Eat out and play!

 

Well I did get away this weekend although the best laid plans of Mice were rather turned on their heads not by the taxi that was dead on time but by the startling discovery upon arrival at the train station my train, the only valid journey on the ticket, was one hour and 8 minutes delayed that really messed up my arrangements. 

A word with the Avanti West Coast person on platform, approaching from a diplomatic niceties angle than four letter word coated rant secured a result - talking with the guard of of London North Western trains go me accepted on their train, a telephone call to the person due to pick me up from a different station the one I was now on my way to 

I caught a cab to their place, texted them and duly waited. 

This was as well as the original train was cancelled later on!

After a quick  tidying up, we settled down Faggots and Pies before settling down to watch a bit of tv.

Saturday was when it was all going to happen as we'd planned for a leisurely drive to Buckinghamshire but having had breakfast, picked up picnic food such as pies from the local butchers but no sooner than we'd left their we encountered tailback traffic from outer Wolverhampton, through Stourbridge to Pedmore before getting to Hagley and the approach to the M5.

Over forty-five minutes to get just under ten miles!!!

Fortunately a few roadworks and diversions aside  we did arrive on time, actually we got there before the host did.

I elected to wear a plaid school skirt and opaque white tights given this was a public setting so anything too "short little girl dress" would stand out in a bad way but sufficiently little sissy gurl for me to comfortable being me.

An enjoyable time was spend talking about various things, the tenth anniversary of the of Lillian our common friend, as we eat and had drinks as Mr Paul, Sammy and few others fly a kite and Dizzy want around chasing toys and meeting other dogs.

It got a bit windy, a good job we erected two windbrakes, but by half three temperatures had started to drop so apart from holding my skirt so it didn't balloon up, we were starting to feel chilly so we said our goodbyes before making our way back for fish cake and chips.

Sunday was affected as it was the start of British Summer Time so all the clocks and my watch needed setting and we lost an hour. 

I was up at just past seven, fixed some breakfast  and made plans to be out to drop me off at Wolverhampton station and undertake a few things of their own.

Thanks Sammy for the event and my friend for arrangements.

Changes at Blue Peter

The weekend started pretty much with waking up to reports from various weekend newspapers that the long running children's tv program, Blue Peter will cease to make live programs from its studio at Salford, Lancashire and instead be entirely pre-recorded.

Shockingly last Friday's show was actually the last live one although neither presenters, the children taking part or us the viewers actually knew as none of us were informed.

It remains unclear as to what exactly the role of all three presenters, Abby, Joel and Shini will be beyond being in any pre-recorded clip as each will need to be "anchored" to form a cohesive program whither or not it is shown first on iPlayer online or transmitted on a traditional 'linear' tv channel.

It is understood that the BBC is planning on axing the BBC CBBC channel for 6 to 12 year olds and going digital only at some future point, a channel that was first established in 2002 and the movement of all children's programming to it in 2012 after the "digital switchover" 

It's not as if Blue Peter has never had pre-recorded segments shot on film or tape from the 1960's onwards as those of us can recall things like John Noakes climbing Nelson's Column, the many summer expeditions that of necessity had to be or trips to various places but being live gave it an edge, the sense o f not knowing what was going to happen next.

It made for memorable interviews on set, the possibility of a fluffed line or a animal misbehaving that as children we just laughed out loud at.

One memorable live show had people on from GirlGuiding in December 1970 where a camp fire was light as brownies and girl guides all sang around as nobody noticed until it was a bit late the campfire was getting out of control right next to them!

Things like "The Big Badge Wall" that celebrates achievements from posted art and details of challenges undertaken take on more as presenter show the weeks outstanding recipients as children cheer as they do for an artist performing or a live presenter challenge.

That is very stuff that will be lost from now on, the edge of the seat feel we get and which as children we so compared to a continuity linked series of pre-recorded items.

As ever the groan ups show their lack of understanding of what makes great tv even though we all know the world has changed since we first started watching not least how we do but we all saw saw things at the same time for very first time live.

Anyone who reads the BP Fan Club pages knows seeing and chatting about these live bits gets them so excited and happy. Many adults love live shows too for similar reasons but middle age preduces seem to think glorified podcasts are all we want.

This is a very retrograde step.

bb

Observations

Another week and a bit of  a follow up from last week in some respects following on from the period just before I was away.

Interestingly since the week before and the period after Camp I have been getting up a good deal earlier  by at least a good hour which isn't just a matter of things such as bright mornings although at the end of the month that finger turning ritual of setting every clock and watch to Daylight Saving aka British Summer Time Begins where we kid ourselves the night is so much brighter.

It's not a trick I fall for but when official time is altered you can't live as if it hasn't really as transport goes to it - railways being what moved the UK to a standardized time in the first place - and shows on the radio and tv are listed to that too.

No it's something that has been talked about in the context of high school children,  namely the tendency to check before bed and then having taken a device to bed to start waking up around three and rationalize looking around the likes of news sites saying I'll just have a quick look and soon a few hours goes by and maybe you crash to sleep.

Then you wake up quite a bit later as you've hit deep sleep later than you would of so you start the day late having had less sleep.

Given my spoon issues anyway it's not good so I'm keeping the electrics downstairs at night.

Perhaps I need old school parenting?

Tammy needs the swish of the cane at times.

Birthday edition

 

It's been a pretty warm over the last week indeed temperatures were as high as 17 degrees c at one point so I was outside enjoying myself but that wasn't all I did.

Well it was my birthday last week so there were celebrations so thanks to the  SH, EB, GT forums and LGC Discord group for your kind birthday wishes.

There was some money to pay for some presents such as a triple lp set and a few things coming as there were some delays that also included two cards.

 

I got this five cd  set of albums by the great Jazz player John Coltrane to replace a poor sounding set I have for a good number of years having been brought up on Jazz, playing dads records during school hols.

I have arriving three other discs that were a part of the original set plus a mid sixties title which rounds off that little project.

I did have this recent recording of William Walton's Violin Concerto with the Sinfonia of London conducted by John Wilson which is really well played.

I also had some white chocolate bars and a Toberone.

Thinking Day thoughts

After last week's exciting littles adventure report, this week I wish to return to something that has been a series of posts within this blog from the start.

You cannot escape being something of an eternal Brownie  when you are "little" me and that is in differing ways a part of who I am so we've written about Girlguiding, what it means to me and how as a lifelong sissy elements have been problematic although I'm now at peace with it.

Today we look at something important - Founder's Day.

The day itself, 22 February, marks the birthday of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouts. It’s a birthday he shared with his wife, Olave, on the far right of this picture,  who was World Chief Guide, which is why the day is special for Guides too who call it Thinking Day.

As is traditional,the Scouts  took part in the Annual Wreath Laying Service at the Baden-Powell Memorial at Westminster Abbey represented vy Welsh Explorers, while Girlguides like us reflecting on what he gave us when he set out the principals for scouting and started our movement.

It is  a day to renew your Promise, and think about how Scouting has and still does have the potential to change lives and society in general for the better in whar are troubling times with conflicts and challenges not least that involving our planet.

What might you need on an camping trip with your mates?

Here it seems American Girl Scouts have gathered much you will such as matches, maps, eating and cooking utensils (you may well need to eat something!) and a good first aid kit as you may be a few miles from a chemist or doctor.

A compass really is a must as is a torch, guides on indentifying trees and plants and penknife.

Little Sissy's Winter away days

This week we'll go back to last week although it felt more like December  looking at how being away was involving a train journey part of the way before I was kindly given a lift for the reminder stopping off at Tintern Abbey near Chepstow enroute.

It is is a ruin undertaking as can be evidenced from the scaffolding renovation works part structural and part to restore elements lost in previous attempts.

It's pretty big, very much self contained settlement although finding it took a bit of doing as the signing wasn't obvious.

We called in the cafe adjacent to it for a bite to eat as it had been a good while since we'd eaten and I had a "White Monk's Breakfast" which was the local form of the traditional a full bacon and egg "English" fried breakfast that was extremely good.
 

 When we got to the Eleventh Century manor house we were staying at we did explore the extensive grounds there were a lot of snowdrops and daffodils out looking towards the local fields and hills.

That's where I stayed!

Fortunately for sissikins, there were lots of dollies and a forest of pink everything's which was great for getting very little which is something I've been needing to be honest.

 I did mention the time seemed different and it was cos it was Christmas and everything was centred around that so we had a tree that was decorated.

Santa came with presents such as a super gurlie activity set with colouring book and green bag plus a little princess was bag and a Christmas box on Christmas eve that had scrumptious amounts of chocolates in it.

There were arts and crafts sessions that included making decorations such as chains, things for the tree such as my Cat one, making place mats for Christmas dinner and so on that was fun.

We did Home Economics, making Mince pies, decorating Ginger biscuits with seasonal art, cup cakes and even making our very own Pizzas from dough so with a great issue with cheese mine was tomato, turkey and ham.

We held games with a twist on musical chairs, quiz's, landing a jelly object on a Christmas tree target and getting a pin on the top of the donkey. The team I was part of came second in the General Knowledge quiz.

 Catering was by us and we had a traditional very tasty Christmas Dinner with Christmas pudding  and turkey, ham and salad with chips Boxing day meal. Well we had plenty of turkey and ham so you might as well us it which our parents always did!

It felt like it really was Christmas all over again for this sissy.

Thoughts on leaving

Technically I should be leaving today but actually we are going to gift shop that also has a restaurant first after packing my case and uber cute Hello Kitty tote bag ready for off in the early evening and I am dressed as me, feminine, gurlish, little me on view to all young and old given it's half term in schools this week and it's beautiful. 

Being that Gurl really is the thing and generally few care abut the back story as you just "be" and act as you "are" just respecting some more adult styles aren't really the best choice for mixed company even if there's nothing intrinsically wrong with them.

I'll write something about the week next week but Tammy was out and deserves to be.

hhh

Playtime

 

Well, I used to have my own swing but not since a few years ago when it started to come apart and major redesign work was going on in the garden so these days I try to grab moments in the park and that as really this more what I'm about.

Having fun as this gurl.

You do notice things that are going on around you when that's the case such as the disputes between different members of the bird family, squirrels climbing trees, going along fence posts and burying their acorns and the odd cat on patrol.

That really is what the next six days will be about for me when I'm away, very much to play and have more child like fun and play games.

That's what I call cool!

How it is

 For me even pretending to be a grown up is just utterly futile cos it ain't even in me so it's best to just go and play having fun just like I did the first time I was this old.

Now which one shall I pick? Decisions, decisions!

Blow conventions: I'm still a kid at heart.

More scouting!

 

Although emblems do change and so does the World Map  thanks to geo-politics, this nice set does go to show the extent that girls around the world have thie own opportunities though dedicated organizations in Scouting be it GirlGuiding or as in the United States of America, Girl Scouts.

Although the relationship with Scouts in some parts of the world remains tetchy with the latter departing from the views of Baden Powell who favoured having seperate bodies for boys and girls with collaberation it is good to know GirlGuiding for Girls remains popular.

Why shouldn't girls have thier on spaces and programs?

Communication isn't always clear especially when relaying information which scouts can expect to be involved in some sometimes it makes sense to spell out phonetically things and just sounding a letter isn't clear like M and N getting mixed up.

Thankfully there is an international standard where every letter is spelt out using names and here it is which also has a pennant.

Learning it is very useful and actually I do know it off by heart!

New things for Little Me

We are here this week although at some point last weeks entry will get posted having been written to go.

Thoughts it had to be said had been elsewhere of late not least with the internet business but something to go in the bag not before time is this Goebel.

It's a very attractive double compact mirror that opens upon pressing on the button at the bottom and pulling up.

As my previous mirror was  single hello Kitty one this really is an improvement on that and came with a soft cloth for keeping the surfaces clean.

Delayed return

 

Goodness me we are late getting our blog together this morning aren't we so perhaps you'd care to give me a spanking for it although before then I will just explain if I may, that my internet was being changed and they really messed it up with the Grown Ups using some very rude words to describe how it was been left.

Because I was without any internet until yesterday afternoon when I had a device that would at least give me the internet from a Mobile Phone service that would connect to my chromebook I couldn't write a post and the odd site I like to look at appears to be on a blocklist as mobile internet is restricted for the protecting of bio-children which is only right in a away as much as grown ups feel, I would say rightly, the're best kept of social media too unless it's highly moderated and just for children.

It did give me time to read my Christmas annuals such as the Beano and the comics I get plus a few records came too although in one way it was fortunate it had snowed hard at the weekend as without no knowledge of when they were coming, I might of missed them!

Hopefully by next week we'll have this internet sorted and I'll be able to get to some of the sites I like to see but at least I have a connection now.

*Stands in corner.

Teenbeat: More stereo explosions in the Wintertime

What was billed as a major snow storm was really rather a mild one here at the yesterday and monday so all the preparation was really rather wasted with a  couple of centimetres of snow at the most but something it did do was give me the opportunity to listen to the latest in a series of special cds for collectors.

The stereo explosion series of cds was a new series started a few years ago by the enterprising Eric Records company in Oshawa, On., Canada who specialize in finding and re-issuing original hit recordings that in an era where albums are more coveted the single version which is often different is hard to find new.

There was a period in the United States especially where such records were tossed out as singles especially mono single mixes were seen as "old hat" and not worth spending money on storing.

A lot of research and time finding them even if sometimes a clean original record may be the only available option would be undertaken and they'd issue compilations of them for collectors and presenters of vintage chart shows.

The Stereo Explosion series follows the same concept they would try to find the stereo single and using modern techniques of using artificial intelligence in audio extract individual elements within a recording that wasn't issued in stereo and remix that to stereo.

We had got up to Volume 10 in 2023 and just before CatMas, Volumes 11 and 12 were issued.

Volume 11 is more the mid 1950's to early 1963 period covering rock and roll as shown by the Elvis Presley selections, early R&B/Soul from Sam Cooke, Gladys Knight and classic pop fromthe Crystals and Chiffons.

A tidal wave swept the American charts from the end of December 1963 wiping out much of what had gone before and it was British and this selection from  mainly 1964 and 5 captures many of these sounds although the likes of the Beatles aren't covered.

There's no problem finding anything by them on cds!

Singles in the UK often weren't on albums, were often only mixed into mono for playing on Radio Luxembourg and inexpensive portable record players and so seldom have a true stereo mix...until now.

This just imagine my delight to hear the seriously brilliant Yardbirds perform For Your Love, Bits And Pieces by the DC5, Please Don't Go by Them and I Can't Explain by the Who in very credible clean sounding stereo.

Recordings that influenced the next wave of American acts and actually Berry Gordy of Motown really rated the production and beat of those early DC5 songs.

Also included are the awesome Animals, Manchester's Herman's Hermits and those Swinging Blue Jeans with the infectious Hippy Hippy Shake.

The out of this world Telstar produced by the amazing Joe Meek appears sounding really fresh with the second mix a generation higher than the one used for the single sounding clearer than ever.

For those of us who love pop hits of the 50's and 60's these discs are just great for the songs, memories now in stereo sound.

Twenty Twenty Four little review

 

Twenty Twenty Four,eh? 

Does anyone know where it really went and indeed where as we go through the outro into Twenty Twenty Five where we'll end up?

This blog has being going, like ages sometimes going more down one set of interests and then the other  but one thing was we achieved a good number of posts, all original, made over a variety of different computers from the legend that was "Treacle, the slowest thing out there in the west to the death of the old Windows laptop to the adoption of using Chromebooks to do most things including blog posts on.

One arrival late last year was this Lenevo Thinkpad 280 which had better processors and more ram for dealing with social media and BIG photo galleries apart from online in browser games which has helped matters somewhat not least for having easier to read keys.

I tend to use Windows for certain things such as running photo programs and cross posting so a solution was needed as much as for more everyday stuff I'm quite happy to use a Chromebook

Some sad trends continued such as the declined usage of one "little girls" site, sad cos I struggle with few very long continuous threads rather than themed threads on a layer of sub forums and some Tumblrs dropping off as trying to find tumblrs that are around littles fashion, age regression and really SFW can be hard going. 

I do use Sissy Kiss that has its uses although it lacks some of more discussion  and Daily Diapers that has some but suffers from a few vicious purist Little Girl warriors that although there's a sissy sub forum try to drive us away while Sissy School tends to be more "Big" Gurl by topics.

I'm working through developing looks that I feel comfortable in a variety of settings as some which may be fine for others just don't it for me or are unpractical when it comes to either putting on, fastening  or being carried in the case across railway platforms before taking lifts.

Some of my older ankle socks were showing some signs of wear and tear so I did have for Christmas three of these of cotton calf length socks that will work with most things apart from just below the knee with patterns for a more sophisticated look while being close to the appeal of pelerine school type socks.

Music has always played a part in my life which why it is on here and 2024 did see a few more records being added, some from the The Original Source series of Classical re-issues cut from the original four and eight track tapes directly rather than copies and selected reissues from people like Analogue Productions.

I did get a good number of the mono reissues of the Beatles American albums from 1964 and some books about them for Xmas.

The Now Yearbook series kept going although generally on record I haven't bothered with the post 1982 issues but we did continue with the 1970's issues with 1977 and I expect as we get into the the New Year there will be issues from 1970-72 and 1975-76 which I will be buying.

Part of is tactile and nostalgia based, handling and lowering the stylus brings back the memories of playing the compilations of the day the is the music itself which I love listening to.

We did get away rather more than the previous year sometimes for a weekend, other times for a good few days for clean non kink connected fun just being your younger self, playing games, going out places and given we look after our food connected needs, helping out.

Plans are afoot to go away for the first quarter of the year and tentative ideas are being mooted for weekends too which should be fun.

Comics play a part too from the Beano to modern offerings such the Phoenix with more modern characters as do colouring books when the hands are up to it, getting absorbed in something relaxing either at home or away.