This is an old book, printed 1952 - and it has belonged to the British Council here in Finlad, it has even a note with stamped dates of when people have borrowed it (around 1950'es). Can't remember where I got it, probably from juble sale or some charity shop, and can't even remember the story very well - only that it was nice and kind story (no violence, no sex !).

Going to someone as a surprise! Enjoy!

Out of blue this comes...it really is a big surprise! I've been dying to read this one for some time now. Don't know why, really. I guess I hope it tells about days that are gone, the world that doesn't exist anymore.
Now I'm just waiting for some cool night, make myself a nice cup of tea and do as you say — enjoy.
Thank you, Chania!

What a charming little story this is! Somehow it reminded me of Neekerityttö peilaa by Hilja Valtonen. No wonder, the two protagonists (and narrators as well) are both journalists in a small newspaper. Poppy works in Downingham Post and she wants to be a good reporter and perhaps even more...someday. But she doesn’t get the work assignments she wants — it seems usually to be her turn to make the tea for the whole office...
The book deals with other aspects of a young working woman’s life in the 50s, too. Renting a room, having a bit greedy and strict landlady, friends with their own problems, and so on.
In my previous entry I hoped this book would tell about the world that doesn't exist anymore. I’m not sure if it did that. It made me wonder if the world really has changed so much during the last 50—60 years, especially if you’re young and ambitious working-class woman having to cope with those who have more power than you do; male colleagues, (male) bosses, people with money or other assets, etc.
I really liked this book. Thanks again, Chania! It was delightful.
I also liked the fact you saved the bookloan receipt (or whatever it should be called) of the British Council. I hope it’ll travel with the book forever; the history of this copy is quite interesting.

Now, I think My Turn to Make the Tea needs a face-lift and someone should give it that. Whether that someone is going to be me or some other BC’er here in Tampere, we’ll see ... For the time being, this book is reserved.



Monica (Enid) Dickens (1915—1992) (kirjasto.sci.fi)
Monica Dickens (Wikipedia)


Edit. guinaveve's 2008 Keep Them Moving Challenge #7

Here's a result of the Tampere BCers' great Book Altering crafts day at Margih's yesterday. The idea was to make new cover/jacket designs for old & battered books. I haven't read this book yet, but plan to do so in the future... The 'jolly old British' covers make the book much too attractive to be ignored :-)

Materiaalit: Lehtileikkeet, teepussit, lautasliinat, askartelupahvit, British Councilin ex libris
ja lainauskortti

Perusbrittiläinen kirja sai kansiinsa rauhoittavansävyisiä teekuppeja, vilttejä ja tietenkin eng-
lantilaista teetä. Kirja on ollut British Councilin lainastokappale: sen sisäkannesta löytyivät
sekä alkuperäinen ex libris että lainauskortti 50-luvulta. Mutta kukas nykyaikana teet keittää?

Kirja on esillä Kiertävä kirja ei sammaloidu -näyttelyssä Sampolan kirjastossa 6.5. - 29.5.2008.

RELEASE NOTES:

Kirja vapautuu Finlaysonin alueelle perjantaina 6.6. BookCrossing-kirjojen massavapautuksessa. Lukuiloa löytäjälle!

The book itself looks lovely because it has been somewhat altered or "scrapbooked" but the story doesn't appeal to me so I'm moving it on... but first I'll add a teabag for the next finder! I'm sending it to another country via a traveling friend and I hope this catches on "over there" too! I'm not revealing which country but you'll find out soon I hope! This is a picture of the book waving goodbye to Finland, it's time for it to broaden it's horizons!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I have released this book into the hands of a traveler who will release it in Slovenia in the middle of august.

I went for a two week-long backpacking trip around Slovenia in the summer of 2008 and at it's end we stayed for 3 days in Ljubjana. After a day we had seen all the sightseeings, we slept in a tent and there was nothing to do. Neither of us took a book with him and the day before the last day we were at the station to put our backpacks in the lockers and I saw the book laying up there, saw it was in English but I thought it belonged to someone. When we got back it was still there so Itook it and thus killed the last 20 hours in Ljubljana, avoiding unnecessary rows with my girlfriend. Thanks:-)

CAUGHT IN LJUBLJANA SLOVENIA