Friday Night Comedy

Last week, on Friday 13th, the weekend of the titanic's sinking centenary, in a rainstorm, we dressed up and went out for a meal on a boat....

And thats where the comparisons stop.

The 'Penny Lane'

Our trip out was to the premiere of the 'River Giggle' an Evening of Comedy on the River Avon. The format of the evening, run by promoter and gangster character act  Sal Monello, is simple -  a three course meal followed by 4 comedy acts. The venue, aboard The Penny Lane River Cruiser , gives a nice twist to the evening.

The evening was an absolute blinder, with some great comedians and  delicious food! Luckily we had a great crowd on our table so the banter over dinner was fun too! Unfortunately the rain put pay to any photos, so you'll have to imagine  how fabulous we looked!!!

They are looking to run this regularly the 2nd Friday of the month, if you're near Bath  its a great night out, you can book here. And Sal holds other comedy nights around the area too, if boats aren't your thing!*

*The boat is moored for the evening so no sea sickness to worry about!!

{Beginners Guide to } Getting "into" the Vintage Scene

The Vintage Mafia girls - Never short of an invite!

By no means do I declare I am "there" yet but for someone at the very beginning of their vintage journey there may be a few hints and tips I can share.

When I began this journey, we had the passion and a bit of the look but nowhere to go!  It always seemed to me like everything vintage that I lusted after was happening far far away, possibly London or Norwich or even in the good ole US of A and Australia! What was lil vintage me going to do stuck in Somerset?



1. Look at what events there are in your area? Do they have a website or facebook page? 

Use facebook to connect with people who enjoy your era, search 'vintage tea party' or '1940s' in the search bar and see what comes up, are any in your area look at the larger area groups such as northern forties or sw re enactments, then see if anyone is from your town.

2. If there is something on in your area - go to it!!!

Be it a vintage fair a ww2 show or a tea party, go along and give it a go! You'll soon find out which bits you enjoy and which you don't!

 

3. Don't commit to just one era (at least not straight away!)

Although I'm very much part of the1940s family when we attend events, everything from 1920s - 1950s appeals to me and thanks very much to PanAm I've just bought my first early 60s inspired dress!! Go to lots of things, let all the styles wash over you and see where you settle!

4. What did they used to do in your favourite era?

Dancing, Tea Parties, Burlesque, Make do and Mend? Each of these areas gives you scope to find more like minded people. Like knitting or want to learn? Get along to a knitting cafe or group, chances are you'll find more like minded souls there. Our first "vintage event" in our area was a burlesque night. Just being in a venue with so many other people that enjoyed dressing up made me feel more confident in my attire! Events very often have flyers and posters for other things you might enjoy hanging about on the day - pick them up!!!

5. Vintage Shops

Chat to the assistants or owner, they probably work there because they are hopefully passionate about vintage, do they know of anything coming up? check out the flyers on the counter or posters in the windows

6. Read magazines

Even back copies will have events in them, check online if they are on again. Some great magazines we've fouind so far include milkcow, vintage life and best of british


7. Use Blogs

Read and subscribe to as many vintage blogs as you can and clickity click on all the blog lists down the side , chances are they are vintage too!! Don't be afraid to leave a comment asking a direct question about something!

8. Join Forums

There are plenty of great forums out there, try the FedoraLounge, 1940s social network, Worldwide Vintage Network


7. Talk to EVERYBODY!

Stall holders at fairs (ask them where they will be next?) The performers at shows (where else can you see them? do they run classes?) Shop owners (have they heard of any good events coming up?) The lady sitting next to you in the knitting cafe / sewing class (have you done any other classes? - maybe theres another great place in the next town?)

I hope that gets you started branching out and finding other kindred souls and events? Ad when you have that great once in a million invitation - don't forget to invite me!!!

Don't for get to comment and leave any tips you have too!!!

Swindon & Cricklade Wartime Weekend

Mentioning George and Gracies Pilot in the last post, I searched through the blog to link it in, and realise - I hadn't blogged about the event we saw it at!!! So here is a very belated post about the Swindon and Cricklade War Weekend... a brilliant blend of railways, ww2 re enactments and vintage shopping!!

The weather wasn't looking promising so I ditched the dresses are tried to rock a landgirl style outfit! Not a bad decisions as there were loads of landgirl displays there.

Not sure whose those were but the amazing homefront displays in the gazebos were put on by the marvellous Blitz Buddies. They were a great bunch of people, very frindly and eager to answer any questions I had!




Their display also include period cars, we instantly fell inlove with the v8 pilot!!



One of their members was the fab Mrs She, who was offering Vintage Hairdos for £5 so, as I am had been struggling all week to recreate anything vaugely vintage, I treated myself to some victory rolls!!



Hard to photgraph dark hair but here's a closeup....





We also treated ourselves to a 1940s lunch in one of the carriages!

Potato & Leek Soup or Spam fritters to start with Rabbit Pie or Corned Beef Hash mains, Apple Tart Dessert and of course to finish a nice cuppa!

I really loved these cups!!





Shopping was fab too, I snagged a lovely brown hat and hubby bought this stunning coat

I really liked this tank top...... but as the price had fallen of, the chap wouldnt sell it *grr*



So all in all, a great little event, very relaxed and lots of fun!!!

Very Vintage Weekend Part 2 - Wiltshire Tea Party

Yesterday, we travelled to Malmesbury and spent the afternoon sipping earl grey and enjoying a delightful afternoon of vintage entertainment and shopping!!!!

As predicted the weather had turned chilly, so it was a great excuse to wear my fabulous winter coat!
I also um'd and ah'd over wearing my snood today, but finally decided on my hat with a nice little hair roll at the front!



The Tea Party organised by Lavinia was great, we had early grey and lemon drizzle cake all served on vintage china.




The crowd that turned up was amazing, lots of lovely fashion to gaze at and many interesting characters. We had a most enjoyable game of dominos with Pike (one of the Blitz Brothers ) and chatted with facebook friends!




Entertainment was top notch with a retro DJ , a rockabilly singer, burlesque performance and dancing displays!



I didn't find too much today to buy, a vintage game of lotto and a book on retro hairstyling. I did spot these outside in a charity shop window, but it was closed!


I also found this in the carpark.... and after George and Gracie's V8 Pilot, this is my very next favourite vintage vehicle fantasy buy!




Hubby on the other hand splashed his cash very nicely....

A genuine WW2 USAAF uniform!! :)
(be still my heart!)

Livinia was talking about more tea parties in the near future, so keep your ears open, and come along for some vintage fun!!

A Very Vintage Weekend Part 1 - Rook Lane Retro

Today we went to Rook Lane Retro, a twice yearly retro fair held in Frome. With free entry to anyone in retro / vintage outfits how could we resist! We've never been before so it was a nice little morning out. The actual fair was alot smaller than I expected only about 16 stalls max and covered several decades of retro-ness so I wasn't sure how many treasures I might find there?



Fear not though hubby and I scoured all the stalls, including one woman who wasn't a business but had just 'had a clearout of her childhood memories still at home' and found the following treasures.....

Lace Hankies...
I love the scotie Dogs!

40s Books....
A couple for the children to read at events, a great magazine for me to flick through on a steam train journey (Hubby has some vintage reading material, waiting in his Christmas Pile...shhh!)

Pink Gloves....
Now stricktly these weren't bought today but in the week from a local charity shop and they had their first outing today! Just look at the ruching on them, isn't it great!!!

Once again its been another vintage day in Frome, so we wandered around to Catherine Hill again and checked out the vintage shops. I tried on a couple of hats in Make and Mend but couldnt decide on which one so we went for a stroll and ended up in Nova where hubby found a perfect fitting brown trilby, which apparently he's wanted for a while, so we bought that instead and wandered home via this lovely little street......Frome really does have some of the prettiest buildings!

Tomorrow we have been invited to the Wiltshire Vintage TeaParty in Malmesbury, so I will hopefully find my perfect hat there instead!!

How it all began ....

So, as this vintage lark is new to me, I've been trying to work out exactly what sparked me into the 'dressing up' part of it. Looking back I'm pretty sure it was this post by Hen over at Henhousehandmade.

I've read Hens blog for months now and the severn valley post really got me interested. Hubby loves his trains and it reminded me that our local railway normally has a 40s event. I showed hubby Hens post and posed the question....... 'you wouldn't fancy dressing up like that and go off to a railway event would you?' the rest they say is history!

Of course nothing is ever that easy and Avon Valley Railway had no 1940s event planned for 2011! A month or so later though when we were off at our devon bolthole, we noticed flyers for a weekend event 'Wings and Wheels' at Upottery Airfield 5 miles from us....

Wing and Wheels was great, plenty of WW2 vehicles, Reenactors and Planes. There was also a small stall selling vintage clothes and accessories! Hubby bought a pair of 1940s glasses (the prescription was perfect!) and some suspenders, I bought a fairisle hat for Little Miss and A leather (evaccuee) suitcase for Young Master.

Needless to say I came out with something too, a pair of crocheted white gloves and a navy tea dress. 'Is that your first vintage dress?' asked the customer in the snood next to me 'It won't be your last!'

We went back to Wings and Wheels the next day and I wore the dress....