Monday, September 10, 2012

The British Character

With a bright blue sky and a nip in the air, R and I picked up some friends and made our way north to a large outdoor flea market.  The kind that attracts all sorts of eccentric collectors of everything from the just about useless to the fascinating and everything in between.  Old tubes of Tinkertoy, wicker sewing baskets, massive hairdryers that look like brain-sucking pods and retro Corningware made us laugh along a route that felt a bit like we were visiting a museum collection from our youth.  I was like a moth to a flame every time I spied a cloth-bound book and my efforts did pay off in one particular treasure.

This red 1954 edition cost a mere two dollars and provided me with a delightful half-hour of smiles as I flipped through its 'musty but in a nice way' pages and sipped a cup of tea.  Speaking of tea, I loved the above image.

And this one.  No matter how many times a day I tell myself to restrain my exuberant nature it's absolutely no use so I'll just have to admire this trait from afar.


This illustration is the one that made me laugh out loud as I recognize the tactic when at movie theatres...minus the grumpy face, of course.  We had the strangest experience once when a woman walked straight up the stairs and plunked herself down next to my husband.  We were the first two people in the whole place but our new friend said 'It's just going to fill up anyway so I might as well sit next to you'. 

This book is an absolute joy, I only wish it were ten times longer than its 120 pages.

13 comments:

  1. Isn't it wonderful? You did extremely well to snap it up for 2 dollars! I love it, and of course I love the introduction by EMD too.

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  2. What a fabulous find! I love the illustrations, they are excellent representations of "character" with a strong dose of humour. How fun.

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  3. What fun! This is something I never seem to do anymore (finding wonderful old books) ... I'll have to work on that.

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  4. Well done, Darlene.

    And it sounds like a real flea market, not the ones where the dealers are all selling from job lots of watches and last year's must-have toys.

    I know just what you mean about "musty but in a nice way." It's got the aroma of books I've read as a child, or have been on a shelf somewhere a long time, but not mould or mildew.

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  5. I love these! How funny and charming. I'd love to see a few of these images framed and hung on a wall as a cheeky little art grouping.

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  6. How gorgeous is that! I love the importance of tea.

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  7. Nothing quite like a find is there? Yes, tea is VERY important to readers. Still hoping for a classic Rumer Godden/Noel Streatfeld haul but no luck yet ...

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  8. Gorgeous! I love those pictures and they are so true!! I shall look out for this. I can especially relate to the tea picture - I've been there over a camping stove!

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  9. Hi Darlene! I just thought you'd like to know there's an annual book fair going on this weekend in Mississauga. It'll begin tomorrow, Thursday night, till Sunday afternoon. Location is at Sheridan Mall. It's on Erin Mills Parkway, near the QEW exit.

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  10. Oh what a fabulous book! And all so true :) K x

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  11. It sounds absolutely gorgeous! and at that price.

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  12. An absolute gem of a find! What a delightful little treasure, for the price of two dollars.

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