Read then Write - 8/10/26

Well this has been a much better week for reading - I managed to finish Before the Storm by Alex Gray which I enjoyed.  

I've read quite a few in this series and they don't disappoint. This one is set in the run up to Christmas in Glasgow with DSI Lorimer dealing with a suspected terrorism threat, under cover officers having their covers blown and then a couple of murders. He's his usual calm and measured self, taking advantage of the skills of Daniel Kohi, a former Zimbabwean police officer, who finds himself a refugee in Glasgow following personal tragedy. It was wrapped up perhaps a little too neatly but this was an easy read following a couple of heavy book group reads. I gave it 4 stars.

My next read was Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent.  This was the book for my evening book group this month but it also ticks a prompt on the 52 Book Club challenge so that was a bonus.

For the most part I felt it was a good book. With echoes of "The Room" it does contain child abduction, abuse etc that wouldn't be to everyone's taste but it started off really well following Sally after her attempt to put her dead Father "out with the bins" and the upheaval that causes in her previously sheltered life. (Not a spoiler - it's in the blurb on the cover!)

Then we're given a very alternative viewpoint and initially I was still enjoying the book. However, for me it felt like the author had run out of steam and original ideas and then everything was wrapped up quite quickly and not how I envisaged it would end.  I still rated it 4 stars though as it was a good page turner for me.

And then finally I managed to read one of my own choices for a 52 Book Club prompt - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin.

As is often the case, despite this being an award winning book, I wasn't that impressed.  About half way through this book I realised I'd watched the film version which is why the book was sounding familiar. But I really did not like the main character Eilis. There were times I wanted to shout at her or give her a good shake. So young and naive and so contrary. I did like Toibin's style of writing but I didn't enjoy the content. Only 2 stars from me.

I have another book club read to get through, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy but before I start that I'm squeezing in another book that ticks a prompt - Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter by Nicci French. I've read quite a few of theirs (it's a Husband and Wife partnership) including all of the Frieda Klein series and enjoyed them so I'm sure this one won't disappoint.  At least I hope not lol.

I'm rushing this post so no pictures as it's getting late and I want to do more reading!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - 7/10/26

Joyce provides the questions each week. We compile our answers then the link up is here. Thanks Joyce.

1. Let's embrace it shall we? What's something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant?

Well my memory is probably definitely not quite as good as it used to be. One thing that I often forget is to check our HelloFresh subscription. (Meal delivery plan with recipes and ingredients.) We don't tend to have it delivered every week so I have to remember to go in and skip the weeks when we don't want the food and also pick the recipes we'd like. I'm usually ok with skipping weeks but we often get a surprise with regard to the meals as they're the company's choices and not ours. Makes me try different things though so not all bad.

2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember.

I do rely on my phone a lot with reminders, alarms etc although I do have a calendar on the wall and a diary too. We have a small white board on our fridge for noting down things we need to buy and I take a photo of that before going shopping rather than writing out a list.

3. What's your favourite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad?

Hard to pick a favourite vegetable but I do like roasted veg and soups but not so much a salad once it turns colder.

4. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. Did you? If so tell us about it. Or maybe someone did something nice for you, and if that's the case please share.

Hmm that was Monday and a very ordinary day here. I did get my breakfast made for me but Hubby does that most days so he doesn't need a National Day to do something nice. That day needs to be repeated - daily!

5. Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited with the quote "I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."

Do you tend to spend more time outside this time of year?

I probably don't as it can often be wet. It's raining as I'm writing this and I think that after the long hot summer we've had (often too hot to be outside) we're probably going to get a lot of days like this but I do try and get out and walk when I can especially if it is dry and sunny.

Do you actively pause to soak in fleeting moments of beauty in your daily routine? Elaborate.

I would say no. When I'm out walking I probably do but during the day I'm either busy doing chores or if I'm relaxing it would be reading or another hobby keeping me occupied. Although I do enjoy seeing a colourful sunset through our kitchen window.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Thinking about the "Do something nice day" made me think about something we were often told when growing up - "If you don't have anything nice to say keep quiet!" I don't always remember that lol.

#SoCS - 3/10/26 - Breeze

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “breeze.” Use it way you’d like. Have fun!

These prompts are provided by Linda who blogs here.  Pop over and see who else is taking part.

Well looking out of my window there is not much of a breeze going on which is annoying as I have a whole load of washing out and I don't think it's going to be much drier now than when I put it out.  Although actually Hubby put some of it out for me earlier.  Pretty obvious from the way it's pegged!

image courtesy of Magnific

There must be some sort of breeze going on because the clouds have gathered and it looks like we will probably get some promised  rain soon.  I should probably get the washing in and put it on the indoor airer.  Wish I'd done that in the first place.  

Don't you hate it when you end up doing something twice?  Doing the washing is definitely not a breeze on days like today.

Friday's Fave Five - 2/10/26

Well I couldn't let another Friday go by without joining in with Susanne's weekly gratitude blog hop.  Susanne reminds us every week to post about the good things that have happened during our week and the link up is here.  Thank you Susanne.

1)  Firstly, although I've used the autumn leaves picture and the leaves are definitely turning and dropping here, it has been so mild this week with lots of sunshine.  There was rain as well but mainly overnight and of course we needed it.

2)  Family time last weekend - one of Nick's sisters Helen turned 70 last Friday and her son, aided by her other 3 children hosted a get together for all the family.  Helen hates being the centre of attention but I think she really enjoyed having everyone together.

3)  The safe arrival of a great niece - Freya also on Saturday.  Always good to know that a baby has arrived safely and mother and baby are doing well.

4)  Retirement and time to pursue hobbies such as doing jigsaw puzzles.

I've just completed this one:

It has the added challenge of finding the 100 items that are on the jigsaw but not the picture that came with the puzzle.  (A bit like Where's Wally?) So far I have found 39 but I've only been studying the right hand side.  I'll look for more tomorrow.

5) Family time with our daughter and family.  Our DIL is trying to do a family meal on Fridays where they all sit down together and we were invited to join them.  During the week the children often eat earlier than the parents but of course it is good to all sit down together and we enjoyed a lovely meal with them.

Plus a couple of bonus items: a video chat with Grandson Vinny yesterday - he just wanted to call his Nanny.  No Foodbank duties tomorrow so I can have a lie in.

Have a good weekend all.