Will you ever go to Brockenhurst?

18 Mar 2013



My friend's sister's surname is Brockenhurst, so getting the train to a place called Brockenhurst felt perfectly familiar.  It made me think I must email Sophie and ask her how she is, get an update on little baby Grace and catch up with a lovely friend.

If you ever venture to this sleepy village peppered with walkers, hikers, half marathon runners and people with fancy expensive cars parked in fancy backwater pubs then I suggest you go to two places to satisfy your visual lust for antique plates and pretty things made a long long time ago.

Before having a browse, I did a little bit of happy squealing and hugging.  It's the automatic and natural response that nature kicks in when you haven't seen a fabulous girlie friend for an unreasonable length of time.  There's the realisation that you've missed them and the excitement manifests into high pitch noises of happiness. Well that's what happened when I met Hannah in Brockenhurst for lunch and before we found Pinapple Retro and the Squirrel.

Anyway, I do dribble on - here's the low down. 

Pineapple Retro

We spent more time entering the postcode of this shop into our sat nav than it took us to find it.  It's on the main road that runs through the village called Lyndenhurst and it's really easy to find.


The shed like shop feels small and perfectly crammed with bright retro goodies.  The medium sized kitchen set in the middle of the room was decorated with today's fresh flowers.


The owner was delighted to see us.  I'm sure she's like that with all who enter, but it's a wonderful skill to make your customers feel individually welcomed.


This little spot is up for vintage shop of the year and when she told Hannah and I we squealed again - which I thought was kind of us, but slightly over enthusiastic.  But being the best of something or being nominated to be the best of something must feel really nice.


The focus of time here is between 1950 and 1970.  It's the type of place you walk around and think - oh that's nice, oh that's nice - oh that's even nicer.
There's definitely lots of items to catch people's attention and encourage you to dart about the shop - touching, feeling, picking up, putting back and picking up again.

Squirrel

What a delicate space to show such delicate beautiful items.  The decor is a wonderful canvas for china plates etched in flowers, wispy leaves and patterns.


Hannah took the lead and thought we may as well have a look inside because it's next door to Pineapple Retro.  I assumed the price tagging system was similar to its neighbour so I was content at standing back and taking lots of photos.

But this place also had the darting affect.  Hannah went from shelve to shelve exclaiming how much she wanted each new affordable find.  So I started taking a little more notice.


There was a tea set for £225. It was like artwork on the wall, the owner said she wanted to keep it and just look at it.  I understand that train of thought.


I saw a jug, but I don't need a jug, so I put it back. It was only £7, but I thought I'd prefer a glass of red wine today with my Sunday roast.

Hannah and a jug. Hannah and a pot.
Once you are ready to pay, the sight of the cash machine is a treat.  I played supermarkets and  fish & chip shop when I was younger than 10 and this cash machine would have been a grateful play addition.


It doesn't work, but the owner likes to press the buttons and look at it every day.

But my favourite bit is the opening hours of the shop - in winter - from 9 am till dusk.

"Who says that these days?" 

But when I saw it on their business card I thought...oh...I like that.

I nearly have a machine

4 Mar 2013



Novum is the term used by a scholar dude Darko Suvin to describe the scientifically plausible innovations used by science fiction narratives.  Boring? Maybe.

Well, it's also a Latin superlative meaning - something new, fresh, young and innovative.  I like that.

So, I'm proud to declare, it's also the brand of sewing machine I excavated from my storage of possessions and never ever had the intentions of ever using.  It was once just a luscious dead weight sitting in the corner of my rented attic room attracting dust and my glances.

Now there is joy because my local sewing centre says they can MOT it, ELECTRIFY it and bring it into my life for a whole £70 and a bit.  So as long as this sewing machine obsession thing sticks, I will be stitching away in sewing heaven.  A flap on the wood base revealed a tin box with lots of little extras labelled and ready to be of some use.  There's even a miniature bottle of oil  I presume is as old as the 1950-60s machine.  A little gross I'm thinking, but let's just call it "added charm."


I've read Novum was taken over by Jerome and I'm told Jerome is v good.  I was also told to get a heavy machine and this is one would chop off my toes and send them crashing through the floor if it were ever to be dropped.

I'm a little anxious because paying for an upgrade doesn't mean it will work to my satisfaction.  There's hundreds on ebay for less, that could be better.  It's like buying a second hand car and hoping all the money you lavish on it will guarantee it works.


But stumpy - my sewing master's cat likes hanging around the machine, so I'm taking that as a sign. 

He lives with no tail.  Other cats wait at his flap, so they can pounce or do what cats do when they wanna fight instead of play.  So I figure he's got good karma floating around his paws.

I hope all goes well.

The city of coal and kind hearts


After a long search, I finally bumped into a little bit of vintage heaven in Newcastle.  

It's the night before I leave the city of coal and kind hearts and I'm chuffed to have discovered Vintage18.

If I ran as fast as I could from here to there it would take me less than 30 seconds, so I'm sort of glad I'm off because I'd be there ALL the time spending ALL my money.


The narrow shop is small, but carefully lined with clothes that you know the owner Lynn would wear if she could or had the time.


It's not a mishmash of random stuff that someone hopes to punt off - there's lots of carefully selected pieces you want to buy, take home and wear straight away.


One of the first things I spotted was a black long lace coat that belonged to her grandmother. 


I asked if I could try it on, but she hesitated and shyly said it was just for show and to share.  

I'm was so okay with that as there was plenty more to distract my attention. 


The future of Vintage18 I'm told is wedding dresses and Hawaiian shirts.


I'm not sure how that will work, but when you have a business in the land of hen and stag do's, I suppose there's a natural economic urge to provide for the clientele.

I was here for hours and did buy a white skirt with a belt in my favourite colour - holiday blue door.   Lynne says it's a circular skirt from the 50s.  When you put it on and twirl it whirls around you and forms a perfect circle. 

I bought a cream skirt covered in autumn leaves and branches.  I imagined wearing it with a very heavy brown cardigan, boots and scarf.  A light, but warm in winter sort of look.  I've not done it yet, but I have plans.

Vintage18 is definitely a place to visit - one I hope more people will make an effort to find.

Address: NE1 4HZ

Attica


Attica was the first place I headed to when I arrived in the North.


It's a treasure trove filled with things that makes you feel like a lucky magpie bathing in gold coins.


On a chilly late afternoon - the warm yellow glows from the lamps strategically scattered - make you feel like you've stepped into a shop of sunshine. 


Every time I've come here, I've happily let go at least an hour of my life looking through clothes, trying on coats, stroking the furniture and wishing I had a massive van to take it all away to my massive imaginary house.


The furniture section is definitely way better than the clothes bit, but it's delightful place just waiting for you to pop by.

Address: NE1 1EZ

Retro Clothing

There's not much to say about Retro.  It's a standard place that's on my way to Attica, so I always have a look just in case there's something worthwhile.  I've bought a pair of shoes for £12.

They are beautiful but realistically too small.  I need to find them and then find an event where I don't have much walking to do.

Address: NE1 1EZ

Tyneside Market


You will love this place - even if you buy nothing.

Trinkets, house items, furniture reclaimed stuff, home made cakes, coffee, old books, newly polished retro tiles - are all waiting for someone to see their charm.


What's better than a little train ride, a wonder through the market, then a walk out to the beach to look at the sea?


What's better than doing a wee bit of vintage shopping, eating fish and chips while you watch the waves and hope the seagulls don't shit on your head.


When the thought of work is looming and Monday morn is getting closer, it's one of those trips that makes you feel you've had a worthwhile day.


Get off the train at Tyneside Station and you will know you have arrived.

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