Old things

OK, before any of you smarty pants say a word..... No... I am not referring to me or my girlfriends!

Well ... then maybe... if I was truly honest and admitted to the mental image of me, in the early morning sunlight, huffing and puffing as I struggled to reach over my huge (but very soft and warm like an expensive pillow!) belly so that I could drag my fashionably black diabetic preferred socks over my tired old toes.... then yes, maybe I could accept that the term "old" may now be ever so slightly attached to my image... sighhhhhhhhh

But that was not want I was intending to chat about today. However, If there was even the remotest interest from the viewing public I could possibly be, ever so slightly, lured into further discussions about the more interesting aspects of my life..... but then again... I don't know whether the moderator of this site has any sense of humour at all!

Now where was I??

Oh yes... Old Things... now I can't remember what I wanted to talk about. Bugger! (If I was clever enuff I could have my computer playing that "thinking" music now - must make mental note to ask computer SuperGeek how to do tricky stuff like that!)

Anyway.... the thought I had this morning was about the way my little shop seems to attract "collections" of old stuff. I don't know if it's the shop or me but people keep bringing me things that belonged to people that have passed on long ago but are still very near and dear.

When I started in the "first" shop (please see the first story for THAT saga!) I found a picture of a little boy and his dog. The boy is about 4 years old and has golden curls and is sitting on a bench with his back to me... the bench is on the edge of a lake or inlet and he is cuddled up next to a dog that is slightly taller than him and he has his arms wrapped around the dog and they are both sitting peacefully, watching the water... It's hard to explain but its a wonderful picture.. probably new but made to look really old and it just epitomised the theme that I had in mind for my shop. Old things, fun things, things you remembered from childhood holidays spent with grandparents or aunties on the coast or in the country. "Memories & Mayhem"

You know the kind of things I mean, Nana was always busy in the kitchen making meat pies or boiling up sugar and lemons for cordial. Dinner meant rows of kids squeezed along the bench that took up the whole side of a huge timber table. Nana's chair was always closest to the stove and the sink and Grandfather had exclusive rights to the end of the table... (no climbing over kids and gangly legs for Grandfather) but we were always wary of the looooooong stick that he had beside his chair. Any naughtiness at the table resulted in the whole row getting a quick "whack" across the knees at the same time. And of course.. there was always the clever trouble maker who stirred up the rest then pulled his legs up really quickly before the stick swung into action! Dinner at my Nan's house was served in three sittings... first the babies and littlies were fed, then the general collection of children were done next... then when we were all fed and moved off for baths, jammies etc the "adults" could eat a peaceful meal around the table. Nana always had her special cup and saucer that no one was allowed to touch.. I remember it was gold coloured and all sort of shimmery in the light. Now that I too am "old" I recognise the kind of glassware it was. I remember my Mother's tears when the family home burned down long after Nana passed away and the cup and saucer was lost forever.

Oops! customers coming in for hot, fluffy coffees. Be back soon.