Knowing your audience.

As you know, I'm recuperating from surgery on my shoulder, and have been doing nothing but lying on the couch, watching daytime TV, eating cake and chocolates (supplied by my very nice friends) and when I'm able to stay awake, reading.

I've read my way through three books already, so my 'to be read pile' is dwindling a bit now.

It was also my birthday last week and to help me celebrate my 10 year old niece sent me over a present.  Here it is in all its Minion wrapping paper glory.

I knew before I opened it, that it was a book, and I thought to myself, ah my niece knows me very well and how thoughtful of her to spend her (easily earned!) money replenishing my dwindling supply of books.  But I was wrong, it wasn't a book.  It was two books!

And here they are in all their glory...

Talk about knowing your audience!?

Anyway, having just finished a book, I was ready to start another.  But dilemma!  Which one should I read first.

I won't give you a full blown review of either as I'm sure you will all be queuing up to borrow them, so I'll just give you a synopsis.  The first one contains short stories about how to deal with hangovers, and the different types of hangovers.  And the second one is about how to deal with dates, and the different types of dating.  After reading both, I can't tell one story from the other as the subjects seem so similar.

They are also full of interesting facts, such as: (a) Every unit of alcohol kills the equivalent of two inches of bacon, which must be replaced the next morning.  (b) Winston Churchill who was Prime Minister of GB during the second world war, had a constant hangover, and he never surrendered! (The Hangover).  (a) It is surprising how often that a soul-mate turns out to not be on the other side of the world, but fairly nearby and reasonably drunk.  (b) Men's brains and women's brains are different, even as children. (Dating).

So, just to keep you interested, here's an extract from The Ladybird book of Dating:

"Rebecca* is meeting Ian* for their fifth date.  But Ian has not come.  Rebecca is sad.  Ian sends a test message instead.  He says he is under too much pressure from Rebecca, who is calling him everyday.  Rebecca thinks this is a lucky escape.  'Every day' is two words."

And, not to be left out, here's one from The Ladybird book of the Hangover.
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"Susan* (they probably couldn't spell Siobhan!) woke up next to a full glass of wine.  She left it beside the bed in case she became thirsty in the night.  Now Susan does not know whose flat it was or where the nearest station might be.  At least she is dressed properly in case there is another party on the walk home."

I've read and re-read both books now and I have picked up some very useful tips:  Such as, always check where the nearest station is for getting home, and, more importantly, always check the grammar in your text messages.  And I've come to the conclusion that the stories in each book are definitely interchangeable....

I've also learned that Ladybird books have come a long way since my time.  And so have 10 year olds!!


* Names have been changed to protect the innocent.  Although after reading both of these books, I am coming to the conclusion that innocence has long since been lost...