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Mary Poppins’ Carpetbag Reveals More Than She Does
In the original 1934 novel, Mary Poppins’ seemingly empty carpetbag produces ordinary belongings, peculiar medicine and an entire bed. Her possessions reveal far more than she is willing to explain.
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Gargoyles vs Grotesques: Only One of Them Was Doing the Plumbing
The difference between gargoyles and grotesques begins with rainwater. What…
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The surprisingly complicated business of carrying an umbrella
Umbrellas have attracted mockery, elaborate pavement manners and a Shropshire…
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Clothing Patterns Explained: What’s Woven and What’s Printed?
What makes gingham different from Tattersall? How does herringbone get…
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What a Hallmark Actually Tells You About Second-Hand Jewellery
A tiny stamp can look wonderfully official without proving very…
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Why Bonfire Smoke Sticks to Clothes — and How to Get It Out
Bonfire smoke can linger in clothes long after the fire…
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How to Judge Second-Hand Leather Gloves by the Parts Nobody Names
Most second-hand glove advice stops at checking the leather and…
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How to Look After Velvet, Silk and Other Fabrics That Ruin Easily.
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Velvet, silk and cashmere are all delicate for different reasons. Here is how to recognise what can go wrong, deal with stains cautiously and know when to stop.
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What Would a Fantasy Bard Actually Wear in Real Life?
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Fantasy bard style does not need to mean poet shirts and costume jewellery. Here’s how to translate the colour, theatricality and character of the archetype into clothes that still work in real life.
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What Charity Shops Actually Have
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What do charity shops actually have once you get past the treasure-hunt videos? Mostly ordinary clothes, near misses and the occasional genuinely excellent find.
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Edinburgh Ghost Stories: The Tales That Followed Me Home
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A rainy walk through Greyfriars, a ring of underground keys and no ghosts at all: my honest account of Edinburgh’s Double Dead Tour and the stories that stayed with me afterwards.
