photos from The Woolworths Virtual Museum

that's the wonder of good old woollies ...

I don't know about you, but I want Woolworths to stay as it is, a shop which sells good quality products at reasonable prices, and offers great value for money. Don't get me wrong I love to mooch around the top end shops, but I rarely buy anything, my pleasure when it comes to spending is to grab a bargain or two?



Who else remembers the sweet counters in Woolworths? One memory of mine as a kid back in the late sixties, early seventies, was standing marvelling at the vast expanse of sweets (pic 'n mix) in the Worthing branch. On occasion, my grandparents would take me and my brother into town, and if my memory serves me right, after deliberating for ages we were allowed a bag each!

Steve, this is for you -

The immaculately polished white Hillman Hunter!

Parking outside the Berkeley (such a long trek into town) - revs of the engine and several maneouvres!

The flask of milky coffee in the glovebox, to drink before coming home!



Who else remembers the display of vinyl 45s and 12 inch singles on the shelves of Woolworths? Back in 1981 when I was studying a secretarial course at college, my friends and I would pop into the Broadwater branch most lunchtimes, and on most days I would come out with a single or two, many of which now have a home in the loft!

Click on The Woolworths Virtual Museum for lots more memories, remember Winfield their own brand?

Let's hear of any memories you may have of good old Woolies!

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bread and butter pudding ...

Turn waste into delicacies!

Originating from the early 17th century, bread and butter pudding is one of Britain's oldest and well-loved puddings. Having fallen out of favour back in the 1990s, this pudding is now definitely back on the menu.

Many celebrity chefs have made claim to having re-invented this pudding by adding all nature of fancy ingredients, why, in my book you really don't need to. To me the whole point of making this is to use leftover bread and cheap store cupboard ingredients, and the recipe I use is one from the Victory Cookbook by Marguerite Patten.

- The celebrations for VE and VJ days in 1945 might well have been the time when the farmer's wife would decide to make a real bread and butter pudding with butter and shell eggs - a rare extravagance - an excerpt from the book. Such humble ingredients, all of which we very much take for granted nowadays.

6 slices of white bread spread with butter
3 oz (75g) sultanas
3 eggs
2 oz (50g) sugar
1 pint (600ml) milk

Layer squares of bread and butter with the sultanas in a 2 pint (1.2 litre) pie dish. Beat the eggs with the sugar, add the milk and then pour over. I always allow to stand for about 30 minutes before baking in the oven (150oC, Gas Mark 2) until just firm.

Some restaurants serve this pudding with cream or extra custard, you really don't need to, it is moist enough to eat as it is, warm and straight from the dish!

bathing beauty ...

Mustn't spoil the hairdo! Not sure nearest and dearest shares the same enthusiasm for Sussex by the Sea!

The town is often known as 'Sunny Worthing' following a popular advertising campaign in the 1890s promoting the town's agreeable climate between the sea and Downs!

peter and jane, or janet and john ...

Remember when our summers used to be like this, being able to spend endless hours down on the beach. Take another look at the picture, what do you think of Dad's trunks!

Peter and Jane, the brother and sister from the Ladybird Key Words Reading Scheme, have helped millions of children round the world to learn to read. I remember in Class 1 of St Wilfrids RC Primary School in Angmering, starting off with book 1a (short sentences of large bold print) and whizzing through the series finishing at book 12c (paragraphs of small print), a novel in comparison.

In the 1950s, educationalists William Murray and J McNally established that 12 words make up a quarter of all those we read and write. A mere 300 form three-quarters of the total number of words found in juvenile reading. The Ladybird Key Words Reading Scheme, written by William Murray, is based on those commonly used words, with 36 graded books plus supplementary readers.

It is the bestselling Ladybird series of all time. Which books did you start reading with?

Some words from this post are taken from the Ladybird Boys and Girls Calendar 2008, and the photo is from the August page. A present I was happy to be given last Christmas.

more enid blyton ...

Carol from Katherine's Dream reminded me of Mr Twiddle! I do remember reading of his adventures?



Carol needs reminding of Mr Pinkwhistle. Here he is above in all his finery!



And remember Mr Meddle! He looks a bit scary to me?

Many of you have happy memories of reading Enid Blyton. I have discovered The Enid Blyton Society website, so click on the link for a trip back in time to your childhood.

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books from my childhood ...

Who else had a copy of The Wind On The Moon by Eric Linklater? You may well have done as it was first published way back in 1944. My mum had loved this story as a child, so an obvious choice to buy for me in 1972, when I was eight. This copy cost 30p!

A branch of the apple-tree struck the window of the room where Major Palfrey was packing his trunk for a long absence, with the help of his daughters Dinah and Dorinda. There is a wind on the moon, he said. It was pale and wild and round it clung a collar of shining mist. I don't like the look of it at all. If it is an ill wind, and you behave badly, it will blow straight into your heart, and then you will behave badly for a long time to come. So I hope you are going to be good tonight, because I shall be away for at least a year and I don't want you to be a nuisance to your mother.

Famous last words. I shall leave you to decide what happens next, or to maybe even get a copy of the book. I am definitely going to read my copy again. As you can see by the condition, it was very well read as a child, I have even written my name inside the cover, just incase anyone dared to steal it!



Again bought for me in 1972 for 20p and first published in 1948, Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson.

A Moomintroll is small and shy and fat, and has a Moominpappa and a Moominmamma. Moomins live in the forest of Finland. They like sunshine, and sleep right through the winter. The snow falls and falls where they live, until their houses look like great snowballs. But when spring comes, up they jump and - well, that was the moment when this story began, and Moomintroll found the Hobgoblin Hat.




This copy of Little Women by Louisa M Alcott was awarded to me at primary school in 1974. Inside is written 'prize awarded for very good work - class 3'. You see, I was a good girl even back then!

Unfortunately these are the only books that have survived over the years, but I remember reading a lot as a child, and owning lots of prized books. I loved Enid Blyton, the series of books based around the Magic Faraway Tree, Mr Pinkwhistle and Amelia Jane, remember these? And when I was a little older, the Mallory Towers and St Clares series.

Visit Jayne over at Country Cottage Chic, she too has been talking about her favourite childhood books.

cowboys but no custard ...

This post is for Michele at Cowboys & Custard, as she loves childhood nostalgia. I love this little pop up Tuck Book of Annie Get Your Gun, seen through the eyes of a child, adapted from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Technicolour Production, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd. I was lucky enough to find this at a jumble sale many moons ago.



Recently I discovered Michele is expertly trained as a bookbinder, a strange coincidence that this binding is coming apart Michele!



The musical film in 1950, played Betty Hutton and Howard Keel in the starring roles. The screen play was by Sidney Sheldon based on the musical play, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.

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do you believe in fairies ...

I would like you to meet 'Amy in the pale pink dress' and 'Wine in the dark pink dress'. These two lovely fairies were made by my very talented sister-in-law Stella, and I was given these accompanied by other goodies for Christmas, along with the message that their hairdos reminded her and my niece of Amy Winehouse. Now you see where I got their names from!

There has been talk of fairies in two other blogs I have visited recently, first Lucy Bloom was blessed with the power of a thrift fairy, who has been hovering close to Marlborough in Wiltshire, and Shadows and Clouds who recently revisited a local haunt from her childhood, where she believed fairies may have been taking up residence. Do visit both of these blogs, who knows that special fairy dust might just settle over you?

I have always been captivated by fairies and I wonder when this fascination would have started. Maybe from my early years of having been visited by the tooth fairy, can't remember what she would have left, possible an old penny, thruppence or even sixpence?

by Cicely Mary Barker ... her first book Flower Fairies of the Spring was published in 1923 bringing her international acclaim, and her many beautifully illustrated books which followed have become classics with children and adults alike.

Click on Flower Fairies to visit the official website, for lots of fairy fun.

I recently discovered that Cicely Mary Barker first found inspiration for her Flower Fairies Journal whilst staying in Storrington in West Sussex, a village we know very well, as J and his family were brought up and still live there to this day. Click on Flower Fairy Journal for a more in-depth account.

by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite ... was the first children's book illustrator in Australia to have her work printed in lavish full-colour editions and to establish an international career. She was hailed as one of the most significant new illustrators in England post World War One. She wrote and illustrated more than sixty children's books, most of which were published by Angus & Robertson in Australia and A & C Black in the United Kingdom.

Ida's exquisite watercolours and fine pen and ink drawings have recently enjoyed a widespread revival of interest.

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two of my loves ...

May your flowers be even better than the pictures on the packets!

Now you know where my love for gardening and Mabel Lucie Attwell comes from. My interest in Mabel Lucie Attwell postcards started with my granny, a few years before she died she had to move into a home, and whilst we were sorting through her photographs I came across this postcard. It was the first time I had come across Mabel Lucie Attwell, and I thought it was just so sweet and was in raptures, anyway not surprisingly I ended up taking it home with me; a little boy holding a packet of seeds, surrounded by flowerpots.

This card was produced in 1936 by Valentine of Dundee, and is postmarked 24 June 1937, addressed to my grandparents. There friend Molly was having a lovely holiday in Margate.

Kath from Beeswax has dedicated a garden theme MLA card on her blog to me, how kind is that!

christmas cat ...

A lot of you have a cat around the place, this one's for you!

Here’s my advice be
as merry as mice
And take a part in
their glee – O
And when that’s done
there’s capital fun
In the pussie’s Christmas – tri – O!

Christmas Cats - Printed by Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd

buying the presents ...

I wish you lots of presents from
The boys and girls that love you
And may your Christmas be as bright
As stars that shine above you.

Buying the Presents 1934

The notion of exchanging gifts at Christmas can be traced back to the Magi (the Three Wise Men) who, guided by a star in the sky, travelled to Bethlehem to offer gifts to Jesus: gold, incense and myrrh. However, it was not until the 1860s when the story of Santa Claus (St Nicholas) became fashionable that the idea really took hold and it became popular to give gifts to members of your family and friends.

Do you remember your school nativity? I went to a Catholic primary and the nativity played a very important part in the school calendar, well what else would mum have done with her old tea towels? What about Christmas carol concerts, recorders polished (and tuned!), screeching to the tune of Little Donkey, proud parents looking on, such happy times were had by all.

The Christmas tradition seems important to all of you, thanks for all your great memories of the nativity and of Christmas celebrations, I was really amused by all your exploits! Marie screeched on her recorder like I did, but Fiona was a true professional, she really could play. Michele's comment was a classic, I am seriously going to consider hanging entrails from my tree next year, just imagine the look on your visitors' faces!

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remember daisy ...

Who remembers Daisy, in fashions by Mary Quant?

When I was young, most Saturday mornings my granny and grandad would take my brother and I, in the Hillman Hunter, into the village to the mecca of a toy shop, Arbors. We were given pocket money to spend on whatever we wanted, music to the ears of us kids! I usually bought dolls clothes or accessories for either Sindy, Pippa or Daisy.



Here, Daisy is wearing a flirty little number from the London range, a filmy white-spotted red muslin frock called Dotty.



When I did the first rough drawings of my designs I used to mark the focal point with a daisy so I could decide later. But the daisy always looked better than anything else. The daisy was always lucky for me so we used it again for the cosmetics - M.Q - and of course for the doll.

Click on this link to see some of Mary Quant's iconic fashion designs from the 1960s, they are fab!

Michele had a daisy bedspread and a lovely MQ dress, lucky thing, and reminded me of Biba and AquaManda, of which I do remember the jazzy packaging. Carol's dad had a Hillman Hunter, my grandad's was a white one! Joanna has Sindys in her loft, maybe we could get to see these sometime? And Kim had a Sindy wardrobe, well funny you should say this, my best friend Stephanie had the wardrobe, dressing table excetera and I was always insanely jealous, still haven't quite got over the fact even after all these years!

a very vintage 1960s christmas ...

I love this picture of me with my dad, brother, granny and mum, spoon in mouth with great anticipation for either trifle or Christmas cake, no change there then. This picture was taken at G and Bant's house (don't ask) in December 1968, looking back they were doting grandparents and as they only lived about a mile or so away, my brother and I would spend many a Saturday morning with them. Talking of trifles, my grannys were legendary, they were always set on a slant, we tried telling her many times that her fridge shelf must be unlevel, would she listen?



No Nintendo Wii's here, it is really difficult to focus in on what presents we had, but I am sure we loved them whatever. My grandparents always had a real Christmas tree, I bet those needles got stuck in my woolly tights! Oh, I've just noticed the colour of my brother's hat has changed, I suppose he didn't want to wear one the same as his little sis?



Brother and sister arguments, not around Granny's Christmas table, my brother and I were taught how to share and we were very good at it. Look at us in the picture sharing a Tom Smith's cracker or two?

Thanks everyone, some great comments, and funny ones on this post! I have so many happy memories from my childhood growing up in the 60s/70s, there are too many to mention, seems like you all have happy ones from yours too. I hope everyone will find some time to dig out some memories from their past caught on film, I for one would be really interested in seeing them. Remember Ker Plunk, Tressy and Sindy, Fuzzy Felts, Yoyos and boiled sweets? Many of you make trifles (even wonky ones) over the Christmas period, you're in good company, so do I!

posting dates for christmas ...

I have all my Christmas cards written, sealed, addressed and stamped ready for the off. Honestly how long does it take?

In case you need a gentle nudge, here are the postal deadlines for Christmas.

International Airmail
Friday 7th December: South and Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East (except Japan), Australia, New Zealand.
Monday 10th December: USA, Canada, Japan, Eastern Europe.
Thursday 13th December: Western Europe.

Last UK post dates
Wednesday 14th December: Standard parcels.
Monday 17th December: Second class.
Thursday 20th December: First class.
Friday 21st December: Special delivery.

The cards above shows 'Post Early for Christmas' posters from the 1940s and 50s. If you love nostalgia of any kind click on The British Postal Museum and Archive, to go back in time to see more posting advertisements drawn in this iconic style of the period, they are great, and you can buy them too, just as prints or framed.

the first christmas stamps ...

When Tony Benn became Postmaster General in 1964, he decided that Christmas stamps should be issued in Britain, using the concept of the smaller silhouette of the Queen's head also developed around that time.



Tony Benn also ordered a competition to have the Christmas stamps designed by children, and you can see the winners on this page. There is 'Snowman' by James Berry (aged 6) and 'King Wenceslas' by Tasveer Shemza (aged 6). The stamps were issued in 1966.

This post has reminded Carol from Katherines Dream to try and unearth her childhood collection. I once had a collection too, although if memory serves me right, which happens infrequently nowadays, I gave mine to my step-nephew, many moons ago when he was small? I remember as a kid very carefully steaming the stamp from the envelope and fixing it very neatly on the page, keeping very neat lines. My grandparents lived in Majorca, so as you can imagine I had a huge collection of Spanish stamps going as far back as General Franco! Can anyone remember what those tiny stamp fixers were called, the ones that didn't damage the back of the stamp?

You are so right Alchamillamolly, the fiddly little stamp fixers were called stamp hinges, many thanks for that.

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you all love tea ...

From the results of my November poll, tea has been voted the number one drink amongst many of you receiving 65% of the vote. Coffee came in second with 30% of the vote. Drinking neither received 5% of the vote, who was it who justs drinks warm water out there, was it you?

How do you take yours? With tea leaves or bags in a teapot, or just a bag in a mug or in a cup with a saucer, with milk and sugar, without sugar, just with milk, with sugar and lemon, just lemon, or do you drink just plain tea, so many questions? And do you put the milk in first or last? There are many ways to drink tea and many places to drink it, from the humble old greasy spoon to the plush old Ritz!



It looks as though he enjoys a nice cup of tea! I wonder if this photo was taken in a Lyons Tea shop? Within these quaint establishments customers listened to live music, and were served by waitresses dressed as air hostesses called ‘nippies’.

The tea shop tradition began in 1864 when the female manager of the Aerated Bread Company started to serve food and drink to her customers, favouring her most loyal patrons with tea. The idea rapidly spread throughout Britain like wildfire. This was partly because tea shops provided a place where unchaperoned women could meet friends and socialise without damaging their reputations. How coy?



Click on this link to take you to Yorkshire Tea to read the benefits that the good old English cuppa can bring to your health.

the wandering zippy ...

I discovered a great competition on Times Online, called Wandering Bears, entries to be in soon to win a 3ft Hamleys Noel teddy worth £199 in time for Christmas. For 18 months roving reporter Syd the Bear has been beaming us pictures of himself on his travels around the world, taking in many of the most famous landmarks on the planet. The aim of the competition is to send in entries of your bear in a holiday pose situation. Click on the link above and take a look at the pictures in the gallery, they are really amusing. Unfortunately Zippy pictured above in sunny Egypt, from the children's TV programme Rainbow, cannot be entered into the competion because he isn't a bear!



After seeing Zippy on his travels, I had a rummage around in my photo drawer for my childhood autograph book, I remembered having these signatures. I remember Geoffrey, Rod, Jane and Zippy from Rainbow appearing at the opening ceremony of our school fete when I was kid, I can't remember whether George and Bungle turned up, I didn't manage to get their autographs if they did!

Do you think I could get any money for these on ebay!

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treacle puds with proper custard ...

J needs comfort food, England are losing 2-0, well I say that but I am never too far behind in the queue when treacle sponge puddings are being served up straight from the steamer, teamed with proper homemade Bird's custard, well who could refuse?

Doesn't your mum have such an influence on you, my Mum always used this same brand custard powder and I have carried on the family tradition.

A car-boot find for all you china addicts out there, these dessert bowls are Staffordshire Tableware 'Autumn Fayre'.



Bird's is the original custard brand, established in 1837 and loved by generations ever since. Bird's Custard is made and served in millions of homes where proper custard is at the heart of a good pud!

Me in 1965, in colour!



My mum, my brother and me



My brother in 1963, in black and white!

two babies, one pram ...

Silver Cross is Britain’s oldest and most prestigious pram maker, the Yorkshire based company has been hand making prams since 1877. Silver Cross has been dubbed the Bentley for Babies, two famous occupants being Prince William and Prince Harry.

Pop over to Joanna at Higglety Pigglety to read her memories and to see her lovely painting of a Silver Cross pram. Seeing this gave me an idea for a post, and after searching through my photos I have found these three above, one of my brother and one of me, looking very comfortable in our lovely pram.

I had a toy version too back in the 1960s which was home for my dolls, I remember two of them, Chatty Kathy and Tippy Tumbles, did you have either of these dolls?

the police ...

I was a huge fan of The Police when I was 15 and I confess to having lots of posters stuck in my locker at school and a large poster on my bedroom wall. I was interested to see where their return tour dates were being held and the price of the tickets, anyway I discovered at Wembley Arena the tickets range from £45 to £95, a little different from the £3 I paid back in 1979!