Here's a photo of my brass Spitfire:
I was born nineteen years after the second world war but we still grew up digging fox holes, playing Japs and Commandoes and sticking your arms out like plane wings like a Spitfire and running down the road making the sound of a Merlin engine. I haven't done this since I was forty.
Here's the excellent Public Service Broadcasting with their take and interpretation of the mighty and magnificent Spitfire:
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No, not into planes, or into brass either. As a child it was one of my jobs on a Saturday morning to polish the pieces of brass on the mantlepiece. These included several pieces of what are nowadays called trench art (my father served in WWII). I particularly remember one set of spent bullets in a rack - lovely(!). Black fingers from Brasso, and the smell - no brass in my home now!
ReplyDeleteHi the veg artist. We have lots of brass and copper which rarely gets polished. I know trench art. We watch antiques road trip, salvage hunters... I love old pubs with flagged floors, copper topped tables, oak beams and horse grasses. I am turning into an old fogey aren't I? 😊 Thanks.
DeleteEe up lass! Wheer the's muck the's brass.
DeleteWell I'll go to the foot of our stairs!😊
DeleteYep. P is a huge fan and until a few weeks ago had a couple of paintings of Spitfires on the wall in the office. He has now donated them to a collector but he still has lots of books.
ReplyDeleteActually, his older cousin who lived in Australia had a passion for them too and spent decades restoring one. I don't know if he ever finished that project.
You should put "Polish my spitfire" on Mrs Northsider's "To Do List". Mind you if you are one of those liberated modern men you could always polish it yourself. What a delight it would be to see your spitfire shining again! And you could post a picture of it here on this illustrious blog. I gave you one challenge - to climb Hungry Hill - now you have got another one!
ReplyDeleteClimb Hungry Hill, polish Spitfire? Flipping heck. You sound like a taskmaster in the workhouse YP. I thing I will put the brass polishing on my "summat to do" list. Ta very much.😊
DeleteMore tasks will be added in the future - including buying yourself a green leotard and taking up ballet.
DeleteI've just bought some yellow wellies too. I am a black belt in Origami.
DeleteHi JayCee. Could you not get P to write a guest post on your blog about his hobbies? Imagine restoring a Spitfire? That is awesome. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt was his cousin that did the restoration. P just watched!
DeleteI bet P did. Imagine if that Spitfire could speak? What tales it would have to tell about dog fights over Kent. I one met a Polish man who was a Spitfire pilot during the war. They were so brave.
ReplyDeleteI can't claim to love the tools of war, but what I DO love is the resolute determination of citizens and soldiers alike. People approached hardship] quite differently back in the day didn't they?
ReplyDeleteLittle boys still run down the road making vroom vroom noises, or roaring like dinosaurs. Don't think they know about spitfires though. A classic fighter plane
ReplyDeleteRoaring like dinosaurs. I love that phrase Linda. Yes a classic fighter plane.
DeleteI hate war myself Debby. Especially now the new infantry are nuclear weapons. It's just planes like the Spitfire in England managed to protect and defend the country by young men who flew on a wing and a prayer. They really are heroes.
ReplyDeleteYou're right back in the day they did know real hardship and helped make a better world for us all. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to take me to see the Spitfire and Lancaster at Manston Airport a few miles from us, when I was a kid. He used to lift me up to look in the cockpit, when I was very small. Later when I grew a bit, me and my mates used to climb up on the wing to have a look. I wasn't keen on the Lancaster, I thought it looked a bit ugly, but I've always loved the Spitfire. Amazing to think that back then they were just out in the open for people to see (and climb on).They're nice and safe in the museum now.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb. I have of heard of Manston airport. I once saw a Spitfire and a Lancaster flying together. Amazing spectacle.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of Manston Court? It's an old manor house. We have two watercolours of it. Any information Deb please?
As far as I remember that's an old manor house that has caves underneath used for smuggling and then as an air raid shelter in the second world war. I think it might be self catering now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby. Just looking at a Manston Court site and it says Watt Tyler visited there and the home guard used the caves for air raid shelters. I have seen a painting by Amelia Noel which is in the British museum. We bought our watercolours on a carbootsale years ago for thirty Pounds. We took them to an antiques Roadshow and an expert said their value was at least three hundred Pounds. Unfortunately they are not signed but there is writing on the back saying Manston Court near Ramsgate 1 July 1824. The expert said they would have great historical local interest to the people of Kent. Not a bad carboot sale find on a Sunday morning many moons ago. Thanks Debby.
ReplyDeleteSorry for calling you Debby, Deb.😊
ReplyDeleteThat's ok, I quite like Debby :) I think there's tunnels under RAF Manston (Manston Airport) too. That sounds like a great find at the boot fair Dave.
DeleteWe 'Deb-Debby-Debbies' are a cohesive group, Northsider. We'll keep the likes of you in line!
DeleteI think you would.😊
DeleteThanks Deb, Debby. When I was in Canterbury in 2019(A New Day Festival) we went in a bus station office enquiring about a bus to Manston airport and to find Manston Court. Unfortunately there were no buses running near there and it was only about 12 miles away. 🤣 Never mind. Perhaps we should have walked there?
ReplyDeleteIt was a great find and we paid to have them professionally framed. I can't wait to go carbooting again. One day please God.
That's a shame Dave. They did do small passenger flights from Cork to Manston at one time, but stopped it.I did read that they were going to start it up again, but it's been delayed until 2223 because of the virus. It'll be handy if they do.
ReplyDeleteBlimey 2223?? I mean 2023 :)
Delete"In the year 2525.."😊 I knew what you meant.
DeleteYes it was. I met my friend at Shannon and we flew to Stanstead and then train, tube and train to Canterbury. It would be great to visit Kent again. It's a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, I hope to be there as well. It is where my daughter and son-in-law are.
DeleteYour daughter is in Kent Debby? They call it The Garden of England. Lots of lovely scenery, ancient buildings and you can even go to France for the day or longer. You would love it.
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