Forgive the long wait for an update. Combination of going to the horrendous Collectors Show in Peterborough (I can't bear to speak of it but Tony is planning to give his opinions in his blog soon. I still can't think of it without weeping), various exceptionally evil viruses (the joys of living with a germ factory, sorry, toddler), potty training (enough said) and busy times at work have put my blog rather on the back seat.

I promised readers of my email that I'd give you the full story of Father Christmas, so that seems like a good place to start.

Caitlin is getting hugely excited about Christmas. Last week, we wrote to Father Christmas. Well, she drew him a picture and then dictated the letter to me. It went something like this:

Dear Father Christmas,

How are you? I have been a good girl. Please may I have [this polite wording took a little prompting from Mum]

• An aquadraw [that’s a mat that you can use water to draw on = no paint needed. Mum gives it bonus points]
• A baby annabell for my Mummy
• A pony for my Daddy

[“Daddy likes ponies”, she added at this point, rather inaccurately. I didn’t have the heart to put her right.]

Thank you very much and please give Rudolf a cuddle from me.

Caitlin Hopkins x

We then put the letter on our gas fire (I regretted this moment of enthusiasm when I saw the ashes!). Caitlin is not normally allowed anywhere near the fire so this was Very Exciting.

The normally blue flames glowed orange as the letter burned and I told her that was because the magic was working. She was so excited that she giggled uncontrollably and has talked of nothing else since. She told all the toys in her cot (many times). She told everyone at nursery. She told Nana, G'andad, the lady in the fish shop and random people in the supermarket.

A few days later, I took Caitlin "Christmas shopping" for presents she could give people. I'd prepared her for this beforehand by asking (perhaps hopefully), "Who would YOU like to give presents to?"

"Um, I don't know!" Caitlin was slightly mystified.

"Well, Christmas is a time when you get presents for people you love," I explained, "I'm getting presents for you and Daddy and my friends".

Caitlin thought for a moment, "I want to get a present for Jane [the ragdoll] and Teddy" she said.

"That's nice, darling!" I trilled, "We can do that. But I was thinking about real people. What about Fabi?" [Fabi is her Best Friend from nursery]

Her eyes lit up.

"Yes, Fabi. And Thomas"

"Good, now you're getting the idea! Fabi and Thomas, then!"

"And Ellianna. And Amelia."

"Excellent, ok, Fabi, Thomas, Ellianna and Amelia."

"And Caris. And Poppy. And Georgie. And Fraser. And Sky."

"Right," says Mummy, starting to feel this has all gone a little out of control and wondering how we are going to get presents for the entire nursery.

Inspiration struck and I took her to the little chocolate shop in Hythe where they were doing small chocolate Penguins and Teddy Bears for 35p each (meaning we could buy presents for unlimited numbers of small children without having to re mortgage).

Caitlin enjoyed choosing presents and came up with even MORE names of lucky recipients whilst we were in the chocolate shop. It was only afterwards, as we headed out into the winter sunshine, that I saw the penny drop. None were for her.

"Caitlin, you look sad," I said, "What's the matter?"

Her lower lip trembled slightly.

"I don't want an aquadraw from Father Christmas anymore," she said.

"No?"

"No, I want chocolates instead. Like these Penguin chocolates!"

I managed not to smile.
"Sweetie, I think Father Christmas will take it as read that you'd like some chocolates. You don't need to tell him in the letter. He knows all boys and girls like things like that!"

This cheered her up greatly.

Having a toddler at Christmas is proving really fun!

Work News
Meanwhile, on the work front, things have been great. Kent Wildlife Trust have confirmed that they want to work with us for the Endangered Plants Stamps next year, so hopefully that will raise some good funds for them.

Plans for Bleriot are going along nicely too although it is looking less likely that we'll be flying covers in the Bleriot plane on the anniversary date. I've since realised that of course, it is made of canvas and piano wire (or something like that) and probably a box of covers is rather over the weight limit! Oh, and if it rains, the plane can't fly (wet canvas). Apparently there is a very high mortality rate flying these ancient aircraft. Urgh, rather them than me. I'll stick to a horse, thanks.

My most exciting news this week is: we've decided to launch the first ever course in collecting covers. As far as I know, there has never been one before. It's going to be an online course, starting next Easter and will run for 10 weeks. People can get the course notes for free or sign up to do it properly, which will mean 10 short assignments each week and a certificate at the end for £10. And I'm talking to Stamp Magazine about the possibility of them sponsoring it. That should be really fun. If you'd be interested in taking it next year, let us know and we'll email you full details nearer the time. Drop us an email at sales@buckinghamcovers.com or call us on (+44)01303 278 137.

Christmas Special Offer
I've also got a lovely special offer for you online this week: our Father Christmas covers personally signed by Raymond Briggs at a special price. Click here for more.

Until next time (when I will try NOT to leave it so long)

Ellie x

I tell you something embarrassing. My 2 year old daughter is currently far more on the ball than I am.

Although I put that down to the fact that she keeps me awake all night. I'm SO TIRED!

Today, I was in a huge panic as I couldn't find my house keys. I searched all the usual places, I went out and looked in the car, I checked my pockets. Then I started to Worry ... had they fallen out of my handbag....?

Caitlin, who had been watching Fifi and the Flowertots on TV (her favourite), came through to find me.

"What's the matter?" she asked, seeing me look upset.
"Mummy's lost her keys!" I confessed.
She trotted straight to the radiator in the hall, where I'd dumped my keys on the way in.
"Here they are, Mummy!" she smiled up at my, handing them over, "Don't worry, I've found your keys!"

I had a similarly disconcerting moment when after rushing from work, still stressed and very tired to pick her up from nursery, I walked her to the wrong car in the carpark without noticing. She kept saying, "No, Mummy! This isn't our car!"

"Yes, it is, silly," says Mummy, assuming that she is the one in control of life.

"No, it's not! Our car is over there!"

And when I got to the car I was pulling her along to, I realised to my horror that she was right! Oh dear . . .

Something else disconcerting is the family relationships going on with the toys in the cot at the moment. It seems the Jane the ragdoll is actually the daughter of Mrs Mouse, whilst Mrs Dear (an elderly teddy in a dress who used to be mine), is Jane's "Nana". Caitlin loves playing happy families, but I was a little alarmed to be informed that I am Denny the Duck's Mummy!

"This is your baby," she told me seriously, holding up Denny the Duck, "Rock him to sleep and feed him!"

(mind you, at one point this week, she told me that I was her baby and she would sing me a lullaby).

Meanwhile, work has been very busy and exciting this week. We had an advert in the Mail for our QE2 tribute covers on the day that she retired. The phones went mad! So I've spent a bit of time helping the customer service team this week.

I've also been preparing for this dreaded collectors' show in Peterborough next weekend. I shouldn't say "dreaded" only Tom and I will be manning a rather massive stall with Caitlin there too! Eeck. Mind you, Mum and Dad (aka Tony and Cath) will be around and will help.

I'm meeting with Kent Wildlife Trust next week about possibly working with them in 2009 (fingers crossed) and today, I'm meeting the organiser of Dover 2009 to talk about the Bleriot celebrations I mentioned last week. My Ivor project is coming along nicely too and our cover will hopefully star Idris the Dragon!

Until next time,

Ellie x

P.S. I'll be putting images of our Mini 50th anniversary covers online tomorrow, hopefully. It's going to be huge!

The Chatterboxes!

Caitlin has discovered imaginative play. It’s great! Over the weekend, Tom and I enjoyed a very relaxed cup of tea whilst Caitie announced, "I'm a farmer today" and disappeared to undertake various tasks around the farm.

We put our feet up and chilled on the sofa, whilst the industrious little farmer would pop in every couple of minutes to let us know what was next on her busy agenda:
"I'm rounding up the sheep now", she'd announce before trotting into the kitchen with a sense of purpose.
"I'm just feeding the pigs!" she called, a minute or so later.
"Don't forget the cows!" we shouted back, encouragingly, before falling back into our chat.

It was all very relaxing. There was, admittedly, a sudden and almighty CRASH at one point which worried Tom but I am wise to the sound of clothes pegs and didn't panic.

WORK WORRIES
Actually, I've been very grateful for Caitlin this week as it's been a bit of a facer at work recently which is why I haven't updated the blog until now.

Cara unexpectedly threw her notice in a me just over a week ago which threw me more than I expected. She'd done a placement year with us between her 2nd and final year of a business degree at University. She first joined us when I was very fat and pregnant and left us just before Caitlin turned one.

Cara was brilliant on her placement year and I also tried to give her a lot of support, coaching and encouragement all through my maternity leave and when I came back too. She seemed a natural at websites, marketing and ideas and very self motivated. I offered her a job when she graduated and she took some time to decide whether to accept or not.

In the end she did, but made it clear she didn't want to be treated as just a young undergraduate next time. She wanted to be taken seriously and given a meaty role that would challenge and expand her.

Well, I obviously took that bit far too seriously as when she gave her notice in, she said marketing wasn't for her, and she'd been lonely. I thought I'd given her all these terrific projects (which I'd have LOVED to have worked on myself but being part time, can't) and her dream job but it turns out I completely misjudged it.

It's all common place in business and goodness knows, I was a nightmare when I just graduated. I also took a job on the back of a placement and really, I shouldn't have accepted it as I hadn't enjoyed the placement at all! But when you are staring unemployment in the face, just out of Uni, you tend to grab the first offer. I expect that is what Cara did.

But even though the grown up side of me accepts it, the childish bit of me is very sad. Still, lessons to be learnt and you can always improve as a manager. Having a part time manager who spends the rest of the time splashing in puddles, making toys talk and riding around on tricycles must be a bit of challenge ...

I LOVE TO RIDE MY TRICYCLE
Talking about tricycles, have I told you about mine? Firstly, a confession.

I can't ride a bike.

Isn't that appalling?

But I've given up being ashamed now so I think I shall just announce it, loud and proud. Give me a horse anytime. It can see where it's going.

Tom, meanwhile, is a very keen cyclist. But I was a bit jealous when he was taking Caitlin out on his bike so . . . he has bought me my very own, grown up trike with 2 child seats behind (2?? Well, you never know) from eBay. It is a Pashley model straight out of the 1970s with a basket for my shopping on the back. I love it!

So does Caitlin.

She sings to me all the way and insists on honouring different toys by letting them ride on the spare kiddie seat. Mind you, last time we cycled to the supermarket, a cauliflower was in pride of place seat belted into the spare seat as I couldn't fit it in the basket!

I'll have to get a photo up for you of the intrepid trikers!

NEW COVER PROJECTS (you heard it here first)

I've had a couple of very exciting projects come my way at work this week. Sarah spotted that it is the 50th Anniversary of Ivor the Engine ... look, there he is! ... next year.

I've spoken to Peter Firmin who created Ivor along with Oliver Postgate and he's agreed to let us produce the official Ivor 50th anniversary cover and stamp sheet! I'm hugely excited and think it is only right that we get Ivor on DVD as a company expense ... do you think??

The project will be raising funds for Peter's charity, Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, which I hadn't heard of before but now am very excited about. This charity works through West Africa and the Middle East treating sick working animals and educating people about how to look after them better. In communities where people's livelihoods depend on their animals, this is incredibly important. By helping the animals, they also help the families.

The other project is celebrating 100 years since Louis Blériot’s remarkable achievement on 25 July 1909. He flew the very first cross channel flight in a Blériot XI aeroplane powered only by a 25HP engine.

It's a fabulous piece of aviation history to commemorate and even more exciting when you live a stone's through from where it happened. Dover is buzzing with it and there will be big celebrations next year, including a historic recreation of Blériot's flight across the English Channel (hopefully with our covers on board!).

CHATTERBOXES!
Finally, give Tom your sympathy. There will be no peace for him ever since it is becoming increasingly clear that Caitlin is going to be as much of a chatterbox as me!

When I went to pick her up from nursery yesterday, it turned out they had been doing "free play" with large cardboard boxes. They could do anything they wanted with their box. There were pirate ships, racing cars, houses, jack in the boxes ... but Caitlin and her little best friend, Fabi, hadn't done anything with theirs. They were just sitting in it, chatting!

"They've been there all afternoon", one of the ladies told me, "Talking to each other!"

Intrigued, I crept closer to eavesdrop before Caitlin noticed me and listened to their conversation. It went something like this:

Caitlin: I go with my Mummy and my Daddy sometimes to the park.
Fabi: I have a dog and he goes woof sometimes.
Caitlin: And we jump sometimes and sometimes we splash in puddles.
Fabi: My baby doll is called baby.

And so it went. Neither seemed at all bothered that the other wasn't listening and they both seemed delighted with their conversation, which had apparently gone on for hours!

When I interrupted them to take Caitlin home, they had a big hug.
"Claitlin is my best friend", said Fabi.

Thank goodness for toddlers, they do cheer you up (even if they also cause half your insecurities and all your exhaustion).

I did promise in my email last week to tell the tale of Denny the Pumpkin in more depth but I think I may have exhausted your patience enough for one time! So I'll end here,

Ellie x

P.S. Denny has a friend! Caitlin was given a pink rubber duck, which she has named Claire, in her party bag at Isaac's party, which made up for the loss of the Boat.

Claire, it turns out, can't use the potty like Denny as her hole is in her beak but she is fabulous at rinsing and spitting when it's tooth cleaning time . . .

Beal Beal! Beal Beal!

This week, I took Caitlin out to lunch with one of her friends from nursery and the friend's Mum. It was carnage!

Caitlin and I go to this coffee shop quite often, just the 2 of us, and she is usually angelic. I bask in the approving glow of the old ladies who lunch there. They usually coo over my daughter and tell me what I great Mum I am (such ego boosts are always welcome).

Taking her with her friend was a whole new story.

The first thing that happened was that both of them sprinted in before we could catch up with them, grabbed the homemade greetings cards for sale and brandished them around, to the disapproving glares of everyone else.

“Caitlin!” I hissed, “Is that your thing?”
“No…..” she says, slightly shamefacedly.
“Do we touch OTHER PEOPLE’S THINGS?”
“No”, she replies sadly.
“Then PUT IT BACK!”

I put Caitlin in her booster seat as usual at the table. I like booster seats as I can strap her in (control freak). But! Her friend, Fabi, sits in a grown up seat.

“Why’s Caitlin in a baby’s chair” asks Fabi.
Caitlin looks dismayed.
“Because Caitlin isn’t as tall as you and that way she can reach the table”, replies Fabi's Mum, faster than the speed of light.

Next I put on Caitlin’s bib.
Fabi doesn’t have a bib anymore (oh dear, am I babying her too much? Mum insecurity mode ON).

“Why’s Caitlin wearing a baby’s bib?” asks Fabi.
Caitlin looks dismayed and tries to take the bib off.
“Because Caitlin is wearing a prettier dress than you!” says Fabi’s quick thinking Mum.

The worst part of the lunch was the NOISE. They were tearaways! Caitlin and Fabi were so noisy that I got ticked off by one of the old ladies who lunch (opps! very upsetting for me who can't bear disapproval, especially of my Caitlin!).

When Caitie and I went to the loo, I thought I'd grab the chance to get my Caitie back in line and whispered to her, “You and Fabi are being very noisy. Do you think you can be a bit quieter for Mummy as we’re disturbing the other people?”

Mistake.

Caitlin was too excited for reason.
And mentioning noise was a Very Bad Idea.
She has a game with Pig (one of her soft toys), involving Pig (who has a voice much like Dot from Eastenders) declaring “I don’t like noise” to which Caitlin replies with a large number of high pitched shrieks.

Yes, you've guessed right. As soon as I mentioned noise, the high pitched shrieks happened. Along with a lot of silent screaming in my head.....

But the rowdiest moment was probably when the 2 hoodlums both held their cheese sandwiches to the sky and declared: "Beal, beal! Beal, beal!" like a war cry.

"BEAL BEAL! BEAL BEAL, Mummy!" they chorused.

(At least, it sounded like "beal, beal". I hope it wasn't "kill, kill").

It turns out Fabi, Caitlin's friend, has been chanting "beal, beal" for sometime at home. So has Caitlin. Both Fabi's Mum and I are completely bemused as to what it is. Any ideas?

Oh by the way, since I last wrote, I came up with a Brainwave about The Boat.

I promised Caitlin she would get a sticker every time she used the potty and when she had enough stickers to fill up a large chart, she could have a boat like Isaac's. She was inspired enough to take potty training very seriously and has earned the boat already.

Oh, Denny has been forgiven. But he is rather outshined by The Boat at bathtime now.

Best wishes

Ellie x

The Battle of the Boat

I have been warned that Caitlin will hit the "terrible twos" and I'm starting to get an inkling what they mean . . .

Just before her bedtime last night, she spotted a toy boat on the side of the kitchen. I'd bought it for my friend's son's first birthday next week.

Caitlin's eyes lit up.

"Is that mine?" she asked excitedly.

"No, darling, it's a present for Isaac's birthday", I replied.

She is undaunted. "Can I have it?" she asked.

"No, darling", I reply, "It's a present for Isaac."

"Can we share it?" she asked, with the air of a lawyer about to pounce.

"No, darling", say I, "because it is for Isaac".

"That's not fair!"

"Well, firstly, life isn't fair", I say calmly, giving her the wisdom always imparted to me by my Dad, "and secondly, I think in this case it is pretty fair because Isaac gave you a watering can for your birthday and now you are giving him a boat for his".

"I WANT IT!!!!!!!" roared Caitlin, logic escaping her.

"I NEED IT!!!!" she added for good measure.

She then proceeded to weep bitterly all the way to bed. I say "weep" because it was more tragic than your usual cry. The tears rolled silently down her cheeks. She shook a little. Her lip trembled. Every now and then, she would whisper, as if the pain was almost too much to bear, "I need that boat!"

My word, it was hard. I had to bite my lip to stop myself exclaiming, "My precious girl, my darling one, have the boat! It's yours!" or "Don't cry, my sweet, we will get you a boat! Tomorrow, we will go and buy a boat just for you!".

But, I'm proud to say, I didn't. I manage to harden my heart to the pathetic, weeping mite and put her to bed, still snivelling and muttering about boats. She cried herself to sleep and I forced myself to go downstairs and leave her to it.

"She's just overtired" I told myself, "No one dies of a broken heart because they didn't get a small, plastic boat. She'll be herself again in the morning."

The next morning, Caitlin called me, as she does and I jumped out of bed (obedient Mum that I am but unlike an alarm clock, she doesn't have a snooze option).

"Good morning!" I said cheerfully.
"Good morning!" she replied, "Can I have that boat now?"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I stayed strong. It is now the Great Unspoken. But wish me luck when we give Isaac the boat next week!)

SPECIAL BLOG OFFER!

I promised I'd hide some offers in my blogs so here is the latest. I couldn't really find an offer for a cover featuring a plastic boat or a raging toddler, funnily enough, so I did some lateral thinking and here is a submarine cover instead!

It's an amazing submarine cover at that.
A classic from 2001, we officially produced it for the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. This edition has a British Forces Post Office postmark and I believe just 11 were personally signed by Victoria Cross winner, Ian Fraser VC. He won his VC at sea.

The full price is £45. We only have a few left in stock (well, he only signed 11 so you can imagine we don't have many!)

And for readers of my blog, if you move fast, you can own one for just £40.
That is a whole £5 off. But only while stocks last.
Click here to find out more & buy.

You might wonder that we have ANY left considering how good a cover it is and the answer, as usual, is that we forgot to advertise it! I think he signed much later, after the cover was issued, when we sent him a batch of other covers and slipped these 11 in to make up the numbers. We are always doing things like that and then forgetting to tell our collectors! Still, good news for you though . . .

Until next time,

Ellie x

Denny the Duck in disgrace

Denny the Duck has recently overtaken Pig and Jane as Caitlin's Favourite Toy.

He's a rubber duck and she's taken a real shine to him. He shares her bath before bed and then she insists that he keeps her company in the cot as well.

She used to HATE having her hair washed with the shower and would make a massive fuss about it. Then Denny the Duck started having HIS head washed with the show. He made an even bigger fuss!

"I WANT MY MUMMY" screams Denny the Duck (I try very hard not to move my lips for this kind of thing. I'm not a great ventriloquist but Caitie seems to go with it).
"I WANT MY DADDY! I DON'T LIKE THE SHOWER!" Denny the Duck cries.

Caitlin finds this very funny and insists that Denny MUST be showered.

"Don't be silly and horrid, Denny", she tells him seriously, "The shower will make you clean".

This little play acting has changed her from a complete pain to a complete joy on hair wash days! So I was inspired to go a step further and use Denny to encourage potty training.

Oh dear, I know. It is terrible the lengths to which a desperate Mum will stoop.

You know how these rubber duck toys fill up with water from the bath? And they have a little hole in them? Well, after bath time, Denny the Duck goes on the potty (Caitlin doesn't seem to think it odd that Mummy gives him a ferocious squeeze at the same time). And low and behold, Caitlin is suddenly keen to use the potty before bed time too.

So far so good.

The only problem? I didn't mention all this to Tom, my lovely husband. I have him very well trained since he's stopped commuting. While I put Caitlin to bed, he cooks my dinner! But of course, that meant he'd missed the Denny potty saga.

Over the weekend, Tom came up to keep us company at bedtime. She told Daddy that when she went in her cot, Denny must come too.

"Hang on, sweetheart, he's full of water", said Tom, and without thinking, he squeezed the water out of Denny all over Caitlin and her towel.

But Tom wasn't prepared a) for the sheer amount of water that Denny holds and b) for the strength of reaction he got.

Caitin was HORRIFIED. FURIOUS. DISMAYED.

"DENNY'S DONE A WEE ON MY TOWEL!" she wailed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Tom and I tried very hard not to laugh but we couldn't cheer her up until I removed the towel, promising it would be thoroughly washed and "cleaned" Caitlin with a wipe.

Denny was banished.

"You should have used the potty!" she told him, "Go away and think what you've done!"
And no amount of Denny's heartfelt apologies could persuade her to forgive him. Which is quite harsh really considering she never gets into trouble for her own "accidents"!

The next day she did tell Denny they could be friends again.

"But DON'T DO IT AGAIN", she told him firmly.

More stories soon!

Ellie x

QE2: Her Memory Will Live On

Well, I have plenty of Caitlin news this week after taking her to her first ever wedding on Saturday! It was an interesting occasion. She was brilliantly behaved in front of everyone but after a whole day of good manners, over excitement, confetti and more chocolate than I can bear to think of, she threw the first Serious Tantrum that I've ever seen when we got some. Pure toddler RAGE. It was rather alarming! But also quite funny although I tried not to laugh as it increased the fury.

Anyway, no harm done and after a long night's sleep, I got my smiley, sunny little girl back!

Caitie also kept me on my toes by cutting her chin open at nursery this week. I got a call at work to say, could I collect her as she was bleeding very badly and they were concerned she'd need stitches. You can imagine the panic of the Mum on hearing these words ... I drove to the nursery in a state of fear, imagining my precious baby girl bleeding to death in someone's arms. When I arrived, a very bouncy Caitlin greeted me by jumping excitedly up and down, exclaiming, "Mummy! I've hurt my chin!" in a delighted way.

But of course, the real news of this week is that Queen of the Seas, QE2, is making her final voyages right now.. Like everyone, I've found this incredibly moving and also, hard to take in.

It was mad enough when Concorde retired and in the same way, collectors are calling us all the time, desperate to talk of QE2 and what she's meant to them.

Jules, from our Customer Services team, had an especially lovely chat with one of our collectors Malcolm McKechnie who went to see QE2 on her last trip to the Clyde. Mr McKechnie took some breathtaking photos and also wrote a memory of the day and when Jules showed me, I really wanted to share it with you. I think he's done a brilliant job of putting into words what so many of us are feeling.

Farewell to QE2 by Malcolm McKechnie
Over 50,000 people visited Inverclyde on Sunday 05th October to bid farewell to the Queen of the Clyde, the QE2. She was built and launched on this strip of water 41 years ago and it was a very emotional day for all those who acknowledge the shipbuilding history that the Clyde was renowned for. The weather was kind to us and as she approached at 12 noon, she shone in the glorious sunshine as the beauty that she has always been. Watching her turn and back in to position at the berth, enabling her to sail away without turning was more poignant as in previous visits she has turned on her departure. As well as those on the Esplanade, all advantage points on the hills and high roads were filled with people trying to gain a view of her as she sailed home. She also had an escort from HMS Manchester as the Royal Navy were doing training exercises on the River Clyde that weekend.

As the sun started to set and darkness came in, the reality started to hit home that it was nearing the time to bid a final farewell and at 21-45, after thre blasts from the ships horn, a firework display began with glorious colours in the sky above the great lady. Then the moment when nobody was looking forward to, commenced. With more blasts from the horn, she started to move from the berth and sail down the Clyde for the last time.

Next year we will be getting a visit from the Queen Mary 2 and although she has the beauty of the Cunard line, she does not have the history of being built from these shores. The QE2 will always hold a place in my heart and to quote the local paper "HER MEMORY WILL LIVE ON".

Massive thanks to Mr McKechnie for letting me use that and I hope you found it as moving as I did.

Tracey, our Production Manager, is probably the least moved and most stressed about QE2's final voyages as she has the happy job of making sure all our covers are onboard, get postmarked on the right day at New York and then put back onboard to come home again. It's a hellish job producing covers, I'm SO glad I don't do it anymore! Tracey does a much better job than I did and always looks fabulous without a hair out of place (I had a tendency to burst into tears when it all got too much!).

We are working with Cunard once again to create 2 covers for QE2 and both are being carried on her final transatlantic voyages. All being well, we'll have them back in late November ready to get out to everyone by Christmas, but as Tracey will tell you, you just never know until the covers are safe home! We're working on certificates to go with each one and a few are being signed by the Captain on board. Click here to learn more.

BLOG OFFER THIS WEEK:

I'm going to start putting in a secret blog offer each time I write to reward you faithful readers . . .

This week, you can save £2 off one of our classic Cunard covers, creating to mark QE2's last Blue Ribband voyage before she was overtaken in prestige by their new flagship, QM2.

It is a fabulous cover, carried on board, double postmarked and stunning to look at. The signed editions are SOLD OUT and at the time of writing, we only have 13 (lucky for some?) of these unsigned versions left.

Click here to find out more and buy!

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog. For those of you who get my regular emails with special offers (if you don't, why not?!), this is really an extension of the Weekly Caitlin Story. With an added dose of life at Buckingham Covers!

It's been a really hectic couple of weeks for me. Josh the Shetland was rehomed on Sunday. :-(

The story of Josh the Shetland
For those of you who don't follow my ramblings, Josh the Shetland pony was one of my more stupid impulse buys. As one of my friends said, "Most of us stick to handbags" [well, covers in our case!] but you have to take it one step further!"

I am completely horse mad and this gorgeous Shetland had pretty much been abandoned at the stables where I keep my horse, Cassie so I sort of offered to take him on. This was followed by a full scale reality check of panic when I remembered that I could barely afford my horse (the only way I can keep her is by allowing the riding school to share her and also sharing her with another girl).

And it occurred to me, belatedly, the my daughter, Caitlin, is only 2 years old and what looks like the the cutest of little ponies to me (Josh is 35 inches high - smaller than a big dog!) is the size of an elephant to her. And just because she names all her toys "Josh" doesn't mean she wants to ride yet . . .

I struck gold finding him a home though. He is off to a racing yard in Newmarket for a year! Watch for him coming up on the track any time soon . . .

The trainer there has 3 small sons, 5 years, 4 years and 2 and a half years old who are completely in love with Josh and already riding him without a saddle. Josh is on loan there for a year and hopefully will come back home to me after that when Caitlin is older (still haven't worked out how I'll afford him, mind but perhaps I'll ask The Boss for a pay rise!!! ho ho ... ).

So, Sunday was the Big Day when I took Josh to Newmarket - about 3 hours drive from Folkestone with horse trailer. My friend, Gemma, very kindly drove us up there since she has a trailer.

It all went well until the way back. Thank goodness, Josh was delivered!

All Gemma's warning lights came on in her car.

This is where she and I proved our girliness forever (you know me, Paddington Bear, The Snowman).

I looked up the lights in her handbook.
"Breaks, fluid and battery" I say naively, "They can't all go at once, can they?"
"Surely not!" she replied, "Must be an electrical fault. Let's carry on to the services".

WHY? I hear all you males (and sensible females) cry?
You Don't Ignore Warning Lights.

Well, don't worry, I've learnt. And if I hadn't, Gemma's partner, Ben and my husband, Tom - and my Dad - have all impressed this upon us. Promise.

Shortly after our foolish decision, smoke began puffing from the bonnet, the breaks cut out and the engine died. We managed to freewheel into the hard shoulder of the M11. Oh dear.

Now, am I allowed to be rude about another business on my blog? I'm not sure of the etiquette. But hey, what the hell, let's go for it.

I called Green Flag. We are a member of Green Flag as Tom and I were cost cutting. Before we were with the AA and believe me, after this we will be again.

My call went something like this (but please imagine loud motorway background noise plus the noise of the trailer shaking each time a lorry goes by)

Green Flag (from now on GF, in a tetchy female voice): Can I take your vehicle number please?
Me: Actually, I'm in a friend's vehicle but I have personal cover, I believe.
GF: I need the vehicle number.
Me: (gives the number)
GF [sounding cross]: I don't have a match for that.
Me: [thinking, "surprise, surprise, listen next time"]: No, you won't have. I'm a personal member.
GF [making a tutting noise]: May I take your postcode then please?
Me: (gives it)
GF [sounding distinctly smug]: You don't have personal cover, you have vehicle cover. So basically, you are not covered right now. And you are on the motorway.
Me [deep breath]: How much to get cover?
GF [with the air of pulling a trump card]: £89. And that only gets you to a garage within 10 miles.

It hurt but I went with the £89 option. I thought that shopping around for the best deal while the cars and lorrys zoomed past wasn't very appealing. I just wanted to be RESCUED.

The charming Green Flag lady put me on hold for what felt like an eternity whilst I had to listen to their recording of "Rescue Me, I want you in my arms". I discovered a severe sense of humour failure about this jolly touch.

Eventually, I was told that, as 2 women alone on the motorway, we were priority. Someone would be with us in an hour.

2 hours later, he arrived.
Gemma told him what happened.

"Well, you've ruined your engine for good then, haven't you?" he said in a sarcastic manner, filling our hearts with cheer, "You should have stopped when the lights came on".
[thanks, we might have worked that one out ourselves]

"What garage do you want to go to?" he then asks, grumpily.
"We're not from here", we reply, "We don't know any garages!"
"Well, I don't," says our knight in shining armour, "So you best get on your phone!"

He adds, "What's your priority then?"
"To get home!" we reply.
"No!" he grins in a patronizing way, "To upgrade your Green Flag membership!"

[funnily enough, my priority on that front is to rejoin AA]

30 minutes or so later and we are in a deserted business park outside a closed garage (it is Sunday). We have to post the car keys through with a note. We ask the helpful Green Flag man if he would give us a lift 2 miles down the motorway to the Service Station so it will be easier to find for whoever comes to collect us.

"I'm not a taxi" he replied.

Luckily, Gemma's lovely partner, Ben, proved to be a true knight in shining armour and drove up to fetch up. My lovely Tom was somewhere in Wiltshire on a boat on a stag weekend. The less said the better! He's just about standing again now!!

So my best advice is: don't cost cut when getting rescue cover!
But you knew that anyway.
Oh, and don't ignore warning lights
(but it seems Gemma and I are the only ones who are that silly. Not again though!).

By the way, we did a tribute cover to the AA once and now I've experienced their competition, I feel they truly deserve it!

We only did a limited edition of 75 with a lovely set of car stamps from 1982. They were never widely advertised so you might still be in with a chance of owning one.

Have a look at:
www.buckinghamcovers.com/shop/productdisplay.lasso?product_id=569

Until next time, very best wishes,

Ellie :-)

P.S. My offer this week is for a really unusual first day football World Cup photograph signed by Sir Geoff Hurst. Check it out!
http://www.buckinghamcovers.com/spotlight/index.lasso

P.P.S. If you'd like to get my regular emails about offers and what Caitlin's up to, join the family!
http://www.buckinghamcovers.com/family