Day 16 #100DaysOfOldDays

This photo could keep us going right up to the last day of our 100DaysOfOldDays Project. It’s like a bag of Dolly Mixtures. Where should I begin? The room itself.

The sitting room…better known as the good room. The only day of the year when the fire was lit in that room was Christmas Day and that was the only day we were allowed into it. It was reserved for very special visitors (none that I can remember) and Tubberware and make-up parties.

The wall!

Wallpaper junkies would sell their souls to the devil for this groovy purple & gold wallpaper. Check these out on Amazon if you don’t believe me. Big and bold was the way to go in the 70’s. Mam loved wallpaper. Dad used to say it was to cover up all the holes she made from hammering in nails. She moved the pictures on the walls as often as she moved the furniture…and that was a lot!

We’ll briefly mention the gold plated plate thingy on the wall that the very glamorous Christmas decoration is clinging to.

Next;

Those were our Santy toys. I’m pretty sure I got a nurse’s costume that Christmas too. We would have also got an annual each, and a box of Oatfield Colleen sweets between us. That was it though. Not like the myriad of toys you see nowadays.

The doll was called Action Girl. I was never so disappointed in anything in my whole life. I saw Action Girl demonstrating her numerous skills on television. She was amazing…doing somersaults, handstands and she could even fly through the air with her luxurious locks flowing in the wind behind her. I could just imagine her flying across Drumbannon, while everyone else’s boring Barbies watched with envy!  

You can imagine my excitement when I saw her there, at the foot of my bed beside my Mandy annual on Christmas morning. Santy really loved me! When I opened the box and took her out, she was dead. No life whatsoever in her rigid plastic body. And I wasn’t impressed that she had hinges on her knees and elbows so they could bend. She couldn’t do any of the things I saw her doing on the telly. But I eventually forgave her and fell in love with her.

Let’s talk about the lamp. Mam went through a phase of sticking shells to pretty much everything in the house. Well, anything that putty would stick to. She would have us all collecting shells at the beach so she could make little shell animals and other shell ornaments. This lamp was once a big glass jar. She stuck the shells on with putty, varnished it, and inserted a push-through socket and socket shell. Bought a shade, or re-used an old one, and in her words, ‘Bod’s your uncle and Fanny’s your aunt…a brand new lamp!’

Would you look at the lovely china cabinet! Full of things that rarely got used. Mind you, I see the green glass dessert set that did come out every Sunday (on the middle shelf). Instant whip and jelly. Was so good!

What colour is that couch? Mustard? I think it was more for style, because it definitely wasn’t very comfortable to sit on. Then again, Mam didn’t want us in the good room so why would she put a comfy couch in there!?

I just want to add…I didn’t cut my baby brother out of the photo. Whoever took the photo did. But I do know he was wearing an Indian outfit. Three cowboys against one Indian. What on earth was Santy thinking?

Little Miss Ten is excused from sketching today. She’s very much under the weather but hopefully she’ll be back in action very soon!

Featured image courtesy of Peggy_Marco