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.