March books- 2021

Another Good month for books! Here’s what I have been reading.

Kazuo Ishiguro- A Pale View of Hills- 1952, Nagasaki- we meet the pregnant Etsuko and her friend Sachiko, a wealthy woman reduced to working in a noodle shop and her daughter. Present day- England Etsuko is haunted by the death of her first daughter. I found it an interesting and enjoyable book, until the end- I don’t like enigmatic endings- I want my endings to be clear, even if it’s that memories are not straight forward- I can live with that, but I spent a while trying to figure out the various daughters… my fault I expect I was reading the novel for its place in time and not as an unreliable narrator novel. I’ve read reviews since with everyone saying they need to re-read it to fully understand it. What do I know – apparently it won prizes. Love to know what anyone else thought if they had read this.

Richard Osman- The Thursday Murder Club- This was a birthday gift from my son Mr J last year. Decided it was high time I read it. It’s jolly good , set in a retirement village, where you’ve guessed it some residents meet on a Thursday to solve old crimes- think New Tricks (TV Programme) meets Three Things about Elsie/ Elizabeth is Missing (books). It’s totally charming, and I didn’t forsee any of the ending. Just a delight- the cosiest of cosy murder mysteries.

Sebastian Faulks- Birdsong- What a wonderful book- one from the Channel five list. Yes it’s about WW1, but there is a love story to begin with and great grandson at the end. I found it fascinating and moving- no glorification of war here, but fear, cowardice, bravery, dispair, and all for what? Absolutely magnificent, and certainly one for my top 100 list, which is filling slowly, if you look at the page called My top 100 books.

Liane Moriarty- Big Little Lies- Well it is a very good book, but it unsettled me a lot. I found myself being drawn into the story while feeling a real sense of menace- did I want to read it or not? I gather there was TV series, which I totally missed- probably not on ordinary TV but some pay through the nose channel. Anyway the themes are friendship, relationships, bullying, domestic violence, love and the school yard- the children and the parents. As it happens I collected my grandchildren from school this week, all by myself- instead of just going along for the ride- couldn’t help noticing that no-one was wearing their power business suits- all that working from home- everyone was in jeans and casual wear- not like the last time I did a school run, some 20 years ago- that aside- it did make me wonder what under currants there were – I tried not to stare as I did my wondering. I have included this book in my top 100- it says a lot about the times we live in, especially in the week in which a woman was kidnapped and murdered whilst walking home one evening in London which then led to a vigil for her one night which the police then broke up in a heavy handed way under Covid legislation. Love to know what you thought if you have read it. Did you feel the menace I speak of?

Ian Rankin- Knots and Crosses- This one was from the Channel Five list. I’ve not been a fan of the Rebus TV series so wasn’t sure what I would make of this book. It’s the very first Rebus book, and gives the backstory of Rebus’ s army career and personal life. It was ok. Probably won’t bother with anymore in the series, but never say never. The thing I did like was he is a Detective Sergeant therefore not the bod in charge. Made a nice change.

Laura Ingalls Wilder- Little House in the Big Wood. Utterly charming children’s story. Thanks to everyone who has mentioned it in recent weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Who knew you could eat bears, and that there are panthers in America and maple syrup is sap. The life seems to have been hard but happy. I am just full of admiration for all the skills they had. We have lost a lot.

And that’s it for March. The exceedingly good news from my viewpoint, is that I had an email telling me my local library is re-opening next month, no more trekking into the rather grotty town centre.

Classic editor

Did it, only not sure I will ever be able to do it again! I was in New fangled editor and went to the add a block bit, then in the search space wrote classic, and here I am, with the super old editor.Will it be here tomorrow or will I have to start again? Time alone will tell..

Holes!

My life has been beset with holes. First this one

Tile off in the wind last week.

This one to be precise- it missed the back of my car by milli wotsits- there was mud on the car, well mossy bits, but no damage.

Anyway cue major panic mode from me. Mr E far too busy sorting out the fetching of a second hand greenhouse to help find a roofer, like STRAIGHT AWAY- over night rain predicted, me headless chicken impersonation. Son sends me a mobile phone for one Wayne who patched his roof the week previously from a mice infestation, does Wayne respond to my urgent panic stricken phone call- Wayne does not.

I try deep breathing- it doesn’t seem to help find a roofer NOW. I google roofers- up pops and ad with a phone number. Phone call answered straightaway, by a very nice lady who will speak to George, who may not be able to come out today as his wife just gave birth- that seems like a reasonable reason. George via the nice lady will send someone out the next day, and the felt will keep any rain off the inside of the house- not sure I believe this, but decide it’s best to try to pretend I do and calm down. Indeed following day George does send round two very nice chaps who fit a new tile and do a quick skeg of the rest of the roof and say it looks ok. The tile has been up a week, and all seems well- I check every day, and park my car further from the roof, but it sticks out a bit and I worry my neighbour will bosh it, so I check that every day too.

More worrying was looking out of the window later, Mr E said he was going to re seed/turf this patchy bit of grass.

My Goodness I thought as a large hole started to appear- he’s digging my grave. I investigate.

Just in case I need to start another panic

Someone has only buried a wall out there, at least its not a grave …. That will be to go with the decking which we already know was buried under that hump of soil and turf , which is apparently needed to level the greenhouse. You have to feel a bit sorry for the forlorn patch.

As to the greenhouse, that was collected at the weekend and is now lying all over the grass, awaiting re-construction this weekend.

Thank goodness I planted some bulbs.

Scrap Happy March 2021

A day late, but sometimes life just happens, apologies anyway. Linking with https://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/2021/03/15/scraphappy-march-4/

for scrap happy day, where lots of other wonderful projects can be found all using scraps of whatever, leftover from whatever to make something magnificent.

I must begin by explaining that the strangest thing has happened- my supply of leftover double knitting acyrillic yarn has gone- there is none left, except for the black yarn which I am using to finish off this crochet scrapy yarn blanket- single bed size I am making for a care home. I have had to buy some more yarn just to finish off the blanket, which is now nearing the end. so without further ado here is

and that is it on a king size bed.

I am adding the final rows of squares right round the outside with black to try to bring it altogther as a whole. As you can see I am tackling all four sides at the same time to try to get different colours on each edge. I have had a couple of evenings just sewing in the ends but I reckon there are a lot more lurking under there!

Who knows this maybe finished in time for April Scrap Happy Day.

Signs of Spring…

In the forlorn patch.

First daffodil, with more nearly out.

First little iris

and lots of yellow crocus

the only shrub we didn’t dig up, with flowers.

broad beans doing well- rather a lot of them!

Rhubarb showing signs of lfe

First butterfly of 2021. stretching her wings…

Life is looking better already. Love to know how the seasons are changing for everyone, is there a Spring in your step?

Reviewing the situation.

When we selected our new home we choose one with a good big downstairs to accomodate the whole family for meals etc, and what we thought was a good layout upstairs for us, guests and a shared hobbies room. In theory this was a great idea- the reality is somewhat different- we both seem to have less space than we did in a smaller house. This is the situation.

Barely space to sit down!

Mr E- 3 D printer and electronics

and my crafting table

sorting out the materials for one of the tags!

Think we might have to think this out again! Shelves maybe? Move house? Convince Mr E to give up electronics or relocate to the garage? Sleep in a tent in the garden? Ideas anyone please?