Introducing Selena - from christmas of the past

This week we're going forward into the past here by looking at something I had for Christmas but in nineteen seventy-nine instead which as anyone who lived through that time knows also was turbulent politically.

The cold war was very much still on but for all of that trade with what was the U.S.S.R was fairly common place and ownership of soviet era cars, cameras and electrical goods was popular partially down to price compared with West European and Japanese models but also because being in production for longer they did appeal to traditionalists.

The Vega Selena B212 was unlike anything made by Panasonic, Grundig or Sony in a number of ways such as it featured a wooden cabinet which was unheard off aiding the sound.

You just didn't get that then anywhere else.

An unusually feature was the use of a mechanical rotating Turret that had been a common fixture of televisions featuring VHF reception to change the wavebands which again was unusual for a domestic rather than one designed for radio operators in that it had five short wave bands that typically were used for international broadcasting as  the signals could travel thousands of miles.

The one criticism that could be made was the tuning scale was only marked in a fairly rudimentary way but in terms of sensitivity it was surprisingly good and it did feature a signal strength indicator that could be illuminated.

Frequencies are marked in metres except for FM where they use megahertz.

The waveband in use was indicated directly through a cut out on the tuning scale.

That was major appeal to me as listening to short wave transmissions is something I did from an early age so to have it on fairly portable radio - weighing four kilos it is fairly portable and not as light as most of competition was an advantage.

This is the 'gubbins' of it - the main assembly where on the bottom right you can see the turret with its coil packs, on the top  the old school but still good silver hatted transistors because no integrated circuits were used, plus on the far left mains cord connector, D.I.N. connector for monaural record and replay from tape recorders and a earphone socket.

 As well on the turret is the AM antenna and ground connectors although for AM there is a ferrite rod and for FM and shortwave a telescopic antenna built in on the top of the case.

It was relatively inexpensive too so to have something that performed well, looked like a piece of furniture and portable was great.

It was the radio I listened to the Abba concert from Wembley on that Christmas and one reason why I fondly remember having it.

A reflective day

 

Much of the last month or so has been a bit like this walking around the country lanes, taking in all the sounds, sights and smells of the outdoors because in a lot of way I feel I need that total experience to be at the best I can.

That's why in someway I'm not a good online buddy if you expect me to hang around  and sometimes the deficits in how I see things not least my ability to 'read' lead situations where I'm feeling very much in the headlamps, dazzled, confused and with an overriding instinct to protect myself.

I prefer more group or face to face interaction really and yes I like to wear skirts doing so as a feminine boy for a while now.

Sparkle In Your Eye:

When I look at you, I see the sparkle in your eye, 

It tells me what's true and never tells a lie.

The sparkle in your eye, 

Even when you are sad, never does it cry.

Whenever it expresses its feelings, 

It tells me straight away, 

What you are stealing, 

Without doing a survey.

It tells when you'll fall, 

So I'll catch you like a ball.

It's the sparkle in your eye that says, 

You'll make it in the next couple of days.

The sparkle in your eye, 

Never, ever shall it die. 

By Ulveena Aitzaz from Lahore

Poetry was one thing I really enjoyed at school, reading learning and reciting it in front of the class, traditional European as well as Japanese styles.

Spooky weekend

This weekend last I was away for what is a highlight in littles life, parties, and in particular the Halloween one staged by a friend here in the Midlands which for me meant a short train journey and a lift.

Although compared with certain other events I attend this was comparatively short in terms of days away, obviously bringing things to literally add to the party soon takes up space so I needed a full complement of tote bags and case.

Having arrived back, the first task was to get the fire light and a brew on because three more people were staying overnight on the Friday after finding a good spot tm to put my stuff as with fourteen of us being here for Saturday and Sunday space in the front room in particular would be at a premium.

Some things I brought for Saturday's buffet  were taken out and the Pumpkin the host had brought for me saving trying to carry that on the train was paid for.

As well by prior arrangement I'd be sleeping in their so it made sense to put what I needed at hand but not in other folks way.

I sorted out my advance Christmas card pile for folk and got out my Hello Kitty white and pink plushie.

It wasn't long before the first two guests arrived which as our host was otherwise  detained I let in and by the time the last one of the day had made it it was time to get some food going.

We had a big pork chop with well cooked rind, roast potatoes from the garden which I washed for the host and another helped with vegetables.

The remainder of the evening was taken up with much conversation punctuated with bangs from a local firework display.

Come Saturday morning I was up fairly early in a grey jumper and wine coloured pleated skirt ready to take my pills and fix a spot of breakfast after rounding up stray cups and glasses.

 As people were coming later on, I had a few things to do of which one was to help out and that involved converting Gingerbread persons into Gingerbread Girls by decorating them.

I used eatable cake icing to add eyes, tops and skirts for them 

I made a number of variations on a theme which included one as a girl soccer player.

By about One pm most people had arrived so our Host and friend set on making Burger with fried onion and to which another and brought salad together with sauces to add to suit your own taste.

Getting on fur just after Two pm the last four guest had arrived in time for theirs.

Soon it was time for Fred and Florence's Exceeding Good Food Hunt which was a kind of treasure hunt out of doors where you had to find one item for which there was a prize which then lead to clue for the next and so on until we got to the last one where everyone had something - for me it was a caramel filled chocolate bar.

The next event was also out of doors, namely Pumpkin Carving to which several people had brought various tools to get into the pumpkin with and most of us remembered first time to save the top we'd cut out ready for the tea light to be fitted.

Finished mine looked a bit like this.
We went indoors to clean up and otherwise get ourselves ready for the cold buffet that included Pizza, pork pies, salad and a home made trifle with cream.

By just after 19:00 it was time to put on warmer attire as it was time for our bonfire to be lit a safe distance from us which was a good idea as it turned a bit breezy. I had my Puma trackpants on.

It roared loudly with much crackling as people held sparklers waving them about.
Then we started our firework display oohing and aahing to the vibrant colours and sounds.

After a short break it was time for the music quiz which had food connections where a tune was played and you had to guess the answer with the winner being given a Cabbage.

The was much lively conversation until just before one in the morning when I got to bed.
I was as ever the first up and dressed this time in a green jumper - our host likes green apparently - ready to take my tablets and have a cup of tea as gradually everyone got up and about.

We had a bacon sandwich  to keep us going before we went to a gastro-pub within walking distance for a meal together before we all set off as some people had three hours or more to travel and it is a nice way to end a weekend together.

I had a turkey roast with trimmings and sticky toffee treacle with cream which arrived very efficiently given it was really busy with diners plus regular drink trade.
Upon arrival back at our hosts venue, everyone said their goodbyes before we meet again next year.

It was a fun packed weekend for this adult little girl.

Seeing Green

We have looked at grey as a colour but a popular one for both Jerseys and Skirts is green of which is fairly typical example of the more basic sort.

Senior ones tend to be a bit long with a knife edge pleat at the front mirroring traditional secretarial wear rather than this Juniors version, fully elasticated and pull up

I do have a matching jersey that goes with a polo shirt for the state Junior school look as it rare unlike my own day to wear shirts/blouses and ties or over a box pinafore dress which little sissy gurls like me look good in.