Monday 19 November 2012

..china in your hand..

Ah - struck another chord with the Crusty Alltop   post.  I see I am not alone.  We are all ploughing our own furrow - some furrows are deep, some not so deep.

Thank you also for kind words regarding writing - I write lots and lots of 'funny to me' things in my head - by the time I get to the end and I have made myself laugh I have forgotten it and moved on to the next thing.  Should get a Dictaphone (can you still get those?).  In the past  I wrote many articles but of a serious nature in serious publications - then when I worked for NHS Direct I started a  Garden Club (for staff!) and would write a weekly newsletter.  I laughed my head off writing that - who knew so much merriment could be had in my 'Seed Exchange'.  I had lots of people joining who were non-gardeners as it was full of in-jokes and jolly capers (both varieties!).  I might post an extract here one day. Just to bore/repeat a little further my background is a sister in Intensive Care and then one of the Transplant Co-ordinators for the South East of England (we know Jenny  - you go on and on about it) - exquisitely difficult and demanding job so sense of humour, tempered with sensitivity, always to hand.  I think Intensive Care too needed a degree of  humour - I remember apologising to relatives  for the gales of laughter and they said how comforting it was to hear.... it meant 'normal' life was carrying on..... In between I was a district nurse in Brixton - now that was funny (and heartbreakingly sad) and with my partner in crime I would go round the North Peckham Estate as though I were James Bond (a real risk of being mugged because some assumed that you were carrying drugs).  Peering carefully round corners and firing my finger pistol....I remember dressing an awful gunshot wound - I told the young lad that I hope he had a good look at whoever did the shooting.  'Yes I did' he replied 'It was my dad'.  You couldn't make it up.   If you have never worked in the community then I urge you to do so this very afternoon.  'Call the District Nurse'. Oh just remembered that my first proper job was working in operating theatres which I did for a few years - now that was a funny place!

Anyway following on from the 'Show us your potato pot' post - here is a another little post showing our daily plates!

Good grief what the heck am I doing here!

I have GOT WORK TO DO....

...not least application for Jersey job to complete (thank you Barbara for giving me the nudge)

Anyway this china was in a charity shop about 3 years ago - a lot of it - 6 of everything - plates in three different sizes, pudding bowls, cups and saucers - and was priced at £20.
I did not buy it
I went home.
I do not need any china.
We have lots of plates in three different sizes, pudding bowls, cups and saucers......
One day I will show you some...
It gnawed away..
"£20 is a  lot to spend on something that you do not need" That was the angel on one shoulder.
"Pah - £20 - some people spend that on a pair of shoes" (ho ho) That was the devil on my other shoulder.
I went back SEVERAL DAYS LATER....
It was still there - smiling at me and saying 'We knew...'



So this rapidly became our everyday china (though Maille requests a Homemaker plate for her good self)- put in the dishwasher seven times a week.

I was going to just use it for Autumn but then it becomes 'Seasonal - only to be used for certain months of the year - because you couldn't possibly use it when there are leaves on the trees' china!!

This is what is known as 'Doing a Crusty'...

C-R-R-R-A-Z-Y


"La Cootard - we hardly dare ask but do you actively seek out vintage fabricos that matches your china?"
Titter, titter
"La Cootard here - please do not be silly.  I do not wish to give the impression that any morsel of me is in the slightest bit obsessive"

"La Cootard - we hardly dare ask but do you have accessories that match you china....?"




How we laughed....

Kerrr-pow (see what I did there..bonus points for the first reader to spot the link...)

PS: In my head I am planning a vintage Christmas giveaway - the Christmas cupboard   wardrobe is bulbous to say the least and I am deciding what people in blogland might like. I have an idea what one of you likes already (wink, wink....I cannot do that winky thing...).  Whatever it is it will not be a dipped basket...or will it...

PPS Lovely to meet up with you -  Eco Ethel on Saturday - disahhster for myself dahling and ended up being in the minus by the end of play.  Never mind.

PPS Here are some of the less wordy, not funny one jot,  things wot I wrote.  I think that these might be classed as vintage...
Ego gathering speed...



I remember being 'featured' in The Southern India Transplant Journal!  Who needs Country Living!!!

16 comments:

  1. Life working 'in the community' is amazing indeed. A lady rang up last week to say she was sorry she couldn't pay the minister's bill [my OH]
    What bill? the minister wouldnt leave you a bill...
    The £23thousand one - he's left it here, his name and the bill.
    [rapid thought] "Would that be £23,*** and XX pence?"
    "Exactly! and I can't pay it"
    "Don't worry, that isn't his bill - it is his phone number!!"

    As you say, you can't make it up

    Looking forward to a giveaway if is is NOT dipped baskets or sadly distressed chairs.

    blessings xx

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    1. Good morning Angel
      Oh dear - II hope that she was relieved - especially with Christmas coming!
      Re-thinking the dipped basket idea...
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  2. Oh Jenny, you do make me laugh, love the way you skip randomly from one subject to the other, you really should be on the stage! What an exciting life you've had/are having ... such diversity!

    Mention of dictaphone reminded me of the old joke, think it was Les Dawson...

    "Did he use a dictaphone?"

    "No he just used his finger"

    The old ones are the best and that dinner service is fabulous!

    Happy Monday

    Claire xx

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    1. Now dear Claire - I am not as young as I once was and had to read through the old joke once or twice and then OUT LOUD so that I understood it...ha ha The old ones are indeed the best. Looking forward to the re-runs of Morcambe and Wise coming soon
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. Ohhhh Jenny I love that china, the plates are so Autumn/Winter with the bare branches and the yellow cup just adding a little burst of sunshine, Lucey x

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    1. Good morning Lucey - it is a lovely set of china I think
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  4. So funny ... what an amazing career history ... love the china ... resistance is futile, I say ... Bee xx

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    Replies
    1. Sadly I think that I need to resist a little more often...oh dear
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  5. I should have guessed you were a nurse Jenny! I am a healthcare assistant and most of the nurses I work with have a fab( and slightly sick) sense of humour, you have to really to keep your sanity dont you? Anyhow it all makes sense to me! I read your posts and laugh out loud and the joke that Claire mentionned up in her comment had me giggling too! Yes, I think you probably missed your true vocation as a stand up comedienne!

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    Replies
    1. You do indeed need something to keep you going sometimes Anna. I was asked to do The Comedy Roadshow but I had to decline because who would cook the dinner! Being a bit dense I had to read through Claire's joke once or twice....ha ha
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  6. Love, love, love the china and fabric Jenny.... :)
    x

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    1. Many thanks Barbara - it is quite unusual I think and beats plain white (Dom's preference) for me!
      Best wishes Barbara and keep warm

      Jenny

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  7. Your posts always brighten my day. I love your sense of humour, you certainly need one working in the NHS! I love the china, you were lucky it was still there when you went back for it.
    Sarah x

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    1. Thank you kindly Sarah - I so often buy rashly and then regret it....I was lucky indeed
      Thank you for your kind words Sarah
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  8. Love the post, and I do hope you will include me in a giveaway draw even though I'm not a crafter - crafty might be a better description. I love medical humour - yes, it's a job/vocation where sometimes only humour will get you through, I'm sure. But then, life's like that, too.
    Margaret P

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    Replies
    1. Hello Margaret and many thanks for your kind words - haven't quite made a decision about giveaway yet but should do soon. Sometimes the only way forward is to laugh...life is indeed like that Margaret
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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