Meet Harry and Jim.

Being far too sentimental for my own good, this little wonder found its way from an antiques (pronounced Anti- queues of course!) fair to Ticketys trove of many treasures!

Harry- looks a bit of a one if you ask me, but Jim looks a nice lad! Well I think he does...

I don’t have a clue as to who they are, but they seem nice enough chaps, and as I don’t like to see such things unloved and left forgotten, I decided to adopt them.  The lady on the stall said it was purchased from an elderly lady and that it was given to the lady by a man- Intriguing or what!  I’m a bit miffed that the dealer didn’t enquire more into it at the time, but hey ho what can I do….well if it was me I would have shone a light, whipped out a pad and pencil, quizzed the lady on who, what, why, and when!!! Yes, interrogation may have helped with the history of this piece…it just shows the difference between the collector (or the sentimental/romantic social history nut) and the dealer (in this case anyway!).

Who were they?

What are the relations? Was one of the chaps pictured the sender of this gift? If so, who did he give it to? Did it belong to a mother? Were they brothers of a girl or maybe pics of her brother and sweetheart?...or were they both sweethearts!!! I’m going with the mother theory personally!

Ok, so we all know it’s a sweetheart brooch and dating from the Second World War, but to whom it represents I just don’t know. Shame hey! Anyway, they are now known and Harry and Jim. Harry (the left) being in the Army, and Jimmy or Jim is a RAF chappie.  Harry’s picture somewhat distresses me, he looks tired and rather, well, war weary- which brings me to think what did these boys see and do and then to the most sombre of thoughts- did they survive?  

On that cheery note

Let us raise our glasses and drink to Harry and Jim!!!

Tups x

Time for a hair cut me thinks…

… and about time too as it’s been 8 months!

Yes indeedy, you know it’s time for a trim when you start to look like you could be a relation to Lion-o from Thundercats…  well I don’t have a red mane ( not yet- hehe) but I must say when my hair is in its natural state, and fluffed up a little bit- the likeness is uncanny!

Thankfully I’m not daft enough to post pictures so you will have to take my word and imagine it.

The last couple of weeks, (so the last two sets) have been extremely troublesome to say the least. Fluffy, frizzy, big, wayward…. All the things this girl most certainly doesn’t like to deal with. I suppose I have never had to deal with it as I’ve always had much shorter hair in my years of vintage! Any roads it was past my shoulders and took forever to roller up and dry.

My tresses are now 1 and half inches shorter with the layers cut into to take some of the weight off ( I’m positively weightless now!) and with the majority of my perm cut out! I’ve also got Ma to put in a pink streak to pay homage to my younger self. The Rouge might cover the rest of my Barnet by the end of next week though!



Me with pink short hair (16?) with a sticker on me head and with my beauty of a sister!

I want for it to be much longer, unfortunately this probably won’t ever be reality as I’m not one who can be carefree when it comes to hair. I like it to be just so- if even one curl, one teeny tiny curl is out of place or just wont play ball, then I will have a fit- when this occurs I would recommend that any person in the vicinity to 1) leave the room and 2) make for cover!!!. Mind you, the last couple of years I have (luckily) managed to keep ‘the mane’ under control and to the style I like. I have gone with the flow of the daily changes that my ‘weekly set’ makes- From the curly, curly, to a soft page boy bob of pre washday! Not to mention the fact that my perm has been on its last legs for the last few months, so I think I’m entitled to a few more gold sticky stars for how well I have coped.  

Having said all about my want for long curly hair and the perfect set, it doesn’t stop one from wanting a short curly top like the ones seen in the 30’s and early 50’s!!! What can I say- it’s my fickle nature… To be honest I’m surprised I have lasted this long without chopping it off!

I really like this cut at the moment- well, from this morning (Cough- that’s years in my head) I have been besotted with it!!! (And might I add with the hairdresser too-

How wonderful it is that he is wearing a suit, and just look at those turnips Turn-ups!

Oh, what it would mean to be able to time travel back just for a haircut!

HAIR MODES - British Pathe


well here's to the next time and
fingers crossed that my new do and set turns out tickety boo

Tupney xxx

Doris Day- Heaven Tonight

Just a quick post on one of my favourite Actresses/ Singer- Doris Day.

After reading in the paper about the debut airing of  one of her previously unreleased songs (1985-86?) on the Paul O’Grady show (Sunday)- I just had to I-player it! I was so curious about this as I could listen/ watch her all day, every day….and may I add, I have even given  ‘Luther’ on the goggly box the old heave ho just to listen to it!

It appears about 53 mins into the show and I think its rather nice… quite catchy in fact (I have rewound several times already!!!)- shall be looking forward to the release of her album later on in the year.  Click here for the link to the show- remember 53 mins in!

Night/ Morning/Afternoon all!

A Whistling Tickety Boo Tups xxxx

In the Navy....

…In a navy dress that is! This little number became ‘new to me’ from yesterday, and I just couldn’t wait to take a picture. I even ventured out into the garden with my trusty tripod in tow...' Gasp'- yes, the sun has appeared, and yes, it has stopped raining long enough for me to do so! Careful, dearest Mother Nature, people might begin to think it was summer!!!

Awkward or what- but it does show the details!  

It's not the most delightful part of our garden to take a picture, but its extremely uncomfortable taking pictures of yourself in an open space. I’m especially conscious at the fact that neighbours could possibly sticky beak in and think ‘what on earth is she up to- what a ginger (well, blonde) nut!’

Hmm, I wonder what it would look like with different coloured slips underneath.?!

Well must be off- hair to set for the weekend ahead...

your

To the Woods... and then Pimms on the Terrace, Jeeves!

I say, its time to whip out ones hobbyhorse and set forth to the woods to meet Mr R. Hood and his band of merry men. Hehe, well, maybe not, as I think our childhood Dobby is up in the loft, plus I’m rather much taller now so I think it would need a considerably longer dowel (Like it’s even a possibility!!!). Not to mention the fact that I think it would be quite unwise for an impressionable young woman, like myself  to enter into such company(Just think of the language!) No, certainly not...well, not unless I had a chaperon anyway!

So I have talked myself out of a woodland ramble, so instead what about a nice sedate leafy garden- where croquet is played on velvet lawns and where iced lemonade is served on a sun drenched terrace?  Hmmm, yep, that’s the one for me. (Though a hog roast with merry men still holds a certain draw!)

Anyhoo, so I might not meet young Robin of Loxley, and I don’t know of such a garden but don’t you think my new outfit would be quite appropriate for either setting?! I certainly do, and if I accessorise correctly, this little ensemble should take me through a whole variety of occasions.

lovely long skirt...

the pattern and the details...
the skirt has two inverted pleats at the back and one at the front.

This 30’s ensemble is another one of Mammy’s creations. Isn’t it just splendid?! I’m so incredibly lucky. I would say that the pattern is from around 1936/37 ish (could be as early as 35, though I will stick with my original guess) and was originally a dress, but mum being mum made it into a costume so I could wear each piece with different things. Well, it’s always nice to have a change isn’t it!

I just love the linked buttons- which can be change to match hats and belts, gloves, shoes....!

....and the back- you can just about see the pleats/vent thingies.

So there you have it, my outfit for all occasions!

TTFN

Tups x

Airshow Antics

Hullo there- long time no wittering.

Well me lovelies, it was my Grandpa pa’s birthday yesterday so guess what (You will never guess after reading the title!!!) on Saturday we went to an airshow. It was wondrous, if not a little on the windy/rainy/ cold side. But thankfully the aircraft on show made up entirely for the foul weather tendencies.
The day was full of lovely rumblie noises from the jets ( and no, it wasn't my tummy making itself heard at lunchtime!) and of course aircraft of all shapes, sizes and eras, while the airfield saw a littering of waterproofed clad people(including myself- but mine was flowery and matched impeccably with my burgandy 40's skirt!), airforce blue berets, and the country set in their lovely tweeds and Barbours. There were retail opportunities too- but no old junk (blah, so I wasn’t interested), classic cars, a little ww2 section with jeeps (squeeeeeeeeal!), fun fair rides (no thank you) and the most upmarket portaloos I have ever seen- none of those horrific blue plastic boxes that I have a severe aversion towards- these ones had lights, proper basins(ooow arh). Mind you, I can’t tell you about the cubicles as I didn’t make use, but I saw enough to be impressed!!! Well nuff said about that me thinks, back onto the planes…..

So what did we see? …. A big noisy one, a yellow one, a really pretty coloured fast one, a pretty little thing that was used throughout ww2- the elliptical winged one- oh darn it, what is it called !!! Hehe, don’t worry I know a little more about planes than that! Not much more mind you, so I apologise in advance as you might find this annoying

a)      if you are not a fan of aircraft, and

b)      if you are a fan of aircraft- you will cringe at how basic my knowledge is!

To be honest I don’t marvel at the engineering side of the craft- well I do, as it does hold a little interest within me- what I mean is when it gets too technical I switch off. I judge an aircraft purely buy its appearance (I’m such a girl), how it can be manoeuvred, if it makes a pleasing noise or not (I'm mad), and what connection it has to history and to certain people (mainly the dashing RAF pilots of ww2 or the extremely glamorous ATA girls! Not forgetting the groundcrew and the guys and gals who built and maintained them!) Usually if I enjoy watching it,  and it makes my hairs stand up on the back of my neck or makes me a little teary- it’s a good’un!

So to the pictures I took or in some cases I didn't take... if only they would stop for me to take a decent picture!!!

Didn't get a good pic of this Hawker Hunter
Designed By Sydney Camm (Sir)...

... the same dude (hehe) who designed  the Hawker Hurricane-'the backbone of the Battle of Britain'. (Don’t thump me spitfire fanciers.) It says in the program that he also designed the Hawker Typhoon, Hawker Tempest, and the Hawker Sea Fury- to name but a few- a right clever little Mr, wasn't he!

The Folland (Hawker Siddeley) Gnat.

Supermarine Spitfire. BBMF

BBMF Dakota- in its new colours with D Day stripes!

One of the Black Cats (Westland Lynx- Royal Navy) landing on my Pa's Umbrella!



Meteor NF11...

(this flew with a De Havilland Venom)

... the Gloster Meteor (the first British Jet Fighter) entered service with the RAF in June 1944 and was used to intercept the unmanned German jet missiles- the V-1 flying bombs.  It was later used for ground attack and armed reconnaissance. This one is a Armstrong-Whitworth Night Fighter 11- flight tests started in 1949.
This was probably Grandpa pa's favourite aircraft of the show as he worked on it when he worked for the Gloster Aircraft company. I'm not sure what he did- I will have to ask- maybe it's a future post!

And last but by no means least....

The VULCAN

 

A truly amazing sight and sound to behold- The Avro Vulcan B2 XH558.

I might add the world's only flying example!

 Righty-ho, I fear you may have given up on me by now- sorry. :(

Obviously there were others too but even I’m getting fed up now with putting in the pictures- grrr.



I shall endeavour to return with something pretty and vintage very soon.-Maybe a picture or two of my new knitteds? A Mystic Mug, or even some of mine and Ma's 'Tickety Boo' finds? Decisions, Decisions!

Cheerio All.

Tupps xxx



Happy Birthday to you, happy Birthday to…..

Many happy returns for the day Prince Philip!

Just a little something in my collection- isn’t it fabulous! I have decided he will be placed near my nautical themed cocktail cabinet/area ( I know, it sounds cracking doesn’t it!) when I have one. In the meantime he lives at the end on my bed, hanging from one of my hatboxes.

Oh, and while we are on the subject of birthdays, mine was two weeks ago and I got a super bunch of pressies, and I just had to show some of them off. I certainly had a varied selection, with emphasis on books - but then, one can never have too many books and the fact that I say that practically about everything (especially hats and shoes) doesn't matter one bit as it's quite, quite true!

books, books, lovely books....

28 oz of wool (!!!), two stitchcrafts and  many a pretty thing...
(actually you will have to imagine the stitchcrafts as they are not in the pic-oops!)

...and a Jig-saw- and every piece was there too!

I was also given a bottle of my perfume  and a wonderful card from my Sis (thank you niffer), and a truly scrumptious blouse from my mummy- but you will have to wait for that as the buttons need sewing on and it deserves a post of it's very own. All I shall say is...' Made in Austria' (excited?) well I am and I've seen it- for me it's a blouse of dreams.

In the words of Henry Hall....

' here's to the next time'

Tickety Boo Tupney. xxx