Review: Did You Ever Have a Family

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a book club read which I struggled with.

Essentially it's the story of a family tragedy - June Reid's house is burned down on the eve of her daughter's wedding. June's daughter, future son-in-law, ex husband and current partner are all killed in the blaze and the house is completely destroyed.

The book covers events leading up to the fire and the aftermath. Through various characters, in the past and present, the mystery of how the fire happened is revealed and June, who disappears after the fire to a motel on the coast, is finally located.

The writing is mainly good but there were too many characters and too much switching between them and time frames for this to be easily read. I found myself ambivalent towards June. I would rather have either been in total sympathy or against her but I wasn't either of those. Other reviewers have described this as a quiet book. I would agree but at times it was too quiet and I struggled to stay with it.

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Friday's Fave Five 16/12/16

It's Friday so it's time to join in with Suzanne's Friday's Fave Five.   
It's a place to come on Fridays and think back over your week and just post about 5 favourite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favourite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, great internet finds, etc., etc.

If you want to take part or visit other Fave Five posts, click on the picture above to go to host Suzanne's site and check out the linky list.

I missed last week - the weekend was a little bit busy! My five this week are:

1.  Getting our daughter safely moved to her new house.  They had a removal company do the actual moving but we helped pack up and then did a LOT of unpacking at the weekend.  But the house is lovely and just what they need with the baby on the way.

2.  Lunch out with friends from Church.  One of the ladies organised it at the pub at the end of my road.  They opted for the Seniors lunch rather than a Christmas dinner.  This is for over 60's so I was a bit of an interloper but I didn't get challenged.  Not sure if I'm cross that they might think I'm 60+ or just glad to get the cheaper price! lol

3.  A visit to my brother and his wife in their new house.  They've moved a bit further away from London but it only took us an hour to get there.  The house is lovely but they are planning lots of work on it. 

4.  Successful Christmas shopping.  I was out for ages on Thursday buying presents and today I started getting food bits and pieces.  I also got a lot of presents wrapped today.  For once I don't feel like I'm chasing my tail!

5.  Trying out a new recipe and it tasting good! (Homemade meatballs in a wine and tomato sauce topped with mozzerella and parmesan.)

I think my new year resolution must be to take more photos!

Have a good weekend all!

Wednesday Hodgepodge 14/12/16

Wednesday's Hodgepodge is brought to us courtesy of Joyce at 

 From this side of the pond

Pop over there to see other posts and if you want to join in add the link to your Hodgepodge blog post to the Linky List at the end of Joyce's post and don’t forget to visit at least your neighbours on the list.

Have fun!

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate.
Well as I’m not particularly confident in social situations, especially where I do not know many people, I guess I have to answer task oriented.  I can be pretty organised when it comes to getting things done.
2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day...do you own/wear pearls? If you're a man answering the question, does your sweetheart own or wear pearls? Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.
I own some pearls that were my Mum’s.  (Well they look like pearls) but I don’t wear them.  The only “pearls” I sometimes wear are in earrings.

A pearl of wisdom for this time of year?  Take a deep breath!
3. Speaking of pearls...oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favourite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little?

Honestly?  Never tried them but can’t say I’ve ever wanted to either.
4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?

That’s a hard one.  I’d nominate my hubby every time for putting up with me lol.   But seriously I think all those who work in professions where they are caring for / protecting others deserve to be acknowledged.
5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced, and it's a vibrant green aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a colour currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the colour.
Not currently in my home and I didn’t think it was in my wardrobe but then I remembered I do have a sweater dress in a dark green colour.  It’s probably a colour I could wear more as I have green eyes but I’m more a blue person.
6. Today I've had too much - time procrastinating.
7. Share a favourite lyric from a favourite Christmas carol.

Silent Night is one of my favourites and “sleep in heavenly peace” would be good right now lol
8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Bah humbug springs to mind.  The closer Christmas gets the grouchier I seem to be.  I’ll be ok once it’s here though.  I need to take my own advice and just breathe.

Bone Tired 12/12/16

I'm sure we've all heard the term bone tired/weary but this weekend it definitely described how I felt.  My daughter and her wife moved home this weekend and hubby and I helped them.  In fact I've been helping on and off the last few weeks.

My daughter is just 3 months pregnant and has had to take things very easy under Doctor's orders.  My DIL has also had some health issues.  Moving came at exactly the wrong time.  I never thought they'd be packed up in time for the removal firm who moved them on Saturday but they were.  Just!

I spent Friday helping pack up the last bits and pieces and then bringing their cat back to us for the night.  On Saturday I had to be over at the flat to lock up after the removal men left and then come home before taking the cat over to the new house.  And then the unpacking began.  Hubby came to help and we got a lot done but we were back there on Sunday to try and get them reasonably straight before the start of the working week.  Fortunately it's only a 40 minute drive there.  Quicker than getting to the flat which was easier to get to by public transport.  That took an hour and involved walking and lots of up and down stairs at the stations.

By Sunday evening we were all exhausted but the move was complete and many of the boxes were unpacked.  The cat also seems to be settling in well to their new home.

Today I've had an easy day including lunch with ladies from church.  Very conveniently for me they chose to go to the pub at the end of my road.

Tomorrow we're going to visit my brother who has also just moved house.  Hopefully we won't be asked to do any unpacking!

Apologies if I haven't visited/commented/responded to comments much lately.  I'm trying to keep up with reading posts but usually in bed on my ipad which doesn't make commenting easy.  I'm sure we're all pretty busy at the moment.