Memories

A small collection from N's aunt's house. Objects are just objects with their hidden memories without their owners but one can imagine some of their story ....

The black beads are made of jet which is highly polished, cut and faceted fossilised coal. Popular in the time of Queen Victoria and worn as mourning jewelry and then again the the 1920's with the flapper dresses.

A pocket watch worn by uncle's father I guess. These were first worn sometime in the 1500's right up until WWI when wrist watches came into fashion. The pocket watch was attached to a buttonhole or waistcoat by a watch chain sometimes decorated with small objects. My grandfather's had a small silver Swiss bear from Grindelwald and a gold seal belonging to my grandmother.

The little bottle containing smelling salts belonged to auntie. Also called "sal volatile" the salts contain ammonium carbonate. People were encouraged to carry this during WWII and was used to regain consciousness after a faint, swoon, headache or injury - what a stink!! Auntie carried them always in her handbag right up to the present time.

Took the dog to the vet today for her annual vaccination - she hates the vets and it took three of us to hold her down to receive her kennel cough medication blown down her nostril! She was fine afterwards and given a treat. On the way back watched a short convoy of lorries on the road carrying tanks, one of them in desert camouflage. Guess they were going to Bovington Army Camp, the home of the Tank Regiment in Dorset.