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<div class="pre" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; font-family: monospace"><!DOCTYPE html> <br /><html> <br /><head> <br /> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <br /> <title>Guy N Smith - Newsletter 6</title> <br /> <meta name="created" content="19/10/23-00:10:00" /> <br /> <meta name="changed" content="00:00:00" /> <br /> <style type="text/css"> <br /> body { <br /> font-size: 16px; <br /> text-align: center; <br /> background: #74abdb; <br /> } <br /> @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { <br /> body { <br /> font-size: 20px; <br /> } <br /> } <br /> table { <br /> width: 80%; <br /> background-color: aliceblue; <br /> } <br /> hr { <br /> height: 22; <br /> color: rgb(0, 0, 0); <br /> } <br /> h1 { <br /> text-align: center; <br /> } <br /> h2 { <br /> text-align: center; <br /> } <br /> h3 { <br /> text-align: center; <br /> } <br /> h4 { <br /> text-align: center; <br /> } <br /> h5 { <br /> text-align: center; <br /> } <br /> list { <br /> text-align: left; <br /> margin-left: 5%; <br /> font-weight: bold; <br /> } <br /> p { <br /> line-height: 115%; <br /> text-align: justify; <br /> margin-left: 5%; <br /> margin-right: 5%; <br /> margin-top: 0.35cm; <br /> margin-bottom: 0.25cm; <br /> background: transparent <br /> } <br /> i { <br /> font-weight: bold; <br /> font-style: italic; <br /> } <br /> ul { <br /> text-align: left; <br /> margin-left: 10%; <br /> } <br /> a:link { <br /> cursor: url(); <br /> color: #000080; <br /> font-weight: bold; <br /> text-decoration: underline <br /> } <br /> button { <br /> background-color: #713F84; <br /> color: rgb(255, 255, 255); <br /> border: 2px solid #4CAF50; <br /> border: none; <br /> padding: 16px 32px; <br /> text-align: center; <br /> text-decoration: none; <br /> display: inline-block; <br /> font-size: 16px; <br /> margin: 4px 2px; <br /> transition-duration: 0.4s; <br /> cursor: pointer; <br /> } <br /> copyright { <br /> text-align: center; <br /> font-style: italic; <br /> font-size: 8pt; <br /> } <br /> </style> <br /></head> <br /><body> <br /> <table align="center"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <h1><img src="BlackHillBooks-logo.png" width="427" height="230" alt="" name="image4.jpg" align="middle" <br /> border="0"> <br /> <br><b>Official Newsletter No. 10<br>Celebrating the Life and Works of Guy N Smith 1939-2020</b> <br /> <br><img src="image0.jpg" width="175" height="230" alt="" name="image1.jpg" align="bottom" <br /> border="0"> <br /> <br><b>Greetings Fans, Friends and Fiends!</b> <br /> </h1> <br /> <h2>Welcome!</h2> <br /> <p>At last we have details of the imminent GNS Fan Convention 2026 (still time to sign up!) plus current <br /> and future projects by Black Hill Books. We've been busy all summer with our re-releases!</p> <br /> <p>Since the last summer, we've put out ebooks/paperbacks of <i>Cannibals, Killer Crabs: The Return, The <br /> Slime Beast, Spawn of the Slime Beast</i> and <i>Bamboo Guerillas</i>, and to commemorate 50 years since the <br /> first Crabs book, we've launched a special edition of <i>Night of the Crabs</i> - using the 2009 extended <br /> version - in both paperback and hardback (originally published by Ghostwriter Publications) with <br /> genuine Rick Melton cover artwork (with a pinch of 'Chris Hall Crab'). Talking of special artwork, <br /> we've had super contributions from writer-author-artist fans on many of the books from chapter <br /> heading art to cover design and forewords. There's a real team of fans behind the Black Hill Books <br /> project!</p> <br /> <p>And as usual, there's another instalment from the teen 'Mystery Man Diary' in which Guy enjoys <br /> gardening and romantic daydreaming, and his mother sits and types in the car (while the boys go <br /> shooting) - and tries to put a stop to the neighbours' gossiping!</p> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <hr> <br /> <table align="center"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <h2>The Guy N. Smith Fan Convention 2026</h2> <br /> <p>The "Event of the Year" will be located at Knighton Community Centre, Powys on Sunday September 6th <br /> and will begin at 12 noon. <br /> <p>12:00 - Tara Paulsson will open the event and introduce everyone - and encourage raffle ticket <br /> purchases! Original book art - 8 Crabs series covers, Bamboo Guerillas cover, Badger Island cover - <br /> and Dad's Imperial Typewriter will be on the display table (far away from the merch/book releases <br /> table).</p> <br /> <p>12:05 - Comedian/broadcaster Robin Ince talks about Giant Crabs!</p> <br /> <p>12:45 - <i>Killer Crabs</i> Prologue audiobook taster, with narration by Pete Gold (see the last newsletter <br /> for more information on Pete, who narrated our Night of the Crabs audiobook)</p> <br /> <p>13:00 - Author Mark Morris reads from his latest book <i>'Bad Things Happen Here'</i></p> <br /> <p>13:30 - "Border Bites" Buffet Lunch and Mingle - celebrated comic artist Charlie Adlard will be in <br /> attendance!</p> <br /> <p>14:15 - Tara reads the Introduction to <i>Pipe Dreams</i>, Guy N. Smith's memoir</p> <br /> <p>14:30 - David Owain Hughes reads an extract from his crime mystery thriller <i>South by Southwest Wales</i> <br /> </p> <br /> <p>14:45 - Comedian/Writer/Broadcaster Bennett Arron hosts the raffle draw</p> <br /> <p>15:00 - Bennett Arron is Quizmaster for our "Beasts and Bayonets" Quiz</p> <br /> <p>16:00 - Bennett wears the Auctioneer's Hat (well, it's actually his own hat but, hey, he's versatile) <br /> </p> <br /> <p>16:30 - Quiz prizes!</p> <br /> <p>17:00 - Finish - it'll all be over bar the air-kissing… but you can snog if you want to</p> <br /> <h3>Some Fan Con 2026 Goodies</h3> <br /> <p>Limited edition chapbook of the GNS Fan Con 2026 short story <i>'Hollow Eyes'</i> by Guy N. Smith</p> <br /> <p>Limited edition chapbook of <i>Crabs' Fury</i> by Guy N. Smith and Charlie Adlard</p> <br /> <p>Auction of Bamboo Guerillas and Slime Beast series artwork (oil on canvas, pen and ink - reserve <br /> prices apply!), proofed MSS of the latest releases, signed books, a selection Graveyard Rendezvous <br /> originals</p> <br /> <p>Exhibition of Neale Thomas' Crabs series original painted artwork, mounted on wooden (books 1-8), <br /> Rowan Robinson's Badger Island cover art painting</p> <br /> <p>Raffle prizes (ooooooh!)</p> <br /> <p>An Honorary PhD in GNS Studies awarded by the Great Scribbler Academy of Pulp</p> <br /> <p>Free buffet by Borders Bites</p> <br /> <p>Free Spotify download code for the Night of the Crabs audiobook launched last year</p> <br /> <h3>Plus</h3> <br /> <p>Black Hill Books GNS re-releases at special fan con discount price</p> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h1>Personalities and contributors:</h1> <br /> <h2>Robin Ince</h2> <br /> <h3>Comedian, Writer, Broadcaster</h3> <br /> <img src="image1.png" alt="Photographer - Alice Degarssi (c) The Cosmic Shambles Network"> <br /> <p>Robin Ince is many things. A multi award winning comedian, author, broadcaster, bibliomaniac and a <br /> populariser of scientific ideas. He is perhaps best known as the former co-host and co-creator of <br /> the Sony Gold Award winning BBC Radio 4 series <i>The Infinite Monkey Cage</i> with Professor Brian Cox. As <br /> a stand up Robin has toured the world and as an author he has written four acclaimed books, <br /> including <i>Bibliomaniac</i>, earned him the prestigious Booksellers Association Author of the Year award. <br /> His fifth, <i>Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal</i> is published in May 2025. He co-created the Cosmic <br /> Shambles Network and created the groundbreaking science variety night <i>Nine Lessons and Carols</i> for <br /> Curious People which has been adapted worldwide. He has received an Honorary Fellowship of UCL, an <br /> honorary doctorate from Royal Holloway College (University of London), and is a fellow of the <br /> British Science Association.</p> <br /> <list>Work includes:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'Infinite Monkey Cage' (Radio 4)</li> <br /> <li>'Giant Killer Crabs Musical' (Latitude Festival 2006/2026)</li> <br /> <li>The Incomplete Shambles Podcast</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <list>Books:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'Bad Book Club'</li> <br /> <li>'Normally Weird Weirdly Normal'</li> <br /> <li>'Bibliomaniac'</li> <br /> <li>'The Importance of Being Interested'</li> <br /> <li>'I'm a Joke and So Are You'</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <list>Plus</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'Crabs on the Rampage' foreword!</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <img src="image2.png"> <br /> <img src="image3.png"> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>Charlie Adlard</h2> <br /> <h3>British Comic Book Artist and Illustrator Charlie Adlard</h3> <br /> <img src="image4.png" alt="Photographer: Matthew Johnson"> <br /> <h4>Winner of the Sergio Aragonés International Award for Excellence in Comic Art</h4> <br /> <p>Charlie was born on the 4th August 1966 in the town of Shrewsbury, England and, having moved away to <br /> study film and video at art college, eventually moved back and still resides there today. Before <br /> moving back to Shrewsbury, he spent a brief stint in London, finding out that the BA he'd earned at <br /> art college was pretty useless in getting a job in the film industry, and, after failing to set the <br /> world alight playing the drums in a rock band, eventually settled on the "third" option - which was <br /> comics. An option he finally realised should have been number one right from the beginning. After <br /> spending two years back in Shrewsbury, working on a portfolio, he eventually found his first work at <br /> the Judge Dredd Megazine in 1992 and hasn't looked back since.</p> <br /> <list>Work includes:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>The Walking Dead</li> <br /> <li>Mars Attacks</li> <br /> <li>The X-Files</li> <br /> <li>Judge Dredd</li> <br /> <li>Savage</li> <br /> <li>Batman</li> <br /> <li>X-Men</li> <br /> <li>Superman</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <list>Plus:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>Crabs' Fury Graphic Novel!</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <img src="image5.png"> <br /> <img src="image6.png"> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>Bennett Arron</h2> <br /> <h3>Comedian / Writer / Presenter / Speaker</h3> <br /> <img src="image7.png"> <br /> <h4>BBC New Comedy Awards Finalist alongside Peter Kay</h4> <br /> <p>In 2023, following a successful and award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Top Ten Jokes <br /> of the Fringe, Poster of the Year Award), Bennett was about to work on a TV project, write a new <br /> book and perform at various venues around the world. Then, for the first time ever, he began to <br /> suffer from anxiety and depression. His life fell apart. He had to cancel everything and he couldn't <br /> even leave his house.</p> <br /> <p>Two years later, Bennett returned to the Festival with a show based on his experiences. The funny, <br /> poignant, moving and relatable show played to full houses and was critically acclaimed. Bennett has <br /> created dozens of episodes of television, three series for radio, one feature film, three books and <br /> thousands of hours of material for other entertainers. Genie in The House was the number one show on <br /> Nickelodeon. Bennett wrote over 20 episodes of the series and the TV Movie.</p> <br /> <list>Work includes:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'I Regret This Already' stand up show (Edinburgh)</li> <br /> <li>The role of 'Morris' in Radio 4 sitcom 'Alone'</li> <br /> <li>Presenter/Director of 'How to Steal an Identity' Channel 4 documentary:</li> <br /> <li>Mock the Week</li> <br /> <li>Have I Got News for You</li> <br /> <li>Graham Norton</li> <br /> <li>BAFTA and Golden Globes speechwriting</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <list>Books:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'Heard the One About Identity Theft?'</li> <br /> <li>'The Girl From the Discotheque'</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>David Owain Hughes</h2> <br /> <h3>Author</h3> <br /> <img src="image8.png"> <br /> <p>David Owain Hughes is a word-slinger of horror and crime fiction who grew up on trashy B-movies from <br /> the age of five which helped rapidly instil in him a vivid sense of imagination. He's had multiple <br /> short stories published in various online magazines and anthologies, along with articles, reviews <br /> and interviews. He's written for This is Horror, Blood Magazine and Horror Geeks Magazine. Hughes is <br /> the author of six novels, four short story collections and a plethora of novellas. Although he <br /> predominantly writes within the the bracket of horror and its multiple subgenres, he's recently <br /> branched out into crime fiction and is slowly carving out a superb series of crime/noir thrillers <br /> under the umbrella title of South Wales.</p> <br /> <list>Work includes:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>South by Southwest Wales</li> <br /> <li>Any Which Way but South Wales</li> <br /> <li>All Roads Lead to South Wales</li> <br /> <li>Wind-up Toy</li> <br /> <li>Man-eating F*cks</li> <br /> <li>The Rack and Cue</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> Plus <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'Cannibals' foreword!!</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <img src="image9.png"> <br /> <img src="image10.png"> <br /> <img src="image11.png"> <br /><br> <br /> <img src="image12.png"> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>Mark Morris</h2> <br /> <h3>Author</h3> <br /> <img src="image13.png"> <br /> <p>In his 38-year career Mark Morris has written and edited over fifty novels, novellas, short story <br /> collections and anthologies, and his script work includes audio dramas for Doctor Who, Jago & <br /> Litefoot and the Hammer Chillers series. His most recent work includes the novels That Which Stands <br /> Outside and Bad Things Happen Here, new audio adaptations of the classic 1971 horror movie <i>Blood <br /> on <br /> Satan's Claw</i> and the M.R. James ghost story <i>A View From a Hill</i>, the official BBC <br /> Books/Target <br /> novelization of the 60th anniversary Doctor Who special <i>Wild Blue Yonder</i>, and, as editor, an <br /> anthology in the acclaimed <i>'Tales of the Weird'</i> series published by the British Library, <br /> entitled <br /> The New Flesh: Tales of Shapeshifters and Strange Transformations, and six anthologies in the <br /> ongoing ABC of Horror series for Flame Tree Press. Blood on Satan's Claw won the New York Festival <br /> Radio Award for Best Drama Special, and A View From a Hill won the New York Festival Radio Award for <br /> Best Digital Drama Program, and was also awarded Silver at the 2020 Audio & Radio Industry Awards. <br /> Mark has won two British Fantasy Awards, and has also been nominated for several Stokers and Shirley <br /> Jackson Awards.</p> <br /> <list>Work includes:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>Bad Things Happen Here</li> <br /> <li>That Which Stands Outside</li> <br /> <li>The Society of Blood</li> <br /> <li>The Black</li> <br /> <li>Mr Bad Face</li> <br /> <li>The Deluge</li> <br /> <li>Toady</li> <br /> <li>The Wolves of London</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <list>Plus</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>Origin of the Crabs foreword!</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>Jon Bruford</h2> <br /> <h3>Writer, journalist and broadcaster</h3> <br /> <img src="image14.png"> <br /> <p>Co-host of The Gambling Files, Addiction, and TGF Presents Dessert Island Discs podcasts</p> <br /> <list>Work includes:</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>Managing Editor of Casino International publication</li> <br /> <li>Publishing Director, Fulwoord Media</li> <br /> <li>Content and Editorial, The Gaming Boardroom</li> <br /> <li>The Gambling Files Substack Blog</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <list>Plus</list> <br /> <ul> <br /> <li>'Bamboo Guerillas' foreword!</li> <br /> </ul> <br /> <img src="image15.png"> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>Chris Hall</h2> <br /> <h3>Business professional, Black Hill Books contributing artist, writer/content creator at <br /> DLSReviews.com - <br /> and Killer Crabs: The Return foreword writer!</h3> <br /> <img src="image16.png"> <br /> <img src="image16b.png"> <br /> <h3>From the last newsletter's 'Last Word' column:</h3> <br /> <p>I've attended every annual GNS Fan Convention since 2010. Guy and his wonderful family have also <br /> become <br /> good friends. I've also been lucky enough to be killed at the claws of the giant crabs within the <br /> novella 'Killer Crabs 2: The Return'. As anyone who spends five-minutes in my company will no doubt <br /> testify, preserving the legacy of GNS is very important to me. To this day I've continually done <br /> what I <br /> can to promote Guy's work and document what was published. My website - DLS Reviews - an openly <br /> verbose <br /> labour of love, is where I continually add more in-depth reviews of GNS's work, more to provide an <br /> online reference for those wanting to find out more about Guy's back catalogue, than anything else. <br /> </p> <br /> <img src="image17.png"> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <hr> <br /> <h2>Hal C F Astell</h2> <br /> <h3>Author, critic, publisher - and The Slime Beast foreword writer!</h3> <br /> <img src="image18.png"> <br /> <p>Hal C. F. Astell is a critic, author, publisher and film festival director who runs the Apocalypse <br /> Later <br /> Empire from his lair in Phoenix, Arizona. He has many books and zines in print through Apocalypse <br /> Later <br /> Press. His website is apocalypselaterempire.com.</p> <br /> <p>He found Guy's work in the early eighties, met the man himself in 1993 and soon became a friend, <br /> colleague and IT support guy. He was Production Director for Black Hills Books (Publishers), laying <br /> out <br /> Guy's first three self-published novels and a few issues of Graveyard Rendezvous. He contributed <br /> fiction <br /> to Graveyard and non fiction to Hell of a Guy: Fans on the Rampage, Sabat Antologia tom 2 (in <br /> Polish) <br /> and GNS3.</p> <br /> <p>He ran Guy's first official website and continues to maintain Smithland at guynsmith.rocks. He owns a <br /> substantial collection of Guy's manuscripts, which have helped deepen his ongoing read and review <br /> runthrough of all Guy's books for the Nameless Zine, the first third of which can be found in print <br /> in <br /> the Apocalypse Later Zine, Guy N. Smith Part One. <a href="https://a.co/d/0aesKPJp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://a.co/d/0aesKPJp</a></p> <br /> <img src="image19.png"> <br /> <img src="image20.png"> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <hr> <br /> <table align="center"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <h2>GNS in the Wild!</h2> <br /> <p>One of our eagle-eyed fans spotted this extract from Stephen Graham Jones's foreword to "Video Night" <br /> by <br /> Adam Cesare.</p> <br /> <img src="image21.png"> <br /> <p>Nice!</p> <br /> <p>And again, this article was spotted by a contributor, so we got in touch with John Harrison and a <br /> responded with a few words!</p> <br /> <h2><i>"Werewolves, Slime Beasts and Killer Crabs"</i></h2> <br /> <h2>by John Harrison</h2> <br /> <h3>Writer and journalist</h3> <br /> <img src="image22.png"> <br /> <img src="image23.png"> <br /> <h4>A little bit about John Harrison</h4> <br /> <p>"I am a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia, who grew up in the 1970s and 80s developing <br /> the <br /> obsessions that I now spend a lot of my time writing about: cult cinema, vintage pulp paperbacks, <br /> old <br /> comic books, glam rock music, true crime, and the Las Vegas of yesteryear. I have contributed <br /> hundreds <br /> of pieces to books, magazines and websites, as well as many Blu-ray releases. My most recent book, <br /> CREATURES OF THE SCREEN, a history of the rock group KISS told via their film and television work, <br /> as <br /> well as an examination of the films which have been inspired by them, was published by Bear Manor <br /> Media <br /> in 2025.</p> <br /> <p>I first wrote about Guy N. Smith in my 2011 book, HIP POCKET SLEAZE: THE LURID WORLD OF VINTAGE ADULT <br /> PAPERBACKS. As I mention in my recent article in WE BELONG DEAD, I was introduced to Guy's work in <br /> much <br /> the same way I imagine so many others of my age were: by picking up a copy of KILLER CRABS from the <br /> newsagents when I was a young teen, and quickly devouring it in one sitting. It certainly led me to <br /> wanting to track down any book I could find that had Guy's name on it..and they rarely disappointed! <br /> </p> <br /> <p>While it is sad that Guy is no longer with us in body, it's wonderful to see his work, and his <br /> character, living on through both his books and his fans, not to mention all the younger horror <br /> writers <br /> who have been influenced by his great works."</p> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <hr> <br /> <table align="center"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <h1>LATEST RELEASES!</h1> <br /> <h2>Killer Crabs - the audiobook!</h2> <br /> <img src="image24.png"> <br /> <h3>Amazon Author Page</h3> <br /> <img src="image25.png"> <br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034NE89E?ingress=0&visitId=75897d31-88b0-4d50-a84b-7807e8a79e8e" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034NE89E?ingress=0&visitId=75897d31-88b0-4d50-a84b-7807e8a79e8e</a> <br /> <p>If you use Amazon, please follow Guy's page.</p> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <hr> <br /> <table align="center"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <h2>"Mystery Man" Diary 1957</h2> <br /> <img src="MysteryMan.png"> <br /> <p>Here is the eighth instalment of Guy's secret teenage diary, originally handwritten, and published in <br /> our GNS newsletters for the first time. Guy would have been just 18 years old when he wrote it and <br /> was already working in the Midland Bank. Enjoy!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Sunday April 14th</b></u><br> <br /> Got up around 11am & got to work on the garden. Tied up the ramblers, planted some scabius & made a <br /> marrow bed out of the front refuse heap. Saw Billie & Nellie. Tidied out the shed & cut the two <br /> 'easy' lawns. I then cut the two pieces of rough grass with the edging tool. I finished them and <br /> made a good job. A good day's work!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Monday April 15th</b></u><br> <br /> A very good day indeed! I caught the 4.42 today for the first time on a Monday since i have been at <br /> New Street. I was home at 5.20pm & I got right into the garden. I finished off cutting the grass in <br /> the "orchard". I then cut the grass by the front hedge & finished it. Took Mr Buckingham & Jack <br /> White a load of grass cuttings for the fowls? Foals?</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Tuesday April 16th</b></u><br> <br /> Another very good day. I got the 4.42 train home. I finished cutting grass, patched up the two large <br /> flower pots & sowed some cress in the shed. Went dancing with Sam Loughhead. Learnt the Samba. We <br /> gave two girls a lift as far as Two Gates. They seemed a bit dubious at first but plucked up courage <br /> and got in. I might ask them sometime in the future.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Wednesday April 17th</b></u><br> <br /> We had all balanced at 4 o/c when Tony Hill came and told me to go & help find a London difference. <br /> I got the 4.40 bus home & rode with Mr and Mrs Davis. I did some gardening. I made a flower pot out <br /> of the old chimney pot I took some grass cuttings down to Grandma's. I put my kidney beans in.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>hursday April 18th</b></u><br> <br /> Had a nasty difference & had to tick the "Others" section off. I came home on the 5.51 bus. I came <br /> home with Julia Buckley. I put some Godetia in the back flower beds. I went down to Grandma's. Joe <br /> Dawson blew in, but didn't stay long! I rang up Mrs Phizacklea & she says I can go up there shooting <br /> on Sat evening.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Friday April 18th</b></u><br> <br /> (Good Friday) <br /> Went to church in the morning. Congregation consisted of Greato rex (singer), another woman and <br /> myself! I came back & cut the lawns. Went up to see Mr Price about some firewood but he wasn't in. I <br /> put my mushroom spawn down. I sawed up an old Christmas tree for logs & prepared another.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Saturday April 20th</b></u><br> <br /> Back home at 2pm. I sawed up the other Christmas tree into 9 logs. Mr Price said I could have any <br /> chippings I could find. I fetched a big load of chippings & larger stuff. Stocked them behind the <br /> shed. Went shooting to Phizacklea's. Had one shot - got nothing. Mum sat and typed in the car.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Sunday April 21st</b></u><br> <br /> (Easter Sunday) <br /> Went to church in the morning. Came back and began to lay in firewood. On the last trip, I ran into <br /> Arthur. I tried to avoid him by cutting across an open space but he yelled "Get off my trees." Could <br /> have been worse! Did some gardening. Rodney & Kay arrived at Billy's today. Clarkes called tonight. <br /> </p> <br /> <p><u><b>Monday 22nd April</b></u><br> <br /> (Easter Monday) <br /> Did a couple of hours gardening at Grandma's. In the afternoon I tidied out our air-raid shelter. I <br /> took all the rubbish down to Grandma's & burnt it. I cut the privet hedge by the shelter. Wrote a <br /> story "Brotherhood of the Viper" for the "Tettenhall Observer." A good day's work. Rodney & Kay went <br /> back today.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Tuesday 23rd April</b></u><br> <br /> I'm up at Longbridge this week. It was very peaceful today. Only one customer between 1 & 3 o/c. The <br /> police warned us about a £5 note a murderer was likely to cash. I am on late post. Got the 6.20 <br /> train home. I am staying at Grandma's as Mum, Dad and Lance went to Llandudno this morning. Went up <br /> home in the evening. Had a glass of beer with Billy & Nellie. Showed Billy round our place. Slept at <br /> Grandma's. I am very keen on Angela Teague!!!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Wednesday 24th April</b></u><br> <br /> Fairly busy up at Longbridge today. Everything went O.K. Did not even catch sight of Angela Teague <br /> today. I got home at 7.20pm after late post. I went up home & had the gramophone on, did some <br /> watering & went round to Billy's for a glass of beer. We think old Dale has got a job. Billy has <br /> been stuffing both Coles and Roberts about the way my garden is coming on!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Thursday 25th April</b></u><br> <br /> A very quiet day indeed up at Longbridge. Harry Neale told me his "life story." We had quite a busy <br /> late post & I got the 6.35 bus home. Home at 7.50pm. Someone has meddled with my traps. Arthur told <br /> Billy he is going to close up the backs into the wood. He said, "You've only got to look down the <br /> backs to see who does the pinching." Had a glass of beer with Billy & Nellie.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Friday 26th April</b></u><br> <br /> A very busy day up at Longbridge. I got home at 7 o/c having walked from Mile Oak. I thought I would <br /> try and put a gate on the back up by the wood. I took the trellis gate off from the side of the <br /> house & tried to put that up. It was about a foot too short. Mum, Dad and Lance arrived back from <br /> Llandudno tonight.</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Saturday 27th April</b></u><br> <br /> Got home about 3 o/c. Mum is a bit bad-tempered I think. She says Billy is only trying to stir up <br /> trouble between Arthur & me. I went shooting to Phizacklea's. Didn't get anything because she (Mum) <br /> said I was to be back before dark. No point in going if that's the case! I'm more determined than <br /> ever to approach Angela!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Sunday 28th April</b></u><br> <br /> Did not get up till 11am. Did some gardening. Watered the whole garden. Got the dandelions off the <br /> lawn. Killed thousands of ants by pouring boiling water in the ditch beneath the front rockery. I <br /> saw Billy & Nellie in the afternoon. I also had a chat to Fred & Mrs Cole. She says my peas are the <br /> highest in Hopwas! I am still thinking of Angela Teague!!!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>>Monday 29th April</b></u><br> <br /> Busiest day so far in the history of Longbridge. Got the 5.5 bus home; home at 6.20pm. Arthur has <br /> spoken to Mum & Dad. It is all a lot of tittle-tattle on Billy's part. Arthur does not hate me. He's <br /> got it in for Coles though. That's a bit of bother cleared up! I played my gramophone outside <br /> tonight, did some watering and put in a row of parsley. I'm crazy over Angela Teague!!!</p> <br /> <p><u><b>Tuesday 30th April </b></u><br> <br /> A reasonable day up at Longbridge. Mrs Cole came up to me this evening & said that Arthur had told <br /> her Mum was annoyed at the "house to house gossip" & he blamed Coles. I soothed her down O.K. <br /> Needless to say Billy & Nellie aren't very popular! I went up to Mrs Winfield with Sam Loughead. <br /> Everyone, practically, who was here tonight couldn't dance! I am still thinking of Angela!</p> <br /> image.png <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /> <hr> <br /> <table align="center"> <br /> <tr> <br /> <td> <br /> <h3>Newsletter written and compiled by Tara Paulsson.</h3> <br /> <h2>Black Hill Books Ltd would like to say a big thank <br /> you to all our contributors.</h2> <br /> <copyright>Copyright (c)\ufe0f August 2026 Black Hill Books Ltd</copyright> <br /> </td> <br /> </tr> <br /> </table> <br /></body> <br /></html></div>
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