Re-enactors

Until we went to the 40's weekend in Leyburn I had never heard of 're-enactors', people who dress in costume and re-enact the period and character of their outfit.

Those in uniform had carefully researched the history relating to the clothes that they were wearing.

This Queen Alexandra nurse was immaculately dressed and she told me some historic details of this famous nursing corps. I was not surprised to learn that her career had been as a nurse.

And this chap had studied Churchill's voice and mannerisms very well.

'Our boys' were keeping an eye on the unexploded bomb. They had discovered the local butcher's shop and were munching pork pies

while the 'Americans' were eating fish and chips.

It was very much a family affair, with a great many couples enjoying being in character together.

There were a few eccentrics. (This is England!)

Evacuees were collected from the railway station and given refreshments

and a newspaper hat

which blew off in the wind.

These two evacuees, in their brownie uniforms

were put in the back of a vintage car with Mum at the wheel - an entire family outing.

and

the band played on.

We are going to a 'Dig for Victory' event at the weekend!

40's fashion, hats and furs.

At Leyburn's 40's weekend people were happily strutting their stuff. 

There was a great display of hats. 

And bits of fur came a close second.

Why ever did I throw out my mother's dead fox? It had a wonderful tail, all four paws and very menacingly beady black eyes in a mean little face. It's jaw was on a hinge to enable it to stay draped on the shoulders, chasing it's tail. I was not very fond of it as a child. I wonder if someone is still wearing it today?

I bought some cherries like these to pin to a beret.

Some people's headgear was altogether more serious

not to mention practical. 

This shop keeper told me that she had bought the very last pair of hair curlers from the chemist's shop that morning. (1940's teeth!)

And the men were not immune from a spot of retail therapy as well.

WOW! What a weekend!

Himself has been to the Olympics and got to hold a torch and take part in some very impressive Mexican waves! He had a wonderful few days in London with our elder daughter but was happy to return to the quiet of home.
Quiet! We spent the weekend jumping up and down and shrieking at the telly. Gold, gold, gold. PHew, we're exhausted just cheering!

It was glorious!

I got to try on the Olympic freebies that he had brought back.

Thank you Mr. Sponsor!

But it's raining (STILL!) and I'm slouching about the house in old clothes, cotton jersey slouch potato pants from M&S, a cotton top in a dusky pink from French Connection, bought in a sale so long ago that I can't remember when and some Clarks slip-ons (that always slip off if I try to walk in them with any conviction.)

For Patti's Visible Monday on Not Dead Yet Style. 

Vintage

The town of Frome is well known for shops selling vintage goods. We went along to one of their vintage fairs to see what was on offer.

This stall holder was suitably dressed in the period of the items that she had for sale.

There were some tempting packages of materials for makers,

beautifully co-ordinated fabrics, buttons and trims

and the items that could be made from the contents of the package.

On a another stall small pieces of old fabric had been used as a decorative feature on new cotton bags.

and another displayed only small squares of fabric suitable for patchwork. They did'nt look particularly 'vintage' to me.

What did I buy?

A Liberty varuna wool skirt. It was finely pleated, but not after I had taken it home and washed it!

 No complaints for the price of £7, even if it does have a few moth holes!

I also bought, for £8, this 1930's bed cover with it's strange period design. It is just the thing in my daughter's bedroom as a dust cover over the bedding.

Red, white and blue

The whole country is awash with red, white and blue. This is Oxford Street in London hung with Union Jacks.
I have one navy dress, which I trotted out for the jubilee celebrations. I wore my grandmother's pearls and her lapiz necklace together with my 'shipwreck' coral to enter into the spirit of things. The headgear came out of a cracker!

We got home sometime the following morning and had a cup of tea. You can't get much more British than that!

Jubilee celebration.

Last night our village celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with a sit down supper. It was a thoroughly British affair - it poured down with rain and we had to abandon the bunting that decorated the garden and take cover inside.

Two long tables were set out, with room for everyone.

Most people wore red, white and blue and there were a few princess tiaras

a bow tie

and crackers containing gold paper crowns.

The hostess made individual summer puddings for each of us.

Delicious!