Bletchley 1940s Weekend

So at the beginning of June, or it might have been the end of May (this year is going so quickly I can't keep up!), a regency dancing  friend and I discovered that we were both interested in all things 40s. So instead of going to our dance group's Regency tea dance, we decided to fast forward a century or so and go to our first 40s event. I love regency, but I am desperate to branch out and attend events for other eras. So 40s it was. :) We chose for our first event, a 40s weekend at Bletchley Park.

My sewing skills don't really extend past crafting, (though I have made the odd regency camp dress), so I decided to buy my outfit. Thankfully the vintage scene is big in Britain, so I had quite a large selection of clothes to choose from. I chose a late 30s style dress from the House of Foxy, and my brown and white Peggys from Royal Vintage had their first outing. 😁

A rather odd photo! But it shows my outfit.

Bletchley Park is a great place, but it is very much a work in progress as they are constantly looking for more funding to refurbish all the buildings that are scattered around the estate. I won't go into great detail as I wrote a few previous posts on Bletchley the last time I went there (non 40s event day). You can read the posts here.

Below are a quite a few photos of the event! :)

Some WAAF and RAF reenactors

The famous code-breaker Alan Turing's bear. SO adorable

Alan Turing as a boy! Even more adorable

Recreation of a 40's bedroom

Living room

The main house

The Library

Found a copy of Jo's Boys - someone had good taste. :) 

Lunch of Bubble and Squeak - amazingly I have managed to get through a British childhood without ever trying it. I have been missing out! It was delicious!!

Clever way to stop people touching the antique typewriters! 😄

Swing dancing on the lawns. 

Home guard practice.

This is the car that was used in the film "Enigma" with Kate Winslet.

Victorian Tea at the V&A

Every Sunday for the last few months, the Victoria and Albert Museum has been hosting a Victorian afternoon tea in their restaurant - of course I had to go. So a few Sundays ago, a friend and I went to sample the delights. I wish I could have gone in costume, but unfortunately my historical clothing wardrobe does not currently extend to Victorian day wear (I am hoping it will one day). Also walking in costume through central London is not fun at the best of times!

So here is the lovely reproduction china and the delicious food. Actually some of the food was interesting, but not quite my taste, but most of it was yummy. :)

Closeup of the food :) 

The menu. every dish was made from a Victorian recipe.

Isn't this glass so pretty!

The tea was held in the original William Morris part of the cafe, so perfect location for a Victorian tea. 

A few more pics of the decor.

Malta Regency Weekend 2016

In April I spent a lovely week in Malta with some friends. It is somewhere I have wanted to visit for a while, mainly because my father was born there and my grandmother talks about there time there quite a bit.  We spent most of our time in the city of Valletta. 

The Grand Harbour

A very picturesque street

Georgian playing card stamps

We wondered around quite a few lovely museums. In one we found a sedan chair which rather suited Zack's outfit. :)

Meditating in the garden

Taking a boat across the Grand Harbour

Another view of the Grand Harbour

Old Mint Street - the steepest street in Valletta. 

Next - Regency Malta :)

A Regency Weekend in Lyme Regis - Part 1

Way back in October I spent a lovely weekend with a few friends in the small seaside town of Lyme Regis. It is a place that I have wanted to visit for a very long time - ever since I saw the 90s version of Persuasion. So when I heard about a Jane Austen tour being organised in Lyme, I jumped at the chance.

On the first day it was chucking it down with rain, so we escaped the downpour by sheltering in the local museum. It's a lovely little museum that has a small wonderful section on Jane Austen and Regency England.

A reproduction bonnet made out of paper!!! I think it was made for some sort of competition.

Exquisite baby's cap

Beatrix Potter also visited Lyme. These are some of the sketches she produced whilst there.

Lace making. I would love to learn how to make lace, but it looks very complicated!!

Rachel's bonnet - ME WANT!!!! :)

So pretty.

Miniature food made for a dolls house!!

When the rain stopped, we ventured outside.Thankfully for the rest of the weekend the weather was quite good.

The beach

Promenading along beach. I think we were seeing how close we dared go to the water, whilst wearing our gowns.

We attended a very interesting talk on Jane Austen, given by one of her descendants. After the talk she showed us a few items of Austen's that had been passed down the family.

One of Austen's gloves!!!

A chemisette embroidered by Austen!!! So beautiful.

We  also spent sometime on the famous (very windy) cobb, from where Louisa Musgrove falls.

This is the view off the end of the cobb. Not there during the Regency Era. I think it was added about 5 years ago.

Leaning against the cobb listening to the very knowledgeable tour organiser Natalie.

On top of the cobb, looking out to sea. Did I mention it was windy!!

Considering whether to jump. :)

I have decided to split this post into two as I have way too many photos! :)