About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Friday, March 13, 2009

ABC Wednesday - H is for Herriot, James


Again, I'm late doing my ABC Wednesday post but perhaps you'll forgive me when you read about James Herriot, famous veterinarian and author. (see photo at left) One of the greatest writers of our time, James Alfred Wight, Herriot being his pen name, wrote about his experiences as a country veterinarian in England. His stories have touched millions of people. Born in 1916 in England, Herriot passed away from cancer in 1995. From 1978 to 1990, the television show "All Creatures Great and Small" kept viewers glued to their TV sets. What fan can forget Clancy, Joe Mulligan's dog, a cross between an "Airedale and a donkey"? The huge dog had a case of "womitting" and James, Siegfried, and Tristan were all scared of the big dog. And who could ever forget Mrs. Pumphrey and her adored Tricki Woo with his unique symptoms of flop-bott and crackerdog? I inherited the set of four books written by Herriot about his life and times working in the Yorkshire Dales of northern England from my parents. I've enjoyed every moment savouring the author's delightful tales of his adventures with the colourful characters he met during his years in Yorkshire. If you haven't had the chance to read Herriot's books, I urge you to do so - you will not be disappointed.

Below is a photo of Christopher Timothy, actor, who portrayed James Herriot in the television series.








13 comments:

Unknown said...

We spent 5 months of last year rewatching all seven series thanks to Netflix - it was utter heaven. I also have all the books and am a big fan, one day I hope to own the DVD's.

Maggie May said...

I also watched all the TV serials that were very popular on English TV at one time.
A great series.
I enjoy watching any of the new type vet documentaries that we have here, too.

J said...

I loved the tv series so much as a kid that I wanted to be a vet, until I saw an episode where he had to shoot a horse. Then I decided that being a ballerina would be less traumatic. (Shame about the total lack of dancing talent!).
I almost hate myself for saying this, but I just can't help myself, it's Tricki Woo not Tricki Poo. Sorry.

Country Girl said...

Oh, Leslie. I love James Herriot's books. He lived such a wonderful life and at times I felt almost like Helen with our small children and my husband waking in the middle of the night to do a foaling or help a sick horse.
I hope you are doing well.

Michele said...

Hi Leslie, I adored reading his books, they were most delightful!! But funny thing is, I have never watched the TV series...

I hope you are doing well these days!

Hug♥

Leslie: said...

Oh gosh, J, that was an awful typo!!! YES! It was Tricky WOO!!!

HeatherDB said...

I've read them all!!! Great series!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

ùSometimes I think I'm getting rather like Mrs P!

Cath said...

Fabulous books and the TV series was brilliant. I think Christopher Timothy played a wonderful Herriot.

Liz Hinds said...

I love all the books too. And the senior vet - what was his name? Sigmund or something. He was great.

Liz Hinds said...

Just read your post again: Siegfried, of course!

Ruth L.~ said...

Love his books.

Anonymous said...

I`am 14 years old and i love this series. The story is great. When James go to the military i was very said. And i was very said when the german TV channel don`t sent the series,too.