The Coconut Shy prize

 Happy new year m' rusty trolleys,


We went on our bi- annual trip to 'the big lights' of Truro this week - Cornwall's only city. It doesn't quite feel like a city, but it has a very handsome Cathedral which can be seen from all approaches. The eldest child enjoys its 'Hogwartness'.


 

 

Tucked down a little alley is the 'Mega Loft' and next to that, the 'Enjoy' clothing shop started by Bernie Beale (died 2019, aged 81). We always called him 'Mr Boogie Woogie' as this was the name of his vintage store in the old Falmouth church, that later became the Phoenix Picture House. Bernie was quite a character - once you met him, you'd never forget him.

 
The above image of Bernie graces the wall of the Mega Loft  courtyard, above a shelf of potted pelargoniums ( I wanted to take a picture but someone else's bonce was in the way).

Bernie traded at the first ever Glastonbury. He specialised in kitsch fashion, fabulous junk and crazy props. He was responsible for many mad art head installations, and involved with the Truro lights festival. One year he was seen holding cables together at the turn on ceremony.

There's a lovely tribute article by his good friend on Cornwall live here.

 
 
 
One of the last times I saw Bernie was at a local ice curling Christmas Fayre. He had made a hilarious Coconut Shy from old doll hairdressing heads. The blond haired, blue eyed giant heads had seen better days; in fact, some of them looked positively zombie-ish, with missing eyes, face paint and punk haircuts.  Passers by were invited to attempt to knock the heads from the sticks. My eldest daughter, then a toddler, flung a bean bag and managed to topple one. 
 
"Oh well done!" said Bernie throwing his hands excitedly into the air "pick yourself  a prize from the box!". There sat a tatty cardboard box with the randomest collection of house clearance junk - old rusty spanners, moth eaten maps, chipped cups. Our then toddler daughter delightedly pulled out this -
 
 
The old chocolate tin lid was so rusted, we could not open it. For years it sat by a radiator, under the telephone table. Every now and then, I'd give it another go, curious as to what may be inside - an old love letter, some ashes maybe. Then the other night, monsieur effortlessly popped the lid off. Inside? - nothing, not even rust. 

 
The Pony Tail palm (Baucarnea recrvata) was getting too big for the teapot, so it has been relocated to what will now be known as 'Bernie's tin'.


It's been too soggy and dark for outdoor gardening. Indoor tea trolley gardening is the way to go -
 

 
The charity chopped tea trolley (£5) used to be in the greenhouse. 
Spiders removed, now it is groaning under the weight of books and house plants.


 
Jar of collected sea glass and a cook's measure of Vriesea era.

 
Alien finger suckers in a cracked teacup (Crassula ovata 'Gollum'...or is it 'Hobbit'?)

Other re-used tins filled with jade and baby Echiveria canas.

 Fibonacci spiral of the Aeonium tubuliforme


Do you talk to your houseplants too?

I hope that you are keeping well and dandy.

Please send news from your part of the galaxy.

Lulu xXx

 

Thank you for visiting!

Most recent posts can be found here -

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/

 








Comments

  1. Happy New Year! Looks like you are the hostess with the mostest with that trolley - all that's missing is a sneaky bottle of gin and some glasses (or are they hiding behind the plants)... I am looking out for a trolley like yours at the recycle centre ever since Angel at Le Chateau showed off one in every room - clearly a girl should not be without one. Right now it's definitely indoor gardening for me and yes, of course I talk to my plants, and they have names (i.e. ficus benjamin is Big Ben, lemon tree one is Citronella, lemon tree 2 is Keith (Keith lemon see) and ... need I go on? they love being chatted to and I stroke their leaves which they also like. I know you talk to yours too....

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    1. Happy new year Betty. Gin eh! I only usually drink that whilst flying darling (which I haven't done for over ten years!) but my brother and sister-in-law made me some lovely sloe infused gin. I'll have to add it to the trolley! I am very glad you talk to your plants, that they have such appropriate names, and are regularly stroked and pandered too. Lulu xXx

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  2. Hi Lulu, Happy New Year! I think we visited Bernie's store in Truro when we visited, but obviously had no idea of its history. Thank you for introducing me to Bernie. What a character! What a shame about the old tin not delivering any goodies. It has however made a lovely planter and your use of the old trolley is inspired. I might have to pinch that idea at some point as space is an issue in our house! You're so right though, Truro doesn't remotely feel like a city. Have you ever been to Wells? Wells also has city status doesn't it, courtesy of its cathedral? I think it was also the location used in Hot Fuzz. I must get around to visiting some day. xxx

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    1. I'm just glad we finally got the lid off the tin Claire ! I didn't know Mr Boogy Woogie (Bernie) had that store in Truro - we just knew him from Falmouth, and he was a regular sight at the local carboot sales. I skirted round Wells once many years ago en route to Glastonbury. Hot Fuzz has one of my favourite lines - "Don't go being a twat now". That is my life's motto. Lulu xXx

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  3. Happy New Year you little green goddess you.

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  4. Happy New Year, Lulu! Starting with your question at the end first: of course I'm talking to my houseplants. And garden plants, I should add.
    I loved trailing along on your visit to Truro. I was there once, back in the early 90s. Just for a couple of hours, in transit to Penzance, if I remember correctly.
    I wonder if Bernie's wondrous shop was there at the time ...
    I'm admiring your toddler's excellent taste in picking that gorgeous tin as a prize, and it's just perfect for your Pony Tail Palm.
    I'm loving the trolley groaning under its weight of books and plants and aha, I've got the same Tala measuring cup in my kitchenalia collection! xxx

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    1. Happy new year, happy plant nattering and happy Tala measuring Ann! Ah yes, Truro has an interconnecting train station. The Mega Loft, with cafe, is relatively new, but Bernie had been trading vintage / retro in Truro , and Falmouth ('Boogie Woogie' is not mentioned on the Cornwall Live site) and goodness knows where else, for years. He used various old buildings, pop ups and markets etc. The toddler's choice was very fine, we could have come home with an old boot. Lulu xXx

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  5. happy & healthy new year!!
    that story behind the pretty tin could be from a magical novel/film..... and truro and long mizzle are the perfect settings for it :-D
    love the succulent display. to have something with weels is very practical - i always have to move the houseplants pot by pot when i want to open a window.....
    and of cause i talk to them!
    we had 24h of stormy weather, i stayed in bed the whole afternoon - storms blow the will to live out of me. sigh.
    stay warm and cozy! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate :) Wouldn't it be more exciting if it had had an old paper treasure map in it! The wheels are perfect - as the trolley sits at the side of a bed that has under-storage drawers with spare blankets, so we can pull it out of the way when access is needed. It could even be used to track the sun if I was that way inclined. Sounds like you are doing the right thing staying warm, cosy and safe. Lulu xXx

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  6. Gollum!
    Your book trolley had me chuckling - my gran had one not dissimilar to yours and hers was groaning under books too but not as many as your amazing collection!
    Happy New Year x

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    1. Thanks Kate, Gollum is a great name for that plant. Have also heard them referred to as 'ET Fingers' and 'Shrek Ears'. I wonder if your fab gran had a book called 'Granny Squares Now', or just instinctively knew how to crotchet? Lulu xXx

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  7. Happy New Year to you and the family. I love your houseplant and book combo trolley - beautiful and practical! I love houseplants but am rubbish at watering them - I usually overdo it. Must try harder this year.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Happy new year Ellie :) Gotta treat succulents mean to keep 'em keen! They suit me, as I forget to water. They then have to shout at me. Positive green house plant vibes for 2022. Lulu xXx

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  8. Have a wonderful New Year. Loved the Bernie stories. The Cathedral is looking good, was there this morning! Thanks for the interesting post.

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    1. Thanks Mike! I spotted the old St Mary's spire in the Cathedral gardens that I saw on your blog recently! Forgot to post a picture of it :0 It makes me dizzy looking up at those magnificent spires. Hope you had a nice Truro jaunt. Lulu xXx

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  9. Happy New Year, Lulu!
    Aww, Bernie! I've seen him on a couple of antiques programmes. I didn't realise he'd died. He seemed such a fun chap.
    Great minds think alike, I've used a Tala measuring jug and a Golden Syrup tin as planters, too.
    Of course I talk to my plants, usually to swear at them and tell them to grow! (I'd have made a terrible parent!) xxx

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    1. Hello Vix, I did wonder if maybe you'd come across Bernie on the festival circuit. I only realised he'd died when I looked up Truro 'Enjoy' and found that Cornwall Live article from March 2019. (Normally we'd see him regularly at carboot sales, but they haven't been on). The best thing about the Golden Syrup tin, is that I have to eat all the syrup on pancakes first! You are sounding rater like the mighty Mrs Trunchbull - "You're too small, grow up quicker" and "..children! nasty things...glad I never was one" ;) :) :)Tally ho! Lulu xXx

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  10. I love your trolley, what a fantastic use for it. I also love your plant pots, what a great way to repurpose items that would otherwise be landfill, they look so much nicer than those brown plastic ones too.

    Bernie sounds like my kind of chap, running my kind of shop. Cornwall is a very long way from us so I don't make it there very often but if I did then Mega Loft sounds like somewhere I would be visiting.

    I don't talk to my plants, but maybe i should, especially flowering ones as I cannot seem to grow them at all, inside or out.

    Happy New Year to you and yours

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    1. Happy 2022! Thank you m' luverly. The tea trolley has had many reincarnations, including record player rack. It is hard to throw away tins, but recycle I must. We would have stopped for a coffee in the Mega Loft cafe but the music was very loud, and we do like a good natter (oh dear, must be getting old :0 ). Oh you must talk to your plants!!! They do like it ;) Lulu xXx

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  11. Well m'dear I just have to say that I adore your eclectic houseplant containers, they look bloody lovely. I would have been tempted to keep the coconut shy tin sealed for life and just invent as many frightening or outrageous stories about its contents to visitors as I could have gotten away with, though the palm does like nice perched within it.

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    1. Thank you John :) Drat, great idea, will have to seal it back up again! Although I do have plenty of mystery boxes... even I don't know what's inside half of them. The ponytail palm is happy, now, so I'm happy. Lulu xXx

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  12. Bernie sounded like a wonderful chap!

    No house plants here, I'm afraid the two cats would eat them!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a lovely message Nikki. Bernie was a true local legend. Those window ledge stalking furry critters...if they're not knocking things off with their tails and punchy paws, they're eating things!!! Lulu xXx

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  13. I love the trolley, Lulu, and your wonderful array of house plants - you put the rest of us to shame. Or me, certainly! I've seen Bernie at car boots in the past - let's hope car boot days can return soon, I do so miss them! Lovely pictures of the cathedral - I've sung there several time and that is a really wondrous experience. Happy New Year, Lulu! All the best for 2022 XXx

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    1. I miss the car boots sales too Sue! The treasure rummaging, the plant sales, the characters you meet, the occasional drama that unfolds, sitting watching with a cup of tea... Fingers crossed they pick up again this summer. The acoustics in Truro Cathedral are quite something aren't they! Happy 2022 to you. Lulu xXx

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  14. Happy New Year Lulu
    I love the story of Bernie's Tin - it sounds like a fully formed short story. x

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    1. Happy new year Jane! Thank you :) Have I accidentally just written my first short story?! Lulu xXx

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  15. Happy new year Lulu! I love how you moved the plant into the Cadbury tin. Looks beautiful. As does your book trolley. I'm quite a bookworm myself. X

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    1. Thank you Jess and happy 2022 to you :) The books need a bit of a cull - we've ran out of bookshelves! I wonder what you keep your books on? Lulu xXx

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  16. Ah, Lulu, just loverly, as ever. Mr B B sounds and looks fabulous. A lovely, bright post to brighten January.

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