Souvenir is one of only a handful of words in the English language that I don’t have to look up to discover its origin, it comes of course from the French word ‘souvenir’ to remember.
I find that holidays or trips away are quickly forgotten once I return home and re-immerse myself into daily routine. Even so, I am not a great souvenir buyer, particularly of the kind found in emporiums dedicated to flogging a mass of tat to tourists. Occasionally I happen on something that speaks to me and that I know will evoke happy memories of a time spend in a distant or maybe not so distant but different place.
One such thing is the enamel tree that I bought on my recent visit to Bath. It’s by an artist called Janine Partington who lives close to Bath and I found it in a shop/gallery in the Upper Town. I have put it at eye level in front of some books on one of my bookcases so I can see it every time I pass by; come December I plan to move it and use it as part of the Christmas decorations. At £45 it was a tad more expensive than a stick of rock or an ‘I love Bath t-shirt’ but it is a handcrafted piece that will last a lifetime.
What are your favourite holiday souvenirs?
Just Add Attitude 
I do like to collect things from places I have been. I try to make them practical, like useful pottery or glassware, but I have now run out of space so I have to stop. I also have a great handbag and costume jewellery collection from all over.
Thank you for telling me about your collections from all over the place…they all sound very interesting.