - will give it a go next week.

 

Love, Liz

Maw Broon's Afternoon Tea Book - published by Waverley Books

(ISBN 978-1-84934-328-2)

available here.

My Favourite LP - well, one of them!

This has to be one of my all time favourite LPs.  Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road from 1973.  I think I probably got this for Christmas - or saved up for it!  Oh gosh, I've just realised that was 40 years ago!  How can that be?????

 

I love it not just for the music, but for the incredible art work.

 

Its not just the cover that is beautifully illustrated.  Because it was a double LP, it opens out to give all the lyrics and some amazing pictures.

 

Love this style of art.

 

Altogether brilliant!

 

What's your favourite LP art work - if you are old enough to remember LPs, that is!!!!!!!

Love, Liz

Vintage Wooden Pencil Case

I wonder if any of you had one of these wooden pencil cases.  They are probably still available, but this one dates from when my brother and I were at school in the early 60s.  You can see that it has been well used!

 

The lid slid out and then the top part swivelled to reveal the lower part.

 

There was a separate space for  a sharpener.  They didn't really hold a lot of pencils and were heavy to carry around in your school bag. 

 

This reads E and J - my brother and I used to fight over this a lot and eventually we decided that we would share it.  Wonder why I ended up with it?  Wonder if he wants it back?

 

Love, Liz

 

If you dislike rats, then don't read The Greenockian's latest blog post!

 

 

Did Your Granny Wear A Pinny?

Did your Granny wear a pinny?

 

Mine did, but only when she was cooking or doing housework.  I don't have a photograph of her wearing one - that would never do!

 

I purchased this lovely apron recently from Laura at Just the Biscuit.  She has them in different colours.  Love the vintage look of them.

 

I love the fabrics in this one and the way it is edged in binding.  Just brings back memories of my Gran.

 

So - what kind of apron did your Granny wear?  Wrap round like this one, bib front or just a little apron that tied at the waist?

Love, Liz

Satin Cushions in Medicine Pink!

The minute I saw this vintage pattern book for quilted cushions, I thought of that dreadful medicine pink colour!  Do you know the one I mean - usually on something satin it was a garish shade of pink and probably found in the homes of whiskery maiden great-aunts of advanced years.  There was also a ghastly green coloured satin which also featured somewhere in the same home - usually on a cushion or lampshade or bed cover. 

 

I did not know that there were different types of quilting, but this booklet, by Penelope for Needlecraft, shows two - English and Italian and gives good descriptions of them.

 

 

Don't know what it is about these cushions that makes me shiver - really dislike them - must be some awful childhood experience.  Probably being told to sit still and not fidget while sitting on an overstuffed, smelly horsehair sofa with a slippery satin cushion behind me!  Most likely in the home of some old dear Mum had dragged me along to visit!  I actually remember a scary parrot in a cage by the window too - good grief, all this from a wee booklet!

 

 

 

Anyway, this woman looks quite calm - must follow her example.

Happy Friday!

Love, Liz