It was lighter when I left work tonight, which made me feel better. I was also feeling happy because two of yesterday’s medallions (Sir Francis Drake and Grace Kelly) sold overnight. They are now on their way to the customer.
I then started entering more items on eBay. We set ourselves the target of having 1,000 items of stock when I started in the shop, which looked like a big jump from the 600 we then had listed. When you consider the number we’ve sold, we must have entered around 2,000 items to get to this figure.
Here are some of the bits that went on today.
Masonic Past Master’s Jewel – Heaton Lodge, Bolton, Lancashire
RAOB Jewels Lord Balcarres Lodge, Chorley, Lancashire
People collect Freemasons regalia keenly, and though there are collectors for Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (otherwise known as RAOB or Buffs) it isn’t collected quite as keenly. They are both mysteries to me, though they are popular with many people. There are other friendly societies such as the Oddfellows, Druids and Foresters, but their regalia is not so common. Many of them were set up to provide health and insurance benefits for members in the days before the welfare state.
The last bit is a locket with pictures of two Great War soldiers in it – probably brothers, or maybe father and son. It’s had quite a lot of wear and I suspect there is quite a story behind it. We bought it with a Green Howards cap badge but the vendor didn’t know anything about the history. It’s frightening how quickly families forget.
As a man who is interested in the past, it can be an interesting job.
We’re closed until the 2nd January now, but as that is my day off I have four days of leisure stretching ahead of me. I wonder what I should do to fill the time…
I’m sure you will find plenty to do!
And it would be interesting to find out the history behind many of the items you handle.
Happy New Year!
Yes, I enjoy finding out as much history as possible. Happy New Year!
This is so interesting. I didn’t realize the term past master (someone who’s very good at something) comes from master of the lodge. Best wishes for the new year! I second all suggestions about writing various forms of poetry…
Thank you – best wishes to you too. I may well do a bit of writing during the days off. 🙂
Enjoy your time off, Simon. 🙂
I’ve just been told I’m taking Number One son to the airport on Wednesday so the time off is shrinking. 🙂
What a pity 🙂
And I’ve just remembered I have a blood test! 🙂
Yay!!
I seem to have passed…
Even better news! 🙂
🙂 Happy New Year to you all.
I expect you will find a pier or a puffin or something interesting to visit. Have a good new year whatever you do.
I have a quiet night in and keep muttering about going to bed before midnight, though I usually end up watching a load of Londoners on TV – singing and watching fireworks.
Best wishes to you, Mrs T and all the family.
I’m sure could manage a few haikus – about collecting history?
It’s a possibility…
Have a very Happy New Year!
And you. 🙂
I suspect you will be writing poetry during your days off, Quercus. 🙂
True, 🙂