From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Suffolksue

Didn’t Josephine Pullen-Thompson have a sister who wrote horsey books too ? Christina

I re read The Family from One End Street recently and it was just as I remembered it !

From an adult perspective it’s an insight into Social History in the probably 50s

edit

Just looked it up it was written in 1937 !

Things obviously didn’t change that much at that time then !

Greying_Pilgrim

Suffolksue - there were 3 sisters; Josephine, Diana and Christina. I actually had heard of Christina, and was aware of Diana - but other than having read that book, didn't really have Josephine on my radar. It's funny, if you look the book up, I had the one that is shown - the cover price was 2/6'! And I can work out that is 121/2p in new money! Gawd, I'm old 🤣

So, I've done the shopping. I didn't need overly much, although I still managed to spend £18.10! I only went to MrL today. I did buy a bottle of red wine, and 2 packets of nuts, in terms of 'expensive' stuff.

I did a 'whites' wash before i headed out. They are out on the line now. There is a reasonable breeze, but it is so cold, I don't know if any drying will occur.

I need to have a think about tea. Club tonight, so we will be eating at different times, plus we've got to set out earlier than normal to make a pick-up on the way. Something 'stew-like' is probably needed - weather wise and timewise and able to leave wise.

Can't think of anything else MSE at the mo.

Greying X

EssexHebridean

Yep - the Pullein-Thompson were legendary in the field (ha!) of pony books aimed at a certain demographic of young girls! There were actually three of them - Josephine, Christine & Diana. I've still got several of the "Pony Club" series at home. This gives a bit more information about them - including something which I'd forgotten which is that their mother - Joanna Cannan - was basically credited with inventing the genre!

peb

I love Joanna Cannon too - she also wrote crime fiction.

For those who love One End Street (I once stayed at a Dew Drop Inn near Worcester coz of the name) look at Gwen Grant.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

I brought the washing in just before the school run. The body of the tops had dried well, it was just the usual issue of the collars remaining wet/damp. I put the Dehu on for 2hrs, and everything dried lovely. I'm reasonably chuffed with that - had it been a little less cold, the clothes would have done well - but still good for what is a winters day.

I did a little bit of batch ingredient prep in the PrC today. I started with a batch of tommie sauce. That made enough for lentil bolognese for tea, 2 meal size pots and 3 little pots for pizza topping. Then I cooked up approx 700g of lentils. I filled 2 (takeaway) containers and put the rest in the remaining tommie sauce for the bolognese. Then I cooked up a bag of pasta. That made enough for tea, enough for 2 (takeaway containers) and a small individual portion. Everything not used for tea has been put in the freezer. I also washed a batch of dirty tatties from the bag. They have been a little neglected in favour of the christmas tatties, but I'm going to ensure as many as haven't gone shrivelled/sprouty are eaten by us. The ones that are still firm but a little sprouty are fine, but one or two i picked out today, are already too over to use. I'm thinking whatever we end up having for tea tomorrow will be with a baked tattie accompaniment.

Nothing else MSE-wise is springing to mind, so I'll toddle orf.

Ta for popping in. Greying X

Watty1

Happy memories of spending time in the local WH Smith as a child with my pocket money deciding which of the Pullein-Thomason books to buy. My mother would eventually find me and suggest I read a classic instead, anything to get me away from the ponies! Many years later I think we would all agree that was an epic failure on her part!

Cherryfudge

I have so many pony books… every now and then another classic pops up in a charity shop but I also inherited from Mum who, as a young adult in the 1950s, was horse-mad and regularly rode in Epping Forest.

That was a world away from my own childhood in a Lancashire village but, between a southern mother and pony books set down south, I immediately recognised 'home' when I moved to London. So many things that I'd felt were part of a fictional world fell into place.

For all fans of pony stories, did you know many are republished? I've not bought from this site but there are interesting background details on the books. Incidentally, I'd highly recommend Josephine Pullein Thompson's books. My favourite of the sisters.

Jane Badger Books Home

Watty1

I follow her on Face book which is a lovely reminder of times gone by. (Incidentally I visited bay of e to check out vintage pony books after the chat on here and - gasp - prices!)

Greying_Pilgrim

We could start up our very own children's literature hour/library in here 😁 You would all make such kind and knowledgeable librarians!

So I have finally made it to the market town across the way, and got a hair cut. I also popped into the chazzers. Not alot doing, but I did get several books (!) for LG, we'll see if Michael Morpurgo gains any interest. Certainly the film 'war horse' and excerpts from the stage play have fired LG's imagination - those puppeteers! So talented.

The food waste drop-in wasn't operating today. They must have fallen short of volunteers or something - as I can't imagine there isn't any waste food to distribute…… 🙄 However, I picked up some bargains in h3r0n f00ds; some jelly pots - hart13ys brand - 4 pots for 49p BB end of March, and some kefir yoghurt, cherry flavour 49p for 4 pots BB mid Feb. I also picked up some mCca1n potato pops (UK equivalent of tater tots), for £1. Total spent £3.94. The jellies will come in handy for pack ups and the yoghurt will make a nice, gut healthy, change from plain yoghurt. I felt there were a few more bargains in HF today - more like they used to be; line ends/production overshoots, orders for different countries - so you have to try to work out that it's a tub of banana ice cream you're looking at 🤣 short-dated things etc. That always used to be HF's forte, it's only since they got taken over, and just tried to be like any other shop selling branded goods, that they've lost their way - imVHo.

I also called in to MrM - primarily for some frozen veg, but also for a look around - I ended up with frozen spinach and a cauli/broc/carrot mix. The mix may prove to be all carrots and no cauli, but we'll see. You don't know until you try. £2.30 spent in MrM.

I haven't put a wash on today. It was a dreich start, and I thought we were in for rain for the day, but it's not really materialised, but then it's grey and without much of a breeze, so nothing will dry anyway.

I haven't thought about tea, but will have to shift a tail feather if I want to do those baked tatties in the SC.

Best shift a tail feather and get my thinking cap on. Greying X

Blackcats

GP - I don't think you live very close to the Capital city but if you do plan a trip it's worth looking at London Theatre kids week tickets. Kids go free with a full paying adult. Last year a couple of the grandkids got to see War Horse and loved it. Way, way back when my kids were teens we used the scheme to see Cats which we all enjoyed).
There are actually lots of completely free activities to enjoy in the big smoke and a PI or TL in a suburb near a tube can be reasonably priced (sorry can't remember which hotel chain you prefer).

The near to London aunties will have lots of suggestions if you ever decide on a family trip.