There used to be a children's programme on British television called "The Wombles". The Wombles were lovable furry creatures that spent much of their time cleaning up after litter louts on Wimbledon Common in London. They even had a hit single in 1973, called unsurprisingly - "The Wombling Song"
I thought that The Wombles were no more but now there's a new Womble living in West Hampstead, not far from Billy Fury Way and Fortune Green. There's another one called Northsider in West Cork, Ireland. The London one wombles around his neighbourhood with a squirrel hound called Olga scouring the streets for the detritus of modern life.
Back in May, he stumbled across a small cache of old bottles - including several vintage "Bovril" bottles. He blogged about them here.
"Bovril" is a black meat extract paste - first marketed in Britain in 1889. You can spread it on toast or mix it with boiling water to make a savoury drink. Traditionally, this warming beefy drink was always available at football matches and popular with supporters too. Sadly, its popularity has faded in modern times but you can still buy it at halftime in many football stadia.
At lunchtime yesterday, our postman rang our doorbell before scurrying away. He had left a box on our doorstep. At first, I thought it might be some sort of explosive device, but after carefully opening it I discovered, to my delight, that it contained two of the aforementioned "Bovril" bottles - kindly sent by The West Hampstead Womble. They will be added to my collection of antique bottles for the wonderment of house guests and other visitors.
Thank you Stephen G.Reed! Very thoughtful.
When ever Wombles are mentioned it takes me back to one of my kids Birthdays. We had the Wombles album (yes, on a turntable) and it was played so much I don't think we ever played it again. lol
ReplyDeleteYou talking about Bovril reminded me of Malt Extract, whatever happened to that, I remember my Mum giving me spoons of that when I was young. No wonder I grew up so big and strong. lol
Briony
x
Malt extract rings a bell for me too Briony. Perhaps it's all used to make Maltesers these days. And I am sure you will recall spoonfuls of Milk of Magnesia. Bloody horrible stuff. Our two kids never had any of it.
DeleteMy youngest sister is 6'1" and we always told her it was partly to do with the Malt Extract that our mum used to put on her dummy/soother! She loved the stuff!
DeleteI guess it also had the benefit of keeping her quiet. Does she need a dummy now?
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DeleteThanks for mentioning me and my blog YP. I dug up a Beamish stout bottle last year or so. It's in the kitchen window. I use to have Oxo bottles just like the Bovril bottle and I had a R Whites vintage lemonade bottle complete with metal screw in stopper. It's good to know a fellow Womble and collector😊.
ReplyDeleteDid I mention my referrals fee?
DeleteIt was 2014. Put smallholding trash or treasure in the blog search if you want to see the Beamish bottle.
ReplyDeleteI will do that as soon as I receive the referrals fee by bank transfer.
DeleteWill PayPal annd Western Transfer work in Yorkshire?
DeleteNo problem. We use all modern payment methods in Yorkshire - including carrier pigeons.
DeleteHave you asked for the free Wifi in McDonald's? Apparently it's delicious.
DeleteI am not a bloody Mormon! I have got one Wifie already! What would I want two for? Certainly wouldn't lick a Wifie either. Well, maybe on our anniversary.
DeleteWife always sews the leather patch on the sleeve of my donkey jacket eiderdown when it's getting close to anniversary time.
DeleteBovril poured over pieces of bread was a frequent meal when I was a child. My dad still eats it like that for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to learn that your father is still with us. His great age is surely an excellent endorsement for Bovril's health benefits.
DeleteIt's disgusting.
ReplyDeleteTry Marigold (no, not the gloves) Bouillon.
DeleteU
Mr Dunham has more basic tastes Ursula.
DeleteThat sounds disgusting as well.
DeleteWell I might have known that you'd be a Bovril person. I am, of ocurse, a Marmite person.
ReplyDeleteI might as well leave it there because you'll have fun with the slip anyway. How my fingers decided on that transposition escapes my mind.
DeleteI thought O'Curse was an Irish prophet of doom. May I reassure you that though I am in possession of two vintage "Bovril" jars I am most certainly a "Marmite" kind of guy..."My mate Marmite!" as the slogan goes.
DeleteExcellent, YP. Now if you weren't from Yorkshire you'd be perfect.
DeleteI think you missed out the word "less".
DeleteThe Wombles even made it to Germany! I remember them well from my childhood, also the song; it was translated into German, and the first line was "Wombeln fängt an vor der eigenen Tür..." ("wombling begins in front of your door").
ReplyDeleteHow nice to have such a surprise gift!
How splendid that The Wombles made in to Germany. In the books, though not the TV show there was a German Womble called Great-Great-Great Uncle Hapsburg von Hohenzollern.
DeleteWhilst I have heard of Bovril I know more about Marmite. B vs M - the great debate. One, for once, I keep out of. I have made adversaries over lesser differences. Or fewer, depending whether you can count them.
ReplyDeleteThe Wombles were before I arrived on these shores. Will youtube them later to add to my education. They sound comfy rather than Jane Fonda.
U
Forget Shakespeare and Dickens, it's Elisabeth Bereford's "The Wombles" you need to read if seek the core of Englishness - even though half the characters have foreign associations.
DeleteWhat those who praise the Wombles don't tell you is that although they might have spent their time clearing up rubbish from Wimbledon Common, they more than made up for it with the non-recyclable plastic merchandise they spawned.
DeleteWhen did you morph into Greta Thunberg Tasker?...But the irony of it is not lost on me.
DeleteTasker, I'll raise your plastic hand.
DeleteOnce upon a time my father brought home a Gollywog. For me.
Don't say it. Abuse amuses me plenty and was laid at my doorstep when I mentioned this many years ago somewhere on the web. I loved my gollywog. He was very black, had huge white eyes and even bigger red lips. Mick Jagger has nothing on him. Anyway, he too (the Gollywog, not Mick Jagger) was made of plastic. Wonder how much he has rotted down since.
U
So now you are recommending Robertson's Jam on bread as well?
DeleteI know a black lad - a friend of my son - who used to wear a white T-shirt with a Robertsons golliwog upon it. Nobody accused him of racism.
DeleteI remember some old dear recommending the addition of a glug of sherry to hot Bovril when coming in on February afternoons. She lived till she was 97.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip S&S. This will now become my regular nightcap. A pint a night will see me living way past 100.
DeleteWhat unique bottles!
ReplyDeleteSteve Reed is unique as well- he is kind, good, thoughtful man in this crazy world of ours.
You have met him in real life so you should know Ms Moon.
DeleteSteve Reed is a good guy. Enjoy your collection.
ReplyDelete"Reed" is a great name for a librarian isn't it? Shame about the spelling.
DeleteThe kids all think it's hilarious that my name is Reed!
DeleteOne's name should somehow echo one's line of work. Dave should be Dave Xylophone. I should have been called Neil Apostrophe though these days it might as well be Neil Layabout.
DeleteAh, good old Bovril. More salt than the English Channel.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I don't think that advertising slogan would have worked.
DeleteWhy didn't she say "... than the Irish Sea"?
DeleteJayCee was trying to be exotic.
DeleteI AM exotic!
DeleteI'm so glad they arrived safely, and you're welcome! I didn't realize "Wombling" was the word for my obsession with street trash, but I'm glad to know it has a name. I noticed the other day in Waitrose that Bovril is still for sale -- in a far less interesting modern jar.
ReplyDeleteYou should have treated yourself to a jar.
DeleteHow kind of Steve to share his collection with you! I must say I have never heard of Bovril but it sure came in interesting bottles.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed hearing about "The Wombles" too. Although we did not have them here we did have "Weebles" back in the 1970's. Weebles were toys that "Wobble but they don't fall down!"
America sent its Weebles over here too!
DeleteThat means you could have Wombles with Weebles!
DeleteThat sounds quite rude Bonnie!
DeleteGreat story. Since I follow Steve , I knew the other side of the story. I didn't know you were going to get the bottles.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice gift from Steve! We have Bovril in our grocery stores. Can't say I ever had it, though. It doesn't sound overly appealing. But the old Bovril bottles are unique and cool.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Wombleton village down the road, the pub bar is filled with Womble characters.
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