There's been a few weeks without an inspiration word from The Toy Press so I was happy to see a new word last week, 'Slippery' but I was not finding much use for it! Everything I tried felt contrived and I dropped all attempts.
Finally, I came up with the first 3 stanza but when CBC heard it, he said I needed to make more of the recovery, so I edited and extended.
What do you think? I'm not that enamoured by it but I don't hate it!
Almost five years ago, it was my 40th Birthday in Lockdown because of Covid 19 and many of my dear blogger friends agreed to dress up as Doctor Who characters for my online birthday party which was utterly wonderful as I could not have a real life celebration! It's one of my favourite posts ever. Do go and have a look at the post if you weren't around then or even go and have a look for nostalgia's sake if you WERE around! You can find it here! I'm sad that some of my besties don't blog anymore!
This week, I am returning to the outfit worn in that post. I CANNOT believe I haven't posted it subsequently in the 5 intervening years. I'm turning 45 in the next month. Hmmm, enough said about that!
Let's have a look at the outfit inspiration in question. It was worn by character, Yasmin Khan, portrayed by Mandip Gill in a historical episode called Demons of the Punjab.
I wore this last Tuesday for work at school though I took the photos on Sunday to try and exploit the light! I was fed up of not having much TARDIS Tuesday as I couldn't take any good photos so some forward prep was necessary.
I received several compliments for this outfit. It makes me think of aubergines!
The jumper AND blazer come from Whistles originally. This blazer was always elusive to find so I was pleased to find it before my 40th birthday. The combination of glittery purple merino wool sweater with glitter and this thick cotton waffle blazer was deliciously cosy for a cold day.
I wore some black ASOS trousers which are useful but I realise I've got a better pair of trousers to match for future reference.
Notice my trainers. These belong to CBC. He bought them in Cornwall in Sainsbury's a couple of years ago when we were there on holiday. He soon decided he didn't like them and hasn't worn them again. I tried them on and I find them very comfortable! I was looking for my Adidas trainers in the cupboard and found these instead which are more of a match for Yaz's one.
The final touches were my 40th birthday present from my Dad and Stepmum, this beautiful Posy loop necklace from Alex Monroe with daisies and bees, two of my favourite things.
It's so nice to feature a Yaz outfit without a leather jacket! Perhaps next time I feature it, I might even get my Mum to imitate the hairstyle!
Every so often, I see a new craft on Instagram or online and I know that it is the craft for me! Usually, it involves some recycling or reuse! If it's that, I am all over it!
For me, the craft I gave a go today was just that.
It involves a Tomato puree tube.
Take a completely used metal tomato puree tube and then cut off the ends - the top and the bottom and then carefully snip one side open and open it up so it is a rectangle. Be careful! It's metal- it can be sharp!
Then clean off any residue tomato.
You will have a wrinkly, golden rectangle.
Take a spoon and rub it in circles over the metal, right to the edges. You may have to go over parts. This will flatten the wrinkles generally.
You should be left with a slightly flatter rectangle.
Now you need to choose your design that you will draw backwards on the reverse using a biro pen that doesn't work anymore (or an embossing tool if you have one)
The designs I have seen now are usually stars with trails behind them. In fact, I went to a friend's house in December and saw one hanging up. I knew it was going to be a tomato puree tube. When I turned it over, I was right.
I decided to do something with a musical twist, naturally.
I decided to go for a tiny violin!
I grabbed my little violin keyring purchased from the Beethoven Birth house museum in Bonn to use as a model to draw around and to copy.
I turned the tube over and drew the design hard. It can be a bit tricky especially if there are still any ridges.
You then draw any detail on that you want to. The hardest part for me was the F holes. I decided to add some extra decorations- the purfling (that's the patterned edge on the outline of the violin shape) and also added some hearts on the tail piece below the bridge. The strings were a bit of a disaster! Should have used a ruler!
You then need to cut out your shape with scissors- bonus is that it sharpens your scissors!
The downside is, I accidentally cut off the pegs at the top of the violin on one side. I've never been skilled with scissors since I was very young! I was gutted!
Here is our Jellycat Christmas star modelling the finished violin. Look at the top, you'll notice the missing pegs!
At this point, you could then make a hole to hang it for a decoration for the Christmas tree etc. I haven't done that. You could attach your decoration to the front of a car for a detachable gift for someone. Beware of sharp edges. I'm not sure if you could perhaps sand the edges. I haven't tried it because it bends and I am clumsy!
I then tried to think what I should attempt next. I was going to attempt a flute but then decided to just draw a musical stave.
The question was, what musical quote to include?
Being incredibly geeky, I decided to start drawing a quote from my favourite symphony- the 1st symphony by German composer, Gustav Mahler. It's first played by the cellos but it picks up on the motif played for the first part of the symphony by the strings and woodwind bird calls. However, when I got to the end, the 2 crotchets and minim looked bare so I just decided to alter the quote into something else to make it look better. If I did this again, I would cut off the f for forte below the stave so it has a neater base. Considering I did this all freehand, backwards, I was quote pleased with it!
Listen from about 4:44 and then hear the glorious cellos come in soon after!
I still have a bit of the tube left so I may fashion some paisley hearts for either a wedding or a valentines card (although I have another idea for that this year as CBC has become rather fond of Tweedy and Fluff on Insta so I may draw/paint a design of them instead!
What do you think of this craft? I must confess that I am utterly enchanted by it! I can imagine making lots of darling little decorations out of the tubes. Just be careful of the sharp edges!
Here's my annual book post in which I share what I read during the year and the books I enjoyed the most. It's very late posting this but better late than never!
Best book you read in 2025
The Game by Laurie R King is one of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes I read this year. There was so much that interested me in it. An evocative description of historic India and a real mystery and it kept me intrigued through out! It felt epic!
Children's fiction:
Song of the Far Isles by Nicholas Barling was brilliant! I loved that it had music at its core and special instruments which the characters have as an intrinsic part of their life! I loved the evocative description of the setting of the book and there was a great twist in the story.
Crime fiction:
The Twyford Code, by Janice Hallett, was a real convoluted, extensively set up and planned crime and mystery book- it really kept me guessing and I really enjoyed seeing how it all panned out!
Classics
I borrowed South Riding by Winifred Holtby from my Mother In Law's bookshelf and was so impressed by it! It took me on a whole journey of emotions with the characters and gave a real sense of local council life half a century ago. Life seemed so gritty and I was genuinely astounded by a death in the story. I waited for the twist but it didn't come!
Non-fiction:
Oh dear, I did so well last year with my non-fiction but this year I only read TWO! The Little Library Christmas, which the lovely Ang sent me, was a lovely cosy read which gave me some inspiration for cooking- there are some crackers I'd like to try making, for example!
YA and Dystopian fiction
The new Hunger Games book Sunrise on the Reaping tells the story of Katniss's mentor, Haymitch Abernathy and his own Hunger Games and gives a great insight into why he is the way he is! It was brilliant and devastating as is to be expected from this series! It wins best of both these categoeries.
Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2025
Salmon fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday was a book I picked up at the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm at the end of the Pennine Way. I hadn't been able to read a book for 3 days due to luggage constraints of the Pennine Way and was desperate for reading material and found this on their bookshelf. I wasn't sure what to expect of this book but it was wonderful. Such a fantastic story and one I genuinely had no clue about it- what it was about, how it would end!
Book you read in 2025 that you recommended most to others
Hmmm, hard to say as I am not sure I really recommended many of the books to others in particular. I would say that when children have come to borrow books from my music library, I have recommended the Eerie on Sea series by Thomas Taylor so I think perhaps, either Festergrimm or Mermedusa by Thomas Taylor, would fulfill that category. The Songs of Magic series I also recommended to the Year 6 teacher as his DEAR time book too. (See below for details of that series)
Best series you discovered in 2025
SA Patrick's Songs of Magic trilogy which started with A darkness of Dragons - was superb! A wonderful world building based on a twist on the Pied Piper of Hamelin story, I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, promptly bought and read the next two books! I recommended the first one to the Year 6 teacher who was looking for a book to read with his class! Also, Nevermoor- The trials of Morrigan Crow- Jessica Townsend. I bought one of the books in a charity shop and I am definitely excited to read the rest of the series as it was so intriguing!
Favourite new author you discovered in 2025
James Nicol, who wrote The Spell Tailors, is my friend Suzy's cousin, and he is apparently as lovely as his books.
Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love but didn't. There are two for this category. I LIKED them but I thought I was going to like them much better. The piano at the station by Helen Ritter was a book I was excited to read but I found the chronology of the book a bit confusing and it wasn't quite what I expected. The piano at the station didn't feature as much as I thought it was going to and it felt like it wasn't so much of the book as I imagained. Zo and the forest of secrets by Alake Pilgrim was entertaining but there were a few things that just didn't make sense of match up and I just wasn't so convinced by it.
Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre to you.
Mates Arias - Lewis Buxton was a pamphlet of poetry. I like children's poetry and classic poetry but I've not read so much modern poetry by the hip sort of crowd you might meet at a Spoken Word night like my friend John runs. I won this book in an Emma Press competition and I found it beautiful!
Book you read in 2025 that you're most likely to read again in 2026.
I think, if I obtain anymore of the Morrigan Crow books, I'd read them again!
Favourite book you read in 2025 from an author you read previously.
I read quite a few of Jasbinder Bilan's books last year and I loved all of them! I particularly liked Naeli and the Secret song, about a young Indian violinist who journeys to England and also Nush and the Stolen Emerald!
Best book you read in 2025 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else
My Mother in Law bought me What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama last Christmas and it was superb!!! It was so unexpected and beautiful and I am so glad I read it!
Favourite cover of a book in 2025
I loved the front cover of Secrets of a Sunstone by Piu Dasgupta
Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2025
I'm not sure if any of the books I read made a huge impact but I read a book called Boom Boom by Jude Idada. It was all about a child with Sickle Cell Anaemia. I didn't know anything about this illness and I felt really touched by this and what a painful and traumatising illness is this or can be and the importance of donors really struck me!
Book you can't BELIEVE you waited until 2025 to read.
I cannot believe it took me until 2025 to FINALLY read and pass on all the remaining Maisie Dobbs mysteries which I have had for so long!!! They were superb!
Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it (a WTF moment, a epic revelation, a steamy kiss etc). Be careful of spoilers
I LOVED reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - I am still longing to talk to someone about Haymitch's story!!!!
Favourite relationship from a book you read in 2025 (be it it romantic, friendship etc)
I loved the relationship between Audrey, the main character in The letter with the golden stamp by Onjali Q Rauf, and the postman, Mo. He cares for her so much as much as he can in his capacity of postman but also the love that Audrey has for her Mum who she is a young carer for. She cares so much her mum that she sacrificed so many things she loves for her mum.
Most memorable character in a book you read in 2025
I reread Northanger Abbey this year and I STILL love Henry Tilney with ALL MY HEART!!!
I also think Gervaise Fenn in Edmund Crispin's mysteries is hilarious!
Genre you read the most from 2025
It's no surprise that I read 50 children's fiction books this year so that wins my most read genre!
Best 2025 debut
Rob Walton's Please Don't read the footnotes please, was a superbly hilarious and imaginative children's short story collection! I thought this was a really fun and quick read!
Book that was the most fun to read.
A welly full of Christmas by Attie Lime was a really fun children's poetry book to read during Advent. I think this would be a lovely read for a 5-9 year old, one poem every night of Advent so if you have a youngun in your life, do think about it for an Advent (e.g. early Christmas present) next year!
Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2025
The letter with the golden stamp by Onjali Q Rauf really made me cry. It's about a girl in Wales who is a young carer for her mum and her life is so difficult. Near the end, I absolutely howled when she was home and worried about her mum. It was a beautiful read.
Book you read in 2025 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
I don't really know much about how well books are received in the literary world but I loved The Mystery of the Colour Thief by Ewa Jozefkowicz. I've read 2 books by her now and I think they are super! She writes really well but I don't know anyone else who has read her books!
Total number of books read
I read 101 books this year. It's lower than last year but I am still pleased to have made it to 100 books!
The complete list of the books I read this year is here:
2025:
December:
90. A welly full of Christmas - Attie Lime
91. The voyage of Sam Singh- Gita Ralleigh
92. The Christmas Carrolls -Mel Taylor-Bessant
93. The little library Christmas - Kate Young
94. Christmas stories - Noel Streatfield
95. The Snowman - Michael Morpurgo
96. The Mystery of the Colour Thief -Ewa Jozefkowicz
97. Death at the Terminus - Edward Marston
98. Secrets on the Shore - Katherine Woodfine
99. The snowy penguin - Holly Webb
100. The game I will never forget - Onjali Q. Rauf
101. Mates Arias - Lewis Buxton
November
80. Secrets of the Snakestone - Piu Dasgupta
82. South Riding- Winifred Holtby
83. Sunrise on the reaping - Suzanne Collins
84. The piano at the station - Helen Ritter
85. Sophie takes to the skies- Katherine Woodfine
86. Bringing back Kay Kay - Dev Kothari
87. Nush and the stolen emerald - Jasbinder Bilan
88. Xanthe and the ruby crown - Jasbinder Bilan
89. The letter with the golden stamp - Onjali Q Rauf
October:
74. The Nowhere Emporium - Ross Mackenzie
75. The Spell Tailors- James Nicol
76. Song of the Far Isles- Nicholas Barling
77. A vanishing of Griffins - S.A. Patrick
78. A thunder of monsters - S. A. Patrick
79. The Language of Bees- Laurie. R King.
September
69. Asha and the Spirit Bird - Jasbinder Bilan
70. The Game- Laurie R King
71. When life gives you mangoes... Kereen Getten
72. Naeli and the secret song- Jasbinder Bilan
73. The Hatmakers- Tamzin Merchant
August:
56. The Moor- Laurie R King
57. Justice Hall - Laurie R King
58. A darkness of Dragons - S.A. Patrick
59. Heartstopper 1 - Alice Oseman
60. Heartstopper 2 - Alice Oseman
61. Heartstopper 3 - Alice Oseman
62. Heartstopper 4 - Alice Oseman
63. Heartstopper 5 - Alice Oseman
64. Nevermoor- The trials of Morrigan Crow- Jessica Townsend
65. None of this is true - Lisa Jewell
66. Zo and the forest of secrets - Alake Pilgrim
67. Please don't read the footnotes- Rob Walton
68. Blue Jelly and raspberries- Attie Lime
July:
51.A monstrous regiment of women - Laurie R.King
52.A letter of Mary - Laurie R King
53.Mendelssohn is on the roof -Jiřà Weil
54.Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
55. The way past Winter- Kiran Millward Hargrave
June:
46. The deathless girls- Kiran Millward Hargrave
47. Code Name Kingfisher - Liz Kessler
48. Journey to Munich - Jacqueline Winspear
49. In this grave hour - Jacqueline Winspear
50. The American agent -- Jacqueline Winspear
May:
37. A secret of birds and bone- Kiran Millward Hargrave
38. The mapping of Love and death- Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs)
39. The Midnight Guardians - Ross Montgomery
40. Ajay and the Mumbai Sun- Varsha Shah
41. Rooftoppers- Katherine Rundell
42. Essex Folk Tales - Jan Williams
43. Elegy for Eddie - Jacqueline Winspear
44. Wishyouwas - Alexandre Page
45. Grimwood -let the fur fly - Nadia Shireen
April:
26. Slaughter in the Sapperton Tunnel (The Railway detective) - Edward Marston -
27. The Thames and Tide Club- The Secret City- Katya Balen
28. Messenger of truth- (Maisie Dobbs) Jacqueline Winspear
29. An incomplete revenge- Jacqueline Winspear
30. Salmon fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
31. Michael Rosen's A-Z of Children's poetry
32. The Circus train conspiracy (The Railway detective) - Edward Marston -
33. What you are looking for is in the library - Michiko Aoyama
34. The Appeal- Janice Hallett
35. Super stories for Climate Heroes- E.L. Norry
36. Jacqueline Winspear - Among the Mad
March:
14. Festergrimm- Thomas Taylor
15. The Twyford Code- Janice Hallett
16. Elizabeth is missing- Emma Healey
17. The case of the lighthouse intruder - Kereen Getten
19. Too small Tola- Atinuke
20. The eye of the horse Jamilla Gavin
21. Mermedusa - Thomas Taylor
22. The Boy who made monsters- Jenny Pearson
23. Boom Boom -Jude Idada
24. The Case of the Haunted Wardrobe - Kereen Getten
25. A message from Ukraine- Volodymyr Zelensky
February:
7. The Vanished Half - Brit Bennett
8. Swan Song- Edmund Crispin
9. Buried for Pleasure- Edmund Crispin
10. Julius Caesar- Andrew Matthews
11. Ajay and the Jaipur Moon- Vasha Shah
12. The Midnight hour- Benjamin Read and Laura Trinder
13. The wheel of Surya- Jamilla Gavin
January:
1. Hamnet Maggie O'Farrell
2. Escape to the River sea- Emma Carroll (after Eva Ibbotson)
3. The Case of the Gilded Fly - Edmund Crispin
4. The Moving Toyshop - Edmund Crispin
5. Orbital - Samantha Harvey
6. Holy Disorders -Edmund Crispin
Here are the questions in case you wish to take part.
Here are the questions if you want to join in:
Best book you read in 2025
Children's fiction:
Crime fiction:
Classics
Non-fiction:
YA
Dystopian fiction
Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2025
Book you read in 2025 that you recommended most to others
Best series you discovered in 2025
Favourite new author you discovered in 2025
Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love but didn't.
Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre to you.
Book you read in 2025 that you're most likely to read again in 2026
Favourite book you read in 2025 from an author you read previously.
Best book you read in 2025 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else
Favourite cover of a book in 2025
Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2025
Book you can't BELIEVE you waited until 2025 to read.
Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it (a WTF moment, a epic revelation, a steamy kiss etc). Be careful of spoilers
Favourite relationship from a book you read in 2025 (be it it romantic, friendship etc)
Most memorable character in a book you read in 2025
Genre you read the most from 2025
Best 2025 debut
Book that was the most fun to read.
Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2025
Book you read in 2025 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out?
