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Original poster

Would you expect to see a People’s Friend annual 1998 in an expensive holiday home?

219 replies

ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 22:48

As per the title, DD2 and I are staying in an expensive holiday home on the coast in North Yorkshire. The bookshelf is the tiredest and saddest I have ever seen. There is actually a People’s Friend annual from 1998. The weather has been glorious and we have been on the Blue Flag beach for hours every day so we have not had to open the really tired and dated jigsaws. Thankfully. Would I be unreasonable to point out to the hosting company that a little bit of investment and a little bit of respect for paying holidaymakers would not go amiss?

OP posts:
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Original poster
ThePieceHall · 11/07/2026 00:31

LooksLikeIPickedTheWrongWeekToQuitDrinking · 11/07/2026 00:25

My granny used to read People’s Friend, no idea it still existed; I was surprised enough to read it was published as recently as 1998, but in fact it’s still going! 🤯

Do they also have that other granny favourite “The Friendship Book of Francis Gay” there OP?

Edited

I will check and report back!

OP posts:
LooksLikeIPickedTheWrongWeekToQuitDrinking · 11/07/2026 00:25

My granny used to read People’s Friend, no idea it still existed; I was surprised enough to read it was published as recently as 1998, but in fact it’s still going! 🤯

Do they also have that other granny favourite “The Friendship Book of Francis Gay” there OP?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 11/07/2026 00:25

Of course not, that should be in a Doctor's waiting room (remember them?) with the Reader's Digests.

Original poster
ThePieceHall · 11/07/2026 00:24

SkippitySkoppity · 11/07/2026 00:00

I expect to see a copy of Victoria Hislop's The Island. That book is always popping up.

Nope, we’re in the previous century here. As well as The People’s Friend/s, there are plentiful books by Rosamonde Pilcher and Danielle Steele. I did get briefly excited when I spotted a book titled Flowers in the Rain, thinking it was a sequel to the notorious Flowers in the Attic that was passed around in my physics lessons for the (then) explicit sex scenes. But no.

OP posts:
Madmother63 · 11/07/2026 00:22

We own a holiday let. We started off with a few newish books and left a note "Take a book, leave a book", I can't wait to see what's been left when we next visit!

FFSItsTooHot · 11/07/2026 00:20

potterspot · 10/07/2026 23:11

I’ve never heard of People’s friend though!

It's an extremely wholesome erring on the religious side magazine for women. Not sure if it's still published as I haven't actually gone looking for it! I remember seeing it on the shelves in newsagents and in doctors'/dentists' waiting rooms back in the 80s and 90s. From what I remember it was mainly short stories and lifestyle and gardening articles. It struck me as a very 'traditional' magazine,the total antithesis of magazines such as 'Chat' and 'Take a Break'!

Original poster
ThePieceHall · 11/07/2026 00:20

FFSItsTooHot · 11/07/2026 00:13

And what may I ask,is wrong with a People's Friend annual? 😂

Edited

Fighting talk!

OP posts:
istherereallytimeforallthat · 11/07/2026 00:18

ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:02

The People’s Friend could in no way be considered an ancient tome. It was old when it was published. I’m not even sure if it’s produced any more?

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Yes it is still published, and very good for short stories. It would appeal to a different generation from you though.

FFSItsTooHot · 11/07/2026 00:13

And what may I ask,is wrong with a People's Friend annual? 😂

Pyew · 11/07/2026 00:09

The People's Friend is awesome and what the Hallmark channel can only dream of being. Sadly its prime demographic are now dying and/or unable to read so its days are surely numbered.

Original poster
ThePieceHall · 11/07/2026 00:04

SquirrelGG · 11/07/2026 00:01

Unbelievable! Get a grip - and if you want something to read bring your own book.

That actually never occurred to me. Thank you for your helpful advice.

OP posts:
SquirrelGG · 11/07/2026 00:01

Unbelievable! Get a grip - and if you want something to read bring your own book.

SkippitySkoppity · 11/07/2026 00:00

I expect to see a copy of Victoria Hislop's The Island. That book is always popping up.

Gengha · 10/07/2026 23:59

Blimey. Does it really matter? A jigsaw’s a jigsaw and most people take their own reading material.

Needmorelego · 10/07/2026 23:56

@ThePieceHall maybe the owners start off the year with a really good supply of new books, games and jigsaws but at this point in the year they've all been pinched by the holiday makers or swapped for old stuff holiday makers have bought from home/a local charity shop.
🤔

Pokingbroccoli · 10/07/2026 23:56

We run a holiday let that has a selection of books about the area, local history and a handful of novels/short stories, some of them quite old. A lot of them came from my late FIL who was interested in local history. Some guests leave novels they've finished with.

They're there so that a bored guest might pick one up and find out an interesting nugget about the area. I don't think the reading material in holiday cottages should be taken too seriously. IMO the more random the better. I stayed in a holiday cottage recently with a fantastically eclectic collection of books.

HeddaGarbled · 10/07/2026 23:55

Whenever I stay in a holiday cottage, I ‘rationalise’ the box file of tourist information leaflets. I throw away all the duplicate take-away menus and attraction leaflets and out of date bus timetables etc.

I have never told anyone this in real life.

itchyelbowsandswollenankles · 10/07/2026 23:55

ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:50

Not if the jigsaws have the obligatory one to two pieces missing. And you have an autistic child. Personally, I hate jigsaws. I would rather read The People’s Friend. Heck, I’d probably rather do five billion Lego sets than do a jigsaws. Little Miss loves both. Look, I’m being really tongue in cheek. I give no shits really about the contents of the book shelves as I am so up myself (thank you, previous poster) that I was arrogant enough to bring my own. Because I’m a dick like that. But I do think it’s a pretty poor show to be renting out a holiday home for mega-quids and be treating holidaymakers with such contempt. I could go to a charity shop and kit out a decent and contemporary book shelf, plus games, for less than £50. I would consider this a good investment.

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I guess the assumption is you’ll either bring your own entertainment or be on the beach

sallyluyah · 10/07/2026 23:53

EverMissWicklowSometimes · 10/07/2026 22:53

I agree with you. Chuck it in the recycling bin as you leave, you'd be doing them a favour.

Don't be ridiculous / criminal and have some class (if possible)

JoBrodie · 10/07/2026 23:51

Aww my mum used to buy me a People's Friend annual for my Christmas stocking (I was very much an adult by this point) so I would love to come across that.

I remember a story about a 'clootie dumpling' which was a sort of Christmas pudding / cake that required multiple fiddly steps to produce. The townspeople ganged up on the poor young fiancée who was trying to create one to impress her in-laws-to-be and it ended up being a disaster. But she prevailed thanks to keeping her head and turning an unsuccessful cake into a successful something else. Whereupon everyone declared that she was the ideal match for her betrothed (and everyone clapped).

I'd have read that while munching on a bag of chocolate coins and a satsuma :)

Jo

Original poster
ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:50

AnonymityAnonymity · 10/07/2026 23:35

Gosh that would really take me back in time. I would enjoy looking at that.
And a jigsaw is a jigsaw is a jigsaw to me. I'm not proud. I enjoy doing any.

I'm now going to use one of the vastly overused MN favourite phrases that I hate: Aren't you being a bit judgemental OP ?

Not if the jigsaws have the obligatory one to two pieces missing. And you have an autistic child. Personally, I hate jigsaws. I would rather read The People’s Friend. Heck, I’d probably rather do five billion Lego sets than do a jigsaws. Little Miss loves both. Look, I’m being really tongue in cheek. I give no shits really about the contents of the book shelves as I am so up myself (thank you, previous poster) that I was arrogant enough to bring my own. Because I’m a dick like that. But I do think it’s a pretty poor show to be renting out a holiday home for mega-quids and be treating holidaymakers with such contempt. I could go to a charity shop and kit out a decent and contemporary book shelf, plus games, for less than £50. I would consider this a good investment.

OP posts:
Additup · 10/07/2026 23:48

ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:07

For those who have no idea what The People’s Friend is.

Some of the story titles sound a little racy for People's Friend 😉

Original poster
ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:43

SkippitySkoppity · 10/07/2026 23:42

The Riches of Love. Now that's the kind of short story you read to get yourself in the mood for some summer night lovin'

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Happy to screen shot all of the stories if you find yourself unable to sleep.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:42

FettleOfKish · 10/07/2026 23:35

It’s alive and well OP if you’d like to subscribe.. https://www.thepeoplesfriend.co.uk/

So kind. I can’t actually believe that it’s still going. Every day is a school day. Personally, I would rather have a subscription to a daily enema. But, you know, horses for courses.

OP posts:
SkippitySkoppity · 10/07/2026 23:42

ThePieceHall · 10/07/2026 23:07

For those who have no idea what The People’s Friend is.

The Riches of Love. Now that's the kind of short story you read to get yourself in the mood for some summer night lovin'

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