tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45204175222540485502024-03-19T04:10:25.433-07:00jillysheepBooks, life the universeJillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.comBlogger617125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-17157005193101787692011-09-25T04:35:00.000-07:002011-09-25T04:42:34.812-07:00The end<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jillysheep</span> is now up and running at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wordpress</span>. I am still getting to grips with the layout and what to put where but there are two posts on there to be read - one about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mountjoy</span> novels of Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey</span>/Aston/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Edmondson</span> and one about Jane Austen sequels, prequels and continuations.<br /><br />Thank you everyone for your support over the last few years and I hope you will continue to visit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">jillysheep</span> at <a href="http://www.jillysheep.wordpress.com/">www.jillysheep.wordpress.com</a><br /><br />I hope to resurrect Lady Sophia as well and start writing regularly about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">feminism</span> again and I think Lady Sophia will also migrate to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wordpress</span> in due course.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-46094406487562915362011-09-18T03:25:00.000-07:002011-09-18T03:37:02.746-07:00New home for jillysheepI am currently in the process of setting up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">jillysheep</span> on <a href="http://www.wordpress.com/">www.wordpress.com</a> I seem to have a lot of problems with blogger with it throwing me out from time to time and not letting me comment on other people's blogs even when signed into my account. It has been known to not let me amend my own posts and locks me in a loop of signing in and then throwing me out. So I decided to move house as it were.<br /><br />I am currently finding my way round <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wordpress</span> and will let you know when I feel that it is ready for visitors - might be later today or might be later this week. I intend to post more in the future and be rather more professional about it as well so there will be more in depth book reviews and occasional long posts on my favourite series and authors. I will also post essays on such topics as Jane Austen sequels, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebook</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">phenomenon</span> and other book related themes.<br /><br />I had considered changing the name of the blog but rejected that idea in the end as people seem to recognise jillysheep. The address for the blog's new home is <a href="http://www.jillysheep.wordpress.com/">www.jillysheep.wordpress.com</a> and I will let you know once I have decided whether to re-post some of the entries from here on to the new blog. It is likely that this edition of the blog will stay as it is and the Wordpress version will be the blog which will be updated in the future.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-71866160140912624052011-09-17T06:16:00.000-07:002011-09-18T03:24:43.711-07:00A marvellous book of short stories<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-65-Plyq6yRVa6yRpiUhjYpWF6oFvAqaq0XMo8HmjuNFyhfhcK0vAu7hDCCXD9KE1z_9eBml408jItRWRb21k_eEh8IdjzL8Wj1eOoFdmkrcuJntf7lFV2F5ehKTM2zLz82R5nbkMCA/s1600/tell.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 251px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653324437102551378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-65-Plyq6yRVa6yRpiUhjYpWF6oFvAqaq0XMo8HmjuNFyhfhcK0vAu7hDCCXD9KE1z_9eBml408jItRWRb21k_eEh8IdjzL8Wj1eOoFdmkrcuJntf7lFV2F5ehKTM2zLz82R5nbkMCA/s320/tell.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>People Tell Me Things by David <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Finkle</span></strong> - this is not my usual sort of reading by any means. It is by an American writer and the stories are set in the literary and art world of New York. But something appealed to me about it and I accepted the review copy I was offered a few weeks ago.<br /><br />I am really glad I did. The stories are some of the best I have read for many years. They are full of compassion for the human condition and gently humorous. The amusement does not arise from poking fun at the foibles of the characters but springs naturally from the situations and descriptions. There is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">wamth</span> and compassion which is lacking in so much writing this days. I found it really enjoyable to read an author who clearly loves people for their personalities.<br /><br />The stories left me with the feeling I was eavesdropping on real life but not in a voyeuristic way. Small everyday actions have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">unforeseen</span> consequences and repercussions. Characters think they know what is going on and then find the situation isn't as they believed it to be and the piece of the jigsaw they hold does not belong to the jigsaw they thought they had. The dialogue is realistic, the characters are believable and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">idiosyncratic</span> and the situations could translate to almost any <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">milieu</span> because human behaviour is universal.<br /><br />It is difficult to give a flavour of these stories because they are so different from anything I've read. They leave me with a warm feeling that there are still people left in the world who don't want to find amusement in cutting people down to size or dwelling on extreme sex and violence to the exclusion of the good qualities in human nature. These stories are unique in my opinion and deserve a wide audience.</div>Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-21194711826270756182011-09-15T03:31:00.000-07:002011-09-15T04:10:04.458-07:00Latest reading<strong>The Psychic Tourist by William</strong> <strong>Lit<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">tle</span> -</strong> the author buys his sister and her daughter astrological chart analyses for Christmas. Unfortunately they both say that his sister and niece need to be careful about being near water. This stops his sister travelling by boat or even being anywhere near water. Feeling responsible for restricting her life, William Little sets out to discover whether the future really can be predicted. He consults psychic, mediums, astrologers, gypsies, palm reader, Tarot readers and physicists. The verdict? Perhaps it is possible to predict the future but no one really knows. Fortunately he is able to eradicate his sister's fear of drowning and takes her out in a rowing boat to show her she is quite safe. This is an interesting read with some thought provoking findings especially in the field of science.<br /><br /><strong>Mansfield Revisited by Joan Aiken</strong> - it is a credit to this book that I have been carrying it around in my bag for months and only reading it when I'm waiting for things to happen such as in doctors' and dentists' waiting rooms and yet I still managed to retain my interest in the story. I actually took it out of my bag and read the last 30 pages because I wanted to find out the ending. The books starts a few years after the end of <strong>Mansfield Park.</strong> Sir Thomas Bertram is dead. Fanny and Edmund have two children and are about to leave on a trip to the West Indies to oversee family business interests there. Susan - Fanny's sister - has grown into a sensible young woman with more sparkle than her older sister. Mary Crawford - a much subdued Mary Crawford - returns with mixed results. There is a marvellous failed trip out to discover Roman <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ruins</span> which is worthy of <strong>Jane Austen</strong> herself. This is worth reading in its own right as well as a continuation of <strong>Mansfield Park</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>The Plague Maiden and A Cursed Inheritance by Kate Ellis</strong> - Further episodes in the Wesley Peterson series which mixes modern crime with archaeological discovers with conspicuous success. I found both of these compulsive reading. There is little on the page violence or bad language and they are dark stories with many ramifications between past and present. Human nature is both good and bad. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Tensions</span> are growing between Wesley and his wife Pam and the constant conflict between work and home life is well done.<br /><br /><strong>When Last I Died by Gladys Mitchell</strong> - the inimitable Mrs Bradley is drawn into a cold case when she rents a house which formerly belonged to a lady who may or may not have been murdered. There is a marvellous haunted house featured in this absorbing and psychologically well crafted story. I read nearly all of it one evening and found it totally absorbing.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-28007032128235287102011-09-03T02:11:00.000-07:002011-09-03T02:53:57.820-07:00More reading<strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco</span> : the official companion by Lindsey Davis</strong> - one of the best companions to a series of books that I've ever come across. It includes short descriptions of all the books; details of the major series characters; lots of information about life in the Roman Empire in the first century AD; amusing essays about the author's own life and how she came to write the books as well as the difficulties involved in writing a series such as forgetting your main characters have a young child which they have left at home and having to find a baby sitter from the remaining characters!
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<br /><strong>Just the Job, Lad by Mike <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pannett</span></strong> - continues the author's experiences as a policeman in North Yorkshire. I find books about people's jobs fascinating reading and this author brings life in North Yorkshire <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">vividly</span> to life. Crimes are relatively minor in comparison with crimes in cities but all human life is here.
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<br /><strong>The Doctor Will See You Now by Max <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pemberton</span></strong> - the author is back working in hospital in geriatrics and psychiatry. The incident which really stuck in my mind was the case of the schizophrenic with a broken shoulder who no one was prepared to treat BECAUSE of his mental illness!! The way elderly people with mental problems were treated varied from the barbaric to the wonderful as well. I found it a very disturbing book to read - probably because of my age. Why don't we treat older people properly in this country?
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<br /><strong>Poseidon's Gold by Lindsey Davis</strong> - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco's</span> uneasy truce with his estranged father and trying to unravel his late brother's complicated business affairs without bankrupting the whole family in the process.
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<br /><strong>An Unhallowed Grave, The Funeral Boat, The Skeleton Room, A Painted Doom, The Bone Garden all by Kate Ellis</strong> - more Wesley Peterson crime stories mixing archaeology and modern crime.
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<br /><strong>Domesday Book</strong> - the latest Penguin translation - no I haven't read it cover to cover but it is fascinating to dip into.
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<br />A sixty year old look at education - <strong>Jane Hope's One Term at Utopia</strong>. Life in school is recognisable even though this book was first published in the 1950s. There are disruptive pupils, thick pupils who are unable to write their names or follow simple instructions, trouble with parents when pupils are disciplined, and lazy and incompetent teachers. Major difference is that there was corporal punishment available and teachers were not afraid to use it. Now no one could get away with describing teachers as 'child-beaters' as Jane Hope does. Refreshing reading if only to remind you that political correctness didn't exist until recently.
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<br />Currently reading:
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<br /><strong>The Making of the British Landscape by Francis Pryor</strong> - a study of man's effect on the landscape over the last several thousand years. Well written and informative and a joy to read.
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<br /><strong>Conversations with Mr <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prain</span> by Joan Taylor</strong> - Stella is New <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zealander</span> running a second hand bookstall in Camden Market. Edward - Mr <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prain</span> is a customer who invites her to his country house for tea. The book consists of their various conversations about art and writing and descriptions of the various rooms in the house. I've read about half of it and I'm really not sure whether I like it or not. It is somehow compelling but . . .
<br />Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-46409916342819022822011-08-11T05:33:00.000-07:002011-08-11T06:10:26.436-07:00Books and decoratingI have been making a start on the decorating as well as doing other boring mundane chores which practically drive me demented but need to be done if we're not to live in a mess. I have practically finished the dining room/kitchen thanks to a very useful gadget - a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dulux</span> Paint Pod. It is basically an electrified roller system. Much <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">quicker</span> than using a roller normally as you don't have to stop and re-load the roller - you just press a button.
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<br />I'm the world's messiest decorator so anything that promises no mess is a bonus for me. It really is no mess as well. It also cleans itself - fill a chamber with warm water and switch on. Empty the chamber at the opposite end of the machine when done and everything is clean and just needs drying - including the roller itself. I'm far from being a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gadget</span> freak but I just love this. I wonder when they'll bring one out that works with gloss paint? In the meantime I'm tempted to emulsion everything!
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<br />Books:
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<br /><strong>The Devil's Sonata by Elizabeth Aston</strong> - very good - supernatural influences in a co-ed boarding school which occupies a former <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">monastery</span>. A violin which seriously affects the girl who plays it and an American researcher studying a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">grimoire</span> in the library.
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<br /><strong>Anna, where are you? Catherine Wheel, The Case of William Smith</strong> all three by <strong>Patricia <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wentworth</span></strong> and all are among her best work for sheer complexity of plot and character analysis. I only have about six more to read by this author.
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<br /><strong>The Merchant's House and Armada Boy by Kate Ellis</strong> - archaeology and modern crime - fascinating. All the police characters get on as well which makes a change from many police <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">procedurals</span>.
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<br /><strong>The Hanging Wood by Martin Edwards</strong> - another episode in the Lake District series of mysteries. A very enjoyable crime story with a truly horrific ending. I love the concept of a residential library - now that is my idea of heaven! I thought the characters were well drawn and I like the way the relationship between Daniel Kind and Hannah Scarlett is being developed slowly and sensitively.
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<br /><strong>The Secrets of Pain by Phil <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rickman</span></strong> - thanks to a mix up over publication dates I have the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebook</span> version of this which is not actually published until September. I think by the time Amazon realised their mistake my copy had already been downloaded and they haven't asked for it back! It is the latest in the Merrily Watkins series and very good it is too. Not so much about the exorcism side of Merrily's job but enthralling just the same.
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<br />The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">SAS</span> feature in the form of Syd <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Spicer</span> - the vicar who was in The Remains of an Altar - currently temporary chaplain to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">SAS</span>, his old regiment. He is trying to deal with something unpleasant which would be better left to Merrily but for reasons of secrecy he has to keep it to himself. Hereford police - in the form of Frannie Bliss and Annie Howe have their own problems with the murder of a farmer and the murder of two girls. The book kept me reading late into the night when I got to the last third of it as I had to know how it all worked out. At least with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebooks</span> it is more difficult to flick to the end and make sure all your favourite characters escape unscathed!
<br />Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-23738726181549587902011-07-19T05:08:00.000-07:002011-07-31T05:55:15.100-07:00Books read and reading<strong>Rattle his Bones by Carola Dunn</strong> - one of her Daisy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dalrymple</span> series. Daisy is researching a series of articles about the Natural History Museum and is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">inadvertently</span> one of the first people of the scene when one of the curators is murdered. The professional rivalries are extremely well done in my opinion. This series is growing on me.<br /><br /><strong>Flights of Angels by Victoria <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Connelly</span></strong> - chick lit with angels - which could have been twee and sickly and is actually really well done. First published in German and made into a film in Germany and only recently available in English thanks to the e-book revolution which enables authors themselves to produce their own <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebooks</span>.<br /><br /><strong>Death of a Sweep by M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span></strong> - latest in the Hamish Macbeth series. Milly Davenport comes home from a shopping trip to find her husband dead and stuffed up the chimney and the sweep missing. Hamish eventually gets to the bottom of the mystery.<br /><br /><strong>Ivory Dagger and The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brading</span> Collection - both by Patricia <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wentworth</span></strong>. Cosy mysteries in the classic detective story mould with Miss Silver imperturbably knitting, watching and listening.<br /><br /><strong>How to Leave Twitter by Grace Dent</strong>. I thought it might enlighten me about why people join Twitter in the first place. Seems the reason is because everyone else has joined. I can see that people can like watching it - in a sort of car crash fascination way but apart from that it really isn't something I actually want to take part in. I might change my mind - but not yet.<br /><br />Currently reading<br /><br /><strong>Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell by M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span></strong>. Agatha is married to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">James</span> Lacey but things aren't as blissful as she had hoped.<br /><br /><strong>The Devil's Sonata by Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Edmondson</span> (AKA Elizabeth Aston and Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey</span>) </strong>This is a story set in a Yorkshire girls' school located in a former abbey. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zuleika</span> has come over from the USA to study a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Grimoire</span> discovered hidden in a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pillar</span> in the cloisters but she is unhappy about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">atmosphere</span>.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mountjoy</span> fans will be pleased to know that the rest of Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey's</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mountjoy</span> series will all be available in e-book format by the end of this month.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-6640876829351492322011-07-07T00:46:00.000-07:002011-07-07T01:51:21.708-07:00Yet more books and matters medicalBooks first: I'm still enjoying <strong>Lindsey Davis's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco</span> series</strong>. Last night I finished listening to an audio book of <strong>Saturnalia</strong> - which is one of the later books in the series. This sees <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco</span> - married to Helena Justina and with two small daughters - trying to wend his way through the Roman celebrations of the feast of Saturnalia keep a clear head, solve a murder and find the missing Barbarian Priestess <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Veleda</span> as well as rescuing his brother -in-law <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Justinus</span>. I've also read <strong>Venus in Copper</strong> - which is number three in the series and have just started number four - <strong>The Iron Hand of Mars.</strong><br /><br />In between forays into ancient Rome I've been reading some more of Patricia <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wentworth's</span> excellent crime novels featuring Miss Maud Silver, who knits imperturbably through all her cases and still manages to unravel the mystery by staying, unnoticed in the background. The two books I've read in the last few days are <strong>Latter End</strong> and <strong>Eternity Ring</strong> - both excellent mysteries which kept me guessing until pretty nearly the end.<br /><br />I am currently reading <strong>Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen</strong> about Lady Georgiana - 34<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> in line to the British throne - who has a Bavarian princess <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">billeted</span> on her by order of the Queen. Princess <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hannelore</span> is the 'pain' of the title. The book is set in the 1930s and is quite amusing and well written. I should have started with the first one but as this one was only 0.99 in an Amazon <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebook</span> sale I thought I'd try this one first. I am enjoying it and I think I shall probably go on to read the rest in the series.<br /><br /><strong>Matters medical</strong><br /><br />My OH - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">MJR</span> - has a chronic lung condition, lung fibrosis, for which there is no known cure apart from a transplant and for which the only treatment is oxygen. He has been on oxygen at night for the last 6 years and it was increased from 11 hours to 15 hours in every 24 late last year. He also has a portable cylinder for use when he is out of the house.<br /><br />Every so often he has to wear a machine which measures his oxygen levels and pulse rate overnight and whose results can be downloaded to a computer and analysed. He had one of these machines in March. Yesterday he received a letter saying he could stop using his oxygen because the results of his test in March were good.<br /><br />My immediate reaction was what??!!!! accompanied by one or two rather stronger words than that. In May he had an operation and it was touch and go whether that went ahead because his oxygen levels were so low before the operation. All the time he was in there they were giving him oxygen - every time he took his mask off to drink the alarms went off. We think on reflection that they may have thought that the machine he wore in March was while he was not on oxygen when in fact it was while he was on oxygen - or that they've got him mixed up with someone else.<br /><br />He has a pulse-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">oximeter</span> himself and wore it last night to see what the results were without oxygen and is currently downloading them to a computer ready to print out and send to the hospital with a fairly strongly worded letter. When he was wearing the machine yesterday and just lying in bed his oxygen levels were 88% - a normal healthy person would have oxygen levels in the high 90s. I know when he was first put on oxygen our GP said if it went down to 85% regularly during the day he would have to be on oxygen 24 hours a day.<br /><br />I'm usually very complimentary of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">NHS</span> especially in this area but now I'm getting annoyed with them. In January <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">MJR</span> ended up in hospital because he'd been given too high a dose of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Warfarin</span> to prevent blood clots and was bleeding from his kidneys. Once again the GP has done the same thing and given him too high a dose for too long and his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">INR</span> is dangerously high which means if he has an accident he could bleed to death. I'm keeping him away from anything sharp.<br /><br />He has avoided hospital this time only because he isn't bleeding from anywhere - well as far as we know he isn't - and he has stopped taking <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Warfarin</span> for a few days and is due to have it checked again tomorrow. So this is the second time in just over six months that he's been give the wrong dose for a sustained period of time. They use a computer programme to assess the dose but clearly there is something wrong with it as they were getting on better deciding on the dose themselves as it was almost always stable and needed little variation in the number of tablets he took.<br /><br />We are not happy bunnies.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-77060055964067901432011-06-27T03:36:00.000-07:002011-06-27T03:55:17.393-07:00Books read and heardI have belatedly discovered <strong>Lindsey Davis's</strong> <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco</span> series</strong> about a Roman private eye. I listened to the audio book version of <strong>See Delphi and Die</strong> - which has to be one of the best titles for a book - and was hooked. I'm not sure why I was never attracted to this series before but it could be because I tried <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cadfael</span> and couldn't get into that. Not logical I know but there we are. I have so far read <strong>The Silver Pigs</strong> and <strong>Shadows in Bronze</strong> and have just started the third one - <strong>Venus in Copper.</strong><br /><br />Why do I like them? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco's</span> attitude to his own successes and failures; the characters themselves and the way <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Falco</span> often finds common ground with those he's investigating; his ability to tell it as he sees it to the Emperor and get away with it; the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fascinating</span> details about life in ancient Rome. Then of course there's the humour which is priceless. Even though I am now reading the series in order they can be read, or listened to, out of order as each book stands alone. If you go for the audio books then Christian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rodska</span> is an excellent reader in my opinion.<br /><br />I have just finished <strong>Jane Shaw's Talking to Zeus</strong> about the year she spent in Greece working in a garden on a hillside. Not a travelogue but a slice of life with some marvellous and eccentric characters both human and animal. Zeus by the way is a stuffed lion.<br /><br />I really enjoyed the latest in <strong>Veronica <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heley's</span></strong> cosy crime series featuring Ellie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Quicke</span> - <strong>Murder my Neighbour</strong>. Ellie is married to Thomas and struggling to combat her daughter Diana's latest demand for money as well as deal with the failing health of her housekeeper and friend, Rose, when she is presented with a mystery to solve. One of her neighbours has moved out of her house supposedly to take up residence is a retirement home - but she never arrived there.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-72842027567685049432011-06-21T03:44:00.000-07:002011-06-22T07:09:12.304-07:00Solar panelsIn response to a comment on my previous post from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">kcm</span>:<br /><br />Our installation got off to a good start on the day before it was planned as the electrician turned up and asked if he could start his bit of the work early. The electric bit is quite straightforward. It involves running a cable from the roof outside the house in trunking and into the house near the fuse box. Nothing goes into the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">electricity</span> meter.<br /><br />Provided you've got a spare slot in the fuse box - called consumer units these days - it is straightforward. I think if you don't have they can add something on to it fairly easily. There is a big red switch with all sorts of warning notices on it as if you're doing any electrical work in the house the solar panels need to be isolated as well. Above that there's a small meter - which looks like the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">electricity</span> meter which your electricity company reads. This can tell you how much you've generated and how much you've used yourself.<br /><br />Maximum output from our panels is 2.5kw and we've generated 60.2kw since last Wednesday in relatively dull conditions. We've used 48kw. No one needs to come and read this meter as it transmits the data to the company via the mobile phone network. In our case what electricity we use we get free and what we don't use the company gets paid for by the government/energy company as it feeds back into the national grid. If you pay for your panels then you get paid for what you generate but don't use by a corresponding reduction in your bill or by direct payment - not sure quite how that works as it didn't apply in our case.<br /><br />Apart from the meter and the switch there is what is called an inverter in the loft which converts direct current to alternating current. This is about half the size of the average microwave. Then there are panels on the roof which slot into metal tracks so that if one needs replacing it can be taken out and replaced. There is no need to take the roof apart or any tiles off for that matter. I think - but I don't know as I didn't watch - that they drill through the tiles into the beams of the roof so that the panels are well and truly anchored and no the roof won't leak afterwards - I asked.<br /><br />The only mess involved was brick dust in the hall where the electrician had been working which he swept up and some brick dust outside which quickly blew away and I've found the odd screw in amongst our slate on the front garden. They drilled holes in the wall outside so that they could insert steel eyes by which to anchor their portable scaffolding - though they did ask first if it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ok</span> and they've filled them in again - well <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">I assume</span> they have as I can't find them!<br /><br />The problem we had with ours was that on the day it was supposed to be done - last Tuesday - the guys doing it didn't turn up until lunch time because they'd been given the wrong panels and equipment and then when they arrived with the right stuff and measured the roof they found they couldn't arrange the panels how they'd been told to. That necessitated a manager coming out and telling them it was all right to put them the other way round - portrait instead of landscape. I laid down the law to the manager - this was 2.00pm - and said because of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">MJR's</span> recent operation I did not want them doing the work that day as it meant they'd be working into the evening.<br /><br />The manager in the end was very <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">grovelly</span> and agreed that it would be done the next day. The next day they turned up early and got straight on with the work. By 11.00am they'd just got to put the panels on and they were waiting for another gang to finish with the pulley system they needed - 'elf and safety! In the end it was the wrong one when it turned up but there were about six men here by that time and the panels were put on. So the problems were caused by lack of organisation by the company itself not by any unwillingness to work on the part of the people involved.<br /><br />I must say that in spite of the organisational problems I was very impressed with the attitude of the people doing the job as they worked hard and didn't keep stopping for breaks and clearly knew exactly what they were doing. Mess created was an absolute minimum. There was a fair amount of noise but for a relatively short space of time. They reckon they can do the job normally by about 1.30pm if they start at 9.00am.<br /><br />I've seen solar panels on houses which face East/West - in fact I can see one if I look out of the window now so I'm not sure how critical the direction is. What is more important I think is whether your roof is a plain straightforward roof with no little gables or windows and it mustn't be hip-ended - i.e. coming to a point in the middle. They want the biggest expanse of roof possible. It is not just how much sunlight I think but whether or not your roof is always in shadow since we are generating at the moment - only about 0.9kw - even though it is dull and cloudy and the sun isn't actually visible. It basically just has to be light but to work at full capacity it needs sunlight.<br /><br />It's worth looking on <a href="http://www.homesun.com/">http://www.homesun.com/</a> even if you don't think your house is suitable.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-13934485206877830772011-06-19T02:27:00.000-07:002011-06-19T02:40:53.089-07:00Solar panelsWe have just had solar panels fitted to the roof. We're fortunate in that our house faces almost due south and gets the sun at the front virtually all day. But solar panels work on light not just when the sun is visible - which I didn't know until the other day. The maximum we can generate is 2.5kw. Of course it has been cloudy since we had them fitted on Wednesday so we haven't been able to generate the maximum amount most of the time. On Thursday it was quite sunny and I looked at our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">electricity</span> monitor and it was showing we were using no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">electricity</span> even though the fridge/freezer was on, two computers were on as well as a pedestal fan and various others odds and ends.<br /><br />What is even better than the reduced electricity bills in future is that the panels were free and are maintained free for 25 years. It's part of a government sponsored initiative and was done through this company - <a href="http://www.homesun.com/">www.homesun.com</a> Anyone can apply and they will tell you whether your house is suitable without sending anyone out to see it by looking at your house on Google Earth. Not everyone gets it free - though I've no idea how they decide whether you have to pay or not. I know we could have been asked to pay £500 and we were considering whether we would do it if we had to pay. But as it turned out we didn't have to pay.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-27467686932143746692011-06-19T02:11:00.000-07:002011-06-19T02:26:44.890-07:00Hated expressions and abbreviationsI really detest the following abbreviations/expressions which seem to be in common use:<br /><br />'My bad' when people mean 'I was wrong'<br /><br />'Addy' when people mean 'address'<br /><br />'Baggy' when people mean 'bag'<br /><br />Those three expressions are like chalk squeaking on a blackboard to me!Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-47967728165060836422011-06-09T06:33:00.000-07:002011-06-09T06:47:39.725-07:00Books read and unread<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEAEsnAioR_wjnfRBAwC_kn1tFXgjJkVLZJEIZ9gD1xYHFDI2Gg7yAcAwed97CeUy9cPw9Ois-daIN7XsHJadvDkBw47oBUINOWuw-_J10JBpeZFCGkKuNUjVk5qSkvyO6ITo1_Kyk-o/s1600/dead+end.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616216275776122722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEAEsnAioR_wjnfRBAwC_kn1tFXgjJkVLZJEIZ9gD1xYHFDI2Gg7yAcAwed97CeUy9cPw9Ois-daIN7XsHJadvDkBw47oBUINOWuw-_J10JBpeZFCGkKuNUjVk5qSkvyO6ITo1_Kyk-o/s320/dead+end.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I have been most impressed by two books over the last few weeks:<br /><br /><strong>Dead End by Leigh Russell</strong> - the third book in the DI Geraldine Russell crime series. In my opinion this is the best book so far in this excellent series. Abigail Kirby - headmistress of a local school - is found murdered in a particularly gruesome fashion. At first there is very little evidence and the team fall back on the tried and trusted suspect - Abigail's husband, Matthew. But Geraldine herself is not convinced. It is when someone who saw Abigail in the last few hours before her death disappears that the pace of the investigation hots up and the tension mounts up. I found myself saying - I'll just read one more chapter, then realising I'd read three more!! I read over half the book in one evening and I can thoroughly recommend this series -especially this latest book - <strong>Dead End.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Gently in the Sun by Alan Hunter </strong>- Gently is sent to a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Northshire</span> village to investigate the murder of a visitor Rachel <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Campion</span>. There is a heatwave and the first thing Gently does is buy himself some colourful shirts and a straw hat and sandals not to speak of an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Ice</span> cream. The portrait of a fishing village with the fishermen who seem unwilling to tell him anything is excellent as are the descriptions of the effect the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">incredibly</span> hot weather has on people. The description of the thunderstorm across the wide skies of East Anglia towards the end of the book is brilliantly atmospheric.</div>Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-9879811040017586102011-05-28T10:05:00.000-07:002011-05-28T10:21:04.613-07:00Cookery books and othersI was fortunate enough to receive a modern reprint of <strong>Eliza Acton's Modern Cookery for Private Families</strong>. It is an absolute gem and a marvellous book to dip into even if you don't want to try any of the recipes. Some of the author's comments are surprisingly modern as well. She says she thinks there is a shocking waste of perfectly good <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wholesome</span> food in many households. She also says that many illnesses are caused by habitual indulgence in cakes!<br /><br />I'm still trying to make up my mind about <strong>Carola Dunn's Daisy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dalrymple</span></strong> crime series. I've read two of them so far -the most recent being <strong>The Case of the Murdered Muckraker</strong>. I did enjoy it but . . . . Possibly their best read in order and I've been getting them whenever one has been offered at a bargain price. Maybe I'll try another one and see if I can finally make up my mind.<br /><br /><strong>Books to be read</strong><br /><br /><strong>Dead End by Leigh Russell</strong> - third in the DI Geraldine Steel crime series. I seem to have overlooked this in my to be read list so I have moved it to my reading folder on my Kindle and will be reading it in the next week or so.<br /><br /><strong>Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tey</span></strong> - an unknown quantity as the only book by Josephine <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tey</span> I've read so far has been The Daughter of Time.<br /><br /><strong>Gently in the Sun by Alan Hunter</strong> - number six in the Gently series.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-63315733404709969492011-05-25T05:13:00.000-07:002011-05-25T05:37:11.155-07:00Books and matters medicalI have been rather busy over the last few days because my OH has just had an operation - a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nissen</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fundoplication</span>. Do not Google it if you are squeamish! It's a cure for acid reflux basically but the after effects are probably more than most of us would care to experience. He has to be on a virtually completely liquid diet for the next couple of months though he can manage things like rice pudding if he eats small amounts - and I mean small - less than a dessert spoonful at a time.<br /><br />Eventually he will be able to eat a more normal diet but may never be able to eat bread again. He has done well so far as he had the operation last Saturday and came out on Monday. He was expected to stay in about 5 days because of his serious lung problems and his diabetes but is recovering much better than was expected.<br /><br /><strong>Books</strong><br /><br /><strong>Trollope by Victoria <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Glendinning</span></strong> - a comprehensive biography of the author which makes many references to his books and really brought the man to life for me.<br /><br /><strong>Here Come the Girls by Milly Johnson</strong> - an enjoyable romp of a book which was a very welcome read at the weekend. Four friends go on a cruise. It changes all their lives - for the better.<br /><br /><strong>Gently Through the Mill by Alan Hunter</strong> - the fifth book in the Gently series. 1950s crime in a flour mill with Gently involved because the body is that of a petty London villain.<br /><br /><strong>Ellie Andrews has Second Thoughts by Ruth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sabberton</span></strong> - Again an enjoyable light read with Ellie reminiscing on her wedding day. The reader does not know exactly who she is marrying or whether the marriage will go ahead until the last few pages.<br /><br /><strong>Current Reading</strong><br /><br /><strong>Daughter of Time by Josephine <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tey</span></strong> - the classic novel about Richard III. Still good even when you know some of the text off by heart!<br /><br /><strong>The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Forsyte</span> Saga by John Galsworthy</strong> - I'm still reading this in small chunks which you might think would cause a problem trying to remember what has gone on. I must have read the books many times back in the 1970s because I'm finding I have no problem recalling the story line.<br /><br /><strong>The Perfect Hero by Victoria <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Connelly</span></strong> - Kay moves to Lyme <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Regis</span> and opens a B&B. Her first guests are some of the actors involved in a new film production of Jane Austen's Persuasion.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-28445500099984717352011-05-17T00:59:00.000-07:002011-06-05T02:26:40.965-07:00Books - updatedI have decided - reluctantly - to delete my previous post on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">McCann</span> case. It seems there are too many people on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">internet</span> who, however much they might advocate free speech, only like free speech if it supports their own views of a subject.<br /><br />There are many unanswered questions about this tragic case and of course not all the evidence gathered by the Portuguese police has been released to the public. What is clear to me is that the Portuguese police having failed to make a watertight case against the parents were not really interested in finding any other explanation for Madeleine's disappearance. <br /><br />In order to be fair to everyone - all comments - whoever they are from - will be deleted from this post.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-48971559532859014292011-05-08T05:31:00.000-07:002011-05-18T03:03:48.410-07:00Books, books and more books<ul><br /><br /><br /><li><strong>Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon</strong> - I am re-reading the Guido <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brunetti</span> books in series order as e-books. Unfortunately the first and the third are not yet available as e-books so having bought the first in paper back I'm trying to decide whether to do the same with the third book or wait for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebook</span> version. However I did enjoy this one - the second in the series. Some people don't like them because there isn't always a cut and dried solution to the murder and there isn't always a criminal brought to justice. This doesn't bother me as I enjoy reading the story anyway. Maybe the journey is preferable to the destination?</li><br /><br /><br /><li><strong>The World the Flesh and the Bishop (Divine Comedy)by Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey</span></strong> - see previous posts - Just as good as ever - I always love the incident where Titus and Quinta rescue Lydia from the orgy! <strong>Unholy Harmonies</strong> is now available as an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebook</span></li></ul><br /><p>Currently reading</p><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Forsyte</span> Saga - John Galsworthy</strong> - up to book six which is the last of the novels which are purely about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Forsytes</span>.</li><br /><br /><li><strong>Unholy Harmonies by Elizabeth Aston</strong> - see above and previous post</li><br /><br /><li><strong>Trollope by Victoria <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Glendinning</span></strong> - biography of the Victorian author. It shows how his experiences were translated into fiction as well as describing his life.</li></ul>Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-64060377955516031932011-05-01T03:05:00.000-07:002011-05-01T03:31:38.608-07:00Royal Wedding and books<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyG50ceyYf2iMGSlPepjWFujx7wJCb4qmLkyDNH-tFs6tZ6ux6XiYfyY6Uz7Vxm1wNwtQlqzTQqeBiNdmisULOVPkgorfj36u4Q5iuc013dStRm-qb0Am42AEZ7zHEgxUyzKlPI7fXnM/s1600/wedding.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601687713355527266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyG50ceyYf2iMGSlPepjWFujx7wJCb4qmLkyDNH-tFs6tZ6ux6XiYfyY6Uz7Vxm1wNwtQlqzTQqeBiNdmisULOVPkgorfj36u4Q5iuc013dStRm-qb0Am42AEZ7zHEgxUyzKlPI7fXnM/s320/wedding.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I wasn't going to watch the wedding but I wanted to see what 'the dress' was like so I ended up watching some of the guests arrive and then the service itself. I thought Catherine looked absolutely gorgeous - simple and elegant. The bridesmaids were well behaved as well and Philippa looked good too. I can't understand the people who say the dress was too plain - no one wants to look like a meringue with sparkles on their big day. It was nice too that the Royal School of Needlework did a lot of the work.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Books read</div><br /><div></div><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>Landed Gently by Alan Hunter</strong> - the fourth in the Gently series. Gently is invited to stay with the Chief Constable of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Northshire</span> over Christmas and enjoy some pike fishing. A man is found dead at the foot of a staircase at nearby Merely Hall on Christmas morning - did he fall or was he pushed?</li><br /><li><strong>The Surprise Party by Sue Welfare</strong> - women's fiction with a bite. Liz and Suzie organise a surprise party for their parents' ruby wedding <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">anniversary</span> but there are surprises in store for everyone before the evening has finished.</li><br /><li><strong>Death at La <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fenice</span> by Donna Leon</strong> - the first in the Guido <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brunetti</span> series. This is a re-read but even better the second time writing. Her writing is subtle and understated and I saw things that I missed the first time round.</li></ul><br /><p>Currently reading</p><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>Them by Jon <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ronson</span></strong> - conspiracy theorists he has known. So far they come over as misguided and all too human. New World Order and twelve foot lizards mix with more ordinary terrorists</li><br /><li><strong>Death on the Downs by Simon Brett</strong> - second in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fethering</span> series</li><br /><li><strong>The World the Flesh and the Bishop by Elizabeth Aston</strong> - this is a retitled <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebook</span> version of a book originally published as <strong>Divine Comedy</strong>. </li></ul><br /><p><strong>Elizabeth Aston</strong> and<strong> Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey</span></strong> are the same person. As <strong>Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey</span></strong> she wrote the 6 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mountjoy</span> novels - <strong>Children of Chance, Divine Comedy, Unholy Harmonies, Volcanic Airs, Unaccustomed Spirits and Brotherly Love</strong>. As <strong>Elizabeth Aston</strong> she has written 6 Pride and Prejudice sequels - <strong>Mr Darcy's Daughters (also titled The Way of the World), The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, The True Darcy Spirit, The Second Mrs Darcy, The Darcy Connection, Mr Darcy's Dream</strong>. She also wrote a modern Jane Austen themed novel - <strong>Writing Jane Austen</strong>. I'd read all these before I realised it was Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pewsey</span> under another name.</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>She has also written as <strong>Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Edmondson</span></strong> - <strong>The Frozen Lake, Voyage of Innocence, The Villa in Italy, The Art of Love, Stones and Shadows</strong> - which is published this year and <strong>Devil's Sonata</strong> also due for publication this year. I have only read <strong>The Villa in Italy</strong> of her <strong>Elizabeth <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Edmondson</span></strong> novels and found it extremely good.<br /></p>Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-60807926129453724092011-04-23T04:41:00.000-07:002011-04-23T04:57:59.452-07:00Happy St George's Day; and booksWhy can't we have a Bank Holiday for St George's Day? We're falling over Bank Holidays this Easter but I still think we should have one for our national saint.<br /><br />Books read:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>Death in the Physic Garden by Karen Lowe</strong> - murder and garden design. I first read this a few years ago and enjoyed it but thought I would re-read it before I read the next one featuring Fern Green - Death in the Winter Garden.</li><br /><li><strong>Gently Down the Stream by Alan Hunter</strong> - murder and family secrets set in the Norfolk Broads with lots of Norfolk dialect - though nothing too incomprehensible for those not familiar with it!</li><br /><li><strong>Summer of Love by Katie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fforde</span></strong> - good light reading. I haven't enjoyed her later books but in this one she is back on form.</li><br /><li><strong>Cousin Kate by Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> -</strong> Regency with a Gothic theme. This is the only <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> which has ever reduced me to tears.</li><br /><li><strong>The Missing Marriage by Sarah May</strong> - man goes missing off the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Northumbrian</span> coast in a kayak - but is he really dead? I found it a very confusing story with some relatively unsympathetic characters. </li><br /><li><strong>The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett</strong> - the first in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fethering</span> series. I read it some years ago but it was still enjoyable the second time around. Touches of delicious humour and a pair of mismatched sleuths - what's not to like?</li></ul><br /><p>Currently reading</p><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>The Grand <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sophy</span> by Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span></strong> - one of her most interesting heroines in my opinion</li><br /><li><strong>Death in the Winter Garden by Karen Lowe</strong> - Fern is asked to resurrect an overgrown art deco garden but the skeleton of a baby is found when the digging starts</li><br /><li><strong>Death at La <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fenice</span> by Donna Leon </strong>- the first in her Guido <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brunetti</span> series set in Venice - worth more than one reading as her style is understated and I'm seeing things I missed first time round.</li></ul><br /><p>Happy Easter people!</p>Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-77851855688241663722011-04-13T05:16:00.000-07:002011-04-13T05:36:23.163-07:00More booksRecently read: <br /><ul><br /><li><strong>Death of a Nag and Death of a Bore by M C Beaton</strong> - both Hamish Macbeth and good light reads with darker undertones if you choose to look for them</li><br /><li><strong>Life from Scratch by Melissa Ford</strong> - this was a free e-book download and very good it was too. Rachel splits up from her husband and takes a year off from her job as a graphic designer. She starts a blog about learning to cook and makes a new life for herself. Fact or fiction? Who knows? Good reading though - set in New York. </li><br /><li><strong>Lizzie Harrison Loses Control by Pippa Wright</strong> - Lizzie is in PR dealing with celebrities. She is really organised but life - in the shape of out of control celebrity Randy Jones - is about to knock her sideways. Feel good read with enough serious insights to keep you reading</li><br /><li><strong>Gently Does It by Alan Hunter</strong> - the first in the Inspector George Gently police series. This one is set in a loosely disguised Norwich. I can remember my mother being a huge fan of Gently and I can see why. They are well crafted crime novels without too much violence with an interesting main character the peppermint cream eating Inspector Gently from Scotland Yard.</li><br /><li><strong>The Way to a Woman's Heart by Christina Jones</strong>. Love it! Feel good women's fiction with a touch of magic set in the Berkshire countryside. It came out last year but I have been waiting for the e-book version to come down to the paper back price.</li></ul><br /><p>Books currently in progress</p><br /><ul><br /><li><strong>Gently by the Shore by Alan Hunter</strong> - second in the Gently series</li><br /><li><strong>Housework Blues by Danielle Raine -</strong> about why we don't like housework and how to think differently about it. This is a good example of how e-books could develop with active links to books and websites mentioned in the text.</li></ul><br /><p></p>Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-12412511233483155642011-04-03T05:32:00.000-07:002011-04-03T05:49:15.962-07:00Doesn't time fly . . .Not sure that enjoy is the right word since too much of my time has been taken up with medical appointments of various types - only one of which was mine - my six months dental check up. Anyway - back to books <strong>M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span> - Death of a Charming Man, Death of a Gentle Lady</strong> - two books in the Hamish Macbeth series. <strong>Beatrice Goes to Brighton, Deborah Goes to Dover and Yvonne Goes to York </strong>- the last three volumes of the Travelling Matchmaker Series - which I really enjoyed. Light hearted early 19<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> century romps which could appeal to anyone who likes Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span>. <strong>S J Bolton - Now You See Me</strong> . . an atmospheric thriller about a series of murders carried out by a potential Jack the Ripper copy cat killer. Definitely kept me turning the pages and not a book to read on your own at night! <strong>Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> - The Nonesuch</strong> - with one of my favourite heroines - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ancilla</span> Trent and one of the most obnoxious young female characters - Tiffany - a spoilt brat heiress. <strong>Peter <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lovesey</span> - Skeleton Hill</strong> - very good crime story involving, among other things, a Civil War battle re-enactment.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-68397919716742144092011-03-20T06:12:00.000-07:002011-03-20T06:22:13.340-07:00Books read and reading<strong>M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span> - Death of a Prankster; Death of a Glutton and Death of a Travelling Man</strong> - all good light crime novels with some interesting things to say about human nature.<br /><br /><strong>Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> - Arabella</strong> and <strong>Faro's Daughter</strong> - I really loved Arabella and had completely <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">forgotten</span> how amusing it is. I think Arabella is one of my favourites among <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer's</span> younger heroines.<br /><br /><strong>Andrew Matthews - Happiness in Hard Times</strong> - Australian self help guru writing about his favourite topic - happiness. Count your blessings and read the inspiring personal stories.<br /><br /><strong>Currently reading</strong><br /><br /><strong>Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> - The Unknown Ajax</strong> - heir to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Darracott</span> property indulges in a little bit of deception.<br /><br /><strong>H R F <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keating</span> - The Perfect Murder</strong> - the first of the Inspector <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ghote</span> mysteries set in India. I've only read about 50 pages so far but it seems very good.<br /><br />I'm also still plodding on with the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Forsyte</span> Saga and the Way We Live Now as well as listening to the audio book version of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Faulks</span> on Fiction.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-41021274385455577362011-03-12T04:20:00.000-08:002011-03-12T04:43:43.980-08:00Books, books and more booksPlenty of crime and other things mainly historical:<br /><br /><br /><strong>M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span> - Emily Goes to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Exeter</span>, Belinda Goes to Bath and Penelope Goes to Portsmouth </strong>- the first three books in the Travelling Matchmaker series - light reading set at the beginning of the nineteenth century. I'm waiting for the last three to come out at the end of this month. If you like Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> then you may enjoy these.<br /><br /><strong>Elly Griffiths - The House at Seas End</strong> - the third in the Ruth Galloway series set on the North Norfolk coast. This one is about six skeletons uncovered by a cliff fall which turn out to be rather newer than the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">skeletons</span> Ruth is normally interested in. Excellent atmospheric writing with an out of the ordinary heroine.<br /><br /><strong>M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span> - Hamish Macbeth mysteries - Death of a Cad, Death of an Outsider, Death of a Perfect Wife, Death of a Hussy, Death of a Snob</strong> - these are all good light reads with Hamish displaying not only his laziness but his good knowledge of human nature. While they are light crime stories they often have some deeper aspects which raise them out of the ordinary.<br /><br /><strong>Ken Moody - The View from the Surgery</strong> - short pieces by a GP based in Scotland with some very Dickensian pseudonyms for the patients.<br /><br /><strong>Amy <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bratley</span> - The Girl's Guide to Homemaking</strong> - chick lit - but interesting chick lit. Juliet moves into a new flat with her boyfriend only to discover he has been cheating on her with one of her friends. From there on in her life disintegrates. How she deals with that disintegration makes interesting reading.<br /><br /><strong>Carola Dunn - Styx and Stones</strong> - poison pen letters in 1920s rural England. This is the first book I've read in this series and I think I shall be looking out for the others.<br /><br /><strong>Edmund <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crispin</span> - The Case of the Gilded Fly</strong> - Golden Age crime set in Oxford. Good reading and the solution to the murder is so simple when you know it!<br /><br />Currently reading:<br /><br /><strong>Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span></strong> - Faro's Daughter<br /><br /><strong>John Galsworthy - The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Forsyte</span> Saga </strong>- I'm on volume 5 - <strong>The Silver Spoon</strong>. I can still see the people who played the characters in that long ago BBC adaptation!<br /><br /><strong>Anthony Trollope - The Way We Live Now</strong> - very topical even if it was written in the 19<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> century.<br /><br /><strong>Simon Parke - One Minute Mindfulness</strong> - short passages providing food for thought.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-12412874125432447232011-02-25T03:45:00.000-08:002011-02-25T03:58:15.166-08:00BooksMainly crime this last week or so.<br /><br /><strong>Agatha Christie - The Mysterious Affair at Styles</strong> - the first book featuring Hercule Poirot. A classic poisoning mystery.<br /><br /><strong>Stephanie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">McAfee</span> - Diary of a Mad Fat Girl</strong> - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Graciella</span> (Ace) and friends try to free Chloe from her abusive marriage. Interesting plot and rather too many swear words and American expressions but I thought it was an interesting read.<br /><br /><strong>Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> - Lady of Quality</strong> - one of my favourites - set in Bath with an older heroine and an abrupt but humorous hero.<br /><br /><strong>M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span> - Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage</strong> - Agatha is going to marry her neighbour, James Lacey, but is her husband Jimmy Raisin actually dead?<br /><br /><strong>Maggie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sefton</span> - Knit One, Kill Two</strong> - detective story with knitting interruptions set in Colorado. Good light read but not as good as some.<br /><br /><strong>M C <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beaton</span> - Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist</strong> - set in Cyprus where Agatha goes to try and woo James Lacey. I think this is one of the best in the series.<br /><br /><strong>Christina <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hopkinson</span> - The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs</strong> - about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">niggly</span> things which annoy everyone about living with someone else. I could not get on with this and abandoned it after 100 pages. It is fiction but could equally have been factual. I just did not warm to the characters at all. I usually read all of a book but this one had me beaten.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520417522254048550.post-87131130911474021342011-02-15T05:09:00.001-08:002011-02-15T05:21:54.594-08:00Yet more books and heating updateThe heating is still working and we have been surveyed. The surveyor was not happy because the old oil tank has still not been taken away, the oil pipe underground was not replaced and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">gubbins</span> which stops the system silting up was not installed. We really don't want that done but we've been told we've got to have it done. But he did say because they have to drain the system again to do it they will need to take responsibility for any damage they might cause in the process and they will be told that in no uncertain terms. So we wait and see. In the meantime we have heating and hot water so we are happy - and warm - bunnies.<br /><br /><strong>Books</strong><br /><br /><strong>Theodore <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dalrymple</span> - Second Opinion -</strong> short and astringent essays about the seamier side of life from a doctor's point of view. I find it best to read these a few at a time as they can cause you to lose any faith you might have had in the essential goodness of human nature.<br /><br /><strong>Hugh Hunter - Our Man in Orlando: Murder, Madness and Mayhem in the Sunshine State</strong> - the work of a British Consul in Florida. The British abroad are just disgusting but the book was interesting as I'd never been quite sure what British Consular staff do - now I know.<br /><br /><strong>Georgette <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> - Charity Girl</strong> - not perhaps my favourite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heyer</span> novel but still enjoyable<br /><br /><strong>Tilda <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shalof</span> - A Nurse's Story</strong> - memoirs of an intensive care nurse in Canada. Thought provoking, funny and sad and raises many questions about 'striving officiously to keep alive'.Jillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104126307586066155noreply@blogger.com0