Charlie and C J Wray (The Excitements) discuss the WW2 women her book about fun-loving nonagenarians is based on and her views on modern and historical adoption as an adoptee herself. We also discuss the Peter Jones (John Lewis) department store, using Morse Code, and Diamond Doris, a jewel-thief who got away with quite a bit.
Please note there are a couple of mild swear words in this episode. Please also note we talk of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry which is commonly shortened to FANY.
A transcript is available on my site
Tickets to my live show of Friday 4th April can be bought here
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General references:
William Ernest Henley's Invictus poem
Long Lost Family
The Yoga teacher Chris mentions is Dorothea Barron. It isn't the same lady Charlie mentions, and unfortunately Charlie has been unable to find out who that was.
Books mentioned by name or extensively:
C J Wray: The Excitements
C J Wray: Bad Influence
Christian Lamb (with Chris): Beyond The Sea, A Wren At War
Don Marquis: Archy and Mehitabel
Pam and Jean Owtram (with Chris): Codebreaking Sisters
Stella Knightley: The Girl Behind The Mask
Stella Knightley: The Girl Behind The Fan
Stella Knightley: The Girl Behind The Curtain
W E Fairbairn's book: Hands Off! Self Defense For Women And Girls
Release details: recorded 26th September 2024; published 10th March 2025
Where to find Chris online: Website (as C J Wray) || Website (Chrissie Manby) || Instagram
Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok
Discussions
02:05 About Pat and Jean Owtram, the two sisters who inspired The Excitements
04:04 About the inspiration for Penny's stealing, Diamond Doris
07:25 Using the Peter Jones department store
09:05 All about Archie
10:20 Toujours gai!
11:43 How Chris went about the writing itself
14:13 The Invictus poem and Fairbairn book
16:53 Chris' use of Morse Code
19:16 Davinia and Sister Eugenia, and we then move on to Arlene
22:52 Chris talks about adoptions both historical and modern and her views on it as an adoptee herself
28:20 Did Chris consider having Penny and Josephine defeat the gunman?
29:03 Frank's choice not to se
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