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Sunday 29 July 2018

Souvenirs from our recent cruise

Over the years, Sue and I have found that we seem to bring back fewer souvenirs each time we go on a cruise. This year mine were a Guernsey flag to add to my collection, ...


... some Del Prado pre-painted 25/28mm-scale Napoleonic Russian figures, and an illustrated book about Spanish Army uniforms by the acclaimed José Maria Bueno.


The figures will be very welcome additions to my small Russian Napoleonic figure collection, and the book was an unexpected bargain ... and the quality of its illustrations can be gauged by the following example.


Its price tag was sixty-nine Euros, but it only cost my forty-five! (This is just over £40.00.) Furthermore, my copy was monogrammed by the author, which makes it even more valuable in my eyes.

My edition of SOLDADOS DE ESPAÑA: EL UNIFORME MILITAR ESPAÑOL DESDE LOS REYES CATÓLICOS HASTA JUAN CARLOS I was written and illustrated by José Maria Bueno, and published in 1998 by Almena Ediciones (ISBN 84 922644 5 4).

I did come back with a less welcome 'souvenir' from our recent cruise, a bad stomach bug. Whether I caught it aboard or after we had disembarked, it made itself felt by Monday of last week, and has only just cleared itself out of my system.

10 comments:

  1. Bob,
    Souvenirs are great triggers for fond memories of past journeys. I brought back a King Arthur pewter statue from Glastonbery in your part of the country and a small Resin Lighthouse from Wales- and from Germany at Bamburg I brought home two Humel Minature Figurines - a Boy with a Lamb and a Girl with a Rabbit...great memories of a five week journey to the UK and Europe. Places we will probably never visit again-alas. Cheers. Bob.

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    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson,

      Looking at souvenirs is a great way to trigger memories of the places one has visited. It sounds as if you have some great souvenirs and memories.

      My wife collects shot glasses, and now has three small display cabinets full of them. Needless to say, they've never been used!

      All the best,

      Bob

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    2. Bob,
      I like to buy Souvenirs that have been made in the country-or location that I am visiting or lands that I have a fondness for. My recent purchases are 1:16th Scale Dolls made in Sweden- very fond of these miniatures- especially knowing where they are from. All the best. KEV.

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    3. Kev Robertson,

      That is a very interesting and very sensible souvenir buying policy,

      My wife used to collect dolls and teddy bears, but as we began to travel more, they became too numerous to display, hence the move to shot glasses.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    4. Bob,
      That is interesting the Sue collected Dolls and Teddy Bears...it all is a very good Hobby - particularly making the cloths for the miniature Dolls. Some Dolls are very expensive- probably depending on their size and quality- yesterday I looked at an Australian Sailor Doll that was for sale at $300 AUS...and worth it too. Shot Glasses take up a lot less room one would imagine. Cheers. KEV.

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    5. Kev Robertson,

      As a wargamer, it helps if ones wife is also a collector! There are far fewer 'why have you bought that?' questions, and even some very helpful suggestions.

      The largest souvenir teddy bear Sue bought (although I paid for it!) came from a military tailor in Naples, Italy. It stands two-foot tall and is dressed in an accurate replica of an Italian Naval Officer's Dress White uniform. We only went to the shop because I thought that it might sell militaria ...

      All the best,

      Bob

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    6. Bob,
      Sounds like you were railroaded out- sounds a marvelous Bear. My Partner does not have any Hobbies - though she does a lot of crochet work for Charitys like 'Life Line'. Cheers. KEV.

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    7. Kev Robertson,

      My wife would probably argue that one cannot have too many hobbies. Her's include genealogy, dolls houses, going on cruises, dressmaking, and reading as well as collecting all sorts of things.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    8. Bob,
      We have something in common- I'm about to start building a 1:16th Fictional Airial Steam Ship to my own design - it will be and function like a Dolls' House when completed. The ship is the largest model that I have attempted. My 1:16th Crew for the Ship are made from LUNDBY Dolls from Sweden. All the best. KEV.

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    9. Kev Robertson,

      Interesting. Sue and I have discussed building a cross section of a liner that showed the different types of cabin rather in the way that a dolls house show the inside of a house, but we came to the conclusion that it would be a very long project to complete. Good luck with yours, which sounds as if it will look stunning when it is complete.

      All the best,

      Bob

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