Sepia Saturday 196: 28 Sept 2013

Little Nell says:

This week's prompt comes from the George Eastman House Collection on Flickr.com. in the set of Nickolas Muray. Regular Sepians who click on the link of his name will immediately recognise images of his that have been featured before. Yes I know they're anything but sepia and for that alone they are remarkable. Muray was a pioneering commercial photographer, responsible for establishing many of the conventions of colour advertising. This example is for an insurance advert and those Sepians who like to theme may choose from any number of prompts here. The photo appears to have been taken by the doctor, who has left his coat draped on the bedposts and his bag on the bed itself, thus ensuring that any bacteria is neatly carried on to his next patient. In addition we have a boy in bed, toys and patchwork quilt. If the prompt throws up (sorry) any other themes we look forward to reading them on your blog, which should be posted on or about 28 September. I've put a mini-banner at the foot of this post and it's virus-free - as far as I know and an injection of humour should cure it anyway.

Robert's boat 2013

When I first saw the prompt picture chosen for Sepia Saturday, I could not believe it was from 1935.  It was so clear and the furniture, to my eyes, looked contemporary in an "Early Settler Recollections" shop kind of way.  

We all notice different things when we look at photos.  I was taken with the boat the little boy was holding and the one on the bedspread or counterpane.  It reminded me of the one my husband's mother gave him a few years ago when she was tidying up.  "Here's your boat Robert - you can look after it now."  

I asked him this morning what it was and who had made it.  He told me that he had made it and painted it with marine lead paint.  "Does it float?" I asked.  "Yes, but not very well" was the response.  "Did you float it in the bath?" I asked.  "No, in Roger Wolff's pool" was the reply.  Roger and Robert were thick as thieves in his youth, I understand.  I wonder whatever became of Roger Wolff.

I was put in mind of other boats and other boys....

Model boat on Cook's River

Model boat

Sailing on Cook's River c1949

Not very good photos to be sure but the only ones we have.  

My father's brother Ted used to make model boats.  

I have spoken about it before here on my other blog.  Here's an extract from a letter to the RAAF where he talks about it....

Extract of letter to RAAF 13 December 1946

The Cooks River was not very far from where the Conners used to live when the boys were growing up. It must have been heaven - mucking about with model boats.

If you really like model boats and want to see some more semi-sepia photos, go to Trove and thence to Pictorial Canterbury for more recent photos.

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Beds.

How many have you slept in?

Sleepovers, hotels, holiday houses, rental properties, mates' places....

I've slept in a few...

Alex in Master Bedroom Edinburgh

Alex mucking up the bed in Edinburgh


I have no memory of that bedroom in Edinburgh....

but was delighted to find tiny photos of it recently in my father's collection.

This is the bedroom from my childhood at 3 Nungara Street Aranda.






A typical girl's bedroom I'm afraid.

Dolls everywhere from my Gran who went on lots of overseas trips.

Oh and books.

I remember fondly many poems about beds and voyages in beds from the book pictured below.





The Land of Counterpane.





I have strong memories of these pictures/poems too....

A Good Boy








And best of all....

My Bed is a Boat





Do you remember these poems?

I hope you sleep well tonight with a toy or two and perhaps a slice of cake.

Hmm....I'd better go and make my bed...the day is getting away from me...

Sail away and visit other beds, won't you?  

Sweet dreams.