[Tommysgirl]

@DebF_EONNext

I haven't read Nancys books, but I remember her winning Great British Bake Off in about 2014. I tend to read auto-biographies and history books both fiction and non-fiction. I like most books written by Bernard Cornwell, and if you like Tudor History, Alison Weir is a good writer.

@meldrewreborn

I read 'The Moon's a Balloon' many years ago, and I remember it being very funny. I agree with you completely about ebooks, I've never used them, and don't intend to.

[DebF_EONNext]

@Tommysgirl my daughter likes tudor history books she has probably read a few! I knew I had seen Nancy's face elsewhere but I couldn't place it, I completely forgot she had been on bake off! Mentioning bake off I do love a good recipe book too!

What about books from everyone's childhood? I had (in fact I still have them) the complete Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson books when I was little, some of them are pretty dark for kids books 😂

[meldrewreborn]

@Tommysgirl

This Boy, by Alan Johnson which I’ve just reread is about his life until his first marriage 1950-1968. Life in Notting Hill was tough for all then , but he pays just tribute to his mother and elder Sister (+3years) that saw him through those times. As a social commentary of the times it is outstanding, and ordinary people of my generation will recognise and associate with his descriptions of life and events all too readily.

while many people of today have a tough life, in reality their lives are immeasurably better than the boomers had back then. Everything is relative.

[ANN8619]

What a great thread! I read A Guide to Eco-Anxiety 😀, and it made me realize that stressing over trying to live perfectly eco-friendly doesn’t help. The author shares her own struggles and reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect—just do our best. It made me feel less guilty and more ready to talk about it instead of just worrying.


Last year, I read Count Down by Shanna Swan—such a brilliant book! It talks about how chemicals in our environment affect human fertility. After that, I went down a rabbit hole looking for other harmful ingredients, not just for fertility but for overall health.

I ended up with a list of about 65 ingredients to avoid when possible. I put them into ChatGPT, so now when I shop, I just take a photo of the ingredients on a bottle, feed them to chat GPT and instantly know if a product is safe for me. I know there are websites that do this, but I found that many of them recommend products my list flags as harmful. So, I’d rather trust my own research.


The biggest surprise? Just because one product from a brand is good doesn’t mean the whole brand is! It took me about five months to replace all my daily washing products. I had to scan each label, research alternatives, and find what worked for me. But now, I’ve seriously reduced my exposure to endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, neurotoxins, and ingredients with cytotoxic effect - you would not believe how many are used in daily products 🤯 Manufacturers claim they use non-toxic amounts, but if you're washing your face with SLS every day or using makeup with talc (which can be contaminated with asbestos), it adds up over time. I feel much better knowing I’ve been able to reduce my exposure. I realize you can't get rid of them all, but you can minimise the exposure. Speaking of plastic.... but that's a story for another thread 😂😂😂

[Tommysgirl]

@DebF_EONNext

I had the Grimms Fairy Tales and the Hans Christian Anderson stories, and also the 1001,(or Arabian) nights tales. My mum and dad used to read them to me at bedtime when I was a 'wee bairn', and they told me, (when I was older),that I knew some of the stories so well, I used to always tell them if they'd missed a bit out 😂. Happy memories! 😊

@meldrewreborn

I'll look the Alan Johnson book up, because I enjoy reading about Social History, and how tough times were for people, which I can definitely relate to.👍

[DebF_EONNext]

@ANN8619 That's another book added to the list! - I love that idea about ChatGPT and the ingredients list - I have changed my cleaning products I now use ones made from essential oils or I make my own natural cleaners using lemon and bicarb. I do still have good old bleach for the loo though as I have a husband and a teenage boy I'm not trusting that aim! 😅

Nancy Birtwhistle does a natural laundry cleaner made from conkers of all things!

@Tommysgirl - The princess and the pea was a favourite of mine - I remember taking a handful of frozen peas out of the freezer thinking if just one stayed whole then it was proof 🤣 Alas I am not a princess 😏 and I got into so much trouble when my nana changed my bedding next morning and there were squished peas under the mattress 🛏👑