T.V. or not T.V. .... that is the question

Well here is a strange looking item in my collection. Strictly speaking it shouldn't be there, but it is still a peg and illustrates one of the many uses that the humble clothes peg has been put to.

Apparently, when televisions were first introduced into America and they had more than one channel, the TVs weren't equipped with the means to change the channel ... can you believe that? No remotes? No twiddly knobs? How did they change to the other side?

Don't quote me, but I have been told that the householders put up an aerial or antenna for each channel and ran the cables down to their lounge.

Attached to the TV by wires and hanging down at the back were these pegs which they would use to connect the TV to the antenna - I wouldn't like to have changed channels when there was lightning about.

Back from Bangkok

Well, I am finally back to a computer and can tell you a tale about my Bangkok experiences.

On our way to England, in May of this year DB and I stopped off in Bangkok for five days and whilst she went in search of fripperies like crystal tiara's and silken pashminas, I continued my serious search for pegs. One day we took the skytrain to Chatuchak Market which is only open on Saturdays and Sundays.

It is the biggest market in the world 15,000 stalls and a map to help you find your way around. You would expect me to say that I found hundreds of new pegs, but no, I only found three stalls selling pegs and these netted me the dark blue one in the picture, the silver steel one and the light green ring one, the remainder were purchased in the various shopping centres around the city. We love Bangkok, it is a bright, bustling and friendly city with a golden temple around almost every corner. We used the water taxis frequently - as much for the exhilarating rides as for the economy.
We had been to Bangkok before in 2001 and that time we found a narrow alley near to Chinatown which was an Aladdin's cave of treasures.
I was in heaven and filled a large carrier bag full of new pegs. On my return to England, I put all our luggage into the back of our small Fiesta van and drove to our base which is in a block of council flats in deepest Gloucestershire.

Being tired and feeling lazy I carried as much luggage as possible into the flat and left the rest for the morning. Late next day after a deep jet lagged sleep and a long lie in, I went to the car and was horrified to find that the back and side van windows had been smashed and my precious pegs stolen. I have bitterly regretted leaving that precious bag of pegs in the back of the van....but how do you convince someone else how precious they are?

Obviously I had to make a claim on the insurance for the windows which meant I had to report the crime. You try telling a policeman that only a bag of pegs was stolen. I could tell that the one in front of me was thinking sad thoughts about me and just couldn't appreciate my loss.

No, I didn't claim for the pegs on the insurance - perhaps I should have claimed for the air fare back to Bangkok to replace them - but .....somewhere in the neighbourhood, there is a garden with very unusual Thai clothes pegs holding the washing onto the line..................