That's right, I haven't. How shockingly lazy of me.
Still, it means there's plenty to talk about.
You remember that week of rations I mentioned that was the driving force behind this blog? Well, it never happened. In part due to the fact I had no scales and mostly due to the fact I can't cook. So I set about learning to cook and live first.
I've got the cooking bit down, sort of and my passion for black pudding has been excited to new heights! Fried black pudding and cheese in a toastie is... my God, you cannot comprehend the loveliness.
Actual vintagewise, apart from the eating of black pudding, a lot has happened. I visited my local town and in the the St. Catherine's Hospice charity shop there found an early '70s Burton tweed suit. The trousers are cavernous, but I don't mind as a friend's mum is altering them, and the jacket can be worn separately anyway. It's a beautiful suit with details such as a watch pocket and button fly on the trousers. In the same shop I also bought a brown wool cardigan, with suede patches in the shoulders. It's very comfortable and nice and warm for wearing in the house. Finally that venture yielded some 1950s patent leather dance shoes with full leather soles and heels.
I have also purchased, from the wonder of eBay, a 1970s Norfolk-style sports jacket that really breathes '30s. It's pretty correct, stylistic details wise, and is a nice greeny-brown colour. Full belted back and patch pockets, much to my happiness. I'll be wearing it to college on Monday with cream trousers (shortened today by me and they're now nice and wide at the hem, resulting in a mid-'20s early '30s appearance, black Oxfords (I only have a black belt, otherwise it'd be brown shoes) and a linen flat cap.
I think that's all - turrah, internet!
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Sunday, 22 August 2010
A walk - again.
Well, that was lovely. A good eleven miles walked in my hobnailed boots and 1944 British Army Uniform trousers, shirt and jumper. I feel well and truly exercised, and I'm looking forward to another walk of its ilk again in the future.
Shame it had to end in two hundred yards of mockery at the hands of homed-gypsies. I can't say I'm keen on them. The thing is that they're not even of Romany extraction, they simply use it as some pathetic excuse.
Ah well, never mind, I enjoyed myself overall.
I've also spotted a lovely 1950s tie of a style I really like on eBay, with bluebirds flying in a pattern, as well as a 1947 demob' suit that I'm currently in the lead on. I hope I get it, I do.
Shame it had to end in two hundred yards of mockery at the hands of homed-gypsies. I can't say I'm keen on them. The thing is that they're not even of Romany extraction, they simply use it as some pathetic excuse.
Ah well, never mind, I enjoyed myself overall.
I've also spotted a lovely 1950s tie of a style I really like on eBay, with bluebirds flying in a pattern, as well as a 1947 demob' suit that I'm currently in the lead on. I hope I get it, I do.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Results - GOOD NEWS
My results are, well, to blow my own trumpet here, pretty spectacular, it would seem:
History (Modern): 100%, 196% for the year out of 200%.
French: B, which I expected.
Law: 93%, giving 181% for the year.
Philosophy and Ethics: 193% for the year, 100% on Philosophy, 93% on Ethics.
General Studies: High A
This means I am on target for THREE A* GRADES. That's well over the Cambridge offer, of A* 2As! I'm so damn thrilled, I truly am! If I'm lucky enough and work hard enough to go to Cambridge I'll be over the Moon. I love the city, I love the atmosphere, I love the way work is structured and I love the idea of a First in History... (I can but dream!)
And furthermore, I had quite a marvelous afternoon as well, wandering about town and very happily (as I'd forgotten my wallet), being bought lunch by the ever-delightful Anna.
All in all, a brilliant day!
Turrah!
History (Modern): 100%, 196% for the year out of 200%.
French: B, which I expected.
Law: 93%, giving 181% for the year.
Philosophy and Ethics: 193% for the year, 100% on Philosophy, 93% on Ethics.
General Studies: High A
This means I am on target for THREE A* GRADES. That's well over the Cambridge offer, of A* 2As! I'm so damn thrilled, I truly am! If I'm lucky enough and work hard enough to go to Cambridge I'll be over the Moon. I love the city, I love the atmosphere, I love the way work is structured and I love the idea of a First in History... (I can but dream!)
And furthermore, I had quite a marvelous afternoon as well, wandering about town and very happily (as I'd forgotten my wallet), being bought lunch by the ever-delightful Anna.
All in all, a brilliant day!
Turrah!
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
A post about tomorrow - today.
Like many other happy or unhappy seventeen year olds around the country I will be receiving my hopefully good results of my AS levels tomorrow. I've got five coming up:-
History (Modern)
French
Law
Philosophy and Ethics
General Studies
Whilst I don't care too much about the last one, the universities I'm applying to all require either A*, two As, straights As, or an A and two Bs. I'm hoping for over 90% in History, Law and Philosophy, but I'll probably end up with another 85% in Law, and maybe the same for Philosophy. I -need- the over 90% in History though. It's what I'm applying to study at University, and Cambridge won't take me with less than an A* in it. The pressure is on!
As a result of this momentous occasion I shall be stepping out in the new suit, with my white shoes on and my trilby at a jaunty angle. It'll be a time for swanning about if I do well, hopefully with a few equally celebratory friends. I'm not planning on some hideous party event, God no. For extra luck, I'm polishing the white shoes with shoe cream now so they gleam and blind in the sunlight.
I shall update tomorrow, hopefully with photographs of my new suit and white shoes, as well as with my AS results. Let's hope for good ones!
Turrah!
History (Modern)
French
Law
Philosophy and Ethics
General Studies
Whilst I don't care too much about the last one, the universities I'm applying to all require either A*, two As, straights As, or an A and two Bs. I'm hoping for over 90% in History, Law and Philosophy, but I'll probably end up with another 85% in Law, and maybe the same for Philosophy. I -need- the over 90% in History though. It's what I'm applying to study at University, and Cambridge won't take me with less than an A* in it. The pressure is on!
As a result of this momentous occasion I shall be stepping out in the new suit, with my white shoes on and my trilby at a jaunty angle. It'll be a time for swanning about if I do well, hopefully with a few equally celebratory friends. I'm not planning on some hideous party event, God no. For extra luck, I'm polishing the white shoes with shoe cream now so they gleam and blind in the sunlight.
I shall update tomorrow, hopefully with photographs of my new suit and white shoes, as well as with my AS results. Let's hope for good ones!
Turrah!
Monday, 16 August 2010
Good Lord, I'm tired.
After an exhilarating eight mile walk, including a thrilling section on the beach with the tide coming in (yipes!) I am utterly exhausted, and my feet hurt like billy-o. Still, it was jolly good exercise, and I feel refreshed for it. The sea air is quite good for the health, it seems. I do intend at some point to try tackling at least some of the Wold's Way trail in my British Army WW2 uniform, as an experiment in not only my personal endurance (which I doubt a little), but also the endurance of the kit (which I don't doubt).
To give a rough idea of its appearance, here's a photograph that I can't cite source for because I haven't got a clue what it is. I don't own it either way, oh copyright fiends who I am certain might be reading this possibly:
Apart from walking being a relatively vintage-y pastime, I suppose, I'd like to announce that I did get my jacket back from the alterations lady, and I'm very happy with it. Photographs will appear at some point when I get around to it. There was something else too, but I'm afraid I've quite forgotten what I was going to write, so I suppose I might as well sign it off here,
turrah!
To give a rough idea of its appearance, here's a photograph that I can't cite source for because I haven't got a clue what it is. I don't own it either way, oh copyright fiends who I am certain might be reading this possibly:
 |
| An interesting thing to note here is the stolen American Corcoran jump-boots on the merry Paras which had rubber soles, unlike the British hobnailed variety, unless these gentlemen are Canadians. I can't quite work it out, really. British kit but a stolen American battery operated torch (middle para, same type used in 'Nam), the boots and the helmet style which... confuses me greatly. They -may- be Canadians, hence the kit oddities... |
Apart from walking being a relatively vintage-y pastime, I suppose, I'd like to announce that I did get my jacket back from the alterations lady, and I'm very happy with it. Photographs will appear at some point when I get around to it. There was something else too, but I'm afraid I've quite forgotten what I was going to write, so I suppose I might as well sign it off here,
turrah!
Sunday, 15 August 2010
It's still not that exciting!
No, sirree, it's not. Life's been bobbling along in its usual way, and the only thing I have of note to report is that my new suit jacket will be happily returned to me from the alteration's lady tomorrow. Hurray for a double-breasted grey suit! I'll post pictures of it when it's returned to me.
I'm unsure as to whether to wear it to London or to opt for my black pinstriped three piece. I can only wear one suit, but I'll pack two pairs of shoes and those are my white 'dance' shoes, and the trusty Oxfords. These will be safely secured in the smaller of my two vintage cases. I'll be taking the picnic gramophone along too.
Oh, wait, I forgot. The internet doesn't know why I'm going to London. I'm going to London for the happy reunion of the crowd I met at the Eton College Universities Summer School 2010, which I attended for the last two weeks of Sixth Form term. They're some jolly good people, really. If I get to Cambridge, hopefully I'll meet some of them again properly - whoopee!
I'm unsure as to whether to wear it to London or to opt for my black pinstriped three piece. I can only wear one suit, but I'll pack two pairs of shoes and those are my white 'dance' shoes, and the trusty Oxfords. These will be safely secured in the smaller of my two vintage cases. I'll be taking the picnic gramophone along too.
Oh, wait, I forgot. The internet doesn't know why I'm going to London. I'm going to London for the happy reunion of the crowd I met at the Eton College Universities Summer School 2010, which I attended for the last two weeks of Sixth Form term. They're some jolly good people, really. If I get to Cambridge, hopefully I'll meet some of them again properly - whoopee!
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Warning: Not an Incredibly Vintage Post
How negatively vintage this blog seems to be - hurry up week of rations!
If not vintage, what will this post be about? Well, gaming actually. It's almost 'vintage' gaming too, so it's almost in this blog's theme. I spent most of the afternoon setting up and configuring a now-tweaked and quite happy install of Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. I even managed to work out how to get the sound to work properly, which made me extremely happy. I can now enjoy the -incredible- voice-acting work done by whoever voice-acted for the game's villain, Joneleth Irenicus.
In a vague effort to keep this blog on-topic (even though it's mine and can cover whatever I'd like):
I post Evelyn Laye. She was an incredibly talented (and rather beautiful) British actress whose husband had a rather steamy and public affair with another actress whose name I don't remember. She was mostly a theatre actress, but made films and a sitcom in the 1950s.
That's all there is to report,
turrah!
If not vintage, what will this post be about? Well, gaming actually. It's almost 'vintage' gaming too, so it's almost in this blog's theme. I spent most of the afternoon setting up and configuring a now-tweaked and quite happy install of Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. I even managed to work out how to get the sound to work properly, which made me extremely happy. I can now enjoy the -incredible- voice-acting work done by whoever voice-acted for the game's villain, Joneleth Irenicus.
In a vague effort to keep this blog on-topic (even though it's mine and can cover whatever I'd like):
That's all there is to report,
turrah!
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Not the most pointful of days...
No, not really.
Thanks to the weather - yay. The joyous weather that rains out of the blue, to coin a phrase, at 2PM, the minute after I've got dressed to go out bicycling. How annoying.
In retrospect I should've spent my afternoon writing some more of the Trio's adventures so I can get this blasted chapter four of my novel finished, but never mind. There's always tomorrow.
Vintagewise, very little has occurred save for four records arriving in the post to swell the collection. My favourite by far has to be the performance of the Charleston by Oscar Rabin and his band which plays as if it were brand new on the gramophone. What fun.
Turrah!
Thanks to the weather - yay. The joyous weather that rains out of the blue, to coin a phrase, at 2PM, the minute after I've got dressed to go out bicycling. How annoying.
In retrospect I should've spent my afternoon writing some more of the Trio's adventures so I can get this blasted chapter four of my novel finished, but never mind. There's always tomorrow.
Vintagewise, very little has occurred save for four records arriving in the post to swell the collection. My favourite by far has to be the performance of the Charleston by Oscar Rabin and his band which plays as if it were brand new on the gramophone. What fun.
Turrah!
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
What ho!
Oh God, I'm blogging. Whatever next?
Well, there's a reason for all this. As I seem to be incapable of keeping an actual diary for more than a week this might be a bit more regular than that. That's probably a sad reflection on myself.
However, the real reason is this - I'm going to live for a week on wartime rationing, between the 28th of August and whenever that week ends, presumably. I have no idea how this'll turn out, but it's going to be an interesting project for me. A few friends have shown dismay at the idea of one egg a week and the lack of food, but I'm curious as to how it'll actually be.
It won't stop there, oh no! I'll use this place to document any interesting finds that I come across vintagewise.
Most recently:-
1940s/'50s Picnic Gramophone x 1 (playing away happily occasionally with plenty of spare needles and a growing record collection. Hurray.)
Said record collection. God bless eBay.
1953 Bush valve wireless. It's lovely, but still not in working order two years after I got it.
I think that's all,
turrah!
Well, there's a reason for all this. As I seem to be incapable of keeping an actual diary for more than a week this might be a bit more regular than that. That's probably a sad reflection on myself.
However, the real reason is this - I'm going to live for a week on wartime rationing, between the 28th of August and whenever that week ends, presumably. I have no idea how this'll turn out, but it's going to be an interesting project for me. A few friends have shown dismay at the idea of one egg a week and the lack of food, but I'm curious as to how it'll actually be.
It won't stop there, oh no! I'll use this place to document any interesting finds that I come across vintagewise.
Most recently:-
1940s/'50s Picnic Gramophone x 1 (playing away happily occasionally with plenty of spare needles and a growing record collection. Hurray.)
Said record collection. God bless eBay.
1953 Bush valve wireless. It's lovely, but still not in working order two years after I got it.
I think that's all,
turrah!
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