Goodness, you sure like Lisa Leonard don't you? I'm not surprised.
I have to say I really* enjoyed reading through the uniform comments…it seems most of you like what I like…funny that…I mean really who can beat the humble jeans and tee combo?
I dunno about Skinny though…never quite did like the whole drainpipe thing the last time…though I've certainly got some Skinnies so there must be something to 'em…
Anyway, I don't know if you remember that a while ago I found a real old treasure at a garage sale? It was a transcript of the memories of the folks at a nursing home, I have deduced from what I have read that this book was written in the late 60's early 70's and these folks were in their 70's and 80's.
What attracted me to the book was nothing other than the faded old paper, the brown edges, the age spots and the hand-typed print (you already know I have a bit of an obsession with that). But it so happenend, that I had come upon on a gem, an account of the memories of a handful of old ladies and gents from their days from 1903 to WWII
So the other morning, after the school run and chores out of the way I decided to treat myself to some time with that old book, a coffee and a sit watching the boats go by.
I love to sit down by the wharf, it's somehow relaxing and interesting at the same time.
The thing is this: on the beach sitting down with a coffee and a book on a school day seems positively indulgent, but on this side it's all so very much more industrious…you can sit here and drink your coffee in relative peace, get your 350 in, all the while watching everyone else going about their day and oddly feel a part of it all…the ferries chugging in and out, the fisherman going past, the day trippers coming in and the commuters flying through…as if somehow your 350 squats to get your butt lifted are an essential element of this stage set.
I have to say, looking through that old book, legs dangling over the side with a coffee, that it was the chapter 'Dances' that lured me most. Tell me, would it have lured you too?
I had visions of those lovely old folks sitting in their big chairs all in a circle, smiling and reminiscing and talking about those heydays when people didn't sit at a computer or in front of the tv, when guys and dolls went out to dance…
And I it seems that in those delicious old days gone by, there were dances & ice skaing in a building that I've passed lot of times…a building named Dungowan… a beautiful, commanding old place.
And so I left the wharf and walked round to hunt out Dungowan, now, with my new old knowledge and oh how I very much fell in love with it, the elongated balcony, the Italianate feel, the balustrading…and sigh the to-die-for double entrance door…
I walked around Dungowan, a tad errrm bedraggled from the wind at the wharf and feeling for sure the 350..pulled out my camera, head swimming with jitterbugs and dancing, wriggling bodies and stamping feet and in a complete world of my own was oohing and ahhing looking up and down and walking around.
Lost in all those others' memories of life gone-by, I was in fact, a little disappointed at the up-do this place has recently gone through, I don't know but its newness, it's perfect creamy facade didn't seem to sit right with me and so I went up and stroked the wall and sorta sighed.
…at which point, some guy, clearly a boutique apartment owner stuck his head out the window I had just photographed and asked me "just quite what I thought I was taking photos of?" and "just what was I wiping on the wall?"
Well, people, most offended by his haughty manner, I hesitated, weighing up the benefits of talking about the book, the blog, the ice, the old folk and the jitterbugs...but by the look on his face I decided to hedge my bets, looked at him blankly and pretended to be French.
And that dear Beach Cottagers was the end of that, rudely interrupted in my contemplation of all things past, I packed up my camera and moved on.
But all miserable owners aside, it was so nice to get to know Dungowan.
And how generous that they thought of me when they decorated with beachy putty stripe blinds. So very kind.
I will see you motley crew tomorrow
**don't forget to comment on this post for Lisa Leonard's generous giveaway**
What a wonderful thing that you came across, and oh how times have changed, such gentle times, such graceful people, we could all learn something from the “old folks” that’s if the “young folks” would just give them a chance!
What a pity the “snooty” fella spoiled your dreaming! Too bad, but don’t let it mar your dreams.
Sarah, what a privilege to become the custodian of something such as this. It was fate that brought them to you, so you could share them with all of us. Their memories will live on through this blog – I’ll betcha didn’t expect that when you started A Beach Cottage, hey??
By the way, lucky the rude so-and-so wasn’t French!!!
Kerri x
Sarah – I loved this post! For a while I was transported way back, to a lovely dance until I was so rudely interrupted by that horribly rude man! Gorgeous post and I am so happy that you were the gorgeous soul to have found that transcript! Thank you so much for sharing them!! As for those beachy putty stripe blinds, it was all meant to be and I am sure you were meant to find them:) Rest assured that cranky dude had nothing to do with them ~ Tina xx
What a lovely post! for my coffee break! History, and humour you sure do know how to write girl! Bet those ol’ people were smiling down on you as you sat reading and I bet they giggled when you pretended you were French….
Did you really pretend to be French? haha. *I wonder if that would work for me…* I do a type of swing dancing called west coast swing and I love everything about it. The music, the movement and (most of) the people. Dancing is a wonderful outlet.
Lovely water pictures Sarah. Enjoyed the excerpt from the book – hope you will share more of this history. The building is elegant, but the tenants hopefully are not all snobby like that fellow!
My cousin and I used to hang out on Teignmouth pier and pretend to be French when we were teens – just to show off in front of the holidaymakers from the North! So much fun……and happy memories.
Firstly i just love the thought that someone met their husband at an old dance hall by the sea organised by the Gum Nut Committee- that is just a story in itself! And secondly – i have walked past this building many a time & never knew i was strolling with buckets & spades & sandy salty children past a bit of serious ol’ local history!
Thanks for the lovely tale…
Love the thought of your coffee on the wharf- yes why is it not as indulgent as lounging on a stripey towel on the sand on the beach side- somehow its allowable!!
Oh I want to visit! One of my old staffers just left for Australia! My husband has been and so has my dad.. But not me! It is on my short list!! Your post was just such a great story to wake up to this morning! Starting my Thursday off right ! Thanks!!
Oh so beautiful and funny at the same time.
I’m hearing beautiful dance hall music during the story up until the guy sticks his head out of the window – then it’s that scratchy record-stopping-suddenly sound and canned laughter!
Sorry a grouch ended your dreams but glad you have that wonderful collection of stories to go back to anytime.
A beautiful, evocative story to go with a beautiful place. Isn’t it funny how reading personal accounts of a place from times gone by make us feel connected to it?
I want to poke the man in the eye for shattering your daydreams. The are such important things.
Lovely post Sarah. What a great find, the old book. So fascinating to read about what things used to be like. Love how they used first and last names back then.
What a lovely treasure-it does seem like things were just more, I don’t know, genteel, once upon a time. Dungowan seems like a very impressive building(could use a little more “patina”;-) -very funny about pretending to be French and non comprenez!
Sarah, as a history major I am deeply drawn to old letters, stories, and such and love the fact that you kept this and are reading it. You just don’t hear words such as ‘rumpus’ anymore. And the ‘Gum Nuts’!?!…everything seemed so innocent then. Great post!
Cracked me up when you said you pretended to be French!
So often I see homes and unique doors or windows, etc that I’d love to photograph but don’t dare because it seems like an invasion of privacy.
The other day while out for my walk with my camera, I saw two white poodles staring at me from someone’s window and I was so tempted to snap away. But I didn’t and now I’m sorry!
what a wonderful find!! I love reading biographies and autobiographies, yours ( the one you found) sounds like such a treasure. Your images of the water are so lovely, I am glad you got to spend some time by the wharf to relax.
sarah
wow! what a beautiful old place that holds so many wonderful warm memories for some. i too like you am a lover of all things old and dream about things that took place in the past long before we were here can you imagine all the stories that place held? i am so glad you got to go in and see it for yourself and it puts a face to the place that you are reading about.. knowing that that same place still exsists and is making many different memories today for the next tomorrow!!! ok enough of the nostalgia!! love the wee bit about you pretending to be french!!! lol
have a g’day
kim Ü
What a neat story Sarah! You are too funny posing as a french person! Sounds like me when the meat salemen come to my front door…I say, “oh I’m sorry we’re vegetarians…..” stops them dead in their salesperson tracks….Then I shut the door & my 9 yr. old asks me “what’s a vegetarian mom?” oh boy…nevermind…..;-)
I really love reading about the olden days….I love all nostagia, black & white movies especially…and of course all old, tattered, well worn, shabby stuff!! right?
btw….what is the 350 you keep talking about? I know it’s exercise but what exactly???? I gotta know…..:)
is it me, or does life seem so much more relaxed on your side of the world?? i love it. perhaps if oklahoma had a beach instead of a dirty red lake i would be inspired to do maybe 50 squats??
What a perfect morning you had! And what a treasure you found in that old manuscript. I love old stuff like that…hubby laughs at me because I can spend an eternity in an antique mall reading all the old letters and post cards and looking at photos of people I don’t know. But really, those stories were all a part of peoples’ lives and it’s nice to know that there are those like you out there that want to preserve them.
I laughed out loud at your pretending to be French – so funny. If I did that, my luck would be that the rude so-and-so would speak French and I would be busted after I said “Bonjour”!
You positively have the best stories. ever.
The paper alone would be cool, but that you went to find the hall. wow. The last part was the best. Pretending to be French is totally the funniest thing. ever.
Ok I totally see this on the big screen. meryl. russel. flash backs from WWII. A rude current owner who is swept out to sea. ok, maybe not that part.
anyway…great story. thanks.
In all the years really nothing much has changed at all don’t you think…….maybe back then that was their way of what we now call blogging……at the end of the day we all love to write about our adventures and we all like to read how other people viewed the world!!! time and distance has passed but not our thoughts that we have to get down as proof of all that went before………
Oh! The yellowed, worn paper! It is beautiful of itself, and the stories it tells. What a bonus! I love that you went and found the building. Totally something I would do. And, as for the errrmmmm….man….parlez vous francais???
what a snotty man. I love that you pretended to be French!Classy!but how did you convey an impression of Frenchness?
But I really came on to say: 350 squats??? “respect” !! that is some huge number of squats. I manage 50 if lucky.
Liz x
morning:) I definately know about feeling a little indulgent when reading a good novel in the midst of the day when the kiddlets are at school haha i know there is so much else i should be doing!
That’s a real gem you have there. I love old manuscripts and oral histories, and soon we won’t be able to find them and hear or read about those first hand accounts; I think it’s great that you stepped back in time to see the old building even if it does house weird cranky pants! BTW, half the time cranky pants are my uniform – so the kids tell me, when I’m doing housework!
What a wonderful morning you had… reliving memories of those long departed. My there are some unhappy people in the world though…. always thinking and searching for the worst… in every situation… what an abrupt ending to a perfect day! Pop a copy of your blog post and comments in his letterbox! A-M xx
This post was absolutely endearing. I love history and especially WWII inspired events. What you found at the garage sale was definitely an inspiration for a book. I would like to encourage you to consider going back to where you purchased this writing and doing some more investigating. I think you’ve got a goldmine there. Don’t let the yellowing pages turn to dust. Breathe some life into them!
BELLA
Bonjour Sarah! So funny. Would love to hear more from the gem of a book you found. Times seemed so simple back then. Oh how I wish we could slow down a bit. Great post as always.
oh Sarah I just LOVE reading your post. Just so you know I live vicariously through you! Oh to live on the coast-funny thing is- we DO live on the coast-but I just dont consider the Gulf Coast very sexy ya know? Thanks for sharing your daily jaunts with us
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Â Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? Â The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
 1. beat the cream cheese  until it is soft
2. Â whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
Â
6. layer on top the cream combo
Â
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
Â
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)Â
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. Â I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.Â
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Â Oh yeah. Â Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. Â C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
What an amazing find this book has turned out to be:)
I must remember the pretending to be french part – lol. It could come in handy.
Oh what a beautiful post Sarah, sigh, just beautiful. Would love to read some more excerpts
)
i wish i lived in australia. sounds like so much fun reading by the ocean. i also loved the part about the dancing. so fun.
Sarah,
What a wonderful thing that you came across, and oh how times have changed, such gentle times, such graceful people, we could all learn something from the “old folks” that’s if the “young folks” would just give them a chance!
What a pity the “snooty” fella spoiled your dreaming! Too bad, but don’t let it mar your dreams.
Angela x
Sarah, what a privilege to become the custodian of something such as this. It was fate that brought them to you, so you could share them with all of us. Their memories will live on through this blog – I’ll betcha didn’t expect that when you started A Beach Cottage, hey??
By the way, lucky the rude so-and-so wasn’t French!!!
Kerri x
Laughing about the 350. I think I would be jello after that many. I would definitely have to work my way up to that! xo
Sarah – I loved this post! For a while I was transported way back, to a lovely dance until I was so rudely interrupted by that horribly rude man! Gorgeous post and I am so happy that you were the gorgeous soul to have found that transcript! Thank you so much for sharing them!! As for those beachy putty stripe blinds, it was all meant to be and I am sure you were meant to find them:) Rest assured that cranky dude had nothing to do with them
~ Tina xx
Gold…pure gold!
I do hope we will get more…lots more please.
Pretending to be french ALWAYS works for me too ha ha! Gorgeous building and lovely of you to share part of their memories with us as well
thanks
Judy
What a lovely post! for my coffee break! History, and humour you sure do know how to write girl! Bet those ol’ people were smiling down on you as you sat reading and I bet they giggled when you pretended you were French….
Finding objects like this is one of my favorite things. I’d love to hear more about what you found inside. Lovely story! Stan
I was right there, in the dance hall…a-jiggling and a-stamping…what fun!
Wonder what the “rumpus” was…always someone to spoil the fun, just like that grumpy man.
Thanks Sarah, you really took me to a beautiful place with this post…
Did you really pretend to be French? haha. *I wonder if that would work for me…* I do a type of swing dancing called west coast swing and I love everything about it. The music, the movement and (most of) the people. Dancing is a wonderful outlet.
Lovely water pictures Sarah. Enjoyed the excerpt from the book – hope you will share more of this history. The building is elegant, but the tenants hopefully are not all snobby like that fellow!
My cousin and I used to hang out on Teignmouth pier and pretend to be French when we were teens – just to show off in front of the holidaymakers from the North! So much fun……and happy memories.
Firstly i just love the thought that someone met their husband at an old dance hall by the sea organised by the Gum Nut Committee- that is just a story in itself! And secondly – i have walked past this building many a time & never knew i was strolling with buckets & spades & sandy salty children past a bit of serious ol’ local history!
Thanks for the lovely tale…
Love the thought of your coffee on the wharf- yes why is it not as indulgent as lounging on a stripey towel on the sand on the beach side- somehow its allowable!!
‘Ave a good one!
Melissa
Oh I want to visit! One of my old staffers just left for Australia! My husband has been and so has my dad.. But not me! It is on my short list!! Your post was just such a great story to wake up to this morning! Starting my Thursday off right ! Thanks!!
Oh so beautiful and funny at the same time.
I’m hearing beautiful dance hall music during the story up until the guy sticks his head out of the window – then it’s that scratchy record-stopping-suddenly sound and canned laughter!
Sorry a grouch ended your dreams but glad you have that wonderful collection of stories to go back to anytime.
A beautiful, evocative story to go with a beautiful place. Isn’t it funny how reading personal accounts of a place from times gone by make us feel connected to it?
I want to poke the man in the eye for shattering your daydreams. The are such important things.
Lovely post Sarah. What a great find, the old book. So fascinating to read about what things used to be like. Love how they used first and last names back then.
I loved this. Give us more stories from the past. And, love that you pretended to be French.
Sarah, What a wonderful little piece of history you found! Seems like this should be the start of a new book or a movie.
?, Susan
What a lovely treasure-it does seem like things were just more, I don’t know, genteel, once upon a time. Dungowan seems like a very impressive building(could use a little more “patina”;-) -very funny about pretending to be French and non comprenez!
Sarah, as a history major I am deeply drawn to old letters, stories, and such and love the fact that you kept this and are reading it. You just don’t hear words such as ‘rumpus’ anymore. And the ‘Gum Nuts’!?!…everything seemed so innocent then. Great post!
What a wonderful piece of history and memories you have, thanks for sharing it with us. Shame that man was so rude.
Well, it’s obvious that HE picks his nose…
Oh I remember this building! What a beautiful slice of time you have found…
what a sweet post – love the photos as always!
visit me at picklefork3 sometime – would love to hear from you.
What a great find. I can just see people streaming in and out of those double doors on their big night out.
Cracked me up when you said you pretended to be French!
So often I see homes and unique doors or windows, etc that I’d love to photograph but don’t dare because it seems like an invasion of privacy.
The other day while out for my walk with my camera, I saw two white poodles staring at me from someone’s window and I was so tempted to snap away. But I didn’t and now I’m sorry!
Good for you for doing what you wanted!
what a wonderful find!! I love reading biographies and autobiographies, yours ( the one you found) sounds like such a treasure. Your images of the water are so lovely, I am glad you got to spend some time by the wharf to relax.
The last bit of that entry is most fun – the Committee Names are hilarious and the bit about being “suitable”.
Your response to that guy was perfect. Sometimes it’s just useless to try and explain…well done!
sarah
wow! what a beautiful old place that holds so many wonderful warm memories for some. i too like you am a lover of all things old and dream about things that took place in the past long before we were here can you imagine all the stories that place held? i am so glad you got to go in and see it for yourself and it puts a face to the place that you are reading about.. knowing that that same place still exsists and is making many different memories today for the next tomorrow!!! ok enough of the nostalgia!! love the wee bit about you pretending to be french!!! lol
have a g’day
kim Ü
What a neat story Sarah! You are too funny posing as a french person! Sounds like me when the meat salemen come to my front door…I say, “oh I’m sorry we’re vegetarians…..” stops them dead in their salesperson tracks….Then I shut the door & my 9 yr. old asks me “what’s a vegetarian mom?” oh boy…nevermind…..;-)
I really love reading about the olden days….I love all nostagia, black & white movies especially…and of course all old, tattered, well worn, shabby stuff!! right?
btw….what is the 350 you keep talking about? I know it’s exercise but what exactly???? I gotta know…..:)
Shellagh
is it me, or does life seem so much more relaxed on your side of the world?? i love it. perhaps if oklahoma had a beach instead of a dirty red lake i would be inspired to do maybe 50 squats??
Great photos…great story…glad I came by! Hope your keeping well!
What a perfect morning you had! And what a treasure you found in that old manuscript. I love old stuff like that…hubby laughs at me because I can spend an eternity in an antique mall reading all the old letters and post cards and looking at photos of people I don’t know. But really, those stories were all a part of peoples’ lives and it’s nice to know that there are those like you out there that want to preserve them.
I laughed out loud at your pretending to be French – so funny. If I did that, my luck would be that the rude so-and-so would speak French and I would be busted after I said “Bonjour”!
You positively have the best stories. ever.
The paper alone would be cool, but that you went to find the hall. wow. The last part was the best. Pretending to be French is totally the funniest thing. ever.
Ok I totally see this on the big screen. meryl. russel. flash backs from WWII. A rude current owner who is swept out to sea. ok, maybe not that part.
anyway…great story. thanks.
In all the years really nothing much has changed at all don’t you think…….maybe back then that was their way of what we now call blogging……at the end of the day we all love to write about our adventures and we all like to read how other people viewed the world!!! time and distance has passed but not our thoughts that we have to get down as proof of all that went before………
What a beautiful old building!!
Oh! The yellowed, worn paper! It is beautiful of itself, and the stories it tells. What a bonus! I love that you went and found the building. Totally something I would do. And, as for the errrmmmm….man….parlez vous francais???
what a snotty man. I love that you pretended to be French!Classy!but how did you convey an impression of Frenchness?
But I really came on to say: 350 squats??? “respect” !! that is some huge number of squats. I manage 50 if lucky.
Liz x
What a great story …and you are so funny sarah . Michelle x
Oh what a great find you unearthed with that manuscript! Was it a book or loose pages? I’m so envious – I never find things like that at garage sales.
morning:) I definately know about feeling a little indulgent when reading a good novel in the midst of the day when the kiddlets are at school haha i know there is so much else i should be doing!
That’s a real gem you have there. I love old manuscripts and oral histories, and soon we won’t be able to find them and hear or read about those first hand accounts; I think it’s great that you stepped back in time to see the old building even if it does house weird cranky pants! BTW, half the time cranky pants are my uniform – so the kids tell me, when I’m doing housework!
What a wonderful morning you had… reliving memories of those long departed. My there are some unhappy people in the world though…. always thinking and searching for the worst… in every situation… what an abrupt ending to a perfect day! Pop a copy of your blog post and comments in his letterbox! A-M xx
This post was absolutely endearing. I love history and especially WWII inspired events. What you found at the garage sale was definitely an inspiration for a book. I would like to encourage you to consider going back to where you purchased this writing and doing some more investigating. I think you’ve got a goldmine there. Don’t let the yellowing pages turn to dust. Breathe some life into them!
BELLA
Bonjour Sarah! So funny. Would love to hear more from the gem of a book you found. Times seemed so simple back then. Oh how I wish we could slow down a bit. Great post as always.
oh Sarah I just LOVE reading your post. Just so you know I live vicariously through you! Oh to live on the coast-funny thing is- we DO live on the coast-but I just dont consider the Gulf Coast very sexy ya know? Thanks for sharing your daily jaunts with us