Preparations for the new business kicked up a gear this week. We started the mammoth task of photographing stock (so. much. stock) and brainstorming ideas for the kind of miniatures we want to make ourselves. Between us we've been collecting 50+ years and yet there is so much stuff I have still never seen done in miniature. And plenty more I've never seen done affordably. I've put together a few prototypes and plan to get some serious crafting done next week once payday finally - finally - arrives and I can buy some material.

I'm still hoping to get the shop up and running for a soft launch by the end of February.

The other big thing this week was finishing my new and improved 2022 version of the refer and earn schemes guide. I couldn't be bothered to update the pinnable image but there are actually over 300 offers in that post and I intend to keep adding it as I come across new schemes / set up accounts with others! Even if I only make a few quid out of it, it's still a few quid I'd never have had other wise.

On the blog I also posted about Mattel's new Cutie Reveal Barbie, the 1905 canal death of Charles Hinwood, a cover guide to Penny magazine, and a review of 1977's Glitterball.

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Deal of the Week -



Vintage Cash Cow is a new trade in service that specialises in, well, vintage stuff. Think coins, cutlery, decor, electronics, memorabilia, etc, etc. You gather your stuff, stick it in a box, and send it off to them for free. They then assess it and give you an offer; you can either accept, or have your stuff returned. Use my referral code to sign-up and they'll also give you a £10 Amazon voucher: https://mention-me.com/m/ol/ey7fe-jessica-powell.

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Song of the Week -


H.A.P.P.Y. Radio - Edwin Starr (1979)

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For more like this, please click the image below:

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This week I decided to have a huge push on 'passive income' and signed up to something like 300 referral schemes. Then added the codes to my referrals pinterest board and my Referral Codes profile. Today I've been adding them to some other referral boards... 

This month's year suggestion was 1972, so here are my top ten favourite tracks of the year...

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Rocket Man - Elton John

This #2 hit is one of my all time favourite Elton John tracks.

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Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Paul Simon

Paul Simon and Julio getting into trouble, down by the schoolyard. Then crooning about it on Sesame Street. That was 1972 for you.

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Wig-Wam Bam - The Sweet

Gotta love The Sweet. :D

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You're So Vain - Carly Simons

You probably think this song is about you! This was a number one across the English speaking world. Except the UK where it peaked at #3. Yet more proof that we have no taste, I guess.

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Popcorn - Hot Butter

Does it get any better than early electro-pop on a Moog? No. No, it does not. Hot Butter peaked at #5 in the UK but the song hit the top spot in multiple territories, including Australia, France, and Germany.

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Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson

Originally a hit for Bobby Day in 1958, the Michael Jackson cover matched the original's chart position on the US billboard charts (#2) and reached #3 in the UK in 1972.

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Children of the Revolution - T. Rex

Forever tied with I Love To Boogie as my favourite T. Rex track.

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Lean on Me - Bill Withers

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Horse With No Name - America

As the American folk band's name suggests, thinking up original monikers wasn't their strong point - in 1972 they peaked at #3 on the UK charts with this song about a horse with no name at all... According to Wikipedia the song was banned by a number of US radio stations because 'horse' was common slang for heroin.

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Son of My Father - Chicory Tip

Originally a German hit in 1971, an English cover shortly followed - when the first failed to chart in the UK, Chicory Tip released their own and scored a #1.

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What was your favourite hit of 1972? Let me know in the comments. :)

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I had really good intentions about consistent blogging from the beginning of 2022, but then I was sent the announcement that the selection interviews for my job would be held on the fourth and I was just a nervous wreck before - and needed to go lick my wounds after. There were five candidates going for three places and I lost mine to a new member in the ward. At first I was really panicked because, well, much as I hate my job we all need to pay the bills.

Then after I'd had time to think it over I realised that, actually, it was a blessing in disguise. If I'd chosen not to stand again, as I've gone back and fore on pretty much every single day since the last election, I'd have felt obligated to do a lot of canvassing and take on various things to help out. This way I'm kind of absolved of doing more than a bit of a leafleting, and can quit all the extra stuff without guilt. Knowing I'll soon be free of it all has been making me feel all kinds of things I'm not used to. Like optimistic for the future!

Anthony didn't get selected either but he's going to try again in another ward. I accepted the advice of karma and have been busy laying the groundwork for my next venture...


This is the logo for the online business I'm gonna be setting up. I've always wished there was something like Tiny Frock Shop in the UK, or even more places offering action figure splits, because I usually only want a few pieces from any given release but buying them via ebay, etc, is so expensive you might as well just buy the whole thing. So, yeah, the plan is to sell a mix of dolls, fashions, and miniatures at multiple price points so there's something for everyone. (Or, you know, everyone who collects dolls.)

I'm hoping to do a soft launch next month to get things up and running, with a proper 'official' launch with a lot more crafted items in a few months times. Watch this space! :D

In other news, Blogger has taken away my menu bar for some reason and the layout section refuses to let me reinstate it in tabbed form. Sigh. I foresee frustration.