Wombling & tidying

 Hello m' thrifty womblers,

 

Long Mizzle Garden - - thrifty time

Something a bit different for this week. I've been super busy tidying the garden. A girl can't spend all her free time clearing mutant holly trees and making multiple compost heaps though. A wombling road trip to Redruth was needed. Muddy work clothes aside, I even slapped on a dress, some hand cream and nail varnish. 

What is wombling?

The Wombles motto is "Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish".

Our version of 'wombling' is visiting secondhand shops  (charity /antique/ junk shops)

 

Redruth, an old mining town in the heart of Cornwall.


The area is dotted with mining engine houses and industrial relics. The hill in the background, Carn Brea, is one of the highest points in Cornwall. This vantage obviously attracted our ancient ancestors, as human settlement has been traced back 6000 years to early neolithic times. On a good day, both the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the English Channel to the south can be seen.

 'Make a Mends' - Clothing repair shop on Fore Street
 
 
In the 18th Century, Redruth quickly became one of the richest mining areas in Britain, but for the workers and their families, life was tough. Copper ore was extracted and used to make the vast amounts of copper used in the Industrial Revolution. But by the end of the nineteenth century, industry had declined. Many miners emigrated to Mexico, Australia and South Africa.
 

On a sprawling industrial estate between Redruth and Pool, a junk shop, large charity shop and even an antique tea room can be found hiding between the fabrication and supplier units.

 
At Miss Molly's Tea Room, visitors are greeted with a wonderful Foot Bellow organ, a 15th birthday present for a local lady, who lived to age 95. Having had 15 children, I wonder if she ever got the time to play it!?!


Walking through the pedestrianised town centre, we popped in to five charity shops.

Some of Redruth's buildings are earmarked for heritage funded renovations.
You can see more in a previous post here.

 
The Celtic Cross commemorates the Flowerpot Chapel. It had once been one of Britain's largest chapels, but it burnt down in 1975. Now a carpark sits on the site.
 

Here's a video, using camera phone footage taken on the day. Bobby dazzler finds are revealed at the end - 
 

 

What have thoust been up to? Please send gossip, or biscuits.

 

Lulu xXx

 

Thank you for visiting!

Most recent posts can be found here -

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/

 

You can also sometimes find me here -

Long Mizzle Garden on You Tube

 

 

Comments

  1. Dear Lulu
    Thank you for taking us along on your wombling trip! You found some wonderful bargains! The art book looks great fun. I'm hoping to get into the garden today - a bit of tidying and possibly some pruning, but we'll see.
    Have a good week
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ellie, I got the art book for the kids but I've been hogging it ;) Happy gardening, should be a good weekend for it xXx

      Delete
  2. what a lovely video!!
    i really enjoyed to go wombling with you! the antique tea room looks so very cosy and full of interesting stuff...... and you found pretty clothing - pajama style is all the rage next summer i heard! - and the plissé skirt is a shiny beauty in a gorgeous colourblocking style. cute kids stuff too.
    the 3-dimensional book is fabulous - this kind cost a fortune in a museum shop.
    oh - and your blue indian dress is very chic and you styled it beautifully with the breton and the beret!
    enjoy your cuppa and garden!
    xxxxx
    ps: bravo for not buying more fabric but trying to use up the stash! please show what you made of.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Beate, the book it turns out is expensive secondhand too! Thanks m'luverly, good to know I'll be in style come the summer too. The fabric stash is awaiting a project but I shall share xXx

      Delete
  3. Hi Lulu,
    I spotted your YouTube video yesterday. Wombling is an excellent pastime and the gods were kind to you. Those trousers are gorgeous!
    I can't get over that woman having 15 children. I could make a rude joke about organs, but I won't. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Claire, it was a happy wombling day. Would have been even better with a go of that ol' foot pump organ :) xXX

      Delete
  4. It's going to be wombling for me from now on!
    How utterly lovely to join you on your wombling trip to Redruth, Lulu. And what great stuff you found. The pyjama or not trousers are gorgeous and that floaty skirt looks very luxurious indeed. Oh, and that pop-up book is just glorious! I love a pop-up book, and still have one or two of my childhood ones. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh how lovely Ann to have books from your childhood - a real treasure! I am cultivating the pyjama look by wearing some other trousers today that are ambiguous ;) Thanks for coming along for a womble xXx

      Delete
  5. A lesson on wombling ~ how great! Loved the video, beautifully done. Would have sent you some biscuits but I gobbled them all up while drinking tea and watching your video. All good wishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mike! Never mind about the biscuits, please bring some next time :) Hope you are well xXx

      Delete
  6. I loved travelling around with you and Mumrah on your wombling trip!
    That pop-up book is amazing, I love it. You look fabulous in your posh artisan dress (who donates this stuff?) The Next trews & pleated midi are very cool and like you, wonder why that gorgeous kid's top isn't an adult size, it's not fair!
    I would send biscuits but Jon's eaten them all. xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could tell it was good quality but I I almost fainted when I looked up the Ace & Jig dress Vix! They're even over £100 secondhand on eBay! Thanks for coming a wombling :) (Please hide the biscuits from Jon) xXx

      Delete
  7. I enjoyed your video, what a nice rummage at the chazzas and some lucky finds, I think those trousers are beautiful. Your Indian made dress is a fabulous find, the original price is staggering! The tour of town was interesting, it looks a nice place to live.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Betty :) Mad for someone to pay that much for a dress isn't it!!! But I am super glad they donated it. That one was from a chazza in Truro, where there are pockets of super poshness. I always enjoy a jaunt to Redruth xXx

      Delete
  8. I've loved watching your wombling video. You made some great finds. Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jules :) The bobby dazzler gods were shining that day xXx

      Delete
  9. Your video was entertaining. Thank you for including us in your wobbly adventure! You scored some incredible deals, didn't you? The art book appears to be a lot of fun. The walking tour of the city was enjoyable, and it seems like a pleasant area to live.
    I hope you enjoy your week.

    New post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2023/02/how-to-determine-if-your-child-needs-to-gain-weight.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting my wee blog Melody. Glad you liked it :)

      Delete
  10. Well, that was a grand day out (to borrow the phrase from Wallace & Grommet) and I hope you had some cheese with your biscuits in the tea shop. Our new dog is taking up a lot of our time so I enjoyed a few minutes reading this post. I'll view the video later. David.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ai lad, a grand day out indeed David :) I hope your are keeping well and that new pooch is allowing you to get some sleep. They are hard work but lovely xXx

      Delete
  11. I love that you call it wombling! Such a great use of the word. You seem to be good at finding bargins in your local charity shops.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Years of training from ol' glass eyed Mumrah! Thanks SM :) xXx

      Delete
  12. I love this!! I thought wombling was a term for picking up and keeping all the rubbish (my husband refers to my wombling) but it's much nicer for charity shopping!
    I enjoyed your dialogue (and jaunty red beret!). Glad you had a lovely trip with Mumra.
    Your Next trousers and skirt are great and I love the arty pop up book! Yes, I agree, those children's clothes in adult sized would be amazing! I smiled at your mention of Portreath in the distance. We only stopped in Redruth to visit the Supermarket but it always makes me think of Enid Blyton when I hear the name as I think there was a school book (or at least, a school was referred to) called Red Roofs!
    Hope you are well!x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that is the official, technical definition of wombling Kezzie - the Wombles keep Wimbledon clean. But we have always referred to it as picking anything secondhand up :) Ah yes, the family at Red Roofs! I'm in my trousers now - super comfy! Lovely to hear from you, hope you are well xXx

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Enchanted trail

Comfort Blanket

Singing to the Seedlings

There's no place like home

A good natter in the garden