On the dank, headlights-dark mid-morning of another day of continuous rain dripping into potholes, we splashed and sprayed our way along the pools of Christchurch Road to half-term-children packed Tesco and back for a big shop, its urgency prompted by yesterday’s news featuring a shortage of teabag supplies.
I spent the afternoon reading, until our grand-family returned home from an outing with Ellie carefully guarding
a page of stickers bought for her by her parents. For some time she was not about to let anyone else hold them. Eventually I was able sneakily to scan them when she had momentarily been distracted.
This had led me to remember transfers. When Chris and I were still very small my godmother, Auntie Gwen, visited us every Saturday afternoon bringing small gifts. During one period she would bring sheets of paper transfers. These would be placed face downward on our arms and soaked off with careful, gradual, application of water. Jackie, Becky, and Flo all remembered such treasures and Flo especially was surprised that they went as far back as the 1940s.
On her android tablet Becky has this photograph she produced with a very old camera of Sam sporting a transfer in August 1984.
This evening we all dined on left overs – some untouched – from last night’s Chinese takeaway with the addition of spring rolls. Jackie drank Bonelli Malvasia white wine 2022 and I drank more of the Shiraz.
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Oh My…TEABAG shortage!
Thanks very much, Catherine
I remember the children tattoos, we could get them out of gum machines. Nice memories.
I’m pleased to have jogged your memories, Bridget. Thank you very much
There’s a teabag shortage? Thanks for the heads up!
Cheers, Donna
I remember transfers!
Thanks very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Oh my gosh! Americans love their tea but I suspect that the British people love their tea even more, Derrick! He’s a cute little booger picker. ????????????❤️
Thanks very much, John 🙂
Though the years pass, the love of stickers and tatoo transfers remains. Glad you got some tea. Do you know why there is a shortage?
Probably because it was reported on the news. Thanks very much, Laurie
You’re welcome. ????
Funny, I remember those days of arm and face stickers … ‘luckily’, I’ve no photos
Thanks very much, Ivor.
A teabag shortage?! That could be a disaster. I don’t remember doing transfers, but my kids did. Stickers though–I probably still have some.
Thanks very much, Merril
We just opened a large family size box of teabags that we purchased last weekend. In my book a cup of tea is a cure for everything!
We had noticed for a couple of months now that Morrison’s has had a shortage of teabags, we thought it was their inefficiency in shelf stocking, which is why we bought a family size when we saw them. I didn’t know there was an official shortage.
Oh, I remember transfers and stickers. Transfers were hard to wash off, but my goodness just try removing stickers from a wooden floor or cabinet. Watch her carefully – she is a quick learner.
Said like a true North Yorkshire woman regarding a cup of tea cures all 😉
Yorkshire through and through! ????
It was said as a compliment ????
From Sue, definitely
A sound warning, Sue. Fortunately the crayons with which she has drawn on the wooden floor are washable. Thanks very much
It is interesting how seeing something can jog the memory.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
🙂
Sounds like a fun, if damp day all the way around. That old picture is a fun glimpse of childhood in its natural state. I didn’t think that you Brits used tea-bags, that was an abomination only used by former colonists (like the US).
They came in many years ago. I remember my mother’s disgust. Thanks very much, Pat
Hope you got your teabag supplies. The Indian shop in my neighborhood has been out of my favorite brand of green tea for a month now. Is there a teabag shortage here, too? I’ll have to check on my next visit.
How precious that Ellie is not willing to part with her stickers 🙂 I would be, too.
Thank you so much, Rosaliene. We did get a box – smaller than we had wanted
I understand how Ellie would be protective of those transfers/stickers as I still vividly remember how much fun they were back in the days between sibling squabbles.
I’m pleased to have prompted memories, Suzanne. Thank you very much
What a cute post. I remember my children loving stickers and then the transfers we called tattoos. Now, I’m glad I have a good supply of tea.
Thank you very much, JoAnna. Fond memories
Hilarious capture of the photo.
Thank you very much, Byung
I remember transfers from childhood. We used them to decorate Easter eggs rather than our arms or legs, but they were great fun, and apparently went on exactly the same way.
Thank you very much, Linda. I am pleased o have prompted your memories
A teabag shortage! That spells disaster in my book – thankfully I collect tea and it would be a while before I ran out. As for the transfers: I well remember the ones that required water. Stickers appeared in my life first with my youngest child yet bloomed fully with the arrival of our grandchildren. We still have a Peter Rabbit sticker stuck to our security door from several years ago! Heed the warning by SueW 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much, Anne. I hoped this would prompt memories
What cute and sweet stickers Ellie now owns. 🙂
What a wonderful memory of your Auntie Gwen!
How wonderful so many of us have positive memories of fun with stickers, transfers, fake-tattoos! 🙂
How awful for there to be a teabag shortage! (We love tea so we have at least 5 or 6 different kinds in our pantry right now.)
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
PS…What IS Sam’s transfer? A spider? Or a big scary booger? (shock-ed face) 🙂
Most likely a booger. Thanks very much, Carolyn XX
A teabag shortage! Yikes! I remember transfers and stickers as a child.
Thanks very much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
We would occasionally get transfers/tattoos in boxes of Cracker Jack. So fun. Thanks for that blast from the past memory!
I’m pleased to have prompted that, Lenore. Thank you, too
I remember those transfers, too. My goodness… teabag shortage, who knew?
Thanks very much, Dale
I seem to have missed the transfers, or do not remember them. 🙂
A teabag shortage?
Stocks of tea on the shelves noticeable. A shame about the transfers. Thanks very much, Lavinia
We are lucky to have a family owned specialty tea and coffee shop over in Corvallis we can go to.
Ha Ha, I too have stocked up on tea bags. Yorkshire for Kim and Earl Grey for me. We are travelling to India soon so don’t expect shortages there.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
I’m sure Sam would not love to see this photo of himself with his finger in his nose. Shame on you, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jan. He won’t mind
Adorable nose-exploration photo.
I’d be careful with Malvasia, bearing in mind what happened to George Plantagenet.
An impressive history link, Dolly. Thank you very much
Why, the link is obvious, considering that Malmsey and Malvasia is the same wine. You are very welcome, Derrick.
I didn’t know that until you made the link 🙂
I discovered it years ago. In Russian translations, it is always Malvasia, but when I read this part of history in English, I was surprised to find Malmsey, so I researched and discovered that it is the same wine.
I remember those transfers
Thank you very much, Sheree
Oh yes, I do remember those transfers too 🙂
Thank you very much, Riba