My desk cost twenty pounds in a charity shop. Maybe my grandparents had a similar one when I was small. There feels something very familiar about all the neat compartments inside the fold-down front.
Apparently the young folk refer to a charity shop as a 'chazza'. Does anyone else know this expression? It was a word I'd never heard before, but now I'm using it all the time, being such a chazza addict.
Nostalgia seems the theme of my life lately. I've been re-reading a childhood favourite, 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It's a lovely escapist book. I think you can read it at any age and still be uplifted by it.
And two other nice books I bought from the chazza recently for a couple of pounds: H.E. Bates' 'The Darling Buds of May' and 'A Breath of French Air'. The latter seemed particularly appropriate after my little excursion this summer. I love the 1950s style of the covers, and have enjoyed reading them both, although it is hard not to picture David Jason as Pop Larkin.
That's it for now. The desk awaits!
33 comments:
Joanne
Please allow Harvey to pop over to my blog and be one of the writers' pets to claim the Awards.
I love the book covers (I remember enjoying the books when I read them ages ago).
I'm 'very into' the 1950s just now.
Oh thank you, Pat. I'm sure Harvey will be highly delighted with that!
I re-read The Secret Garden every chance I get, and you are right, it is a book you can read at any age!
Sam
Yes, Sam, and I always see something new in it, or something that's relevant to my life at that moment. Classic.
Aw, Harvey is much more handsome than a desk :-) And it's lovely he's going to be in a Christmas story!
I love old books. Chazza is a new word to me - I rather like it :-) x
He can't wait to see the illustration, Teresa!
I have an identical bureau to yours. It has a sliding compartment inside, as well as all the little pigeonholes. It belonged to my mum.
The Secret Garden! I adored it as a child but my small granddaughter recently gave up on it as she couldn't manage all the broad Yorkshire accents. Such a shame. You need to have it read to you at that age, I think.
A sliding drawer too! How lovely, Frances. That's sad that your granddaughter couldn't manage The Secret Garden, but maybe she will come back to it later. I don't mind the Yorkshire as I am from Derbyshire and some of the words are similar. But for some reason in my head I was 'hearing' the Yorkshire bits as almost Scottish! But I still loved it anyway.
I've not come across chazzer before. Maybe it's a mix of charity and bazaar?
Chazza is a new word to me, too, but I like it. I'm a great chazza fan, too. Half my clothes are chazza ones. Racking my brains to see if anything rhymes with chazza. Harvey is adorable and I hope the desk brings you inspiration, Joanne!
Lucky you, to get a desk like that.
And I have never heard the word "chazzy" for a charity shop, but I like it too.
And "The Secret Garden" is one of my favorites! Loved it as a kid, but it is always good to read as an adult. Would have loved to have found the copy that you did. (The drawing of the English robin confused me when I read it at the age of eight.)
Patsy, I don't know, but it's possible.
Hydra, I have romantic notions about the desk bringing inspiration, but it remains to be seen whether that's just a notion!
Kay, the desk was a good bargain, and the books too. Thanks for visting!
Memories... just looking at the photo reminds me of my grandmother's desk, and the hours she spent sitting at it hand writing letters.
As a child I loved the story of "The Secret Garden" and still hope to one day have an enclosed garden of what I imagined the walled garden in the story was like.
That desk looks a bargain for £20. The books look as if they're in good condition too. Never heard of chazza.
Life of Riley - a walled garden would be blissful wouldn't it, and also very hard for dogs to escape from.
Keith, bargains are so satisfying!
Great desk, Joanne - we have a similar bureau type one passed down from grandparents with book shelves above. It's the one piece of furniture I wouldn't like to part with! Love those nostalgic reads.
Chazza?!! As in Gazza?!!? What gives?!?! LOL!!
Oh Joanne!!! Your desk is even more lovely with the adorable Harvey in front of it! Yay!!! And he's in a story!? How brilliant!
Awwww love your nostalgic reads!
Take care
x
I love your desk, Joanne, and it was a bargain for £20. I love the thought of hidden compartments and secret drawers.
As for those gorgeous book covers, I could happily paper the walls with those.
Wishing you very happy writing at your desk. I think it will be an inspiring piece of furniture with all the history and secrets it must have contained over the years. And congratulations to the beautiful Harvey too. I look forward to reading his story. x
Rosemary, it must be a lovely feeling, to know that your desk has been part of your family for so many years.
Old Kitty, Harvey agrees with you on that one!
Joanna, papering walls with book covers is a marvellous idea, and it would be fun to do. Hmm... Jo considers redecorating study...
Hi Joanne. The desk is a lovely object and a bargain at the price.
I may be able to help with the etymology of Chazza.
As you may have suspected my given name is Barry and my nickname is Bazza. The footballer Paul Gascoigne is known as Gazza and Michael Heseltine was known by the press as Hezza. It's a UK thing whereby popular names are shortened thusly.
When Kelly, a USA Blogging correspondent , asked me the origin of Bazza I instantly began to call him Kezza and have done so ever since!
Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
I just knew you'd have something insightful to say about the chazza, Bazza!
It's a beautiful desk, Jo. A real 'chazza' find. Never heard of that word before - it's great.
Those book covers are gorgeous, especially the H.E. Bates. Perfick as Pop Larkin would say.
Perfick is one of my favourite words! x
Oooh, I'm really looking forward to reading Harvey's story :0)
Love your desk - and Harvey's a very handsome chap. I'd happily friend him.
xx
I love your new desk. I had one very similar, with all the compartments and shelves a writer could need. Unfortunately, it was one thing my ex was determined to hang on to. Hopefully, I will find one as beautiful as yours one day.
Harvey agrees, Suzanne!
Ellie, I do hope you find another old desk one day. They have such character.
Never heard the word Chazza before, love the desk though...what a bargain!
Thanks Maria. x
Hi Joanne! Gosh, I don't know why I haven't stopped by in so long. Well, I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I've been limiting myself on blogging time, but I'm glad I'm here tonight! Your doggy is soooo cute! I've never heard chazza before, but maybe it's not a word in the American Midwest! I always love anything nostalgic and that desk is beautiful!
Hi Joanne, the desk looks lovely, I love the patina, not to mention the adorable intruder. I am truly happy I met a much more experienced short story author, from whom I could occasionally snatch very useful tips on writing or publication. I've recently finished writing my very first fantasy short story and I am currently looking for a friendly place to publish it ...Kisses and soooooo lovely to meet you and Harvey.
Thanks for visiting, Unikorna. Lots of luck with your short story. I don't really write fantasy, but I do admire people who can!
Wow I love your desk and books. the covers are great! so how much more interesting than modern covers.
My tastes are not very modern, Paula!
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