Find of the Week (5)

Never judge a book….

This little find was in one of the dark corners of the basement. I happened upon it by chance, again whilst dealing with another enquiry. The first thing I noticed, and it can’t be missed, is the large black swastika on the front cover. The first thought that obviously came to mind was WWII, that it might have been written and printed in Germany during the late 30’s into the 40’s. With closer inspection however it was actually a Nelson publication reprint of the book by F. Marion Crawford  an American novelist (Italian born) in the late 1800’s. I should have noticed at the time that the swastika used was not of the adolf  persuasion with its 45 degree angle. Nelsons use of the swastika might have been as originally intended as a good luck symbol.

Due dates - lie

I'm now starting to think that every midwife lies when it comes to due dates.I've spent the weekend with my phone glued to my hand just incase I get the call. I even remembered to pack the phone charger for our weekend trip to Inverness, checking the phone was set to pick up email and facebook notifications, just incase my brother-in-law or mother couldn't contact me by phone.

I'm going to hazard a guess that maybe my new niece or nephew just doesn't want to leave the lovely, warm cocoon that it is my sisters womb. It might be a little psychic devil that knows my sister is craving the taste of pate or it's aware that granny is about to up the blood pressure tablets, awaiting its arrival.

I'm nervously awaiting the birth of my first blood related niece or nephew, I already have a lovely niece and nephew thanks to my sister and brother-in-law but somehow this is different, its my little sister giving birth. I've helped build nursery furniture (quicker than my power tooled b-i-l), spent a small fortune on baby clothes and watched my mother knit more clothing than Edinburgh Woolen Mill produces in a year. My sisters in her thirties so I start to worry about how she'll cope during the birth, I wonder if junior will be fighting fit when she/he arrives and that my sister doesn't have any complications during or after the birth.  I'm sure these are the ramblings of many an auntie to be/ older sister.

I'm also jealous of my sister, she'll be bringing into this world a little person, something I'll never do, part by choice and part biology. My sister will be giving my parents the one thing I can't/won't be able to do, I suppose it is 2010, I coud if I really wanted to, science and lakeland plastics permitting. However as much as I love kids, l gladly hand them back after a few hours of auntie time.

I'll keep waiting for the phone to ring and I'm sure when it does, I'll have a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.

Find of the Week (4)

It's the centenary of the library this year and I've been asked by the team librarian for the area to devise displays on local author. The two most significant from the area are; A.J.Cronin and T.Smollett. I've spent part of the week devising displays for both, one for the main library and the other for the local studies room. The most interesting of the two for me was Tombias Smollett (1721-1771) he was born in Dumbarton and educated at both Dumbarton Academy and Glasgow University (studying medicine). After university he obtained a commission as a ship surgeon and whilst abroad in the West Indies he met and married his wife Anne or Nancy Lascelles, a Creole, the daughter of an english planter. On his return to England he set up as a Doctor in Downing Street and did not seriously write until after the Battle of Culloden, when his strong nationalism prompted him to write the poem The Tears of Scotland.

He developed the picaresque novel, the first being The Adventures of Roderick Random in 1748, this novel was heavily autobiographical, he followed this with The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle and The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom, the novels giving a great insight into late 18th century living. He worked on many pieces in the next few years, notably a translation of Cervantes’ Don Quixote and a multi-volume history of England.

His daughter died in 1763 and he took his wife away from city life and travelled through France and Italy, returning a year later and writing Travels through France and Italy, published in 1765. Smollett moved to Livomo in Italy in 1769 and lived there until his death in 1771, the year he died his funniest and best novel was also published The Expedition of Humphry Clinker.

The opening lines of ' The Expedition of Humphry Clinker', fantastic;

" To Dr Lewis

DOCTOR

The pills are good for nothing - I might as well swallow snowballs to cool my reins - I have told you over and over, how hard I am to move; and at this time of day , I ought to know something of my own constitution."

Find of the Week (3)

Now that the weekend is over and Monday has passed, I'd better get on with last weeks 'find of the week'. As mentioned in my last post its the yacht Shamrock II.
Sir Thomas Lipton had participated in the America's Cup Race in 1899 with the yacht Shamrock; however he failed in his attempt to win the cup, beaten by the defender Columbia. He returned to the UK and set about commissioning a new boat for the 1901 challenge, Shamrock II. The yacht was designed by Mr G.I. Watson , using  Denny's experimental tank to design the boat with the aid of models of Shamrock I, Valkyrie III and Britannia. Once he was decided on his design he approached William Denny & Brothers to build the yacht, it was the first time the Denny shipbuilders had been asked to create such a vessel. The yacht was constructed under great secrecy in a covered yard at the Leven Shipyard, the locals until the day it was launched had no idea as to how the yacht would look.

The frame and hull of the yacht were of nickel steel frames and manganese bronze plating, she was painted white with a green stripe round her gun-wale. The launch day of the yacht from the Level shipyard in April 1901 was a day of celebration, dignitaries from around the West of Scotland, Ireland and beyond came to the yard to watch the launch. Friends of both the Denny's and Sir Lipton were present; the Marchioness of Dufferin performed the christening ceremony.

The boat left the Leven Shipyard and made its way to Southampton to be tested before heading to Ireland then America for the America's Cup. The yacht failed in its attempt to win the America's Cup and when Mr.G.I.Watson the designer was asked why the boat had failed blamed the amount of time he had spent in the experimental tank, as it could not reproduce the exact conditions the boat was under during the race.

Sir Thomas would go on to have another 3 attempts, 5 in total, at the America's Cup, he was unsuccessful in all his attempts to gain the cup.

Find

February has arrived and it's running quicker than I expected. I think this month I'll just try and keep up! I realise it's Sunday night and I should be writing my 'find of the week', which is the very sleak and lovely Shamrock II yacht that sailed in the America's Cup race of 1901. I just haven't got the time so maybe tomorrow night I'll find the time. The quickest way to make my excuse is to bullet point my weekend;

• Sister-in-law and husband arrived from London
• Mother-in-law arrived from Inverness
• 2 lunches out
• I excellent attempt making Chocolate Cake
• Birthday party for our 8 year old god kids (twins)
• Visiting auntie with broken ankle
• House prep for photos and valuation on Monday
• Ikea for extra storage boxes  
• 1 drop off at airport
• Red wine and Peroni (not mixed!)

The last thing on my list is to complete watching the Godfather trilogy on Film4 this evening. So I think I have a long enough list to leave the Shamrock II till tomorrow night!