Sorry!

The first thing I want to say is 'Sorry'.  Just recently I feel as if, especially on Twitter, I've been talking about myself, rather than books - far too much.   All I can say in my defence is that this is a very little blip of wider interest in Ladybird which will die down very soon.  The 'Centenary' celebrations, the Bexhill-on-Sea exhibition and the forthcoming book have led to many extra visitors and unprecedented clamour in the quiet streets of Ladybird Land.  It won't last long.

But early reading of 'The Farmer', 'In The Country' and the works of Tunnicliffe have taught us, the inhabitants of this land, to Make Hay While the Sun Shines.

And so, [imagine this said with rueful, sideways looks and general air of bashfulness]  here I go again.

Firstly:
I'm going to be leading a 'tour' of the Ladybird by Design exhibition on St Valentines Day - 14th Feb 2015 in Bexhill.  I have no idea what this involves yet, but surely it can only mean walking round an interesting place, talking about something I love with people I'm bound to like?

It's free but there are tickets for this, which can be booked at the De La Warr Pavilion: 01424 229 111
If you can, please come.

Secondly:

 Here is a piece that the fascinating blog 'The Dabbler' has just published:

http://thedabbler.co.uk/2015/02/how-ladybird-books-took-over-my-life/

 I'm not sure about the use of the word 'obsessive' or that I completely agree with the statement that "Ladybird Books Took Over My Life" but my husband might well agree see things differently ...

Since in Ladybird Land a lack of self-deprecation is a crime punishable by expulsion, I need to point out that, although the Dabbler piece says it was 'posted by Helen Day' - I didn't post it.  I was actually approached and invited to write it. Honestly.

So please can I stay?