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<h1><img src="cid:part1.s5GAEcYP.O4iMVn0l@iaindaddy.com"
width="427" height="230" alt="" name="image4.jpg"
align="middle" border="0" class=""> <br>
<b>Official Newsletter No. 10<br>
Celebrating the Life and Works of Guy N Smith 1939-2020</b>
<br>
<img src="cid:part2.loA6SBWR.sga6KcN1@iaindaddy.com"
width="175" height="230" alt="" name="image0.jpg"
align="bottom" border="0" class=""> <br>
<b>Greetings Fans, Friends and Fiends!</b> </h1>
<h2>Welcome!</h2>
<p>At last we have details of the imminent GNS Fan
Convention 2026 (still time to sign up!) plus current and
future projects by Black Hill Books. We\u2019ve been busy all
summer with our re-releases!</p>
<p>Since the last summer, we\u2019ve put out ebooks/paperbacks of
<i>Cannibals, Killer Crabs: The Return, The Slime Beast,
Spawn of the Slime Beast</i> and <i>Bamboo Guerillas</i>,
and to commemorate 50 years since the first Crabs book,
we've launched a special edition of <i>Night of the Crabs</i>
\u2013 using the 2009 extended version \u2013 in both paperback and
hardback (originally published by Ghostwriter
Publications) with genuine Rick Melton cover artwork (with
a pinch of 'Chris Hall Crab'). Talking of special artwork,
we've had super contributions from writer-author-artist
fans on many of the books from chapter heading art to
cover design and forewords. There's a real team of fans
behind the Black Hill Books project!</p>
<p>And as usual, there\u2019s another instalment from the teen
\u2018Mystery Man Diary\u2019 in which Guy enjoys gardening and
romantic daydreaming, and his mother sits and types in the
car (while the boys go shooting) \u2013 and tries to put a stop
to the neighbours\u2019 gossiping!</p>
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<h2>The Guy N. Smith Fan Convention 2026</h2>
<p>The \u201cEvent of the Year\u201d will be located at Knighton
Community Centre, Powys on Sunday September 6th and will
begin at 12 noon. </p>
<p>12:00 - Tara Paulsson will open the event and introduce
everyone \u2013 and encourage raffle ticket purchases! Original
book art \u2013 8 Crabs series covers, Bamboo Guerillas cover,
Badger Island cover \u2013 and Dad's Imperial Typewriter will
be on the display table (far away from the merch/book
releases table).</p>
<p>12:05 - Comedian/broadcaster Robin Ince talks about Giant
Crabs!</p>
<p>12:45 - <i>Killer Crabs</i> Prologue audiobook taster,
with narration by Pete Gold (see the last newsletter for
more information on Pete, who narrated our Night of the
Crabs audiobook)</p>
<p>13:00 - Author Mark Morris reads from his latest book <i>'Bad
Things Happen Here'</i></p>
<p>13:30 - "Border Bites" Buffet Lunch and Mingle -
celebrated comic artist Charlie Adlard will be in
attendance!</p>
<p>14:15 - Tara reads the Introduction to <i>Pipe Dreams</i>,
Guy N. Smith's memoir</p>
<p>14:30 - David Owain Hughes reads an extract from his
crime mystery thriller <i>South by Southwest Wales</i> </p>
<p>14:45 - Comedian/Writer/Broadcaster Bennett Arron hosts
the raffle draw</p>
<p>15:00 - Bennett Arron is Quizmaster for our "Beasts and
Bayonets" Quiz</p>
<p>16:00 - Bennett wears the Auctioneer\u2019s Hat (well, it\u2019s
actually his own hat but, hey, he\u2019s versatile) </p>
<p>16:30 - Quiz prizes!</p>
<p>17:00 - Finish \u2013 it\u2019ll all be over bar the air-kissing\u2026
but you can snog if you want to</p>
<h3>Some Fan Con 2026 Goodies</h3>
<p>Limited edition chapbook of the GNS Fan Con 2026 short
story <i>'Hollow Eyes'</i> by Guy N. Smith</p>
<p>Limited edition chapbook of <i>Crabs' Fury</i> by Guy N.
Smith and Charlie Adlard</p>
<p>Auction of Bamboo Guerillas and Slime Beast series
artwork (oil on canvas, pen and ink \u2013 reserve prices
apply!), proofed MSS of the latest releases, signed books,
a selection Graveyard Rendezvous originals</p>
<p>Exhibition of Neale Thomas' Crabs series original painted
artwork, mounted on wooden (books 1-8), Rowan Robinson's
Badger Island cover art painting</p>
<p>Raffle prizes (ooooooh!)</p>
<p>An Honorary PhD in GNS Studies awarded by the Great
Scribbler Academy of Pulp</p>
<p>Free buffet by Borders Bites</p>
<p>Free Spotify download code for the Night of the Crabs
audiobook launched last year</p>
<h3>Plus</h3>
<p>Black Hill Books GNS re-releases at special fan con
discount price</p>
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<h1>Personalities and contributors:</h1>
<h2>Robin Ince</h2>
<h3>Comedian, Writer, Broadcaster</h3>
<img src="cid:part3.8xsb5lDk.hkU1ASit@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>Robin Ince is many things. A multi award winning
comedian, author, broadcaster, bibliomaniac and a
populariser of scientific ideas. He is perhaps best known
as the former co-host and co-creator of the Sony Gold
Award winning BBC Radio 4 series <i>The Infinite Monkey
Cage</i> with Professor Brian Cox. As a stand up Robin
has toured the world and as an author he has written four
acclaimed books, including <i>Bibliomaniac</i>, earned
him the prestigious Booksellers Association Author of the
Year award. His fifth, <i>Normally Weird and Weirdly
Normal</i> is published in May 2025. He co-created the
Cosmic Shambles Network and created the groundbreaking
science variety night <i>Nine Lessons and Carols</i> for
Curious People which has been adapted worldwide. He has
received an Honorary Fellowship of UCL, an honorary
doctorate from Royal Holloway College (University of
London), and is a fellow of the British Science
Association.</p>
<list>Work includes:</list>
<ul>
<li>\u2018Infinite Monkey Cage\u2019 (Radio 4)</li>
<li>\u2018Giant Killer Crabs Musical\u2019 (Latitude Festival
2006/2026)</li>
<li>The Incomplete Shambles Podcast</li>
</ul>
<list>Books:</list>
<ul>
<li>\u2018Bad Book Club\u2019</li>
<li>\u2018Normally Weird Weirdly Normal\u2019</li>
<li>\u2018Bibliomaniac\u2019</li>
<li>\u2018The Importance of Being Interested\u2019</li>
<li>\u2018I'm a Joke and So Are You\u2019</li>
</ul>
<list>Plus</list>
<ul>
<li>\u2018Crabs on the Rampage\u2019 foreword!</li>
</ul>
<img src="cid:part4.PA5u0UKb.YeD7MVb0@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <img
src="cid:part5.FYfiXBcE.rSVwZ8lv@iaindaddy.com" class="">
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<hr>
<h2>Charlie Adlard</h2>
<h3>British Comic Book Artist and Illustrator Charlie Adlard</h3>
<img src="cid:part6.hAjoG83N.RWRlWBxg@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<h4>Winner of the Sergio Aragonés International Award for
Excellence in Comic Art</h4>
<p>Charlie was born on the 4th August 1966 in the town of
Shrewsbury, England and, having moved away to study film
and video at art college, eventually moved back and still
resides there today. Before moving back to Shrewsbury, he
spent a brief stint in London, finding out that the BA
he\u2019d earned at art college was pretty useless in getting a
job in the film industry, and, after failing to set the
world alight playing the drums in a rock band, eventually
settled on the \u201cthird\u201d option \u2013 which was comics. An
option he finally realised should have been number one
right from the beginning. After spending two years back in
Shrewsbury, working on a portfolio, he eventually found
his first work at the Judge Dredd Megazine in 1992 and
hasn\u2019t looked back since.</p>
<list>Work includes:</list>
<ul>
<li>The Walking Dead</li>
<li>Mars Attacks</li>
<li>The X-Files</li>
<li>Judge Dredd</li>
<li>Savage</li>
<li>Batman</li>
<li>X-Men</li>
<li>Superman</li>
</ul>
<list>Plus:</list>
<ul>
<li>Crabs\u2019 Fury Graphic Novel!</li>
</ul>
<img src="cid:part7.tYGEZC0C.19BPFvrE@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <img
src="cid:part8.ieoH3rRa.vYzRQk6E@iaindaddy.com" class="">
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<h2>Bennett Arron</h2>
<h3>Comedian / Writer / Presenter / Speaker</h3>
<img src="cid:part9.Bpnmu07U.Hs3L2cKj@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<h4>BBC New Comedy Awards Finalist alongside Peter Kay</h4>
<p>In 2023, following a successful and award-winning run at
the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Top Ten Jokes of the
Fringe, Poster of the Year Award), Bennett was about to
work on a TV project, write a new book and perform at
various venues around the world. Then, for the first time
ever, he began to suffer from anxiety and depression. His
life fell apart. He had to cancel everything and he
couldn\u2019t even leave his house.</p>
<p>Two years later, Bennett returned to the Festival with a
show based on his experiences. The funny, poignant, moving
and relatable show played to full houses and was
critically acclaimed. Bennett has created dozens of
episodes of television, three series for radio, one
feature film, three books and thousands of hours of
material for other entertainers. Genie in The House was
the number one show on Nickelodeon. Bennett wrote over 20
episodes of the series and the TV Movie.</p>
<list>Work includes:</list>
<ul>
<li>\u2018I Regret This Already\u2019 stand up show (Edinburgh)</li>
<li>The role of 'Morris' in Radio 4 sitcom \u2018Alone\u2019</li>
<li>Presenter/Director of \u2018How to Steal an Identity\u2019
Channel 4 documentary:</li>
<li>Mock the Week</li>
<li>Have I Got News for You</li>
<li>Graham Norton</li>
<li>BAFTA and Golden Globes speechwriting</li>
</ul>
<list>Books:</list>
<ul>
<li>\u2018Heard the One About Identity Theft?\u2019</li>
<li>\u2018The Girl From the Discotheque\u2019</li>
</ul>
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<hr>
<h2>David Owain Hughes</h2>
<h3>Author</h3>
<img src="cid:part10.2h8owtEt.80okdaKr@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>David Owain Hughes is a word-slinger of horror and crime
fiction who grew up on trashy B-movies from the age of
five which helped rapidly instil in him a vivid sense of
imagination. He\u2019s had multiple short stories published in
various online magazines and anthologies, along with
articles, reviews and interviews. He\u2019s written for This is
Horror, Blood Magazine and Horror Geeks Magazine. Hughes
is the author of six novels, four short story collections
and a plethora of novellas. Although he predominantly
writes within the the bracket of horror and its multiple
subgenres, he\u2019s recently branched out into crime fiction
and is slowly carving out a superb series of crime/noir
thrillers under the umbrella title of South Wales.</p>
<list>Work includes:</list>
<ul>
<li>South by Southwest Wales</li>
<li>Any Which Way but South Wales</li>
<li>All Roads Lead to South Wales</li>
<li>Wind-up Toy</li>
<li>Man-eating F*cks</li>
<li>The Rack and Cue</li>
</ul>
Plus
<ul>
<li>\u2018Cannibals\u2019 foreword!!</li>
</ul>
<img src="cid:part11.vwV9mGS0.FAt9iLH0@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <img
src="cid:part12.tm14W8Mw.QYRAEIoL@iaindaddy.com" class="">
<img src="cid:part13.ZqA67jvy.WWH7omrS@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <br>
<img src="cid:part14.udJbqu0P.IfqnN070@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> </td>
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<hr>
<h2>Mark Morris</h2>
<h3>Author</h3>
<img src="cid:part15.5C8iKQzb.vRlgLgxO@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>In his 38-year career Mark Morris has written and edited
over fifty novels, novellas, short story collections and
anthologies, and his script work includes audio dramas for
Doctor Who, Jago & Litefoot and the Hammer Chillers
series. His most recent work includes the novels That
Which Stands Outside and Bad Things Happen Here, new audio
adaptations of the classic 1971 horror movie <i>Blood on
Satan\u2019s Claw</i> and the M.R. James ghost story <i>A
View From a Hill</i>, the official BBC Books/Target
novelization of the 60th anniversary Doctor Who special <i>Wild
Blue Yonder</i>, and, as editor, an anthology in the
acclaimed <i>\u2018Tales of the Weird\u2019</i> series published by
the British Library, entitled The New Flesh: Tales of
Shapeshifters and Strange Transformations, and six
anthologies in the ongoing ABC of Horror series for Flame
Tree Press. Blood on Satan\u2019s Claw won the New York
Festival Radio Award for Best Drama Special, and A View
From a Hill won the New York Festival Radio Award for Best
Digital Drama Program, and was also awarded Silver at the
2020 Audio & Radio Industry Awards. Mark has won two
British Fantasy Awards, and has also been nominated for
several Stokers and Shirley Jackson Awards.</p>
<list>Work includes:</list>
<ul>
<li>Bad Things Happen Here</li>
<li>That Which Stands Outside</li>
<li>The Society of Blood</li>
<li>The Black</li>
<li>Mr Bad Face</li>
<li>The Deluge</li>
<li>Toady</li>
<li>The Wolves of London</li>
</ul>
<list>Plus</list>
<ul>
<li>Origin of the Crabs foreword!</li>
</ul>
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<hr>
<h2>Jon Bruford</h2>
<h3>Writer, journalist and broadcaster</h3>
<img src="cid:part16.DJ3zu2pi.64VMhl2Q@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>Co-host of The Gambling Files, Addiction, and TGF
Presents Dessert Island Discs podcasts</p>
<list>Work includes:</list>
<ul>
<li>Managing Editor of Casino International publication</li>
<li>Publishing Director, Fulwoord Media</li>
<li>Content and Editorial, The Gaming Boardroom</li>
<li>The Gambling Files Substack Blog</li>
</ul>
<list>Plus</list>
<ul>
<li>\u2018Bamboo Guerillas\u2019 foreword!</li>
</ul>
<img src="cid:part17.NO1chNZi.C8aKRIsx@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> </td>
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<hr>
<h2>Chris Hall</h2>
<h3>Business professional, Black Hill Books contributing
artist, writer/content creator at DLSReviews.com - and
Killer Crabs: The Return foreword writer!</h3>
<img src="cid:part18.I6X6sE6Y.JO5QbX9c@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <img
src="cid:part19.kCwWvbQo.XcylLOy8@iaindaddy.com" class="">
<h3>From the last newsletter\u2019s \u2018Last Word\u2019 column:</h3>
<p>I\u2019ve attended every annual GNS Fan Convention since 2010.
Guy and his wonderful family have also become good
friends. I\u2019ve also been lucky enough to be killed at the
claws of the giant crabs within the novella \u2018Killer Crabs
2: The Return\u2019. As anyone who spends five-minutes in my
company will no doubt testify, preserving the legacy of
GNS is very important to me. To this day I\u2019ve continually
done what I can to promote Guy\u2019s work and document what
was published. My website \u2013 DLS Reviews \u2013 an openly
verbose labour of love, is where I continually add more
in-depth reviews of GNS\u2019s work, more to provide an online
reference for those wanting to find out more about Guy\u2019s
back catalogue, than anything else. </p>
<img src="cid:part20.FPuOQhN7.okouXkHi@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> </td>
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<hr>
<h2>Hal C F Astell</h2>
<h3>Author, critic, publisher - and The Slime Beast foreword
writer!</h3>
<img src="cid:part21.QKbE0w1s.6639vRe0@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>Hal C. F. Astell is a critic, author, publisher and film
festival director who runs the Apocalypse Later Empire
from his lair in Phoenix, Arizona. He has many books and
zines in print through Apocalypse Later Press. His website
is apocalypselaterempire.com.</p>
<p>He found Guy's work in the early eighties, met the man
himself in 1993 and soon became a friend, colleague and IT
support guy. He was Production Director for Black Hills
Books (Publishers), laying out Guy's first three
self-published novels and a few issues of Graveyard
Rendezvous. He contributed fiction to Graveyard and non
fiction to Hell of a Guy: Fans on the Rampage, Sabat
Antologia tom 2 (in Polish) and GNS3.</p>
<p>He ran Guy's first official website and continues to
maintain Smithland at guynsmith.rocks. He owns a
substantial collection of Guy's manuscripts, which have
helped deepen his ongoing read and review runthrough of
all Guy's books for the Nameless Zine, the first third of
which can be found in print in the Apocalypse Later Zine,
Guy N. Smith Part One. <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://a.co/d/0aesKPJp">https://a.co/d/0aesKPJp</a></p>
<img src="cid:part22.xbiW3hwq.HYBovgr1@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <img
src="cid:part23.M4TCv654.ijii5Xil@iaindaddy.com" class="">
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<h2>GNS in the Wild!</h2>
<p>One of our eagle-eyed fans spotted this extract from
Stephen Graham Jones's foreword to \u201cVideo Night\u201d by Adam
Cesare.</p>
<img src="cid:part24.5Q5kCrbh.DKv3nG67@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>Nice!</p>
<p>And again, this article was spotted by a contributor, so
we got in touch with John Harrison and a responded with a
few words!</p>
<h2><i>\u201cWerewolves, Slime Beasts and Killer Crabs\u201d</i></h2>
<h2>by John Harrison</h2>
<h3>Writer and journalist</h3>
<img src="cid:part25.89X9021T.eBQMg0gP@iaindaddy.com"
class=""> <img
src="cid:part26.Fq82dLb2.Yhg0mMwK@iaindaddy.com" class="">
<h4>A little bit about John Harrison</h4>
<p>"I am a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia,
who grew up in the 1970s and 80s developing the obsessions
that I now spend a lot of my time writing about: cult
cinema, vintage pulp paperbacks, old comic books, glam
rock music, true crime, and the Las Vegas of yesteryear. I
have contributed hundreds of pieces to books, magazines
and websites, as well as many Blu-ray releases. My most
recent book, CREATURES OF THE SCREEN, a history of the
rock group KISS told via their film and television work,
as well as an examination of the films which have been
inspired by them, was published by Bear Manor Media in
2025.</p>
<p>I first wrote about Guy N. Smith in my 2011 book, HIP
POCKET SLEAZE: THE LURID WORLD OF VINTAGE ADULT
PAPERBACKS. As I mention in my recent article in WE BELONG
DEAD, I was introduced to Guy's work in much the same way
I imagine so many others of my age were: by picking up a
copy of KILLER CRABS from the newsagents when I was a
young teen, and quickly devouring it in one sitting. It
certainly led me to wanting to track down any book I could
find that had Guy's name on it..and they rarely
disappointed! </p>
<p>While it is sad that Guy is no longer with us in body,
it's wonderful to see his work, and his character, living
on through both his books and his fans, not to mention all
the younger horror writers who have been influenced by his
great works."</p>
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<h1>LATEST RELEASES!</h1>
<h2>Killer Crabs - the audiobook!</h2>
<img src="cid:part27.KvetYKjU.wu3Sk3fs@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<h3>Amazon Author Page</h3>
<img src="cid:part28.8I00BmTC.4i9CYuhN@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034NE89E?ingress=0&visitId=75897d31-88b0-4d50-a84b-7807e8a79e8e">https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034NE89E?ingress=0&visitId=75897d31-88b0-4d50-a84b-7807e8a79e8e</a>
<p>If you use Amazon, please follow Guy\u2019s page.</p>
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<h2>\u201cMystery Man\u201d Diary 1957</h2>
<img src="cid:part29.O8xWRpPn.08NkF48g@iaindaddy.com"
class="">
<p>Here is the eighth instalment of Guy\u2019s secret teenage
diary, originally handwritten, and published in our GNS
newsletters for the first time. Guy would have been just
18 years old when he wrote it and was already working in
the Midland Bank. Enjoy!</p>
<p><u><b>Sunday April 14th</b></u><br>
Got up around 11am & got to work on the garden. Tied
up the ramblers, planted some scabius & made a marrow
bed out of the front refuse heap. Saw Billie & Nellie.
Tidied out the shed & cut the two \u2018easy\u2019 lawns. I then
cut the two pieces of rough grass with the edging tool. I
finished them and made a good job. A good day\u2019s work!</p>
<p><u><b>Monday April 15th</b></u><br>
A very good day indeed! I caught the 4.42 today for the
first time on a Monday since i have been at New Street. I
was home at 5.20pm & I got right into the garden. I
finished off cutting the grass in the \u201corchard\u201d. I then
cut the grass by the front hedge & finished it. Took
Mr Buckingham & Jack White a load of grass cuttings
for the fowls? Foals?</p>
<p><u><b>Tuesday April 16th</b></u><br>
Another very good day. I got the 4.42 train home. I
finished cutting grass, patched up the two large flower
pots & sowed some cress in the shed. Went dancing with
Sam Loughhead. Learnt the Samba. We gave two girls a lift
as far as Two Gates. They seemed a bit dubious at first
but plucked up courage and got in. I might ask them
sometime in the future.</p>
<p><u><b>Wednesday April 17th</b></u><br>
We had all balanced at 4 o/c when Tony Hill came and told
me to go & help find a London difference. I got the
4.40 bus home & rode with Mr and Mrs Davis. I did some
gardening. I made a flower pot out of the old chimney pot
I took some grass cuttings down to Grandma\u2019s. I put my
kidney beans in.</p>
<p><u><b>hursday April 18th</b></u><br>
Had a nasty difference & had to tick the \u201cOthers\u201d
section off. I came home on the 5.51 bus. I came home with
Julia Buckley. I put some Godetia in the back flower beds.
I went down to Grandma\u2019s. Joe Dawson blew in, but didn\u2019t
stay long! I rang up Mrs Phizacklea & she says I can
go up there shooting on Sat evening.</p>
<p><u><b>Friday April 18th</b></u><br>
(Good Friday) Went to church in the morning. Congregation
consisted of Greato rex (singer), another woman and
myself! I came back & cut the lawns. Went up to see Mr
Price about some firewood but he wasn\u2019t in. I put my
mushroom spawn down. I sawed up an old Christmas tree for
logs & prepared another.</p>
<p><u><b>Saturday April 20th</b></u><br>
Back home at 2pm. I sawed up the other Christmas tree into
9 logs. Mr Price said I could have any chippings I could
find. I fetched a big load of chippings & larger
stuff. Stocked them behind the shed. Went shooting to
Phizacklea\u2019s. Had one shot \u2013 got nothing. Mum sat and
typed in the car.</p>
<p><u><b>Sunday April 21st</b></u><br>
(Easter Sunday) Went to church in the morning. Came back
and began to lay in firewood. On the last trip, I ran into
Arthur. I tried to avoid him by cutting across an open
space but he yelled \u201cGet off my trees.\u201d Could have been
worse! Did some gardening. Rodney & Kay arrived at
Billy\u2019s today. Clarkes called tonight. </p>
<p><u><b>Monday 22nd April</b></u><br>
(Easter Monday) Did a couple of hours gardening at
Grandma\u2019s. In the afternoon I tidied out our air-raid
shelter. I took all the rubbish down to Grandma\u2019s &
burnt it. I cut the privet hedge by the shelter. Wrote a
story \u201cBrotherhood of the Viper\u201d for the \u201cTettenhall
Observer.\u201d A good day\u2019s work. Rodney & Kay went back
today.</p>
<p><u><b>Tuesday 23rd April</b></u><br>
I\u2019m up at Longbridge this week. It was very peaceful
today. Only one customer between 1 & 3 o/c. The police
warned us about a £5 note a murderer was likely to cash. I
am on late post. Got the 6.20 train home. I am staying at
Grandma\u2019s as Mum, Dad and Lance went to Llandudno this
morning. Went up home in the evening. Had a glass of beer
with Billy & Nellie. Showed Billy round our place.
Slept at Grandma\u2019s. I am very keen on Angela Teague!!!</p>
<p><u><b>Wednesday 24th April</b></u><br>
Fairly busy up at Longbridge today. Everything went O.K.
Did not even catch sight of Angela Teague today. I got
home at 7.20pm after late post. I went up home & had
the gramophone on, did some watering & went round to
Billy\u2019s for a glass of beer. We think old Dale has got a
job. Billy has been stuffing both Coles and Roberts about
the way my garden is coming on!</p>
<p><u><b>Thursday 25th April</b></u><br>
A very quiet day indeed up at Longbridge. Harry Neale told
me his \u201clife story.\u201d We had quite a busy late post & I
got the 6.35 bus home. Home at 7.50pm. Someone has meddled
with my traps. Arthur told Billy he is going to close up
the backs into the wood. He said, \u201cYou\u2019ve only got to look
down the backs to see who does the pinching.\u201d Had a glass
of beer with Billy & Nellie.</p>
<p><u><b>Friday 26th April</b></u><br>
A very busy day up at Longbridge. I got home at 7 o/c
having walked from Mile Oak. I thought I would try and put
a gate on the back up by the wood. I took the trellis gate
off from the side of the house & tried to put that up.
It was about a foot too short. Mum, Dad and Lance arrived
back from Llandudno tonight.</p>
<p><u><b>Saturday 27th April</b></u><br>
Got home about 3 o/c. Mum is a bit bad-tempered I think.
She says Billy is only trying to stir up trouble between
Arthur & me. I went shooting to Phizacklea\u2019s. Didn\u2019t
get anything because she (Mum) said I was to be back
before dark. No point in going if that\u2019s the case! I\u2019m
more determined than ever to approach Angela!</p>
<p><u><b>Sunday 28th April</b></u><br>
Did not get up till 11am. Did some gardening. Watered the
whole garden. Got the dandelions off the lawn. Killed
thousands of ants by pouring boiling water in the ditch
beneath the front rockery. I saw Billy & Nellie in the
afternoon. I also had a chat to Fred & Mrs Cole. She
says my peas are the highest in Hopwas! I am still
thinking of Angela Teague!!!</p>
<p><u><b>>Monday 29th April</b></u><br>
Busiest day so far in the history of Longbridge. Got the
5.5 bus home; home at 6.20pm. Arthur has spoken to Mum
& Dad. It is all a lot of tittle-tattle on Billy\u2019s
part. Arthur does not hate me. He\u2019s got it in for Coles
though. That\u2019s a bit of bother cleared up! I played my
gramophone outside tonight, did some watering and put in a
row of parsley. I\u2019m crazy over Angela Teague!!!</p>
<p><u><b>Tuesday 30th April </b></u><br>
A reasonable day up at Longbridge. Mrs Cole came up to me
this evening & said that Arthur had told her Mum was
annoyed at the \u201chouse to house gossip\u201d & he blamed
Coles. I soothed her down O.K. Needless to say Billy &
Nellie aren\u2019t very popular! I went up to Mrs Winfield with
Sam Loughead. Everyone, practically, who was here tonight
couldn\u2019t dance! I am still thinking of Angela!</p>
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<h3>Newsletter written and compiled by Tara Paulsson.</h3>
<h2>Black Hill Books Ltd would like to say a big thank you
to all our contributors.</h2>
<copyright>Copyright ©\ufe0f August 2026 Black Hill Books Ltd</copyright>
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