Episode 127 - A respite from our Journal....
After Monica had urged us (me actually, of course,) to continue writing up our Journal, Jos and I read through the Journal extracts to date and thought that we needed to change the way of writing about our particular mackintoshes and, in future, describe events where we were able to wear our variety of mackintoshes instead. We have also gathered from our contact with others - see our last two Episodes which take notice of this new approach -, that there is a shop in Richmond called WeatherVain which publishes a home-made periodical entitled "Impermeable Delectable." or something similar, wherein the author types from readers accounts submitted in handwriting, about their (and our) favourite subject and publishes and sells the issues.
How about that for our Journal?asks Jos. I can't imagine anyone taking on the huge tasks of typing our contribution. We'll have to get a copy anyway.
Jos is all keen on this idea, needless to say.
Meanwhile, he says, he will draw up a list (for me to type, of course !) of all the rainwear we have had in the past and put it in at this point as a 'full stop' to what he calls our childish accounts. before I go on to write more Episodes. He is good at lists as I well know and is a vital part of his building management job. He can't type of course and doesn't think his Secretary would be at all interested in the task! I wait with interest though.
A list of our lifelong rainwear wardrobe.
Aged 5: Blue rubber-lined cotton mackintosh with matching sou’wester style hat. -outgrown and discarded
Aged 6: Green rubber-lined cotton mackintosh similar to last, again with matching sou’wester style hat and ‘inherited’ from Jos .-outgrown and discarded.
Aged 7: Black rubber surfaced second-hand mackintosh, passed on from a cousin by well-intentioned aunt, first to Jos and then to me. (see 102.1)
Aged 8: Light blue rubber-lined cotton mackintosh with attached hood, the hood also rubber-lined – outgrown and discarded. All hoods in those days were ‘school-girl’ styled with two points, one either side at the crown.
Aged 10: Similar light blue rubber-lined cotton mackintosh with attached hood, the hood lined with white similar material, the rubber lining hidden inside the hood. – replaced by the next, but not discarded for some years after.
Aged 12: School regulation gabardine ‘proper’ raincoat with hood.
Jos. Aged 12: Mother’s discarded navy blue polka-dot rubber-lined cotton mackintosh with attached hood, lining removed to expose rubber.
Both of us: Easy access to Mother’s new bottle-green rubber-lined cotton mackintosh with detachable hood.
(Me again) now aged 17: Grey cotton rubber-lined mackintosh, the alternative school approved type, good quality and with attached self-lined hood, the rubber-lined side hidden away inside. I unstitched the hood’s lining and re-stitched it to expose the rubber-lining. Purchased second-hand at the school ‘uniform exchange’ and kept for many years.
Aged 17: Grey cape of matching material to last with same attached hood. (see 104.1)
Aged 20: Light blue rubber surfaced mackintosh with darker blue rubber lining, ie rubber both sides with attached hood. Zip closing including lower hood, tie belt. Purchased in Salzburg, Austria. I still have it - splendid quality and my favourite. (see 106)
Aged near 30: Bottle green, quite coarse open-weave cotton, rather like riding mack material, but not so heavy, supple and generously cut with almost raglan-style sleeves. A lovely, smooth green rubber lining and is decorated with bold lighter green saddle stitching. It is very smart, expensive but has no hood nor hat. Generously cut styling on the shoulders and sleeves . Since I am quite broad shouldered and like plenty of room there. I wore it regularly, even our Mother approved, she said. It was the same colour as hers, of course, and I still have it.(see Fancy Dress Ball Episode)
And, just right,, as it turned out, for the Fancy Dress dance. Dark red, glazed cotton, lined with red rubber – a very rain-inviting garment. Good quality, not cheap. It has lead a long and varied life although I didn’t give that aspect any thought at the time.
Aged about 30: Complete SBR outfit (see SBR Episode) for both of us.
Aged 50 ! Yes, 50 - Hard to believe. We each had a replica of our SBR hooded mackintoshes made in rubber-lined satin, quite heavy but really nice and comfortable. Just for leisure wearing at home.
So, on with the motley
.