Show & Tell Sunday - Favourite China

    

If its Show & Tell Sunday time again then its must mean we're into another new month - the year is going by so quickly!

Now this was never going to be an easy one for me - one favourite piece of china - just one? - impossible. The reason? I've been collecting china for about 20 years now. I started collecting as I used to go every Sunday with my Grandad to car boot sales - MrVV & I were renovating a house - I was supposed to be looking for door fittings & other items to use in the renovations. Grandad used to pick me up bright & early and away we'd go. He was a avid collector of bone china and in those days you were spoilt for choice each week with so many bargains around - it seemed that bone china had fallen out of fashion. It meant that we were there collecting it up! He must own 50 tea sets in so many different patterns - it used to get all used each summer when he & my grandma had a big WI garden party at their house. Sadly they don't do that anymore as it is just too much work for 2 people almost into their 90's. Now I was never one for complete sets (though I have a couple) instead I collected odd cups & saucers & also milk/cream jugs - here are just 3 things from me collection that I love;

One of the first pieces I bought - a pretty little cup & saucer - Susie Cooper pieces

A re-occurring theme - roses

This was given to me by my MIL - it belonged to her mother & her mother before.

Right back into this soggy Sunday I go - roast dinner in the oven.

Lots to tell you - will do that another day.

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Show & Tell Sunday

Oh yes its that time again. This month Josie Mary has picked the theme of a favourite photo (or 2 or even several).  I've pondered for several days about which photos to show as I've got quite a collection & so many that mean so much to me.  However time is of the essense so I've settled for 2 which were near at hand.

This photo is of myself, MrVV, Country Girl & Mr CG. It was taken in the summer of 1990 & is the 4 of us on our first grown up holiday together;

It's a shame its not come out clearer but this picture shows 4 young people who to be honest don't look old enough to be out by themselves, let alone in a foreign country - well France. I think Country Girl mentioned in her birthday post to be about this holiday & the fact that the pair of us had a minor muddle with the exchange rates & spent our first week drinking some rather fine french wines whilst the boys were drinking something of a far lower standard!!

I can't remember where exactly in France we were - somewhere in the middle!! I do remember that it was a lovely gite - everything you'd expect - windowboxes with red geraniums,'interesting' french plumbing and lots of lizards who'd sun themselves on the walls in the hot sunshine.

Can't believe this is almost 20 years ago.

The next photo is of my 2 boys. Now I've taken / had taken lots of pictures over the past 12 years of the two of them together & I think this one is my favourite;

Little son is about 18 months old & Big son is about 3 1/2 years old - this was taken by a photographer who visited the parent & toddler group we used to go to.  I remember he had quite a day - lots of reluctant little people & by the time it was our turn, I was dreading my 2 doing the same. However they were little sweeties & posed quite happily. Little son always used to chew his fingers so this picture captures the real him :) & Big son used to grin whenever he saw the camera (shame he's got so camera shy in recent months :( ).

Hope you're having a good Easter weekend?

See you tomorrow with some pictures of our weekend and also the name of my giveaway winner :)

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Knock knock - who's there?

Its the postie again! Naturally first thing in the morning (well 8.30ish) he was greeted by me with my bed hair, pj's & pinny!! Funny how I never see the same postie twice!!!

This time he was bringing my Colour Swap parcel (this was organised by the lovely Claire over at Dolly Dollop).  My parcel was from Jen at TheMadHouse.  My colours were pink & green and Jen had certainly done her research well;

Lots of pretty pink & green parcels

Look at this wonderful selection of pretties. Including;

This gorgeous button heart

A pretty pin cushion

This pretty pinny - the best way to show it was too model it. Now taking a self-portrait was tricky - especially as after almost 8 years our mirror is still propped against the bedroom wall!!

Thank you Mad Mummy very much for all my lovely pressies - and to Claire for organising the swap :)

I can't find the picture I took of what I sent in return but I do have one picture of one item. Some bunting in the colours MadMummy chose;

Now no sooner has one swap finished but another has started and its too good to miss. This time its called Good Enough to Eat & is being organised by Claire @ Are We Nearly There Yet? and Emma from Em's Shabby Shack. Click on the picture in my side-bar to take you where all the details are;

Last but not least - don't forget that its another Show & Tell Sunday this week (organised by Josie Mary) - this time it is a favourite photo. Need to have a look through my photos and find one or probably several which I like - probably ones  represent different parts & times of my life.

Have a lovely weekend folks - see you Sunday with my pictures.

If anyone is heading to Woodbridge on Saturday morning & wants to be brave & meet up - email me via my profile & we'll try hard to sort something out.

xxxx Vicki xxxx

Show & Tell Sunday

Josie-Mary is running a new theme - Show & Tell Sunday's - once a month she'll choose a theme and we get to do a school style show & tell :)

This month the theme is a favourite cosy space.  There is no contest in my house as to which space this is - anyone coming here for the first time would be able to spot where Vicki spends lots of time ;)

This spot is the corner of our kitchen - we're lucky that this room is big (one of the reasons I like this house).  When we viewed the house I could instantly see there would be room for a sofa in the kitchen something I'd always wanted.  The dresser is built in - and again I could see the cupboards would be great for my collection of vintage china & other clutter.  Look closely at the picture and you can see other signs of me - patchwork quilt & cushions, a granny blanket, my knitting basket, a CK bag, a sewing box, a pile of books & magazines, a jug of spring flowers, lots of daggly 'dust-catchers', some bunting and last but not least the square I'm currently knitting for my blanket.

Off out into the real world today - going over the border to visit friends in Essex.

Looking forward to seeing what others post later.

xxx Vicki xxx

So far - so good :)

March started well - sunshine, a giveaway win and then an award :)

This one - from Bellaboo @ Bellacountry ;

I've got to tell you 7 things about me -

1. I was born in Berlin as my Dad was stationed in Germany with the RAF - and despite all the teasing at school that makes me British.

2. I've not flown in an aeroplane since I was 2 1/2 when my parents moved back to the UK.

3. Apart from my large collection of siblings (6), I've got an enormous family on my Dad's side - remaining are - 1 Grandma, 9 Uncles, 8 Aunts, 20 1st cousins, 5 2nd cousins & 1 3rd cousin - plus loads of great aunts & uncles!

4. I've appeared on Saturday Superstore with my high school wind-band - I played the tamborine :)

5. I don't drive - tried learning hated it and tbh wasn't any good at it.

6. My worst ever hangover was the result of an evening with Country Girl, MrCG & MrVV.

7. Mr Country Girl was best man @ our wedding.

Now need to pass this award on some other people - no idea how many - think its supposed to be 5 - so I'll aim for that too.  This is the part I always find difficult - if I've not choosen you its not personal - just these 5 sprung to mind today;

http://tabiboo.blogspot.com/

http://andamentoblog.blogspot.com/

http://themadhouse-themadhouse.blogspot.com/

http://ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.com/

http://thecosycorner.blogspot.com/

I've also signed myself up for this;

@ http://josie-mary.blogspot.com/2010/02/whats-in-bag.html- have a look you might want to join in too.

Off now to leave messages for my award receipients and then I'm off out today shopping with one of my sisters - wonder what bargains we'll find?

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx