There was a time when I lived in a grey world, of black and white TV, in a 1930s semi detached house with no central heating. The house also contained a small bookcase of works by Dickens and Huxley (but little else for a while). I did have shoes though. I went on holidays, packed in the back seat of the car with all the luggage, to spend two weeks in a tent in Devon with Mum and Dad. Always, given the option, I chose the tent in Devon, close to Dartmoor - my favourite place was Dartmeet. (I loved the cream teas they served there too.) I was an average kid who didn't enjoy school much (sadly, on reflection) and much preferred playing with my pals (mostly the boys I grew up with) in the park, making dens in the woods, riding on box carts and climbing trees, or just walking. I lived opposite a large park and would escape there whenever I could. Some things have stayed with me since that time, as I loved them and I cannot say why.
A love of cars! Special for me was my Dad's garage, detached brick and tile with rafters hung with all sorts of things I especially remember that oil and metal smell from work on the car and the tools he stored there. Sundays were often spent in the garage helping him paint something or fix the car. Dad was originally an engineer, but eventually found that selling engineering tools was more lucrative, and provided us with the car he couldn't have afforded otherwise. To earn my pocket money I would clean the car, polish the chrome and make sure it was sparkling. Dad taught me how to change a wheel when I was about 10 years old. He had a new car every few years and it was always the latest model of whatever the fleet were handing out. I do remember a blue Consul Classic with wings at the back and that back swept rear window. I know, basic stuff, nothing truly exciting, but it seemed so to me as a small kid at the time. Brooklands is a place I go to now sometimes just to smell that garage smell again.
Brooch by Sphinx |
Having said all of this, today is better. It's in colour for a start. So don't think that loving a few good things from the past means I would rather be there. Oh no. Now is good. Now I have the galactic interweb and can buy things from all over the world at the click of a button. Ooops. There I go again. Someone please save me from eBay (no don't actually).
Still to come:
Fabrics
Roses
More things, and much more on Jewellery, much much more. Be warned!
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