Beano Summer Special 2025

We're into June which means we are officially into summer  that for most of us means mentally at least the whole off school summer holiday period and the memories of going away with your family year on year with all the rituals that involved such as getting new summer cloths for playing on the beach or camp to take with you.

 Back then comics as distinct from magazines often of a commercially exploitative nature ruled the roost so when we landed we made a beeline to the newsagent for some reading matter in case of rain and back then most comics also had summer specials in colour with more stories.

Today that's different so really it's the Beano summer special most go for in in 2025 we run very much the notion of everybody going on their holiday in Beanotown in much the same way that industrial areas the town shut down for a fixed period.

Thus the adventures feature all our comic heroes and heroines often working together to get out of situations in one big adventure and we love adventure don't we?

This year's is up to the usual high standard.

Brownies uniform over the years

 Uniform changes over time, sometimes it reflects wider changes in fashion, sometimes more an attempt to match what various focus groups say youngsters feel more comfortable about being seen in, some times strait from the adults!

Brownie uniforms show this from the Edwardian sailor suit look though various dresses with necker changes throuhgh the controversial Jeff Banks active redesign to today where strangely enough girls felt what had been altered just a decade and bit before looked too boyish!

Will things go full circle in time?

The circle progresses

This is being written in the inbetweeness of what will be a busy weekend here not least with a annual trip out to the seaside and a Nan which we remember.

When it comes to my own there are elements leave me feeling like why are we doing this? 

Some of that lies in mess that is my family, always at war with each other over the silliness of things, petty one upmanship and rank disrespect never mind just refuse to speak to folk for months at a time. 

Indeed often if you'd of said what did I want for a Birthday my honest answer would be a 'Proper family' to belong to and no wonder I feel closer to my age play family. 

They have me properly dressed as little sissy school gurl, just dashing about all impulsively but helping out all the same.

It's not that I'm opposed to the idea of working with what  is, god knows you just have to at times, and not making a bad situation worse by tossing a whole of easy to throw in attitude to the mix it just makes things feel...hollow. 

Mum always said I'm the one that can be counted on to think more about what needs to happen, what would make a difference and just do it and we are, little style.

Part of the reason I cope with much of this mess is actually the people who filled the gaps, providing guidance, an understanding ear and much needed help in developing some self-discipline and usually around  this time I'm reminded of how much I have to be grateful for in that way. 

This year unlike years in the past I do feel I am moving in the right direction, becoming a little more mature than I have been which to tell you the truth has been so embarrassing for those years so I'd like to thank every one who's helped me. 

Here's to all the people who are helping me move on.

Whit

So we had the weekend although the WW2 aeroplane flypast planned for one vintage transport event and another about 10 miles away didn't happen for some reason that was a disappointment as was for that matter the weekends tv beyond the final of The Piano, a undiscovered talent discovery show.

Things at one site were a bit quiet with much of what was posted being more on the "adult" side that wasn't where I really at from the inside because to me Whit brings in things like rambles and the days I'd be at Newcastle carnival as a kid, trying to win plushies, the odd record from the local radio station and buying curios from the past like old dollies.

You'd have raffles and things like the Majorettes in their short skirted uniforms marching in time to a beat, boys brigade, scouts and girl guides doing things and running stores which I loved.

Then in the park a short walk away their were other events and a model railway you could ride on so it's a different thing with me.

No, for me dressing and doing more littles things was more it reading comics, spending a bit of time in the park and listening to the chart rundown with vintage charts that I remember so well.

Just kickin it

Sometimes I prefer to write really rather more about interests as a sissy gurl, not least a little sissy gurl and with me football was one as much that a game of rounders or field hockey had its appeal.

The cooler spell returns here after the last ten days or so so we're not flagging - well apart from the consequences of being up to see Austria win Eurovision 2025 although I wasn't viewing so much as I find flashing lights make me very ill - so we'll be tuned in by the time I have written this for this years WSL FA Cup between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Let's say that's what I follow, had been much good on my feet I'd of been down to the park to play just like modern girls in these parts do and that's what I love about today whereas if you'd of asked for a game back in the day you'd of been told "Girls can't play football" which was a nonsense but was all about keeping advantages for boys and men.

Of course it could work the other way and that was wrong too.

If you have the ability and are prepared to put the effort in, why shouldn't you follow what interests you just because someone has sex based issues?

Anyway Chelsea won 3-0! Way to go.

Can we have some commonsense?

After a hot week and an odd event elsewhere one returns to topic that do matter, that are not just about a fantasy but things that affect a good number of people adults and children that have enraged folks for often different sets of reasons.

Not every one of us is comfortable in our own skins from birth or perhaps after a few years of childhood even if you may elect to show any aspect or undertake any work around it until a good number of years.

We shouldn't forget children are in a power imbalence as in practical terms parents rule the roost not merely the sensible stuff like brushing your teeth and no hitting but other things like exactly what you may wear, which toys you may select to play with and even your mannerisms.

People do report some 157 children are on a trans care waiting list  but while some may in time totally transition how many more would get by by just being allowed to wear, play with and express themselves as they really are with no fuss? 

 

Being...you

It's a hot week following on from a rather hot weekend so I thought we'd look a bit at something we all struggle with which is self acceptance that goes beyond the battles many of us have had with parents, siblings, partners (for some) accepting us as we are.

Sometimes we cannot get one image out of our heads, the one we first saw being as most of us were raised as boys and so no matter what we may do when it comes to how we present such as our outfits, frilly, more school or office wear or whatever that one thought enters our heads when we look in the mirror.

If I were a betting type I'd lay a tenner on you like me looking as they do in the mirror thinking, whatever I do, I don't look the gurl I feel oblivious to the manner self image issues girls face when they feel they're unfeminine share much in common with what we battle with.

It's more about how we project our feminine side outside, with how we walk, how we relate to others and having a sense of confidence in us being us, not anyone else that makes it possible for others to see us as us no matter what outfit we're wearing whither or not we get complements for our looks or not.

Being is just going "out there" and just being our authentic selves and how we present is part of that not the main thing.