Postcard arrives from Henry

Great excitment today as a postcard arrives from Henry who is on holiday in New Zealand with his Mummy, Lorraine, visiting her parents. Jon, who has just come in from outside picks it up from the front door mat and calls excitedly to the others.



Bethany is the first to arrive and helps Jon carry their very first ever postcard.
Jon is wearing a Frilly-Lilly duffle coat over Dollydoodles skinny jeans and Ruthsdoll's shoes whilst Bethany has a Thelma/Molly tartan pinafore over a Phyllis G. jumper and Ruthsdoll's sandals.



Let's put it on the table so that we can read what Henry has written.



Look it says that Henry is having a fantastic time. They flew over there in an ALL BLACK's aeroplane and are staying in the country surrounded by farms with horses,  highland cattle, ducks, chickens and dogs. He has been on some bush walks and several times to the beach. He is glad that he packed his mackintosh as it was raining there today.



Gotz toddler Bea joins them to hear all about Henry's adventures. She is wearing a OOAK outfit made by Ruthsdolls and given to me one Christmas from Dawn Law.



Bethany shows Bea the pictures on the front of some of the native birds of New Zealand. Look at the one at the top left as this Kakapo is a nocturnal bird that is nearly extinct. If you are near a Kea alpine parrot (seen on the bottom left ) be very careful not to go near to them as they are not 'a-very-nice-to-you' bird. Then there is a Pukeko, a popular water bird and a Tui, an attractive bird who lives in the forests. The Takahe shown in the centre is another endangered bird.



A million thanks again Sarah for adding these latest photos in this larger format.

Last but not least present from Susan

This one is definitely for the baby Sashas. A lovely furry soft baby ball but hiding a little secret.



No Quirky, it's NOT for sitting on. It's NOT a saggy-beanie-bag. Be careful that you don't squash the whatever's hiding inside.



See that little tab on the side. Carefully open that and take a peek as to what's inside.



Oh look it's a darling little Spring lamb. Just right for this time of year.



Gently take him out. Don't pull to hard as he's attached to a string so that he doesn't run off and get lost.



I'm not sure that YOU should be sitting in the ball, you're far too big. Give him a little cuddle to make sure that he's not frightened.



Oh thank you, thank you Auntie Susan for my 'Lammy.' Look his face colour matches my little fleece Sashawardrobe jacket.



Now Quirky just settle down and stop your antics and BTW why are you wearing Little Stevie's Dollydoodle joggers? Go and take them off and give them back to him.



Huge thanks to Sarah for her superb re-sizing and listings yet again.
PS. I'm afraid that I have to take a few days away from my computer as I have developed eye strain from being on it too much of late.

My third 70th birthday present from Susan

Susan's hot pink gift box was hiding yet a third present in amongst all the crisp white sheets of wrapping paper...this delightful little wooden piggy. Auntie Susan can I have her all for myself ? Please....? Yes.....?
Oh thank you, thank you, THANK you.



Oh, you're absolutely gorgeous. Come here and let me give you a big hug. I like the grey markings on your back and your little black trotters too..



Gosh you're a good solid weight. Somebody's has been feeding you up.



Let's have a look at your sweet little face then. What a gorgeous smile you have and perfectly drawn 'piggy' eyes. Smart ears too.



Now what shall I call you? Certainly not the usual 'Porky' that so many little pigs get named. Oh, I know how about 'Miss Piggy' from the American TV Muppet Show.



That's a smart curly little rope tail you've got . I've got a little curl too. See it's in the middle of my forehead but mine's made from real hair.





Eternally grateful thanks to Sarah as always.

The second of Susan's birthday presents

Also nestling in the box and carefully wrapped in tissue paper so as not to damage Steiffi the Ellie was this attractive simply styled little wooden horse. Hello little Horsey. Would you like to be all mine? Thank you very, very much Auntie Susan.



I have always loved the simplicity and 'back to nature' look of Children's wooden toys. Most of my daughter's first childhood toys were made from this material, the plain coloured building bricks in all shapes and sizes from Galt Toys and P&M Abbatts in Kensinton, a beautifully carved pull-along train with trucks/carriages and passengers, a flat bottomed tug boat complete with sea-captain, a little red racing car with bright yellow wheels and driver, an aeroplane with pilot and passenger, a hobby horse, steamroller and my favourite of all, a grey and red dumper-truck that could tip it's loads, followed by one of the very first Lundi doll's houses and a construction set called Timberbuild (from which houses and stables etc. could be made) all from Heals in Tottenham Court Road and made entirely from natural wood with an occassional splash of a primary colour. (I always wanted to buy her the Galt Toy Noah's Ark but it was so expensive that I never actually managed it.)



You look to be a nice sturdy animal that can endure years of play and I love your 'stringy' tail. The gently painted on details are just perfect and don't distract from the overall natural wood look.



I think that this photo shows the very special trust that so often occurs between man and horse. I was lucky enough to to have my brother's and sister's pet horses around me when I returned home from boarding school and in those following years before I got married my father bought me a 17 and a half hand thoroughbred ex- race horse called Harleythorne. She was later sold on for breeding when I moved to live down on the South coast due to my husband's job.



I just adore this tender and loving look that is being given to 'Horsey' by this Sasha baby. It reminds me of the relationship between my daughter and her dappled-grey Welsh show pony, Greadon (Grey on account of his colouring and Don, the first part of our then surname, Donnelly) that I bought for her with my very first teacher's paypacket.



Hugs and thanks are being sent to Susan for this second wonderful gift and of course to Sarah for her fabulous photo downloading.