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

Horse Play

Ethel is fascinated by horses. As a child she visited a lone horse that lived in a flower filled meadow opposite her parent's semi detached home. The horse always seemed lonely to Ethel. He had sad big brown eyes with beautiful long curly eyelashes. Ethel always made sure she visited with a sweet carrot and a sugar cube in her pocket to make him smile. She would happily comb his knotted mane and whisper her childhood secrets into his bristle coated ear. He was a good listener.

The Girl with 7 Horses Print by Ulrika Kestere http://uli.bigcartel.com/
Recycled Suede Horse Brooches by Ethel and Iris
Penguin Threads Book Covers by http://jilliantamaki.com/

The Swallow Family

Ethel has a lifelong dream to fly, but in reality she hates aeroplanes. If only I could grow wings, Ethel thought, then I could fly like a bird. Ethel was also a bit of a scatterbrain. She was always getting lost and losing her way. She often took long walks and often got lost. One morning Ethel walked and walked and walked until eventually she stumbled across an old barn. The barn was very old. It looked tired. It's bricks were a dirty dull red and it's big wooden door hung off it's hinges. Ethel stood and starred for a while and to her suprise out shot a small aeroplane. An aeroplane with a beak. It's tiny, Ethel thought, how can it carry any passengers. The small plane stopped and glided down towards the telephone wire near where Ethel was standing. There balanced several little beaked aeroplanes in a row all chatting. Ahhh Ethel chuckled, they're not aeroplanes at all, it's my friends the swallow family back from their travels. It was true the gliders were indeed Mr and Mrs Swallow and it was true, they had been away for a very long time. Ethel sat down and welcomed them back to Wollaton Park. They were delighted to see her and told her of their long, tiring journey across South Africa, across Southern Spain, up through France and finally back to Nottingham where their mud nests awaited their return. Ethel could not believe it possible. '...and we didn't use a map' exclaimed Mr Swallow.

Over the Thames Swallow Migration box by John Dilnot
http://www.johndilnot.com/

Rill Raccoon

In the dead of night Ethel heard a noise. The gale force winds she thought, the rain hitting the window sill, Mr Frankie Cat rummaging through the cupboards again for a midnight snack. Ethel was wide awake she couldn't sleep. It wasn't Mr Frankie he was fast asleep at her feet, it wasn't the rain, it wasn't raining and it wasn't the wind, the gales had died down and gone to sleep. Ethel sat up bolt right, who or what could it be? She quicky reached for the lamp and switched it on, the warm glow from the light cascading down the staircase. Ethel tip toed down the steps and to her suprise a flash of ginger ran before her. A rogue squirrel she thought, a dustbin fox? Ethel followed the flash of ginger into the living room and there sat on the sofa was a bandit, a masked intruder. 'My goodness me' said Ethel, 'Who are you and why are you in my house?' The ginger creature stared at Ethel through his mask and smiled. 'Ahhh, hello there Mrs Ethel, so pleased to meet you. My name is Rill Raccoon. I mean you no harm. Ethel could see the Raccoon was a kind sort and relaxed immediately. 'Hello Rill' she said 'How can I help you.'Attached to Rill was a name tag with some very important information inscribed. It read, 'Hi, I'm Rill...I like caterpillars and worms.' Aaaah thought Ethel I understand why you're here. 'Follow me!'. It just so happened that Ethel owned the biggest compost bin in England. It was full to the brim with cabbages, carrot scraps, potato peelings and most of all WORMS. Big juicy pink worms. Ethel led Rill to the compost bin. He was delighted. Ethel was just glad she could help.

Knitted Rill Raccoon by Donna Wilson http://donnawilson.com/
Donna Wilson Endangered Species is showing at YSP until 26th February 2012

Mr and Mrs Gannet

Gannet wallpaper by Edwyn Collins.

It was late at night when Ethel woke to the sound. It was a very frightening noise. A shriek here and a squawk there. A mixed bag of chattering, fluttering and flapping. It didn't at all sound human. As Ethel rubbed her sleepy eyes she realised the commotion was coming from down the stairwell. Ethel suddenly wasn't scared at all. Aaah, it's the visitors she thought. It was cetainly the right time of year.
Many years earlier Ethel had meet her visitors on holiday. She remembers how beautiful they were, stunningly snow white plummage and an amazing ability to produce a perfect tiny chalky blue egg. They spoke of their love of Scotland, the North sea and their passion for diving and fishing. Ethel promised that if they ever visited her Victorian home she would keep a good stock of tinned fish in her store cupboard ready for them to enjoy.
Ethel made her way down the steep stairs and turned the corner and there they were all long bill smiles and empty tummies waiting to be filled with fish. Hello Mr Gannet, Mrs Gannet "How was your journey? So lovely to see you...pilchards, squid or anchovies for supper?"

Dogs are not just for Christmas....

Best in Show by Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne

This Christmas Ethel has got her knitting needles at the ready. It's no secret that Ethel loves animals and making and mending. This wonderful book allows Ethel to knit her very own pet dog. She'll start with the whippet!


Dog knitting kits available from www.muirandosborne.co.uk/

I see a sea gull on the seashore....

Black- headed gull bag by ethel and iris

Port Issac, Cornwall, UK

One of Ethel's favourite Cornish treats is to sit and spot a fleeting glance of a seabird. They remind her of herself: a little grumpy, a bit argumentative and a never ending appetite for chips (with a dash of vinegar).

Big Ears

Brown Long-eared Bat

Sometimes at night, when all the neighbours are asleep and the street is deadly quiet, Frankie cat and Ethel like to secretly tip-toe beyond their back door to their tiny walled garden.
In the daytime it is a hive of activity. There's Ethel's vegetable patch, where the leeks jostle with the broccoli, eager to find more space to grow. The wooden shed where Frankie cat likes to sit in amongst the seed packets and garden tools and the huge cabbage tree swaying in the wind, which always reminds Ethel of being in Lisbon, her favourite travel destination.
At night though all is asleep. The bumblebees settle in their nest, the Great tits sleep on their branches and the neighbours tuck themselves up in their blankets. This is Ethel's and Frankie cats' favourite time. They sit out alone with the big round moon for company lighting up the dark black sky, all alone apart from the special night time visitor. If Ethel looks up and if she is lucky, a strange winged creature catches her eye. Ethel tries to touch him but he's always too fast, darting through the sky, but if she chats very quietly the visitor likes to listen. You see he has the most extraordinary ears to hear with, much bigger than Frankie cats', more sensitive than Ethel's, he is a Brown Long-eared Bat. Even if Ethel whispers he can hear every word she says. They can happily sit there for hours, gossiping, and no one else can hear them, not even the local mouse.

The Feathered Friend

Spending time away from home, Ethel thought, brings new inspiration and opportunities to make new friends. Ethel travelled to Cornwall, a delightful place, a favourite place, one that she visits each year. This year, as in previous years, Ethel slept in her caravan it was deadly quiet all night long and pitch black with only the moon face to light up the sky. Ethel was able to sleep well, but she knew no matter how deep her sleep she would not need to set her alarm clock to catch the morning chorus as Ethel had made a deal with a friend she'd meet many years earlier. He was quite a handsome fellow and had many girlfriends but his main occupation was to get everyone up and about, wide awake every morning. He worked all year round, 7 days a week, even at Easter, even on Christmas Day. His secret weapon was his voice which made an unusual and unique cock-a-doodle do, a sound that no human could make. It was so loud and so exact in it's timing (6.00am every morning) that he could use it to wake the residents of the campsite quite effectively. Each night that Ethel fell asleep she knew she was in safe hands and she always, without fail, looked forward to the knock on the day each morning from her Cornish feathered friend.

A Visitor

Getting to know Cassidy Swift

Ethel had had a bad weekend. Her chronic fatigue had left her confined to her bed. No friends, no family visits nothing at all, just a timetable of rest, peace and quiet and forced relaxation. She was sad. Sunday night approached. Through the silence came a knock on the door. Ethel opened it sheepishly and there stood before her was a very small black bird. He looked tired (just like Ethel) and hungry. He'd been on a long journey. He had been sent to cheer Ethel up, which had meant flying all through the night and day to reach her. Ethel was delighted. He spoke of his travels, his love of a well tailored waistcoats and his desire to eat lots of sunflower seeds. His name was Cassidy Swift and Ethel loved him dearly.


Cassidy made by Nettybennetts. www.folksy.com/shops/nettybennetts

Gingerbread Men

Since Ethel was a child she has harboured a very sweet tooth. Every Saturday would bring the weekly treat of visiting the bakery in the small mining town were her family had lived for more than 30 years. There was much on offer and decisions to be made. An elephant's foot, maybe an iced bun? A custard egg tart? Ethel would ponder over the selection for many a minute as the queue of hungry lunchtime customers built up behind here. Each week Ethel wanted to try something new but each week someone always caught her eye. He was a tiny perfectly formed man made of ginger with currant eyes looking through the glass counter staring back at her. His currant nose and his colourful smartie buttoned jacket was the same every week and the cherry mouth always had a smile or a frown depending on his mood. Ethel would choose the gingerbread man and carefully carry him home in a paper bag. What would she eat first, his head or his toes....


Gingerbread Man Toy available from www.thelaundry.co.uk

An Imaginary Zoo

Ethel lives in a tiny Victorian terraced house. It is so tiny that she can hardly swing a cat in it. She loves her tiny home but sometimes it makes her sad. You see, Ethel would love to house and look after all the endangered animals in the world. A lion maybe, or a gorilla, but she knows, in reality a gorilla would be unhappy with her offers of Earl Grey tea, a slice of Victoria sponge or a turn around her tiny garden. So all Ethel can do is think about her imaginary zoo in her head and all the things she'd like to do for all of her pretend animals.

original one off gorilla mono print by katieviggers.etsy.com

Albertus Seba

For many years Ethel has admired a very perculiar man who went by the name of Albertus Seba. Born in 1665, Albertus became an apothecary and through his work created many recipes and remedies from the natural world. Collecting natural specimans became an obssession. Albertus would hasten down to the nearby ports, trade his medicines and know-how to the exhausted sailors and in exchange the grateful sailors would sell any natural specimans they had picked up on their travels to Albertus.
'Wow' thought Ethel 'how can I collect just like Albertus right here from my armchair'. Ethel gathered together all her old maps and started to cut out her very own bugs and butterflies. 'I'll keep them all together' she thought, so started sewing the little paper insects into collections, just like the Victorian insect cases she admired so much.

Homeless Dogs

For the past few weeks I have been searching for something special. Having hankered after a greyhound for sometime I realised that my home and I would be far too small to house and handle such a hound. I was on the look out for a special companion which would fit into my tiny terraced home...and along came the whippet. My cat seems horrified by this so I am trying to find a cat friendly whippet to befriend Frankie. In the meantime I am settling for another homeless dog. This is quite simply one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on Etsy. I would love to give him a home.

Homeless Dog by Lemmikkiapina. Lemmikkiapina.etsy.com