You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve

[venta]

As I mentioned a while ago here, I bought some of Dr Geof's embroidered badges of the First Tea Company, in the blind faith that a military-ish jacket would show up to sew them on. Six months later it did, in my local charity shop (the label proudly says it is made by NafNaf, who apparently are still going - in my head they're synonymous with the 80s).

I sewed up the rips in its lining, fixed its fastenings, and attached my badges. What surprises me is the extent to which it draws comments.

One of the first times I wore it out, a stranger pointed me out to his partner. "Hey look, isn't that brilliant? When someone asks how you want your tea, you can just show them your arm![*]"

(Not actually true, of course - people offer to make you tea, when you've still got your coat on, surprisingly infrequently.)

At the Barbican a few months ago, a gentleman with most resplendent facial hair flung out a dramatic arm to point at the badges, saying "they're Dr Geof's". (Answer: no, they're not! They're mine! I paid for them and everything!) We had a nice chat about steampunk in general, and the exhibition in Greenwich in particular.

The first time I wore it to work, someone described it as "very cool". More recently, as I was leaving the office, someone demanded "What's going on with that jacket, Liz?"

I answered that a friend of mine[**] made regimental badges for a mythical regiment, the First Tea Company, and that I liked them. A volley of questions followed: Did I buy the whole jacket, or just the badges? (Just the badges.) Did I sew them on myself? (I did.) By hand or with a sewing machine? (By hand, I'm not sure you could do it with a machine without sewing the arm shut.) Do I actually like my tea weak? (Yes, ish.) What if I didn't? (Other strengths, and indeed other teas, are available.)

Eventually, I suggested he Google for the Island of Dr Geof. He obviously did, because he was next heard saying "A place for obtaining comics, posters," before continuing in hushed tones "fetishman stuffs..."[***].

"Well, that's not quirky at all" said a second colleague, scathingly, as I turned to go. On the tube, a stranger read my badges and grinned at me.

[*] My badges say "Brew Weak" and "Milk No Sugar".
[**] Though on reflection, this is quite untrue as I don't actually know Geof. I've yattered at him a few times, but when on his stall I think he's obliged to tolerate the public.
[***] The colleague in question is a recent Oxford graduate, a rowing blue, and is called Jasper. If you now have a mental image of him, it's probably completely accurate :)

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I bought a GIN +3 patch at WorldCon and have just got round to sewing it on the H&M jacket I fondly believe makes me look like Ace.

I also can't believe NafNaf are still going. What about their market-stall ripoffs that just said NAFF?

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

I had a lovely long chat with Dr G at Worldcon, and he gave me a free poster for admitting to my history of tea consumption. [I drank a lifetime's supply by the age of 5, and then stopped. He considered this very efficient.]

I must get around to framing it soon - by pure coincidence it goes very well with the ones already on my stairwell.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I won a poster of his in a raffle, and now it graces my kitchen wall, giving useful advice on the safe escape from dirigibles.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Every home should have one.

[sammason.livejournal.com]

My mental image of Jasper includes kink. Yes Jasper, I've known people like you.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I have no idea if you're correct, but that certainly wasn't the impression I was trying to convey :)

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

May I have a kudo for identifying "Flaws" by Bastille? I have their album on heavy rotation at the moment.

[venta.livejournal.com]

You may indeed. I've been listening to Bad Blood a lot this summer, too :)

[lathany.livejournal.com]

:-)

[killalla]

You need to provide a photo of said jacket, surely! I'm afraid that most of the Dr Geof paraphernalia I have tends more to the steampunk and squid-like end of things, but I do approve of the concept of the First Tea Company. I can't manage to drink anything but iced tea here at home, though, as hot drinks are an anathema in this heat.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I do like the non-tea merchandise as well :)

I'm not sure the jacket is really exciting enough to merit a photo, but I shall endeavour to oblige!