#SoCS - 2/5/26 - Neat

Linda hosts SoCS and today's offerings can be found here.  Thank you Linda.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “neat.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

I spent some time yesterday helping a young relative sort out clothing.  They have had a rough time over the last few years and lost both parents in 2025.  Persuading them to tackle the mountain of clothes in the house has not been easy.  We all grieve in different ways and we need to be ready for each task before it can be done.

Recently though progress has been made and when it became clear that they were ready to at least make a start on sorting out the clothing, a couple of family members were happy to step in and help.  Including me.

It was a bit like doing a Marie Kondo clear out - holding up an item of clothing except instead of "does it spark joy?" or "do you love it?", we had keep, charity shop or rubbish.  The keep and charity shop also being sub divided into wash or clean.  Decisions were made quickly and no time was allowed for a change of mind.

I came home with a lot of bags for the charity shops.  I didn't actually count them yet (they're in my garage) but there's at least 10.  Now I could well do without this task but I knew that if we left those bags there they would probably still be there in weeks to come and they really don't have the space.  Anyway I was just so glad that this task is finally being tackled and I have the time and energy to move the bags on, either by taking them to a charity shop or by putting them out for the regular street collections that get done by charities around here.

I think it will be some time before the rooms we were liberating can be classed as neat and tidy but it was a huge step forward that we can hopefully build on soon.

Friday's Fave Five - 1/5/26

It's Friday so time to look back on the blessings of the week and then share them over here at Susanne's site.  Thank you Susanne for keeping us on track.

1)  Time with Grandkids Nathan and Ella.  We had them here last Saturday overnight.  This was the first time we'd had them overnight so it was a bit of a challenge.  They were actually quite good playing together during the afternoon and Nathan went to bed quite easily.  Ella is another story - she is not good at settling down to sleep but, thankfully, once she is asleep she tends to sleep right through to the morning.  Nathan on the other hand was obviously a bit anxious and woke during the night so I ended up sleeping on a mattress on the floor between their beds so not the best night's sleep!  But it enabled my daughter to celebrate her upcoming birthday without having to worry about the kids.  Her birthday isn't for another week or so but it's hard to find venues and co-ordinate dates.

2)  Sunshine!  We've had a lot of it this week.  Really improves the mood.

3)  A walk round the lake on Wednesday - and the mud has dried up.  The pathways are still quite rutted from where we had all the mud but it was nice to just pull my trainers on for the walk.  And the swan is nesting so hopefully there will be cygnets soon.  Daddy swan is definitely in protective mode though.

The pigeons were trying very hard to grab the food in the water near the edge even though it was too big for them really.

Look at those wings!

4)  Bluebells!  On Tuesday after my keep fit class I took a trip down memory lane and visited Wanstead Park which is an area where we used to go for walks before we moved.  It has an area called Chalet Wood that is famous for its bluebells.

My phone camera doesn't really do them justice although they were probably past their best - I should have gone last week.

5)  Hubby and I took a walk on Monday to our nearby Larkswood.  No bluebells this time but we did discover this structure:

It's huge!

So grateful to have such nice places nearby to spend time in the fresh air and get some exercise.

Have a good weekend all.

Z is for Zevin (A-Z Challenge 2026) 30/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The Z authors I've read are:

• Zevin Gabrielle
• Zusak Marcus

Yes two Z authors!  So joint prize winners for most read - not difficult as I've only read one book by each author but I gave both 5 stars.

Zusak's The Book Thief had been on my bookshelf for some time.  In fact at one point I think we had 2 copies in the house.  I finally got around to reading it in 2020.  You know, the year when we had a lot of time to stay at home and read!

Anyway I loved it.  My review said, "What a great book! Interesting narrative and so well written. Different to read about WW2 from a German perspective too."

Zevin's book was "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow".  This was a book club choice.

The blurb for it says, 

This is not a romance, but it is about love

Two kids, Sam and Sadie, meet in a hospital gaming room in 1987. One is visiting her sister, the other is recovering from a car crash. The days and months are long there. Their love of video games becomes a shared world -- of joy, escape and fierce competition. But all too soon that time is over.

When the pair spot each other eight years later in a crowded train station, they are catapulted back to that moment. The spark is immediate, and together they get to work on what they love - making games to delight, challenge and immerse players, finding an intimacy in digital worlds that eludes them in their real lives. Their collaborations make them superstars.

I really enjoyed this book once I got into it.  I wasn't sure I'd enjoy all the stuff about video gaming, and there is a lot of that, but that is kind of the framework of the story.  Essentially we see how Sam and Sadie's lives become intertwined and how their relationship develops over time.  The ups and the downs.

There are other characters that are key to how that happens but as the blurb says, the story is full of love but it is not a romance.  I liked the way Shakespeare was woven into the story and how other things were included that gave the writing depth.  Who knew there was a glass flowers museum in Harvard?  Not me, but I do now.  I even picked out a favourite quote, "What is a game?" Marx said.  "It's tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.  It's the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption.  The idea that if you keep playing, you could win.  No loss is permanent because nothing is permanent, ever."

(Although a 5 year old that gets hold of a permanent maker could leave some indelible marks lol.)

This is not the sort of book I would usually pick up but that's the good thing about belonging to a book club, sometimes you're challenged to read books outside your comfort zone.  This was a good pick.

What's the most challenging book you've read?

Wednesday Hodgepodge - 29/4/26

Joyce provides the questions, we prepare our answers and then we link up here.

1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why.

Definitely not full speed ahead.  I need to reset.  I've spent a lot of time blogging during April with the A-Z challenge and I've done less walking.  I've also done more eating....I'm sure you're getting the picture.  A return to healthier eating and habits is required lol. 

2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music...what's your favourite form of art? Elaborate.

  

Definitely literature.  I love to read and now that I've joined two book clubs the reading has become more varied and challenging.

3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers? 

Dinner time is flexible but most often it will be between 6-7 pm.  As we're both retired we sometimes switch it around and make lunch into a dinner and then have something light later on depending on our plans.

We try not to do leftovers but often meals for 2 will be made as a meal for 4 with the extra 2 going into the freezer.  But we will use up leftovers as and when necessary.

4.What's the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating? 

I can't remember anything specific but I do know how easy it is to get sucked into social media and end up in rabbit holes.

5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me...

At what are you 'self-taught?' 

Umm blogging?  My cousin got me hooked and I've used various platforms over the years and muddled myself through the changes.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So here's my dilemma.  I hate wasting food and currently I have a couple of pain au chocolat in the house.  Plus a bar of chocolate that I started.  Not to mention several packets of biscuits.  All bought for when we had visitors.  (Well mostly.) Now the biscuits will keep. But the pain au chocolat need to be eaten and of course a started bar of chocolate has to be finished.  But I need to eat healthily.  The scales do not lie unfortunately.  Plus there's the looming annual blood test coming up soon and I want to keep myself out of the pre-diabetic range.  But I can't throw good food away, can I?  

Maybe now that the A-Z challenge is finished I should start posting about how good (or badly) I've done each day.  One square of chocolate each day is ok isn't it?  (Only positive answers please!)

Y is for Young (A-Z Challenge 2026) 29/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here

The Y authors I've read are:

• Young Louisa

I was slightly surprised to see I only had one Y author on my list but Louisa Young's "My Dear I wanted to tell you" was definitely a 4 star read for me.  

I read it back in 2019 and my review was, "A very poignant story that details the WW1 experiences of Riley Purefoy and the love of his life, Nadine Waveney.  It's a grim reminder of how awful life was in the trenches and an insight into the terrible injuries soldiers received and how medical advances enabled facial injuries to be repaired."

I can't honestly remember too much about it so I checked out some other reviews on Goodreads which reminded me that it covers the use of postcards sent home by soldiers who had been injured to their loved ones that started with the line "My dear I wanted to tell you" and gave them the options of being very truthful about their circumstances or sending a more edited version to spare feelings.  Postcards being able to be sent quicker than letters which required censorship.  

There is also a lot about the advances in plastic surgery that were necessary due to the awful injuries soldiers sustained.  It's a bit graphic on that front.  

Unfortunately, despite being able to read about the horrors of WW1 and WW2 we still don't seem to have learned any lessons from them.

I swing between watching the news so that I'm informed about what is happening in the world, despite how awful it is, or switching it off and immersing myself in a book.  The books seem to be winning at the moment.

X is for Xarissa (A-Z Challenge 2026) 28/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The X authors I've read are:

• Xarissa Diana

Hands up who thought I'd have to be creative with this letter?

Well not creative exactly but I did seek out an author beginning with the letter X when I was planning for this challenge as I didn't have one.

There are actually lots of authors starting with X, many of which are Chinese.  I went for Diana Xarissa who is American.  I chose Aunt Bessie Assumes, a very cozy crime story featuring, yes you've guessed it, Aunt Bessie and set on the Isle of Man.  Aunt Bessie stumbles across 2 dead bodies in short succession which is surprising given that the Isle of Man, which lies between Ireland and the UK, is only 221 square miles in area and has a population of just over 84,000.

In fact, Aunt Bessie features in her own A-Z series and she's also tackled cold cases.  If you thought that small island, famous for its TT race was a safe place to live, maybe think again lol.  

Turns out Diana has self published over 100 books! Unfortunately one was enough for me.

Do you have an author that you've read but would never read again?

A bit of Waffle - 27/4/26

Phew - I've scheduled all the remaining A-Z posts.  That's a relief.  It's been hard work keeping up with everything and, as usual, I haven't been great at visiting other bloggers that are taking part so I'm trying to do more of that now.

Even responding to comments has been tricky.  I hope none of my regular followers feel neglected.

I didn't do a photos post yesterday as I hadn't done a full week of photos but these are the photos that I did take last week:

A couple of things I bought for my Hubby's birthday - unfortunately the mug has already been broken.  Not sure what happened but he was pouring coffee into it and it just cracked around the bottom!  Very annoying.

This was a photo I took to remind me of when I parked in a restricted road on Tuesday.

The next book for the evening Book Group.

Progress on the jumper I'm knitting.

And at the weekend we had grandchildren Ella and Nathan sleeping over on Saturday night.

I didn't take a photo yesterday so not the best start to this week but I have taken some today.  Hopefully I'll continue over this week.

Hubby and I had an outing together today - we went to the nearby Larkswood and then for lunch in one of the many Highams Park cafes.

Tonight I'm on duty at the Foodbank for deliveries but it's looking like I will also have to do a collection as one of our drivers has now left to start training as a fire fighter.  Hopefully we'll recruit some more driver volunteers but until then I might be busier than usual!

Have a good week all.

W is for Waal - (A-Z Challenge 2026) 27/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The W authors I've read are:

• Waal Kit de
• Wake Jules
• Ward Sarah
• Ware Ruth
• Watson S J
• Weaver Tim
• Webb Debra
• Weiner Jennifer
• Weisberger Lauren
• Wetmore Elizabeth
• Wiggs Susan
• Wilde Oscar
• Williams Julia
• Wilson Jacqueline
• Wilson Mairi
• Winman Sarah
• Wood Simon
• Wood Val
• Woodman Cathy
• Worth Jennifer
• Wyndham John

 Well quite a few W authors.  The prize for most read author goes to Cathy Woodman with 6 books.  I read a whole series by her all relating to a veterinary practice in the English countryside.  The Goodreads blurb is "Cathy Woodman, a fresh new voice in women's fiction, has written a warm, breezy romantic comedy that makes for the perfect relaxing cozy read".  The books definitely fit that description and I must have been in the mood for that type of book at the time which was back in 2018.

Jacqueline Wilson makes the list as the two I've read by her (The Story of Tracy Beaker and Double Act) were on the BBC list.  As was Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray which also ticks a classic box. I didn't enjoy it though, only giving it 2 stars.

Funny how some books stay with you and others don't, even by the same author.  I have reasonably clear memories of The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham but I just had to look up The Chrysalids to see what it was about.  Both dystopian of course.  It probably helped that I've seen a film version of the Day of the Triffids.

I read all the books in Jennifer Worth's trilogy on which the excellent series "Call the Midwife" is based.  But of course there are my usual choice of thrillers on there as well.  Ruth Ware for one and Tim Weaver for another.  Weaver's The Missing Family was a 5 star read for me.  

Another piece of trivia for you.  I really enjoyed Kit de Waal's book My name is Leon.  Set in the 1980s it tells the story of 9 year old Leon who has a difficult start in life. The book follows Leon's struggle with being in foster care and losing his brother. I concluded my review of that by saying, "The ending is quite open ended.  It will be interesting to see if the author writes a sequel."  I just googled this and apparently the author has expressed plans to write a sequel based on when Leon is 43.  I also discovered the original book had been televised.  Another one to add to the watchlist!

Do you have a watchlist of books you've read that have either been made into a film or televised?

V is fr Vincenzi (A-Z Challenge 2026) 25/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The V authors I've read are:

• Vincenzi Penny

Well another short list!  And only 1 book by the author - The Dilemma which I read so long ago it doesn't even have a rating let alone a review on my Goodreads page.  I don't really remember anything about it either, even though it's over 800 pages long.

Perhaps I should have added another few authors to this list to have more to say.  I don't have any V authors in my pile of To be Read books.  Any recommendations?

Friday's Fave Five - 24/4/26

Friday's Fave Five is hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.  Each week she reminds us to look back and find the things we were grateful for during the week.  It's good to be grateful.  Why not join us?

1)  Well firstly I am grateful for my Hubby.  He had a birthday last Saturday and we celebrated by attending a fund raising evening organised by a friend of his doing what he loves best - singing and playing his guitar.  He was one of several acts that performed at a nearby church and although I don't usually go to watch him play I couldn't miss out on his birthday.  We'll have been married for 42 years in June.  Definitely a keeper.

2)  The quiz night I mentioned last week raised £3967 for the Foodbank which is amazing!  

3)  Spring weather.  It's been sunny all week and although not that hot yet I was still able to get all my washing done and a lot of it dry on the line outside. (I still tumble dry things like underwear and t shirts to cut down on the ironing.) 

4)  Postal votes.  We have elections for councillors next month but our postal votes came yesterday.  I'm grateful not to have to get to the polling station on the day.  Usually it's fine but one less hassle to deal with.

5)  A good meet up for the evening book club on Wednesday.  There were only 5 of us but we had a good discussion about the book and lots of other things too.  We all agreed that we didn't like the book:

Hopefully the next one will be better:

And the jumper is nearly done.  I just need to do a few more rows and then the decorative bottom.  Oh and all the tedious sewing in of ends and seams to do.  Don't hold your breath for a picture of me modelling it!

Have a good weekend all.

U is for Union (A-Z Challenge 2026) 24/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The U authors I've read are:

• Union Gabrielle

When I was preparing to do this challenge I realised I didn't have an author for the letter U so I did some googling and came up with:

We're going to need more wine by Gabrielle Union.  The title sounded interesting so I ordered it from the library.

It probably didn't help that I didn't really know who Gabrielle Union was when I started this book.  I'm not really better informed now - she's obviously very well know in the USA and appeared in a lot of shows, none of which I have watched.  But she does tick the author's name starts with a U so I accomplished that at least.

It wasn't a difficult read - although there is a lot of swearing and sexual detail in the book.  (Just saying for anyone who would be put off by that.)  But I couldn't really say it was an enjoyable read.  It did raise my awareness of how difficult everyday situations can be for Black Americans though.

Are you familiar with Gabrielle Union?  Watched any of her shows?

T is for Taylor (A-Z Challenge 2026) 23/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The T authors I've read are:

• Taylor C L
• Teague Paul J
• Tessaro Kathleen
• Thomas Jo
• Thompson James                                                                
• Tokarczuk Olga
• Tolkien J R R
• Toltz Steve
• Tomlin Jenny
• Toon Page
• Tope Rebecca
• Townsend Sue
• Tremain Rose
• Tremayne S K
• Trollope Joanna
• Truss Lynne
• Tsiolkas Christos
• Turley Jane
• Anne Tyler

Joanna Trollope is my most read T author with 6 books.  A change from my usual crime thrillers, Trollope writes about the trials and tribulations of domestic life.  And I think she's very good at it.

The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien tick the classics box.  I loved the Hobbit.  I've read it twice.  But Lord of the Rings took me a while to get through.  I do enjoy a bit of fantasy, now and again, and we had all the films on DVD so I had to get through the book.  I always prefer to read then watch. And once I'd finished the book I binge watched the films.

One crime story on there that I would probably never have read if the book hadn't been gifted to me was Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk.  I didn't find this book an easy read - it took me quite a few days and it's not actually that long.  The blurb on the cover sums up the book quite well and it is about the mystery surrounding several deaths in a community in Poland with an ending I hadn't predicted.

Why 5 stars?  Because it is beautifully written.  It's clever.  It doesn't just tell the story. I wouldn't say I loved it but I can appreciate why the author is a Nobel prize winner.

There's also a 1 star book on this list, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas.

At 485 pages this is quite a long book given it all relates to "The Slap" that takes place during an afternoon barbecue for friends and family.  (Not a spoiler - that's quoted in the blurb.)  What follows is the story of subsequent events as seen through the eyes of 8 of the people who witnessed the event.  Time moves forward as we are given insights into the lives of each of these 8 people.

Clearly Tsiolkas has a good understanding of people but I found the style of interspersing actual speech with the thoughts of the person annoying.  I had to check for quotation marks on many occasions to separate one from the other.  And the characters were horrible.  I nearly gave up after about  a third of the book but I really hate to DNF and this was a book earmarked for a challenge choice so I made it to the end, just.  I think it's fair to say that the idea of "the slap" being a catalyst for an interesting book did not deliver.

It also contains lots of swearing, sexual scenes and racism.

What makes you give a book 1 star?

Wednesday Hodgepodge - 22/4/26

Joyce provides the questions, we provide the answers and the link up is here.

1. April 22nd is Earth Day...what's the most 'out of this world' place on earth you've ever visited? Tell us something about it. 

I'm not sure I've been anywhere that I would list as out of this world.  I've been up mountains skiing and the Norwegian Fjords were pretty spectacular but that's about it.

2. A favourite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it? 

Well I had to do some googling for this but I quite like Michael Jackson's Earth song as appropriate for Earth Day.  But for something more cheerful I'd go for Heaven is a place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle.

3. What's the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion? 

Putting things back where they belong.  I hate things being out of place so that I can't find them.  I commented on Monday about my dustpan and brush being missing.  It's usually in the cupboard under the kitchen sink but it is missing.  It has to be somewhere but it's proving elusive.

4. What's your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What's the last thing you made using that tool? 

Our air fryer gets used most days.  It was used for bacon this morning.

5. Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I'm going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today's - 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

Not sure it was my greatest extravagance but I can remember the first time I bought a brand new car that it was probably not the best move given how much a car goes down in value as soon as you drive it away from the dealer.

I also spent more to get my engagement ring repaired recently than the ring cost when new but I'd managed to lose a diamond from it and the setting needed repairing too.  That was worth every penny though.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our flights are booked.  We're heading to Vermont in June!

S is for Salinger (A-Z Challenge 2026) 22/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The S authors I've read are:

• Salazar Noelle
• Salinger J D
• Samson Polly
• Sandy Claire
• Sansom C J
• Seeber Claire
• Sebold Alice
• Serle Rebecca
• Seton Anya
• Sewell Anna
• Shaffer Mary Ann
• Shemilt Jane
• Shortall Eithne
• Shriver Lionel
• Simms Gill
• Slaughter Karin
• Smith Dodie
• Sparks Nicholas
• Spyri Johanna
• Stanley Mary
• Stedman M L
• Danielle Steel
• Steeples Jill
• Steinbeck John
• Steiner Susie
• Stevenson Benjamin
• Stevenson Robert Louis
• Stockett Kathryn
• Stone Lisa
• Strout Elizabeth
• Summers Judith
• Swaby Rachel
• Swain Heidi
• Swan Karen

Unsurprisingly a crime writer - Karin Slaughter - is the most read S author on my list with 12 books read.  Many of these are very dark and grisly in places.  Not to everyone's taste.

There are a couple of children's classics on there, Black Beauty and Treasure Island but the only real adult classic is Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger which I only gave 2 stars to.

This was a book I felt I should read rather than wanted to read. It's a classic - it made the BBC Good Read list but it had never made its way to the top of my TBR pile. It fitted a prompt for the 52 book club challenge tin 2025 so I decided it was time. Well, it was hard going. I can't say it's a book I enjoyed or liked. I was impressed by the way it was written. Salinger definitely seems to have managed to get inside the head of a 16 year old boy, filled with grief, but I just wasn't drawn into the story. Thankfully it was quite short at 220 pages but it took me 11 days to get through it. Never a good sign.

Danielle Steel features on the list although only for 6 books.  I'm sure I've read more of hers but that must have been before I kept records of my reading.  Unfortunately the one I read most recently, Trial by Fire, I only gave 2 stars.  It needed a lot of editing.  It was very repetitive and felt formulaic for me.  Steel has written over 200 books but it feels to me that maybe she has reached her limit.

One of the 5 star books on this list is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peal Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.  A much lighter read which I loved.  I've watched the film twice.

Two other authors that stand out for me on this list are Elizabeth Strout and C J Sansom.

Strout just has a lovely way with prose.  Her books are quite different from my usual reads and although they're not thrilling or even full of events they were just good to read.

C J Sansom is the author of an historical series revolving around Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer in the times of Henry VIII who gets involved in mysteries.  Again not my typical read but I'm really enjoying the series.  I've read 5 of the 7.  Another set of tomes though.  The first in the series was over 400 pages and they've got longer.  The final instalment is over 800 pages!

Do you have a limit on a size of book that you will read?

R is for Rankin (A-Z Challenge 2026) 21/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The R authors I've read are:

• Rankin Ian
• Rayner Sarah
• Redmond Pamela
• Reichs Kathy
• Reid Carmen
• Reid Kiley
• Reid Taylor Jenkins
• Reilly Martina
• Rekulak Jason
• Ribchester Lucy
• Riley Lucinda
• Rimington Stella
• Roberts Caroline
• Roberts Geraldina
• Roberts Nora
• Roberts Sheila
• Robinson Anne
• Robinson Peter
• Robotham Michael
• Robson Amanda
• Rooney Sally
• Rosen Jane L
• Ross LJ
• Rowling J K
• Rubin Gretchen

Well it's more of a close run thing for most read favourite "R" author with  L J Ross winning with 16 but Ian Ranking (13) Kathy Reichs (12) and Michael Robothom (11) all come close behind.

Interestingly these are all serial writers and writing about crime.  Actually that's not such an interesting fact when you know that's my favourite genre.  

L J Ross writes about DCI Ryan with stories set around the NE area of England.  Ian Rankin's books are set in Edinburgh and feature Inspector Rebus.  These are quite gritty and dark.  Kathy Reichs writes about Temperance Brennan a forensic anthropologist but all the stories involve crimes.  This was televised as "Bones" which I loved watching.

Michael Robotham writes about Joseph O'Loughlin who is a clinical psychologist.  He's also written other books of which I've read a couple.

There are another couple of series that I've read on this list:

Lucinda Riley's Seven Sisters which was a huge undertaking as the books are all long.  I found there to be a little bit too much repetition at times at the beginning of some books.  I know that was probably to enable each book to be read on it's own but it was annoying.

And of course who hasn't read Harry Potter?  Especially if you have children.  Ok maybe you haven't and yes not everyone is into magic and make believe.  I loved them all though, and the films.

I've also read The Casual Vacancy   well I thought I had.  An adult novel by J K Rowling.  I shall have to investigate that.  And although I haven't read the novels she's written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, I have watched most of the televised versions of these. (Strike)

No classics on this list and no real stand out books although I did give 5 stars to Amanda Robson's Guilt which was a good psychological thriller.

I'm also probably in the minority over Normal People by Sally Rooney.  I didn't really like this book.  I understand the hype and I think the basis of the book is sound but the execution didn't do it for me.  I particularly disliked the lack of punctuation around speech and thoughts.  Made it very confusing at times and I found myself re-reading paragraphs to work out who had said what, or if it was actually just a thought process.

I also was not impressed with the ending.  Is there a sequel planned?

Any thoughts?

A bit of Waffle - 20/4/26

Well I've done quite a few chores this morning so time to sit down with a cup of tea and do a bit of waffling.  Especially as I've got all this week's A-Z posts done and scheduled to post.  Although I might need to double check them - I just noticed that the formatting on today's post wasn't quite right and had to amend it.

Anyway, one of my blogging friends Marie commented on how organised I was to do the A-Z challenge and still do regular posts.  Well, sort of.  I haven't done all my regular posts.  I think I'm a bit like a swan - I appear calm and serene but underneath I'm paddling like mad to stay afloat.

I'll give you an example - it was Hubby's birthday on Saturday.  Now it's true that we don't go big on birthdays or Christmas presents for each other now.  But it's still nice to have something to open.

Here are two of the things I bought him:

He is definitely a coffee lover but he doesn't drink enough water so I bought him a cup that will work for hot or cold drinks for when he goes out that might encourage him to take water with him.  And yes that mug is fairly large.

I also bought him a new charger for his phone.  It was easier than trying to wait for him to go and do it instead of "borrowing" one of mine constantly.

Yes really nice presents, all bought during a food shop in Tesco!  Totally planned and organised, NOT!

We did have a nice evening out for his birthday but that wasn't planned by us either.  I will try and organise a lunch or a dinner out soon but this week we have HelloFresh coming.  Another mishap - I didn't get around to cancelling the delivery for this week, or choosing the meals so we're in for surprises!  I have been online this morning and skipped the next few weeks.

So there you have it, perhaps not as organised as I appear.  I have also managed to misplace my dustpan and brush.  Yes I have checked the dustbins just in case.  I've also checked the garden and the front of the house.  It seems to have vanished.  Fortunately I did have a spare set in the garage so I don't have to go out and replace it.  And of course if I did replace it the missing one would suddenly turn up.  For now I'm not looking for it anymore, but it is bugging me.  

Right, time to get some lunch.  Hubby has gone out to get a new battery for his watch and "I might just check out the charity shops while I'm there."  He'll probably be gone for a while.

Have a good week all.

Q is for Quinn (A- Challenge 2026) 20/4/26

The A-Z home page can be found here.

My theme this year is authors that I've read. More about the books I've read than the authors themselves.

I'm an avid reader. I'm a member of 2 in person reading groups through my local library. I'm gradually working my way through an old BBC reading list of 100 books (I'm about half way through) and I'm taking part in the online 52 Book Club Challenge for the third time this year where the challenge is to read 52 books over the year based on 52 different prompts. You can also find me on Goodreads here.

The Q authors I've read are:

• Quinn Kate

Yep that's right.  Only 1 Q author on my list and the book I read was The Phoenix Crown which I gave 3 stars.

San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage.

Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.

His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a mystery reaching further than anyone could have imagined . . .

Until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together in one last desperate quest for justice . . .

It's clear from the fact that this book took me 10 days to read that I didn't find it riveting. I didn't dislike it but it was slow going for about the first two thirds then it improved. However I thought the ending of the story was also a bit rushed compared to the beginning so not very balanced.

Anyway....some of the comments people have left suggest that I read all the time, I mean how have I read books by so many authors? Well the data I'm using goes back to 2008. During 2008 through to 2014 I probably averaged about 27 books a year. Once I left work in 2015 that number increased and I now probably read just over 50 books a year. 2020 was a good year (can't think why lol) because I managed 73 books. Now I usually set my target as 52 which of course ties in nicely with the 52 book club challenge but the last couple of years I've passed the 60 mark.

But... it doesn't matter how many books you read, what matters is that you read. Or listen. I know some people only do audio books. Nothing wrong with that. I am not a reading snob. Similarly it doesn't matter what you read. I try and read 1 or 2 classics each year but I don't beat myself up if I don't. I've tried Wuthering Heights twice and still haven't finished it. Maybe that's one I should try out on audio. Or maybe not lol.

Do you set yourself a reading goal each year?

Weekly Photos 12th - 18th April 2026

Another mixed week for photos!  I blame the A-Z challenge - I've just made sure all of next week's posts are ready to go.  Thank goodness I'd prepped the outlines in advance.

Anyway here are some of the photos I took during this past week:

Well no photos on Sunday or Monday - I was still getting over a cold.

Tuesday I felt better so not only did I get some washing dry outside, I also did some admin for the library book clubs - printing out the lists of books that can be ordered in sets.

    

                                                        

on Wednesday I was showing someone how to access the library app.

I didn't take any pictures of the quiz we attended on Thursday so I nabbed this one from Facebook.  The church was packed!  Lots of money raised for the Foodbank.

We all paid £20.00 for our quiz tickets but got a discount for booking a whole table so I used the extra money to buy much needed rice and pasta for the Foodbank on Friday.

And this was Saturday night at a fundraiser for a church in Chingford.  Hubby doing what he loves best, and on his birthday.  One of his walking group friends organised the event and Nick and various other people he knows who go to local open mics and/or play in bands performed during the evening.  It was a good night.