Hallowe’en and Charity: “The Last Journey of HMS Dover” is now available!

“The Last Journey of HMS Dover” is a naval ghost story set in the late 18th century, taken from my book “The Radiant Boy – Four Ghost Stories from the Age of Sail”. While the book is only available as a paperback, you now have the unique chance to download this one tale all through November for only £ 1.99.

My revenue per purchase is £ 1.23, and that will go 100% to the animal shelter which I’ve supported for quite a while. At the moment, the cat house is in dire need of renovation, and I hope I can drum up some funds with this “Hallowe’en Special” so the kitties will get a new home before Christmas.

HMS Dover prepares for her last journey, and so does Captain Ashley. After more than forty years at sea, all he longs for is a hopefully long retirement in the country, surrounded by his family and dogs. Unfortunately, there are rumours of a haunting aboard, and Captain Ashley knows only too well how the reputed presence of a ghost could influence the morale of his superstitious tars.

Of course there are no such things as ghosts, only creaking floorboards, the rustling of rats helping themselves to the provisions and the wind blowing eerily in the rigging…

Click here to buy:

THE LAST JOURNEY OF HMS DOVER

Written by Emma Collingwood
Illustrations by Amandine de Villeneuve
Edited by Timothy T. Tarbottom, Esq.

Just like the book, this story comes with a book curse. 😉

Please spread the word; thanks in advance for buying the story and I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Finally! Official news from the BBC on Garrow’s Law!

I take a bath, the phone rings. I wash my hair, the doorbell rings. I whinge about lack of official information on Garrow’s Law, the BBC posts a press release. The universe is a funny place… but I shall not complain!

GARROW’S LAW RETURNS FOR THIRD SERIES ON BBC ONE

Huzzah!

As for the whole “held emotional hostage by Sir Arthur Hill” bit: let’s get him drunk, drag him to the port and donate him to the Royal Navy. His Lordship could do with a bit of masting!

18th Century Paper Doll Clothes

Did you play with paper dolls as a child? No? I did, sometimes, but as I soon learned, they were not water resistant, and when (as adviced by my brother) I tried to iron them dry, my mum- but that’s a different story. Back in 1787, a girl called Harriet Johnson made some clothes for her paper doll. I sadly don’t have a picture of the doll (and I don’t know if it still exists), but Harriet has clothed her paper lady in robes inspired by the ones worn by Queen Charlotte, loyal and loving wife of George III  and Patron Saint of Mothers-In-Law-plagued-Daughters-In-Law.

I wish there was a painting of Queen Charlotte wearing one of those gowns (especially the green one, isn’t it gorgeous?). I guess there were contemporary prints serving as templates for Harriet, but I couldn’t find any of them. This beautiful painting of Queen Charlotte by Benjamin West dates back to ca. 1776. Not bad for a mum of 15!

Thanks to Edie for sending me the pictures of the paper doll clothes. I always love to see items which document the daily lives of ordinary people; how lovely to imagine a young girl playing with her paper doll hundreds of years ago just like I did as a wee one. Luckily for all of us, Harriet was more careful with her toys than me, though…!

Will Garrow’s Law return in November? It better.

"It's a letter from the BBC. They say we're booked for Strictly Come Dancing." "I'm afraid my dance card is already full, Mr. Silvester."

Though I’m sitting here in my flipflops and smother my pale self with sunscreen factor 78 even when inside, it’s October. That’s very close to November, and if “Garrow’s Law”, as the grapevine whispers, should really return to our screens soon, wouldn’t it be time for the BBC to, I don’t know, at least acknowledge that there will be a third series? So far, all we hear from Aunt Beep is nothing.

Of course, I fully understand that there’s not much time to promote a show like “Garrow’s Law” if you have to hawk 3048409 home improvement, 70349853085 home selling and 970909 antique hunts/challenges/road trips/carbooth sales shows to the masses. “Garrow’s Law” has many fans, also abroad, and I think they deserve at least some basic information – “there will be a third series”, for example. And a timely information when we can expect to see one of our favourite shows to return. Don’t leave that information job to the fans or extras. It only leads to confusion and misunderstandings.

Having said that, there are many rumours of “Garrow’s Law” series 3 being broadcasted mid-November. Dates I’ve seen mentioned were 11 November and 17 November – both don’t ring “true” to me, though, as one is a Friday, the other a Thursday, and “Garrow’s Law” is traditionally shown on a Sunday. So if the statements made by one extra regarding “mid-November” are correct, that would be either 13 or 20 November. Fine for me – late birthday-present! Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

A small spoiler: TV Choice Magazine have interviewed Andrew Buchan and Lyndsey Marshal:

Interviewed Andrew Buchan & Lyndsey Marshal for Garrow’s Law, series 3. They say Garrow and Lady Sarah are now living together in poverty!

Aw. I guess this means we should stock up on the tissues, folks. Though I hope they won’t be too heavy on the misery; against popular belief, fans are capable of handling happy endings. We love happy endings!

PS: yes, I’ll review the episodes of the new series. Depending on the date with a wee bit of delay, though.