If I knew the original artists name I'd love to give them credits for this picture as it's awfully cute but as I sit here with tummy ache (it wouldn't be me if something wasn't aching) I'd like to say cheers for your support when I've been feeling unwell.
As no doubt some are aware a different kind of history has been made today, I thought I would made a different post this morning.
I found this image a while ago of traditional German classroom modelled with dolls that reminded me of the kind of junior education I had.
For one thing we had to write out and learn by rote your times tables up to 12, that were put up on the chalkboard and our teacher did have a long stick they pointed at it (and threatened you with!). Also the desk were wooden with a slope that interestingly many are now saying were better for reading and writing on having removed them for flat stackable tables and chairs.
There were maps on the wall, one showing the extent of the British Empire (as was), something we were proud of and a small class bookcase.
Turning rather more to the dolls I find it is interesting a number are in sailor uniforms, a Edwardian idea and like how the person has added matching satchels.
Sometimes we forget that on this journey as enjoyable as it is to share in that adventure with like minded friends, it is our walk, following a map of our choosing, to our own destination.
Tomboy or Frou Frou, traditional childhood interests such as playing with dolls or more modern things such as gaming or anime, it is our choice.
Here we go with the latest edition of the Teenbeat series launched a few years back where I look at music that for me at least is linked with my childhood.
Released Monday May 5th in the UK comes this box set of 20 individual artist studio cds from the label synonymous with that styling of Soul Music from the late 1960's to the early 80's around the city of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia International record label where most but not all the key artists issued their recordings.
And that's really where this set scores over previous box sets as it gives you prime slices of the artists albums as issued of which at least five I and many others would regard as essential albums in a soul collection
Album list:
1.Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1972)
2.Back Stabbers – The O’Jays (1972)
3.360 Degrees of Billy Paul – Billy Paul (1972)
4. Save The Children – The Intruders (1973)
5.The Three Degrees – The Three Degrees (1973)
6.Ship Ahoy – The O’Jays (1973)
7.Love Is The Message – MFSB (1973)
8.Keep Smilin’ – Bunny Sigler (1974)
9.Wake Up Everybody – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1975)
10.All Things In Time – Lou Rawls (1976)
11.Life On Mars – Dexter Wansel (1976)
12.The Jacksons – the Jacksons (1976)
13.Teddy Pendergrass – Teddy Pendergrass (1976)
14.Jean Carn – Jean Carn (1976)
15.The Jones Girls – The Jones Girls (1979)
16.Edwin Birdsong – Edwin Birdsong (1979)
17.McFadden and Whitehead – McFadden and Whitehead (1979)
18.When You Hear Lou You’ve Heard It All – Lou Rawls (1977)
19.I’m In Love Again – Patti LaBelle (1983)
20.Life is A Song Worth Singing – Teddy Pendergrass (1978)
A good number of these albums were re-issued on cd as part of the Sony Legacy Blues&Soul series from the 1990's to early 00's but are out of print attracting high prices new as well as used but this set uses the same mastering so at a stroke restoring them to the catalogue.
They come in thick card lp style jackets reproducing front and rear lp art clearly with a booklet that gives a brief synopsis of each album and full credits.
Highlights for me are Save The Children, an Intruders album I grew up with on the amazingly clunky 8 Track tape with songs like "I'll Always Love My Mama", the Three Degrees self titled with it's clutch of hit singles such as When Will I See You Again" and the very jazz influenced Life On Mars by arranger and recording artist Dexter Wansel.
For around GBP £38 it's an amazing bargain that gets you exploring further this musically rich seam.
Recently another box set arrived but altogether a different proposition for this was the entire output of a single band whose label was together with Los Angeles based Solar Records the next wave with Motown's star begin eclipsed in the early 70's by Philadelphia International and itself being eclipsed by Solar and this bands label, Tabu Records whose artists who included Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle of whom I liked in my teens.
Many would say the SOS band were one of the finest pervasive soul groups of the 1980's but their recordings had been unavailable new for a good while with the earliest titles not even receiving a cd release. I had cassette issues of a few albums at the time but they were worn and I was looking for replacements.
In 2013 a Tabu Records re-issue campaign was launched which included the re-issuing of their albums with bonus tracks and a byproduct of this was a boxed set version where each album was packaged as a mini lp with just the original tracks and with extra discs for 7 and 12 remixes with a booklet.
I opted for that in around March 2014 this was eventually released as it was just what I was looking for - a complete set of albums - and also it was cheaper than the individual editions.
While some of the bonus tracks have been taken from vinyl, the main albums were not and sound very good on this set.
File this under unscheduled entry but I just love this picture of what would of been a Nissan Hut converted into a classroom doing craftwork with Egg boxes before the photographer took the picture. The girl on the immediate right has the most infectious laugh that reminded me of the many times I giggled at school.
Limping along with damaged leg this week isn't exactly an inspiration to wrote this weeks entry although strangely enough for me the strongest feelings and reminders of being being little happen include being unwell so maybe I'm in the mood for writing this after all.
I often read about people feeling conflicted about being simultaneously having a more grown up side to them and this other little side to them, trying to reconcile the two as if they're two different people.
Sometimes that sense of it's one or the other can lead to an attempt to suppress or remove from their lives the little as if it's a battle of the wills between the two haves one must win but to me some of these issues come from the older side feeling the need to attach critical thoughts such as regarding them as 'unnatural' or even weird to them.
I guess I'm not the right person to answer this cos for a stack of reasons I don't seem to have issues personally but there are a number of assumption that strike me apply.
One is a strong cultural emphasis on regarding childhood a stage one jettisons in it's entirety to take on the responsibilities attributed to adults rather than additional play like stage you keep slotting between your adult responsibilities in the workplace, to a partner or even your own bigger side.
Everyone needs an outlet for that playful side. To me it's that some are are seen as acceptable like playing pub games or a weekend with the Rugby Supporters Club and others are seen as something you 'should of outgrown'.Sorry, I prefer sleepovers!
One problem some run into is the linking or conferring of real bigger real life issues into being more child like either by effectively evading dealing with them in play (playing house instead doesn't solve lack-you might lose your real house) or dealing with expressing their more child like side to partners, especially when prior to living together, this wasn't discussed ("I didn't marry a child").
This can be get difficult if you start going down the road of living 24/7 as a little because for most of us at least such a life does cut into our adult responsibilities not just to ourselves but to those while being in such point we'd be expecting to take up the slack. I'm not going to preach here but you may ask yourself if that's healthy?
To me balance is a cornerstone of the alg life - you wouldn't wish to forgo a anniversary meal with your partner for staying in watching cartoons in your favourite childs dress - but for some the attempt to balance leads to them not hearing the sighs of the little who soon has a tantrum. And in my experience attempts at the littles purge, not uncommon, usually result in just that followed by a groan ups meltdown because as people we are what we are. Little.
Sometimes, the sheer drama going on your life, relationship issues, difficulties in the workplace or for some of us enforced changes in our financial support with connected negative politicizing can seem so overwhelming, our little side feels sad and withdraws.
Personally I try to make time for any more groan up business to attend to (with my health quite a bit of that has just vanished from the timetable) and the remaining time I do use for more little experiences. Do remember the business of being your little is very much in how your feel which may include but isn't solely restricted to what you wear so there's no reason to have to stay in or just be in a group to do this but do. You'll feel much better for it.
Things in my wood are on the go now so I thought this week, we'd look at some pictures starting with these Bluebells that I came by while walking a few days back, covered up from bity things.
Here you can see all that lush green foliage where the birds locally have built their nests from twigs.I just love hearing birdsong.
Meanwhile over in our Meadow there's plenty of life and you can make a wish with the Dandelion
And this lovely blossom was out too
Finally in my garden these flowers are have a great time and look so pretty.
Technical note: all shot on Canon A470 digital compact with just a touch of exposure correction and cropping, that's all.
