The Beano Summer Special 2024

 It's May and something starts every year around this time as we move through Whit Bank Holiday not so far away and then we build up to the school holidays which takes us your time away whither or not it's a caravan park, seaside guest house or foreign resort.

Something needs to help fill that time that doesn't have batteries that go flat, internet connections that cut out, is in your language and you can easily return to.

For many of it was the Summer Special of our favourite comics, Tammy, Dandy or for a good many of us The Beano that we got and took with us to deal things like wet afternoons.

In the past they were just special editions of your regular comic with new exclusive stories but with the Beano in recent years there has been more of an attempt to program a theme across the whole edition involving many of the other characters and more fun activities.

This years is et more around the notion of a set of Pranks in Beanotown often at the expense of the adult  authority figures like Teacher from the Bash Street Kids, the Mayor of Beanotown, Walter's Dad or attraction bosses.

Here Dennis is working on something (he's ceased to be "The Menace") and like society today is more multicultural but it's still recognizably a child's world we enter and today's child would recognize where many things are but just a smartphone away.

And that's really the point, we enter that world again, the signs may be different, the Public Telephone isn't on the street corner but it's the basically the same so we enjoy our time.

I'm enjoying it.

Footwear of the past II (and something to read)

Well it's a week after the Coronation and a warmish weekend after the damp squid that was much of last week and we are officially going backwards as far as this blog goes, more with an entry in line with its earliest.

Coming I believe Wednesday, after last weeks Coronation inspired edition which given used prices are starting to rise already so I'll keep, is this years Summer Activity Special, the more modern and hip title of what we knew as the Summer Special with quizzes and stickers.

It isn't going to be be available to order at D C Thompson's online shop but can be ordered via Amazon as this has only just emerged unlike most years and I don't know, very few people do know, the across the issue plot as there's been no advance publicity unlike previous years.

If we're going back in time to the years we'd devour that, then there's every probability we'd of been in cute girls ankle socks with your skirt, dress, short tails or short trousers not unlike these and oddly enough I hadn't posted about cute socks for a good few years here.

If we'd of gone back a bit further laying across the floor in our school skirt or pinafore dresses reading or playing you might of been in long socks and these are some white pereline ones with a poppy patterned weave I had recently which are genuine vintage designs.

Everything as it was in an entry just like they used to be on here.

How about that boys and girls?

Summer Fun with The Beano 2022

While I take a bit of breather outdoors this weekend as I post stuff slightly in advance and with anyone looking at their calendars and diaries bought just before Christmas and fingers being crossed I do get to get away this year will sense Summer is almost upon us. 

Summer in times gone past meant we bought or were given things to help us as kids pass that time away and in the heyday of The Comic that tended to mean a deluxe full colour expanded edition with all new stories.

Well, it's that time of the year again and so the sole survivor on the street of the comics some of us were brought up with returns with its special edition.

It bills itself as a Summer Activity Special which gives us a clue as all modern comics have a social side not just a collection of new individual comic strips but incorporating fun things to do being given stickers to stick anywhere you wish, joke pages, quizzes and competitions as part of the mix.

The Clock struck at the top of the hour signalling the end end of Summer School Term as Ms Mistry the (new) teacher at Bash Street School questions why all of Class 3C are looking at it wanting to set Homework while back in Class 2B the Bash Street Kids are getting rebellious.

Little does anyone realize they set to involved in historical time travelling high jinks thanks to Professor Screwtop, Rubi's father's inventions that affect everyone in Beanotown with it facing the prospect of  being lost in time forever.

Somehow all the regulars from Beanotown must find a way saving it from such a fate.

Unlike some years they haven't dispensed with the individual page strips for Rubi's Screwtop Science, Minnie the Minx, Dennis the Menace and naturally enough the Bash Street Kids although sometimes characters do guest in each others cartoon strips as the story develops.

Nobody has got any older over the years although we are clearly in 2022 and not 1972 and the world the modern girl or boy inhabits for whom this is really aimed and perhaps some of us remain even if things such as Smartphones were things we never could of foreseen.

It is available NOW.

Summer Fun with The Beano

While I take a bit of a break with the weather being all over the place anyone looking at their calendars and diaries bought just before Christmas and fingers being crossed I do get to get away this year will sense Summer is almost upon us. 

Summer in times gone past meant we bought or were given things to help us as kids pass that time away and in the heyday of The Comic that tended to mean a deluxe full colour expanded edition with all new stories.

Well, it's that time of the year again and so the sole survivor on the street of the comics some of us were brought up with returns with its special edition.

It bills itself as a Summer Activity Special which gives us a clue as all modern comics have a social side not just a collection of new individual comic strips but incorporating fun things to do giver like stickers to stick anywhere you wish, joke pages, quizzes and competitions as part of the mix.

Like modern Beano Specials like the annual and past Summer editions, this runs with a seamless storyline, this year seeing everyone going on a school trip of a lifetime, with a creepy castle, missing jewels, a mysterious monster, all served with twist in the tale!

Unlike some years they haven't dispensed with the individual page strips for Rubi's Screwtop Science, Minnie the Minx, Dennis the Menace and naturally enough the Bash Street Kids whose coach they are all on although there are some common pages.

Nobody has got an older over the years although we are clearly in 2021 and not 1971 and the world the modern girl or boy inhabits for whom this is really aimed and perhaps some of us remain.

Summer Specials edition

This week as we're a little more able in England to get about and we're into the Summer that staple of childhoods not least when you were away on vacation comes around, the comic Summer Special.

For of us who have been around a bit, the Summer Special had a bigger print size, was printed on luxurious glossy and was often in full colour so it was the thing you bought first after arriving into the town you were spending that time as a child.

For me it was the Beano although I did get the Dandy too because that was the main weekly comic I had so you knew the characters and the sorts of things that might happen within them.

As has been the case with most recent editions, the Beano one is set in Beanotown, where all the characters from the individual comic strips live and this one takes one plot that involves all the main cartoon strips.

The plot this year revolves around the Ban by the Mayor of Beanotown, who is Walter the softies Dad on Pranking following an incident at the launch of Beano Bucks, the towns new currency and the attempt to overturn it by Beanotown's children.

This has been well put together so the plot runs seamlessly across each separate cartoon strip and a few joint panels.

The Summer Special is rooted in the current comic so while featuring such staples as Dennis The Menace, Minnie The Minx and Rodger The Dodger that many of us recall it also includes Bananaman and Rubi, JJ and Pie face which is about as PC as it gets with a female wheelchair user, and Afro-carribean character included.

The older series are as I think I have said before are more toned down and the Demon Whacker absent and the Bash Street Schools teacher doesn't even carry a cane never mind threaten to use it reflect the regular comic as it is in 2020!    

All in all I would say as much as I am a Beano traditionalist, this years Summer Special is really well put together with quizzes, games and stickers to keep the young and the young at heart happy this summer which is what matters.

By way of contrast this years Dandy Summer Special is aimed more at those who grew up on the regular comic that was discontinued in December 2012 with choice high quality reprints but with a few brand new strips of the old favourites to keep us amused.

 Continuing the fast forward to the past theme, I recent acquired this 2006 cd of the 1972 T. Rex The Slider album which was one those things together with the summer specials I remember quite well having the lp which featured the hit singles Metal Guru and Telegram Sam.

Spinnin' Christmas day edition

Christmas but once a year so getting out of bed not really being asleep for much of the night I am up having smelt the grump's turkey cooking overnight and am opening the presents while my brother is present as he came at 9 o'clock! which also was a bit later than planned.
Like how do get something for breakfast and be sociable?
There is only on batch of main presents this year thanks to a three year delay which comprises of the first four Dire Straits albums remastered and issued on Super Audio cd.

 They were not cheap and will be reviewed at some future point but the sheer expense cut into my Christmas allowance my folks allow but as the reviews at other sites were so positive trading my original cds from the 80's for these seemed to make sense.
Back to the future  with annuals connected to christmas of the past with the boys, girls and pets that we laughed our heads off reading the Beano and Dandy Comics.

 Being straight reprints they take you back to the past you knew which is why as with last year there's no current Beano annual simply because while some of the favourites of the past are still there, the contexts are different and the newer series of cartoon strips don't connect that much with me.
I do have a copy of the Dandy Annual though with new stories about the old favourites like Beryl The Peril and The Numbskills.

 I did pick up the Christmas Beano Special which is the christmas themed regular edition which covers the comic as it now is which is enough to enjoy the way the comic has moved. 
Let's put it this way, last weeks regular comic for Christmas week was a plastic festooned edition with bits for pranks while in the past the stories would be enough to get you reading what might be happening to Walter and his Softies chums from Dennis and Gnasher and so on.
I got a zip up Maroon sweater from Mom which wasn't expected to be honest as it's been a few years since she'd bought one.
I had some money from relatives that I can use towards some books or Blu ray discs in the future.
Hope everyone's enjoying Christmas and don't give the dog a bone.
Regards Jo.

A tribute to Leo

Every Thursday come rain or shine there was one thing that British schoolchildren looked forward to and even though it is online only today, it is the same and that is the children's comic, the Beano that mirrored chunks of your world with stories about home and school life together with stories from far away lands.

 This is a good example as any of a pre 1990's edition with Dennis the arch menace, his dog, Gnasher up to no good with 'soppy' Walter not that Dennis and his chums didn't get their come-uppance by "the powers that be" which you could say was the message although we all laughed at them.
This comic had a team of cartoonists of which one instrumental member Leo Baxendale died on Thursday, draw the Bash Street Kids and Minnie The Minx who remain even very popular characters. R.I.P Leo.

Christmas report

Christmas here was a bit different for a few reasons one being we didn't go out for lunch between some inter family stuff that tested patience to the limits and Mommy and I being very unwell just before and still recovering  so even if we had, it really would of been a waste as we'd not of eaten much.
With that we ate at home between ourselves,with the Turkey being put in over night to cook right through, vegetables done across the morning and the Christmas Pudding zapped in two minutes flat before eating!
As it was 2015 I had to help out getting stuff out, setting the table, clearing the table and with washing up.
I did have a number of presents this year although somethings are in transit as as I wasn't well enough to organize them to just before Christmas which does give me something to look forward toward I guess.

A perennial with me is comic annuals which are a direct run on from the Christmas presents I has as a child featuring special and sometimes Christmas themed cartoon strips from my all time favourite characters such as the no longer running apart from specials, Dandy which had Korky the cat, Desperate Dan of Cow Pie fame and others in it. 

The BIG comic with me as a Child was Britain's Beano a veritable parallel world for those of us who were of official school age  during the 70's thru 90's it's peak period with it's own school and characters in the form of the Bash Street Kids, my heroine Minnie the Minx and Dennis the Menance who like us also got smacked if they were naughty (and they were!).
As time went by some strips like Lord Snooty got retired and others like Bananaman who did have a tv series too joined the old favourites and the questionable practise of featuring in the news real people like pop stars and the like in story-lines crept in.

To say I like Jacqueline Wilson's stories is an understatement outside of the likes of Enid Blyton and co which I was raised on (and as you may know do have a good number of complete series by), she treads the line well between old school story telling but set in the world of todays children (and sadly some of society's issues) producing funny, very readable and thought provoking work.
This is set of short stories, some Christmas related featuring some of her best loved characters like Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather with quizzes too which is just the sort of thing I like, a more middles take on an annual in a paperback book format.

Mommy bought me  this, Maddie who is a 14 inch soft rag doll who I think is adorable in her pink candy stripped outfit and some grey long school socks which is a very sensible choice for an adult middle like me.

My Auntie brought me a selection box which was a super inspired choice on her part as she not formally known about my Middle side but can tell straight I'm very child-like.

To be honest I'd sooner people either asked ideally or just bought me things more like this because I just so not relate to *adult* likes and that at all so buying for a middle child really is more sensible.

Christmas Edition 2014

Well, now were officially a few days past it, here's my Christmas edition for this year where as ever I ramble on about Christmas as it lived by me.
The first thing to say is Christmas for me is first and foremost a littles affair, practically a childrens one starting with the great anticipation, the week before and building up on Christmas Eve where I sat with Mommy watching the Carols from King's concert on tv in one of my Pinafore Dresses before eating.
I was wake around Half past  Six Christmas Day with anticipation about which list of Santa's  I was one, hoping it wasn't the naughty one, getting washed and dressed  to comedown stairs (in our family you absolutely never come down stairs without being properly dressed, ever) and fix breakfast.
It wasn't long before the sacks were found and surprisingly I wasn't on the wrong list (with a bag of coal and a voucher redeemable for free smacks) so I started on opening them.
There were a number of Annuals, those perennials from my childhood where you got a softback book featuring cartoon strips from your favourite comics, extra features, quizzes  and games.

As the initiated know, I do read this comic a lot loving the adventures of Minnie The Minx, Dennis The Menace and the Bash Street Kids so here's this years annual.

A comic I used to love but has folded from weekly publishing was the Dandy with Korky the Cat and Desperate Dan of Cow Pie fame but they do specials such as this years annual so I was mighty glad to get that one.

 An author of books I love to read is Jacqueline Wilson and every year there's an annual out about her, the many stories she's written featuring Tracy Beaker (a heroine of mine) with tips on writing and drawing. I also got the Hello Kitty annual with stories and pictures you can colour.

Talking Kitty, I got a note pad and pencil from my Brother and partner which was pleasant surprise.
But the biggest surprise was yet to come.

Yes, my parents actually surpassed themselves and bought me this Grafix Build your own Teddy Bear kit that you stuff, sow the back and badge onto and fill out the Birth Certificate for!
I mean, you couldn't get so little with me me if you tried as this suitable for anyone over five (Foive in South Staffordshire speak) bear you can carry around with you hugging after completion.
After going out for lunch, I got changed into a Tartan skirt coming down the stairs in the late afternoon watching tv for a bit before we had a light evening meal as I was feeling a bit full.
One of my brothers forget his present so he's due to come back with it sometime soon while the other one realized he forgot to give my my main present so money that'll go toward some more blouses as I go through my closet replacing  and updating clothes.
Typed before evening meal in Red and Green GHS uniform with grey socks as I have no wish to have to wear trousers to eat at night with and the 'rent's are getting used to it!

Christmas 2013

For me Christmas started with waking up rather early in anticipation following the previous nights chat and actually being sat with Mommy for a brief period in the front room still in uniform watching a church service!
Having woken up I got dressed and fixed some breakfast before the start of present exchanging that I'll return to shortly and the inevitable nya's from my cat who really, really doesn't like having his routines turned upside down by human festivities.
By around 11:30 my younger brother and partner had arrived shortly followed by my older brother and male he lives with so I get my outstanding card giving sorted having decided after lunch would be better to deal with presents.
We went to the local Gastropub, the one The head girl of Lower 6th and First Former met me within spitting distance of for a meal cos Mom didn't feel like catering for everyone, something I quite agree with as she deserves a break from that having pre-booked both table and meal options. I declined a starter, finished off a Turkey platter with  vegetables  plus cranberry sauce  and a delightful Lemon Bell sweet with cream. Service was excellent with the only real negative being the boring boy toy talk at the table.
Getting back to presents, I presented mine upon our return which for the males of species was kinda easy to arrange as much as prefer carefully selecting something for an individual as they're kind of boring and with my brothers had gotten together to buy Mommy a new tv for her bedroom as her old one was, well old, and needed an external digital tv box to enable it receive anything.
I'm delighted to say a couple of ikky boy things of the wrong size and gender aside, most of my gifts were little and even distinctly LG for once.

Mommy excelled herself  this year with this Hello Kitty  face cloth and hand towel set which will be ideal for Camp.

Also she bought me a new and very girlie  pair of pull on fur lined slippers and some cute socks.  By the way that bell's kinda old and loud!
She also bought me one of three specialty cds  I had -a Gold cd of Crosby Stills and Nash (1977 aka "Boat Album") - the others are by Hall and Oates and the Doobie Bros
Inside the pile of parcels were the 2014 Beano, Dandy and Jacqueline Wilson annuals  plus a special 75th anniversary Christmas Beano special with reprints from the past in it including some stories I recall first time around!

Hurrah for Minnie The Minx and the Bash Street Kids!

Did you know there is a place in the Wolverhampton area where you can get a Desperate Dan Pie that is massive?

My copy has a poster included. Also included was Diamond, a new hardback novel by Jacqueline Wilson continuing the Hetty Feather story. I like her books loads.

There were copious quantities of chocolates too.
I had a new torch that doesn't use old type bulbs (It has nine L.E.D. things) from my Younger brother that is a good deal brighter from my old one useful for Camp and other occasions.
A pair of the wrong socks can easily be turned around into a pair of socks suitable for a school girl soon enough - done this morning actually - so while I'd rather that kinda stuff didn't happen, there's no point obsessing over it as you can deal with and anyway not everyone is fortunate to receive presents at all. Talking of which I also did get some more 'regulation' lingerie.
I went to have my nap just before evening meal as I was starting to feel flatlined - an unfortunate side effect of being pawley and then had a Beef salad and a home made Trifle.
Here endeth  my Christmas report, typed fully uniformed and advise the next scheduled edition will be within the last day or two of December.