Dear …

I frequently agonise over my mother’s habit of writing my/my partner’s/my children’s name in a book that she is giving as a gift and genuinely don’t know how she brings herself to do so. Yesterday I was turfing out some Pelicans so that we can clear some more bookshelves and came across a keeper. Nowt terribly special and someone got there first with their initials but then my brother had taken a red pen to it – it’s not going anywhere and it was used when I did my history degree. Carr urged his readers to ‘study the historian before you begin to study the facts’ leading me to probably over-egg my initial essays and shoehorn too many biographical details into relatively short pieces of work.

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Today I’m listing a bible; it has a broken brass clasp and is leather-bound. It also has coloured maps, was published by the Oxford University Press in 1973 and given to a housemaid. Two facts there and one assumption based on quick research.

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Bible from 1873 showing map and dedication along with prayer cards

The bible was given to Charlotte Woolgar by Mrs Back. Woolgar is a name that crops up on the 1851 census – there are two Charlotte’s one who lived in Parliament Row, Sussex and the other lived in Bucksteep Manor, Sussex, she was born in 1849. The joy I experienced on finding this out was palpable. Here is a link to the record

Mrs Back is probably William Back’s wife, Mary Ann – both were living in Bucksteep Manor in 1871 according to the census of that year .

The dedication reads ‘Charlotte Woolgar, a token of regard [?] Mrs Back

Bucksteep Manor July 3rd 1973

Search the scriptures for in them you/ye think you/ye have eternal life’

If you have any information to build on this find please let me know.

For now though – the listing for the Bible can be found here

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Enhanced illustrations

Two books to take a look at here; one has been claimed as a ‘colouring-in’ book and the other designed as such. I like to view them as ‘enhanced’ illustrations.

Junior Modern Poetry selected by Richard Wilson 1936

At first I thought that these were coloured illustrations, then I realised that one very careful owner had ‘enhanced’ the already gorgeous pictures adorning this book – and really enhanced exceptionally well. Pretty sure my children didn’t deface their books in such an accomplished way.

Unadultarated joy!

Ming meets the farm cats, colouring and story book by Audrey Tarrant Medici Society 1974

This one is specifically designed with the amateur illustrator in mind. The copy we have was owned by someone who never finishes anything; possibly a bit of a magpie (we know the feeling). Only one page has been started, but very neatly so!

Ming meets the farm kittens by Audrey Tarrant (Medici Society 1974) – front cover

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Note about author/illustrator: I think that I’ve lived my life assuming that Audrey was Margaret’s sister and that there was some sort of cosy and unassuming nepotism within The Medici Society recruitment offices; a quick check has floored me as Audrey has a slim three-liner biography on a handful of sites and it is revealed that Margaret was an only child who never married and had no documented children.

Audrey Tarrant was brought up and educated in Croydon, she attended the Croyden School of Art.

Excitingly, I came across a wonderful site from the Cornwall village of Week St Mary which has Ms Tarrant’s memories of being an evacuee – you can read it yourself here

Audrey and her two brothers were evacuated from Croydon to Cornwall in 1940. Their mother followed them to Cornwall and gave birth to a daughter in 1941. The family would have returned to Croydon by the end of the war. In 2020 Audrey Tarrant was residing in Reigate.

Illustrator unknown

Looking at the cover of Nevil Shute’s Pastoral (Pan 4th printing 1969 – M series) sent me into a spin as I realise that my knowledge is so slim it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to find out who actually illustrated it. I will be googling the heck out of it and practicing Twittering but for now, check out the beautiful fuchsia pink of the title which stands out on the purple hues of the illustration. I’m also taken with the anguished face of Gervase a WAAF officer and our love interest, as she is caught in searchlights, on the phone. She is being a bit pouty though.

Pan 4th reprint 1969

Querying here whether she’s supposed to be inside or outside, if outside, then she’ll be on a field telephone I guess

By User:Bukvoed – Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=831311

Moving away from the illustration I’ve noticed that within the first couple of pages there is reference to a Batwoman …

from: https://www.marvelscustoms.net/t23360-batman-classics-collection-classic-kathy-kane-batwoman-maquette

… not this Batwoman though. This batwoman would have been a soldier or airwoman who was assigned to a senior-ranking officer and worked as their domestic servant, ensuring the officer’s uniform was in order but further, during conflict could be found digging foxholes and doing their very best to ensure that their charge wasn’t blown to bits. Shute’s batwoman is called Beatrice, hopefully she does a better job than Blackadder’s batman, Baldrick.

So, here is another stonker of an illustration on a Pan book but for now, illustrator unknown.

Pan-tastic! Mr Perrin and Mr Triall, Henry Walpole

The book

We’re going to delve into the world of Pan Books kicking off with this dust-jacketed beauty Mr Perrin and Mr Triall by Hugh Walpole (first published in 1911), this edition was published in 1948 (Pan number 48). Described as a tragi-comedy, the book tells the tale of wretched Vincent Perrin, dashing Archie Triall and the beautiful Isabel Dasent; spoiler alert … it won’t end well. Any book that can describe tea as leathery is a book to spend some time with. A film was made of this book in 1948 with the screen play written by L.A.G. Strong, prolific novelist, critic and historian.

Pan Books

Pan Books was started by Alan Bott, who the internet describes as a World War I flying ace, exciting in itself. Jumping on Allan Lane’s Penguin tails Bott brought even more affordable fiction to the masses; prior to this he had started The Book Society (1929) and The Reprint Society (1939). The cover illustrations of 1940s – 1970s Pans alone are worth making shelf space for, never mind that these little beauties showcase some wonderful novels from well known authors.

The cover illustrations

The front cover of this book was illustrated by Ethel ‘Bip’ Pares who was a commercial illustrator for Pan well known for her bold British art deco style illustrations and London Transport posters. Pan have given me no clue as to who illustrated the dust jacket, possibly a different artist, nothing like as menacing as Bip Pares’ illustration on the front cover. The dust jacket illustration isn’t the most arresting of images, Mr Perrin is looking in askance with Mr Triall and the delectable Isabel Dasent pandering to one another. Pares’ illustration lends Vincent Perrin an almost deranged look, with silhouettes of Isabel and Archie in the background. As Mr Perrin and Mr Triall was published by Pan pre-1950 it would have been printed in Europe due to paper shortages in Britain, overcome by a trade agreement. Interesting fact if not a little vague, sorry.

Bip Pares, self portrait. 1934 

You can read more about Bip Pares here https://ashrarebooks.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/bip-pares-1904-1977/

Image of Bip Pares from Sulis Fine Art catalogue

https://www.sulisfineart.com/bip-pares-1904-1977-1934-gouache-self-portrait.html

Does fun beget fun?

If I continue at this rate – by xxx I will be posting daily! I’m going to wait until I have space in time to fill in the blanks because working dates out and using numbers for anything but recipes makes my head fizz. Today I’ll be mostly concentrating on fun. Not sure if I’ll be finding out how to have more of it, or just how to acknowledge that although necessary one should be content with the doses we stumble upon and not to force the issue. Do I have to be inclusive to be having fun? Is fun another word for happy? Who the heck invented it and now why am I obsessed with finding out how to have it? And am I having it but don’t know it? How much can you have on your own? Laughing really only happens with interactions (4.40) Does laughter equal fun? How much fun is enough for one day?

Volkswagen launched Fun Theory in 2011 with incredible results. A competition to create tweaks to the mundane to make people change their behaviours and enhance the day. That’s what is needed to make every day have a bit of fun. I’ll work on a list.

Sophie Scott’s Ted talk considering why we laugh  if you only scoot to 2.20 i guarantee that you will crack a at least smile of bemusement. Reminiscent of Charles Jolly’s [Charles Penrose] gem from 1922.

Follow this link for a small dose of fun – it works when someone tells you it’s fun! https://www.facebook.com/112042145615299/photos/a.462936123859231.1073741825.112042145615299/967343123418526/?type=3

There are a squidillion ways to have fun and I haven’t even begun to delve anywhere past the cling film of the subject but I know that I can come back to this when I feel the need.

Here’s a fun recipe!

A fun recipe, difficult to chose; I love cooking, sometimes it’s not fun though, you know, it’s cold outside, you’re whacked out from the workday and people need to eat, it’s all you can do to poach an egg (yes to a couple of drops of vinegar in the water, no to boiling the pan anything past a slight simmer), so I’m guessing that on a given day with all the endless to do lists hidden under the pile of things to do done and no bodies needing things of me, I would think it fun to create in the kitchen. One of the funnest things to make is modelling chocolate – I use this on the occasional ‘occasion’ cake that lovely friends ask me to make, which is an absolute honour as they’re necessarily for very special people on very special days.

Modelling chocolate is basically magical edible play doh – this recipe comes from The Artisan Cake Company

You can use this for sculpting, flowers, covering cakes etc.

A modelling chocolate recipe that that has no lumps, is smooth and easy to work with. Can be made from candy melts (melties) or real chocolate. NB if you’re UK based don’t go spending lots of effort searching for corn syrup, you can use golden syrup and I think it tastes nicer. If you want corn syrup Tesco sell it. Similarly don’t bust a gut sourcing candy melts, any chocolate will do, Aldi and Lidl own brand is perfectly lovely.

Makes about 1½lbs

Prep time 5mins (without the washing up)

Cook time 25mins

Sitting around waiting time 3-4 hours (you can do the washing up during this down period)

Ingredients

White Modeling Chocolate (from Melties)

• 1lb (400g) white candy melts

• ⅓ cup corn syrup or golden syrup Warmed for a few seconds until about body temperature

• Food colouring f you plan on colouring, if not, leave out

Modelling Chocolate (from real chocolate)

• ½ cup corn syrup ½ cup weighs about 5.6oz

• 1lb (400g) chocolate

Instructions

1 Melt candy melts in a plastic or microwave-safe bowl in microwave or stove-top sauce pan.

2 Warm syrup and add food colouring if you’re using white chocolate/white melts. Remember that your final product will be lighter than the colour of your corn syrup.You can also add colour later if you want.

3 Fold mixture together with a spatula until mixture starts to seize and resembles soft serve ice cream. This is when the magic happens! Don’t forget to be super impressed with yourself because you actually are a magician now, well done.

4 It is important to not over-mix or your modelling chocolate will get oily.

5 Wrap in cling film and let set until chocolate is firm but still pliable. Usually a couple of hours depending on how hot it is in your room.

6 Unwrap chocolate and knead until smooth, smashing any hard lumps with your fingers.

7 Re-wrap chocolate and place back in plastic wrap to set up until hard.

Recipe Notes

Your modelling chocolate will be hard every time you go to use it and you will need to re-heat it a few seconds (5-15 depending on your microwave) before each use. Do not overheat or it will get too soft and you’ll have to wait for it to harden up again before you can use it.

If you don’t have ‘cup’ measures go and buy some – you can thank me later. Look; these ones are cute and classy and these ones are cute and cheap and these are cheap as you like but dull as ditchwater but everything lives in a cupboard anyway, right?

Now, if you’re going to be using food colouring try and find paste rather than those little plastic bottles from the supermarket. A pot of paste will last eons as you really only need the tiniest bit of it to turn the world/your hands into a rainbow. This is the stuff I use: Sugar Flair or you could find this: ProGel

I made the decorations for the steampunk cake below with modelling chocolate and also the brim. It set suitably solidly!

I take my travel cup most places (if I remember) so I’m saving the world one cup at a time! So far today I’ve scored 1 today – go me!

if you have any ‘best travel cup’ suggestions, or questions about modelling chocolate, let me know!

Well read fun

I don’t seek out ‘fun’ books, in fact I’m not that good at laughing whilst reading, but anything by David Sedaris actually makes me laugh out loud and if you get the opportunity to go and see him, grab it. When visiting my cousin in New York, I gleefully carried home a clutch of Sedaris’ books in my hold luggage. My much more sensible cousin knows that her bookshelves have finite capacity and her to die for Greenwich Village apartment is not huge. She essentially (and tastefully) lives by the dictact of less is more, I just maintain that once the shelves are full, there’s always the floor.

Procrastination: word!

Wow – 2013 was a very long time ago and unfortunately I’ve looked in all my pockets and really can’t find any justification for leaving this blog unattended for this long. Today, however I was sent a TED Talk. Obviously I haven’t watched it yet … nah! I did, I really did, and the moment has come, stars have aligned, the instant gratification monkey has been banished!

Lets sketch out what my intentions are; you will arrive at my blog saying to yourself that you want to know more about Rough Read and I will present you with recipes, thoughts, books, objets d’art and we will both walk away feeling pleasantly  pleased, I might even tell you more about Rough Read.

At the weekend we celebrated my mum and dad’s Golden wedding anniversary – their actual anniversary was in December, but they kindly moved the celebration to March, sensibly understanding that for us to schlep up country the weekend before Christmas might be a stretch.

One of my favourite things about being at my parents is that I get fed without having to think about what I’m going to be eating, it’s all been planned and all I have to do is eat. As a nibble before the meal my mum made what she calls poffertjes and what we call cheesy puffs, delicious balls of light cheesy pastry. They are the easiest thing to make and impress massively! My mum Rosie made me a recipe book and it’s illustrated by her, so I’ll share the illustrations as well as the recipes. Bear in mind that my mum is old school so the measurements are in UK ounces – Uncle Google can help you out with conversions until I have added grams!

Original painting by Rosie Simpson (my mum) to see more  go to Rosie’s artwork

Cheese Poffertjes

Preheat your oven to 350℉, 180℃ or Gas mark 4

Ingredients

3oz plain white flour

¼ tsp salt

2oz butter cut into cubes

¼ pint water

2 beaten eggs

30z grated cheese (cheddar or gruyère)

Method

In a saucepan, melt the butter in the water

Bring to the boil

Tip in the flour and beat well with a wooden spoon until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan clean

Cool until it’s body temperature

Beat in the eggs until the mixture is smooth and glossy – this is why you need to leave it to cool, you will get scrambled eggs if you’re too hasty

Add the greater cheese and beat well

Put a spoonful of mixture onto a greased baking tray – I like teaspoons, my mum suggests dessertspoons, teaspoons will cook more quickly so keep an eye on them

Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes

You should have slightly golden puffed up mouthfuls of cheesy loveliness

Cidre

A bowl of cider seems to be the way forward – tastes better this way