The emblematic figure associated with Winchester College

I first confronted this figure in the front room of Harcourt Howard's residence, at Denham Street Clayfield in Brisbane. Harcourt had saved every book, flyer, card - parchment to paper - loose or bound in this one room all his later dealing life. On his retirement he asked me to assist his documenting everything as he was selling the contents at auction. Ye Trusty Servant & Winchester articles appeared during this process. I managed to buy up his little collection and have also been offered more from another family archive found by Jeremy Green in Toowoomba.

40 years on I still marvel at this romantically visualised creation.

You really need to read the text and review the Hircocervus at the same time.

The earliest piece is a heavy little W. H. Goss beaker, there is a later 19th C beaker as well.

Mr Fourex mascot

The historical truth has never been substantiated, Castlemain Perkins Brewery say the mascot was either based on the (then) General Manager - Mr Paddy Fitzgerald or a popular dwarf who sold newspapers in the Fortitude Valley in Brisbane during 1924. I know better because my Grandfather Mr Lol Hansen, had a furniture factory in Caxton Street in the early 1950s. He was a beer drinker and from his place of business we could see down to where the brew was made and bottled, the little mascot was on the building and I always thought it was him.

I actually hate this drop, it is full of preservatives but it remains the most popular local ale.

I have already posted a XXXX piece as a graphic but have never shown this rare promotional piece. The mascot has a famous wink, these sandwiched lenses have a cardboard pack and depending on the angle - I can still see my Grandpa winking.

A friend and neighbor in Tunbridge Tasmania is a retired second hand dealer, he passed this little pin on to Barbara for repair. It is unusual also because it is set with small Diamonds, I've bought and sold a few plain ones in my time collecting. We have repaired the pin and polished the little mascot and just prior to dispatch I made the scan and this post (which is a bugger really). This opens up another thought I have had recently - another category of focus on - anthropomorph, more soon when I show you my collection of "Ye Trusted Servant" from Winchester U.K.

The circles and one X from another set of mounted blocks in the urban_archaeology collection

I've uncovered another set of mounted blocks in an non-original box, all unmarked but the full alphabet and numerals. It is interesting to note that the one cap X is joined by four different cap Os - I guess the user would use more cap Os making up letters for posters etc. This brings me to wondering just what the rationale is when supplying a complete set?

Finally the question mark, one only and never actually inked up for use.

The full circle and back to port for refueling and taking on supplies - Greenpeace's "sea shepherd" at Hobart wharf

The 'sea shepherd' logo . . .

I have had several skulls ready for a post for some time now. Both Barbara and I adore their seductive symbolism (not just death but way beyond death - re-birth even) and we have used skulls in our work and quite a few friends of mine share skulls on a rotational basis. Why even dear reader, you might have visited 'a skull a day' which is one of my blog listed favorites.

While in Hobart recently we missed the tour of this vessel, having reached the wharf almost the same time that the last visitor was piped aboard. Seeking donations to their anti-whaling cause, the boat was open to the public with cheery young things doing their best to engage the public in their cause. Here are a few pics stitched together (we would of both liked to have gone aboard).

Another circle, Juan-Luis' rude opener