Bletherings
Bletherings was an apazine by Ethel Lindsay published between 1961 and 1972, first in OMPA and later in FAPA.
Initially "Bletherings" was the title of the Scottishe mailing comments section, appearing from issue 2 (March 1955) where Lindsay explained the name: "You do know what a blether is don't you? (I wonder if I should supply a Scots-English dictionary?) One who natters on and on and makes little sense — that's me."
Its first appearance as a solo publication was as a post-mailing to OMPA 29 (September 1961). Confusingly, Lindsay's heading described it as "Bletherings No. 26" while the sign-off says "This has been Bletherings No 25". Logically, the latter is correct as the same mailing included Scottishe 25 and its mailing comments section was presumably "Bletherings" 24 although it's not explicitly numbered .
There was no "Bletherings" in Scottishe 26 and it reverted to being a column in Scottishe 27. However, Scottishe 34 was the last distributed through OMPA and so Bletherings became independent again in OMPA 39 (March 1964) with Lindsay explaining "I have called this Bletherings No 35 because it is the 35th in Ompa; but if some object and think it should be No 1 - I won't quibble." It also continued the numbering of Scottishe although as there was no "Bletherings" in Scottish 1 arguably it should have been numbered Bletherings 34. The last issue of the first series was issue 38 (September 1967, OMPA 49).
A second series was launched in 1969 and distributed through FAPA. Its fourth issue (April 1971) used a Denness Morton cover likely produced in the early 1950s and intended for an unpublished issue of Astroneer although Lindsay assured her readers "This is (contrary to outward appearance) BLETHERINGS No 4." The British Fanzine Bibliography says this issue was also distributed with OMPA 61. What seems to be the final issue appeared in FAPA 139.
| Issue | Date | Pages | APA mailing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series for OMPA | ||||
| 26 | 1961 | 6 | 29 | |
| 35 | March 1964 | 8 | 39 | |
| 36 | June 1964 | 6 | 40 | |
| 37 | September 1964 | 6 | 41 | |
| 38 | September 1966 | 12 | ||
| New series for FAPA | ||||
| 1 | February 1969 | 8 | 126 | |
| 2 | March 1969 | 8 | 127 | |
| 3 | December 1969 | 12 | 130 | |
| 4 | April 1971 | 10 | 135 | also OMPA 61 |
| 5 | May 1972 | 8 | 139 | possibly last issue |
- Bletherings online at fanac.org
| Publication | 1961—1972 |
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