Past Imperfect

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Coffee at Joy’s

Aside

Joy’s house is an Aladdin’s cave full of treasures and memorabilia from their times in Rangoon and other foreign places but what caught my eye – she’d been having a clear out which means looking at her treasures, giving them a dust and deciding to hang on to them – what caught my eye were the following: - her husband’s christening gown – 78 years old, her daughters 30 year old wedding dress and a 50th wedding anniversary present.

The photo of the lane reminds me of the moment MTL and I first walked up it and knew before we saw the house we were going to live here.

We had a laugh when Joy said her husband asked what we talked about; what did we think of the Conservatives?

See photos below

30 comments:

Anonymous said...: The lane does have that "leads to hidden love nest" sort of feel.

Cheers.; 4:37 PM
Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...: I can almost smell the earth in that damp leafy lane. I wish I could just hop into the picture for a walk for a while. Put the kettle on, just in case I make it!

Joy's treasures are wonderful. My granny's house is like that too - full of old mysteries and memories: Old relatives staring out at you from under dapper hats and old fashioned cars; ancient books with mysterious inscriptions. I don't have any of that over here but that makes it all the more fun to poke around when I do go home.

I'm all caught up! I've had a lovely old time and have accomplished precisely nothing else this morning while i know fine well a mountain of laundry awaits. It's been delicious.; 7:10 PM
Pat said...: RANDALL: you've got the picture exactly. Like a hush fell over us and we clutched each other's hand.; 8:28 PM
Pat said...: Sam: come anytime and don't forget when the girls are bigger we have to take them on part of the Coleridge way. I hope to finish it at half term.; 8:54 PM
Drama Queen said...: Ah Lovers Lane!

Great wedding dress!; 9:21 AM
Queen of Light and Joy said...: Wow, I LOVE the lust, green look of the lane. It's gives feelings of a nice drive in the country, only stopping to in the evening for a nice supper and some massive cuddles. *wink wink*

Michele thought i should come on by.; 12:08 PM
Pat said...: DQ: it's quite unusual isn't it?

Qolaj: welcome! One wouldn't be very popular parking in the lane:); 2:51 PM
Shannon akaMonty said...: What gorgeous pictures! How could anyone NOT fall in love with that? I want to go exploring in the greenery. :)

Hello, Michele sent me!; 3:01 PM
Pat said...: akamonty: that's how we felt and have been exploring it for the last 22 years.; 3:17 PM
OldLady Of The Hills said...: What an intriguiging and beautiful "lane".....you do have the feeling that just around the corner is an enchanted cottage...! Beautiful, Pat!
And that Christening dress---It looks in such freat sgape, like it was used yeasterday! Joy must have taken such very great care of it...And that Wedding Dress, to! Both are amazingly fresh looking....
The cup is very beautiful, too! Fifty years...So incredibly special---such a milestone...The symbolism of the Gold Cup is quite moving.; 4:52 PM
barbie2be said...: it is always wonderful to spend time with a friend.

michele sent me. :); 5:02 PM
FOUR DINNERS said...: That's it! Lovers Lane. I knew what it reminded me of but the brain's slowing down - not that it ever worked that quick. Ta Drama Q.

Who? Conserva....oh yeah...them

Better than the mob we have now. Barely.

Pity old Lord Sutch can't be re-incarnated....; 5:20 PM
Pat said...: Hi barbie2be! That's true.; 6:14 PM
Anonymous said...: Such lovely treasures you've excavated! And the lane is lovely. :) Michele sent me, hallo!; 6:25 PM
November Rain said...: michelle sent me to say hi

I love keep sakes and seeing old things that has been in our family for a while like my family bible they dont make them like this and even though I am not a Christian its been in my family for ages; 7:05 PM
Pat said...: Hi Ghost! I intend to leave our house feet first, but if ever we had to sell it , clearly I should use a photograph of the lane.; 7:07 PM
Anonymous said...: I can't even imagine having a christening gown that was 78 years old... I tend to misplace things unfortunately, or I lend them and forget to ask for them back.

Oh, just noticed that you live in the UK! We are on our way next Thursday. My daughter has run out of Hoola Hoops lol... by husband (who was born there) is looking forward to setting foot in a pub again. :); 8:45 PM
Pat said...: Naomi: the two dresses were immaculate and snowy white. I must ask Joy how she has looked after them. Often they yellow with age.

4d: Maybe we should rename the lane. I'd like that. I'll make sure the husband knows who you think is better(barely)!; 8:52 PM
Pat said...: Hi SP: be sure to bring some warm clothes. The pubs are still great. Enjoy!; 9:33 PM
Anne said...: Hi, Michele sent me.

The Lane picture is wonderful, we don't have cozy lanes like that here in my neighborhood.

The gowns are beautiful!; 11:51 PM
Granny said...: Hello. I'm catching up again.

Those gowns are lovely. It was certainly a different time.

Beautiful flowers too.; 6:15 AM
Pat said...: Hi Granny:I know how difficult it is to keep up with blogs and write them and do everything else as well:); 6:57 AM
Anonymous said...: I love the picture of the lane...so much possibility on that road.; 7:14 AM
Pat said...: MissMeliss: I think that's what we felt - a promise of good things to come.; 8:03 AM
Jean-Luc Picard said...: Pat, it sounds like an undiscovered treasure trove.

Michele sent me.; 10:32 AM
Pat said...: Jean-Luc: you'd have to see it to believe it. Makes me seem minimalist!; 11:48 AM
craziequeen said...: Michele sent me to say hi, Pat.

My parents spend most of their marriage overseas one way or another, my dad being a geologist, so their house is full of stuff from places as diverse as Ethiopa, Saudi, Bangladesh and Phuket.

Mind you, they brought back a few things for me too!

:-)

cq; 11:52 AM
Pat said...: cq: so you will know exactly what Joy's house is like:); 12:05 PM
carmilevy said...: Funny you should bring up the Conservatives: We're in the middle of an election campaign in our province now, and the party is in the running...in fact, one of their campaign workers dropped by last night asking if he could put a sign on my lawn.

Um, no.

I wonder what Michele would have to say about that, given her career as a speechwriter. She sent me here to mull over the issue.; 7:44 PM
Pat said...: Carmi: we are possibly on the brink of an election and I can honestly say at this moment in time I am a genuine, dyed in the wool 'don't know'.; 8:20 PM