Story Donated By Lu Barker

I have always had a thing about accordions and have wanted one for many years (although musical ability for playing one is a different matter).  I came across this little beauty in Poverty Aid, Hyde Park when I was a student and particularly strapped for cash.  It was 27 pounds and was fairly wonky with buttons missing, broken strap and a couple of gaping holes in the bellows bit.

I immediately fell in love.  Also, it was emblazoned with the word ‘Barcarole’ - a name so similar to my own surname that I felt this was surely a sign that it should come home with me.  I called my partner to see what he thought.  Fortunately he agreed that, even though we only had 30 pounds to our name, that 27 of them should be spent on the broken accordion which bore a similar name to mine.  Five years on, it stills bring joy to the household and I don’t recall much about being skint the month that I bought it!
Lu Barker

Story Donated By Helen Darroch

I found these shoes when living in the Jordaan area of Amsterdam on a street called Hazenstraat. It is a brilliant little second hand shop, run by the most laid back lady, with the biggest curly hairdo you have ever seen…well she does live in Holland I suppose (refering to her temperament, not her hair)… Whenever I would go in, she would be sitting in exactly the same place, a huge armchair, puffing on a cigarette in what could only be described as a den of soft furnishings and piles of higgledly piggledy bargains. This place has an air of excitement; a feeling of impending brilliantness (not even a word but you feel my excitement right?!) Upstairs there were baskets of hand-made lace,a vast array of fabulous shoes and a red velvet chaise longue in which to try on all the shoes.

I have big feet - UK size 7.5 and it was just my luck some rather large Dutch lady had given up her shoe collection of which I bought a few pairs.

I wore these particular shoes to my civil wedding ceremony along with a white trouser suit.

Thanks, oh big footed Dutch lady………
Helen Darroch

Story Donated By Amy Seaward

I have recently started the wooden toys collection above, and it is still quite small, but perfectly formed.The Russian dolls at the back, came from Prague and were incredibly cheap, the smallest one has inexplicably disappeared, but will hopefully return home one day.

The sailors came from Ashton-Under-Lyne flea market and were about 50p, I think their facial expressions are great, they don’t look very happy.

Unlike Mr and Mrs Tall, the two red toys who came from Leeds Thursday Market from the Faggy Lady Stall (so nicknamed by me and my friend, Sarah as they smoke all over everything) for 50p, I think. Mr Tall’s head keep falling off and I am forever sticking it back on with superglue.
Amy Seaward

Story Donated By Jo Dix

A very old breadboard bought at Julia’s Junk Shop in Bingley, West Yorkshire circa 1972. Been with me through thick and thin and wholemeal. Countless lunches,toast and supper have been prepared on this venerable board. It’s probably the antithesis of a clinically clean surface but we’ve all survived. By now it must have a flavour of its very own … a combination of tomatoes, peanut butter, onions, sardines, herbs and, of course , toast.

It’s also had outings to campsites and barbecues . Yes it’s really lived and that’s only the part I know about. As to its previous life…………
Jo Dix
PS Julia’s Junk shop was a true junk shop a glory hole of Edwardian treasure at knockdown prices, sadly no more.