Light at the End of a Tunnel

I walked through this tunnel today.  I had to bend over to stop my head hitting the top.  My two companions were not brave enough to walk through.  Later, they found a smallish zip wire. They both went on the zip wire and cajoled me into going on it.  My stomach flipped as I careered down the wire only for my husband to drag me back to the top and then let me go down again!  It was a great photo opportunity for all but luckily for me, the images will not be featuring on this blog!

My Nans Hand Bag

* Photograph taken from Ron Woollacott's book 'A Historical Tour of Nunhead and Peckham Rye.

Drifting off to sleep last night I started to recall when my Nan (pictured above with my Grandad in the 1930's) used to give me a peak at the contents of her hand bag.  As a young girl it was fascinating to me to see the various items that she pulled out:

• Smelling salts
• Ladies handkerchief with embroidery in one corner
• 2 lipsticks - one orange/red and one pink/red
• Face powder compact with pressed powder and mirror
• Small container of Bourjois rouge powder blush
• Rain hat
• Emergency sewing kit
• Scented cachous to sweeten the breath
• Nail clippers
• Emery board
• Nail polish
• Orange wood nail stick (for pushing back the cuticles)

I notice that all her products are connected with self care, grooming and appearance.  People of a certain era used to take pride in their appearance.  They were presentable without being self absorbed about how they looked.  People used to sew on buttons, turn up hems and polish shoes.

My Nan was born in 1912 and lived through two World wars.  She came from a generation who truly knew the meaning of hardship.  Younger generations could learn a lot from such people.  They had to face daily problems head on, cope in a crisis and just get on with it.  They didn't have a choice.

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300 in 30 Days

Julie at Notes on Paper has had a great idea to leave 300 comments on blogs over 30 days.  You can read all about her reasons for doing this by visiting her blog. She writes intelligent, humorous and informative posts and is a pleasure to read.  I decided to take part in this challenge but it is actually quite difficult to find even 10 blogs which are current and that you can leave a response to!  I am usually quite good at leaving comments but have struggled with this today.  I am keeping a record of each place I leave a comment and so far today I have left 14 comments on blogs so I only have 286 comments to go over the next 30 days!  The comments have to relate to the post I am commenting on and I can't just say things like nice! or great! to help tot up the numbers!!!

I've been feeling jaded for some time now (like many people are) and thought that visiting some new blogs would give me a fresh outlook on things so Julies #300in30days challenge has come at the right time for me  At least I feel I am doing something and being proactive in seeking out new blogs in the blogosphere and hopefully making long term contact with some of them.

If you can recommend a blog for me to read and comment on - especially creative blogs - then please do let me know in the comments section below.

I don't generally talk about my family on this blog and none of them have their own blogs.  However,  I thought you may like to see a painting that my sister recently did of John Ruskin. She is self taught and painting has become her hobby. She has painted him in water colour many times but this was her first attempt at painting him in acrylics.  She doesn't think it is that good!!!  She is a massive fan of Ruskin and I think her passion for him shines through her work.

Well I am off to seek out blogs to comment on.  It is a full time job you know!

Have a great weekend!