The Peak of Mathematics

Everybody loves maths don't they? The sheer naked panic of just not getting it as a child? The embarassed, snorting bluster when someone asks you "Go on then, what are seven eights?" Well lets hope this post brings back those long-buried feelings of childhood inadequacy, as we enter the world of Nelson's Peak Mathematics 1 (Alan Bridgehouse, David Godber and Peter Patilla 1981). The art design is by Sharon Lovett and Michael Kaufmann, and the snaps are by Chris Ridgers (the South African Chris Rodgers), Dawson Strange (yes!) and Janine Wiedel.

Perhaps the panda represents the advances the ancient Chinese made in the field of mathematics: perhaps the entwining of the branches is a visual pun on the pyramid logo in the top left. Whatever - it's a panda up a tree and it's time to open your exercise book.

Typical - you wait ages and then nine turn... sorry.

Some great snack action here. Old school white Smarties and a Toblerone, washed down with a tin of Humbrol enamel paint.

No Rola Cola or Top Deck to feed the fantasies of cheap nostalgists here - we're showing the kids Coke and that's that. If I was Mary I'd just pick up the shades and the cool, swimming frog.

The spirit of dark and lonely ice cream vans.

Don't bother asking John - it's marbles all the way. Those long, early spring afternoons on the tarmac have marked me indelibly (especially around the knee area). That's it - I'm off to revise graphs and recite 'Got, got, need, need ..' over a Panini Football 85. Bye!

The Art of Harry Wingfield

Hello. It's been a while (again) so I thought I'd put up some slightly crooked scans from a rather lovely old Ladybird book 'talkabout shopping'. The illustrations are by Harry Wingfield, who illustrated prolifically for Ladybird for over 20 years. There's a lovely crispness to them I think you'll agree.

It's not a covered market but it'll do...

I dunno man ... how many eggs?

Ok, let's talk about the pet shop. I think it's an ideal companion piece to this: