Time Off?

It seems most of Britain is going to take time off to watch the England World Cup game this afternoon. What would the Georgians and Victorians have thought? If you worked in a mill, many factory owners only allowed one or two days’ holiday per year. Some mills and collieries closed down for Whit Monday or Wakes Week. Any time off was unpaid; workers saved up all year for their annual holiday. Under the factory acts, women and child workers were allowed two whole days and eight half days holiday per year. Women and children employed in workshops were not legally entitled to any holidays.
Time off to watch a football match? Not likely!

Image: An early nineteenth century cotton mill. Reports of the Inspectors of Factories, October 1873. (Author’s collection.)

Working Hard!

I have only got a few weeks left to finish my new book 'Stolen Childhoods,' so I will only be able to do very brief blog updates until after the end of July. The beautiful sunshine doesn't help - it makes it very hard to concentrate when it looks so lovely outside! 

Keep Those Plates Spinning!

As my students will know, I am a tutor for the Writers Bureau, and this week I am the 'guest blogger' for the Writers Bureau blog  - you can read my post on keeping your writing career on the move here.

Sold out!

I have just heard that the first print run of my book Narrow Windows, Narrow Lives has sold out! I am thrilled. I will update my blog if and when I get news it is going to be reprinted. There are just one or few copies left with sellers on Amazon, so hurry up if you want to buy a copy.

Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys is being repeated at present, so try and catch it if you can.

Sunny and bright

It's a lovely sunny day here in Cheshire. We have got a goldfinch visiting the garden, so maybe he has got a nest nearby.  I am fighting a losing battle at present with snails who will not stop eating our runner beans before they have even had a chance to climb their canes. We have a garden full of blackbirds, but they are obviously not eating enough of the snails - or is it thrushes which eat them?

My book 'Narrow Windows, Narrow Lives' seems to be out of stock at the History Press - I am trying to find out when it will be back in stock.

Reader feedback and Reviews of Regency Cheshire

A quick update of some reader feedback and reviews of Regency Cheshire:

‘It really was a lovely read, full of interesting characters, the preacher Jabez Bunting (what a wonderful name) and ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton. It was sad in places, the plight of the poor chimney-sweeps, brutal in others, the bear-baiting and cock-fighting, the grisly murders… My favourite bit was the story of the Knutsford innkeeper who relegated his inn sign of the Duke of Wellington to the pigsty. The book gave me a lot of pleasure, thank you’. Mr Nigel Kimber, Great Milton.

‘My copy has just arrived yesterday courtesy of Amazon uk. I devoured it last night, having fond memories of Cheshire despite attending the College of Law there! Congratulations Sue on such a readable, informative and beautifully produced book.’ Austenonly.

There are also some more kind comments at Gill's Place and on this blog post here.
A big thank you to Vic at Jane Austen Today for her splendid review, too. Do check out Vic's blog as it is full of fascinating info for Jane Austen fans.
Image: The author at Waterstone’s in Chester. © Sue Wilkes