Swap-bot Time: October 29, 2024 5:45 pm
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hazelwitch3

hazelwitch3
Date Joined: October 13, 2013
Last Online: October 29, 2024
Birthday: September 26
Country: United Kingdom
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About Me

5 January 2024 -- Due to a mix of family health issues and work deadlines, I'm going to be cutting back on both swapping and hosting for a while, although I will continue to host a small number of group swaps.

AMA What's Your Word for 2022: Kindness 2023 Word: Focus 2024 Word: Finishing

My name is Betty and I live in Birmingham, England. Birmingham is right in the middle of the country about as far from the sea as you can get, around 120 miles north of London.

I'm in my early seventies and live with my (female) partner. We got married a few years ago after being together for 21 years. We have six children between us, three home-grown ones and three adopted ones who joined the family as older children.

We also have a sixteen year old grandson.

We are active in our local Quaker Meeting and I teach the children's class a couple of times a month -- stories and crafts. Although we only have the one grandson, we do spend a lot of our leisure time with children!

In December 2021 I took voluntary redundancy from my job as librarian at a local Quaker college. I'm continuing with a small amount of postgraduate PhD supervision and teaching. My main areas are history and literature.

I have always written and taking redundancy will, hopefully, allow me to develop that further. I have published one academic book about women's travel writing (and lots of articles), and two general books, one about great explorers and the other an atlas of exploration. I've also edited the memoirs of several 18th and 19th century women travellers. I've recently got interested in playwriting and audio playwriting and am tentatively taking steps in that direction but I still have a long way to go before I produce something that might actually be put on! I also want to have a go at writing either a historical novel or a cozy mystery -- again, I think it will be a stiff learning curve! And I have an idea for a children's picture book that I'm exploring and ideas for several more bits of academic research and writing.

Favorite Books

I read a lot. My tastes are pretty broad. I like general novels, poetry, history, crime fiction, science fiction and a whole variety of non-fiction.

I don't like horror and I like my crime fiction on the cosy end.

Crime novelists I enjoy include Donna Leon, Anne Perry, Molly MacRae, Kerry Greenwood, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Peter Tremayne, Sara Paretsky, Val MacDermid, Katherine Forrest, Majorie Allingham, Laurie R. King (particularly the Mary Russell books) and Carola Dunn. I reread Dorothy L. Sayers at intervals. I used to like Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh, but I don't think they've stood the test of time as well as Allingham and Sayers.

I used to read a lot of science fiction but read it only occasionally now. Suzette Haden Elgin's books stand out in my memory. I am a great fan of anything by Octavia L. Butler. I recently read and re-enjoyed Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. I may decide to do a re-read of Bradbury generally. Zenna Henderson's books were tremendously important to me when I was younger.

I like 18th and 19th century fiction. I re-read Jane Austen at intervals; ditto Dickens; ditto Susan Ferrier, Amelia Opie, and Walter Scott. I love Dorothy Wordsworth's travel writing -- I'm less fond of her diaries but they are nonetheless worth a read. I re-read Susan Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers about once a year and am a great fan of Mary Wilkins Freeman and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Other books I return to at intervals include Breakfast at Tiffany's, I Capture the Castle, Cold Comfort Farm, A Bullet in the Ballet, Jackie Kay's Adoption Papers and Neil Gaiman's short story Chivalry. I like some but not all Gaiman; I like some but not all Terry Pratchett (mostly Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men).

More general novels? I enjoyed Anne Tyler's Vinegar Girl (a rewriting of Taming of the Shrew). I liked Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. I will always read something by Margaret Elphinstone or Sara Maitland. I like the Icelandic writer Halldar Laxness. I loved Christine Coleman's The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society. I found The Restoration of Oscar Laird thought-provoking. I've just finished the Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman which I loved -- I'm on the waiting list for the next book in the series at the local library. I'm currently reading Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro and Ariadne by Jennifer Sain.

Quite a lot of the time I read non-fiction. I'm an inveterate reader of cookbooks and cookery magazines. I read walks books and craft books. I read a lot of literary criticism but that's poised somewhere between leisure and work. Ditto 17th century Quaker texts.

Looking at the non-fiction titles in the pile of books waiting to be read on my bedside table, they include The Natural World of Needle Felting, Cold Brew Coffee: Techniques and Recipes, Younger Next Year for Women, Macro Photography, Telling True Stories, Creating a Wildlife Garden, Covenant and Conversation: a weekly reading of the Jewish Bible, Fun and Games for the 21st century, and Teach Yourself Estonian!

I like and read children's and young adult books. Classic authors I still return to include C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, Lewis Carroll, Louisa May Alcott, Susan Cooper, Arthur Ransome, Edward Eager, Ruth Sawyer, Kenneth Grahame, E.B. White and Robert Louis Stevenson. More modern authors that I've enjoyed include Philip Pullman, Philippa Pearce, Malorie Blackman and Jonathan Stroud and Alex Gardiner's Mossbelly MacFearsome and the Dwarves of Doom made me laugh out loud while reading.

Within my academic life I've done some research on 18th and 19th century children's books and have a particular interest in Mary Martha Sherwood, Maria Graham, W.T.Stead (especially the Books for the Bairns) and Sarah Trimmer. I'm also interested in 19th century children's magazines

I often listen to audio-books, mostly crime fiction and non-fiction.

Favorite Television

I hardly ever watch television. When I do, it tends to be game shows or documentaries or nature programmes.

I do however listen to a lot of radio. mostly BBC Radio 4 (which is mostly speech programmes, news, dramas, documentaries, etc.) or 4 Extra. Sometimes I listen to Radio 2 (generally popular and easy listening music). I also like BBC World Service which gives me a much more global perspective on world news.

Favorite Crafts

One of the great things about my time on Swap-bot is the way it widened my crafting. I now make ATCs, do kirigami, make zines, Zen tangle, crochet and knit. I also like making handmade postcards and decorated envelopes. I've recently got into collage and am exploring its possibilities. Being part of a Digital Art Group made me work harder at that medium and I've also got increasingly into photography. I've just joined a local photography class so am hoping to improve my skills. I've received some wonderful items from other swappers and they've stimulated and inspired me to develop my own skills.

Other things I like to do

I play Serpentine online and Scrabble. I really like board games of all sorts and card games, but as my partner doesn't, I don't often have anyone to play with, unless my son who's into games happens to be around. (He lives in Scotland so I only see him every couple of months.)

I love cooking and like trying out new recipes. I cook things from all round the world, but Indian is probably the one I do most of. We used to live in a predominantly Pakistani neighbourhood where it was really easy to get all the spices and other ingredients in the local shops. We moved a few years ago to be nearer my work but make periodic expeditions into the old neighbourhood for shopping. I have lots of cookbooks. We keep running out of bookshelf space for them!

I also really like eating out and trying new restaurants.

We do quite a lot of country walking. I also like visiting museums.

We feed the birds in the garden and have seen over 30 species over the last year. We don't watch breakfast TV -- we sit by the patio doors and watch the birds instead!

POSTCARDS

When it comes to postcards, I particularly like maps, holidays, fairy tales, myths and legends, amusement parks, greeting postcards, foods and cooking, book or library themed, vintage, museums, trees, birds, insects, Chicago, zoos, poems, science, sports and games -- but I'm open to surprises!

Things I Collect

Old children's books (published pre-1970) in any language and from any country

Cookbooks and recipes

Vintage postcards and greetings cards

Little Golden Books

Nativity sets

Contemporary children's picture books from around the world and in any language

I Like

Chocolate

Food from around the world

American candy, particularly Sweet Tarts, Chuckles, Necco Wafers, Good and Plenty, Cookie Dough Bites and Red Hots

Christmas carols

Music - folk, country, classical in particular. Not a heavy metal or punk fan.

Vintage postcards and greetings cards

Postcards with nice pictures on

Postcards from museums

Trees

Wild animals

Things that people have made and put time and thought into

Poetry

Books

Crime fiction from around the world

Audiobooks

Nice things for the shower

Old microscope slides

18th and 19th century magazines

Silicone molds

Spices and herbs

Recipes

Birds

Insects

Anything to do with the ocean (pictures, sand, boats, etc.)

Pictures of snow scenes

Women's magazines, craft magazines, cooking magazines, photography magazines (but not celebrity magazines)

Learning about other people, their culture and how they live

Board and card games

I Don't Like/Don't Want

Nail polish

Make up

Lip balm

Disney things

Cigarettes

Hello Kitty items

Jewellery

My Swap-Bot User Name

A number of years ago, I needed a user name for an online game I was playing and there was a bottle of witch hazel sitting on the table. I ended up as hazelwitch! I've generally kept the name for online things that I do.

It's good to be back.

Current Swaps -- keeping track

Ratings chased (sometimes) but never received: kammy, Lady Abigail, Junemoon x 3, annim x3, cynaemon, teraecau, mjhaertling x 3, pernie123, scraphappygabi, swapwithyi, kaytee2368, snailmailer1, irm1980 x 2, QuinGem, skinny52, krspellman, Beckster, vigdisblom, krspellman x 2, rainydancer x 3, carol, hannabanna, lisserz

Late senders: pernie123, venzo2b, katariana

Flaked on by tatntole (WTA, chased by both host and me, no response), LoveJester (twice), onyx

PH WTA sent 7 September.

SSM 5 postcards sent 15 October. Waiting for swap from rainydancer and rating from zurdoswifey.

Vintage mailart postcard sent 29 October. Waiting for rating from jbee.

Ratings

Vickyen rated for SPCP: Autumn on Oct 17, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Hi Betty! Thank you for the wonderful share of autumn photos! This is one of my favorite seasons - usually so colorful, although we had a hot, dry summer, so time will tell! All the best! Hugs, Happy Snapping, and Swapping! ;)
riftvegan rated for Email Accountability 2024 #19 on Oct 16, 2024
5
rating
Comment: So glad the weight of that crappy book chapter has been lifted! I'm confident you will jam thru the rest of the urgent stuff.
armadillogal rated for SPCP: Autumn on Oct 13, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the neat shots. The red leaves are so cool.
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for hosting the swap and thank you very much for the yummy recipes. I will try them soon. Maybe next week when I am off of work. Hope you will host another round with hopefully more people joining :-)
Response: I'll try hosting it again after Christmas. Thanks for joining this time (and for the great recipes!)
5
rating
Comment: Thanks so much! Really enjoyed the zine, what a fun topic. :) Appreciated the D&D stamp as well!
lob rated for SPCP: Movement on Oct 3, 2024
5
rating
Comment: The dancers and swans were both awesome! Thanks for sharing!
lob rated for Email Accountability 2024 #18 on Oct 2, 2024
5
rating
Comment: I like reading about your academic goals. You got quite a few swapping goals completed, too. Thanks for sharing.
jami3 rated for CPG: Pocket Zine - Global #361618 on Oct 2, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the lovely zine and note. The Pied Piper stamps and their info are very interesting!
stephiedee rated for CPE Pick 5 on Sep 30, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you!
spacefoxsupreme rated for SPCP: Autumn on Sep 30, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for hosting! Wow, beautiful virginia creeper. I just checked on mine and it's also starting to turn red!
lob rated for Email Accountability 2024 #17 on Sep 15, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Great job on completing the article.I know you have probably told me before, but I'd love to hear more about your studies.
5
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5
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Comment: Thank you so very much for all the wonderful postcards ❤️❤️❤️ loved them all
5
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Comment: I really liked your photo of the accordion player. He seems to be very serious about his music. The photo of the trees is very intriguing. It's fun to try new things.
5
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Comment: The church is my favourite. It's such a good shot with nothing in the background to disturb the peace of the image!
spacefoxsupreme rated for SPCP: Colours of the Rainbow on Sep 12, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Sorry for the late rating, I was busy with the start of the semester. I really like the marbles, great idea for a photo! I should also try something like this with my macro lens. I usually only take flower photos with it.
lob rated for SPCP: Colours of the Rainbow on Sep 11, 2024
5
rating
Comment: I erspecially like the photo with the clear marbles that turned blue on the background. I may try that one day. Thanks for sharing.
mjhaertling rated for SPCP: Colours of the Rainbow on Sep 9, 2024
5
rating
Comment: It's fun to try new things in all aspects of life, including photography. I like the reflections that you see on the glass marbles. The orange photo has a surreal quality to it caused by the lights and the pose of the musician. Thanks for sharing.
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the lovely cards, Betty. Rapunzel was one of my favorite fairy tales as a child & I love the older illustrations. The rain stamp image is great. It's raining cars and dogs here, so I can relate. And you guessed right -- I think Brancusi's Sleeping Muse is wonderful.
Byn0604 rated for CPG: Mini Stamp Book - global on Jul 18, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you for the great flower stamp book and the extras, I haven't seen any of these stamps before, so that's an amazing surprise.

Rating Overview

Overall Hearts Stars Hosted
5.0000 1073 263 285
Completed Fives Threes Ones
1011 1239 0 0
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Uncategorized
204 278 529 0
View all

Comments

mchesser12 on Sep 21, 2024:

Thanks for the postcards for PH: WTA July 2024

Soph on Jul 16, 2024:

I highly enjoy the beautiful postcards you sent me for PH: WTA June 2024. Thank you so much!

HippieChick on Mar 19, 2024:

Wonderfully quick post! Always love to share the horde. :) I am always clearing out bits and bobs, if you have a wishlist, post it my way and I am happy to pop another envie out to you.

wolfeagle on Dec 25, 2023:

MC

OrigamiGrace on Dec 25, 2023:

xmas

Have a wonderful holiday!

simcoe54 on Oct 3, 2023:

Vintage Postcards - August WTA -- Thanks for the lovely water postcards.

MuggleMom on Sep 18, 2023:

PH WTA August - thanks for the great postcards and once again, chef's kiss, epic UK postage stamps on your envie!!

xx

MuggleMom

LadyJo on Aug 8, 2023:

Thank you for the July MAW of a postcard from your vacation in Lincoln. I enjoyed hearing what you did there and the nice postcard! Thanks for sharing!

PinkPengin on Aug 1, 2023:

Thank you so much for the wonderful vintage WTA postcards - and also for the bonus, more modern, penguin postcard, which of course I loved too! You are great!

MuggleMom on Jul 24, 2023:

Blackadder postage stamps!!! I was already in love with the swap before I even opened it!! Thank you for the lovely bookmark in my favorite colors too! All the extra tuck can and will be used in art projects! xxMuggleMom

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