As some regular visitors to this blog may recall, my parents, Philip and Doreen, met in India during World War Two. They had been posted there by The Royal Air Force. In December 1945, they were married in Delhi before travelling back to postwar Britain to begin their married life together.
Because they returned by ship, they had the opportunity to bring several souvenirs back with them and these handcrafted items were present in our home throughout my childhood. One of those items was a brass table top which I adopted when my mother's house was finally sold.
I removed it from the tired old wooden legs on which it had sat for sixty years and affixed it to a new undercarriage using the base of a table I had bought at a junk furniture shop. Though I have cleaned it before, yesterday I gave it a very thorough cleaning - first applying a toothbrushed coating of paste made from white vinegar, salt and flour before finishing off with a wad of "Brasso" and a soft cloth.
See how it shines. It is a daily reminder of my mother and father and of the anonymous Indian craftsman who created the brass masterpiece - no doubt for a very small reward - seventy five years ago.
Yesterday evening, Shirley said she wanted to watch a vile programme called "Love Island" on our television so I had to escape from the front room. There is no way I will ever watch such gratuitous garbage.
I went to the dining room and worked on the front cover of Frances and Stewart's "order of service". I have been fiddling around with the thing since before we went to Santorini. In ninety minutes, it was finished. I haven't shown them it yet but I hope they'll be happy with it. At the weekend she gave me some extra guidance and I told her to be honest with me when my creation was complete. I would be happy to keep working on it till they are entirely satisfied
What a wonderful 'heirloom' to have kept and treasured. And I'm sure Frances is going to treasure her Order of Service forever, it's brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Sue.
DeleteSomething unique for the big day, it's lovely and a true keepsake.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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I hope so Briony.
DeleteA wonderful heirloom...a cherished memory, among many, many others, of your parents.
ReplyDeleteFrances will be thrilled with, and thankful for your work done - your personal efforts - on their Order of Service...and, it, too, will be cherished for many years to come.
I tried hard to make my design something they might cherish even when I have gone.
DeleteI'm sure you've succeeded, Mr. Pud. (Sorry about the huge space above. I'll blame that on Shama who was walking around my keyboard when I was typing my response. I'm going to have to get her her own computer!!!)
DeleteSpace - the final frontier!
DeleteWhat a beautiful table. I would happily give that houseroom.
ReplyDeleteEven in your tax haven mansion?
DeleteHa, ha. It probably wouldn't fit into my meagre pensioner's hovel.
DeleteGood work, Mr. P.!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that your parents met in India. What a lovely piece of their history you've owned and taken care of for all these years!
Nice artwork! But I must ask- is that a gravestone with a heart on it? Is this symbolic of "until death do us part"?
Well observed Ms Moon. That was indeed my intended message.
DeleteThat "island" program goes on every night - good heavens!
ReplyDeleteLooks like I will be spending a lot of time in the dining room.
DeleteWhat a special gift -- to be able to create the cover of their wedding program. And that tabletop is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about "Love Island." I wouldn't even consider it. Which is how I feel about pretty much all "reality" TV.
Great minds think alike Steve.
DeleteA very pretty table, an antique for your children to inherit. Also a lovely Service of Order design to be kept with the photographs.
ReplyDeleteI have tried so hard with the "Order of Service" as I am aware that a few copies of it will live on long after I have cast off my mortal coil.
DeleteHow amazing - we inherited an almost identical table when my in laws died! It was on a very rickety set of folding legs. I kept it in the dining room too, but eventually found keeping it pristine was too much of a chore. It came with us to Spain, and later, when a friend admired it, I gave it to her.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful personal touch for Frances and Stuart's Order of Service. I'm sure all the guests will treasure it too.
Surprised that Shirley watches Love Island, I thought she was much more discerning ! No, I haven't watched it, so I shouldn't really "knock" it I suppose !
To keep brass or indeed copper looking great, you have to polish it every month. I thought you would have a little Spanish maid to do such things CG!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous table top that is. And a wonderful personalized Order of Service cover. Lucky couple!
ReplyDeleteI sincerely do not like the kind of reality shows that encourage unhealthy competition, backstabbing and shallow behavior. They are making the world a worse place, in my opinion.
I very much agree with your final remark. These awful shows breed shallowness.
DeleteWhat a beautiful table top! You did a great job polishing it up. While you were working on it did you think back to the many times your Mom must have cleaned it in the past? I always do that whenever I clean something that has been passed down to me. I feel a little of the past and whoever it belonged to coming through to me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky couple Frances and Stewart are to have your personalized artwork on their order of service. That will certainly be saved in their collections of special keepsakes.
Yes. I did think of my mother as I cleaned that table top and I also thought about Amy Spicer - an old woman who lived in our village and did a few hours cleaning for my mum each week. She was also a reliable babysitter.
DeleteI have two of your creations framed
ReplyDeleteOne in the kitchen and one in the bathroom
I feel honoured my friend.
DeleteObviously busyness isn't watching some dumb TV show. Nicely done on both the table cloth and order of service.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rouge!
DeleteThe table is very beautiful, and I really like the order of service you have created. I can not imagine Frances and Steward NOT being happy with it.
ReplyDeleteMy parents also have a brass-topped table, but it is from Spain (and originally from North Africa, I guess). It came to them after my Dad's father died. He was a translator for Spanish and worked for a company in Ludwigsburg with business in Spain; therefore, he frequently travelled there and brought the table back from one of his many visits.
That sounds like a great job but I guess it involved a lot of hard work.
DeleteHow lovely to have such a personalised order of service. I am sure they will be delighted with it. If they read your blog, you've let the cat out of the bag.
ReplyDeleteShe requested it ADDY and now she is not happy with her hair in the cartoon and has requested improvement. Hopefully, this will not mean starting all over again.
Delete