"George, was a giant ...."

As the guy who sits opposite me has the hangover to end all hangovers, I'm being nice and being quiet (Obviously I did say "Hello Paul!" in a loud cheery voice, and have slapped a few books down on the desk in the meantime) so the office is library-like.

As a child I loved going to the library (Nicely linked huh?!). My local one was in Gants Hill and was split into a children's library and the adult library. The children's one had these white, round book holders on the floor with 4 compartments where the picture books were kept, and I'd spend ages searching for an Asterix or Tin-Tin books I hadn't read. Alternatively I'd be working my way through Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' or 'Secret Seven' series, or occasionally the 'Jennings' series of books. The librarian was a 60's/70's throwback, with her long hair parted straight down the middle, and her penchant for cheesecloth .. But she was brilliant. She knew every child's name and their favourite books, and would always have a suggestion on something else to try which invariably was right. Through her, I learnt to love reading and consequently I always have a book on the go, and will read pretty much anything.

Charlotte and Bethany have acquired my love of reading, and Thursday evening is our regular library visit. Manningtree Library is quite small, but the girls always find something of interest to them. I've always read to the girls at bedtime and have discovered that both have different tastes.

Charlotte liked novels, and would like a chapter each night (On the understanding I could scan ahead and skip bits if the chapter was a long one), we worked our way through the Famous Five and the Roald Dahl books ('Danny the champion of the world' being a big favourite) - which gave me a chance to reacquaint myself with the books of my childhood. She's old enought to read to herself at night now, and is now devouring the Jacqueline Wilson books as fast as she can find them.

Bethany likes short stories, and her absolute favourite is 'The Smartest Giant In Town'. I seem to read that book at least twice every couple of weeks, and both Bethany and I can recite it at will, but it's fun book to read. Lot's of voices to put on (As she can read very well, I now get B to do them) and a song/poem to recite after each event - Bethany knows that if I'm in a rush or just don't seem up for reading too much, to get that book out.

I'm going to miss reading to her (and also the 'Smartest Giant In Town') when she moves on to reading to herself like her big sister, I'll have to read the book to myself, or the dog ... Failing that, I'll invite myself round to friend's houses and read the book to their children at bedtime.