Teenbeat VI - The Carpenters

I can count! Really the sixth numbered issue of Teenbeat is here and is being written up as it was the sound track of part of my childhood being forever on the radio and pops record as well as clunky car tape player.
Few artists managed to craft well performed pop with infectious melodies as Karen and Richard Carpenter did whose music continues to sell well after 1983's sad death of Karen both original studio albums and good many compilations covering such memorable hits as (they long to be ) Close To You, Goodbye To Love, Only Yesterday, Sing (written for Sesame Street) and Touch Me when We're Dancing. I have the Singles 1969-1973 and 1974-1978, that latter title NOT issued in the states being familar with from from Pop's record collection.

I did recently get this three disc Dutch set, "Collected"originally entitled The Ultimate Collection and issued briefly a few years back by Universal Records in Europe.
The first thing to be said it's really a 2.4 cd set as the third disc has just seven solo Karen and Richard tracks coming in a card wrap round sleeve with short booklet.
However what you do get is 34 Carpenters songs but all in their original lp versions rather than remixes done for the 1969-73 Singles Collection never mind Richard's many remixes from the mid 80's onward and for the most part the tracks are in chronological order. 
Trying to track down the original mixes can be difficult and most of the new compilations don't feature them so to hear these songs the way we did back then from the lps is a lovely nostalgia trip. The sound quality is also very good borrowing the tracks from the "Original remastered" series of cds from 1998.
My copy from Nagirly on Amazon UK only cost £GBP 10.87 plus shipping which isn't much for such a super complete set of hits from 1969 thru 1983. Recommended.

The needs of littles

I'll begin this entry by first of all thanking the current 18 followers of my Tumblr which isn't a replacement for my blog just a place where random posts that wouldn't of necessarily fitted in here go and a place where between us there's an exchange of ideas and points of view around being a little or perhaps more accurately for me , a middle where we're not bashing each other.
As one unfortunate side of  being me is I have migraines frequently, this is being typed in advance as I sense one come on and I'll polish it after being out of commission for a few days.
That takes me to the start of this piece which is that many littles, me included, need a sense of routine around our lives in order to feel secure emotionally being neither lost in world that might appear to be quite random or worrying be that the worry of not knowing what'll happen next or the worry of strange situations and people.
Actually most people do have set routines that they feel the need to complete usually around say eating routines such as getting up and having a round of toast and coffee not thanking you for changing it, but can deal with re-ordering events reasonably well which if you've ever been stuck in an airline terminal for hours you'll understand. It's just rather more intense for a good number of us. The world is out of control and we can't stand it! For me such things as colouring, school work, playing and so on all help to keep me calm.
Routine does almost invariable lead us into structure and while it's generally agreed most folks need some structure -changing the day structure around as people who work night shifts do creates issues - generally speaking for most adults they can create their own structures, for a number of us we're lost without one being in place, knowing such things as who is doing what, what are we exactly to do and who is in charge that for some of us is critical because we respond better for being in situations where effectively we're told we're now going to do this now rather than being relied upon to somehow read the unspoken signs.
It's hardly surprising therefore that for a number of us we miss greatly the structure of school to the point whereby we may role play it and that's indicative of  a need I feel.
Positive reinforcement comes in to as I suspect for a whole host of reasons: a number of  us have issues around self esteem, feeling less than confident in our abilities needing that  encouragement, that we're fine, what we're doing is okay turning out fine and as people we're good. Fortunately I get a lot of that in the workplace that helps when I'm battling with insecurities and can see if I was in relationship I'd need 'grooming' taking you back to that "That's a good girl stage".
To me these are among some of needs we have and are critical to be meet for our well-being  for me personally coming to terms with them has been a great help rather than just denying their existence.

Disability

This post is for sweetiemissmimi, luna and those of us from different communities with disabilities.  
One of my favourite maxims is "everyone is different" and one way in which we are different is in our life circumstances.
It is unfortunate that there seems to be an increase in the prejudice subjected to people who have disabilities from many directions apart from the still lingering outmoded attitudes toward having disabilities in general.
Those of us who have physical disabilities may get around in a number of ways and may even be multimodual: we may 'walk' but slowly, holding onto objects, use walking aids such as crutches and walking frames or wheelchairs to get about.

The critical thing is our aids give us the means of getting around - usually by ourselves - we aren't confined or limited by them even if those who are not still persist in needlessly creating less accessible environments  .
The nature of some disabilities is that conditions do fluctuate so we may alternate modes which isn't a reason to start tut tutting or accusing us of being fakes just because we don't meet your idea of what being disabled is. After all not having the life what would a good number of you really know?
People who exhibit ME for instance may not look that they have a physical disability but ME is physically disabling making it very tiring to get about.
Because we have disabilities also  means we may need to adapt what we wear to avoid  for instance getting things stuck in the spokes of your wheels, so spare us your "You ain't doing it right", "You can't be a lolita" or more offensively "You can't be pretty, you're just a cripple" crap. Fashion has always had a practical side adapting to needs and shock horror disabled models for the fashion industry does exist showing their genuine beauty off.
Some of us work (employed or voluntary), some of us are studying up to and including degree levels, some may not be able to do either and all of us are trying to get on making the most of our lives living it in way more conductive to our needs.
Some of us have varying learning disabilities or what are broadly called  mental health needs and generally we'll let you know if it is we need you to step in or remind us about any medication we're on.
Talking specifically about me, my own take on it is I never ask to have my disabilities with the many limitations they do place on me but given they have, my alg lifestyle is more suited to me as I can cope much better when I'm in a more child like headspace as I struggle with much else.

Photo credit "myasianfashion.it"

Saturday in the park

Stardate August 3rd 2013

Susie woke up this morning, yawning as she washed and got dressed ready for breakfast at 8AM for today was Saturday, a day when school was closed but nonetheless home tuition was on offer for she and her friend struggled with French in Form 1EB of St Mary's, a high school for girls in Nuneaton, in the English Midlands. Aunt Joan insisted upon it and as Joanne's parents, struggling to meet the Term Fees also were rather concerned with Jo's grades had kindly accepted Joan's offer to pay, at weekends she was to stay the night there.

This naturally meant Joanne was subject to Auntie Joan's very strict rules, far stricter than her own parents ever would be although secretly she longed for some clear boundaries. Like Susie she had to put on her full school uniform for Miss Winters, the French tutor, making sure everything was properly fastened and that her shoes were spotless.

After three hours of verbs, completion of sentences and reading aloud where Susie was warned that persistent giggling would be reported if she didn't stop that very minute, they tucked into Fish Fingers, peas and chips followed by Chocolate Moose being accompanied by Auntie.
Joanne asked if they go out for the afternoon to the park as it was a bright sunny day. "Yes certainly" said Auntie Joan "but you really must be back for Afternoon Tea" she added before going on to say "On no account are either of you to get involved with rough boys otherwise you'll have me to answer too".

They both got changed out of their uniforms for summery dresses with short white ankle socks and flat heeled shoes and took a couple of books out with them to read resting their backs against the bark of the trees whose foliage provided much needed shade that day.

Walking back at a quarter to four they were just on the path leading to The Lodge where Joanne saw Ice Cream van and started jumping up and down saying "Go on, let's have an Ice Cream each" but then realized she'd left her purse behind, not that there was much in it. Susie turned around and said "Look, I have some money on me  and I can always earn a bit more on my paper round to make it up". With that Susie bought Joanne and her a 99 each with two chocolate flakes and strawberry juice which thay ate skipping back to Auntie Joan's just in time for Cucumber sandwiches, scones and tea.

75 years of the Beano

More warm this week as I sit typing up this weeks entry in bits and pieces no doubt.
For a good number of us, our sense of being young is in part at least connected with our actual childhoods and the routines we had back then and for me at least it was the arrival of comics which in the case of this British one came out on a Thursday.

That's right, the Beano which first came out in 1938 apparently although during World War II, it was reduced to fortnightly to save paper which was in short supply.
This is  special kind of a magazine with a softbook binding issued July 24th featuring a background capsule on all the main cartoon strips the comic run and the first strips of each that for me included such favourites as Minnie The Minx, Lord Snooty, Biffo the Bear, Dennis with Gnasher and the school series the Bash Street Kids that was close in some ways to my first school with its' Victorian building. Dennis has only been regularly on the front page from September 1974 taking over from Biffo.
Included in it is four glassy art prints which just adds to the enjoyment of this special issue although I often get the new regular copies and there is a celebratory featured  special issue of the regular comic that I hate to say really doesn't work as part of the appeal is the constant old style art and traditional storylines carefully made just slightly in tune with our times for younger audiences. 

One littles world

Yesterday I was reading  a post on Tumblr from unicorntreats where she was talking about being an adult girl and the differences between what she is looking for from this experience and that of those she has found so far. Although I did reply to her at Tumblr, I felt the topic deserves a bit more open discussion.
For her it's that she wishes to re-open a younger mind set, incorporating it into her daily life using it as a relaxation and creative outlet for while she doesn't deny that for a very small proportion of the time that 'need' to be little has sexual reasons, for 95% of the time it's not.
She poses the question "Am I the only one?"
My answer to this would be no, personally I don't think so as I'm very similar (predominately non-sexual) and as I understand things, for many of you share the same take (although we're all that bit different).
Unicorntreats also picked up on the prevalence of bdsm themes and 'daddy' fixations she's encountered so far which isn't her. I understand that completely as when I first became aware of being a little I just kept encountering the same on the net and this was before the likes of Facebook and frequent reblogging of images.
I feel in many ways it's unfortunate that such exploratory searches soon take you into hard-core bdsm territory such as dungeon or forced sex stuff, not that I am saying it's wrong for any individual if that's what they get off on. It's simply that it has very little in common with recapturing the spirit and innocence of being a child although when it comes to school based role play I can see how say smacking can come into it (and have no issues with that so long as it's consensual) and some folks spend a lot of money on recreating that whole experience!
Diapers can be a controversial thing but they're not obligatory although those who are more 'baby' do wear them more often than not and part of the appeal crosses over to some who are 'older' although like most of the big girls I don't wear them.
 It's important I feel to remember some may have to wear them for medical reasons too.
When it comes to 'Daddies' to me it's an obvious little girl dynamic - daddy as protector, daddy as super awesome provider, daddy as 'keeper of you being safe from you' so it's okay by me.
I think the problem can be that everything can become focused  on getting a daddy figure in a relationship especially one that respects your wishes and limits so either you miss out on time you could of enjoyed being a little or it all ends up revolving around him..
If you don't feel the need for a daddy figure that's fine and certainly most of you who have one have been happy to play with me who doesn't so i'm sure unicorntreats would be welcome to play with us. 
If you'd like to join us, unicorntreats, look at the Favourite Sites link at the top and follow the link to Girltalk.to registration as it is very clean, free from bdsm and forced stuff and critically the main site isn't viewable without being logged in so we have some privacy.
We'd be happy to have you I'm sure.

Jo visits the North!

Yesterday, I was out on a trip out as in a hundred odd miles out and also out as with my Pink Hello Kitty  t shirt, shorts and cute cat socks with bows and frilly tops with naturally my H K Tote and  Child's travel bag.   In my world I'm always out as me.

We were going some 312 Miles round trip from where I live to Whitby in North Yorkshire, England  which is a old Port and seaside resort although you have a long walk to get to the beach. Our route involved travelling along the M6, changing to the M62 Trans-Pennine motorway and then getting on the A64 in North Yorkshire a little South of York.The traffic was really bad travelling along the A64 just south of York along the Scarborough road for  miles. It took us Two hours twenty to travel through this four mile stretch! Travelling horseback would be quicker.
In consequence we only had a very limited length of time to do anything as the driver had used  up all ready five of his allowed 8 hours driving under UK law. 
The scenery along stretches of this route took us over Saddleworth Moors in Lancashire, a very hilly area with sheep farms even though it's near to the Towns of Oldham and Rochdale and also well into the North Yorks National Park where much purple Heather and horses was spotted. They were beautiful at this time of year.
Because we were really late arriving the first step had to be fix food fast as I was starting to space out -the perils of running short on spoons - so I called in at Trenchers fish and  chip restaurant on New Quay Road, Whitby for fried plaice, English chips and several drinks of tea with brown sugar while I took some tablets.
It won awards in 2011 and 12 and upon tasting my late lunch, it is not hard to see why for the fish caught on the day  by fishing line was most tasty and the chips had a good not greasy taste to them.
Time was running short as because of drive hours issue with the driver we needed to be back at bus for 17:00 hrs I only had the chance to look at a couple of charity stores briefly before getting something to eat as we wouldn't be stopping off on the return trip.

That's the Bridge that links the harbour to the old town where many of the shops are  to be found in small streets, some cobbled. As befits a Port, there were places selling fresh fish!

Whitby Harbour. As you can see it was  very sunny day with quite as number of boats moored.

I had to use the 105mm moderate telephoto of this camera to capture this and carefully crop it later. Thankfully the more megapixels your image has, the better the result even if you use only a small proportion of the original image.

Kerrera caught my attention  while moored with its bold colours and flags

Finally an overview of the harbour.
It was a interesting day out even though it had taken rather a lot out of me physically as I hadn't been in the North East of England ever. One just wishes to had the time to see more of Whitby.