Nostalgia trip (oh and that earthquake!)

For my mum on Sunday

Ok I admit it, the tremor or even earthquake last night gave me the proper heebie-jeebies! Not even the bird table fell over and I did drop off to sleep incredibly quickly but it was the oddest sensation I've ever had, mother nature was absolutely in charge and the realisation that, even for only a few seconds, I was on a rollercoaster I had no choice about getting off. It was so strange, just waiting for the earth to settle back down and steady itself. It was as if the whole house was inside the washing machine on full spin, a shuddering, rumbling sensation that was over so quickly but I'll never forget it.

You can understand why in ages past people thought things like this were portents, omens for the future and all that. Hope it bodes well for our big night tomorrow. Woody's passion in life - apart from me obviously ?! - is comedy. Last year he and his friend set up a comedy night in town and they went down pretty well. He started up again in January and we were amazed because it sold out, nearly 100 seats! The acts were really good and we've got some more lined up for the next one tomorrow and I've been helping out a bit to drum up publicity and make posters and things. Woody is the compere and learning the trade, he'd love to do stand-up professionally one day but he's happy just getting stage time at the moment. Keep your fingers crossed for us and hope for another good crowd and some very funny acts.

Its been a busy old week, B had his first ever school concert, all about Mother's Day. He was a clown, but with no face paint (something to do with scratchy brushes?) and it was incredibly cute. Today is my lovely sister Eechie's (Rachel) birthday and I'm wishing her a dust-free break from her mammoth house restoration project and I'm really looking forward to taking her out for tea next week.

Not much chance for treasure-hunting this week but I quickly popped into a charity shop during my trip to the market and found the sweet, artificial primula in the top picture for 50p. It's a lovely colour and adds a bit of spring cheer when I've forgotten to chuck out my daffodils and left them to go all limp and brown in the jug! I've also bought this gorgeous book which I glimpsed in a house in Country Living, its so beautiful and has led me on a bit of a nostalgia trip this week - more of that further on.

My other treat was to finally bring out my Greengate apron which I've was holding onto until it really began to feel as if winter was drawing to an end. It was a present from Eechie for my last birthday and - now this is daft - I love wearing so much, even more than a new top! Ridiculous I know but it's so cheery, springy and lets me pretend I am the domestic goddess I wish I was sometimes!

What I would really lovely is a 1940s style apron/housemaids' slip style thing. I've been watching a lovely programme over the past few weeks called the Wartime Kitchen Garden that re-creates dishes and gardening methods from the war.

It's very nostalgic and has been a real eye into how my grandparents would have managed with rationing and digging for victory in those difficult days. My grandad was a wonderful gardener, especially with vegetables, and kept hens too, all a legacy from the post-war rationing days after he came back from Burma. Bless my Grandma though, not exactly a natural cook - must be where I get it from!


I'm completely in love with the fashion too. You might already have realised that I'm a bit of a fair isle fanatic and I would really love a nipped-in sweater in a rosy, fair isle pattern (Girl's Own Store sells this one but not in my size boo hoo and I can't knit! - did you see the vintage home with all those gorgeous fabrics in CL this month? It belonged to the owner of this fabulous shop and was where I saw the lovely book above too).

The young evacuee in the programme (played by an actress who actually looks about 27!) has fabulous hair-dos and I desperately want her apron!

I think all the visits to the wonderful steam railway near our house. are rubbing off! The boys love it and as its only a couple of minutes walk from home its a smashing place to take visitors for a stroll, have a look at the engines and then a walk along the river bank. There are three stations on the line and a brilliant long tunnel, all restored and maintained by volunteers. You can even buy Footplate Experinces for the proper trip down memory lane, (we clubbed together to buy one for dad's 60th birthday and six months later he's still talking about how amazing it was!).

The station's are all restored to the reflect the golden age of steam with period fittings, piles of vintage luggage and even wicker baskets complete with carrier pigeons! There are regular 40s weekends and other events, often with music of the era that I really enjoy. One of my favourite things is to be putting out the washing in the garden, hear the whistle of the train and look down the hill to see the great clouds of soot and steam billow into the air then watch them trail behind the engine as it chuffs down the valley and out of sight. I know it was such a terrible time but there is something about the faded glamour and drama of those days I find fascinating.

So, mamonth post over. I've been tagged by the lovely Retro Rose at The Old Quilt to take part in the Archive Meme but I'm struggling a bit with finding the right posts but I'll do that soon.

Have a smashing Mother's Day with your mums, children and memories and enjoy the weekend.Xx