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Rusty
I am enjoying reading the book again. The stretch of the Thames is one I know well, having walked much of it with my dogs who went swimming and annoyed the wildfowl !

Ros
I have kept a few of my father's books which have sentimental value, among them being the complete works of Dickens, Wordsworth, Longfellow, scores of books on Art, ornithology, music and Mrs Beeton's "All about cookery". His childhood books became mine, including "Stories from Andersen", fairy tales from Grimm, Lorna Doone. Some have beautiful Art Nouveau covers and illustrations. Most of my own childhood books have been passed down to the family (Tales from the Arabian Nights being their favourite ) Quite an eclectic collection.

Hello, Jazzgirl!
The book gets great reviews!
I did not realise it was published so long ago.
1889!
I am looking forward to it.
That is a very interesting collection of books that you have inherited from your father.
The ties that bind, indeed!

That's a lot of books, jazzgirl, I wonder what will happen to them eventually? I forgot I have "Tales of the Pentamerone" or something like that which my aunt clearly never read! It looks like an expensive Christmas present (same as some of your books, Art Nouveau cover and illustrations). I am planning to sell it, as it is a nice edition.

I too have Mrs Beeton, a 1908 edition. I have kept this, not because of the recipes but because it has the only known example of my grandfather's handwriting inside. This tells us what he called her- Gertie- and what she called him. He gave it to my grandmother, who reportedly threw it at him, saying she had kept house for her parents for many years and didn't need instructions!

I kept my mother's Good Housekeeping Cookery Book. GH have been asked to reprint this numerous times and will not do so. But they should, it is brilliant. I literally wore out the pages of my own copy.

Ros
I know I am far too emotional when it comes to possessions, especially when personal notes and signatures are written within. I will clear out the Dickens, and poetry as no one in the family is interested and they were bought from a second-hand bookshop in the 50's. The rest have already been designated . I think it was Kenneth Grahame who lived at Cookham Dean ? (Wind in the Willows author)

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, I thought that you had lived there for a long time - indeed, throughout your sons' childhoods!
Yes, it is great to have happy memories around you.
Although we carry them with us , too, in our hearts and minds, and thoughts.
We also have been out for a walk...but our weather has been fast deteriorating and unfortunately we got wet!
I hope your "bummel" was not so affected?
And that the sunshine stayed with you?
I have been reading with interest the books that people have kept from childhood........
My books like Hans Andersen and Grimms' fairy tales went the way of the children......but I have retained my own copies of Louisa Alcott's "Little Women", "Good Wives, "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys"
I also still have "Uncle Tom's Cabin", "Tom Brown's Schooldays" , "Huckleberry Finn", and some of the Arthur Ransome books!
And of course, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.
Oh and I've got all my JRR Tolkien books , too!
I may have more...I have double - books on all our bookshelves!
Do you have a childhood "favourite"?



Hello, Ros,
I think I told you previously that my mother threw away a lot of my childhood books?
I had left them "at home" when I was flatting in London!
I did have some "favourites" with me so they "escaped"!
I had had plans to save them all for my own children!
My poor mum "copped a lot of flak" for that!
It took me a while to forgive her!

Good evening, Elle!
This Personal Chatty Thread has became very literary minded of late!
Yes, memories are special.
To that end, I have over 1000 family photos on my phone and laptops etc.
I will never lose them for they are stored in the "Cloud" too.
I read anything I could get my hands on when I was a boy.
I liked Enid Blyton.
And I liked "Little House on the Prairie", too.
I remember getting a tramcar to the library to ask the formidable (to me) librarian lady if I could get two books instead of only one.
I told her I was a quick reader and finished one off fairly quickly.
Fair play to her, she allowed me two!
I have often seen "Little Women" cropping up in crossword clues.
The name of one of the March sisters being part of an answer.
For instance "big Amy".
Just finished my crossword.
21a, "Prophet's house on the shore?"(5) H?S?A
I have Hosea. "Ho" for house, but "sea" is not shore, surely?
Am I being picky?

Hi, Rusty!
It is good to be literary - minded!
I liked Enid Blyton , too, especially the Famous Five.
Enid Blyton has survived generations of children though, hasn't she?
My grandkids read all her books, too!
What about Miss O'Hara?
Is she a "fan" of "The Faraway Tree" and "The Secret Seven" and such?
I used to like reading "Biggles" and "Just William", too.
Ah, those were the days....fond memories!
I had to walk quite a long way to our local library.
We didn't have a car......and no public transport went that way.
And I could only take out one book!
I wasn't enterprising like you and didn't think to ask if I might take more!
Regarding 21a.....
I didn't see a problem?
I thought "on the shore" was the same as "by the sea"?
Hence "ho" for "house" put next to "sea"?
Giving "Hosea" for "prophet"?
Is that not okay?
Just going to have dinner.......

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I suppose shore and sea are OK...sort of.
I remember at my library the adults got up to four books.
Us wee folk got one.
So, I asked for another and the lady agreed.
I do not think Miss O'Hara is a reader.
She likes films and electronic games.
I will ask her tomorrow.
I liked "William", too.
I have not heard of the "Faraway Tree".
Are you making these up?

Hi, Rusty!
Of course I am not making anything up!!
However did you miss "The Faraway Tree"?
It is a series of books ......the titles are "The Enchanted Wood", "The Magic Faraway Tree", "The Folk of the Faraway Tree" and "Up the Faraway Tree".
My two eldest grandsons have read them and loved them!
The eldest boy plays a lot of electronic games but he also reads a lot..........he has just turned 9 and has now read all the Harry Potter books!
And the volume I saw him reading when he was last here had over 600 pages!
Life would be missing something, I think, without a love of books?
(He is also quite keen on crosswords - albeit fairly easy, straightforward ones!)
I have now caught up on "Casualty" in readiness for tomorrow's episode!

Hello, Elle!
Faraway Tree I do not know.
Yes, we like books, but many don't.
I know folk who have never read a book.
They are keen on TV though.
How are you and the Book People getting on?
I think you have Red Button tennis tonight?