Wednesday 29 July 2009

More chaos

We are having one of Mouse's friends for tea (personally I'd rather have spag bol, sorry couldn't resist) and a sleepover. However the girls have decided they'd like a camping sleepover so I have to try and find a tent substitute (our tent is to big to put up in her room). Blankets I have, but finding someway of propping them up in her room is a challenge.

I guess I should be thankful they don't want a beach party sleepover. We made a beach inside when she was little with sandcastles in the sand pit, basins of water to paddle in and towels to lie under the spotlights for sunbathing. It was great fun but took ages to hoover up all the spilt sand.

Anyway it's good to have friends over, but when these two get together it's usually a late night for all. Here's hoping it's not too bad tonight. At least there's no drink involved in their get togethers. Am pretty sure Napkin is still slightly hung over given the amount they drank at the weekend.

Monday 27 July 2009

Hectic weekend again

This weekend our beautiful Napkin turned 18, whoop whoop. She celebrated in style by having 2 nights out with different groups of friends. Needless to say she is still in bed sleeping it off. Our son Peanut also decided to have a "boys night in" on Saturday. I can't remember the last time our house was so full. The doorbell was going off every 10 mins (perhaps a slight exaggeration but at least every 12!).

Why is it that teenagers all come round to 1 persons house to get ready. Surely getting ready at home means you have more space and don't have to fight over the bathroom. Napkin had 6 people here getting ready on Saturday night and 8 on Sunday night (2 of which had showers here). Add to this Peanut's mates (10 of them at one point) all trying to use the bathroom.

Then we had the crashers, Peanut had 2 mates staying over, and Napkin had 3 on Saturday and 1 last night. There were heaps of (well some) people invading the kitchen looking for breakfast/cups of tea/someone to talk to as others were still asleep. Don't get me wrong I'm glad their friends are comfortable enough to join us but it does lead to more chaos which I'm supposed to be reducing!

Our snake eggs all turned out to be infertile, but our chosen expert, Jodie from "East Coast Exotics" tells us that it was like a trial run and she should lay more eggs in 4 - 5 weeks. According to the book rat snakes can lay anything from 5 to 40+ eggs in a single clutch. I hope Robin's is a small clutch.

Finished reading 2 more books this weekend. You want to do what? by Karen Sullivan, a book about parenting dilemmas - excellent read. Also, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, a book Holly loaned me about daring to be different. It's only 192 pages long so I read it in a morning, it's a quirky little story and most enjoyable.

Friday 24 July 2009

Quick Post

Babes' rat snake has laid eggs (we thought they were both boys hence they were called Batman & Robin) Have filmed an egg being laid for Babes as he is working. I am not putting my hand in to retrieve them to put them in the incubator, so when Babes comes home I will get them moved and try to upload the film and/or some photos.

Thursday 23 July 2009

101 in progress

No.19 Visit an extended family member. Went yesterday to visit another of my Mum's cousins. She lives in Maud a teeny village about 25 miles north west of Aberdeen. We had another gorgeous day for driving and the countryside was just beautiful.

She made us a lovely lunch of summer holiday soup (N061. try a new food every month) served with oatcakes and fresh raspberries with yogurt. Delicious. She grows her own veg (though in much smaller quantities now she's in her 70's) and gave me some peas in the pod, they were oh so sweet and juicy. She also gave me some to take home to Babes (they're his favourite) and I did just manage to resist the temptation to scoff them on the way home.
"Summer holiday soup" is a vegetable soup made with carrot, onion, parsnip, broccoli, leek and courgette all whizzed up in the blender. It was really yummy and I will be trying to make it myself very soon.
Got some seeds from her purple lupin for my garden. Lupins are my favourite flower and I adore all the different colours. In my ideal garden I would have loads of lupins running like a rainbow up the sides of my path.

Tuesday 21 July 2009

National Health Service

Hats off to the NHS. My family have been in dire need of their services in the last 24 hours and they came up trumps for them.

Saga (at least that's what it feels like) started last night (or rather early hours of this morning) got a phone call at 1a.m. from my Aunt, feeling really bad could I come and get her.
She suffers badly with her nerves and she has been having a terrible time the last three weeks. We've had her down staying with us overnight (she doesn't arrive till the wee small hours mind you) and we've gone up and stayed the night with her. NHS 24 have been consulted a couple of times and our own surgery. Anyway as I say, she arrived last night and it was about 4a.m. before we got it sorted and her settled. Thankfully today the Doc has agreed that (as I suspected) she is depressed and has started her on some medication.

Secondly I got a phone call at 7.30a.m. from my Dad to say he's had a really bad night and is getting the Doctor in. He also had to call on NHS 24 over the weekend and once again they sorted him out. Anyway he phoned back later to say he was very breathless and was being admitted to hospital they were just awaiting the ambulance.

Whilst I'm waiting to here which ward he is being admitted to, (so I can go see what's happening) my Mother-in- law phoned to say that my father-in-law had also had a couple of funny turns and she was having to get the doctor in to him.

Upshot of it all - my Dad has had a mild heart attack (more of a warning than anything else) and Babes' Dad has to have a heart monitor test. (the one where you have to wear the monitor for a 24 hour period so they can check your reading when you're active and at rest). I have only had about 4 hours sleep and am now running on automatic pilot.

So big thanks to the NHS, they were there for us and they sorted everyone out. Good on you guys, you frequently get stick but I just wanted to say you do a grand job!

Monday 20 July 2009

Mouse's blog post

When cleaning out Mouse's school bag we came across the poem she wrote for her holocaust day project. They had to write a short story or poem entitled "Stand Up To Hatred"

Mouse's entry won 2nd place (local council competition) and she was presented her prize at a ceremony by the Lord Provost (she was well impressed to meet him) Anyway we were really proud of her and she has kindly allowed me to reprint her poem in my blog, so here it is :

Stand up to Hatred
There is a lot of hate in the world
It covers the world like a thick black cloud
There are many people who are hurt, killed or abused
Stand up to Hatred!

We care for the people who are hurt
Like a Mother cares for her child
The way they are treated is disgusting
Stand up to Hatred!

The tears of the children are too much to bear
It's hard to say how I feel
The nightmares of the children have come true
Stand up to Hatred!

This is a message to those who commit the crime
Respect the people out there as you respect your family
The way they behave is a disgrace
Stand up to Their Hatred!

She hopes everyone who reads it likes it.

Our Jenga

Our Jenga looking every bit the Scottish Wildcat. This was her last night defying Babes attempts to get her to come in for the night. She loves to stay out all night in the summer.

This weeks menu

Mon - Pasta Salad (although different veg this week)
Tues - Chicken Nuggets
Wed - Toad in the Hole
Thur - Tuna Pie
Fri - Sweet & Sour Chicken

Not a very exciting menu this week but there's a lot of stuff going on during the day so wanted stuff that would be quick.

Having finished my last book in 2 days started last night to read "Wish I may" by Justine Picardie, sadly I just couldn't get in to it. I read the first chapter but had to give up as it just couldn't hold me. I am now reading "You want to do what?" by Karen Sullivan.

Its a guide to parenting dilemmas. Mouse was looking through it and when she came across the question "When should you allow a lock on your child's bedroom door?" she was spouting forth the answer stressing the bits she thought were in her favour (she wants one because her sister Napkin has one, but Napkin only has one to keep Mouse from raiding her clothes and make up) then when she came to the bottom bit that said: If they want a lock they have to take responsibility for the changing of their bed, the washing of their clothes and keeping the room tidy, she went quiet and said lets see what other questions there are! (Ha ha ha) It's amazing how the thought of any chores puts her off the idea. She really is allergic to the word "TIDY"

Think it will be a good read, I'm 100 pages in already.

Sunday 19 July 2009

Catch up

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days, but it's been hectic. On Friday I went to see Harry Potter (again!) with Napkin. She really enjoyed it and although I did too, I must admit every time I see it I think about more things that have been missed out. I know they couldn't include everything (the movie would be twice as long) but as I said before there does seem to be some vital stuff missing. Anyway had a lovely one on one day with Napkin.

Saturday, we met my Dad for lunch at the local Sainsbugs. They do really nice simple food and it's easy for us all to get to. It was really nice all being together (except Peanut but more on him later). Spent a lovely afternoon finishing reading my book "Dr No" by Ian Fleming, whilst my Dad and Babes slept. Having seen the film Dr No many times but never got round to reading the book, I was engrossed. I quite enjoy 007 novels, not just the ones by Fleming but also ones written by other authors in the same style as Fleming after his death. John Gardner in particular, my Dad gave me one of his to read when I was hospitalised during my pregnancy with Peanut, which I loved.
Mouse was having a sleepover with a friend at ours so it was a very noisy and late night, with fashion parades, make up studios and face packs galore. I eventually fell asleep the back of 2a.m. leaving them settled but still chatting endlessly. Oh to be 12 again (not bloody likely).
Peanut couldn't join us for lunch as he had an appointment to get another tattoo. He has 6 now. (I have still to get my first, it's on my 101 list) His latest is the Alien/Predator Hybrid. I will post a picture once it settles down in a couple of days. My favourite though, is his face hugger alien.

Having finished my James Bond in the afternoon I started a new book at bedtime. The School for Husbands by Wendy Holden. It is brilliant, I couldn't put it down and having fed and watered the girls when they eventually got up this morning, I sat and read till I finished it. What a great read. The things the husbands have to do is so funny. Couldn't see my Babes doing it though, not that I'd want him too. Still that's me up to 8/101 books so am very happy. Water only going well too, up to 7/31 now.

Thursday 16 July 2009

101 progress

No19. Visit an extended family member. Today, I took my Aunt and we drove out to visit my Mum's cousins in New Deer. They became grandparents for the first time 8 months ago and, shame on me, I've never been to see the baby. What a cutie pie almost made me broody again.

Anyway it was a lovely drive out and the weather was nice the whole time we were there. It was super to catch up on whats been happening with them. We had a lovely lunch of maccarroni. It's so easy for families to loose touch especially if there's a generation gap. I'm really glad I made this one of my 101 challenges as it will strenghthen the ties and get us all close again.

Also called in past my brother on our way home. It was lovely to see the changes he has made to his home. The garden patch, that Shopaholly posted about digging earlier in the year, is now full of lovely fresh vegetables. I am hoping we will get a taste of his potatoes when they are ready. Babes and I envy them there lovely garden, and are setting about working out where in our garden we could plant veg for next season.

No35. Write 101 real paper letters - wrote my first 1 today to an old family friend in Blantyre. Haven't seen her in a couple of years although we do occasionly phone each other. It was so nice to write all the news and ask about her family. I look forward to receiving her letter in return.

Nearly fell by the wayside and had a cup of tea but remembered in the nick of time and had hot water instead, so now 4 days completed.

Wednesday 15 July 2009

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince

Well I really enjoyed it, but there's a couple of bits that I would have liked to see included that weren't and there's bits added that weren't in the book, still well worth seeing though.

Yates said that they were going to focus more on the romance and lighter things in the book given that The Half Blood Prince is a very dark story. There is certainly plenty of laughs.

Won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the book, or for those yet to see the film, but it will be interesting to see how bits that I consider to be crucial to make sense of things that happen in the "Deathly Hallows" are handled in the next movie. Several characters who play a vital role in the final stages seem to have been missed in this instalment and indeed from the "Order of the Phoenix" movie. Perhaps since the final book is being covered by two movies it will all come right in the end.

That said, I am still off to see the movie again tonight with Babes. He was working this morning and couldn't come with Peanut and myself. Napkin was supposed to be going with Babes tonight but can't make it, there's no point in wasting the ticket though is there!! (I know I'm very sad!!!)
By the way I made certain I wouldn't slip up today, and took a bottle of water with me to the cinema.

Monday 13 July 2009

Just a quickie!

A lot of blogs I've been reading lately have been full of photo's so, I thought I'd jump on the band wagon so to speak ( plus I've been renaming pics and found a few I want to share):

Clan MacNab burial ground at Killin in Scotland. Babes and I were enjoying a three day break when we came accross this, but the visitor centre was closed so we couldn't get the keys.


This was taken at Loch Carron, if you look closely you can see a stick man standing in the middle No? (must just be me then!)

This sunset was taken out of our upstairs back window, love the way the clouds are and the colours. We get some spectacular sunsets sometimes. Hope you like them.

Counting down!

Can't wait for Wednesday when I am going to see the new Harry Potter. Have tickets to see the first showing in our local cinema at 10.15am. I know it's really sad, but like a great many adults out there, these children's books have really captured my imagination. The books are definitely better than the movies, so if you haven't read them please see what you're missing, but the movies are fab too.

Failed again !!

As I said we went to the cinema yesterday, there had been a slight panic before hand as having set off to pick up Shopaholly, I discovered that Peanut had used all the petrol in the car and the car was spluttering and kangarooing all over the place. Managed to get Holly and make it to a garage before completely running out but as a result we were later than arriving at the cinema.
Having then queued for our tickets it was a mad dash to get drinks before the movie started. So what do I do - without even thinking I ordered (and drunk without thinking about it) a bloody diet coke. GGGRRRRRRR am so pissed off at myself. My water challenge completely ruined. I'm not even that fond of diet coke, so it's not as if I really fancied one. Just force of habit as when I go to the cinema with Babes he always has a diet coke.
I am restarting the challenge today and will just do 31 days from today (which means I'll finish on 13th August). But a £10 forfeit will be paid to a charity and I will tell you when I decide which one I'm doing.

101 Movies

Yesterday, Shopaholly, Mouse and I went to see "My sister's keeper"based on the book by Jodi Piccoult. A very difficult subject to cover and I feel they did it well, certainly the young actress playing Katie was amazing.

I really enjoyed the movie, although it is definitely a chick flick and there was crying involved (several people were actually sobbing, noisy toads). There only seemed to be 1 guy in (with his other half or whatever) that I saw, and he left when it got to the really weepy bits and I never saw him come back in (was it too much for him I wonder!)

Now I won't spoil it for anyone, but if you've read the book don't expect it to be the same. I haven't read the book but Shopaholly had and she was disappointed with the changes made. Also Mouse who is 12 found it quite slow, even though she really fancied it and other young cinema goers seemed to be quite fidgety as well, so perhaps not one to take pre-teens to. If you haven't seen it, give it a go but make sure you take a hankie.

Saturday 11 July 2009

Blind Panic!

Today I went to meet a friend for coffee ( no I did not succumb, I ordered hot water), we went to the library so we could get books out too (and I could return the smelly one I borrowed earlier in the week) We took my car as we were going on for lunch afterwards.

Anyway we parked in a local underground pay & display car park and off we went to the library. So we've had our beverages and a fruit scone and chatted for ages catching up and putting the world to right, then we went to choose our books. We're now standing at the checking out bit and I say "hope we haven't been more than an hour" and suddenly it hits us both , we were so busy chatting that we walked out of the car park neither paying or displaying.

OMG the fear that consumed me was unbelievable. The car park operates a £60 fine system if you fail to pay and display. We couldn't get back to the car quick enough and my heart was racing. Thank God when we got to the car there was no clamp and no huge sticker stuck over the windscreen or a horrible little package on the wiper. I couldn't get the door unlocked I was in such a state, only when we had left the car park did my blind panic begin to subdue.

I don't know how people can deliberately choose not pay in these car parks, I think I would have a dizzy turn if I tried it judging by today's reaction. So obviously, my life of crime is not going to take off!!! I still can't believe we did it and that we got away with it. My Mum must have been looking down on me today. Certainly Babes would have killed me if I'd have got a huge fine.

Wednesday 8 July 2009

101,000 rice Grains

Yippee! I have done it. Another 101 challenge completed No90. Donate 101,000 grains of rice at Freerice.com. This was a really fun challenge and I may donate more at a later date. If you haven't checked out this site go have a look it, it is great fun and you are learning things at the same time as doing good.
OK the photo is not of freerice but it's the best I could do without copying other peoples.

Library Books

Today's holiday activity was to go to the central library (we usually only go to the local one which has just a small collection whereas the central one is huge) Now I love to read all kinds of different books particularly autobiographies but I also love cookery books, always looking to find new ways of getting more vegetables into Mouse. She is quite a fussy eater when it comes to veg.
So I would borrow a couple of cook books: "Kids Kitchen" by Amanda Grant and Michael Beazley and "The Dinner Lady by Jeanette Orrey. All great so far, took them home, sat down with a glass of water (sticking to challenge) opens "The Dinner Lady" only to find that a previous borrower has been a smoker (and a heavy one judging by the stink). It is bloody awful, every time I turn a page I get a fresh, or rather stale, waft of tobacco. It's making me feel sick.
Now, I know I'm a reformed smoker (and yes I am murder) of many years, but even when I did smoke, the smell of smoke near my food was enough to send me rushing for the nearest loo.

I wish someone would invent a frebreeze type product for books (if you know of any please let me know) In the meantime I will be putting the book back in the boot of the car till I return it to the library so as not to stink out the whole kitchen.

Tuesday 7 July 2009

Year One

Babes, Peanut and I went to see this today. We have cinema passes, which you pay a set amount a month for, and you can go to the cinema as often as you like. Over the years we have seen some fantastic movies, some good, some OK and even some bad but only twice have we seen a movie that we didn't even want to sit through.

"Kissing Jessica Stein" was the first and "Year One" is the other. This movie is the biggest pile of shit. We sat through to the end because Peanut likes Jack Black but even he thought it was pretty rough.

I love silly innuendo filled comedy such as carry on.... and Monty python but personally I think Jack Black's comedy is just too out there. Seeing someone eating (supposed) shit and someone peeing on their face is not entertaining in my view. The best bit about the movie were the outtakes at the end as the credits rolled.

There are probably heaps of people in blog land who will totally disagree with me but this my blog space and I'm going rant about it, so there!

OK ranting finished, on the plus side today, I have reached my first weight goal (No1. on my 101 list) of 1 stone off and am absolutely delighted, long may this continue. My water only days are up to (7/31) and I'm up to 98,000 grains of rice donated only 3,000 to go to complete the challenge.

National Treasures

I read in a poll today that a cup of tea is number 6 on a list of the top 10 national treasures in Britain (who makes up theses things), it talked about how at home or abroad us Brits love our cups of tea. This reminded me of a funny( well funny now, not at the time) thing that happened to my friend's parents a few years back.

They were off for a trip to Australia to celebrate their retirement and were stopping off in Singapore on the way over for a couple of days. The Dad was fond of his cuppa and not wanting to do with out took some teabags with him to have in Singapore. Now thinking they would be wanting a cuppa quite quickly he decided to carry several teabags in his binocular case so they would be readily available.

Yes you've guessed it, whilst checking his belongings these tea bags were discovered and he was whisked away for a more thorough search!. All OK in the end, but I'm sure you can imagine his wife's horror, not to mention his embarrassment. Needless to say he has never taken tea bags on holiday again since.

More 101...Menu planning

N052. Set up menu planning and stick to it - I do this more or less all the time now, but as this is a month for concentrating on my 101 list, I am going to carry on doing it till the end of the month and then if I'm still sticking to it I'll mark it as completed. So just to give you an idea of the kind of menus in our house here is this weeks one:

Sat - Pork chops with new potatoes and green beans.
Sun - Chicken breasts with a chopped tomato, pepper and chili marinade, mashed potatoes peas
and carrots.
Mon - Tuna and cheese salad with new potatoes and hard boiled eggs (no meat Monday)
Tue - Pork with apricots served on a bed of rice.
Wed - Tuna pie with peas and mixed beans.
Thu - Pasta salad.
Fri - Spag bol (babes favourite meal)

Saw Night at the Museum 2 at the cinema yesterday, making my movie challenge (11/101) very funny if you haven't seen it, do.

Sunday 5 July 2009

I'm Melting.....

I've melted 12lbs off (in total not this week) and my week is not up till Tuesday. Am so chuffed with myself, almost my first stone. No1 on my 101 list lose weight.

Watched a movie today called 11.14 what a pile of trash. Concept sounded great, all these strangers lives interacting at 11.14 p.m only it was mega pants. Was supposed to be a thriller, but we were laughing at it thinking, is it meant to be funny? Trailer looked good so added it to my lovefilm rental list. Won't be recommending it to anyone that's for sure.

More 101 progress:
No42. Put all my Cd's on to computer. This is well underway, everything up to N is on and should be able to get the rest on before the end of the week. Think I might sell some of them once they're all on, get some extra pennies and free up some storage space.

No25. Drink only water for a month. Going well 5days down 26 to go.

Been waiting for 3 of the cats to come in for the night but am getting knackered so will try one last time , and if they don't come in they can stay out all night. No sign so that's it I'm off to bed and they can sleep in the rabbits hutch (the rabbits died before Xmas) Bloody dirty stop outs.

Saturday 4 July 2009

Happy 4th of July

No.66 on my 101 list is to book a holiday to the States. I have actually been to the States twice, as my husband worked out there for a wee bit. The first time we went the kids came too and we all flew out together. We stayed with one of Babes work colleagues in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was an amazing trip.
I will never forget though, when we landed in Houston we went outside for a bit of fresh air and when the automatic doors opened and the heat hit us, it was like walking in to a solid wall.
We took a trip to New Orleans and went on a paddle steamer up the Mississippi river to an old battlefield. Fascinating stuff. We also went to Bourbon Street, now there's an eye opener.
The second time I went out alone to join Babes for his last week there before he came home for good.
Americans are not what I thought they would be. The ones I met were charming and polite even in the supermarket, if the aisles were busy with trolley's, people would say "after you ma'am" to let you past, unlike here where some people just ram you with the trolley to get past. The neighbourhoods were fascinating as well, you would be driving along past all these fabulous plantation type houses belonging to doctors and lawyers, then you'd reach a crossroads and on the next block would be battered old shacks and people walking barefoot dressed in rags.
Anyway, I loved it there and definitely want to go back and explore more of the States. Babes and I were supposed to go on a Amtrak train tour, in May this year, covering New York, Philadelphia and Washington but sadly we had to cancel it (losing our bloody deposit gggrrr). I guess I could have marked the task as completed as we did book it, but since we didn't actually get to go, I have decided to leave it as not achieved until we finally make a trip.


Friday 3 July 2009

Ice Age 3

Just been to see this as a reward for Mouse as that is her finished primary school forever. Can't believe my baby has grown up so fast. So another one off the 101 movies list
Anyway movie very good, not quite as hilarious as previous 2 I thought, but still really funny. Do recommend it as a must see especially for those who are still in touch with the little kid inside them.

Creative writing Rant

Why do journalists get away with printing trash? Our local paper has a full front page article on the local bus drivers demanding a 52% pay rise. WTF! Passengers are getting on the bus and having a go at the drivers, blaming them for high fares and saying they've got a bloody cheek asking for that much.

Honestly, do they really think they'd ask for that. Get a bloody grip, of course they haven't. I know it's to sell more papers but come on journalists what happened to common sense.

Thursday 2 July 2009

OMG I don't believe it!!

Just been looking over my past posts checking up on some stuff and I realise I haven't posted about our new beastie. What can I say, another poor abandoned pup. Why do people do that it makes me so crazy GGGRRRRR.
Anyway needless to say the saps stepped in and we have provided a loving if somewhat chaotic home to Jay (name may change as he doesn't seem to answer to it anyway, and really it's far too normal for us) He is about 4 months old (or thought to be), cute as a button and fits in well at the zoo. Brings you his empty bowl when he thinks it's time to eat (which would be every hour given the chance). Do you like him?

More 101......

No31. Organise my garden - Having neglected the garden for the last year and a bit it looks bloody awful. Overgrown and in serious need of TLC, I made a start today with the help of Peanut. Our front garden is quite long and has two big lawn areas with the path running down the middle, and borders around the edges. The grass has only been cut twice so far this season so beautiful yellow flowers (OK weeds) have sprouted up everywhere. Peanut started with the mower and after only one line/strip the mower started smoking (poor bloody thing giving up in protest I shouldn't wonder).
He is now going round with the strimmer in order to cut down the really long bits so we can rake it up and then try the mower again. Fingers crossed, I can't afford a new mower at the moment and may have to investigate hiring goats/sheep/cows to maintain my lawn. I'm sure the neighbours will love this, NOT, at least we'd get free manure for the roses.

More 101 in progress


No25. Drink only water for a month - I have failed this task before but am attempting again this month so 1 day down 30 to go.
No.37 Learn to blog - I am going to mark this as completed now, as I no longer need to call on shopaholly every time I want to do stuff. You may have noticed I even updated my layout (new lists) without her help. Simple stuff I know but I was completely useless before.
No54. Get my puppy to stop chewing things - This is another one completed as Hamish is a changed dog (well as far as destroying stuff goes) I blogged before about how it came about so I won't bore you again but well done Hamish. (see above photo of our clever boy)
No90. Donate 101,000 grains of rice - I love this challenge I am up to 90,600 grains and learning about famous paintings at the same time. I can now spot a Franz Marc or Edgar Degas a mile off (as they say)

Wednesday 1 July 2009

101 List in progress

No.34 Read 101 books of my choice. I have so far read 6:
We bought a zoo by Benjamin Mee - Good read laughed and cried at the ups and downs. Amazing what positive thinking can achieve.
Look who it is by Alan Carr - very funny read and interesting how his career developed.
That's another story by Julie Walters - Another funny read, some of the things she got up to!
Half Blood Prince by J K Rowling - wanted to re-read before the movie came out. Darker than the previous but really enjoyed it (again) I know they are meant to be children's books but I love them.
Are these my basoomas I see before me? by Louise Rennison - The last in the series of Georgia Nicolson confessions. I had started reading these with my daughters years ago and found them so hilarious. It took me right back to the agonies and joys of being a teenager. Had to read this one when it came out just to see how the saga ends.
Dear Fatty by Dawn French - This is such a good read, and very easy to read with it being divided up as letters rather than chapters. Found it easy to fit in a short letter here and there when I wouldn't have had time to read a chapter.