Category Archives: Ye olde things

Jul8

Family antiques

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Family antiques

I love shopping for antiques at the markets. There is something extra special about buying something that has a history, a personal story behind it. Most of the time though, unless you encounter a particularly informed and chatty salesperson, you can only ever conjure up this story in your imagination.

That’s why those little hand-me-downs from my own family are so valuable to me. That’s the tea cup my mother filled after putting me down for a nap when I was a baby (to enjoy while watching Days of Our Lives), the stools my great great grandfather made for his young granddaughter, the brooch my Nanna wore when she was embarking on a nice day out, the beer mugs my grandfather displayed with pride in his own makeshift bar at home, and my Dad’s records that are responsible for my taste in both music and comedy.

The beer mugs from my Poppy’s bar that don’t have naked ladies/mermaids on them.

The beer mugs from my Poppy’s bar that don’t have naked ladies/mermaids on them.

Nanna Rosie loved Snow White almost as much as I do. Any doll or ornament that bore even the slightest resemblance had to be immediately obtained.

Nanna Rosie loved Snow White almost as much as I do. Any doll or ornament that bore even the slightest resemblance had to be immediately obtained.

My Nanna’s brooch and little pillbox and my Mum’s beads that go perfectly with my favourite yellow dress.

My Nanna’s brooch and little pillbox and my Mum’s beads that go perfectly with my favourite yellow dress.

Mum’s very cute and retro tea set that she was going to get rid of! I rescued it from a dusty box.

Mum’s very cute and retro tea set that she was going to get rid of! I rescued it from a dusty box.

My Nanna knitted this owl tea cosy. That’s her very well used teapot too. It’s more than a little stained inside. She had a big family to make tea for.

My Nanna knitted this owl tea cosy. That’s her very well used teapot too. It’s more than a little stained inside. She had a big family to make tea for.

My Nanna Rosie had a huge doll collection and left them to her granddaughters in her will. These are the two I chose. They’re small and strange but almost look like brother and sister, or sister and sister if you note the lipstick on the doll in the suit.

My Nanna Rosie had a huge doll collection and left them to her granddaughters in her will. These are the two I chose. They’re small and strange but almost look like brother and sister, or sister and sister if you note the lipstick on the doll in the suit.

5th generation stool. Do I dare stand on it to reach the top shelf? Still seems pretty sturdy…

5th generation stool. Do I dare stand on it to reach the top shelf? Still seems pretty sturdy…

Future generations: this simple combination will get you through your angsty teenage years. Guaranteed. Thanks Dad.

Future generations: this simple combination will get you through your angsty teenage years. Guaranteed. Thanks Dad.

Jun13

I want to live with Petunia Pig again

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You pretty little piggy, where have you been all my adult life? Oh, Etsy.com.

You pretty little piggy, where have you been all my adult life? Oh, Etsy.com.

I’ve been hit by a wave of nostalgia. Hard. My bank account may also suffer some of this impact.

On one of my recent journeys around the Internet, I came across this little Petunia Pig glass for sale on Etsy.com and I lost my freaking mind. I had completely forgotten that Petunia had ever existed. You know her, right? Porky Pig‘s girlfriend? She started out sassy, paving the way for others like Miss Piggy. Then she softened a little and was the sweet, quiet girlfriend (and later wife) of Porky. She took pity on him with his stutter, gathering him under her wing, uh, I mean, trotter.

Now, not only can I rediscover my childhood love of Petunia, but I can drink out of her! It got me thinking: a) what other awesome cartoon characters have I forgotten from my youth, and b) can I fill my house with them?

Here’s what I have found so far. This isn’t over.

Little Lulu ring

Little Lulu wrapped around your little finger (or ring finger)

This chick rocked my world. I even call my dog Lucy ‘Lulu’ when she’s mischievous (and ‘Lucifer’ when she’s truly evil). I had a video of Little Lulu and she taught me that you can outsmart teachers in the classroom and ticket inspectors on the train. I can only assume she has since turned to a life of crime. Bet they never caught her though. Little Lulu, still at large.

Come along with the lady in the rad Snorks top.

Come along with the lady in the rad Snorks tank top.

My mum never would have convinced me to get out of bed for school if it wasn’t for The Snorks on Cartoon Connection on weekday mornings. They were basically like The Smurfs but UNDERWATER. Suck that, Smurfs. You wouldn’t last one minute down there. Well, you might last one minute but then your little blue lungs would fill with water and you would drown. Where is The Snorks 3D  feature film 20 years later? There is no justice here on land.

Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost kicked Casper's ass.

Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost cookin’ up a storm.

Someone gave me an old copy of a Spooky comic book when I was a kid and I actually felt afraid when I looked at the cover. Spooky might be little, but look at those eyebrows! They’re so menacing. What’s up with that sneer? And the hat, even though I was not aware at the time, is a little bit Clockwork Orange.

Jem and the Holograms - to wear with pride.

The three great music rivalries of our time: The Beatles v The Rolling Stones, Nirvana v Pearl Jam, and Barbie and the Rockers v Jem and the Holograms.

Taking their fashion cues from David Bowie and Cyndi Lauper, Jem and the Holograms were the glam rock girl answer to GI Joe for the boys. They also had fabulous ’80s young adult fiction names: Jerrica ‘Jem’ Benton, Kimber Benton, Aja Leith, Shana Elmsford, and Carmen ‘Raya’ Alonso. I can’t help but favour Stormer from their rival band The Misfits though. I’m a sucker for a keytar player.