Anyone who has read this blog before, or who follows me on Instagram, will know just how much I love vintage children's books. As well as collecting Ladybird books I'm also rather fond of old Topsy and Tim books. When I was a child I recall the small soft-back format that was published by Blackie and these are the ones that I look out for in charity shops and at car boot sales, although they are very hard to come by these days. Before these smaller format ones, Blackie actually published larger versions of the same books. With so many Topsy and Tim editions over the years I've always ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: How to Make Presents
Oh dear - we've been AWOL again haven't we with Ladybird Tuesday. This new school routine has taken a bit of getting used to since September, but with half term now out of the way it's time to crack on until Christmas. And talking about Christmas - as my email inbox appears to be doing already this morning - it might be time to start thinking about presents. Ladybird have got this covered with their 1978 book handily titled How to make Presents. Now this title was part of series 633, but one of the additional titles that was brought out in the 1970s. The series was originally called ... read more
Coronation Street: The Official Colouring Book – Review & Giveaway
There was a stage in my life when Coronation Street was pretty much part my religion. Back in the days before on demand TV I'd make sure I was sat on the sofa at 7.30 in an evening ready to hear that famous theme tune. In the rare event that I was out the video recorder would be set and I'd come home hoping that no one had recorded over it whilst I was out. As a Northern family we didn't really do Eastenders as that was full of Southerners and it was just all too gritty for us. And whilst Corrie was from the "wrong side of the Pennines" it still found a place in my heart for many, many ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: ‘People at Work’ The Builder
Tuesday last week seemed to completely pass me by - I'll blame the change of routine for going back to school meaning that I'm still struggling to know what day of the week it is. Ladybird Tuesday is back though so this week we're going to have a look at The Builder, part of the People at Work series, 606B. Now, builders today are somewhat different characters to those in 1965 when this particular Ladybird book was written. For a start a couple of them in this book appear to be wearing a shirt and tie and there's not a white van in sight! Reading this book back now Ladybird really do ... read more
PornBurger – Mathew Ramsey
Burger Porn. Now I don't know about you, but when an email came into my inbox featuring those two words I simply had to read on. I love a burger. The juicier and larger the better. There's something about them that is just utterly gorgeous but at the same time slightly dirty. Let's be honest, eating the best burgers is often a messy affair. The whole process normally involves juices dripping everywhere and you're bound to get sauce on your fingers too. And then there's the whole matter of whether or not you can actually fit it in your mouth or not. Eating one in front of someone else always ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: We go to the gallery
Tuesday's haven't quite been the same for a few months now. The Ladybird collecting hasn't slowed down here, but there's just not been much time to write about them and share them here. I've really missed Ladybird Tuesday though. I've missed going through my collection and selecting gems to share. There's something rather comforting about Ladybird books - a reminder of a previous time when the world didn't seem quite such the confusing and screwed up place it is right now. Last week's news of Ladybird planning more humorous titles later this year (just in time for Christmas) made me think ... read more
Historic Newspapers Vintage Recipe Books
I'm a complete sucker for all things vintage and that includes the piles of old magazine and newspapers that you sometime find in charity shops and at car boot sales. I think they tell us so much about the time they were written, not just from the news stories and articles, but also from things like the adverts they contain. I was intrigued therefore when Historic Newspapers sent me a couple of their news books which are Recipes and Cookery Ideas from newspapers of decades gone by. The two that I was sent were from the 1940s and 1950s, probably my two favourite decades in history. Have a ... read more
Born to Be Wild with the RSPB #BornToBeWild
Photo Credit: RSPB With a daughter who currently has her heart set on being "a nature explorer who also is an artist" an invitation to the RSPB reserve at Rainham Marshes to meet Hattie Garlick, author of the wonderful new book Born To Be Wild, was absolutely perfect. Both kids love being out in the fresh air, but Little Miss C really gets a buzz from doing nature based things outside. At school she seems to spend hours and hours in the playground building bug hotels and feeding snails and when inside she's always happiest when sat at the kitchen table with some gloopy glue and a load of ... read more
The Children’s Garden – Matthew Appleby
It may be freezing cold whilst I sit here writing this, but looking out at our back garden there is no doubt that there are lots of signs of spring out there. A very early spring when you consider how many daffodils are already brighting up the flower beds. I have so many good intentions about how we're going to use our back garden going forwards. Every year I say that and so far I've been foiled every year by the kids not quite being old enough to join in enough for me to make actual progress. 2016 WILL be different though. I'm sure of it. Master C is now very nearly three and a half, and ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Cataloging the Collection
You may have noticed I've gone a bit quite again. There's a very simple reason this time - I'm spending every spare minute finally cataloging my Ladybird collection! When I started collecting Ladybird books I have to admit that I had no real idea what I was doing. I remembered them fondly from my childhood, but had no idea of how many Ladybird books were out there - I just liked the ones I'd spotted in charity shops so decided to start buying them. Several years down the line there are over 400 books in my collection and they are somewhat scattered across the house. With the help of a ... read more