Up, Up and Away..........A$45

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks. 

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.....read the story over 100 Link Days.   

Your scribe has been complimented with the descriptor "superhuman" having got to the milestone of 100 cuff links posts on this blog.  It wasn't in 100 days, nor was it in 100 working days.....it was simply riffling through the many links that your scribe has accumulated over the years.  Its been great fun and a delight that your scribe has been glad to share with you all on the 100 link days.

It was cathartic in that it made your scribe think twice about the links that hadn't been worn for years;  for whatever reason.  It also provided an excuse to wear the outlandish ones that are only ever worn on special occasions and milestone days and what fun that was too.  We managed to travel to all points of the globe and the places we visited jolted some long buried memories in the haze of travel, wining, dining and generally frivolity that your scribe likes to indulge in when travelling.

There were gift links, market links, bet links, fashion links, aviator links, lucky links, birthday and Christmas links (and other religious holidays!) alma mater links and any number of other wonders that one can accumulate in a working life that takes you places.  One of the over riding themes or pastimes has been aviation and to revisit those air shows or airports and aviator biographies has been a whole lot of fun.

Thanks to all of you who provided and made comments and support.  I did take note on a lot of your concerns and put them in to action.  These included a brunette and red head bias and an assurance of alma mater, religious and political balance.  Thank you all for your indulgence and your scribe hopes that it wasn't all too much of a diversion in your workday worlds.

Our centenary cuff links can only be my Superman cuff links, given my so called super human efforts.  I have had these for years and do not wear them that often given my humble demeanour but your scribe is a huge Superman fan in the comic book form, the television series and the movies.  The Superman "franchise" spans nearly 80 years and from what was shown at trailers prior to Batman the other day, there appears another block buster in the wings.......Your scribe can't wait.

These Superman links can only ever be worn with an iridescent green Paul Smith tie, that I describe as "kryptonite" green and they are worn with the obligatory Brooks Brothers cotton shirt.

Rather than a "Til Later " I guess today it's adios until the next instalments.

ONWARD

The Race is Not to The Swift

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series ....

 
One of the great story tellers of all time is Aesop (above).  He is up there with the greats and the stories are wonderful for adults and children alike.  Aesop's Fables is a great read and if buying a copy make sure you get the right version that is filled with wonderful illustrations.  Your scribe's version has hundreds of fables and is a wonderful large hard cover edition that takes occasional pride of place on the coffee table when friends with kids come around.  Your scribe is lucky enough to have some lovely old editions in Latin and Ancient Greek.

Strangely there is no real record of Aesop but some speculation has him living around 640 BC in Greece. Having 700 odd fables attributed to him makes it all a bit weird that there is no real record of him having actually written anything. But alas his stories are perhaps the most enduring traditions of European culture and have been in print since the 14th Century.

Just about everybody on the planet knows of at least one or two of his wonderful tales like the Lion and The Mouse.....the Boy Who Cried Wolf.....and your scribes all time favourite The Hare and The Tortoise. The story of course is about the overly confident hare pitching a race against the slow and humble tortoise. I will leave you to read the rest and make your own views on the moral outcomes of the story.

Hence today's links, which are pressed metal tortoises that I found in one of the "treasure" drawers in Tresors, a small antique store in Sydney's wonderful Strand Arcade.  The Links of course allow me to wear one of my favourite Salvatore Ferragamo silk ties that has running hares and bunches of grapes as motifs.  Worn today with a tailored pink pin stripe cotton shirt.

Til Later




ONWARD

Conscienti​ous Objectors at the Sports Carnival..........SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

The big sports carnival in London , or "Les Jeux"  has had your scribe out of action for the past few weeks and in attire that precludes cuff links, so hence the down time. I  did however attend a "Les Jeux" function and had the opportunity to dig out some old gems from the days of the 2000 Sydney Games.  There is something special about a town before, during and after the Olympics.

As a youngster, your scribe was in Mexico City for the 1968 Mexico City Games and managed to pass through Munich the month after the 1972 Munich Games.  I remember Munich feeling like a ghost town that was living through the largest hang over imaginable.   The 1980 Moscow Games were interesting as your scribe managed to attend regardless of my country actually boycotting the Games that year.  65 countries boycotted those Games and as you can imagine there were huge medal hauls for the Eastern Bloc that year!!!!!!  There were a few "rebel' athletes that attended regardless and they marched in the opening ceremony under the Olympic flag, as "sporting conscientious objectors".....good on them.  This chart shows the Olympic boycotts for 1976; 1980 and 1984.

Sydney was special as your scribe was lucky enough to attend a number of events and functions of the 2000 Sydney Games.  One of your scribes offspring managed to participate in the 2008 Beijing Games and your scribe had some aviation interests in Athens that managed to coincide with the 2004 Athens Games.

Today's links are from the 2000 Sydney Games and is part of very large bunch of Olympics ephemera collected over time.  They are hauled out for special events and the closing night of the "sports carnival" just passed  had me milling though the attic boxes to find them.  They were pure merchandise and they were acquired with all the other stuff one manages to collect during the Games.  The last evening they were worn with a Brooks Brothers cotton check shirt, a Valentino blazer and the university blue tie.

Bring on Rio.


Til Later




ONWARD

Gold Gold Gold..........A$155

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

The big sports carnival in London has me thinking of all things gold this week. Your scribe has  been on any number of adventures that involves wineries and some good old fossicking around archaeological digs and historic sites.  Having read History at university your scribe is always up for a field trip. 

I was lucky enough recently to visit one of the localities of the 1850's gold rush just outside of Mudgee in NSW Australia.  The abandoned town is now barely what it was then and armed with a metal detector your scribe had a days outing along the river banks of the "ghost" mining town.

On a freezing cold morning armed with a flask of coffee, rum and a few sandwiches, I entered an eerie world of an abandoned  gold town from over 160 years ago.  Any number of old stores and shacks that people lived in are now ruins and it was something to behold.  A local told me to head to the orange tree..."you cant miss it".  There along the banks of the now dry river bed was a magnificent orange tree that was once the "comfort stop" for the horse and coaches that plied the routes of these old towns. The orange tree of course provided refreshments for all the passengers eager to alight from what must have been a very bumpy ride by modern standards.

The gold rush of course bought prosperity to a lot of towns across Australia and the western states of the USA in the late 19th century.  Amateur prospectors seeking to get rich quick converged on these towns for afar away as China.  The abandoned creek bed along which your scribe wandered all day without seeing a soul was populated by no less than 30,000 during the hey day of the gold rush.

My local contact reliably informed me that there as still gold along the now dried out river bed but that there just wasn't enough of it to make it worth while as a day job!!!  Regardless your scribe, armed with metal detector set off on a day's adventure amongst the ruins and dried out river and creek beds.  Unfortunately your scribe found nothing but nonetheless it was a wonderful day out.

On return to the town later that day I was eager to sample some local fare, some local wines and to take in the thrift and antique stores. And that brings is to today's links that were in a local odds and ends store. They are gold leaf set in a resin of some sort and have a blue background set in gold plate.  They are in great condition for links from what appear to be the late 50's or early 60's. I wear them today with a white cotton Brooks Brother's shirt and a sky blue Chanel silk neck tie.

 Til Later

Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride...of course!..........SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Your scribe has any number of things cramming up space in his attic.  Over the years, your scribe has managed to acquire and repair a bunch of old bakelite radios just to add to the stock pile of "stuff".
In an era of "in-built obsolescence" it's wonderful to marvel at these hardy appliances that in some cases have managed to be reliable and working radios for over 70 years. Art Deco is of course one of your scribe's favourite design themes and the radio in its golden era was the pride of the mantle piece of most modern homes.

Often described as the material of a thousand uses, bakelite has been used to make any number of household and industrial items from billiard balls, radios, electrical components, poker chips, jewellery boxes.....the list goes on and on.....and of course cuff links!!!

As a plastic it is of course man made and entirely consists of a mixture of synthetic components.  With an official chemical name of  polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride it has provided your scribe with no end of fascination.  Wow, plug  polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride in to the search engine or please use it at the next cocktail party!!!!!    "My what wonderful cuff links....what are the made of?" "Why polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, of course."

Like most things in life, bakelite is a thing of the past due to the cost of manufacturing the stuff.....there are some commercial uses that are still around but for your standard household items I'm afraid it's a thing of the past.

Today's cuff links are rose marbled bakelite set in rose gold.  I think they emanate for the US and are most likely 1940's by the look of them.   As is often the case, these little beauties were found in a thrift store shelf covered in dust jammed in to a corner with some other odds and ends. They are worn with tailored cotton shirt and a coral pink Salvatore Ferragamo silk neck tie with radio transmitter tower motifs.


Til Later




ONWARD

The Moore the Better..........A$125

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Your scribe likes nothing better than a good ol' birthday celebration and today we celebrate the life of one of the great Yorkshire artistic exports of all time.....Henry Moore.  Henry banged out (literally) thousands of sculptural masterpieces over a career that Moore says started when he was 11 years old in his marvel at the works of Michelangelo.

 His works are scattered across the globe in all manner of galleries and public spaces. On a trip to Toronto your scribe was lucky enough to have had a few moments down time to visit the Art Gallery of Ontario. Your scribe likes nothing better than to take in some art and culture on an afternoon of Canadian blizzard and with wind chill we were well below minus 10 C, so it was nice to be indoors!!!!! When ensconced inside, low and behold, your scribe found the most extraordinary collection, in fact the largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures in the world. The "Two Large Forms" that greets you on arrival at the gallery is something to behold also.

Henry....you probably never wore a cuff link in your life but regardless, we name you "Honorary" Link Man of the Day!!!!!.

Ontario to some is the other end of the universe and when those winds blow across Toronto you know you're cold!  But regardless your scribe had many a weekends escape to Ottawa and Toronto from the grind of New York City.  There are some architectural marvels there to look at like Brookefield Place and the CN Tower.  When there, your scribe had a wonderful afternoon down in the Distillery District.  Food, wine, cuff links and culture to name a few of your scribes hobbies and past times are to be found there.

Today's links were found in a modern jeweller that recycles old watches and small machinery in to modern dazzling pieces.  They are the artist's interpretation of a jet engine from old brass clock parts. Today they are worn with a tailored cotton shirt and a copper coloured Gucci silk neck tie.

Til Later




ONWARD

More Champagne to Sir's table please....​......SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

There's only one thing your scribe likes more than a great air show and that's a great air show opening cocktail party and a great air show closing dinner.  They are always great black tie affairs and the opening night cocktail party has this wonderful air of anticipation with all the participants rubbing shoulders with the best of them.  On the night, you're bound to come across the crack sales team from a major aircraft manufacturer.  They like air show events to announce their new book orders for 100 odd new passenger aircraft or whatever.  It's a competitive world out there and the majors like nothing better than to shoot across each others bows with press releases and announcements of huge book orders.  The numbers involved are always staggering and your scribe at times wonders whatever happened to the GFC in this sector???.

Your scribe has attended many of these events and I relish not so much to be mixing with the plane makers but to be with the true hard core aviation guys.  I have meet the most lovely ladies and gents of the aviation world that flew in the London Blitz, astronauts and the odd aviator that has broken the sound barrier.  Chuck Yeager in point was a delightful fellow that I met an event many moons ago.  He really was the original Right Stuff and for an aviation legend, a most humble and approachable man.  Chuck, you're our link man of the Day
 .

A closing night Air Show Ball requires suitable bling to go with the mandatory black tie and cummerbund and when your date is wearing some substantial bling herself then what better than some zirconium mini planes.  Cohibas and fine French fizzy stuff is a must on any of these nights.

And a tip for you young players and link men on the rise.......at these events always get near a corporate table that announced the day before the sale of hundreds of passenger craft to a likely Middle Eastern airline.  Their champagne will flow and they are always willing to share the largesse with anyone who will listen!!!!

Today's links are  worn with a white formal shirt with button studs and a Jermyn Street black self tie bow tie.

Til Later




ONWARD

Marchons Marchons..........A$45

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Crack open the French Fizzy stuff, as today is Bastille Day and a day for celebration for all French people and Francophiles like your scribe all over the world.

It celebrates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 and is the beginning of what they call The French Revolution.  The Bastille was a prison complex and was seen as the symbol of aristocratic oppression of the French masses.  The day itself celebrates the coming of French Nationhood and then the beginning of the First Republic.

On Bastille Day your scribe likes nothing better that to drink some of his favourite tipple....La Grande Dame (nicely chilled of course) and to sit down and take in the odd French gangster film. This year I might take in an absolute classic, Rififi.  As a heist movie there is nothing better and it has been an inspiration and ground piece for dozens of gangster films to follow.  The centrepiece of the film is an intricate half hour heist scene depicting the robbery of a jewellery store on La rue de Rivoli.  One of the more extraordinary scenes in cinema history, the heist of diamonds and jewels is shot in near silence and without dialogue. The tension is enormous around the most technical of crimes for the 1950's.  Like all good gangster flicks the human element comes to play and it all starts to unravel.

For those that have listened to the French national anthem at a game of rugby, you can hear the passion and pride with which the players sing.  Their opponents rarely know the lyrics of what possibly the most blood-thirsty call to arms and anthem.....I give you the first verse of "La Marseilles"

Allons enfants de la Patrie, (Arise, children of the Fatherland),
Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! (The day of glory has arrived!)
Contre nous de la tyrannie, (Against us tyranny)
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis) (Raises its bloody banner) (repeat)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes (Do you hear, in the countryside,)
Mugir ces féroces soldats ? (The roar of those ferocious soldiers?)
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras (They're coming right into your arms)
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes ! (To cut the throats of your sons and women!)

Today's links are Fleur de Lys sterling silver cufflinks and are worn with the obligatory Hermes silk tricolour necktie with Napoleonic hats.  Today's shirt is a Simon Carter of London cotton dress shirt.


Til Later




ONWARD

The Monkee Magic of Buddhism on a Birthday..........A$145

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

As you know your scribe is as impartial as he can be and strives to "maintain the balance" wherever possible.  I did mention in past dispatches the celebration of particular religious celebrations and I have managed to cover those that celebrate The Lord on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  But this is different and your scribe likes nothing better than a birthday to celebrate.

Thank you to those that have provided comments to this scribes literary efforts and as promised to one of my readers, your scribe today would like to pay homage and celebrate the recent birthday of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

 He is possibly the happiest man you will ever meet and possibly one of the great leaders of our time.  He is the highest-ranking lama of Tibetan Buddhism.  Since the 17th century, the Dalai Lama has been the political and spiritual leader of Tibet.  He also is considered an emanation of the Bodhisattva Avolokitshvara, an iconic figure who represents boundless compassion.  The current Dalai lama whose original name is Tenzin Gyatso, is the 14th reincarnation of the original Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhists traditionally believe him to be the reincarnation of his predecessors and a manifestation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.  Today is his birthday and on behalf of myself and this scribes many avid readers may we wish him all the best on his big day.

As an aside, one of the benefits of rasing children is the ability to impose on them your favourite movies, TV shows and music!!!!!!  The other day, one of your scribes offspring that is at university said that he finally understood or "got it' as he said what the show Monkey Magic was about.  He and a few of his friends stumbled upon the show and he remembered me making him watch it as a child.  A wonderful show of magic, music and fantasy characters that was based on the travels, exploits and good deeds of Buddha. Much better than Telly Tubbies for mine!!!!  All these years later he finally "gets it".....kids!!!!!!!!!!

Today's links  are sterling silver cufflinks with a repousse Buddha image  and I think are from the '70's.  They are worn with a Valentino silk tie with Buddha motifs on a cotton tailor made shirt from Vietnam. 
Happy Birthday Your Holiness we all love and admire your work.

Til Later




ONWARD

Exit Through the Gift Shop..........SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Your scribe was having a lengthy discussion over many bottles of simply divine chilled Sancerre at a dinner party the other night and I reminisced over the wonderful Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City or as the locals call it "The Met".  The dinner hastily convened a collective panel of self appointed "jurists" and to your scribe's amazement, we all agreed on a shortlist that was very close to that put forward by your scribe in a past post.   A few favourites as put forward by the jurists were: The Hermitage,  the Uffizi Gallery and Vatican Museums in Italy,  the Smithsonian,  The Dali Theatre Museum in Figueres in Catalonia,  Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim and of course the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Banksy film "Exit through the Gift Shop" is prophetic for your scribe as he can't help himself at the Met gift store.  There are any number of beautiful museum reproductions from ancient Greek and Roman statues and reliefs or sensuous Buddhas, they are a great way to embellish any living space at a reasonable price.  There are scarves, neck ties and yes......cuff links. They are always faithful reproductions and if you want a Dali sculpture in your living room, you can either rob a bank or simply go to the Met gift store.  And of course there are the most fabulous ancient reproductions of relics that are attached to dress cuff links.

If you are in New York City a visit to the Met is a must....its on 5th Avenue and you can't really miss it if you're wandering around the streets of New York midtown.  A little gem by the way is a branch of the Met in North Manhattan called "The Cloisters" Museum and Gardens.  As only a Rockefeller could do, the museum was established through the acquisition of 5 medieval European monasteries that were demounted in Europe and then rebuilt on a 5 hectare site over looking the Hudson River in North Manhattan.  It was one of the greatest "release valves" available when battling the daily grind of business in Manhattan.

Today's links of course emanate from the Met gift store when I was exiting the premises.  I managed to get a few wonderful gifts for people back home but also these little beauties which are Nordic gold relics reproduced as cuff links. They are plate gold and perfectly compliment a silk Salvatore Ferragamo neck tie with jaguar and palm tree motifs on a white cotton Brooks Brothers shirt.

Til Later




ONWARD

Strike 3 and You're Out..........A$105

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Your scribe has just returned from another short working break to Osaka and was lucky enough to have again sampled the fine wines and fine food on offer there. There are four Michelin 3 Star restaurants in Osaka, so if you're a gourmand then Osaka is the place for you.

 Whilst there, I was also lucky enough to have witnessed the loss of yet another game by the Osaka Buffaloes.  That's their logo above.  Like a lot of their supporters, I have never seen them win a game....maybe one day.  Japanese baseball is fun alternative to America's "big show" baseball, as they call it.  Although the fans are just as ardent and the games are always full of spectator participation.  Your scribes favourite part of the whole exercise is where the various beer vendors try and spruik your custom.  The three major breweries were there competing and seeking your baseball brewski order....Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin.  Last week I settled for the Sapporo.

As always, I managed to range the back streets of bars, food joints and shops....a Link Man on the prowl!!!!  Today's little beauties are small ceramic tile cuff links that a young artist had hand painted.  He had a number of quite exquisite traditional Japanese designs along with some more contemporary ones.  His little store of only a couple of square metres provided the perfect source of new links and of course the gift links for those back home.

Back to the Buffaloes......the home games for the Osaka Buffaloes are at the Osaka Dome which is wonderful futuristic structure and a great fun venue for baseball....or "bassieburrow" as they say in Japan. With capacity seating at about 35,000 a packed home game is always full of atmosphere and there is so much merchandising available you are bound to leave with all the latest shirts and hats for those back home!!

Today's links are worn with a cream coloured cotton Simon Carter of London shirt and silk Chanel neck tie with lilac lily motifs.


Til Later




ONWARD

The Man in Black..........A$55

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Recently, your scribe had to attend a funeral of a dear old friend that was a saint amongst all mankind.  He made selfless works an art form in his help of others less fortunate than himself.  He was always dressed in black and I leave for you all today the lyrics of a wonderful Johnny Cash (a great Link Man as well!!!!) song that reminded me of my dear friend.

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black

Why you never see bright colors on my back

And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone

Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down

Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town

I wear it for the prisoner who is long paid for his crime

But is there because he's a victim of the times

I wear the black for those who've never read

Or listened to the words that Jesus said

About the road to happiness through love and charity

Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose

In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes

But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back

Up front there ought to be a Man In Black

I wear it for the sick and lonely old

For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold

I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been

Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died

Believin' that the Lord was on their side

I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died

Believin' that we all were on their side

Well, there's things that never will be right I know

And things need changin' everywhere you go

But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right

You'll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day

And tell the world that everything's okay

But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back

Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black

"Man in Black" as written by Colley/saraceno/mantz
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Today's links are  black leather and pressed metal.  They are worn with a  white cotton Saville Row shirt and a black silk Gucci neck tie and a black suit.

Til Later




ONWARD

Beer largesse..........A$45

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

No trip to Germany is compete without a good old session drinking good old fashioned German beer.  If there's one thing (besides perhaps football!!) the Germans do and do well is to brew beer.  The German Beer Purity Law of 1516 or the Reinheitsgebot, dictates that beer brewed in Germany can only contain 5 ingredients hence the clean fresh taste of a good German beer without impurities or preservatives.  My kind of country!

For many years the Beck’s label has been the canvas for some of the biggest names in contemporary art.  In their hands the Beck’s bottle has been transformed into a collectable work of art.  Beck’s have supported contemporary art for the best part of 20 years – leading emerging artists such Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin and Jake & Dinos Chapman were given a helping hand at key points in their career by the brewer.

Your scribe was lucky enough to have attended the 1987 launch of the Gilbert and George Becks label.  It was a limited series of 2,000 Becks bottles done by the weird and wonderful Gilbert and George at the Hayward Gallery.  I still have the bottle (and should contemplate an EBay sale) and a fine pair of cuff links that were gifts in the little gift hamper that the brewery kindly handed out to the punters on the night. After many thousands of Becks that night I was lucky to make it back to the hotel let alone not losing my little hamper in the back of a London cab!!!!

Any corporation that supports artists and the promotion of modern and contemporary art deserves praise and recognition....particularly if they throw in a pair of cuff links as well.....Arise Gilbert and arise George.....you are our Link Men of the day.

Today's links are Beck's logo links made of pressed metal and enamel.  They are worn with a Simon Carter of London cotton shirt and Renee Chagal silk neck tie with beer styne motifs.


 Til Later

Getting to the Church on time..........SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

 As you know your scribe loves nothing better than visiting canal cities and the odd day at the track.  On a recent visit to Copenhagen, I decided to drop in to another old favourite city from my youth, Helsinki.  Whilst your scribe is a thoroughbred person, I have had occasion to visit the world of Harness Racing.  In Australia the sport dates back to 1810 and the famous Interdominion or the Golden Mile are races not to be missed if they're held in your city.  Some past legends and winners include Paleface Adios and Black's a Fake. 

If you happen to be visiting one of the world's finest Aviation museums in Temora ( another of your scribe's passions) you might come across a wonderful statue of Paleface Adios, who is one of Temora's "favourite sons".

 When in Helsinki your scribe  was lucky enough to have been invited for a day at the races to include some French fizzy and some nice Scandinavian smorgas board for lunch.  In your scribe's parlance this means thoroughbred racing but to my fine Finnish hosts this meant a day at the track watching harness racing at a lovely place called Vermo and what a treat it was that day.  Thank you so much to my dear Finnish hosts Sofia and Oskari.

I never truly understood the significance of harness racing.  Your scribe thought that it was simply another means of people with money to burn to bet on yet another form of racing. But NO, harness racing is born from the noble pursuit of young chaps racing their horse and cart back to the village after church on a Sunday morning.....who would have thought?

After a day of some damn fine Finnish cold cuts and some excellent (and very expensive) French champagne my kind hosts who have an interest in harness racing standard bred horses gave me these fine links as a present.  Today's links are  silver horse cart and jockey cuff links and are worn on special equine occasions and what better to wear them with than a smart navy blue Salvatore Ferragamo silk neck tie with horse and cart motifs and a Savile Row shirt


Til Later




ONWARD

All Hail the Transit..........A$105

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Your scribe is busy at work watching the Transit of Venus on line (NASA web site)....like everyone else in town I think.  Whilst HRH Elizabeth II had hundreds of millions of viewers watching her fantastic Diamond Jubilee celebrations over the past four days the Transit will actually be seen by just as many people on line and probably through welding masks around the world.

The Transit of Venus was of course the reason Captain James Cook headed down south to the Antipodes on three of his most famous voyages.  His mission was to seek the great southern lands and to monitor the Transit of Venus for the Royal Astronomy Society.  At that time in navigation circles we all knew where we were in relation to Latitude but Longitude was the problem.

 Coordinating measurements and observing the Transit of Venus from the southern hemisphere meant that the giant minds of the Society could trigonometrically calculate lines of Longitude. Fascinating stuff that would change the worlds of cartography and navigation for ever.

Your scribe loves nothing better than a good biography and as mentioned in dispatches previously Presidents of the USA and Napoleon are but a few of his favourite subjects.  Another is Captain James Cook.  A fascinating fellow that is still today recognised as one of the world's greatest cartographers and observer of the Transit of Venus.  Some of his original maps for the Canadian northern coasts and large lakes are still the only known maps that are still used to this day.

One of your scribes favourite editions is Tony Horwitz book 'Blue Latitudes....Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before".  Its a good fun read and traces the three journeys by Captain Cook to the Southern Hemisphere.

Today's links are gold plate coil and were found in an antique market.  I bought them just as the market was closing for the day and it must have been a tough wet and windy day for the stallholders as these were procured for a bargain.  They invoke somehow the beauty of the Transit of Venus and are worn today with a white cotton Brooks Brothers shirt and a red Chanel silk neck tie with crescent moon motifs.

Back to the welding mask to watch the Transit and I look forward to seeing it all with you again in 2,217.

Til Later




ONWARD

Fighting them on the beaches..........A$75

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

We are back in to the realm of novelty cuff links today.  These are a set that were a kind gift from an old friend that also has a passion for all matters aviation.

June 6 of course marks the anniversary of the Normandy invasion.  Known as "Operation Overlord" it saw the largest number of troop movements in warfare with about 1,400,000 personnel involved in the invasion with a staggering total of 120,000 casualties.  Operation Overlord or "D Day" had 12 nations armed forces involved and is considered by many historians as the turning point of World War 2.  On a cold wet miserable weekend it is worth watching the film Saving Private Ryan.  Albeit a Hollywood blockbuster it is a wonderful portrayal of the Normandy Invasion.

 One of the work horses for the D Day operations was of course the Lockheed P-38 Lightening aircraft.  Named "fork-tailed devil" by the Luftwaffe and "two planes, one pilot" by the Japanese, the P-38 was used in a number of roles, including dive bombing, level bombing, ground attack, photo reconnaissance and extensively as a long range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks under its wings.

Distinctive black and white stripe livery signified that the aircraft was part of the Normandy invasion and assisted ground force so as to not miss-identify allied aircraft in the invasion and to monitor progress of the air force attacks on mainland France.  

Today's Links were a birthday gift from an aviation buddy and they are replica Lockheed P-38 cuff links.  In aviation circles they always elicit comment and are very good scale reproduction of an airplane that really did assist in turning around the war.  On D Day they were worn with a cotton tailor made shirt and a Ralph Lauren blue silk neck tie. 


Til Later




ONWARD

And They're Racing..............SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

Unfortunately your scribe has spent a far greater time in the Supreme Court than anticipated but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  The Justice system has once again proven that it protects the innocent and it prosecutes the guilty.  The way it should be.

All of this court room shenanigans has of course meant that your scribe has missed his pilgrimage to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky this year.  An abominable state of affairs I know, but alas these things occasionally come along and rock the boat.  This year of course saw record attendances and the race was won by an American thoroughbred called "I'll Have Another". This magnificent colt also won the Preakiness Stakes in New York giving I'll Have Another two wins of the "Triple Crown" races.  A not so spectacular breeding history has stopped this colt from winning millions and he was bought at auction as a youngster for only $11,000, but not by me unfortuantely.  The Derby is one of the greatest races for a horse to win and now I'll Have Another is in the history books.   Here he is romping hom......

In front of a record crowd of 170,000 odd punters, the bookies had I'll Have Another starting at 15:1 odds.  Not a bad investment for mine.  Your scribe started on "Daddy Long Legs" at 30:1......never mind!!!!

We had Mohammad Ali as our Link Man of the Day some time ago as an Honourable Kentucky Colonel and all round great Link Man.  Today we honour yet another famous Kentuckian of our times.....George Clooney.  Anyone who has ever been Batman of course automatically confers Link Man Status but George with his humanitarian and charity efforts deserves the nod for today.  Born in Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby simply nails this one for him.  Arise George, you are our Link Man of the Day.

Today's Links were acquired during the Kentucky Derby festivities week a few years ago.  They are generally worn with a Colonel's shoe string tie but on the week of the Derby they have to be worn with a Hermes silk neck tie with bridle motifs and a Savile Row pure cotton shirt.


Til Later




ONWARD

People in Glass Opera Houses..........SOLD

One man’s mission to share with the world the fine art of cufflinks.  

Each blog a different pair and each blog a different story.  Read on in this series .....

No trip to Venice is complete without a trip to the Cini Foundation on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and a trip to the Island of Murano to search for Murano glass cuff links.  Canal cities are your scribes favoured cities and I am off to Osaka again soon for the annual pilgrimage to that fine city.  But back to Venice.

One of your scribes favourite books on Venice is "City of Falling Angels" by John Berendt.  Some of you might know him from the classic Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil but it is Falling Angels that is a wonderful travelogue of Venice shortly after the wonderful Opera House La Finice burned to the ground from a tragic fire in 1996.  The fire burned for over a month and was one of the great fire tragedies of our time.

They say that all of the glass produced by Murano glass makers in the two years after that tragic fire are artistic attempts to catch the colour of the flames that leapt many metres in to the sky above Venice.  The glass makers of Murano, in despair that one of Venice's major landmarks was burning to the ground, over the years have all paid tribute to the wonderful building by attempting to replicate the colours of the flames that night.

 The Cini Foundation is a must for the lovers of fine art and music particularly that of Giuseppe Verdi.  The Cini Foundation is located on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and is a short gondola ride across from St Marks Square in Venice proper.  The Giorgio Cini Foundation is a non-profit cultural institution and was constituted by Vittorio Cini, in memory of his son Giorgio, with the aim of restoring the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and of creating an international cultural centre that would re-integrate the Island into the life of Venice. A day there is a day well spent believe me.....

Todays links which predate the devastating fire of La Finice are Murano glass and were acquired in Murano on a passing trip through Venice many years ago.  They are worn with a Brooks Brothers cotton shirt and a Salvatore Ferragamo silk neck tie with gondola motifs.

 Til Later




ONWARD