Creative Living Creativity Corner

The Goldfish Story

March 6, 2014

Greetings. So here’s a story and you know how much I like telling stories.

Last Saturday I casually went about my day. There were errands to be done. I also wanted to stop by the Art shop to stock up on watercolour paper. On my way there, I saw that one of the local vintage shops in Islington had a respectable queue of people outside and a big banner saying: Sale!

Intrigued, I approached a woman and inquired whether the shop is closing down. “Oh, no, the reply came. Twice a year they have a sale where everything they display in the shop that day costs £1.”

I looked at the time. It was 11.58am and the shop opened at midday. What would you have done? Well, I thought, I have nothing to loose. I’ll go inside, have a quick rummage around, satisfy my curiosity and then continue with my day.

I had no expectations or big hopes. Midday came, the shop opened and a heap of women fell upon the goods. I calmly stood at one side observing everyone while they frantically chose items. At a far corner I spotted an amber vessel. It measured around 30×25 cm, so a decent size and, to my surprise, no one seemed to be interested in it. I waited for things to calm down a little, for people to disperse and then strategically made my move!

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

I thought this was a fine purchase for Colourliving HQ do you agree? I bought another amber small stem vase but that’s for another story for another day:-)

So, as the queue at the till was rather long I reserved my vessel by paying for it and went on to do my errands. On my return and an empty shop (yay), I chatted to the guys who were wrapping my new purchase in newspaper. “So, what will you put in it?” one of them asked me. “Err, I don’t know yet, maybe a plant…” came my reply. I was also secretly thinking about a Terrarium… ” I kind of think it would lend itself as a home for goldfish” one of the guys muttered.

And an idea was born. I have never ever before thought about either having a pet (difficult in a small London flat with being out a lot), let alone some goldfish. I was on a mission, starting with finding the nearest pet shop.

Once located I asked the shop assistant to give me a tutorial of how to keep goldfish and not let them die. You might laugh at this, dear readers, but like keeping plants alive I believe there is knowledge and certain skills involved. After a lengthy tutorial, involving instructions on how not to place the bowl near a radiator, not let any sunshine come through, not to overfeed, to regularly change the water et cetera, I made my way home with my new buddies.

First things first. You have to wash the gravel. Like the colour? The choice was between neon pink or yellow! Oh, and forgive me, but I just had to do an artistic shot here.

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

Next, you need some greens for Oxygen and voilà, the goldfish have a ‘home’. Now, traditionally people use clear glass bowls so they can see their swimming pets. I rather like my tinted version. Firstly it goes with the Colourliving decor but I also figured that it must be quite nice for my new companions to see the world through tinted lenses.

Meet Rupert and Clarissa (actually I don’t know their sex:-)

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

So far, so good. They are firmly installed in my office space. I know how and when to feed them, I know how to clean out the water and hopefully I will manage to look after them… wish me luck.

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

The Goldfish story - Colourliving

I would very much appreciate any tips, tricks, anecdotes or generally some advice. Have a great weekend. See you Monday x

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23 Comments

  • Reply Carole Poirot March 6, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Hi Rupert and Clarissa, nice to meet you 🙂 They look very at home in that bowl and the colours are great. I don’t know why fish bowls would have to be clear glass, this looks far better and they might even like it? Lovely story and – as usual – lovely colours. x

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 5:56 pm

      They are •waiving• (still alive, phew)…
      I don’t know but I guess the whole reason of having fish, aquariums is to be able to see… but then there is all that lighting… anyway, they seem content and I have some new companions swimming around..
      Thanks xx

  • Reply Mel March 7, 2014 at 3:48 am

    Oh that’s a lovely story and certainly not where I thought it was going! So lovely to meet you Rupert and Clarissa and hope you keep your sweet owner happy. M x

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 5:57 pm

      Hahaha, so it was a surprise? They say’hi’…. Thanks Mel x

  • Reply Catherine@farmhousehome March 7, 2014 at 7:23 am

    Well hello Rupert and Clarissa, welcome to Colourliving HQ. This reminds me of the Charlie story Tina, you go out one Saturday to do your usual routine and bam you have a pet. Fabulous, you’re so going to enjoy your new fish and they’re home is perfect. Love the bowl and the way you’ve set it up, fits in perfectly with your decor. xx

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 5:59 pm

      Ha. Yes, but these are just goldfish… you brought home Charlie (something very different), very permanent, much more committal:-) but then you get lots of love back from him…. love Charlie.

      Yes, very much a Colourliving set up:-) xx

  • Reply Ms Pink March 7, 2014 at 8:18 am

    Great find Tina. Funny how everyone ignored it,I would have made a dash for it the minute I saw it!
    Was it Past Caring in Essex Road?

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 6:00 pm

      Hey you, I did ask the guy behind the counter why it was put in the £1 sale… was it coz it’s too contemporary?He thinks that’s the reason.
      After all, it’s ‘Past Caring’ and thats not what the clientele expects.. Lucky me:-)
      Thanks for your comment x

  • Reply gudy herder March 7, 2014 at 9:19 am

    No tips here just wanting to say I love it!!! Tina, what a nice story and come out! I hope they like yellow:-) xx

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 6:02 pm

      Hahahaha. Thanks for stopping by to say that:-) And yes, I’m praying they like yellow! xx

  • Reply Heather @ Canal Notes March 7, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    Welcome to your new pets! When I was a kid, I had a goldfish named Patrick – loved him. Hope Rupert and Clarissa bring you lots of joy and relaxation (apparently watching fish is a big stress reliever 🙂

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      Oh, Patrick… well, it’s a move towards having pets. Not sure my lifestyle (on a Vespa) would go with a cat and dog:-)
      I will report the progress!

  • Reply Jocelyn Casey March 10, 2014 at 12:32 am

    Lovely news, Tina! I am sure these two cuties will add even more love to the Colourliving HQ! Will you update us on their happenings? Rupert and Clarissa’s journey will indeed be a colourful one! Have a great evening xx

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Hehe. I’m laughing coz you own Coolwhip and Popcorn who would probably eat Rupert and Clarissa:-)) (only joking)
      Thank you Jocelyn x

  • Reply Gerard @WalnutGrey March 10, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Aww. Good luck! They do look like two little cuties 🙂 And a cool bowl too!

    Best part of your story for me… “a heap of women fell upon the goods. I calmly stood at one side observing everyone while they frantically chose items.” I can just picture the scene. It’s normally why I avoid such affairs.

    But a purchase well made & two new mates as well!

    Gxx

    • Reply tina March 10, 2014 at 6:10 pm

      Ha. Wondered what you might say to it all:-)

      I’m with you on that one. Absolutely hate any sales or the likes. Finding it rather stressful.
      This here was a little win win situation. I got the bowl for £1 but have gained so much more…. some ‘new mates’…
      Thanks G xx

  • Reply Doris March 12, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    I’m so glad to meet you Rupert and Clarissa! Great find also, I love a bargain! I hope they are fairing well 🙂 xD

    • Reply tina March 12, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      They say.. hello…. Ha, I love a bargain too. So far, so good! xx

  • Reply Holly March 12, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    OMG!! You are the CUTEST!!!!!!!!!

    I’m so happy for you. They look very sweet and have very sweet names. Hello Rupert and Clarissa! I look forward to meet them next time I visit. Great additions to the Colourliving Family – bowl, pebbles and all.

    This is a great story 😀

    Xx.

    • Reply tina March 12, 2014 at 8:35 pm

      Hahaha, thought you might like them:-)
      Love this: “Great additions to the Colourliving Family – bowl, pebbles and all. ”

      Can’t wait for you to meet them, if I manage to keep them alive until you get here.. xx

  • Reply Louise - 30s Magazine March 14, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    hahaha you’re so funny. And those names are so cool! I’ve never seen a yellow fish bowl before, do fish see colours? Anyway, I wouldn’t dare getting fish, they would die within a month. Good luck and enjoy your room mates!

    • Reply tina March 19, 2014 at 7:10 pm

      Well, by now you probably know that Clarissa didn’t make it:-((

      I really don’t know whether fish see colour, but sure what like to find out. No, don’t say that, it’s not that hard to look after them. It takes a bit
      of getting used to not to overfeed, to clean the bowl et cetera. Thanks:-)

  • Reply alisonsye March 20, 2014 at 10:18 pm

    Tina, this is a great post which had me in stitches. Sorry I didn’t reply earlier, but I was going to get my daughter to reply and tell you about Fin and Snowy. Then the computer went down etc..
    Absolutely love their bowl, much better than our pink plastic one!

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