Thank you Miranda!

No, not Miranda the adorably daft BBC sitcom which has just come to an end, but Miranda from Skirmish of Wit - for it is she who drew my name from Stacy's (aka Book Psmith) Persephone Secret Santa. December 15th is the day of the Big Reveal, I believe, and by the time anyone reads this it'll be December 15th in England at least. It must be already the 15th in about half the world (though don't ask me which half, because I can never remember which side the sun rises and which it sets... I remember this ruining a poem I wrote when I was about ten.) Talking about poems, to bulk out this post out, I've included the poem I contributed to the Thomas Family Newsletter. Yes, I'm afraid we're one of those families which send out Newsletters... I can never think of anything to write (although last year I'd just passed my driving test, so I think it was all about that) so this year I went for style rather than substance.

Back to Persephone - Stacy asked us to send a list of the Persephone Books we already have, but I thought it would be quicker to send a list of the four or five novels which I'm lacking (except now the new books have come out, I need all those too - especially keen to get hold of To Bed With Grand Music by Marghanita Laski because the title is so good). Miranda chose to send *drum roll* House-Bound by Winifred Peck, which looks wonderful, so thank you Miranda!

Not only that, oh no, she also sent a rather lovely desk calendar featuring woodcuts by Gwen Raverat - isn't that nice? Sorry the photo's a bit blurry.

I'm looking forward to seeing which other Persephone Books cropped up around the blogosphere... And, to leave you, here's that poem - with apologies to AA Milne's 'Disobedience' (in case you don't know it, it's here)

Simon Simon
David David
Thomas (to be brief, me)
Took great
Trouble at learning
Though he was twenty three.
Simon David said to his Parents
"Parents," he said, said he.
"I mustn't go down
Til I've got the best gown.
I'll stay on for the PhD."

Simon David
Thomas's Parents
Wore a distinctive frown.
Simon David
Thomas's Parents
Thought he was playing the clown.
Simon David
Thomas's Parents
Said to their son, said they:
"If you must hang round
In that Oxford town,
Just don't expect us to pay."

Magdalen College
Put up a notice:
"POOR or ORPHANED or SHUNNED?
Step in, penniless students,
Apply for our hardship fund."
Simon David,
Wondering vaguely
If the offer is all it appears,
Applied and agreed
And found out that he'd
Signed up for three more years!

Simon Simon
David David
Thomas (the name is mine)
Has done
A few other things
In the year 2009.
Simon David says to his readers,
"Readers," he says, says he:
"I'd tell you it all,
From the big to the small,
But - this is the final line."