One hippo all alone,
Calls two hippos on the phone...
Learn to count from one to 10 (and back again) with Sandra Boynton and in the process become somebody who understands how to have a good time at a party. That's what I call an educational book.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
309. The Ordinary Princess
This is in my Top 10 books of all time. It is entirely perfect in every way, so I don't really have much to say, apart from please make sure you've read it.
308. The Box of Delights
A small boy comes home from school for the Christmas holidays and gets caught up in magic and mystery and mayhem. It's very old fashioned now, but in a good way - nothing to offend the PC police. It is not possible for me to enter into the spirit of Christmas without reading at least some of this book, and it always makes me long for deep snow, a jug of cocoa... and an adventure.
307. The House at Pooh Corner
A bear of very little brain. Eeyore in his field, eating thistles. Tigger trying to find out which food Tiggers like best. Pooh sticks. Rabbit and all Rabbit's friends and relations. Owl (or Wol) and his very intelligent sign, which read: Backson. Bisi. Backson.
So much of these stories is now woven into our collective consciousness - imagine coming from a generation without Pooh! Therefore I consider it our duty to make sure that we pass on these books. They're old now, sure, but so's the Bible and nobody's thinking of dropping that from the list of books a person Must Read, are they? And now I'm hungry and it must be time for elevenses somewhere in the world...
So much of these stories is now woven into our collective consciousness - imagine coming from a generation without Pooh! Therefore I consider it our duty to make sure that we pass on these books. They're old now, sure, but so's the Bible and nobody's thinking of dropping that from the list of books a person Must Read, are they? And now I'm hungry and it must be time for elevenses somewhere in the world...
306. The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Given how much I love them, there aren't enough classic children's books on this blog. So I'm going to make up for that with a short series, starting here with Judith Kerr's first, and for many, best, picture book.
I didn't stick around in the picture books when I was learning to read. So even though The Tiger Who Came to Tea would have been 10 when I was four, I don't remember reading it then. I remember it later, when I read it to my friend Katie. She loved it - couldn't get enough - and I fell in love with it too. As a result, it feels like a cherished childhood memory of my own, even though I only read it during Katie's childhood! Ah well, such is the way of these things. And as Katie is no longer here to have that memory for herself, my mental picture of reading it to a little red-headed girl is all the more precious.
It's a simple tale about a tiger who comes to tea with a little girl called Sophie, and her Mum. The tiger eats all the food in the house, drinks all the water in the tap and leaves again. So when Dad comes home they all have to go out for sausages and ice cream and Mum has to re-stock the larder, not forgetting an extra large tin of tiger food, just in case.
You must make sure that every small person you know has a copy of this book, and for good measure you should probably have one too. You know, just in case...
I didn't stick around in the picture books when I was learning to read. So even though The Tiger Who Came to Tea would have been 10 when I was four, I don't remember reading it then. I remember it later, when I read it to my friend Katie. She loved it - couldn't get enough - and I fell in love with it too. As a result, it feels like a cherished childhood memory of my own, even though I only read it during Katie's childhood! Ah well, such is the way of these things. And as Katie is no longer here to have that memory for herself, my mental picture of reading it to a little red-headed girl is all the more precious.
It's a simple tale about a tiger who comes to tea with a little girl called Sophie, and her Mum. The tiger eats all the food in the house, drinks all the water in the tap and leaves again. So when Dad comes home they all have to go out for sausages and ice cream and Mum has to re-stock the larder, not forgetting an extra large tin of tiger food, just in case.
You must make sure that every small person you know has a copy of this book, and for good measure you should probably have one too. You know, just in case...
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
305. The soundtrack to 'The Hours'
I hated 'The Hours' the first time I saw it. It was too gloomy and miserable and I couldn't see the point. Then I watched it again and fell slightly in love. It's still gloomy and miserable but I can see the point now and largely the point is many brilliant actresses doing their thing rather brilliantly. Anyway, behind all the noses and despair is Philip Glass's soundtrack. I always thought he did cranky discordant nonsense, but I am entirely wrong, at least in this instance. And over the last few years the soundtrack to The Hours has become music that I can not only work to, but which seems to make the work better. When I had to take a copy test as part of interviewing for my last job, this was the music I went to when I had to shut the world out for an hour and do my best work under pressure. And even if you're not typing furiously, lost in another world, it's still beautiful music. And nobody dies.
304. The smell of woodsmoke
Woodsmoke is the smell of autumn in the countryside. It speaks of tumbling leaves and crisp air, of frosty mornings and robins hopping about on the lawn. Of wintry walks and breath-dampened mufflers and snowflakes and Christmas. Pity we can't bottle it.
303. A Bargain
Brown brogues, Clark's, leather, £37.99
Two pairs of spectacles, Glasses Direct, £71
Hiedsieck Monopole, Tesco, £14.99
10 white dinner candles, Tiger, £2 (but I did have to go to London to get them)
Who doesn't love a bargain? Now I will look 'stremely chic this Chrimbletime and then be drunk. Happy Holidays!
302. Chef's perks
(I would write 'perqs' as that would be correct, but you'd think I was a tosser.)
Chef's perks, of course, are those toothsome morsels of deliciousness that the chef gets because s/he is in charge. The crispiest part of the chicken skin. The caramelised gooey lump of sausage that sticks to the pan. The chocolate brownie batter. The golden, glistening cube of roast potato in the corner of the roasting tin. Ah yes, a great deal of greedy slurping goes on behind that closed kitchen door! This is why everybody should learn to cook.
Chef's perks, of course, are those toothsome morsels of deliciousness that the chef gets because s/he is in charge. The crispiest part of the chicken skin. The caramelised gooey lump of sausage that sticks to the pan. The chocolate brownie batter. The golden, glistening cube of roast potato in the corner of the roasting tin. Ah yes, a great deal of greedy slurping goes on behind that closed kitchen door! This is why everybody should learn to cook.
Monday, 25 November 2013
301. Drinking wine out of small French tumblers
It's all Russell Norman's fault. The tables at Polpo are so small and close together that normal, long-stemmed glasses would get knocked over and break and also they are Not Cool. He gives you your wine in a small Duralex tumbler and I've got to like it. So now I drink wine at home out of a Duralex tumbler and sometimes Herself joins me and sometimes she rolls her eyes. But that's quite normal. Anyway, I wouldn't do it with Good Wine, we've got Herself's Granny's crystal for that. But the vino collapso we enjoy on a daily basis tastes none the worse for its humble vessel. Maybe next I'll try a goat-skin.
300. Charlie Connelly
Ooh, this must be the cheeky chappie section of the blog. Charlie is the author of Attention All Shipping and other books. They're easy to read, deceptively learned and informative, and there's something charming about his scruffy, lumbering approach to travel that makes it seem more possible than it sometimes does. Because I have read my favourites more than once, sometimes I skip the history and count how many pies and pints Charlie manages on one of his trips. I think he'd be a laugh to have a drink with, and he could help my tune my ukulele. And no, that is not a euphemism.
299. Jamie Oliver
Whatever you think about his social work, his recipes work. I've got most of his books and everything works, first time, and it's always delicious. And I love his knife skills. What?
298. Christmas, according to my dog (with editorial by me)
When I can be bothered to stop sleeping on my dog-bed* in the big warm place* (*sofa, *living room) I will use my iPaw to go onto the Interwoof. I will go to Dogazon and buy the Shouty one* (*George) a chill pill and the One I Like Who's Never Here* (*Tracey) a map of Walberswoof. Then I will buy Auntie Anna some delicious dog treats that she can feed me, hopefully while I"m lying on my favourite dog-bed* (*Anna's bed) being tickled and crooned over for hours and never told off or shouted at or made to go outside if it's dark or cold, unless I want to go in and out and in and out and particularly just at the really good bit at the movie which always makes me Muttley* (*laugh, evilly) because they think I am so stupid but I am not.
Then lots of tasty* (*meat or cheese) will fall from the sky, preferably into my open mouth while I'm lying on my favourite dog-bed having my tummy tickled, then this will continue forever. I do not see why this should be limited to one day. THIS SHOULD BE MY LIFE*
*This is her life
297. Hot Chocolate
Not the band, the drink. You have to have the proper Cadbury's drinking chocolate, not one of those instant packet things that you add water to. That's at very least. You could have Charbonnel et Walker, if you like, or Valhrona or whatever. But if it's cold and wet and miserable, and you don't really like tea, it's the drink of champions. No marshmallows - unless you are a child or one of those adults who carries a backpack in the shape of a sheep.
296. Efficient packing
One (possibly the only) good thing about budget air travel is that one small bag forces you to pack efficiently. There's that great scene at the beginning of 'Up in the Air' in which Gorgeous George is packing to go on another of his trips and everything is immaculately pressed and he only takes what is necessary and it fits perfectly into one small, wheelie suitcase. Twice, recently, I have tried to emulate his efficiency, with pleasing results - although I wasn't going away for very long! And I am helped enormously by my rucksack in a pouch, bought for me by my genius mother-in law. Because the real trick is not remembering to travel light, it's making sure that your things are stored in the best places to help you move through your journey with the greatest speed. So the clear pouch with the toiletries goes inside the case but into the separate liner in the lid, so the whole case doesn't have to be opened at security. Kindle, paper, notebook, pen, lip salve, hand cream etc goes in the front pocket of the case. Passport, wallet, boarding card, phone go into coat pocket, which can be closed by way of poppers or zip. Shoes are easy to get on and off. You'll feel so smug while all the others are waddling about holding up their trousers or trying to get their knee-high lace-up boots back on while 300 impatient travellers zap them with their eyeball lasers. And then you'll get to the front of the queue for the plane/taxi/bus and you'll be so smug you'll probably spontaneously combust. But it will have been worth it.
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