Fine Things celebrates the special, hand-crafted, traditional, and sentimental items that convey our personality. The writing is fast-paced, quirky and humorous, reflecting Fennel's enthusiasm and eccentric view of the world. But be warned: if you look inside Fennel’s mind, you might see a hula-hooping hamster named Gerald shaking his maracas, loudly banging a bongo, and getting him into all sorts of trouble. So strap yourself in. This book takes some unexpected turns. From the deeply personal to the outright eccentric, it’s for those who seek to be different.

Chapters

1. Introduction
2. The Curse of the August Dumpling
3. Hobnailed
4. This is Me
5. The Reverend James
6. A Rucksack from the Lakes
7. Kelly and Me
8. A Suitable Age for a Beard
9. The Canvas Effect
10. X Plus One
11. Botanically Brewed
12. The Pen that Flew the Atlantic – Twice!
13. The Guv'nor
14. The Silent Roar
15. Experiences at the Flat Cap Cafe
16. Four and Twenty Blackbirds
17. Two Plus Four
18. Tip to Toe
19. Legacy

Most popular quote from Fine Things

"It seems that, depending upon which side of the thesaurus-writer’s gaze we sit, one’s uniqueness as a person can be deemed to be either eccentric or distinctive. Both, in my opinion, are good. As we get older, and experience more things, those of us with strength of character and a sense of purpose will grow stronger and fight harder; those who lack identity and direction might end up sitting in a corner somewhere, blindly taking all the knocks that life throws at them. What does this teach us? That character and purpose are directly linked to confidence and conviction. What links them? Courage, to be oneself, no matter what others might say."

Reader testimonials

“A very fine thing, indeed, this journal. Fennel’s best and funniest to date. He is the only author who can make me laugh out loud and cry in the same sentence. I was constantly in tears, for all the right reasons.”

“Deep in places, outright bonkers in others. A demonstration of the fine line between genius and madness.”

“Fennel’s writing is so witty. Reading Fine Things was like sitting in a customised Model T Ford. He starts by gently warming up the engine and then whoosh! He presses the blue button marked ‘Nitro’ and off he goes, so fast and unpredictably. I couldn’t guess, or wait, for what came next!”

Publication details

• Published by Fennel’s Priory Limited.
• Copyright © Fennel Hudson 2012, 2017
• Hardback ISBN 978-1-909947-30-6
  • Dimensions: 216 x 140mm (8.5 x 5.5in)
  • B&W interior, text only
  • 188 pages
• Paperback ISBN 978-1-909947-31-3
• Kindle ISBN 978-1-909947-28-3