Saturday, December 22, 2012

Sepia Saturday 157 : All I Want For Christmas Is A Chocolate Noisette


It is a Christmas theme here on Sepia Saturday 157 and I have two contributions for the party. The first is a postcard dating from the first decade of the 20th century which has the line, embossed with glue and glitter, "Xmas Chimes Recall Old Times". It is a suitable theme for Sepia Saturday which, each week of the year, recalls old times in a chiming melody of images. Sepia Saturday is three years old now, and still going strong, and the inclusion of this card gives me an opportunity to wish all the Sepia Saturday participants from all around the world, a very Merry Christmas.


In the best traditions of Sepia Saturday, my second contribution is a family photograph dating back to the early 1950s.  The little lad in the checked shirt and waistcoat, checking to make sure that Santa Clause isn't handing his brother a better present than he has just received, is, of course, myself. The occasion will have been the Annual Works Christmas Party put on by my fathers' employer : John Mackintosh & Sons.

Mackintosh's were the manufacturers of that most seasonal of Christmas gifts, Quality Street chocolate and toffees. No doubt the present we were receiving at that Christmas party all those years ago would be a half pound bag of Quality Street, but hopefully there would be something else as well, as chocolate toffee penny's and orange creams were mothers' milk to us Mackintosh kids.

You will have to imagine that I have a virtual tin of Quality Street here in front of me and I am handing each and every one of you a caramel swirl, or a chocolate noisette, or a chocolate toffee finger. It is my way of saying to you all :

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PEACEFUL AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

As always, you can see many other Sepia Saturday contributions by following the links on the Sepia Saturday Blog.

36 comments:

  1. Then you can imagine me standing eagerly hoping for a chocolate toffee finger. Merry Christmas, Alan! I thank you and Kat for starting Sepia Saturday. It is the best part of my blogging week.

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  2. I saw something the other day that looks like what you describe as chocolate toffee fingers. I almost bought the package until I realized they wouldn't have a chance of lasting until Christmas Day. I can resist anything except temptation. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Alan.

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  3. These pictures really chronicle Christmases previous. I love the one of you in the check shirt, just keeping an eye on your brother's present!

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    1. Story of my life, Fran. Happy Christmas to you and yours.

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  4. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family, Alan.
    Ah the quality street of yesteryear, such a pleasant thought :)

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  5. Large employers used to have Christmas Parties for their workers' kids when I was a youngster. Don't hear of them these days.

    Seasonal Greetings

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  6. Merry Christmas, Lisa.

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  7. What a fun post! I love the old postcard...I collect holiday ones, so that caught my eye immediately. So sweet with forget-me-nots and shamrocks, too!

    What a fun memory of getting those sweets from dad's boss. Love the photo. Love sweets, too! haha.

    Merry Christmas, Alan. xo

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  8. I had quite a few of those sweets at work the other day. I like the orange creams best. Have a very happy Christmas Alan. We'll have to sort out our 'challenge' in the New Year.

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  9. Unlike a real tin of chocolates, Alan, where a certain percentage are always those disagreeable chewy ones with an odd flavor, your blog never fails to offer only the very best readable toffees. But given a choice, I usually prefer your virtual pints to a caramel swirl. Merry Christmas!

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  10. Cool way to wish us Season's Greetings.
    Have a great Christmas holiday.

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  11. Toffee? Oboy, one of my favorites! Merry Christmas, Alan!

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  12. When I was a kid, the lady behind the counter of our village shop always produced that most prized of chocolates, wrapped in a triangle of green foil, whenever I visited with my grandmother. Happy days.

    Happy Christmas, Alan, to you and yours from me and mine!

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  13. Thanks for the chocolate Alan.....Happy Christmas !

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  15. I haven't been at the Christmas sherry but my first attempt to comment would have made you think I had.

    I believe that we have a box of Quality Street wrapped up under our tree; now you have reminded me of them, they may not make it to Christmas Day.

    A Merry Christmas to you and your family; long may you continue the Sepian tradition.

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  16. What a fun,sweet photo! How wonderful that employers used to do that for children.

    And I will definitely take anything made out of toffee - my favorite! Yum! Merry Christmas to you and yours Alan!

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  17. In spite of the fact that I can now hold your father accountable for the deplorable state my teeth are in, I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas! And thanks for all the time you spent on us Sepians.

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  18. Happy Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year to you too.

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  19. Merry Christmas to you and yours Alan. Thanks so very much for the adm of this magnificent linky. I have enjoyed every week of it. I will take that sweet and raise you a sugarless Wurthers since I have never heard of that candy.LOL
    QMM

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  20. Reading the title, I knew you would reference to your Mackintosh past.
    I am now salivating at the idea of toffee. Sweet childhood memories for me,
    which possibly explains many trips to the dentist afterwards...

    Ah, Alan, it was a joy to be spending yet another year with you and other Sepians. To one and all:
    Happy Holidays from Montreal!!
    Can you feel the cold breeze?!?...
    ;)~
    BIGHUGZ

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  21. Impossible to resist a chocolate or toffee.
    Happy Christmas everyone.

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  22. I love that picture of you looking at what your brother was getting!

    Merry Christmas, Alan, and thank you for all of your hard work on Sepia Saturday. I am so glad that I came across this group.

    Hope that the new year is your best ever.

    Kathy M.

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  23. And a happy Christmas to you too. I shouted "hello" to you as I came off the M62 at Ainley Top on my way to Halifax yesterday, much to my son's mystification!

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  24. Have A Great Christmas Alan! 'Sorry for being AWOL recently..I Will be back on track in the New Year.Regards,Tony.

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  25. I can remember always having one of those Macintosh Quality Street tins in the house when I was young. It usually had buttons in it not chocolates but I guess it did at one time contain the delicious toffees.

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  26. I had an aunt who worked for Roundtree/Macintosh in the 50's - 70's

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    1. I guess it was just Mackintosh before 69.
      But my favorite was toffee crisp.

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    2. And I guess that would be Rowntree's, wouldn't it. Funny how one remembers things.

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  27. Nice picture--it makes me want to get in line for some candy too.

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  28. Anonymous1:33 PM

    I hope you had a good Christmas - and have a Happy New Year when it comes. Quality Street were a staple diet in our house at Christmas. I liked the purple one with the nut and caramel, and also the little green triangular chocolate. Mmm... Jo :-)

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  29. Oh yummy, and what magical, dreamy fun when it's all so new and fresh. I too,still have fond memories of my childhood celebrations and delights. I am now just getting around to the rest of our Sepia posts, the holiday fun is slowing down. I thank you for being such a wonderful addition to my blogging pleasures, and your sepia posts bring so much delight to so many folks. I am sending great merry wishes to you and your loved ones, pup too, for a merry and bright ringing in of the new year Alan!

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  30. Ah ! If Only Those Clever People in Silly Cone Valley Would Invent A 'Smell App' ! I would love to have recreated Halifax in the 1950s , defined for me by the sweet smells that would lazily drift out of The Mackintosh factory and along the valley..........ahhhh:)
    Bestest Wishes For The New Year Alan.

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