I’ve just read or perhaps, given its immense length and density, it would be more honest to say filleted, The Soviet Century by Karl Schlögel. Its scope is enormous, there are some infelicities of translation from the German and, as with a lot of big books by big names, it could have done with some tighter editing.
I’ve been wrapping all presents in brown paper for about over ten years now. Partly for environmental and aesthetic reasons (an excuse to buy a range of baker’s twines as well..) but largely as a result of not reading the description of an EBay purchase many years ago. Imagine my surprise when a roll of brown paper so heavy I couldn’t lift it was delivered. It must have been 250m of paper. Still going strong and about to be used for this year’s wrapping, if I ever get around to it! Happy Sunday, Jane!
As ever Jane you writing evokes such vivid memories - this week I was back in the Birmingham Royal Mail sorting office circa 1980-83, where as student home from university for Xmas, I worked nights sorting those brown parcels, to earn a bit of much needed extra cash. Happy days & nights 😍
We wrap all our book orders in brown paper for posting all over the world, and each book is wrapped in our white branded packing paper. But not string. I worry that it will catch in the sorting office machinery so we use brown paper tape instead. 100% recyclable. Www.handheldpress.co.uk
I truly enjoy your articles and your style of writing. I would love going back to brown paper and string for so many reasons. Thank you for writing this!
Yes, vivid memories of learning at Brownies back in the ‘50’s how to properly wrap and tie a parcel to be mailed. The folds had to be properly creased, the string taut and tied with the right knots! I think I earned a badge for for my many attempts! And now everytime I send a parcel without string or brown paper I think of my Brown Owl looking down on me! Thanks for the memories!
When I married in 1984 we lived in N.Ireland and as newlyweds had to furnish our home. I can remember going to an old fashioned drapers (?) shop for pillows, which were wrapped in brown paper and string. It seemed a world away from shops in London where I had been living, but in a good way.
Btw, my local supermarket now provides brown paper bags for loose fruit and veg - everything lasts longer if kept in these in the fridge, no yellowing broccoli!
Wonderful. The joy of something colourful emerging from a parcel of plain brown paper is the thing for me. The wrapping should not seem to be trying to trump what it contains.
Thanks for another thoughtful and evocative post. In my parents's day brown paper was ubiquitous and it was strong stuff that was reused frequently. I have a book of my father's from the 1940s that is covered in a used piece of sturdy parcel paper that is green and striped, a kind you can't get any more.
My father-in-law, a pharmacist, could wrap prescription bottles in brown paper, twine, with a bit of sealing wax...no tape. My husband does that now with Christmas presents. For many years, I wrapped presents in brown paper, decorated with potato prints of trees or stars. Thanks for bringing back these memories.
Speaking of packaging how are you faring in the brave new world of recyclable Quality Street wrappers? Less enjoyably garish, but hopefully they are made of paper...
Not as much fun for the arrangements. Not quite sure why they have repackaged the chocolates in recyclable paper but now they are in plastic tubs, not tins!
Still sending my posted presents in good old-fashioned brown paper. I do use sellotape though.
Also, I am reminded of the first 3 years at my girls’ convent grammar school in the late 60s. All our exercise books had to be backed with brown paper.
Another fascinating trip down memory lane. Thank you! Enjoy your Christmas break.
I ran a small mail order business in the late 1980s, and bought a large roll of brown paper for all my packages. I closed the business in 1999. Still working my way through the brown paper; I reckon it will see me out. So all my presents have been wrapped in brown paper for the past 30+ years. Ahead of my time…. And I do rather like it.
Some years if I really want to get fancy I even stamp it
I’ve been wrapping all presents in brown paper for about over ten years now. Partly for environmental and aesthetic reasons (an excuse to buy a range of baker’s twines as well..) but largely as a result of not reading the description of an EBay purchase many years ago. Imagine my surprise when a roll of brown paper so heavy I couldn’t lift it was delivered. It must have been 250m of paper. Still going strong and about to be used for this year’s wrapping, if I ever get around to it! Happy Sunday, Jane!
This made me laugh! Simon still reminds me of the time I thought I'd ordered a small bag of daffodil bulbs and a 25kg sack turned up!
As ever Jane you writing evokes such vivid memories - this week I was back in the Birmingham Royal Mail sorting office circa 1980-83, where as student home from university for Xmas, I worked nights sorting those brown parcels, to earn a bit of much needed extra cash. Happy days & nights 😍
We wrap all our book orders in brown paper for posting all over the world, and each book is wrapped in our white branded packing paper. But not string. I worry that it will catch in the sorting office machinery so we use brown paper tape instead. 100% recyclable. Www.handheldpress.co.uk
I truly enjoy your articles and your style of writing. I would love going back to brown paper and string for so many reasons. Thank you for writing this!
Yes, vivid memories of learning at Brownies back in the ‘50’s how to properly wrap and tie a parcel to be mailed. The folds had to be properly creased, the string taut and tied with the right knots! I think I earned a badge for for my many attempts! And now everytime I send a parcel without string or brown paper I think of my Brown Owl looking down on me! Thanks for the memories!
When I married in 1984 we lived in N.Ireland and as newlyweds had to furnish our home. I can remember going to an old fashioned drapers (?) shop for pillows, which were wrapped in brown paper and string. It seemed a world away from shops in London where I had been living, but in a good way.
Btw, my local supermarket now provides brown paper bags for loose fruit and veg - everything lasts longer if kept in these in the fridge, no yellowing broccoli!
Thanks again Jane for another interesting read.
Happy Christmas Jane, thank you for all your interesting and thought provoking writings and pictures, they are a joy to receive.
Wonderful. The joy of something colourful emerging from a parcel of plain brown paper is the thing for me. The wrapping should not seem to be trying to trump what it contains.
Beautifully put!
I can confirm that Broadhursts are thankfully STILL doing this.
Happy Christmas Jane and thank you for all your articles over the year. xx
Thank you so much for another wonderful piece of writing. Happy Christmas and here's hoping for a healthy and PEACEFUL 2024.
Thanks for another thoughtful and evocative post. In my parents's day brown paper was ubiquitous and it was strong stuff that was reused frequently. I have a book of my father's from the 1940s that is covered in a used piece of sturdy parcel paper that is green and striped, a kind you can't get any more.
My father-in-law, a pharmacist, could wrap prescription bottles in brown paper, twine, with a bit of sealing wax...no tape. My husband does that now with Christmas presents. For many years, I wrapped presents in brown paper, decorated with potato prints of trees or stars. Thanks for bringing back these memories.
Speaking of packaging how are you faring in the brave new world of recyclable Quality Street wrappers? Less enjoyably garish, but hopefully they are made of paper...
Not as much fun for the arrangements. Not quite sure why they have repackaged the chocolates in recyclable paper but now they are in plastic tubs, not tins!
Still sending my posted presents in good old-fashioned brown paper. I do use sellotape though.
Also, I am reminded of the first 3 years at my girls’ convent grammar school in the late 60s. All our exercise books had to be backed with brown paper.
Another fascinating trip down memory lane. Thank you! Enjoy your Christmas break.
I ran a small mail order business in the late 1980s, and bought a large roll of brown paper for all my packages. I closed the business in 1999. Still working my way through the brown paper; I reckon it will see me out. So all my presents have been wrapped in brown paper for the past 30+ years. Ahead of my time…. And I do rather like it.
Some years if I really want to get fancy I even stamp it