Written by

Diana Collings

Affectionately Remembering Princess Diana

Diana Collings

Diana is a mother of three and wife of one living in the quiet green of suburban Sydney. She runs art and craft classes at nursing homes and blogs about it at speckled.com.au

Life before Facebook: Re-branding reality, it’s been going on forever!

Life before Facebook: Re-branding reality, it’s been going on forever!

Life before Facebook: Re-branding reality, it’s been going on forever!

An interesting story about life of the court painter who spent more than 30 years painting the same King, his family, his two Queens and the comings and goings of mostly short lived children.

All things 1962: From tunes to tea trends

All things 1962: From tunes to tea trends

All things 1962: From tunes to tea trends

Things to happen around the world in 1962 included the debut of a dreamy eyed James Bond in Dr No; Fidel Castro was excommunicated by the Pope; the last atomic bomb was tested in Nevada and the first satellite was launched into space.

My old friend orange… where have you been?

My old friend orange… where have you been?

My old friend orange… where have you been?

Old friend orange, where have you been? Not so long ago you were on couches and curtains, laminate, lampshades and lounge chairs. Everybody from Bond girls to Bowie, and Farrah to Frank Zappa wanted to be seen with you...

Source: Secondhand

Vera Neumann: A silk scarf success story

Vera Neumann: A silk scarf success story

You might not recognise the name Vera Neumann, but if you grew up in a time when Pigs in a Blanket and Shrimp Cocktails were dished out at dinner parties, chances are you wore a Vera Neumann scarf too. Did you have one?

Tupperware: The plastic that made big bucks

Tupperware: The plastic that made big bucks

Tupperware: The plastic that made big bucks

Brownie Wise convinced Mr Tupper himself that the way to sell Tupperware was through home parties. That people had to burp it, drop it, seal it and squeeze it for themselves... and she was right. Tupperware parties became a social phenomenon.

From pink to posh: remembering bathrooms past

From pink to posh: remembering bathrooms past

From pink to posh: remembering bathrooms past

With the turn of the 50s, post-war exuberance could be seen everywhere: from the bedroom to the bathroom, home décor glowed pink!

Remembering the toilet dolly

Remembering the toilet dolly

Remembering the toilet dolly

The humble toilet roll doll could serve as centrepiece, or co-ordinate with the other bathroom features that were en-vogue. Such things included the ceramic mermaid and wall fish, then later the fuzzy toilet seat cover and plush velour foot mats and floor coverings.

Is it time for more than medicine?

Is it time for more than medicine?

Is it time for more than medicine?

Archaic medical practices have been replaced with what we know as modern medicine and evidence-based prescribing. There have been huge benefits, from penicillin to pain killers, lives have improved and mortality rates declined.

Christmas in July

Christmas in July

Christmas in July

It's always interesting to hear what traditions other families partake in over the course of the year.

Stories that matter

Emails delivered daily

Explore More

Starts at 60