Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

It was that time of year again, the time for the annual Forest Fields Residents association meeting. Ethel was delighted when her name was pulled out of the hat to host the get together. It was usually a gentile affair, a gathering of neighbours sharing their successes of the past year and catching up with old friends. There was always a fine spread laid on too. Ethel wasted no time in grabbing her best linen table cloth out the cupboard and reaching for the glass cake stand to display a perfectly made Victoria Sponge; her best china cups stood filled with Earl Grey tea.

Chocs Away!

Mrs Peregrine and Ethel have been friends for a number of years. In fact Ethel has worked for Mrs P on and off over the last few years. When Mrs Peregrine is at her busiest, Ethel helps to man the phones, divert the emails and keep the press at bay ensuring Mrs P can nest in peace without her adoring fans or the paparazzi getting too close. Thinking back Ethel can't remember a time when Mrs P wasn't in her life, but what she can remember is how they meet. Mrs Peregrine hasn't always been famous; yes she's been on TV, yes she's appeared in all the newspapers money can buy and yes she's got her claws into many an important academic case study or two! She's an expert on many things but it wasn't always the case.

Royalty

It's no secret that one of Ethel's best friends is not human. He doesn't speak much, he doesn't understand Ethel, in fact at times he doesn't even like hanging out with her, but Ethel adores him. 
Frankie is a cat. Ethel and her husband do everything they can to make his life comfortable. As cats go Frankie can be very demanding. He covets the best seat in the house, he eats the most expensive, scientifically researched cat food for sale on the open market. He owes not one, but three fleecy blankets to keep out the cold and insists on his own personal space at all times. He only tolerates one close cat companion and confidant, who goes be the name of Freddie cat. Even when Ethel tries to befriend him he cruelly ignores her. 

Le Tour

When Ethel is not sat in her armchair she loves to cycle her red Raleigh Caprice up and down the hills of Nottingham Town. However, this month she is sat watching the wheels go round on her television screen. For this is Ethel's favourite month of all. Tour de France month!

The Dinner Party

It was a wet and windy day. Ethel was stuck indoors and was waiting for something exciting to happen. Ethel and Frankie cat waited and waited. Then came a knock on the door.

TedWed

Ethel never had an imaginary friend when she was little. She never felt the need for one because she had a real friend. His name was Tedwed. He was made of cloth but had no arms and only one eye but Ethel loved him. Tedwed came into Ethel's life the day that Ethel was born. They loved to be together (and still do). Tedwed was a great friend. He was a very good listener and he loved to play. He loved to walk to the park, he loved to eat fish fingers and baked beans and he loved to help Ethel collect ladybirds in the garden on a sunny day. He was the perfect friend. What was so special about Tedwed was that he always knew when Ethel was happy and when Ethel was sad and he always knew when a hug was needed or a friendly ear. He was the cleverest bear a girl could wish to know. One day something quite terrible happened to Tedwed and it was all Ethel's fault. Ethel had squeezed Tedwed for so long his neck had worn right out. A big hole, the size of a ten pence piece, had appeared. It needed emergency care. The day was long and Ethel worried herself sick. Tedwed had to be admitted into the emergency sewing room and Ethel's mother was in charge of the mending operation. Ethel waited.......and waited......and waited. A tear welled up into her big brown eyes. Would she ever see Tedwed again? After a long wait out came Tedwed. He looked beautiful! 'The most beautiful bear in the world' thought Ethel, all shiny and new. Something was different about Tedwed, Ethel thought to herself. It was not until she held him close that she realised that he was fixed with a beautiful brown felt necklace. He looked so handsome and so happy. Tedwed was back with Ethel and Ethel can't have wished for anything more.

Animal Menagerie

For some time now Ethel has been collecting animals. She lives in a tiny Victorian terraced house and she knows realistically she could never fit all the animals she would like into this small space. Instead, Ethel decided she'd collect a collection of animal brooches. She's accumulated quite a menagerie.

1. Whale Pin by Third Planet 2. Wooden Owl by Artbase 3. Swallow Brooch by Lost at Sea
4. Greyhound Pin by Bunnys 5. Sea Gull Brooch by Tatty Devine 6. Anemoi Insect Brooch by Natalie Musgrove 7. Porcelain Sparrow Pin by Alison Milner 8. Bullfinch Brooch by Kate Slater 9. Deer Brooch by Enna 10. Cricket Brooch by NW3