I have written poetry all my life drawing from my experiences as a mother of four and a grandmother of seven. My life has not been extraordinary or special other than I am blessed with a loving family and good health. I was not well educated nor encouraged to express myself. However, writing poetry helped me to iron out life's tangles. I believe lots of people have a poem, or many poems inside them and hope that my poetry will inspire others to write and share their memories as I have.
The Guild's guest speaker told us of his great joy when, walking one day, he espied a lady who possessed an unusual knocker. He offered her £3 for this collector's item and she was thrilled to be able to unscrew it on the spot for him. He said he happily left a knockerless lady holding in her hand his three £1 notes. Did we think he had robbed the lady? It's the 1950's, and Dolly and her husband Chas are now Grocers and Provision Merchants. Owning a shop was a childhood dream of Dolly's, though it wouldn't have happened had Dolly's rice puddings been a little better. And it is at this relatively advanced age, amid the continuing adventures and misadventures of Dolly's eccentric and hilarious family, Dolly finds a best friend for the first time in her life. 'You have to laugh with Dolly Scannell. Somehow that Cockney flow of funny tales shakes you up into laughter' Evening Standard
The mesmerizing debut novel about driving trucks, loving music, and growing up. A truck driver's daughter who grows up in the front seat of her father's truck, Jo shares her father's love of country music, junk food, and the open highway. Jo's life is a perfect slice of Americana, except that their "open road" is in England, and her father--the gentle, melancholy Bobby Pickering--is from Northern Ireland. The only truly American thing about Jo is her mother, whom she has never met. Jo is twelve when she and Bobby pick up hitchhiker Cosima Stewart, an American country singer whose band is touring England. They become dedicated fans, and Cosima, touched by the unlikely duo, comes to regard Jo with an indulgent, even sisterly, eye. But when Jo is sixteen, Bobby sinks into serious despair and Jo seeks refuge in Cosima and the band. When Bobby disappears, Jo's adoration becomes obsessive as she follows her idol all to the way to California. Here, in the sweltering Mohave Desert and alone for the first time, Jo must face the painful truths of her own life, the mother she has never known, and the father she can't force from her mind. With shades of Zadie Smith and Mark Haddon, Albyn Leah Hall's powerful debut is a page-turning study of what frightens us about one another and ourselves; of how we run away and what we can't, ultimately, escape from.
On a narrow wooden armchair-bed was lying our hostess. Her nightdress was up round her neck. The organist, on his knees, in the nude, was deep in prayer, his face bent in reverence over his bride's prostrate form. Ever so slowly the organist raised his horrified eyes to ours. My sister, extremely slow to take in the delicacy of any situation, murmured, half to herself, 'That's funny, I could have sworn he was clean-shaven.' Dolly Scannell, author of East End classic memoir Mother Knew Best, has now established her home front, wife to the embattled Chas, and proud keeper of her own house. Life is still full of small but piquant joys, sorrows and bizarre happenstances - like Dolly's need to take her household rubbish back to her mother for fear of her new landlord. Before long she's a mum as well, but then comes the war and her cheerful wit and unquenchable spirit are needed more than ever. Gas masks, ration books, GI's (over-sexed, etc), a chaotic Jewish wedding, husband Chas in the Army, while Dolly takes on his insurance selling door-to-door, encounters a murderous landlady and spends time evacuated from her beloved London to Wales and Suffolk - before being restored to her beloved and enormous family, her mother still matriach of all. A treasure, recalled and retold by the author at her inimitable best! 'The author of Mother Knew Best in hilarious vein' Yorkshire Post 'You have to laugh with Dolly Scannell. Somehow that Cockney flow of funny tales shakes you up into laughter' Evening Standard
The best-selling biography to the life and mood-swings of the one and only Modfather. Through his work with The Jam, The Style Council and ultimately as a solo artist, Weller has remained one of our most uncompromising artists and social commentators. John Reed charts the turbulent course of Weller's career as the Woking-born songwriter has battled to balance his moral convictions with the demands of being a pop music artist. This updated version brings the story fully into the 21st century, and includes a comprehensive discography as well as a host of previously unpublished photographs.
Recognising one of the most-honoured performers of all time, A Celebration of Dolly Parton: The Activity Book is 2021’s follow-up to A Celebration of David Attenborough: The Activity Book and The Unofficial Michelle Obama Activity Book. Spanning Dolly’s long and illustrious career, TheActivity Book includes: Illustrations and graphics to colour-in dedicated to Dolly’s Greatest Hits Anagrams of our favourite Dolly songs A solution for when the daily 9 to 5 grind is transported to the working-from-home environment A tour of Dollywood: try to spot Dolly among the throngs of visitors and maze your way around to reunite her with her missing guitar Inspirational word clouds, quizzes, puzzles, games, drawings, facts, emotional rollercoaster graphs and much, much more Not just a musician, Dolly has used her vast fame and fortune for good: setting up The Dollywood Foundation, the My People Fund and, perhaps most famously, The Imagination Library which provides free books to children throughout their childhood. Dolly the Philanthropist sections are interspersed throughout the activities – providing information on her charitable endeavours, such as her recent contribution to the funding for research into the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. But what do we really know about the woman behind the chart-toppers, successful enterprises and charitable foundations? Dolly’s Wit & Wisdom punctuates the book, offering an insight into ‘the living legend’ – what makes her so likeable, why she is considered a queer icon, as well as valuable life advice on love, fashion and femininity to ensure you're as successful as ‘Saint Dolly’ herself.
Society played a part in the death of my baby brother. The demand for perfection and what was deemed acceptable by our everyday standards helped mold a fragile frame in a young man's mind. The security and resolution I needed was never to be found within the realms of the everyday working world. I learned to reconcile with what you may unfairly call the "ills of society". I found not only resolve, but also harmony within the world, a world that all members of our populace are exposed to in their lives and is part of a culture, even if you chose to ignore it, is one we all live in. I'm not only lucky enough, but also privileged to have been welcomed and accepted in this world, and here their stories will show that this syndicate are of the same making of us all. For me and my brothers none of our heroes wore capes.
Eliminate tea-time tantrums for good with this fantastic collection of recipes designed to appeal to children while giving you the piece of mind that they are eating a healthy balanced diet. From BakedWholemeal Breakfast Muffins with Bacon and Cheese, to Sticky Chicken Drumsticks with Homemade Coleslaw and falafel with Crudités, you'll give your kids a great start to the day as well as fantastic lunch box treats. In addition there are recipes that will suit the whole family for dinner such as Smokey Sausage and Bean Casserole with Peppers and Creamy Pork and Apple Pies as well as traditional and brand-new kids' favourites including Fish Fingers with Sweet Potato Chips and Bacon, Pea and Potato Frittata. As always with the Quickcook series every recipe offers 10-, 20- and 30-minute options to suit your busy schedule. Breakfast and Lunchbox - including Spiced Eggy Fruit Bread with Yogurt and Berries, On-the-go Granola Breakfast Bars, Sausage and Tomato Puff Pastry Turnover and Lightly Curried Cous Cous Salad. Kids' Favourites - including Easy Scone Pizzas, Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Sunblush Tomato Dipping Sauce, Shepherd's Pie with Hidden Veg and Frankfurter Frittata. For All the Family - including Kedgeree-style rice with Spinach, Gnocchi Pasta Gratin, One-Pot Paella and Chicken, Bacon and Leek Pies. Tasty Treats - including Chocolate Pots with hidden Prunes, Strawberry & Raspberry Eton Mess, Orange Drizzle Tray Bake and Puff Pastry Apple & Cinnamon Tarts.
