The Land Of Story Books

I’ve been out of my comfort zone today, visiting the Waterstones book store in Carlisle. It was boring. I hate books. Give me a good old comic anyday – the dafter, the better, so that all the worries of life can be laughed away!

Fact: My Mam used to be concerned about me as a child, as I would only read comics. The Dandy; The Beano; Topper; Eagle; 2000 AD; The Beezer; Buster; Hornet; Whizzer & Chips – I’d even grab a look at my sisters Twinkle 😂🤣

• What comics can you remember from your childhood?

Having spoke to someone, my Mam was told, “as long as he is reading, don’t worry what it is”. And it’s true – I don’t think reading comics did me any harm at all. Although saying “Whizz-Bang” in a conversation does result in strange looks from friends. Lol.

At evening when the lamp is lit,
Around the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.

Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.

There, in the night, where none can spy,
All in my hunter’s camp I lie,
And play at books that I have read
Till it is time to go to bed.

These are the hills, these are the woods,
These are my starry solitudes;
And there the river by whose brink
The roaring lions come to drink.

I see the others far away
As if in firelit camp they lay,
And I, like to an Indian scout,
Around their party prowled about.

So, when my nurse comes in for me,
Home I return across the sea,
And go to bed with backward looks
At my dear land of Story-books.

Robert Louis Stevenson