PROJECTS.... 11

 

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 7

Here we have a dolls house that was made for me predominantly out of matchboxes. I am uncertain if my grandfather or father did the honors. Although the roof is in good condition, alas the walls/floor and contents have been the home of a mouse rather then doll family for several months, if not years and have been severely chewed. I managed to rescue a few small items that I may be able to sell - including a few baby dolls, however. 

This is Gina - my walkie-talkie doll. She appears to be wearing a kiddies rain-mac and home-made dress, but may still be worth a few pounds if I can sell her to a collector or kid. I recall she arrived one Christmas or birthday after my begging and nagging for a walkie-talkie doll......

This is Neddy. Apparently he arrived on my 3rd Christmas when I had a bad dose of flu so that I wasnt interested in my presents for a few days. I used to ride Neddy up and down the garden path when I was aged 12-13 - which caused amusement in the neighborhood - but I preferred to have fun and ignore those social norms...

PROJECTS.... 10

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 6

I do recall the first of this trio of books the clearest. I used to have a lot of books, but this one was a favorite at one point of my pre-school days! When I say I had a lot of books, I really do mean this - I had a 7 shelf bookcase AND a 3 or 4 shelf bookcase loaded with books by the time I was a mid-teen. I have the 7 shelves case filled now - but old books of mine are also stashed in 2 boxes, 2 stool-boxes, and a case - as well as having given away a box full and these newly rediscovered loft books!

As you can see, I had plenty of opportunity to read as a child. Would you believe it - I even had a bird book as a kid! No wonder I grew into someone who wrote a book and writes a blog about ornithology!

 

What resembles a pile of old rags is actually my needlecraft. I don't recall sewing much of this, but I do recall the floral-blue item. This was a skirt for a small girl - I was convinced I would have a daughter some day.... I doubt my son would ever fancy wearing this -especially not at 21! Ha ha.

PROJECTS.... 9

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 5

Continuing the massive export of loft-junk, a fairly old baby doll and some theater ticket stubs. Strange things my parents hoarded on my behalf. 

Next, another badge, a doll with growing hair, my toddler-aged PJ's, and a bundle of papers including an old bus timetable. 

Then 'Dobin' a broken-tailed toy horse and a PJ case that I have no recollection of whatsoever - maybe I kept dolls clothes in it? I seem to have had a LOT of dolls. Though why my parents kept any of them I do not know....sigh. Oh well, hopefully I can sell them for a few bucks.

Finally, for today, a few of the old books my parents stored for some reason or other. I recall that my first ever published letter was printed in a kiddies magazine called Jinty.

PROJECTS.... 8

PROJECT C: SUPPER BASKET 2

I have yet to locate a suitable replacement 'basket' to contain my father's supper tubs, so currently they sit on his dining table without a container.

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 4

Here are some more 'goodies' I found. An ancient pencil box without a lid, pottery face and tile print from elementary school, dolls pram cushion, 2 cube-picture block games, and a mouse tile and metallic pot from school pottery classes. Hmm.... WTF did my parents keep this junk for?

A doll's bed, an ugly glove puppet that my mother made, another tile from elementary pottery classes, and a pair of badges - oh dear. I do recall belonging to the Famous Five club and the Tingua and Tucker club, but honestly... this is my history - not my present/future.... why would anyone want to hold on to such stuff? I don't.... and it was MY stuff!

A cloth doll with a rather large head in a plastic dolly carriage, a closer shot of the two badges, and a colorful paper bag. PARENTS! How on earth could they store such JUNK? I am a parent also, but one who knows when one stage of life is over and done with and it is time to move on - a digitally stored photo of a favored childhood toy is far better a keepsake than the actual thing decaying in dust-ridden places. Oh well, maybe I can sell the badges and dolls bed/carriage....

PROJECTS.... 7

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 3

Continuing with the exploration of decades old trash from the loft....

A few lists my mother wrote out - that appear to be things to suggest I could do when I become bored. I do recall saying 'What can 'we' do?' rather a lot as a child. A newspaper style story of The King and I that I have no recall of having owned. A cycling proficiency certificate - blush blush. Some kiddies 'things to do' books....

 

Next we have a pile of numerous dolls clothes, blankets and other accessories for doll-games. I recall that tiny - and absolutely ancient - teddy bear that is now in pieces and must be about 100 years old! I once named it Richard.  I also recall my one and only non-school tie! I wore it to the only funeral I have ever been to (other than pets) - Grandpa's.

Finally for this posting, a photo of my toy-mice collection. At one point my best friend and I used to take boxes (beds) of toy mice to school to play with. The one on the left was homemade as I did not have any mice at first - but I soon collected a half dozen or so!

PROJECTS.... 6

PROJECT G: THE CARPET 1

One of the household matters I am always nagging my father about is that he never steam cleans his carpets. I explained that in Australia, it is the norm to do them every 5 or every 10 years - though he NEVER has!

Recently, he complained that there were too many stains on his hall carpet, and I managed to talk him into letting me use some of the housekeeping money he gives me to get them cleaned! YES! We have a booking for the end of next week and the hall & stair carpets should look much better than THIS afterwards! 

The stains came from my son mostly, who had a habit of making coffee in the kitchen then spilling it whilst traveling to his room - therefore, there is a trail of brown spots all the way along the lower hall, up the stairs, and along the upper hallway to the store room - formerly a bedroom.

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 2

With the accumulation of black sacks in the store room/spare room, it was necessary for me to start sorting out the JUNK & TREASURE my cousins managed to carry down from the attic for us. This is what I found....

The first sack contained a card, party invite, colored paper, somebody else's school book, a book of puzzles I forced my Mom to make for me to do, and a copy of the Highway Code from the 1970's.

Next, a fold-out on British butterflies that may be quite useful, school books, cards, a texta-design I made as a kid or teen, and my old swimming certificate.

 Nothing yet that I cannot live without, but the Highway Code might amuse, the butterfly flyer might inform, and the swimming certificate I had completely forgotten about! I remember we had to swim one length of the school pool and I flunked - but then as we all got out after our lesson, I was given another chance and made it! We also had to swim a width in 2/3 different strokes and jump in...

PROJECTS.... 5

PROJECT F: THE LOFT 1

My cousins Howie & Graham lugged a huge stepladder upstairs, erected it, and utilized it – enabling them to bring down the stored junk from my Dad's loft... I then had the task of searching thru all the bags of junk – primarily to locate ONE book and ONE photo that my Aunt wanted – but also because my Dad was never going to get up there again, seeing as he cannot even manage the stairs any longer – and I do not approve of using lofts, as I prefer the little creature friends that live in them to have undisturbed peace. My son, being in Australia, was not likely to come all the way to England just to sort out the contents....

 

Therefore my cousins delivered the storage items to the spare storage room and I began the enormous task of sorting through every single item - one by one - accompanied as usual by a glass red wine.