The Real Deal.

Hullo All!


Some of you may remember me showing you the patch that I embroidered for my quilt? Well, if not, here's a snap of what I'm on about to jog your memory.

"My Attempt!"

Here's the link to the original post

 

Well, forget about my measly attempt because the real deal arrived in parcel form a couple of Fridays back!

It certainly puts my embroidery to shame-  It's so neatly worked. (pah!) It took all my strength not to show you then and I'm glad I can finally let it loose on the interweb now.

So, what do you think?

I know nothing about the original owner, except that it also came with the sweetest little aluminium frame. I'm pretty certain that they belong together; due to the fact that both frames have the same thick, black tape on the back! I know, this hardly confirms anything, but the tape used isn't the sort that is usually used on such items. My ma says it's 'mans tape' and thinks it was embroidered by a chap and I must say, I rather like this theory! I like to imagine that the chap in the frame is also the chap who embroidered it! Oooh, perhaps he did it while convalescing or perhaps 'he' did it whilst in the confinement of his P.O.W. camp, and then gave it to his beloved?!!! OK, maybe its a little fanciful, but the Red Cross did ask for people to send items to keep the POW boys busy...who knows?!

These embroideries could be worked and framed like my one or used to decorate different household and personal items (more ideas can bee seen in this snap). I particually like the Radio Times cover.... I want, I want, I want!

And the frame that came with the embroidery...

^ What I call a dish with a fine head of hair!
This little frame is only 3 x 4 inches and is super cute.
I love the fact that this frame has printed inside the words...

"Real Aluminium
British Make "

A real sign of the times!


 

All in all, it was a very lovely little bundle to receive and will be very much treasured by me!

 

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Oh, and here are some very silly snaps of me with some of my my pin-ups- John Gregson, David Niven, Bing and yes that's Arthur Askey in the background! Tommy Trinder and Roger Moore are also on my wall of fame, but unfortunately I'm sitting in front of them!
I hate to think what the original owner would say or think if he saw me wearing his "best blue" like this... ah well... Sorry Mr. R.A.F chappy!

 

Happy R.A.F Friday All,

Have a wonderful weekend...

 

Tups xxx

 

 

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RAF Fridays so far...

 

The Apprentice and the Sweetheart.
R.A.F. Friday Christmas Special

R.A.F War Pictures

Nothing but Patches
It's a Piece of Cake
Mrs Pickup's
Knitting for the R.A.F
Love Is In The Air
Double Trouble
One Mans Photo's
The Rings
Here Comes The Bride...
The Other Box
The Box
Mayday! Mayday! She has bought more wings...

Nothing but Patches

In one way or another I've had a bit of a rotten day. Facebook chums will know what I'm talking about, but I feel it's now time to move onwards and upwards, and forget about the horrid people who have no respect for the feelings of others. As you can imagine, it's not nice for someone to call you 'sick' and say that you are 'pro death' just because you take an interest in the Royal Air Force. No I'm not 'pro-death and if I'm classed as being’ sick' for taking an interest in history and indeed of all those who served, sadly lost their lives or survived the war then so be it. Just because I take an interest doesn’t mean I want to glorify it or even agree with it, but these things should not be forgotten and nor should the people.

 ***

First off let’s see what all the fuss was about hey!

 Please ignore the wonkiness..

“ The Roval Air Force” I think I need to put another stitch on the ‘y’!

 

Pretty innocent looking isn’t it. Who knew that this patch would cause me so much grief both before and after it was finished! The funny thing is, the two monsters harassed me, then had the nerve to say that it was ‘a nice bit of needlework’….blooming cheek!

Well, my first ‘proper’ patch is indeed finished (celebratory jig and ginger beer for all!) and I’m rather pleased with it I must say! It’s quite big at 5 x 6 inches. I had the notion that if it was bigger it would be easier to work, which is true, but boy has it taken some hours!

 

Another patch finished for the 'show me your colours' project.

 

Well that's a'nuff of that trouble maker...

Now moving on to something that has caused me no hurt feelings (well, it has a few holes, but they can be darned!). Chums, meet my very own service knit! It's one of my most treasured items. (Yes I know, I say that about everything... but I mean it!)

To my knowledge I'm the third owner that has had the honour to keep this scarf safe, and only the second to wear it! You may be thinking what is she on- it's only a Air Force blue scarf knitted in a simple garter stitch, and yes, you would be right, but to me it means so much more. This very long scarf may have been knitted by a RAF Comforts Party, or it may have been knitted especially for a loved one- who knows? I also have no idea who collected the patches- some are older than others, so it may have been started by the original owner and then added to over the years?
Did I mention that it smells divine? Well it does! Yes, it has that old wool smell, but it also has an oily musk about it too- you know that lovely engine-y/garage smell? Please say that you know what I'm on about.... please! I wish I could bottle the smell...then again, s'pose I just need to buy a bottle of machine oil eh!!!

A picture of yours truly wearing the scarf- twas a very windy and cold day! Picture taken not long after Christmas last year!

 



Anyway, don't you think it could do with a few more patches? Hint, hint, hint. here's nudging all you RAF folks out there... please feel free to send me some new patches to sew upon my scarf! I know, subtlety is an art I have yet to master! :p

I wasn't even pretending to sew on a patch here- one really needed to be sewn on again!

 

***

Here's two very simple patterns for scarves from the "Knitting for the R.A.F" booklet...

 

And here's a great little pattern for an easily knitted service pullover.

December, 1940.

 

 

Have you got any original service woollens?

 



Also I would just like to say a big "Ta very much" once again to all on FB that helped me along today- You are all stars!

 

Here's to a chirpier weekend...

 

 

Sincerely Yours

 

Tickety Boo Tupney

 

 

 



***

RAF Friday so far...

 

It's a Piece of Cake

Mrs Pickup's

Knitting for the R.A.F

Love Is In The Air

Double Trouble

One Mans Photo's

The Rings

Here Comes The Bride...

The Other Box

The Box

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

"It's a Piece of Cake!"

If only the same could be said about my endeavours in embroidery, but then again, you can't even compare my traumatic experiences with the craft, with that of the experiences that our brave airmen (and their contemporaries) faced daily during the war...

As some of you will know, I have taken on the mammoth task of an embroidered patchwork quilt, and I made the decision early on to concentrate on everything Air force-y to start with, before I commence on the other services... to cut a long story short, I've started with anything to do with the R.A.F. and haven't got very far (an understatement!) even with a filtered target!
The R.A.F crest is driving me nuts, not helped by the fact I'm not great with embroidery (yeah I know...why on earth did I willingly choose to do this?!), and I really needed to do something a little less involved.....

Well Folks, here's my first completed embroidered patch for my quilt. I know it's not perfect, but I'm proud of it nonetheless.. dodgy stitches and all! Oh and a note to self- don't eat a Cinnamon pinwheel and work on the patches at the same time. They do not work well together and I have now got to sponge the results of that terrible partnership off my patch!

 

 

The finished patch and my famous (well perhaps not famous, but the family do like it!) Carrot cake!

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I seem to be fated not to publish my RAF Fridays lately- my planned post for today, which actually should have been next weeks,  because last weeks edition wasn't the 'planed' post either (confused yet)... where was I.... oh yes,... today's planned edition will have to be postponed, yet again, due to dull weather Ah ell, such conditions cannot be helped and anyway, it gives me the opportunity to show of a gift from Pappy dearest. (also the inspiration for the above patch)

I've been looking for an original copy of this for quite a while and I mightily pleased pappy bid on it without my knowing. I actually had made up my mind not to bid on it (I must have been having a funny five minuets at the time!), so it was a most welcome surprise!

It's a fantastic little booklet filled with slang used by the services (on the whole)

- some are hilarious, some are rather naughty, and some are now considered not very PC, but it makes for a very interesting read, even if I forget most of them after finishing each page (my brain is like a sieve I tells ya!).

Also if you fancy getting hold of a copy, a reprint is now available of a similar publication called “Service Slang” and is only a few pounds to buy.

***

(Front Page)

IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE

OR

R.A.F. SLANG MADE EASY

For Scrambled Eggs, Line Shooters, Erks, Ships that Pass in the Night, Brown Types, Civvies, Penguins, A/C Plonks, Devil-Dodgers, Sprogs, lady-Birds, Popsies, and any Dim Types Who Are Interested.

(Here’s a task for you.... can you decode it- no prizes I'm afraid!)

 

By Squadron Leader C.H.Ward-Jackson

with drawings

by

Flying Officer David Langdon.

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They say that the Sergeant's a very nice chap,

Oh ! What a tale to tell !

Ask him for leave on a Saturday Night-

He'll pay your fare home as well.

There's many an airman has blighted his life

Thro' writing rude words on the wall,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,

So cheer up, my lads, Bless' Em All.

   The R.A.F. Trooping Song

Bless 'Em All.

 

***

 

Happy R.A.F Friday and

Here's to the next time

(hark at me going all Henry Hall on you!)

Tupney xxx

***

RAF Friday so far....

 

Mrs Pickup's

Knitting for the R.A.F

Love Is In The Air

Double Trouble

One Mans Photo's

The Rings

Here Comes The Bride...

The Other Box

The Box

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