I too love Amazon's USED book deals, janie! I haven't bought a new book in AGES! I almost get a RUSH paying $1 or $4 for a $40 or $50 book... It might paint me as a miserly cheapo- but I even send USED books to people as GIFTS! I always try to justify it to them by explaining that it's re-cycling and being environmentally GREEN- Ha! I wonder if they buy that- or if they just think of me as a tight-wad? Ha!

Sad to say I know some people who would focus on the fact it was used instead of being touched someone thought of them. ME ..heck I love them any way I can get them! So far every book I have gotten looks brand new.
I checked out Paula Deens new one but it looks like it has alot of seafood recipes in it and seafood around here is very expensive. Not to mention Im allergic to white fish lol. So I think Ill pass on that one.

I like anything cooked by James Martin but nothing by Gary Rhodes.

I'm a firm believer that good Chefs, good cooks have to slightly on the bonnie side.

What sort of recommendation is a skinney chef? None as far as I'm concerned.:D

jglass, I've just spied your 3 tier cake stand. Very nice. $12. I think that is about £8. Very reasonable.

I bought two earlier this year, one white with gold trim and one white with porceline lace edging. Yours is much prettier though. I wish I had seen it first:D

I bought mine to put on a special traditional tea for my Mother for Mothering Sunday, (big C in W thing in Wales). When I was planning the tea I realised I did not own a complete teaset or an actual tea strainer.

What a Charlie eh? .... PANIC!!!!!! I'm a slob and ususally drink my tea out of a mug.

It took me ages to prepare this high tea.
All home baked including the bread, admittedly I used the bread maker. and neither did I milk the cow.:D
We had red salmon and cucumber sandwiches,
Egg and cress sandwiches, cold ham and english mustard sandwiches, all cut into tiny triangles with the crusts removed. In the end I used a scissors because the knife was taking to long.
Both plain and fruit scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
Macaroons,
Welsh cakes
Butterfly cakes
Pushed the boat out and bought a new linen table cloth and matching table napkins.

We had Aberdare Tea which my son bought back from Kenya last year. Aberdare mountains where the tea is grown, is named after the town in which I live in Wales which sort of added to it being special.
I did the whole traditional thing, warming the teapot, two spoons per person and one for the pot.

I usually use a tea bag.

My Mum loved it, I think when a person gets to a certain age as my Mum has, she has everything she needs, all the comforts, and certainly all the ornaments. It is a gift that she can have and does not have to find space for it in her house, or dust it or wash or care for it.

Anyone who would think of you as miserly or cheap is wacko and just a plain ole' knuckle head and needs to "get a reality check"!!! And that's a FACT:)