Introduced to Susie Hawley, August 1972

My Dear Princess, Loulou and Dear Fellows,

I've been feeling a bit low today. I spent a lot of it thinking about Princess Normal and how much I miss her. I have a whole bunch of our old emails which I re-read and that did me no good at all. 

They contained gems like this:

We made my dad a cake for his birthday.  The girls decorated it with M & Ms so it said ‘Happy 69’. 

I am a good Mum for not falling on the floor laughing.

And

I also went to Scribbler. What is your address. I promise not to send you the “Merry Xmas Nob Head” card, although it is tempting.

Also

I am also getting into trouble as my language firewall is slightly more relaxed as they are getting older.  The other night, I found myself having to answer the question ‘we don’t use words like tw@t, do we Mummy?’

Then I had to answer 

‘How rude is tw@t?’

‘what does tw@t mean?’

‘Is it worse than c u next Tuesday?’ (verbatim)

Reading all this made me laugh. But it also made me wish you were just down the road. Or just up the pub.

I went into work today. Again, it wasn't so bad. However, today was a lot quieter - just one meeting. 

However, I was not really in the mood. I was bored and tired and listless. Lacking all list, I was. 

So at lunchtime I decided to walk and walk to rouse myself. I found myself on Cuba Street, which is always interesting. It is pedestrianised and reminds me a little of Rose Street, except less bars and with a younger, alternate lifestyle vibe. I kind of like it, although I feel apart from it. 

Two teenage girls had chalked out a circle with "DANCE FLOOR" written inside. They were prancing about and trying to entice passers-by to join them. I expect they were wanting tips, and anyway, these days I would only ever dance when drunk, in the Princess's kitchen, to ABBA. So I moved swiftly on. 

I found myself back at the Pegasus used book shop, where I have been a few times before, though not recently. It is always fun to peruse a book shop like this. Where the titles are piled up in random fashion right up to the ceiling. I was looking for books on film, but couldn't even find the film section. I'm sure it is in there, somewhere. 

However, I did find a couple of books to buy. A copy of "Brewer's Phrase & Fable" which I had years ago but left somewhere. And then I found a PRESENT for Tiger and Loulou! I had actually been looking for this book for them for ages, and was thinking I would have to order it from abroad, so I was delighted to find it here. 

The reason I wanted to get this book for them is because they are the official organisers of The Golden Cockroach Awards and so it seems appropriate. 

But also I think they will really like it. Loulou, if you wish to spoil the surprise you can look in the extras. 

I do love giving books with a history. This one has someone's signature inside it and everything. It reads, "Susie Hawley - Introduced to you, 20th August, 1972".

The writing doesn't look that old, so I do not think this date is when the book was given, but perhaps in commemoration of that date. 

However, the book itself was published in 1970. So I surmise the book was well-read and well-loved, before being passed on from one friend to another.   

And because the date is well-remembered, and because the book is somewhat sentimental, I think this must have been a treasured gift.

That's what I think, anyway.  

You can make up the history of books like this, if you wish. 

As for the Princess, I hope you are having the best day ever. I love you loads and loads. And if I could easily send you a book, I would sign it, "Introduced to Princess Normal 10th April 2012"*.

S.

* That is the day we REALLY met each other, I think.