Double Trouble

Dearest Readers,

Welcome to the latest edition of RAF Friday, and may I please introduce you to two very fine chaps.. Valeri 'Mothy' Canada and Harry 'Ginger' Hawk.

Today is all about my little mascots. You may remember Val from a bygone valentines post, then again, you may not and you can read a bit more about my Val here.

Ginger however is new, well, actually he has been residing with the TBT collections far longer than our Val, but he’s a bit camera shy- he only agreed to be photographed after finding his best side – vain creature….

 

So TBT readers meet Val and Ginger…

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Val and Ginger meet our dear readers…

 

 

 

Quite the handsome pair!

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So there they were, sitting, or in Harry’s case, sprawled out on a table, looking terribly unloved and tugging at and playing every heart string like they were members of the Squadronaires (Harry on Bass and Val on Piano) doing a very teary rendition of ‘All the things you are’. How on earth could I just walk on by and leave them there...all unloved, and sad, and lonely, and in Val’s case injured, and, and, and… I just couldn't.

Once our eyes have met across a cluttered stall, then that’s it- They’re coming home with me!

Call me a sentimental old fool (I know that I am), but I can’t pass a pathetic looking airman without wanting to look after him and knit him sweaters! At this point I should say ‘dolls’, but I’m sure it would probably be the same with the human kind too! ; )

Anyway…

The little corrugated hut was made by my daft mammy and is what Harry came in on the merry day!

 

Young  Harry ‘Ginger’ Hawk was a Christmas present from the Christmas before last. I had found him at a flea, casually spread out on a table with some other dolls. I couldn’t have given a monkeys about the other ones, as naturally Harry was the one I wanted. I thought he was going to be terribly expensive being a Norah Wellings little fella and all, but actually he was quite the opposite….Hurrah!

 

 

I don’t really know a lot about him. I’ve tried to do some research, but have found practically nothing.  Norah did produce several Airmen under the name Harry the Hawk, and they were sold to raise funds for the RAF comfort funds. Though these dear chaps have Jumpy-suit type flying thingies on, with helmet and goggles and a parachute too, which my little fella most certainly doesn’t have…. My Harry just has a shrivelled up tie, a cap (which is so cute) that is held on with a pin and faded blues! So I’m guessing he’s not a ‘real’ Harry the Hawk!

 

 

 

Actually, if he was life size I’m not sure I would want to meet him up a dark alley- quite scary from this angle (Harry, I thought you said this was your best side…), but at pocket size he looks quite the cute little imp!

 

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Val on the other hand was adopted at last years wartime weekend in Pickering. He was left shivering on one of the outdoor stalls. It was a terribly junky stall, but unbelievably the prices didn’t match the cruddy persona of said stall. Blimey he was expensive. I dare not even say how much was forked out for ole Mothy here- I’m quite embarrassed by it! Though, totally worth it I may add : )

Like Ginger I wished that I knew more about Val...

 

(Luckily Gingers adoption fee equals out our Vals!)

 

 

A bad close up of Vals Cap!

At the moment Valeri wears one of my normal pairs of wings- I'm still on the look out for a RCAF pair in my price range- I've found a button though!

 

 

 

The latest of dear Valeri and I-  he looks a little uncomfortable with the way I’m holding him. Then again, I’m sure I would look just the same if someone had their hand on my derrière too!

 

Well I guess that's all.

I'm going to say now that next weeks RAF Friday is looking a little dodgy- It might go to print, or it might not. All depends on how organised I am : )

(not likely then eh!)

 

I'm also going to do a clothes post over the weekend as I need help again!

 

Happy RAF Friday All

 

With much love as always

 

Tickety

Val

and Harry

xxx

 

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RAF Friday so far....

One Mans Photo's

 

The Rings

Here Comes The Bride...

The Other Box

The Box

Mayday! Mayday! She has bought more wings...

 

My Funny Valentine

Or in my case.... 

My funny and moth eaten Valeri!

 Yet again I have missed the boat somewhat with the whole valentine’s thing..... my excuse being that I was far too busy munching chocolates, opening cards and sneezing from the bundles of flowers - I was positively swamped!

Well perhaps not!

Anyhoo, here's my Valentine and he goes by the name of Val.

Valeri 'mothy' Canada to be precise!

Such a dear old soul!
I found out in one of my many home management books
 that Valerie means Valiant- quite apt me thought!

He's such a sweetie, but a little nibbled-I’m sure his poor hands have been in some tot’s mouth- poor fella! I fell in love with this little Canadian airman at first sight, and after much deliberation (I was um-ing and arh-ing for ages!) I decided to give him a new home, and my am I super glad that I did!

 I’ve decided…. I mean, Val told me that he used to work on the Halifax bomber during the war. He also told me that he got his war wounds one night when his airbase came under attack by the enemy.

His convalescence was lengthy, but Val didn’t complain as there were several pretty nurses, and an occupational therapy needlework pack by Penelope to keep both his mind, and his one hand busy!

He recovered to some extent, but he lost the use of his one hand, which meant he could no longer work on the shop floor, so to speak. Poor Val then took up a clerical type position within the RAF.  After the war he decided to stay in Yorkshire, hoping to settle down with a young lass he met at a local shindig -Val initially won her over with his mighty fine rug cutting!  However,  things didn’t work out, and this young flibbertigibbet ran off with a travelling salesman (for Kleeneze, I think?). Unfortunately Val won’t tell me what happened after 1946, so that’s all I can tell you! These days he’s quite content reminiscing with a fellow RAF veteran (Harry ‘Ginger’ Hawk) and an ex windmill Kewpie showgirl called Mitzi!



Tupney and her Val!
By the way my outfit is what I wore today!

TaTa for now

Tickety and Val xxx