Category Archives: amusements

amusements

More Auction Oddities

Here’s the latest in the odd and eccentric from our local auction house catalogue. Sadly on this occasion there are no stuffed capybara, but there is …
A large oil portrait of a gentleman seated half-length with a cello and bow, wearing a blue jacket, white stock and frilled cuffs …
[What sort of eccentric dresses his ‘cello?]
A large William IV gilt chimney glass with scrolling leaf and flower decoration
[WTF? Oh it’s a mirror.]
A collection of South or Central American stone carvings, Pre-Columbian or later, comprising a large mask, a dagger, an engraved fragment, a ring, and seven other small pieces
[Well that covers a multitude of sins. Basically we have no clue what date they are; could be anything from the Creation to yesterday.]
Tribal art African hardwood elephant seat on carved base
A vintage Japanese ‘sit up and beg’ bicycle ‘Tomtom Fruits’ by Shiga Maruishi No. 89416632
[No, even having seen a photo, it doesn’t make sense to me either!]
A quantity of picture frames, a leather travelling make up case from Harrods, photo frames, plant pots, glass jars, a stacking system of shelves, Laurel & Hardy fridge magnets, crafting items
Five boxes of chilled packaging
[Didn’t know they had a cold store!]
Two shelves of general items including photo frames, flower pots, kitchenalia, a Carltonware Oriental pot, old biscuit tins, crafting colouring items, etc.
[You know you have to worry when you see etc. in a lot description.]
Five suitcases of varying sizes, a quantity of briefcases and sports bags, three small deed boxes and a money tin, a quantity of files, a set of jump leads, etc.
A wooden model sailing boat, a quantity of wooden jewellery boxes, some in oriental style with brass mounts, a silver-plated hipflask, a quantity of animal figurines, revolving wooden hors d’oeuvres set, a Grecian bust on stand, a quantity of Christmas decorations including a snow globe and a wooden Christmas tree ornaments in the shapes of Russian dolls, a Villeroy and Boch Father Christmas trinket box plus others, two Maling lustre bowls and a quantity of American Geographical Society’ Around The World’ programmes including Russia and Venezuela, etc.
[We had this pile of old toot and didn’t know what to do with it.]
A cased Rummy game, two Wedgewood collectors plates, three 1940s Film Award annuals and a cased car DVD player
A small table, the octagonal top interestingly covered in copper and acid etched with leaves and a tray with a display of butterfly wings
[All in the best possible taste.]
A collection of various items including an Imperial -Good Companion cased typewriter, a small quantity of cameras including a Diodem box No2 and Kodak, an old suitcase with original labels including Cunard White Star, a pair of brass candlesticks and a copper warming canister in oak stand

unicorn

A cast iron unicorn door stop (above)
A large milk churn, hand painted decoration by a local Mouth-artist, a folding garden parasol on hardwood frame and a nest of three metal framed glass topped coffee tables with map inserts
[More great taste!]
A shelf of decorative clown ornaments

A modern musical box surmounted by an elaborate model drum kit, under Perspex cover (above)
A late 19th century Concert Roller Organ, in mahogany with stencilled decoration, with eighteen rollers (below)
[Now that really is interesting; I’ve never seen one of these before.]

An early 19th century set of hand-coloured engraved cards of the Kings of England, in mica paper slip case, a Sallis’s Illustrated Game of Doctor Busby, in original slip case, and a miniature 1871 Royal Wedding edition of The Graphic
A garden ornament of probably Venus, well patinated
A stained glass fire screen, incorporating pieces of old possibly Cathedral glass interposed with newer pieces
A child’s toboggan with metal frame, wooden legs and wooden slats for sitting on, lot also includes a large toy lion with green eyes, pale yellow ochre coat and pale mane
Not the most interesting of sales, although it also contains a quantity of ceramic which sound boring and look hideous.

amusements, natural history

Oddity of the Week: Seagull Orange

A bright orange Herring Gull was rescued from a vat of waste chicken tikka masala at a food factory last week.


Staff at the nearby wildlife hospital used washing-up liquid to remove the bright orange from the gull’s feathers, returning him to his original white & grey colour. However he still smells of curry — apparently the gull smelt amazing!

amusements

Ten Things

This month’s Ten Things brings something completely different …
For many years I have noted many imaginary — totally fictional — names of virtual people as they have happened across my brain. As I am now unlikely to every write a sci-fi or fantasy novel (or indeed any fiction) I bring you a selection for your amusement.

10 Imaginary people:

  1. Merkin Hick; American backwoodsman
  2. Armin Plaastar; Dutch; ski instructor
  3. Geisha Bottle (actually more likely Gaysha); East-End 6-year-old; sister of Chardonnay-Madonna Bottle
  4. Ii Ng; Japanese; fashion designer
  5. Mugg O’Teaghe; Irish; builder
  6. Sir Chiltern Waternut; retired ambassador
  7. Willie P Gentleigh; private detective
  8. Constant Lambing; farmer
  9. Mangoe Stikky; rapper
  10. Leena Stagarova; Soviet gymnast

GOK what this says about the state of my brain!

amusements, ramblings

Oddity of the Week: The Chap Olympiad

The Chap Olympiad returns to London’s Bedford Square this summer on Saturday 16 July.
For the last several years “the Chap Olympiad has provided track, field and bar events for the floppy of hair, the rakish of trilby and the elegant of trouser” in “celebration of Britain’s sporting ineptitude: sensational cravats take precedence over sweaty lycra; more points are awarded for maintaining immaculate trouser creases than crossing the finishing line“.


Events include Umbrella Jousting (above), the Well Dressage Event, Beach Volleybowler, and Gentlemen’s Club Golf (below).

The Chap Olympiad, which opens with the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic Pipe, “is a gathering place for the most eccentrically dressed sportsmen and sportswomen of the nation“. And despite the name the Olympiad is by no means restricted to those of the male gender.
More information, pictures and tickets at www.thechapolympiad.com.