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Author Archives: Hoarder of Babylon
Realm of Pure Harmony
Here is another treasure from my childhood that has been recently unearthed, prompting more memories. When I was about eight or nine, my best friend Briony next door had a thing that I coveted. She had been given a sparkling … Continue reading
Posted in 1980s, Dad, Music
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Good Time Music for Good Time People
This silver plated Yamaha flute was bought for me, second hand, by my parents for my 18th birthday in 1979. I played the flute throughout secondary school, and I was good at it; along with my close childhood friend Michele, … Continue reading
Posted in 1970s, Music, Parents
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“Each moment of the year has its own beauty”
This little satin bauble hanging on my Christmas tree was bought, by me, on 21st December 1977. How do I know this? Because it is written in my diary from that year (I am still persevering with the onerous task, … Continue reading
Posted in 1970s, Ornaments ("ordiments")
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Suspended Animation
It’s been said that old cartoonists never die, they just end up in a state of suspended animation. Perhaps the same can be said of old cartoons – and old comics. Today, children’s classic The Beano celebrates its 85th anniversary … Continue reading
Posted in 1960s, 1970s, Dad, Newspapers and magazines, Ornaments ("ordiments")
Tagged 1960s comics, Aristocats, Beano, TV Comic
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Happy 75th Birthday to our wonderful NHS
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the UK’s National Health Service, and I can’t let this date pass without paying tribute with some items from the archives. Both my parents knew the hardship of life before the NHS existed, especially … Continue reading
Posted in 1930-1949, 1960s, Dad, Glasgow family, Hebridean family, Letters, cards and documents, Mum, Parents, Photographs
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Mummy Day
Today is Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, here in the UK. As I’ve written before, my mother was not someone who believed in celebrating Mother’s Day, which she saw as an artificial construct designed to encourage people to buy unnecessary … Continue reading
Posted in 1900-1929, 1970s, Jewellery, Mum
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Happy Centenary, Miss Lane
Today, 16th March 2023, my mother would have been 100 years old, so this post is a tribute to her. This studio portrait (above) is the earliest photograph I have of her; on the back, in my Grannie Lane’s handwriting, … Continue reading
Posted in 1930-1949, 1970s, Letters, cards and documents, Mum, Photographs
Tagged Red Cross
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Press gang
Late last year, I had a rare opportunity to visit the Northampton branch of the Usmeum (Brother 2’s house), to celebrate his youngest daughter turning eighteen. We enjoyed spending some time looking through boxes of family stuff he had stored … Continue reading
Old Masters and Family Portraits
This blog, as readers will know, exists in part to record the stories of all the objects in my home. I grew up in a house full of antiques, mostly inherited by my mother from an elderly relative, and I … Continue reading
Posted in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, Dad, Paintings and sketches
Tagged North Italian school of painting
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A Royal Rejection
Considering I was raised by Communist parents, I was surprisingly fond of the Royal Family when I was young. My parents didn’t actively discourage my enthusiasm, although they did try to educate me about the injustice of inherited wealth, privilege … Continue reading
The Usmeum of Ordiments: A history of my family in 200 objects (plus) 