Freddie the Fish and the Goldfish Bowl

 As a child, my Mum's youngest brother (my uncle) lived with us until he went back to Lincoln.  One time he came back with a Goldfish he had won at the fair for me and I idolised that Goldfish who was ultimately named Freddie! Every morning first thing, I would go to the bowl and gently tap the outside and greet the fish.  In those days a goldfish was a wonderful thing, beautifully coloured and very different. From all accounts Freddie had a couple of incarnations which caused the adults quite a bit of kerfuffle where I was concerned.  The first Freddie did not last too long and my Uncle went back to the Fair knowing how upset I would be if I found out that he had passed.  Subterfuge went to the extent of peeling a carrot and cutting it to a suitable shape and popping it into the bowl until a replacement could be won.  That ultimately happened and Freddie the Second lasted a lot longer until his demise a couple of years later.  Towards the end of his life, he used to periodically go blue and his water would quickly be changed and he would revive again.  When Freddie the Second passed, Mum was left with the Goldfish bowl, which remained at the back of the cupboard for years.  For some reason she never got rid of it.

When Mum passed  and in the progress of clearing her home, guess what I found in the back of the cupboard - yes the Goldfish bowl.  Did I take it or pass it on to the Charity shop.  I took it and brought it home with me to potentially use for sewing of an evening as the Victorians used to do.  Simply by placing a mirror underneath the bowl, putting a deep candle in the centre such as a Church Candle, filling with water and letting the candle light reflect into the room in order that you can see more easily what you are doing of an evening. (Before the days of electricity).

Alternatively you can turn it into a Terrarium for a plant or smaller plants.

Now I have a very large green glass Terrarium in storage for use at a later date that this would go with, so that could be an option too.  The one in storage is not the largest sized Carboy, but still a good size.

I nipped to the Charity shop today for a quick look around.  Guess what I espied on the shelf - no not a Carboy/Terrarium but another Goldfish bowl that will go with my existing one.  So that means double the light or double the planting capacity at the end of the day.  £2 cost.  I like to have pairs of things.

I also found another flan dish which I believe is a Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady design - if not an actual one, it is reminiscent of that for £1.50.  I t would seem to match the cheese dishes, soup bowls and tureens that I have in this particular pattern.

I only nipped in for a quick look.  I did spot a couple of items that I would have liked to have bought home with me on the furniture front, but sadly nothing I could do about this as I just do not have the room.  Maybe one day will be able to indulge my love of vintage pieces but sadly at the moment that is not now.

Still enjoyed the little jaunt and no major damage done on the purse front, just a few items to go with existing items and of course it helps a local charity do some good in this world of ours.

Have a lovely evening.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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