Vintage Nostalgia

I've been even more hectic than usual as this coming weekend brings one of my favourite events.The Vintage Nostalgia Show at Stockton Park in Wiltshire.
The Vintage Nostalgia Show only started last year and is a wonderful weekend full of classic cars, enticing stalls, great food and music and beautiful people all dressed in their vintage finery!
I have been packing and sorting madly and everywhere is full of teetering piles of stock!

Emily is singing,

David and Sam are dressing up ( photo to follow of Sam dressed up!)

My lovely sister-in -law is down for a visit, so it looks set to be a wonderful weekend.
Last year we had hot sunshine, so I have my fingers crossed it will be the same this year.

I'm all prepared to dress in full vintage glamour ...I've been practising my hair and make-up and trying to diet so my waist looks good in a lovely, flowery 1950's dress-
I'm just so excited!


/http://www.vintagenostalgiashow.co.uk/  ( All the Show's details are here!)

A woman's wish and a man's hopes...

It must be the Spring but I have woken feeling frivolous!

I have found this funny poem that David discovered and sent to me-

 Woman's Poem

Before I lay me down to sleep,

I pray for a man, who's not a creep,

One who's handsome, smart and strong.

One who loves to listen long,

One who thinks before he speaks,

One who'll call, not wait for weeks.

I pray he's gainfully employed,

When I spend his cash, won't be annoyed.

Pulls out my chair and opens my door,

Massages my back and begs to do more.

Oh! Send me a man who'll make love to my mind,

Knows what to answer to 'how big is my behind?'

I pray that this man will love me to no end,

And always be my very best friend!

So I made up one in reply...

Man's Poem

 When I finally fall asleep

I pray for a woman who will keep

on thinking I’m handsome, perfect & strong

One that loves to listen long

When I rant on about ‘News of the Week'

And not care if to her I hardly speak

I pray that she’ll enjoy being employed

Ironing my shirts and not be annoyed

When I leave the dirty ones on the floor

But just pick them up and ask for more

Oh! Send me a woman who loves my dirty mind

 and wears thongs to show her great behind

I pray she will love me  ‘til the very end

And even more than her best friend...

I hope this will amuse you too!

ps, I apologise for the photographic discrepancy- I'm ashamed to say that I don't actually own a thong...

The hidden orchard, a secret paradise

I love orchards and have a dream of owning one...

And now I have found a secret, hidden orchard.
It is a small field that has been planted with a variety of trees. I made my first visit of this year and it is exploding with life, light and colour.

The gate is locked but I'm afraid I sneak in anyway. I walk gently and cause no harm.

Some of the trees are in full blossom, some yet to come into bud

It is wild and overgrown,

I need to wear my wellies as the nettles are already knee high

It was a bright sunny day and I felt almost breathless with excitement as I looked up through the petals to the clear blue sky

Wherever I looked, it was beautiful! There were poplars by the river

White blossoms-

pale pink cherries

Sugar pink cherries with their ballerina-like tutus

And crab apples, a still deeper crimson.

I wandered around, content and absorbed.

The sun shone warmly through the new leaves

The sweet scent of flowers filled the air

Winter seemed a distant dream.

Happy Birthday 'Pretty Nostalgic' Magazine

As soon as I came home yesterday, I rushed to the doormat and there was my copy of  'Pretty Nostalgic' Magazine-

Reading this unique magazine is always a treat but this time I had an extra reason to be excited...

They had asked me to write an article about the quirky joys of secondhand books and it has been published in this issue.

I'm in print!

If you are intrigued, here is the link. My article apart, it's a truly unique and high quality magazine, with unusual articles, beautiful photographs and a great attitude!

http://prettynostalgic.co.uk/inside-issue/buy-issue-7-now/

In my article I talk about the unusual things found within old books and the particularly personal pleasure they can bring.

My favourite is:

"a tiny wood engraving of hens. It fell out of a 15th-century bible and was probably used as a page

marker. It is dated 1610. It’s incredible that this little slip of paper has survived over 400 years. "

I have a habit of saving favourite photographs and cards in my poetry books. It is such a joy to open a well-loved book and out slips a happy memory

Emily and Sam showing an early love for Jaffa cakes

Emily was 4 years old when she gave me this little drawing. On the back it says ' to Mummy becos you love flaws'

I save love notes and tickets, even shopping lists for a special party. The past is brought back so vividly when I discover and read them again.

A beautiful hand-painted card form my artist friend Nicky

I was recently re-reading and old paperback of ' Women in Love' by D.H. Lawrence. It was filled with my marks and scruffy hand-written notes from 1982 when I was studying at university. It may be a bad habit to write in books but I'm so glad I did!

Of course some handwriting in books is perfectly allowable. This is a recipe from a cookery book, written in 1885.

In my article I write-

 

"I love finding hidden things within the pages.  It is as if, for a moment, I am

connected to the person who owned this book before me."

I hope my little mementoes connect me to the person who owns and reads my books after me.

I will finish now with a final wish to all the lovely people who are involved with ' Pretty Nostalgic' magazine. Long may you brighten my days!