This one's special because it's got the date that "Merle and Bert" bought it neatly printed on its top right.
(Merle volunteers at the local hospital kiosk and Bert helps out at the Railway Museum - he's a tinkerer. This is when they're not grey nomading their way around Australia in their caravan. A Viscount. Purple upholstrey. Its got a sticker on the back which reads something like "Spend the Kids Inheritance or Die Trying!")
I reckon the 17th of August 1988 must have been a particularly exciting day for M & B. After all, they were holidaying in Coffs Harbour, home of The Big Banana weren't they?!
I say this, having not had the pleasure of seeing T.B.B. in the flesh...yet! I have however, written about other Big Banana t.ts. so I consider myself well qualified. Plus we're of a similar vintage.
Anyway, it's a treaured t.t. in pristine condition and I really love that "Merle" wrote the date atop it (in Hobbytex, I think...) The colours are much brighter than they appear in my pic and despite the fact that it was made in the 80's, I still think it's pretty cool.
The hibiscus flowers, frangipanis, palm trees etc are all self explanatory but who is the bearded man wearing the baggy green? Please drop me a note if you know. Ditto if you get the vintage biplane reference (I think it might be Les Holden's, Canberra)
Thank you x
(Merle volunteers at the local hospital kiosk and Bert helps out at the Railway Museum - he's a tinkerer. This is when they're not grey nomading their way around Australia in their caravan. A Viscount. Purple upholstrey. Its got a sticker on the back which reads something like "Spend the Kids Inheritance or Die Trying!")
I reckon the 17th of August 1988 must have been a particularly exciting day for M & B. After all, they were holidaying in Coffs Harbour, home of The Big Banana weren't they?!
I say this, having not had the pleasure of seeing T.B.B. in the flesh...yet! I have however, written about other Big Banana t.ts. so I consider myself well qualified. Plus we're of a similar vintage.
Anyway, it's a treaured t.t. in pristine condition and I really love that "Merle" wrote the date atop it (in Hobbytex, I think...) The colours are much brighter than they appear in my pic and despite the fact that it was made in the 80's, I still think it's pretty cool.
The hibiscus flowers, frangipanis, palm trees etc are all self explanatory but who is the bearded man wearing the baggy green? Please drop me a note if you know. Ditto if you get the vintage biplane reference (I think it might be Les Holden's, Canberra)
Thank you x
I'll try and remember to ask my husband your questions. He often knows the answers to kooky things like this. That man in the baggy green looks vaguely familiar.
ReplyDeleteI hope Merle and Bert are still honeymooning ... my honeymoon ended years ago.
Bought that table?
Merle, now that's a name you don't hear very often. You have probably started a new baby name trend with this very post.
ReplyDeleteOne of my neighbours called her baby Maude recently......
Great tt - Gotta love The Big Banana!!x
ReplyDeleteAww, love that they put the date on it. :)
ReplyDeleteI have lovely memories of my mum telling us of their traveling adventures around Australia as newly marrieds and the big banana story was our favorite as kids growing up . xx
ReplyDeleteI wasn't familiar with The Big Banana, so of course I had to check it out. I guess that's somewhat similar to our Big Tex at the Texas State Fair.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.texastwisted.com/attr/bigtex/
The tea towel is really fun, and I think it's interesting that they put the date on it. That must have been quite a holiday!
Am I right in thinking that Australia goes in for big stuff? Isn't there a prawn and a pineapple somewhere too? Am vaguely remembering my Bill Bryson. Do you have TTs for them too?
ReplyDeleteFantastic tea towel!
ReplyDeleteLove how bright it is!
Oh I've been to the big banana twice. Once as a child and once as an adult with our eldest child. She bought the souvie pencil with the big banana topper and we had banana ice cream as well. Unfortunately for me, the second visit was not as exciting as the first. I get so disappointed when that happens! We are off on a trip soon and the BB may well be on our list of adventures. Maybe I'll pick up a souvie tt as cute as Merle's.
ReplyDeleteThat so cute that they put the date on it. who needs a travel diary just buy a tea towel every where you go. I love it!
ReplyDeleteOh the colours are just so happy!!! I love dates on anything.
ReplyDeleteLove v
Hi Kylie, my totally gorgeous Nelson tt arrived yesterday, and it's even lovelier in real life!! Today I posted your goodies off to you - let me know when they arrive! As for the Big Banana, well only in Australia! Here in NZ we have large things too - Ohakune has a carrot for example! Maybe it's an Antipodean thing! S:)
ReplyDeleteI've done the big pineapple but it looks like the big banana is on the list, great TT as always!
ReplyDeleteI just asked the husband about the cricketer. He said in an exasperated tone, "I don't know. Just one of Coffs Harbour's famous bearded cricketers."
ReplyDeleteCan you believe there's some one on the planet who doesn't care for tea towels? Or important northern NSW sporting history? I, for one, am shocked.
Oh my, I did have to have a laugh, not at your blog, but the BB of course. As a child we used to drive up and down the coast and the BB was always a stopping point, they used to sell the biggest banana sundaes. I loved the gift shop and would always buy a ruler or a pencil! Bless!
ReplyDeleteReally nice that you have the date and know who owned it. I like it because it reminds me of my childhood home (on the other side of the world from where I am now) with the bananas and hibiscus - nowhere near where you are either but similar vegetation!
ReplyDeleteCan't hear Coffs Harbour without remembering the winning date on "Perfect Match" You're off to Coffs Harbourrrr!!!!(yep getting old)
ReplyDelete