Sally

It's a while since we had a dog on the blog and Sally here was too friendly to ignore.

Biscuits evaporated as they neared her mouth.

She was lovely and can come back, any time she likes.

War Diaries - A Nurse at the Front

The First World War Diaries of Sister Edith Appleton is the sub-sub-title of this fascinating book. Edited by Ruth Cowan and with a forward by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse etc), it is the second of the 'War Diaries' series produced in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum. Quite a pedigree!

We are delighted that the discoverer of these amazing documents, Sister Edith's great nephew, Dick Robinson will be here to talk about Edith and her diaries on Saturday 17th March at 10.30 am.

The price of this hardback is £14.99 but, to encourage you along on the day, it will be available at £3.00 off on the day and Dick will happily sign your copy if you wish.

Please drop in from 1st March onwards and dip into this fascinating account of the day to day life of a young nurse who worked close to the front line during this horrific piece of our history.

The IWM will be opening brand new First World War galleries during their programme marking the centenary of the 14-18 war. More information is available at www.1914.org

Shrapnel and Rare Books

One of our favourite customers and good friend called in with a box of rare treasure yesterday. Something you don't see every day of the week.

As well as her Identity Card and Ration book from the war period, the box contained some rather deadly looking chunks of shrapnel that she had picked up as a young girl during the Blitz.

Can anybody identify the brassy looking pieces in front of the box? They have the word SAFE written on one piece and there are markings around them indicating perhaps time, or height. We thought Ack Ack?

Found

Glad to say, our friend is safe and well.

Bookpoint Visit.

Nina and I enjoyed a day out yesterday when we returned a pile of books to Bookpoint near Abingdon. It was great to meet the lovely ladies who arrange all our orders and now we can put a face to a name when we order our next pile of paperbacks

Lisa and Olivier were kind enough to show us round the vast warehouse where the picking and packing is done. I was annoyed that I'd not thought to bring the camera down.

A very impressive organisation. Not a patch on our shop, of course.

Mr Jingle's dog

Here's Mr Jingle again, with another unlikely tale.

'Ah! you should keep dogs - fine animals - sagacious creatures - dog of my own once - Pointer - surprising instinct - out shooting one day - entering inclosure - whistled - dog stopped - whistled again - Ponto - no go - stock still - called him - Ponto, Ponto - wouldn't move - dog transfixed - staring at a board - looked up, saw an inscription - "Gamekeeper has orders to shoot all dogs found in this inclosure" - wouldn't pass it - wonderful dog - valuable dog that - very.'

Pickwick Papers

And so to Tiny Tim, of course in A Christmas Carol.

'God bless us, everyone!'

Mr Sparkler

Perhaps the dullest wit of all the Dickens characters?

Mr Sparkler, stimulated by Love to brilliancy, replied that for a particular walk, a man ought to have a particular pair of shoes; as, for example, shooting, shooting-shoes; cricket, cricket-shoes. Whereas, he believed that Henry Gowan had no particular pair of shoes.
'No speciality?' said Mr Dorrit.
This being a very long word for Mr Sparkler, and his mind being exhausted by his late effort, he replied, 'No thank you, I seldom take it.'

Little Dorrit