Janet has bought a mouse but not just any old mouse this is a piece from the famous Robert ‘Mouseman’Thompson of Kilburn, Yorkshire who was a prolific furniture maker in the 1930′s producing  traditional handcrafted english oak furniture. He used a mouse as his signature and trademark, hence the nickname.  ‘Mouseman’ furniture www.robertthompsons.co.uk has since become recognised as one of the best craftsmen of the 20th century and his family firm  still manufactures the highest quality english oak furniture in Kilburn, using the same traditional techniques and skills.   Janet has wanted to own a  Mouseman for many years but due to their popularity the larger items have been too expensive, even the smaller items such as the ashtrays sell between £45-£60 . The pin dish  she spotted at a local auction was an opportunity that Janet was not going to miss, she was delighted when she won her item for under her limit,, truth be told she would have paid more than she did so she was more than a little pleased when she finally managed to purchase her very own mouse without John rolling his eyes over the price. Janet thinks that unless she curbs her collecting, or as her son would say, hoarding habit, then John will very soon have perfected the art of eye rolling!  

Much to John’s horror Janet has started collecting something other than ceramics, first it was the Janet and John Books which he felt were OK as they were part of his childhood, were rather nostalgic and didn’t take up much room. Now she has started a record collection, which she said was an attempt to replace some of John’s old LPs which were lost many years ago. Janet is thrilled with her first buy a selection of  singles and LPs, that’s all she needs now is a record player and she will be able to enjoy hours of endless fun with the Beatles.

Janet knew there was someone else when John started leaving the house every day, when questioned about where he was going , his response was always the same, he was just popping out. John suspected there was someone else when he heard Janet making a droning noise which he could by some stretch of the imagination associate with humming , Janet was not known for her musicality, this combined with the fact that she seemed to be smiling constantly made him feel there was something not quite right with her behaviour. Truth be told Janet and John have both fallen in love with with someone who has only recently come into their lives and that’s their new Grand-Son,  a bubbly blowing bundle of loveliness who they argue over having cuddles with and who can make them melt with a smile. Every day they wonder what new joy he will bring and who he will talk to and smile at first.