fabulous fifties

Yesterday having tea at my Mum's in her garden amongst her vast collection of potted plants my Nanna pointed at my handbag, propped up against the foot of the patio chair I was sat on and said "oooh I like your handbag! I've been looking for one like that for ages?" to which I replied "Matalan £6"!

The bag I wish I owned!

The bag was in fact my bargainous white quilted purse, with a gold buckle and chain strap. I bought it because it's as close to Chanel as I'll ever afford and for my Nanna it reminds her of 1955, not because it was the year Coco Chanel launched the design, but because it was a very poignant time in my Nanna's life.

Nanna, probably on holiday in Jersey

My Nanna, who grew up in the North and came to Surrey to live with her Grandmother, as a WW2 evacuee, met my Poppa at 16 and married him 2 years later. At 21 in 1952 she gave birth to my Mum and 2 years later, my Auntie. I can't imagine being married postwar, with 2 young children, a tin bath in the kitchen, an outside washroom and feeding a family on rations, but to my Nanna, it was manageable. 45 years later she lives in the same home her and my Poppa scrimped and saved to buy from the council.

My favourite picture of Nanna & Poppa

She was madly in love with my Poppa, they didn't have a lot of money and both worked extremely hard for what they had. She puts the secret to her long and very happy marriage down to "ensuring he feels the boss and making him think he's right when secretly knowing you are". Perhaps not everyone would agree with this, but not everyone gets to celebrate their Diamond Anniversary! I think from the outside it was plain to see they were just sole mates or simply 2 peas in a pod.

A love letter to my Nanna

I love this picture. What beautiful handwriting.

My Nanna & Me

Growing up, my Grandparents were great story tellers, we heard stories of the 40s, 50s and 60s and their childhood. With a garden you could explore and a vegetable patch you could pick at, they spoilt my sister and I rotten. We ate sweets and cakes 'till our teeth ached and made endless bookends from spare bits of wood in my Poppa's potting shed.  

N&P on their 60th Anniversary

Sadly my Poppa passed away in August 2008, at 83, having celebrated only the month previous, his 60th Wedding Anniversary with my Nanna. 

When I think of my Nanna, sat in my Mum's garden in her floral belted tea dress, winkle picker style heels and wearing her Aviator Sunglasses (the same pair she had in the 60s), I see a women stuck where her memories are most treasurable. Life won't be the same for her now without him, but ask her and she'll tell you she's the luckiest woman alive.

Here are some photos of why I love the fifties, through their stories and photos.