Archive

Tag Archives: photography

Dental Hygiene, Babar and the Eiffel Tower

November 3, 2011
Photobooth 45 Year Project (Archive)
2 Comments

April 1994, London

I was not yet ready to head home to Australia as I was keen to develop my new language skills by using them in some way. Through The Lady magazine I applied for a position as a nanny with a French couple living in London. They were planning to move to Paris in the coming month. Once established at their huge apartment, a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, I was told by my employer that the main reason I had been given the position over another candidate, was my “beautiful white teeth”. It was a compliment I’d never before received, let alone them having been the reason for my securing a job!

My charge was an 18 month old little boy named Alex. He was sweet and smart and an absolute joy to look after, especially as my work finished at 5.00 pm – no night duties, hoorah! We had fun together, going out for fruit and veggies at local shops and a regular street market, visiting the park under the Eiffel Tower three or four times a week and exploring other parts of Paris via the Metro or on foot. His room was decorated with an extremely large array of Babar the Elephant paraphernalia, posters and toys. Assuming his mother was a big fan, I commented on the theme.  Apparently it was his father’s childhood nickname. Much to his dismay he was the frequent recipient of Babar gifts, the trend having intensively accelerated after the news he was to become a daddy. On my departure for Australia, I was given one of his Babar toys as a memento, which I treasure to this day.

So here I am flashing my fabulous pearly whites. This could be another photo for a French visa or a random stop at a booth, I am no longer sure.  It was taken on 22 April 1994 when I was very close to leaving for Paris.

My Teddy, Fred

September 27, 2011
My Family in Photobooths
2 Comments

81 Year Old Fred Bear

Please meet my teddy Fred, who currently lives on a bed in the spare room in Melbourne.  He is a very old English bear who (not “which” – he is definitely a person) was given to my mother for her first birthday in May 1930.

Fred was made by Farnell in the UK.  He was in fine condition when he was given to me. He had a growl that worked, soft padded paws of pale felt, with decorative stitching and a full coat of fur. He had his original eyes and snout.  By the time I had finished loving him to death he was almost bald, had no nose and badly mangled pads.  His eyes had been replaced numerous times.  He was taken for some TLC to the “doll’s hospital” in the Block Arcade in Melbourne about 10 years ago.  He is the fine specimen of bear-hood that you see above, thanks to their help.

I named Fred after Fredd Bear from a children’s TV show, the Magic Circle Club (1965-67) on Melbourne’s ATV Channel O.  Fredd (Tedd Dunn) was a silent, big, cuddly bear, who I loved dearly.  Mum took me to see the cast doing a live show at the Myer store at Chadstone.  I was so thrilled to see him but too terrified to go on stage when they asked for children from the audience to participate.  All the kids who went up received prizes.  I have remembered and regretted my shyness of that day, ever since!

Fred came with me on an outing to the Jam Factory this year.  We had gone for a morning treat but as the cafe didn’t have any pots of honey we decided to skip the Teddy Bear picnic and grab a few booth snaps instead.

It may be noted that I have written a good deal more about this loved creature than I have about my sister and brother.  This is definitely due to the fact that teddy bears do not have good computer skills and thus he is unlikely to reprimand me for the quality of the pictures or for saying anything which may embarrass him.