Are we to have a Watson?

Some people are intolerable, drubbing boors. And then you have A.A. Milne who has so much sensible back-chat to say about everything that my opinion for him grows by leaps and bounds:

"Are we to have a Watson? We are. Death to the author who keeps his unraveling for the last chapter, making all the others chapters but a prologue to a five-minute drama. This is no way to write a story. :Let us know from chapter to chapter what the detective is thinking. For this he must watsonize, or soliloquize; the one is merely a dialogue form of the other; and, by that, more readable. A Watson, then, but not of necessity a fool of a Watson. A little slow, let him be, as so many of us are but friendly, human, likeable."

-A.A. Milne speaking on the subject of detective fiction

Oh for more people like the creator Winnie-the-Pooh. I want to marry someone who makes up words like "watsonize"; such a man would be a wonderful companion. Or perhaps what I need--being the one who already makes up words--is a man who will laugh at me and put the word into circulation.

...can he talk nonsense?

"There are two ways of dealing with nonsense in this world. One way is to put nonsense in the right place; as when people put nonsense into nursery rhymes. The other is to put nonsense in the wrong place; as when they put it into educational addresses, psychological criticisms, and complaints against nursery rhymes and other normal amusements of mankind."

-G.K.  Chesterton

"You have to write the book that wants to be written. If the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children."

-Madeleine L'engle

"Don't talk to me about a man's being able to talk sense; everyone can talk sense. Can he talk nonsense?"

-William Pitt

"Cottleston, cottleston, cottleston pie
A fly can't bird, and a bird can't fly.
Ask me a riddle and I'll reply:
Cottleston, cottleston, cottlestone pie!"

-A.A. Milne

"I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living."

-Dr. Seuss

These few quotes are simply to let you know that my mind has run to nonsense in my long sabbatical from writing, and as I try to harness my thoughts into some semblance of normalcy, I bit of that nonsense might dribble into a scribble or two. Consider yourselves fairly warned. For now, know that this post was entirely inspired by having been reading Winnie-the-Pooh again and working myself into a high good humor. I know you think I'm daft when I laud the Pooh books. I mean honestly, I am twenty years old. But the best books are the ones that charm you all through life, and I mean it when I say that there is nothing for making one smile like a good dose of the Hundred Acre Wood.

Toodle-pip, everyone! I'm off to trot along and write something! And I have the most shivery feeling it might be something good. I have been reading A.A. Milne after all! ;)

Hold me while I swoon and wish I was a millionaire.

I just heard the most amazing news ever. Really. (Okay. Hearing a publisher wanted my book would be the most amazing news ever, but this is a really close second.) Crotchford Farm (A.A. Milne's house) is up for sale!!!! If you have 2-3 million dollars you can own a bit of Winnie-the-Pooh for yourself! It is the most darling home:

And dates back to the 16th century! 

All the best little places from the Winnie-the-Pooh books are within walking distance, including the Hundred-Acre-Wood, Pooh-sticks Bridge, and Pooh-Corner! The house has 9.5 acres of land, a bit of stream, field, and forest, 6 bedrooms, and 3.5 bathrooms. Perfect for a large, rambunctious family.

Right. Brilliant!

So's all I need is a husband, 3 million dollars, and a large rambunctious family. Then I can sit at Pooh Corner and let my genius pour forth to astonish the world. It's a beautiful plan and I'm muchly tempted. After all, it's the next best thing to hearing that Beatrix Potter's Hill-Top Farm has hit the market! :D