Creeping back in

Why does an unplanned bloggy break make you feel like you have to apologise and make excuses, like you are the driver of some overdue bus, or a child who has failed to hand in the homework?

Anyhow, I'm going to resist the temptation to do either and just plough on with a whistlestop tour of the last, er, um, six weeks, via the photos on my camera.

First up was the White Dove Collectors Transport Show, which we went to for the first time.  It raises money for our local hospice and was a great excursion on the way to a Sunday pub lunch to celebrate family birthdays.  There was a huge range of vehicles, all sitting polished and pampered in the August sunshine for all to enjoy.

We used to have an MG Magnette a bit like this when I was small (ours was only the paler shade of green though).  My brother and I felt very nostalgic looking at its beautiful walnut dashboard and battered leather seats, remembering the time he and his friend Phillip were playing in ours and let the handbrake off, resulting in it rolling down our sloping drive into the middle of the road!  

We also had one of these, a Renault 10.
You know you're getting on when several of the cars you remember from your childhood are featured at vintage car rallies!  

My brother and I had a Morris Traveller - it was his first, then he sold it to me, allowing me to get to my final teaching practice much more easily than on public transport.  I called it Bellamy, after David Bellamy, on account of its outstanding services to wildlife (the moss and mushrooms in the boot!)  

We both loved it, but when its trunion went and I found myself bumping along a country lane singing 'Three wheels on my wagon, and I'm still rolling along...' I lost confidence in it, in spite of its retro charm, and off it went to be sold!

Mr U-t-B's Mum used to have an Isetta. How cute are they? 

This little beauty was for sale.  A snip at £12000! 

Can't help but feel I would love cruising along in what must feel like a motorised sofa!

Then there were all sorts of desirables. 

Next, according to the photographic record, was a week and a bit in France.  Miss U-t-B brought two friends along.  Shame we didn't take along an adjudicator from Guinness World Records, as it seemed the three of them were on an all-out attempt at the longest giggle-and-chatter fest!

Occasionally they paused for breath and read...

Derek the donkey and his companion Vanille were there.  A friend who has horses looked at the photos and says that she thinks there may be the patter of small hooves soon!

Mostly it was just relaxing in the sunshine!

Upon our return, Miss U-t-B got her GCSE results!

Cue one very happy girl and two very proud parents - all at A and A* grade!

Then I got stuck into some serious preparations for a party. 'Tea and Cocktails' to celebrate my half century!!!

(We'll try to overlook the fact that we completely forgot to make even a single cup of tea.  I think the innocent looking 'milkshake' and 'lolly' cocktails may have been a bit stronger than anticipated!)

Retro sweet went down well, especially the sherbet fountains!

The sun shone and I had a lovely time with family and friends.

(Just in case you're wondering, this was NOT a lolly cocktail!)

Since then, it's been the start of a new term and a new educational establishment for Miss U-t-B and me trying to get back into my stride with sewing, teaching and life in general!

Back with some of the stitching soon!

  

Vintage vehicles and vide-greniers

The day after we arrived on holiday, Miss U-t-B and I nipped into town for some groceries and happened upon a mini, vintage car rally. That's mini as in not a vast number of cars, as opposed to a rally full of small cars.  

Not just any vintage cars, but mostly my favourite, Citroen Traction Avants.

There were also some sweet 2CVs.  I wouldn't say no to one of these to buzz around in!

Actually the mini bit was true in the other way too as there was also a bunch of children's cars, somewhat spoilt for us by the scary doll passengers! Rather creepy, this pair were...

This little outing was a perfect vintage warm-up for the next day which saw us up bright and early for the first of what turned out to be four vide-greniers we managed to squeeze into the holiday.  

At the first, in Chamberet, there was plenty to look at,  but with Mr U-t-B's pleading 'nothing big', I kept myself in check!

He was tempted by these...

...but only bought a door knocker and a big cast iron pan, whilst I only bought a tin of talc!

It still has the talc in it, but I think I'll pass on that!

The very next day saw us head off to Bugeat, past this stunning viewpoint...

The Bugeat vide-grenier was fab, and I came away with a pair of vintage skis, some red gingham napkins and a gorgeous wire bottle or glass carrier - all of which I failed to photograph! When I can dig them out I will try to remember to do so.

By the following Tuesday, in Treignac, I thought I might be all vide-greniered out.  But there was plenty to look at - though it does have to be said that there are increasing amounts of plastic toy tat and discarded clothing to look past these days at most v-gs.  

It was a super-hot day, so I was glad we were there early, even if that did mean that things were just being set up.  In Treignac, the vide-grenier winds up and down the narrow medieval streets from the old market place up to  top of the town and the square outside our friend's lovely hotel.

Chambres d'hotes 'Art de Vivre'

More hours than I'd care to mention were whiled away amongst these stalls.  In the end I came away with two boxes of children's puzzle blocks, a couple of tins, an embroidered sheet and contrasting pillowcases, a pretty pillbox and four small bowls.

The haul - quite restrained, I think!

The first set of puzzle blocks are very much homemade, and I just love the muddle of fragmentary images...

The second box turned out to be a tad disappointing.

It has helpful sheets showing each of the pictures, and the correct number of blocks...

But once you try to make up the picture, seven of the blocks are duplicates, leaving seven holes in the finished picture.  Oooooh!

Never mind, with the wonders of a scanner and printer, plus a bit of cutting and pasting, I hope I can sort it out.

The last of the four treasure hunts was in Seilhac.  I had not been to this one before and it was HUGE.  But I was definitely not in the right mood that day for such a large hunting ground (it was a very close, sticky day, and my sunglasses had given me a headache!) so I came away all but empty handed, having bought only a bashed-about-but-still-sweet little tin...

...just because it would a shame to leave without having bought a thing!

Anything Paris can do, Aldershot can do better

When Mr U-t-B was in Paris recently, he came a cross a wedding in full swing.

Needless to say, he was pretty unimpressed with the romance of it all, and he most certainly did NOT take any photos. 

(Now I think of it, that may be because he left the battery for his camera in the charger under a chair in the dining room...) 

But luckily he was with his sister, who snapped away at the bride and groom in an embrace full of Parisian passion...

...and then the voiture tres belle which was their chosen form of transport...

Today, as I was standing in our dining room, I spotted a gorgeous wedding car driving by.  We're just a couple of hundred yards away from the church, so I decided to shuffle along and see if I could get a closer look.

And look what was there...

Maybe not the same car, but every bit as stylish (in fact, probably a little more).

But it was not alone, oh no...

It was one of a matching pair, owned by one lucky chap (who was acting as chauffeur, resplendent in tweed deerstalker and plus-foured suit)

He told us that they are 1952 ACs.  I love their long, sleek, curvy shape.  Beautiful!

As you do, I had a quick look on the internet to see whether my piggy bank might be smashed in order to purchase one of these lovelies.  I did find a couple for sale...

prewarcar.com

A snip at forty-four and a half thousand euros!

Then there was another...

barons-auctions.com

Up for auction at Sandown Park on the 19th or 20th September, estimated at £4500-£5500.  

Ah, well, maybe one day...