ABC Wednesday - N

N is for Notebooks

Useful when the old grey cells are not up to much and have a multitude of uses whether it is to write down those must read books, holiday memories, nature notes, research notes, interesting things or even things to do although being a procrastinator this does not always work out. (Never do today what you can put off doing until tomorrow)

The Pooh Bear notebook in the middle is the one I used when trying to pick up a smattering of Italian. All the useful words were in this as I worked my way through 'teach yourself Italian'. Reading the 'At the Railway Station' chapter there was a conversation about strikes. No I won't bother with that word. When would you need that? I think it might have been useful when wondering why the return bus to Viareggio had not appeared at the appointed hour. Yes the bus drivers had gone on strike for the afternoon. Luckily the train station was only a mile away and they were not on strike!

Yes notebooks I can't resist them. I think it must be hereditary as my father always had one on the go although he mainly used them for prose and poetry, a talent unfortunately I did not inherit. As a young man he had a crush on a girl that worked at Woolworths and as he writes "would call in the shop ostensibly to buy a writing pad but mainly to chat with Miss Connie Graham. I accumulated quite a number of pads which served me in good stead as prices and quantity of leaves rose and dropped respectively during the war" Nothing came of this attraction as during the war he was a fireman and was sent out of the area where he met my mother.



Here is the artist Stefano Furavelli's illustrated diary of a trip to the Far East which does not need words.




The moleskin notebooks which is a cotton fabric woven and sheared to create a short soft pile on one side are made in Italy.

Unlike the hair on the mole which is waterproof, stands up and can be brushed in any direction. Do moles have brushes? Possibly only in the 'Wind in the Willows.' but who knows they are very secretive creatures.


For Numerous Ns go to Mrs Nesbitts ABC Wednesday