From the daily notes written to a beloved mother-in-law who could no longer hear comes a hilarious and warm portrait of daily life Phyllida Law's mother-in-law Annie lived with her family for 17 years and was picture-book perfect. It took a while before the family realized that Annie was increasingly deaf. So Phyllida began to write out the day's gossip at the kitchen table, putting her notes by Annie's bed before going to hers. One night her husband muttered that she spent so much time each evening writing to Annie she could have written a book. Here it is—a book full of the delights of a warm and loving household. Of the cat being sick after overindulging in spiders, the hunt for cleaning products from the dawn of time, mysteriously malfunctioning hearing aids, an unusual and potentially hilarious use for garlic, and the sad disappearance of coconut logs from the local candy shop. It's about the special place at the heart of a home held by a woman born in another age, a woman who polished the brass when it was "looking red at her;" who still bore a scar on her hands from being hit by her employer; and who held the beloved homemaking skills of a bygone age.

Notes to My Mother-in-Law

Humor & Entertainment

Law, Phyllida

Humor

Fourth Estate Classic House

‘My mother-in-law Annie lived with us for 17 years and was picture-book perfect.’
It took a while before the family realised that Annie was increasingly (as she would put it) 'Mutt and Jeff'. So Phyllida began to write out the day's gossip at the kitchen table, putting her notes by Annie's bed before going to hers. One night as her husband wandered off to bed he muttered darkly that she spent so much time each evening writing to Annie she could have written a book. 'And illustrated it!' Here it is.
It is a book full of the delights of a warm and loving household. Of Boot the Cat being sick after over-indulging in spiders; the hunt for cleaning products from the dawn of time; persistently and mysteriously malfunctioning hearing aids; an unusual and potentially hilarious use for a clove of garlic; and the sad disappearance of coconut logs from the local sweetshop.
It's about the special place at the heart of a home held by a woman born in another age. Who polished the brass when it was 'looking red at her'. Who still bore a scar from being hit by her employer when, as a young woman, she was in service. Who could turn the heel of a sock and the collar of a shirt, and make rock-cakes, bread pudding and breast of lamb with barley.

Notes to my Mother-in-Law

Biographies & Memoirs

Community & Culture

Fourth Estate

The charming, funny successor to the hugely popular 'Notes to my Mother-in-Law', from the inimitable Phyllida Law. When her Uncle Arthur dies, actress Phyllida Law returns to the tiny Scottish village of Ardentinny to look after her ma, Mego. Mego's always been deliciously dotty. She once put a new packet of tights in the fridge (and the bacon in her sock drawer). But Mego's older now and becoming ever more muddled. So Phyllida devotes herself to looking after Mego, but not without the help of friends, local villagers, and her two daughters, actresses Emma and Sophie Thompson: pulling together, they maintain order in the cottage, find Delia on the telly and keep Mego's spirits up-with a G&amp;T if all else fails. Somehow, Phyllida even manages to slip away on acting jaunts in Glasgow and Italy. Running through Phyllida's account of Mego's final months are the anecdotes, memories and legends that form the fabric of every family. Phyllida's account captures the warmth and tenderness of two generations of daughters brought together to care for their much-loved mother and grandmother.

How Many Camels Are There in Holland?. Phyllida Law

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Mental Health

A single-volume edition of two hugely charming and funny memoirs of family life - Notes to my Mother-in-Law' and How Many Camels Are There in Holland?' - by the inimitable Phyllida Law.

Three Mothers (and a Camel)

Literature & Fiction

Essays & Correspondence

Fourth Estate Ltd.

Dead Now Of Course

`My future mother-in-law burst into tears when she heard her son was to marry an actress. There's still something disturbing, I grant you, about the word "actress". If an MP or some other outstanding person plays fast and loose with an actress the world is unsurprised. She is certainly no better than she should be, and probably French...'                      As well as being a mother (to the actresses Sophie and Emma Thompson) and a devoted carer to her own mother and mother-in-law, Phyllida Law is also a distinguished actress, and Dead Now Of Course is the tale of her early acting career.           As a young member of a travelling company, Phyllida learned to cope with whatever was thrown at her, from making her own false eyelashes to battling flammable costumes and rogue cockroaches. We find her in Mrs Miller's digs, which were shared with a boozy monkey bought from Harrods, an Afghan hound known as the `the flying duster', several hens and various children.           Filled with funny, charming anecdotes, Dead Now Of Course paints a fascinating picture of life in the theatre - and at the heart of the story is an enchanting account of Phyllida's courtship with her future husband, the actor and writer Eric Thompson.

‘My future mother-in-law burst into tears when she heard her son was to marry an actress. There’s still something disturbing, I grant you, about the word “actress”. If an MP or some other outstanding person plays fast and loose with an actress the world is unsurprised. She is certainly no better than she should be, and probably French…’As well as being a mother (to the actresses Sophie and Emma Thompson) and a devoted carer to her own mother and mother-in-law, Phyllida Law is also a distinguished actress, and Dead Now Of Course is the tale of her early acting career.As a young member of a travelling company, Phyllida learned to cope with whatever was thrown at her, from making her own false eyelashes to battling flammable costumes and rogue cockroaches. We find her in Mrs Miller’s digs, which were shared with a boozy monkey bought from Harrods, an Afghan hound known as the ‘the flying duster’, several hens and various children.Filled with funny, charming anecdotes, Dead Now Of Course paints a fascinating picture of life in the theatre – and at the heart of the story is an enchanting account of Phyllida’s courtship with her future husband, the actor and writer Eric Thompson.

Instances of the Number 3

VICKERS, Salley

Contemporary

Chivers Press Ltd

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Law, Phyllida. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Law, Phyllida

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Law, Phyllida. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Notes to My Mother-in-Law

Notes to my Mother-in-Law

How Many Camels Are There in Holland?. Phyllida Law

Three Mothers (and a Camel)

Dead Now Of Course

Dead Now Of Course

Instances of the Number 3