Lydia Massiah
@lydiamassiah.bsky.social
Writer, wanderer, wonderer, always curious to learn more. Knows a smattering about much, but not much about anything.
Worried about biodiversity loss. What's happening is one big horror story.
Worried about biodiversity loss. What's happening is one big horror story.
I'm so glad the old man enjoyed seeing these things again.
And the clock was somehow unavoidable 😄 Especially with two brown & white dogs on its face.
And the clock was somehow unavoidable 😄 Especially with two brown & white dogs on its face.
October 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I'm so glad the old man enjoyed seeing these things again.
And the clock was somehow unavoidable 😄 Especially with two brown & white dogs on its face.
And the clock was somehow unavoidable 😄 Especially with two brown & white dogs on its face.
4.
Meanwhile the old man is holding on to the treasures - the letter, the stamp, the coin collection, locket, sovereign purse & much more - as they have given him pleasure & prompted good memories.
And I have acquired his old longcase clock (not working😄) in my efforts to downsize 😬
Meanwhile the old man is holding on to the treasures - the letter, the stamp, the coin collection, locket, sovereign purse & much more - as they have given him pleasure & prompted good memories.
And I have acquired his old longcase clock (not working😄) in my efforts to downsize 😬
October 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
4.
Meanwhile the old man is holding on to the treasures - the letter, the stamp, the coin collection, locket, sovereign purse & much more - as they have given him pleasure & prompted good memories.
And I have acquired his old longcase clock (not working😄) in my efforts to downsize 😬
Meanwhile the old man is holding on to the treasures - the letter, the stamp, the coin collection, locket, sovereign purse & much more - as they have given him pleasure & prompted good memories.
And I have acquired his old longcase clock (not working😄) in my efforts to downsize 😬
3.
...was more precious than the gold coins.
Though I understand the old man's school career was not an illustrious one, since despite attending somewhere quite exclusive, he was expelled! The friend was perhaps a partner in crime 😄
...was more precious than the gold coins.
Though I understand the old man's school career was not an illustrious one, since despite attending somewhere quite exclusive, he was expelled! The friend was perhaps a partner in crime 😄
October 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
3.
...was more precious than the gold coins.
Though I understand the old man's school career was not an illustrious one, since despite attending somewhere quite exclusive, he was expelled! The friend was perhaps a partner in crime 😄
...was more precious than the gold coins.
Though I understand the old man's school career was not an illustrious one, since despite attending somewhere quite exclusive, he was expelled! The friend was perhaps a partner in crime 😄
2.
...the photo of the young man inside an envelope with a first name on it - no one in the family knew who this person was.
The old man recognised him immediately with huge pleasure - the photo was of his best friend at school - he kept saying 'He's number one, the best'.
A memory of a dear friend
...the photo of the young man inside an envelope with a first name on it - no one in the family knew who this person was.
The old man recognised him immediately with huge pleasure - the photo was of his best friend at school - he kept saying 'He's number one, the best'.
A memory of a dear friend
October 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
2.
...the photo of the young man inside an envelope with a first name on it - no one in the family knew who this person was.
The old man recognised him immediately with huge pleasure - the photo was of his best friend at school - he kept saying 'He's number one, the best'.
A memory of a dear friend
...the photo of the young man inside an envelope with a first name on it - no one in the family knew who this person was.
The old man recognised him immediately with huge pleasure - the photo was of his best friend at school - he kept saying 'He's number one, the best'.
A memory of a dear friend
1. A little addendum to the bureau story:
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
October 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
1. A little addendum to the bureau story:
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
The lady I bought the bureau from took all my finds to show her uncle (their original owner)in his care home. Though suffering from dementia he kept saying 'How lovely' as he was reunited with all his lost treasures,obviously delighted.
But the photo...
The pumpkin display at Tyntesfield (National Trust) is stupendous!
🎃 🎃 🎃
🎃 🎃 🎃
October 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The pumpkin display at Tyntesfield (National Trust) is stupendous!
🎃 🎃 🎃
🎃 🎃 🎃
There's definitely a strong resemblance!
October 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
There's definitely a strong resemblance!
Blackening Waxcaps at their orange stage 🧡🖤
Ashton Court, Bristol
Ashton Court, Bristol
October 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Blackening Waxcaps at their orange stage 🧡🖤
Ashton Court, Bristol
Ashton Court, Bristol
A daisy's last hurrah under a lowering sky, before the clocks go back this weekend for winter.
October 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A daisy's last hurrah under a lowering sky, before the clocks go back this weekend for winter.
There are different types of Amanita in a small space of this beech wood. The Blusher (Amanita rubescens) is clearest when it blushes, but they can be just brown & white so I'm guessing all of these are Blushers. Some are huge! There are also Fly Agarics (more Aminita types). #MushroomMonday
October 13, 2025 at 12:18 PM
There are different types of Amanita in a small space of this beech wood. The Blusher (Amanita rubescens) is clearest when it blushes, but they can be just brown & white so I'm guessing all of these are Blushers. Some are huge! There are also Fly Agarics (more Aminita types). #MushroomMonday
Amethyst Deceiver on a fallen beech leaf. The beauty in our woods right now💜🤎
#MushroomMonday
#MushroomMonday
October 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Amethyst Deceiver on a fallen beech leaf. The beauty in our woods right now💜🤎
#MushroomMonday
#MushroomMonday
Beautiful Fly Agarics in vast numbers on Exmoor today. This birch grove led us astray as we wandered from one scarlet patch to another through the birch trees until we had lost the path. A peaceful, enchanted-feeling place.
October 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Beautiful Fly Agarics in vast numbers on Exmoor today. This birch grove led us astray as we wandered from one scarlet patch to another through the birch trees until we had lost the path. A peaceful, enchanted-feeling place.
I'm not used to seeing waxcaps in woods but Horner Wood on Exmoor had amazing fungi today. These Parrot Waxcaps were a treat!
October 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I'm not used to seeing waxcaps in woods but Horner Wood on Exmoor had amazing fungi today. These Parrot Waxcaps were a treat!
Summer's over but my pots haven't got the memo. The one with white cosmos, vanilla-scented nemesia, magenta geraniums, trailing bacopa & a deep purple aeonium is at it's best ever! Except the cosmos, all the plants survived last winter outside! The other pot has purple salvia, verbena & petunia 💜🤍🩷💚
October 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Summer's over but my pots haven't got the memo. The one with white cosmos, vanilla-scented nemesia, magenta geraniums, trailing bacopa & a deep purple aeonium is at it's best ever! Except the cosmos, all the plants survived last winter outside! The other pot has purple salvia, verbena & petunia 💜🤍🩷💚
They're both very sweet dogs
October 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
They're both very sweet dogs
Buddy and Poppy ready for their walk. The pillow wasn't originally for them but they're enjoying the extra comfort 😄
October 9, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Buddy and Poppy ready for their walk. The pillow wasn't originally for them but they're enjoying the extra comfort 😄
Continuing the theme of love for things that are looking a bit battered:
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
October 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Continuing the theme of love for things that are looking a bit battered:
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
this morning an end-of-season worse-for-wear Small Copper butterfly flew across my path & landed on a similarly coppery autumn leaf 🍂 copper & russet shades in perfect partnership.
What more evocative symbol of the season?
The brasses are what drew me to it. They're extraordinary!
October 5, 2025 at 5:40 AM
The brasses are what drew me to it. They're extraordinary!
I know. So old!! I love the ram's heads but I'm a sucker for animal decoration once it's not too twee. I found this the other day on Ebay too. Cow handles on Staffordshire ironstone. Never seen the like!
October 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I know. So old!! I love the ram's heads but I'm a sucker for animal decoration once it's not too twee. I found this the other day on Ebay too. Cow handles on Staffordshire ironstone. Never seen the like!
Little PS
The main secret drawer also contained 3 arch pieces that had broken off the cubby holes inside so that will be an easy fix.
The lady says she'll keep me informed about how her uncle reacts. And she'll tell me about what happens to the gold coins...
For now though, THE END
The main secret drawer also contained 3 arch pieces that had broken off the cubby holes inside so that will be an easy fix.
The lady says she'll keep me informed about how her uncle reacts. And she'll tell me about what happens to the gold coins...
For now though, THE END
October 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Little PS
The main secret drawer also contained 3 arch pieces that had broken off the cubby holes inside so that will be an easy fix.
The lady says she'll keep me informed about how her uncle reacts. And she'll tell me about what happens to the gold coins...
For now though, THE END
The main secret drawer also contained 3 arch pieces that had broken off the cubby holes inside so that will be an easy fix.
The lady says she'll keep me informed about how her uncle reacts. And she'll tell me about what happens to the gold coins...
For now though, THE END
And the moral of this story is:
if you're selling an old bureau, check you know where ALL the secret drawers are & empty them 😁
if you're buying an old bureau (which I highly recommend) make sure you find all the secret drawers & check what's in them.
This has given me so much pleasure!
if you're selling an old bureau, check you know where ALL the secret drawers are & empty them 😁
if you're buying an old bureau (which I highly recommend) make sure you find all the secret drawers & check what's in them.
This has given me so much pleasure!
October 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
And the moral of this story is:
if you're selling an old bureau, check you know where ALL the secret drawers are & empty them 😁
if you're buying an old bureau (which I highly recommend) make sure you find all the secret drawers & check what's in them.
This has given me so much pleasure!
if you're selling an old bureau, check you know where ALL the secret drawers are & empty them 😁
if you're buying an old bureau (which I highly recommend) make sure you find all the secret drawers & check what's in them.
This has given me so much pleasure!
Needless to say their proper owner is delighted I've found them - & they will handed over to her, & shown to her uncle in his care home to give him pleasure. She's hopeful they will trigger happy memories.
And to think all of this could have ended up in landfill 😯
And to think all of this could have ended up in landfill 😯
October 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Needless to say their proper owner is delighted I've found them - & they will handed over to her, & shown to her uncle in his care home to give him pleasure. She's hopeful they will trigger happy memories.
And to think all of this could have ended up in landfill 😯
And to think all of this could have ended up in landfill 😯
This gold coin is a sovereign, also from Queen Victoria's Jubilee year of 1887. It's worth quite a bit - over £600 according to Google 😄
These are grandma's coins from grandpa, & the 'purse' is the silver case which is a sprung sovereign holder.
I just knew the gold coin would turn up -
These are grandma's coins from grandpa, & the 'purse' is the silver case which is a sprung sovereign holder.
I just knew the gold coin would turn up -
October 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This gold coin is a sovereign, also from Queen Victoria's Jubilee year of 1887. It's worth quite a bit - over £600 according to Google 😄
These are grandma's coins from grandpa, & the 'purse' is the silver case which is a sprung sovereign holder.
I just knew the gold coin would turn up -
These are grandma's coins from grandpa, & the 'purse' is the silver case which is a sprung sovereign holder.
I just knew the gold coin would turn up -
So exciting!!!
Inside were three coins: two gold, one silver.
The silver coin is from 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee & is a silver shilling, worth maybe £250.
In the middle is a Swiss 20 Francs gold coin, known as a 'Vreneli' from 1930 & worth £500-600 according to Google.
The final coin is...
Inside were three coins: two gold, one silver.
The silver coin is from 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee & is a silver shilling, worth maybe £250.
In the middle is a Swiss 20 Francs gold coin, known as a 'Vreneli' from 1930 & worth £500-600 according to Google.
The final coin is...
October 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
So exciting!!!
Inside were three coins: two gold, one silver.
The silver coin is from 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee & is a silver shilling, worth maybe £250.
In the middle is a Swiss 20 Francs gold coin, known as a 'Vreneli' from 1930 & worth £500-600 according to Google.
The final coin is...
Inside were three coins: two gold, one silver.
The silver coin is from 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee & is a silver shilling, worth maybe £250.
In the middle is a Swiss 20 Francs gold coin, known as a 'Vreneli' from 1930 & worth £500-600 according to Google.
The final coin is...
I prised my thumbnail into the crack & levered the halves apart until they sprung open.
Not a watch case.
This was my first view.
Not a watch case.
This was my first view.
October 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I prised my thumbnail into the crack & levered the halves apart until they sprung open.
Not a watch case.
This was my first view.
Not a watch case.
This was my first view.