MYSTERY OBJECTS

[Gloria]

Will someone put that picture straight at the back
Are we looking at the hip flask type of thing????

[Stanley]

I like my pictures crooked! Shows I am not obsessive about these things. Yes that is a miniature hip flask but it's the Gizmo with the tassells you should be concentrating on....

[plaques]

The Gizmo with tassells looks like its been made entirely from sea shells and other marine cast off's. As such it could be described as a "light house". if you sea my point.

[Stanley]

Not sea shells. I suspect at least one member knows but is keeping quiet. I'll give it another day.....

[chinatyke]

My wife thinks this is a bajiao, which actually translates as 8 corners. These ornaments are made by the rural Zhuang people in Guangxi, Southern China, where we live. If it is authentic it should have a wonderful fragrance as Bajiao is the Chinese name for the spice star anise which usually has 8 pods. It is used dried in Chinese cooking mainly for the aroma and is one component of the 5-spices preparation.

Many rural communities make ornaments from agricultural products, for instance, corn dollies and reed ornaments.

Of course, she could be wrong!

[Tripps]

I looked up Guangxi and found this Guangxi China
Produces 85% of the Star Anise - which is an ingredient in Tamiflu. File that away for the quiz.
AS usual with modern China quite amazing. It was said that the 19th C was British, the 20th c was American, and the 21st will be Chinese. Nothing in that link to suggest otherwise.

[Stanley]

I told you someone would know.... China's lady is right but I've never noticed any scent from it. This was given to me by a friend who is Hmong and she told me that it was regarded by her people as a protective symbol. Seems to be working so far! Thanks Bee!
Now I have to rack my brains again.....



Who is this?

[chinatyke]

Looks like one of the seagulls from the movie Finding Nemo, the gulls that cried "mine,mine,mine."

[Wendyf]

The snow goose?

[Gloria]

Eider one of us knows or you are going to have to tell us.
Is it from a shop selling feather pillows?

[Wendyf]

It has a very anxious look...

[Marilyn]

Johnathon Livingstone Seagull...

[Stanley]

You're showing your age Maz but yes.... Notice that he has an old magnetised compass needle on his back to ensure he is always flying South.....

[Gloria]

What is Johnathon Livingstone Seagull besides a seagull??? Never heard of it.

[Wendyf]

That's not a seagull!

[Stanley]

All right, it's a snow goose......
Will someone think of another object!

[Wendyf]

Changed my mind....it's a seagull.

[Stanley]

You're laughing at me Wendy......I suppose I'll have to rack my old brain again....

[Stanley]

[chinatyke]

One for the ladies?

[Gloria]

You pull the lever on the left, the flap on top opens, you throw in your waste to be incinerated, the flap closes, a ticking sound - a kind of timer - starts, and 1000W worth of electric power are converted into heat inside, thereby turning your waste to ashes.

[Marilyn]

So...( clearing my throat), IS it a 'ladies loo thing?
And what were you doing in there photographing it?
( I remember such things from my youth...disgusting...glad things have progressed)

[Stanley]

You're all quite right. Maz, I had the job of cleaning and maintaining the incinerator which was the most modern addition to the archaic women's toilets at Bancroft Shed. Life as a mill engineer wasn't all polished steel and brass!



More a forgotten corner than a mystery but have a close look at this pic and tell me what strikes you.

[chinatyke]

Beautiful stone sill and lintel and the dressed stone on the sides of the window.

Was the Automatic Barrywald Incinerator fitted inside?

[Stanley]

Yup, it's the outside view of the Ladies toilet at Bancroft. What I'm looking for are observations about what you can see......