Bargain Shopping in New Zealand

 In London we look for 'charity shops' which are in almost every high street (Americans say main street). In North west London I have shopped in Barnado's, Cancer Research, Oxfam, and St Luke's Hospice shops.

Americans and New Zealanders have thrift shops.

Australians and New Zealanders use the terms op shop, re use re love, second hand, thrifters. Charity shop had slightly downmarket and negative connotation, so, I remember being told by a New Zealand friend, an Australian woman coined the term Op Shop, short for Opportunity Shop, which resulted in more sales and more status for buyers.

I had even more success in New Zealand's North Island, at Gisborne, which had a huge shop.  They opened on a Sunday and had suitcases, basic buttons, crockery, clothes on a bargain rail (hurray) and other clothes at higher prices.

Signs to look for in New Zealand

Cancer

Dove Hospice shop 

www.dovehospice.org.nz

SPCA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Salvation Army

St Luke's

Auckland also has lots of second hand boutiques.

If you are prepared to pay more for clothes on consignment (the term used in the USA and New Zealand usually meaning a shop stocking second hand goods - usually designer or upmarket and good condition - for sale or return to the owner, not for a charity, and more expensive) I found one on the corner at the top of the road slope, mountainside, in Waikeke.

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Art restoration from Australia; & DIY restoring photos, onto canvas?

Art restoration is taking place in Australia for major art works.

In another story, in the UK an old painting with a hole in it was saved and found to be a lost masterpiece.

In London a business restores old photos.

Don't discard damaged paintings and photos. They could be next year's treasures.

I stopped speaking to and seeing a relative who threw away a huge oil painting of my father as a three year old with his grandfather. She said, "We didn't have room for it when we moved. It had a lovely frame, too."

What a shame she didn't offer it to the nearest charity shop, or better still us. She told us over dinner in a restaurant. My father went silent.

My late father. Now I just have a tiny postcard photo of my father. All my life I had wondered what happened to the painting. Dated 1915.  Not speaking to her isn't out of spite on my part. I am just too upset every time I think about it.

Please keep all old paintings. Somebody, somewhere will want them. They can be restored.

Unique art restoration business spreads wings into Asia: South Australia’s Artlab looks to commercial sector to maintain broad spectrum of expertise.

Restoring Photos
To restore old photos you can use a computer program such as Photoshop Elements, the home version, a cut down version of the more expensive professional version.

Photos on Canvas
Other companies will copy your family photo or ancestor photo or holiday photo of a beach scene or castle and print a photo onto a canvas or with a kind of mesh which looks as if it's on canvas so you have the illusion of an oil painting.
http://www.my-picture.co.uk/photo-on-canvas/

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

New Charity Shop In Hatch End

My family asked the people renovating the charity shop in Hatch End when it would open. We were told Tuesday of next week. Really looking forward to it.

Why?

Hatch End has lots of restaurants, which is good, but not enough shops selling goods.

No other charity shop. So if you like to give your unwanted items to a good cause, here's a recipient. And if you like money you spend to go to a good cause, another reason.

If you like a bargain, charity shops offer bargains. If you like recycling, they offer an opportunity to prevent waste.

Even if you are simply window-shopping, the windows have an every changing display.

Oxfam closed down. I hate to see empty shops. They make the neighbourhood, the whole country, look run down. A new shop is a sign of success, novelty. Something to look forward to.

See my previous post on St Luke's Hospice Charity Shop.

Angela Lansbury, Travel Writer, Photographer, Author, Speaker.

Travel With A Tie

lways travel with a tie. So useful for a man. Nowadays you can have a business meeting in a hotel or club without the cost of booking a business room. If you belong to a country club in one city, you can often get reciprocal arrangements with another club. For example, membership of the Tanglin Club in Singapore enables my family to meet for social or business meetings in several London clubs. But they often have a dress code.

Clubs might specify smart casual, closed shoes (not sandals nor trainers), no jeans, shirt and tie or jacket.

One item which is small to pack and carry is a tie. Quick and easy to buy (from a charity shop). Take one for yourself or the person you are meeting.

If all else fails, you can improvise a black or white silk or silky or matt bow tie from a woman's black tie belt from a dress or dressing gown.