This is one of those books when if I hear the first line I immediately want to re-read it for the hundredth time, along with ""Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents" grumbled Jo" and "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit"

I only learned it recently, will try and find the post I learnt it from because it had some amazing candid photos from many years ago which are so different to the sort we're used to seeing

The reason they took a long time to take was because people wanted big photos, like the size they would have had if they'd had a family portrait painted. Smaller photos even then only took a second to take.

Gherkin* (what we in the UK call pickles, at least I think they're one and the same)

I wish I could like this twice. My baby is 8 months old and I have not and will not let her cry without comfort for any amount of time unless I really can't help it (e.g. on long car journeys when she gets fed up of being in her seat) She's currently still in my bed at night and nearly all her naps are on me. The amount of people who tell me I'm spoiling her or making a rod for my own back is ridiculous!

It was in a recipe book yes but I don't know anyone who would actually make and eat one. I am willing to do so for experimental purposes though if you wish.

Novelty, I see what you did there

"Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Wee Donkey!"

Fireworks for Bonfire Night (5th November) and Diwali (date varies but around the same time) in the UK.

Yes plenty of Chinese and Indian restaurants (which are usually run by Pakistani families) which are more reasonable prices for good food, there's more variety in bigger cities, and some of the chain restaurants can be good.

Yeah WW2 pretty much set us back 15+ years cuisine wise because rationing went on so long after the war, it's not so bad now as it was but if you're on holiday in the UK expect to pay £50 for a decent 3 course meal without drinks.

Maybe Marilyn Monroe did this too but are you not thinking of Dolly Parton?

In the UK this fur pattern is referred to as tortoiseshell