Making Good Use

Cor, That Turned Out to be a Brilliant Boot Sale

Yesterday's boot sale was a rather odd affair.  The site where the boot sale is normally held has been taken over by the Police who have built a very sinister looking compound ringed with a high steel fence with a large tented area in the middle.  It's been built in preparation for the eviction of Dale Farm (due to begin sometime today) and if I was any of the activists or travellers on Dale Farm I really really wouldn't want to mess with what looks like it will be massed ranks of police if their 'compound' is anything to go by.  (There's a photo of what's behind the steel fences on the BBC news website here - last picture in the sequence.)

Despite the view of the compound and police vans out of the corner of my eye the whole time, yesterday's boot sale proved to be flippin' brilliant.  It was much smaller than usual and in a somewhat different part of Barleylands but, luckily for me, I came across a few people selling some really choice vintage items.

 
First up, and probably not all that vintage, is a painted Swedish Dala horse figure.  I've been wanting one of these for ages and was more than happy to part with £2.00 for this beauty which still has its original 'Nils Olsson Made in Sweden' label on its belly.

 
I found a bird pie funnel for myself too.  I never seem to come across these anywhere and I really wanted to have one for decorative purposes if nothing else.  He cost me 50p.

 
A Swedish-style placemat / napkin - 10p (goes rather well with the horse.)  A dinky little Welsh tapestry coin purse - 50p and two 1950s Ladybird books complete with their original unclipped dust jackets - 1op each.

 
Two brightly-coloured tea cosies and an unused psychedelic-covered address book - 20p each.

 
And from the same seller I got this vintage apron with fabulous 'Mad Men' style Adam and Eve figures on it.  It did have a stain across the front but a good soak in biological washing powder with added Vanish bleach seems to have fetched that out a treat. 

 
 
And not one but two vintage wrap-around pinnies too.  I remember my Grandma wearing one just like these.  The apron and pinnies were 20p each.

I also found someone selling the most amazing 1970s cat-suits, maxi culottes and an evening dress but tempus fugit and all that so I'll have to post the photos for those tomorrow. 

Tatty Pinny Patchwork

 
I've had a pile of vintage pinnys and tablecloths in my ironing basket for a couple of months now.  They are all tatty in one way or another and no good for using as they are so I thought - eventually - I'd have a go at turning them into something patchwork, probably a cushion cover or maybe a table runner.  I don't really know why I'm even thinking about it at the moment as I have quite a few other projects already on the go - one of which has been lurking about for over a year!! - plus I need to get cracking on some homemade Christmas presents. 

I did get the sewing machine out this afternoon for the first time in weeks, and discovered that the little foot bit you lower over the material has got a bit 'gummy' in the lever, probably due to lack of use.  I'll have to look at it later and maybe get my little can of multi-purpose oil out and give it a good greasing.  I swear that can of oil will last me for the rest of my life.  I've already had it nearly 30 years (yes, seriously) and I seem to have barely used any of the oil.  That was 27 and a half p very well spent in Woolworths in Bath all those years ago.

On a different note, we had a fabulous time at the Cliffs Pavilion on Wednesday evening.  What a stunning position to have built a theatre with amazing views out over the estuary to Kent.  Plus, what a fabulous venue - spacious comfortable seats, helpful staff, plenty of loos, few stairs to climb and you can take your drinks in with you.  What a difference to The Bristol Hippodrome where the seats are so cramped I can't get my legs in, you need to dress for the tropics even though they claim to have air conditioning, three toilets only in the Ladies (you can imagine the ginormouse queue that forms) and woebetide anyone who suffers from vertigo if they sit any higher than the stalls.   Stephen Merchant was HILARIOUS and I can highly recommend going to see him if he's playing at a theatre near you (the full list of his tour dates is here,) though please be warned, he can be just a leeetle rude at times.

Supporting a Fellow East Bristolian

Tonight will be a couple of 'firsts' for P and I.  After living in Essex for seven-and-a-half years, we're off to the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend for the first time, and we're going to see a live stand-up comedian for the first time too. 

When I heard that Stephen Merchant would be visiting Southend as part of his 'Hello Ladies' tour, I knew that I wanted to go and see him in action.  I'm really looking forward to an evening of listening to the familiar accent of somebody who is also from east Bristol.  You may have heard his dulcet tones on telly as he is the voice behind the Barclays Bank adverts.   He is also, of course, the co-creator and co-writer (along with Ricky Gervais) of both 'The Office' and 'Extras'. 

I don't know of any other famous people from east Bristol - with the exception perhaps of FA Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, who I went to school with.  I saw him interviewed on some football programme a couple of weeks ago and could still hear faint traces of his east Bristol accent too.  I think it's the sort of accent you never lose no matter how many years you live away from there.

I Knew it Would Come in Handy One Day

 
I bought this little camping kettle a couple of years ago.  I found it in one of the local charity shops and paid one whole English pound for it.  I liked its dinkiness, the cherry red colour and the lovely rounded shape and somewhere in the back of my mind I just knew it would come in handy one day.  It's been lurking in the back of the wardrobe ever since then but on Saturday morning, when the electric kettle boiled its last, I was so pleased I had it.

I'm not sure how long we'd had the electric kettle - some years that's for sure - and it has had to do A LOT of water boiling, particularly in the summer months when it's our only source of hot water.  The vagaries of the tres ancient heating system in this house include the rather annoying trait of heating all the upstairs radiators if you have it on hot water only.  We found this out the first summer we were here and ever since we've made do with boiling the kettle when we need hot water.  Luckily, we do have an electric shower so at least there is hot water to order in the bathroom.

A couple of days of heating the water for washing up in saucepans on the stove were more than enough for me.  The little red camping kettle was just the ticket for making cups of tea as it holds enough for two half-pint mugs, but it wasn't up to boiling enough water for the twice-daily washing up marathon.   So yesterday, we bought a fancy-pants all singing, all dancing brand-new kettle which had the scandalous price of £50.  Fifty pounds!!!!  Who on earth would pay that much for a kettle - no matter that it lights up blue when it's switched on?  More sensibly we found it at half price - though we were both shocked that kettles cost more than a tenner these days.  I'm sure if we'd had the luxury of time we'd have shopped around to find a better price but two days of being sans electric kettle  - and thereby sans easily-achieved hot water - were more than enough for me.  Still, I'm quite sad to be packing the little camping kettle away again.

How Much is That Doggy ....

 
.... the one with the corkscrew for a tail?  Answer, 50p.  Cute little art deco brass terrier corkscrew found in amongst a box of kitchen untensils in a local charity shop this morning.  I'm VERY pleased to have found this as I have quite a collection of vintage Scottie dog / terrier items and this little pup will fit in just nicely.

On Trend On the Cheap

I had the Evans autumn catalogue arrive last week and I was quite pleased to see that at least some of the thrifted items in my wardrobe bear more than a passing resemblance to what is featured.

 
Berry-coloured jumper - check.  Found mine at the local boot sale - £2.00.

 

Waterfall cardigan - check.  Mine was £3.00 from one of the Basildon charity shops.

 
Longline check shirt - um, check.  £2.00 from the local booty a couple of weeks ago. 

Now, I'm no great fashionista and I'm not overly fussed if the clothes I like wearing are 'on trend' or not - as long as they're comfy and look reasonable, that's fine by me.  However, I was quite surprised by how similar these thrifted items were.  I spent a grand total of £7.00 for the three items, had I bought the Evans equivalent they would have cost me a whopping £93.50!!   Yikes!!!!

There May Be Trouble Ahead

The small market town where I live is essentially a quiet, sleepy, part-retirement place, part dormitory town for London where nothing much of any note ever happens.  Probably it's greatest claim to fame is that it is the hometown of Chantelle Houghton, erstwhile winner of a Celebrity Big Brother.   I have seen it described in a newspaper as a 'rundown market town' which, although a little extreme in the description, is essentially a fairly accurate statement of the state of the High Street.  Nevertheless, it has been my home for the past six and a half years and I'm rather fond of the place.

Unfortunately, tomorrow afternoon it is to be the starting point of a protest march against the imminent Dale Farm eviction, the site of which is only a couple of miles west of the town.  I gather that most of the High Street is shutting up shop on Saturday as the police are warning of possible trouble from the protestors.  Following so closely on the heels of the recent riots in England, the news of this protest march (which I only learnt of by over-hearing a conversation between two shop owners a couple of days ago) is just a little worrying.   I have to admit to being more than a shade perturbed about what will unfold here tomorrow afternoon.  Hopefully, it will all pass off without incident but to be on the safe side P and I are heading in the opposite direction and taking ourselves off to a village fete, well away from the proposed route of the march and well away from any potential trouble.  I'll let you know what happens.

A Welcome Return

The 'Coffee and Jumble' Monday morning fixture always takes a break during August and restarts on the first Monday of September.  Although I often visit and come away empty handed, I always miss the opportunity for a root around the tables of bric-a-brac, clothes and books when it's not being held.   This week was the first 'Coffee and Jumble' for five weeks and I was thinking I would again be leaving without buying anything when I spotted a beautifully iconic Bush radio next to a pile of second-hand ladies winter boots.

 
I'm assured it does work - although I haven't tried it out as yet - but, frankly, for the £2.00 it cost me I'm more than happy to have it as a large ornament even if it turns out it doesn't work.  It's just gorgeous to look at and really shouts late 50s / early 60s quality design.  The buttons are good and chunky, the dial turns smoothly and elegantly, the carrying handle is just the right size to hold and the milky pastel tones of the bodywork are very pleasing to the eye.  I love it (though heaven knows where I'm going to find the space to put it!!)

 

Boot Sale Finds

It was by no means certain that we'd be able to go to the boot sale this morning as the weather forecast had not been at all encouraging - with rain forecast from 10.00 am onwards.  Luckily, as per usual, the weather forecast was totally wrong and it was dry, sunny and pretty warm when we arrived at just after 10.  There were a lot of sellers and buyers this week as there's no boot sale there next week.  Unfortunately for me, a lot of the sellers were offloading their baby and toddler items.  I did manage to find a few nice items though.

 
The usual toiletry selection for moi.  Rimmel Shower Gel - 50p, Soap & Glory Conditioner - 50p. Crabtree & Evelyn travel size Shampoos and Conditioners - £1.00 the lot.

 
A new pack of Paperchase Ladybird Candles - 50p.  Not sure why these caught my eye really but I thought they were really sweet and unusual and could always come in useful.  Accessorize 'Paris' coin purse - 5op and an almost matching travel card wallet that's still got its original labels on - also 50p.

 
A selection of postcards and an unopened cat greetings card - always handy to have spare stationery items around - 50p the lot.

 
A pair of vintage embroidered pillowcases - 50p.

 
And this really cheerful hot pink Rock Cats print oilcloth messenger bag.  It's from Paperchase, is in really nice nick, is hugely capacious - so I can fit loads in - and it only cost £1.00.   Fabulous all round.

Funnily Enough....

 
.... Mum was only saying a few days ago that she'd like to get my nephew a Junior Scrabble game.  So I was very pleased to find this one for 50p at a 'bumper coffee morning' at a local church hall.   It looks to be in pretty good nick and to have most, if not all, of the letter tiles with it.  Having never played Scrabble in my life, I'll be interested to see how we get on with this - especially as I can't see the rules booklet in the box!!

 
I also found a jersey Monsoon dress which I hope will suit my sister - £1.50.

 
A 1970s linen M&S pinny - 50p - for resale.

 
A super-duper upmarket body wash for me - 50p (it retails at £8.00 on their website) and an ultra-posh wrapped soap - also 50p (this one is £5.00 on the manufacturers website.)  So, £13.00 worth of toiletries for £1.00 - well happy with those finds.

There were also two jars of homemade marmalade at £1.00 each.  I do enjoy marmalade on my breakfast toast in the morning, so I'm looking forward to giving these a taste.