An anthropology of ourselves

Well, another Saturday, another trip to Oxfam, we just can’t stop ourselves these days!

I went with the intention of looking for some ornate glass bowls, but didn’t find any, (the 60′s teapot I wanted was gone too) and in the end I came away with a dressing table instead! Well, I came away the owner of a dressing table, I haven’t got it yet, we’ve got to go back and collect it next week, we hadn’t gone prepared, it was all totally unplanned!

It’s a walnut one with a big mirror and some nice drawers down both sides, and some fancy bits of carving, and you can sit at it, which I can’t do with the one I’ve got at the mo.  I don’t know how old it is, don’t think it’s that old perhaps, as it looks in good and new-ish condition, but it’s got an old look about it, which I like.

There were also 2 old wooden chairs, sold seperately and I really liked, them so I got them too.   I managed to get £15 off the final price  ‘coz one of the drawers is really stiff, but hopefully I’ll be able to sort it out. Such a bargain!

The dressing table

Here are the two books I’ve just finished reading, the first one, which I got for Christmas, is Nella Last’s War, and it’s the real life (2nd world) wartime diary of Nella Last, a 49 year old housewife from Barrow-in Furness.

Nella Last's War

She kept her diary throughout the war years, in response to the Mass Observation social research project, which had already begun in 1937.  It called upon ordinary people to volunteer to keep written accounts of their daily life, both in the form of diaries, and/or responding to directives sent out by the MO.  These were sent out periodically, asking for people’s views on various subjects, and topical issues.

I loved this book, and I loved Nella Last, it was one of the most interesting books I have ever read.  I got the 2nd book, Nella Last’s Peace, which is a continuation of her diaries throughout the post-war years, and have just finished that, and loved it equally.

Nella continued her diary-writing for almost the rest of her life, right into the 1960′s.  I love the way she writes, I laughed loads at some of the stuff she said, and felt very fond of her.  These books are really worth reading if you’re interested in the war years.  I’m watching the ”Housewife, 49” DVD now, the 2006 ITV dramatisiation based on the 1st book, which features Victoria Wood as Nella.  I missed it when it was on TV at the time, I haven’t quite finished it yet, but it’s really good.

Nella Last's Peace

The original Mass Observation project that Nella Last was part of, ran until the early 1950′s.  In 1970, the entire Archive of gathered information was moved to The University of Sussex, where it became a resource for history research that was open to the public.  In the 1980′s, the Mass Observation project was revived, and this project continues to the present day, with approximately 400 volunteers taking part and responding to periodic directives.

Anyway, in between reading books and looking round charity shops, I have managed to do a bit of work lately. I’ve been working on my Easter/Spring cards, they’re not finished yet, but they’re well under way. Also, been doing lots of preparation for the Spring Fling, such as ordering business cards, and finally getting round to sorting out printing etc!

Here is some work in progress from recent days!

Butterfly in progress

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