A post for the boys.

(Inspired by Rachel Heffington's post.)

Dear Guys, dear Gentlemen, dear Sirs, dear beard-wearing trouser-wearing creatures with low (or one-day-to-be low) voices. Dear boys. Dear chaps, dear dudes, dear people Of The Male Sex.

This post is for you.

You know, I really don't give you enough credit, I really don't. I so often address my post with just ladies and girls and, well, maybe my brother if I'm very lucky (brothers don't count) (maybe that sounds very mean, but they just don't) in mind, but I rarely even pass it a thought that One of You might be reading the words I publish online.

It's fine - you're perfectly, perfectly welcome here. I am open to all kinds of readers. Even dogs may read my blog if they would be capable of it, although I wouldn't appreciate it if they licked my headers. Not that I'm comparing you with DOGS. (Far from it.) I like boys; they're cool people. We're both people, we're both allowed to read this blog - you. are. welcome. 

Thing is, I have a question. I don't THINK many of you actually read my blog. Out of the 6000 comments on my blog, maybe three come from your sort. Two of which were my dad. Or something like that, anyway. 

Just... I SOMEHOW just suspect that it's just girls out there, kindly filling my followers-box and increasing my views.

I can't be though. There MUST be SOME boys, some men out there reading Wonderland Creek. Maybe not? Maybe not. But I think that maybe there are. Thus the reason for the post; I demand clarification. Is there a lad or a sir amongst my 128 (wut??? 128 followers guys) followers? I would appreciate it if you'd say 'hi, I'm a dude and I read your blog' in the comments. I'm interested to think what male people think of my blog, though. Does the content bore you? Do you cringe at the way I swoon about Movie Heroes? What sort of posts do you like best? What's the male perspective from this little, stupid blog?

The point of this post: WELCOME, sir. Do stay a while. Of course, I thank everyone for sticking around, but I want to thank you ('you' as in, probably one person, if I'm lucky - I'm honestly even doubting your existence) for reading my blog.

Have a great day and don't forget to shave. Love, Naomi x

PS Please DO leave a comment. I'd be very happy to hear from you.

"It seems queer to be writing letters to somebody you don't know. It seems queer for me to be writing letters at all--I've never written more than three or four in my life, so please overlook it if these are not a model kind." --- Daddy Long Legs, Jerusha Abbot

Dear Readers,

I have come to the realisation that I very much love reading 'letter-books', as I call them. I only wish there were more of them, because I have read, and possibly reread, all of those I am aware of. (Except Dear Enemy which I'll read very soon.) My love for letter books started with Daddy-Long-Legs. I remember the Sunday when I found it for 0.00£ as an e-book on Amazon and 'bought' it on my kindle. I started reading, and became more than hooked from the first letter Jerusha Abbot wrote to the long-legged stranger she adopted as a friend and baptised adorably as 'Daddy-Long-Legs.' I didn't stop reading till I had finished it - I took the book down to dinner... it was that good. It still is one of my favourite books to this date, and if you haven't read it, I implore you to. No, in fact, I insist upon it.

Then I heard about "Dear Mr Knightley"... a sort of modern Daddy-Long-Legs, apparently, with a mad Jane Austen fan as the main character. Of course I was going to buy it and read it and love it. I have to admit, I don't adore 'Dear Mr Knightley' but I'm still very fond of it, and proud to own a copy. Also, the cover is gorgeous, and the hero, Alex, is a darling. I love reading Samantha's letters. They aren't always the quaint, adorable, innocent and hilarious letters that Jerusha Abbot writes; but they are great fun to read. Her character has a lot of depth and the fact that she has to write letters to a stranger is really good for her, because she needs to empty her worries and her heart onto someone.

I read The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society (I know, it's a mouthful, but isn't it the most original title ever?) several months later, AND IT WAS OFFICIAL. I love love love letter books. The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society or, as my friend Emma and I call it: "The Guernsey book" (cuz no-one's got time to write the entire title, right? Life is busy and time doesn't stop) - is amazing. I recently reread it and loved it even more. It's one of my all time favourite books, (despite some things about it I don't really appreciate.) I raved about it on Goodreads; and promised myself that one day, I'll make myself a Literary society and write a letter to someone who used to own a book I own.

'The Guernsey book' has a huge place in my heart... it's just... blahh. It makes me so happy. The characters are all so special and unique; and the letters that go to and fro and create a whole beautiful story... it just warms my heart. It's probably the cleverest book I know of. (Thou must read.)

I was delighted when I was able to buy 'Ain't we got Fun' on kindle; with the Amazon vauture I won through Melody's Christmas story contest last Christmas. I had wanted to read it for quite some time because it looked adorable and it's a letter book. The book is basically the correspondence between two sisters, Bess and Georgiana, as they find happiness in their daily lives during the Great Depression. I loved it - again, it warmed my heart. Another letter-book I've read is 'Lady Susan', by Jane Austen, and oui, I really liked that as well.

I think part of the reason why I love letter-form books is that I'm a curious person by nature, and that reading other people's letters therefore makes me feel happy... because one normally doesn't get to do that. :-P Also, letter books are always funnier and more drawn-back and casual than normal books; and they mean stamps and envelopes and ink and people sending information, gossip and love to each other via paper and words and sentences. It makes me so HAPPY.

Celebrating my love for these, I wrote myself a novella called 'Nonsense, you aren't dead,' written in letters form. It has a very dramatically sad ending, and I am featured in it as the antagonist (no, really), but I flatter myself when I say that it is rather fun to read, although without a doubt rather silly. In a childrens' book I once wrote, I featured a lot of mean letters between two kids who are forced to be 'pen-friends.' The book is called 'Pen-Enemy.' I want to write a another letter-form book sometime soon - they are so much fun to write, and it gives you such a boost on creativity, because there are so many options about styles, characters, and who writes to who, and so on.

The goal for this letter for you is the follow question: Do you know any other letter books? Because I really want  to read some other ones; ones I've never heard of. (Don't say 'Dear Enemy' by Jean Webster, because I know about that one, and I plan to read it very soon. :-)) So... if you have any more letter-book recommendations... go and tell me, please! (Interesting letter-collections from famous people are welcome too, although I am aiming for works for fiction with a plot and everything. :-P)

Yours very truly and very devotedly and very lovingly,

Naomi xxx

PS What do think of a long quote as a blog title? It's kind of weird, but letters embrace weirdness so I'm going to go with it.

PS And yes, the pictures in the post are SO staged, but LET ME. :-D (Also, the letters in the pictures are from Emma, and aren't they diviiine?)

Strangers inspire me!

I've lately realised how much random-strangers-on-the-road inspire me. I've started drawing little pictures and writing imaginary letters to them, and I thought I'd share some with you all. I actually didn't think of this idea - writing letters to strangers - I bumped into a blog several months ago who did it (I've forgotten which blog it is now), and I loved the idea so much it's something I do pretty regularly now.

(Some of these, by the way, aren't exactly to strange who really inspired me, but just strangers I will not forget and I feel like saying something to.)

Dear man who helped a lady find her way to the right train station, 

You're so kind! I could see from the ladies face how eternally thankful she was - and I have the feeling you spent a lot of your time helping her. AND you were carrying her bags. You're such a gentleman! It's a treat to see kind men helping ladies with such respect. You know, I saw you when I was about seven years old, and I still haven't forgotten you. You have, without realising it, had a small impact on my life, and I have to thank you.

Oh, and by the way, I ship you two. I hope you're married by now.

Dear lady who did her wedding photo-shoot at a castle I was visiting with some friends several years ago,

You had a grey wedding dress. GREY.

Of course, your choice, and all that. And it looked kind of unity-like, I guess, next to your brand-new husband, who was also wearing grey. But yeahhh... it was grey.

Dear old man who walked across our house,

I saw you yesterday, so you're still fresh in my mind, but I know I'll never forget you. I mean, you were reading as you walked your dog. Reading as you walked. I smiled instantly through the window. I nudged my older brother when you walked by and said, 'Oh look, we aren't the only ones!' - I really thought I was the only person in our area who reads when we walk. It's fun, isn't it?

And I'm sorry for drawing you with a coat and a scarf - because it wasn't that cold yesterday. My bad.

You're cool and I love you. Although I wish I knew what the book was. I'll guess I never find out... this is a good test for my horrible curiosity. :-)

Dear person who decorated a small ugly tree by the side of the motorway with two Christmas decorations,

Haha. You made me snicker. We cross that little tree every Sunday on our way to Church and every time I see it I want to talk to you. I mean, a person who randomly decorates a small forgotten tree is obviously an awesome person. The tree, I suppose, is also greatly thankful to you, because she now finally has all the attention she deserves. I guess you felt for sorry for the poor little wiry thing.

But I have one (only one!) question, though - when will you take it off? It's almost May now... Christmas is over. Don't worry on my part, though, I love being in the Christmas mood in May. :-)

Dear little blond boy looking out of the window,

I'm so glad I waved at you. You looked so impeccably bored! What were you doing, staring outside? Were you waiting for someone? And you seemed surprised when I waved... you stared at me as if you couldn't believe your eyes. I like it when people look at me like that - like I'm a princess or something.

I hope you don't forget me, because I won't forget you. I might see you again one day - we don't live that far away. See ya, then. :-)

Dear hippie-couple carrying shopping bags,

No, I won't pretend I like your clothing style. Lady-hippie, that purple fur coat was quite nauseating. But you inspired me that day to be myself more - even if people will look up with pulled-up noses of whaaat? I really love that you're different - that you wear what you like and not what other people like. I'm so glad I saw you - I really needed it that particular day.

But I don't like the purple fur. But don't mind me (I know you won't.)

Dear person who wrote 'Don't even think of Parking here!' on his/her door,

You made me really LAUGH. I mean, that's so original. A bit harsh, perhaps, but very humorous indeed. Much better than the 'car-heave' sign. And it worked, too! There were cars all over the sides of the road except in front of your door.

But I have to say, I did *think* of it (well I thought about my mum doing it - not me, because I can't drive). Just for a few seconds. Just to imagine what the expression on your face would be when you found out. Would you say, 'Oh it's okay?' or would you say, 'I hate you! Fined!' - I bet you'd say something harsh but humorous. Ah, I just plain like you, man-or-woman.

Dear Sandra and Cordelia,

Yes, I've even given you girls names; I've thought of you so much!

I met you at the music-school when I was about seven. You two sisters were in the class above my class and our two classes had a joint lesson every Thursday, remember, when we sang those boring songs? I always stared at you. I was very rude, but I couldn't help it. I just found you fascinating! When I was eight I wrote a little story and put you two in it, also as sisters, and I called you Sandra and Cordelia. Sandra, you're the older sister with thick wavy long hair. Cordelia, you're the thin awkward and terribly shy girl who looks a bit like Anne Shirley.

I love how you're such besties and whisper in each others ear, gossiping about the wild bunch of students. I hope you said nice things about me, though. And I'm sorry for staring.

I really want to see you again one day. You just fascinate me for no reason in particular.

That's all! I could think of many more; these are only a few.

Do strangers inspire you? 

What was the latest strange that inspired you?