I read a lot about books and bookshops this month ... Notes from a Public Typewriter edited by Michael Gustafson and Oliver Uberti: This is a gorgeous wee book! I whipped through it in an evening and now have it on my list of gift ideas. When Michael Gustafson and his wife Hilary opened Literati … Continue reading For the Love of Books | Currently Reading January 2019
One of my favourite past times as a child, after reading, was working on a jigsaw. I remember two in particular, probably because both of them were round and they fed my love of history - Henry VIII and his six wives, and the naval battles of Admiral Nelson. I rediscovered my jigsaw love when … Continue reading A Puzzling Hobby
Northala Fields is an award-winning country-style park located in Northolt, just down the road from the Polish War Memorial. It was opened in 2008 and consists of four artificial hills standing next to the Western Avenue, a major road in/out of West London, as well as several fishing lakes and a large field area. The hills were constructed using … Continue reading Northala Fields
Polish War Memorial, Northolt Some five miles or so from where we live is the beautiful Polish War Memorial. It is close to RAF Northolt, the home station for several Polish squadrons during the Second World War. By the Summer of 1940, some 6,000 members of the Polish Air Force had made their way to … Continue reading The Polish War Memorial
I'm using a traveler's notebook to record our One Little Word again this year. But I inadvertently ordered a mini TN - it's just 5.5x3.5. It will make for interesting scrapping. The first entry marks The Boy Child's recent birthday ... Birthday Boy ... the second entry marks the discover of a new-to-us park area … Continue reading OLW | Thrive and the Traveler’s Notebook
I began the month with a festive layout of our great nephews with their Colombian family. I've loved Doodlebug's new Christmas Town range and have been happy to use it at any opportunity. The Colombians en masse I saw this design with the embroidered heart on Instagram and thought it was fabulous! So much so, … Continue reading Scrapping in 2019 #1
What's a Cavachon, you might ask? A Cavachon is a cross-breed dog, part Bischon Frise and part King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Me, looking pretty thrilled to have a 7-week-old Tilly asleep on my leg. And this Cavachon is the newest member of our family. For online purposes, let's call her Tilly. Apart from being completely … Continue reading For the Love of a Cavachon
Having introduced The Boy Child to the delights of Oliver and Hardy during our Northern Road Trip in the Summer of 2018, we were subsequently delighted to realise that their story was coming to the big screen. Laurel & Hardy statue, Ulverston, South Lakeland Stan and Ollie stars Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and John … Continue reading Stan and Ollie | A Mini Review
Our local library is currently in the middle of a long-overdue upgrade and site move. Its budget has been slashed to the bone in recent years and it appears that copies of popular works of new fiction are no longer a priority. We have a branch of the UK's sole surviving book chain and we … Continue reading For the Love of Books | Where I Find Recommendations
I have a friend whose family life is in such a state of upheaval, I hope I never have to experience the same thing. Tea, pastries and a care package I want to help her, but I want to help her in productive ways. So I made a list and decided on five things I … Continue reading Five Ways to Help a Stressed-Out Friend
This West London Life 