Friday 25 June 2010

Folklore of Hampshire by Penny Legg - out now!

I was delighted to receive a message from both Waterstones' management and my publisher, The History Press, to tell me that my book Folklore of Hampshire had arrived on the market, so I nipped down to my local branch, in West Quay, Southampton, to see the book for myself.  As you can see above, I was pleased to find it on this shelf, and several more about the bookshop.  Thanks Waterstones!

If you would like to buy a signed copy, click here.

Monday 21 June 2010

Swanage Armed Forces and Veterans' Weekend

Just back from the Swanage Armed Forces and Veterans Weekend.

Well, what fun it was!  Winston Churchill chatted to the public, a panther assault vehicle and several other preserved military vehicles were on display and some on parade, a super singer of 1940s songs (more about her in a later post) entertained a stiff upper-lipped crowd (the wind was biting) who sang and danced along with her, a street party with spam and jam sandwiches (not together, I hasten to add) was a novelty to many and, of course, the veterans, cadets and serving Armed Forces personnel were in attendence.   All of this  went together to bring a touch of nostalgia to the town's sea front.

On Sunday, the salute was taken by Lt Col James Coward, the commanding officer from nearby Lulworth Camp.  The parade drew many hundreds of people to line the route and was a moving tribute to all those past, present and future service personnel and allied groups.

Monday 14 June 2010

It's the Penny and Joe Legg Show!

Well, it is has been a busy time in the Legg household recently.

Yesterday we were at Weymouth, on the south-west coast, for the Veterans' Parade along the seafront.  We  made a weekend of it and took Phyllis, our campervan, out for its first proper overnight trial.  She passed but we now realise just how cosy she is!

Joe took part in the parade, this time for the Royal British Legion Riders Branch, which he joined last year.  He looked very dashing in his leather waistcoat and medal!  Over 50 riders took part, far more than in the same event last year.  They joined cadets, serving and veteran personnel as well as military vehicles and re-enactors keeping memories alive.







I, on the other hand, was at the Society of Women Writers & Journalists Summer Festival recently.  I was presented with the third prize in the Lady Violet Astor Competition for a Published Article, for my interview with the Commodore of the Queen Mary II, which won the Scroll Award 2009.  It was printed in Hampshire Life magazine last year.

Photograph by Silja Swaby, shows me with competition judge, Hilary Townsend.

Wednesday 9 June 2010

A big success ...

One of my students, David Casellas, has emailed me to tell me that one of his articles has been published on the Counselling Directory website he belongs to. It is a super article, on the perils of addiction, and is worthy of as wide an audience as possible.  If you would like to read it click here.  Congratulations, David.

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Bank Holiday Weekend = New Bathroom!

This bank holiday may not have been very exciting in terms of weather, but here in the Legg household it was quite eventful.  The reason was that the long awaited new bathroom suite was installed.  Hurrah!

For months we had talked about it, we had raided the sales and found 'the perfect suite' and then stored it until we had the time to install it.  This May Bank Holiday weekend was the time!

We had the usual trials and tribulations - the chief being that we had not thought about the fact that we were replacing a standard rectangular bath with a P-shaped shower bath.  Of course, this is the Legg household so it was a foregone conclusion that things would not go smoothly, none of the fittings lined up with the old wastes and pipework, and much time was spent in faffing about trying to make them fit. We are not professionals, and it showed!  We also found that the previous owners of the bathroom had tiled over old tiles, the pretty blue ones in the picture, instead of replacing them.  Sigh.

Still, now it is in and we just need to tidy up and install the last minute bits and pieces, like flooring.  Phew!

Our thanks to my brother, who stayed the weekend and saved the day.