Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “portrait.” Use it way you’d like. Have fun!
Why is it that when you take a selfie which is just another word for portrait, the result never looks the same as what I see in the mirror?!
Short and sweet. I was at the Foodbank all morning dealing with deliveries so I'm off for a sit down and possibly a nap. Hope no one takes a portrait of that.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “easy/hard.” Use one, use both, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points if you get both words into your post. Enjoy!
Well I'm going to use both by asking is it easy/hard to listen to an audio book?
I have never really settled to listening to audio books. Some years ago my daughter gifted me a six month subscription to audible but I was still working at the time so the only time I really had for reading was when I went to bed.
Well I'm sure you can guess what happened. I would often fall asleep listening to the book so I consequently found myself having to backtrack, trying to work out at what point I was up to when I fell asleep and often reading the same chapter over and over.
Needless to say I did not renew the subscription when the gift period expired.
Fast forward to now and I read a lot. I'm retired so I can really read as much as I want and when I want. I do love a physical book but I also like the convenience of reading on my Kindle App, especially when on holiday. But I've kept away from audio books.
Until today. I mistakenly ordered an audio version of a book from the library rather than the physical copy. I decided to give it a go.
Straight off I had to speed it up. The narrator's voice was boring and slow. I worked out how to speed it up and I actually managed to listen to the whole book during the course of this afternoon and evening.
It was Wednesday's Child by Peter Robinson which is a DCI Banks story. (Actually #6 in the series.) This is a very English crime series that has been televised. I enjoyed the TV series and the books have been ok so far. (I'm trying to read them in order.) They're not 5 star material but they're quite gritty at times. This one was a bit more graphic than some and the crime centred around a child abduction.
1) I found the narrator annoying - and it was the same one for all the characters, men and women; and
2) I noticed how much detail there was in all the descriptions. Of everything.
Perhaps when I've been reading the books I've skimmed over that or maybe this book was just more descriptive than previous ones.
Anyway I finished it.
But it hasn't persuaded me that audio books are my thing. I was knitting while listening so it was productive in that way but I'm not sure I would necessarily keep all the plot details in my head if I was doing something that required a bit more concentration. Chick lit might work I suppose but I'm not convinced.
I'll definitely be more careful when ordering books from the library in future though!
Are you an audio book fan?
The Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompts are provided by Linda. To find out more or to take part go here. Thanks Linda.
Your prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “review.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
I seem to be writing a lot of books reviews lately. I'm definitely doing a lot of reading and I try to review all the books I read even if it's only a few lines.
Being a member of two in person book clubs that were set up through my local library means getting through at least 2 books per month but taking part in the 52 Book Club challenge means I actually trying to get through a book a week. Which is doable. Just. Although some of the books I've earmarked to read for the 52 Book Club Challenge are long.
Wherever possible I'm trying to find prompts for the book club reads and so far I've managed to do that this year. Not sure where I might fit "The trouble with goats and sheep" by Joanna Cannon into but hopefully it will work for something. I haven't started it yet but it's a re read for me so I'm sure it won't take me too long to get through it.
I quite enjoy doing those sort of reviews - helps me to remember the book having written about it.
The reviews I hate doing, and actually don't do very often are the ones from companies after you've bought a product. Or the delivery companies wanting to know how the delivery was. Including how the person delivery the item did. Well how should I know? Most times you don't even see them. They leave the parcel in my porch. If I'm lucky they might ring the doorbell or use the knocker but most times they don't. But of course there will be an e-mail telling me they've delivered the parcel. Which will probably be about the 5th or 6th email about that item. You know how it goes:
Thank you for your order.
We're processing your order.
We've despatched your order.
The courier has your order.
We'll let you know when your order is out for delivery.
Your order is out for delivery.
Your order was delivered.
How was your delivery?
How was your order?
Actually that amounts to at least 9 emails about ink cartridges I ordered. And of course if something goes wrong there are even more e-mails!
And then you want me to leave a review? Sorry, not happening. Unless I have something to complain about, then you'll hear from me.
I have better things to do. Happy weekend.
The prompts for #SoCS are provided by Linda who blogs here. Pop over to her site to find out more and see who is joining in.
I am really trying to go the distance here with my blog. Apart from a couple of late night posts which just slipped over the midnight mark I think I've managed to post something everyday this year.
Of course the Just Jot it January challenge helped. (Also hosted by Linda - Thanks!) and now I've got into a bit of routine with the various types of posts I'm doing on regular days. #SoCS is of course the regular Saturday post but it's probably one of the easier ones because the prompts are random and the very nature of the posts suits my waffling tendency.
But some days are easier than others. Especially when you have other things to be done too. A reading challenge for example. Which requires 52 books over the year. Again I'm doing ok so far, even slightly ahead of myself but some books are easier than others to read. And there are the two IRL reading groups I'm in through my local library. I really enjoy those because I've met new people through them and as we moved to an area where I knew no one that's a definite bonus for me.
I also joined a knitting group for the same reason - to meet people, but of course that means I have to do some knitting. Oh and attend the group meetings. At least this group only meets fortnightly and the book groups are monthly.
Then there is the keep fit group that meets weekly which is vital - I need to keep in shape! Although the shifting of crates of food at the foodbank is probably as good a workout as going to a gym.
Don't have time for a gym!
Throw in babysitting and keeping the house clean and tidy and the weeks go by in a blink of the eye. Especially when I'm also keeping an eye on the steps/distance I walk. Distance today: 2.06 miles.
I'm so glad I'm retired.
Our host for #SoCS is Linda who blogs here.
Why is it that building works never seem to keep to plan and run smoothly? Many of you will know that I volunteer at our local Foodbank which is actually held in a Church. We run sessions on a Tuesday and Thursday, with a community cafe operating on Wednesdays but after the session on Thursday we have to clear all the food from the Church into a storage room.
Well that was the start of the post I was in the process of doing when our landline rang. It hardly ever rings and it's usually some sort of spam or scam but it was actually my eldest brother as I discovered when he started to leave a message on the answer machine.
Fortunately I intercepted his call before he hung up. Unfortunately he was ringing to tell me that my SIL passed away peacefully this morning. Not something I was expecting. Life definitely isn't always smooth.
The prompts are supplied each week by Linda who blogs here. Pop over to see who else is taking part.
Previously when doing a SoCS post I've often had some thought about it before I've started. It's hard not to I find when we get the prompt the day preceding the day we're supposed to be posting.
Of course I could do the post on a Friday and schedule it to post on Saturday but I don't usually do that. To me that would almost feel premature. So now it's quite late on Saturday evening and I'm definitely winging it by trying to think of as many words starting with pre and fitting them into this post. The presentation will probably suffer as I've also been watching the Men's Curling final on the TV and although the presenters did a good job, it's hard to stay upbeat when your team was playing well but then in the closing stages the advantage swings to the other team and Team GB ended up with the silver medal again. It was hard to watch. But so much of the Winter Olympics is for Team GB - we don't really have the conditions here in the UK and I know that many of the athletes end up training abroad. Curling is probably one of the few sports that are done here in the UK although predominantly in Scotland.
And now I'm stuck. My mind is going blank. Presumably it's trying to tell me I need some sleep. I had an early start at the Foodbank this morning - I go to accept deliveries from another church on a Saturday and this morning the drivers bringing the deliveries were really early. Fortunately I had pre-empted any disaster by being up and ready to go but I only just arrived in time and didn't keep them waiting.
Now it's time for bed. My predetermined alarm has been reminding me for the previous half an hour that it's time. The present needs to become the past. Goodnight!
Well of course Love is an appropriate word for today being St. Valentines Day.
We don't make a big thing of it in our house. I did get a card from Hubby - well he tried to sign it anonymously but it was a bit of a give away that it was left on the bed for me to find. I don't need big displays of affection or expensive bouquets of flowers to know that he loves me.
I know that he does in the way that he supports me especially when things are difficult. He's always there for me when I need him to be, holding my hand when the children arrived. Helping me through loss when my Mum passed away. Ready to listen when I need to talk but not pushing too hard.
Stepping up when he needs to. (Although he might need a little reminder here or there lol)
He has never let me down. And of course I love him for all of that and so much more.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “chapter.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To find out more about the Stream of Consciousness Saturday which is hosted by Linda go here.
I'm sure when I was young I would be pleading to read just one more chapter when it was time for bed.
I've always been a reader. I worked my way through a lot of Enid Blyton's books, then things like Little Women, What Katy Did, Black Beauty and so on.
As an adult I've read a lot of crime thrillers, including Agatha Christie, some classics, and a few fantasy and science fiction books. (The Lord of the Rings, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.) I like to challenge myself so I'm doing the 52 book Club challenge again this year which involves reading 52 books over the year relating to a set of prompts. Some prompts are simple - e.g. book title beginning with the letter O, some require more research e.g. Author's bio mentions their dog.
This is the third year of doing the challenge and it has pushed me to read books I wouldn't normally look at. I've also been in 2 in person book clubs since last year and that has also widened my reading.
I'm currently reading this:
Good job I'm now an adult and can do as I please, and retired so I can have a lie in if I've read late into the night.
Right have you got yourself a cup of tea or coffee? Then settle in to a comfy chair because I know I can waffle on about this prompt for a while.
I am good at finding things. I am methodical in my searching. (Must be my logical brain.) And I'm persistent. If I'm looking for something that I know HAS to be in my house I will keep looking until I find it. Missing socks? Paperwork? Keys? I'm your person.
Hubby is not so great. He will say he's looked when of course he hasn't really looked.
Case in point, on Thursday he was getting ready to go out for the evening and couldn't find his house keys. He claimed to have looked everywhere to which my response was "You can't have looked everywhere because if you had you would have found them."
He muttered something about hoping he hadn't left them in the cafe he'd been to earlier but I was quick to point out that he'd let himself in when he got back so he must have had the keys then. Had he checked he hadn't left them in the door? Yes that has happened on more than one occasion but not this time.
I began to search but by this time he was getting into a panic. He was going to miss his bus. We live right opposite the bus stop and the wonderful TFL app lets us know when a bus will turn up. Or not. It sometimes has a blip but generally it's pretty good. Now bearing in mind that we live in London and the bus service is fairly regular there would be another bus. It wasn't going to be the last bus of the day like in country places where they only come once an hour and stop as soon as it gets dark!
Daughter who was here managed to convince him to take the spare key so he could leave.
I stopped searching. I knew they'd turn up somewhere. Probably in one of his pockets. He does like clothes that have lots of pockets - great for losing your phone! The other day he was searching for his phone and he had on a cycling top that had a pocket on the back. Perfect size for a phone. Even when I was ringing his phone he didn't realise where it was at first. He blamed that on not have his hearing aids in at the time.
Yes that's another thing I have to contend with. If I'm not telling him to take another look I'm telling him to "put your ears in". I wrote earlier in the week about having more patience since I've got older but dealing with Hubby sometimes requires the patience of a saint.
Of course I love him to bits and I did find his keys eventually - on our bed. He'd napped earlier in the day and obviously put his keys down at some point and then covered them with the top sheet. But of course he'd looked there. Good thing I took another look!
The missing article. Not that small a thing!
Soooo SoCS posts are supposed to be done without planning or forward thinking. It's almost 10.30 pm as I'm starting this and I'm not sure my brain is even capable of thinking right now. I've made myself a cup of tea which I may live to regret later (although it is decaf) and I'm trying to think of a favourite phrase.
Hmmmmm not coming up with much. It's been a busy day, well a busy week right now and I think I'm all talked out. Today I helped out at a yarn sale organised by the knitting group I attend. We made about £600 which is being split between two good causes, one of which is the foodbank I volunteer at so that was good.
After that I had a brief bit of time at home when I managed to finish one of my book clubs read "Five Quarters of the Orange" by Joanne Harris. (She of Chocolat fame.) Pondering over how to review that one.
But then we were off to a get together with most of Hubby's siblings to raise a glass to his Mum who died 10 years ago at the end of the month. That was a nice event. It also coincided with one of his sister's birthdays (on Monday) so we had something nice to celebrate too.
But still not coming up with a favourite saying. Although I do seem to remember that "time for bed" was a favourite when the kids were young and I was looking forward to sitting down and relaxing after a day of parenting. And now it's "time for bed" for me.
#SoCS and Just Jot it January are hosted by Linda HERE.
Check out her blog for all the details etc.
Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 10th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “don’t get me started.” Use the phrase in your post or just write about the first thing it conjures in your mind. Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Well I was going to say actually you DO need to get me started because I feel like I've been quite lazy this week. It's been quite a social week and so I've slipped behind with chores at home and I haven't felt particularly motivated on that front.
But actually I'm going to rant about our water company. In the centre of our little area of London there is a train station which is very convenient for us. But this means the trains run straight through our town and there is a level crossing right in the middle of town. We live on one side of it, Tesco our big supermarket is on the other.
This doesn't usually cause major problems, unless the barriers get stuck which is actually only a problem for cars as there is a subway pedestrians can still use. It can be annoying if you arrive in your car at the crossing just as the barriers are going down but they're not usually down for long and then you're on your way.
Or not as it was today because....just the other side of the barrier there is a burst water pipe and so the road that leads to the supermarket is closed. We can drive across the crossing but then we have to go left and there is no way back to the supermarket. (There is a much longer route there via the next crossing under the railway but it seems part of that road may be blocked - by another burst water pipe.)
These burst pipes are popping up all over the place. The very cold snap of weather we had last week has not helped.
But the bigger problem is the underinvestment in the infrastructure. And that's because Thames Water (the provider of our water services) is a Private Limited Company! It was privatised by a Conservative Government in 1989. As such it needs to make profits for its owners.
It's hardly rocket science to see that this is not going to benefit the consumer. When the company was privatised it was debt free and has since run up debts running into BILLIONS.
The infrastructure was in need of major upgrades and they are working on that, slowly but in the meantime leaks keep appearing everywhere and our bills keep going up.
I really cannot understand why utilities are not owned by the Government. They are essential services and require investment. They should not be lining the pockets of investors, many of which are overseas!
Unfortunately when I sent Hubby off in the car armed with a shopping list today I had forgotten about the road closure. He was not happy when he got back. He had to park in a nearby side street and take a long detour to get home again. Fortunately he wasn't doing a huge shop so he was able to carry it back to the car ok. He was not happy though!
Right rant over. It's time for bed here in London.
Don't get me started on anything else.
Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 3rd and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “fast/slow.” Use one, use both, use them any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use them both! Enjoy!
Well this post started slow - took me ages to find the SoCS image to add to my post in my Blogger photos folder. Yes it would have been faster just to recopy the image from our host Linda's blog but then it puts another copy in the Blogger folder which means even more to scroll through next time. Am I making any sense? Probably not. Definitely a slow start this morning. In fact that's probably my default speed these day. I love being retired lol.
Of course I can move fast when I need to. As in absolutely need to. But as my brain is still in slow gear right now I'm struggling to find an example of being fast. I can type fast. That helps when you're trying to get a blog post done and then get around to visiting all the other blogs and leaving comments.
I took typing as an evening class way back when typewriters were still a thing. That was before the days of word processors let alone personal computers and now of course laptops, tablets and phones. I can remember being asked at work to go and trial word processors when they were first being introduced. (Yes I'm old!) That was interesting and things were a bit slower then because you had to remember what all the function keys did for things like underlining, putting things in BOLD etc. Things are definitely easier now. And don't get me started on AI.
It amazes me how people use their thumbs for typing on their phones. I find it tricky typing on my phone because I trained to use all my fingers and you can't do that with a phone - the keyboard is too small. Funny how things go in cycles though. I can remember my first phone (a motorola) that felt and weighed like a brick. Then gradually phones got smaller and smaller because that was a thing. You had to be able to fit them in your pocket.
Now of course they've got bigger again because of all the extra things you can do with them. And then technology moved on to give us folding phones - so you could still do all the stuff and fit it in your pocket.
Some of us still struggle with technology though. Yesterday my Hubby picked up my phone by mistake. (That's my fault of course for choosing a case that's the same colour as his phone case. Believe me if I could have got a different colour I would have but the choice was black or black. Yep I picked black which is the same as his.) Anyway he'd gone out and I was searching for my phone. I finally asked my daughter to call it. To our surprise Hubby answered - he was in the car. Mystery solved - he had my phone. Although he was trying to insist he didn't even though he had answered it! But of course being in the car and using hands free he couldn't understand the logic! He can be a bit slow at times lol.
Now I'm off to find some sort of sticker to put on my phone so we can tell them apart. Moving at a slow pace of course.
Thanks to Linda as always for hosting SoCS and Just Jot it January. You can find all the info and join in here.
Anyway it's 7 am now and I've been awake since just after 5. Not sure what woke me but Hubby's snoring ensured I wasn't going to get back to sleep in my bed so I decamped to the sofa.
I thought that with my recently acquired eye mask I might be able to get back to sleep. My brain thought otherwise. I might have to have a nap today.
I did try to sleep but I could still hear the snoring above me and then my neighbour (or someone passing by in the street) had a prolonged sneezing fit that was probably as loud as the snoring! So of course I started looking at my phone.
I have the NYT games app there to amuse me. We have (of course - who doesn't?) a family WhatsApp group for Wordle. Kicked myself today - got it in 5 but it should have been 4. It probably was too early to be doing it. I also messed up the Tiles game several times - I like to have a clear run on that but I got there eventually. Doesn't help when you've left your glasses upstairs by the bed!
And now I'm drinking my first cup of tea of the day and I've had a couple of slices of fruit bread and I'm here blogging, wondering at what point my Hubby will stir. I'm not holding my breath on that one - I'd expire! He was out with some former colleagues yesterday which will have been a boozy affair that went on until late so I don't expect him to surface any time soon. Which is a bit annoying as I'm off to take in a delivery for the Food Bank this morning so I'll probably have to make my own breakfast.
This is not a good start to the day.
Maybe I'll go and give him a nudge with my toe!
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “toe/tow.” Use one, use both, use them any way you’d like. Bonus points for using both. Have fun!
Ooh I think I just earned bonus points lol. SoCS is brought to us by Linda who blogs here. If you're awake, like me, pop over and see who's joining in the fun.
Postcript:
See it's too early to be blogging - I wasn't toeing the line at all!
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “shake.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Well the first thing that sprang to mind with the prompt was to give myself a mental "shake" and get on with writing a post that didn't relate in any way to a letter of the alphabet.
Yes I've been trying to complete the A-Z challenge again this year and I've been hanging on by a thread. I didn't have any posts written at the start of the challenge, we've had family staying over Easter so busy at home yet somehow I've managed to keep on track - just!
Actually giving yourself a mental shake is not a great idea. The brain is not intended to shake inside your head - Hubby is testament to that as he suffered a brain injury when he was knocked off his bike many years ago now. Thankfully he recovered well. But so often that phrase is used in books.
Another phrase that has wound up a book group I'm a member of is "letting out the breath you didn't know you were holding" - there have been numerous Facebook posts quoting books with that line in and now we're working on books that "make your eyes roll".
Some things do need to be given a shake though - Martinis according to James Bond, as in "shaken not stirred".
Well I need to stir myself now and get on with the day - it's been a slow start here so I should "shake a leg" as the saying goes.
Thanks to Linda for the prompt. Find out all the details etc here.
It's Saturday (just about) so I'm joining in with the SoCS challenge hosted by Linda here.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “awe/aww.” Use one, use both, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points if you fit them both into your post. Enjoy!Well regular readers will know that I'm planning to take part in the A-Z challenge which starts on Tuesday. I've signed up and yesterday I tried to work my way through the list of people that signed up on the Theme Reveal list. Well I am in awe of the people that haven't only signed up but also seem to have all their posts prepped and ready to go.
Anyone who read my post on Thursday (see it here) will know that my prep leaves a lot to be desired. I am beginning to panic big time and I know I will be scrambling all through April to get my posts done and published. All together now, say aww.
Hmm maybe not quite awe inspiring but it will have to do.
Today's prompt is "Crackle".
Well I'm sure many participants will have thought of the cereal "Snap Crackle and Pop" otherwise known as Rice Crispies. Sorry but if you're expecting some originality then this is not the place to come.
I was going to check to see when Rice Crispies became a thing but that would rather defeat the aim of SoCS so I didn't. However I did check how many cereal products are now available in my local supermarket. 194. Yep I counted them.
Of course not I checked on the app. The choice now is mind boggling. I didn't stop to see how many of them were chocolate based but I'm sure there are plenty to keep a chocaholic like me happy. I have 2 different varieties in my cupboard as I write. For the Grandkids I hasten to add.
My breakfast of choice these days is usually some variety of eggs with bacon, occasionally baked beans, mushrooms or if Hubby (who is the main cook in the house) decides to prepare an omelette it will often be a surprise. He likes to throw in green things. Not my first choice of food at breakfast but, as he nearly always makes it I'm not going to be picky.
Doesn't usually crackle though, although sometimes he will put oil in the pan and get distracted and then the smoke alarm starts going. Thanks goodness for the smoke alarm - I'm sure he would have burned the house down by now without it.
We don't often get a sizzle either because we have an air fryer which takes care of the bacon and other things like sausages if we have them. Yep I do like a full English breakfast - but I'll pass on the black pudding thank you. (I would eat it if put on the plate.)
Sorry if I'm making you all hungry. I haven't had my breakfast yet this morning but Hubby has just surfaced so it should arrive soon. I hope so anyway.
P.S. he's doing hash browns this morning!
Well I used the book that I was currently reading (Heartstone by C J Sansom) and the word I landed on was Englishmen.
It's set during the reign of Henry VIII when England is preparing to ward off a French invasion.
I think it's hard to define what makes an English man - there were so many invasions previously - Romans, Vikings etc that are any of us truly English? I have Welsh blood in me from my Dad and Hubby has a mixture of Irish and German in his ancestry so our children are definitely not pure blooded Englishmen. Being born here no longer automatically makes you English either. I think we're all just a lot of mongrels really.
Oops that's probably not politically correct - Crossbreeds. We're crossbreeds!
Thanks to Linda for the prompt. Find out what others had to say here.
Full details of how #SoCS works can be found here on host Linda's blog.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “in person.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Well I'm here, "in person" and it's not yet 9 am and I've almost finished my first cup of tea. No AI impersonation going on here. I did think about posting a selfie to prove I'm up and semi-awake but I didn't think anyone who's in the least sensitive could take the sight of me pre-tea and breakfast.
I've actually been awake since about 7 and Hubby was snoring on and off so I decided I'd get up and show up here before the day really starts.
I'm sure that AI will make things a lot easier and more efficient in some instances but I still like to be able to talk to a person when I've got an issue with something or just need some assistance. I hate working through all the call options before I can get to a person. Plus I also like to feel that I'm talking to someone here in the UK, not someone half way around the world where the connection isn't great and it's not always easy to hear what the person is saying. Sometimes it really does feel like they're thousands of miles away.
The systems where you have to speak your responses annoy me even more. You think you're speaking quite clearly and then you get the annoying "I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat it please?" response and you feel like throwing the phone across the room or simply shouting your answer at the phone. I wonder how long before you get a response of "There's no need to shout!"?
I think it's incredible how much technology has advanced, just in this century alone but sometimes I just think it would be good if people just showed up "in person" and really started getting to grips with the problems facing the world and worked together rather than concentrating on making machines to do things for us.
Although they would need to be better persons than this one who just does a lot of waffling! (Or some of those currently in positions of power.)
Enjoy your day :)
