Long Service..............

Something you don't hear of or see these days!

presented to A. R. Sullivan by Harris Lebus for long and loyal service  1923-1962

This watch was presented to my grandfather by HRH Princess Margaret for long service.

In the early 1900's, 1910's there were four brothers and a sister.  Charles, Albert, George, Harold, and Emily.  Albert was my grandfather.  All the boys when they were 15yrs old were all sent to learn a trade.  Think Auntie Emmy learnt to be a dressmaker.  

Grandad joined Harris Lebus to become a veneerer.  He joined in 1923 and stayed till the factory closed in 1969 when he had no choice but to retire.  

There is a house in Chingford EC4 London (I won't give the name of the road) which my grandparents moved from in about 1968.  While they were living there he veneered every door both sides and the door frames and staircase.   It would be a shame if new owners had painted over but that's what people do!  

I can spot a piece of Lebus furniture at 100 paces and when I saw a picture of a wardrobe on Hen's blog I knew exactly  who made it!  In the early sixties I had one in my bedroom which was very similar, except my clothes rail went across and the shelves faced outwards.  

I actually still own some Lebus furniture.  The large wardrobes and sideboards in both granddad and nanny's house and mum and dad's  houses have long gone.  Except when mum and dad downsized mum asked me if I wanted any furniture and I asked for the chairs, because she once said you always need a chair.  A chair to sit on or to offer a person a seat.

I have four of these chairs

and two carver chairs

The seats have been recovered a few times over the years and I must get around to doing it again.  The wood has never been painted or re-varnished hence them looking scruffy but they are over fifty years old!  I don't want to paint them any way!  The original seating cloth I think is still there so as and when I get around to refurbishing them I will try and remember take a photograph.  These seats especially the carvers are actually very comfortable to sit in for long periods on time.

Nanny and Grandad taken Christmas 1985

Nanny died a week after I had my youngest son in 1986, grandad two years later.

During the war grandad was in the Homeguard, also my father-in-law did a very dangerous job he cut the veneer woods for the Mosquito Airplanes!

Please.........

Could anybody help.....................

I have searched online for this brand of double knitting yarn in the colour 

TERRACOTTA

but since purchasing a couple of balls of this colour sometime ago for another project which never materialised, I have since found them and started making a jumper, but alas I do not have enough yarn to finish as the colour has now been discontinued.

Please dear kind bloggers could you help?   I need about 50grms to finish otherwise I am going to have to undo two backs of my jumper which is knitted in cable stitch.

Please email me ~ thank you

Are we going somewhere dear..................?

No, dear..............

............this is a.............

Champion 1950's "Suitcase" portable Record Player which I have just spent far too many hours putting back into working order when really it was a a candidate for the skip! (I'll sell it at DeeDee's Vintage Fair in four weeks time, honest!)

Well you read it here, please come along to Dee's fair and have a look..............

Once upon a time..................

..............there was a little tail, all white and fluffy...........

go here and read more

Surprising Saturday!

 COR! No core!

(click on picture to enlarge)

Happy Birthday Peter

Our son was twenty-seven yesterday.

It only seemed five minutes ago he was just born on a cold snowy day 5th February 1986!

We had a great 'mini' picnic in the back of the car on Monday.  Grandad put an old sheet in the back of the car before we left just in case if anything  got squashed into the seat, but in the end we only had crisp crumbs!
We had sausage roll, and crisps, mini cakes nana made on Sunday and a bowl of washed grapes which Caitlin and Liam eat all of.  The nana and grandad spent the afternoon in AJ's and as a treat we eat tea there.  But AJ's have a strict no camera policy so no photos. 

This is not the time!

.The sun is shining the sky is blue so do I feel like I don't want to do anything?

The yellow daffodils sprang into life 

now they are ready for the compost!

I started a quilt, but for the last couple of days things have come to a stand still, because..........I should be de-cluttering, I should be tidying, my brain is saying don't just sit there do something!  I know what I should be doing, I know what I want to do, I know what I would prefer to do.  So for the rest of the day I will take it easy and try and bounce into action tomorrow she says!  

I tried to bounce into action today by tidying my needlework basket and box........these are not the only two I have another two with projects in that need sorting too!

Tomorrow have to finish a jumper I started well before Christmas for Liam.  I t is ok it will still fit him because I knit to grow into at this age!

Tomorrow I have to finish printing off the menus and order of the day and cut up place names for Peter and Steph's wedding in four weeks time!

Tomorrow I will be preparing a mini picnic for Monday.  We are grandchildren minding which we are looking forward to, the first time on their own with nana and grandad.

Perhaps in a few days I will come back with a "TAH DA" or two, she says hopefully..........