Which items from the past do you still use?

[Lydart]

I've still got, and use at the supermarket, several African baskets made from papyrus that I bought in the 70's in a market near Lake Victoria.  As long as you don't get them wet, they seem to last for ever !   My daughters want them ... 

[Rabbit B]

Lovely picture Milly,


Love the outfit, could have been made yesterday.  it is such a classic style.   

Hate to say it but my basket is the same as well, why does it seem heavy these days I wonder?  When it's empty too!   

Rabbit B   

Actually... baskets are another thing from the past I can now see the benefit of.  They do get a bit heavy to carry around all day but you can fit all sorts in them, and you don't have to rummage around like with a handbag to find the things hidden away at the bottom, and you can set them down on a table and they stay upright rather than folding in on themselves and hiding their contents.  And your sandwiches don't get squashed.  (Wrapped in grease-proof paper of course...another recent re-discovery - they taste really fresh and not like plastic!)

  :)Milly

Hi Milly,

I really must get my basket out again and stop being such a wimp!  I used to be so strong, but since I got asthma, I have had a job to walk far,  which is why I have not used it often lately, don't use plastic though.  I have those posh green bags from a certain supermarket that lets you scan your own things.

I really miss my Mum and Dad too Willow, Dad died suddenly one afternoon in 1973 and Mum in 1999. 

Mum was a brilliant cook, she had cold hands so her pastry was light and lovely.  We kept pigs and had our own pork and bacon, and rabbits and chicken and goats.  The things she made for us during the war out of nothing were amazing, I was always given a party for my Birthday, near Christmas, with jellies using only the juice, from the bottle fruit that she had done in the Autumn, and a cake which she had saved up the sugar ration for.  I did it for her afterwards we had a wonderful party on her 80th, all her old friends.  She was 85 when she died.

They were both wonderful parents and I was so lucky to have them both so long.

Glad that they did not know what I have found out about the families, although I suspect that they would have laughed!

Rabbit B   

[Willow 4873]

Hi Milly,

I really must get my basket out again and stop being such a wimp!  I used to be so strong, but since I got asthma, I have had a job to walk far,  which is why I have not used it often lately, don't use plastic though.  I have those posh green bags from a certain supermarket that lets you scan your own things.

I really miss my Mum and Dad too Willow, Dad died suddenly one afternoon in 1973 and Mum in 1999. 

Mum was a brilliant cook, she had cold hands so her pastry was light and lovely.  We kept pigs and had our own pork and bacon, and rabbits and chicken and goats.  The things she made for us during the war out of nothing were amazing, I was always given a party for my Birthday, near Christmas, with jellies using only the juice, from the bottle fruit that she had done in the Autumn, and a cake which she had saved up the sugar ration for.  I did it for her afterwards we had a wonderful party on her 80th, all her old friends.  She was 85 when she died.

They were both wonderful parents and I was so lucky to have them both so long.

Glad that they did not know what I have found out about the families, although I suspect that they would have laughed!

Rabbit B   

Hiya Rabbit B

I lost both my parents by the time I was 40. Two of my workmates lost their parents this year and they are both in their 60s (one was 65 yesterday) and I know I feel jealous at times thinking 'why couldn't I have another 20 years with my parents?' But they were both very ill towards the end and my mum spent 5 years in a wheelchair following a stroke

But I know what you mean. Money was always short when we were growing up and I don't know how they managed at times. They brought up us three plus my dads three sons from his previous marriage and at least they can be proud that none of us have ever been in trouble with the police, we all have jobs and are happy loving people

Maybe that is the best tribute I can give them

Willow x

[millymcb]

OH says the only old thing he uses regularly is me

Although I just became a veteran   so maybe he's got a point

Milly

[LoneyBones]

Well I'm still using the same old mind that I've had for 62 years now. Can't say it works as well as it used to tho'.
Leonie.

[Rabbit B]

Hiya Rabbit B

I lost both my parents by the time I was 40. Two of my workmates lost their parents this year and they are both in their 60s (one was 65 yesterday) and I know I feel jealous at times thinking why couldn't I have another 20 years with my parents?' But they were both very ill towards the end and my mum spent 5 years in a wheelchair following a stroke

But I know what you mean. Money was always short when we were growing up and I don't know how they managed at times. They brought up us three plus my dads three sons from his previous marriage and at least they can be proud that none of us have ever been in trouble with the police, we all have jobs and are happy loving people

Maybe that is the best tribute I can give them

Willow x

Hiya Willow,

Well said!!  They made that generation tough and no mistake, never any wingeing from any of them.  Sorry to hear that your Mum was in a wheelchair,  mine was housebound most of the last 10 years.  She would not go out in a wheelchair and could not walk far.

I think that we are so lucky to have been young when were were, we had the best time despite the lack of material things!

Don't be jealous, it is a soul destroying emotion, be glad that they are both together again.  Your tribute was apt and so true!

A Very Merry Christmas to you and lets drink [water for me] to absent friends and family! 

All this reminiscing I forgot about the old thing, I still have!!  My dear OH we will have been married 50 years next year!! 

Rabbit B 

[stoney]

Not the past but is this the future
My son daughter-in-law and three children have been to Florida and guess what they brought me back
Now I have to ask how much ingredients do I use to fill these two tins
Its Santa and I know one family will be wanting a Santa cake made
 
And who is going to make it

Elizabeth

Just a thought - did the tins come with any packaging? There might be a website you could contact for advice/recipes.  Worth a try, anyway. Post a piccie of your culinary efforts (if you are able to get a reliable recipe!)

[loo]

A ruby ring.
I don't know how old it is, or who first owned it, but it has come down to me in the family.  I always admired it as a child, and rubies are my favourite stone.  I don't think it's all that valuable, as it's very lightweight.  19th century is all I can say.  I often wonder which of the women I have "discovered" was the original owner.  It's the only thing we have in our family from that far back.  I wear it on special occasions.

A quilt made by my greatgrandmother just before she died in 1949.  I use it in the summer sometimes.  still in excellent condition.

An Oriental wool rug that will never wear out, apparently, acquired in a house purchase in 1973 from 3 very sisters who were then in their 80s.  It was old when I got it, but does not look very worn even now!  I'm guessing it must be getting on for 100 years.

I too have an old glass rolling pin from unknown (the idea is that you put ice cubes or chips in it to keep the pastry cold as you roll it out), a sharpening steel from someone who was a butcher 50 years ago, a rocking chair from my grandparents from the 1930s (the only piece of furniture that survived from their large 5-bedroom country home), and I am fairly sure I have a couple of bone knitting needles somewhere, also from unknown, but I rarely knit any more.  (Even the older plastic knitting needles are better than the newer ones.) 

Interesting question.

[Lydart]

I've got a brooch which was in my grandmothers box of trinkets ... no value ... but I also have a photo of my great grandmother wearing it in about 1870 !!