Swimming at The Lake

 

Spring may be coming ... slowly, so here's a reminder of the warm sunshine in September 1974. I'm guessing that the family had a cabin on the shore, and just fancied a swim. But, there's no info with teh slide.

Bonus - I am enjoying Small Prophets.

Bonus 2 - 

Nice Ass

 

OK.  They're donkeys, but it's difficult to think of things to say for this blog.

Nostalgia Moment - I recall having an anorak with that sort of quilted diamond pattern.

Bonus - 10 Cold-Weather Misconceptions You’ve Probably Believed Your Whole Life

Bonus 2 - Scary Lion.

Bring On Contestant Number 3

 

Representing Wayne County, we have Agatha von Thursburg 34 - 20 - 36.

Agatha is a trainee chicken therapist, who's hobbies include shouting at pigeons, wearing too much make-up, and playing the zither.

Yes, the 1974 Miss St Petersburg Beauty Pageant brings all the perves in.

Bonus - 

Pulteney Bridge

 

It didn't take much research to identify this as Pulteney Bridge, in Bath.

Never been there. 

Bonus - Proper engineering...

Roger's Proud of his Garden

 

Roger deVille (not visible in photograph) was very proud of his garden, and would take a weekly slide, so that he could do his annual "State of the Garden" show at the East Frinton Gardening and Taxidermy Club nights. 

Attendance was always low on those nights.

Bonus :

Behind the scenes of "The Stirling Seven"

 

Few people remember the children's book series "The Stirling Seven", and even fewer will recall the BBC TV series of the same name. The novels were written by Ewan McTeagle, as a rival to the successful Enid Blyton serieses, and as an attempt to dispel the stench of failure associated with his Poetry for Money output.  Strangely, the "Stirling" part of the name was never explained, and the series was set in Cambuskenneth.

Here, we have a backstage snap, featuring (from the left) Maggie, Kevin, Holly. Wilbur, S*mbo the Dog, Freddy and Mr Fordyce the Cat.  Yes, they were different times, and pet-names were, umm, odd.

Bonus - Speaking of cats. George The Cat and the US Navy. 

Leonora and Chico

 

When she arrived in town, she introduced herself as Leonora Marquez, with he canine companion Chico. She was the exotic flower of Morecambe Bay

Alas, it's wasn't long until the police identified her as Hettie Grimshaw, the Ottley Black Widow, and she spent the next 30 years in HMP Clitclink.

Bonus - 

McMoo

 

Highland Cattle, or Heilan' Coos, to be precise, and a very distinctive breed.

The even have their own preservation society

Bonus - The Virgin Mary spanking The Baby Jesus

And these were the housemaids....

 

I can imagine the thinking behind this slide. Someone on holiday realising that they could invite the neighbours round for a cheese and win and "we're just back from our holiday" Slide-Show.  A chance to go one-up on those Snooty Braithwaites at Number 47. They boasted about their Pontins holiday... wait till they see our FOREIGN holiday....

Sad.

Bonus - Wow. 

Joyce shows some Thigh

 

This is Joyce, trying to cheer me up, through the decades, by displaying her right thigh while at a ... something. Could be some sort of museum, or stately home.

Either way, it's not working. I'm still disappointed by England's continued progress at the Rugby World Cup 2023.

Bonus -  

Happy Birthday Cliff

 This is not Cliff.

At least, not my Bro-in-Law Cliff who's having his xxth birthday.

No, this slide is of some random dude, having a holiday moment in Malta, in 1974.  Nice hat !

Bonus 1 - UK Address Oddities!

Bonus 2 - via B3TA 

Beauty Pageant Queens in Swimsuits

 

Well .... Hello!

As promised, some of the Miss St Petersburg 1974 contestants, pose in their Swimsuits, just for me.

And what a lovely gaggle of fillies they are. 

Bonus - George Melly: Sounds That Saved My Life (homage to K.S.)

Bonus 2 - 

"And our next contestant... a little lady from..."

 

A return to the "Miss St Petersburg 1974" box of slides.  Maybe if you're good, you get one of the Swimsuit Round slides tomorrow. Maybe.  (Edit. Damn. A duplicate.)

I can find nowt about Miss St Petersburg competition in 1974, but googling did remind me of America's obsession with Booty, sorry Beauty Pageants, such as this page.

Anyway.... the fashions .... wow.  And it appears that the chap in the centre is Dave Miller. OK.

Bonus - Institute of Illegal Images in San Francisco, California, and their collection of Blotter Acid.

Seconds from Disaster

 

"No, you're still too close to the camera. All three of you, take a step backward.

...and another..."

Tee hee hee.

Bonus - Please Clean Your Spice Jars

As we say farewell to 2022...

 

...just a friendly reminder to keep your hiking sandals in tip-top condition.

Bonus - How long after an earthquake is it okay to open a soda again?

Bonus 2 - 

Wedding Fashion - 1974

 

From June 1974,Wendy O'Toole, and the nieces Lulu and Laura show what the well-dressed wedding team are wearing in 1974. And it sympathy with the austere times, the bride's gown is recycled from a freshly laundered tablecloth, and the flowergirls are wearing a repuposed pair of grannies curtains.

Bonus - Laver's Law

From the Wikipedia entry on James Laver and his "law" of the public's attitude toward fashion :

• Indecent 10 years before its time
• Shameless 5 years before its time
• Outré (Daring) 1 year before its time
• Smart 'Current Fashion'
• Dowdy 1 year after its time
• Hideous 10 years after its time
• Ridiculous 20 years after its time
• Amusing 30 years after its time
• Quaint 50 years after its time
• Charming 70 years after its time
• Romantic 100 years after its time
• Beautiful 150 years after its time

Kimberley, Beside the Swimming Pool

 

Something to remind us of the summers days spent lazing beside the pool.

No need for misleading or smutty descriptions.

Bonus - 

Impressive

The Joy Of Beach Fishing

The slide is stamped as March 1974, and it certainly looks like this is not a summer holiday activity (unless they're in Scotland).

They must be bloody mad.

Bonus - Scotland’s drug-related death toll has increased by 27% over the past year to reach a record high of 1,187, putting the country on a par in terms of the fatality rate per capita with the United States

....and the Winner is...

From the Miss Florida 1974 set, here's the decision moment. A change from the pictures of gorgeous young ladies in ridiculous fashions. (Tho' the swimsuit shots....)

Strangely, it's impossible to Google-fu any information on this event.

Bonus - The crash of United Airlines flight 826 and TWA flight 266 (The New York midair collision)

Bonus 2 - Phone Boothes

Spot The Ball

Ah, Spot The Ball (or Fix Th' Ba', as I recall it being labeled in the Aberdeen Press and Journal.)

And it's still going (possibly) and it's in decline.

Bonus 

 Giant Megacolon