New Year, a time of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming in the new.
The oldest of all holidays, New Year celebrations were first observed in ancient Babylon some 4000 years ago. Believed to have been celebrated on what is now April the 23rd, the event lasted for some 11 days with modern day festivities seeming pretty tame in comparison.
Also largely connected with New Year is Janus (from where we get January), a mythical king of early Rome as well as the the God of beginnings, Guardian of doors and an ancient symbol to whom many looked to for forgiveness for their enemies,who according to legend had two faces, one at the front of his head and one on the back which allowed him to backward as well as forward at the same time so that midnight on December the 31st the Romans imagined him looking back at the old year and forward to the new.
Which brings me to the old and the new.
Traditionally song at the stroke of midnight non the 31st of December is AULD LANG SYNE - which version do you prefer .........
Champagne, for many the means of celebrating everything from the New Year to marriages to wedding anniversaries to the birth of a new baby which brings me to my wonderful news.
After a pretty grim 2010 we managed to end the year on something of a high note as yesterday (the 29th of December) myself and Husband dearest became a great-aunty (make that a REALLY GREAT aunty) and great-uncle when Niece 1 gave birth to a bouncing baby boy who weighed in at a healthy nine pounds and three and a half ounces - I'm gutted as, weighing in at ten pounds, I still hold the record for the heaviest baby born in our family.
Our love and best wishes to both mother and son.
Not one to miss the opportunity to bring you some really useless information (remember my posts on the correct way to SHAKE HANDS, WALK IN HEELS, DRINK TEAAND, as if that wasn't enough, BE A GOOD WIFE?) today I take a look at 'bubbly' and how to drink champagne correctly.
Champagne is considered possibly the finest drink created, but it appears that enjoyment of it rests on how you pour your glass as much as the name on the label.
A French scientist has proclaimed that there is a 'correct' way to pour champagne. Namely drinkers should pour it as they would beer - by tilting the glass.
Professor Gerard Liger-Belair and colleagues conducted tests, including using thermal images, into how much carbon dioxide was lost during the transfer from bottle to glass. - Harry Wallop, The Telegraph (click HERE for full article.)
And whilst on the subject of champagne, did you know......
The robust champagne bottle designed by the Benedictine monk Dom Pierre Perignon in the 17th century to contain the 'devil's wine' is undergoing a redesign in an attempt to cut carbon emissions?
The bottle, created to prevent secondary fermentation and 'explosions', will lose its stocky shoulders and in the process shed weight, making it more environmentally friendly.
While the changes are subtle, they are a result of months of work by glass makers, who needed to be sure the bottle could withstand the immense pressure of the bubbles. It also needed to be able to survive the four-year production process from the factory floor to cellars and then to the dining table. - Peter Allen, The Telegraph (click HERE for more.)
Maybe hormones ate her brain. How else did Judith's husband persuade her to give up her career and move from her beloved London to Northumberland with two toddlers in tow?
Pregnant with number three, Judith is about to discover that there are one or two things about life in the country that no one told her about: that she'd be making friends with people who believed in the four horsemen of the apocalypse; that running out of petrol could be a near-death experience; and that the closest thing to an ethnic minority would be a redhead.
Judith tries to do that simple thing that women do, make hers a happy family. A family that might live happily ever after. Possibly even up North.
..... From the outer back cover.
FIRST SENTENCE: As we dove out of the city's fabulous sprawl last night, I wondered whether I could kill my husband and plead insanity.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: He has no idea that a labouring woman would be much less trouble than my two boys, even if he ended up pulling into a lay-by, erecting a warning triangle behind the car and biting through the umbilical cord.
They say a change is as good as a rest so please forgive me for trying a new review format, it just seems appropriate to be recording my thoughts on this particular book in this way.
There were several things that I really liked about this book and several things I didn't.
To begin with, the positive.
My favourite thing about this book was the humour and especially that of the children who, typical children, told it exactly as they saw it to great effect. Still funny but less to my taste was the mother (Judith) who, at times, had a fairly caustic sense of humour that, to me, occasionally bordered on the cruel.
I found Judith's relationship with her mother very moving. The fact that her mother 'got old, blind, deaf' very sad and yet not without humour either.
There were a good mix of characters, many of whom seemed familiar in that you know people just like them.
Both the bullying and blogging elements to the book were fascinating and quite thought provoking - the bullying storyline very realistic.
And the negative?
I'm not a huge fan of books that are written in diary format and, for me, because of this the book did not always flow as I would have liked it to.
We did not get to know actual names, the children for example were known 'my 6 year-old, 'my 4 year-old', and 'the baby', Judith's friends as 'The Yorkshire Mother', 'Evangelical Man' and 'Girl Friday' etc which I found meant I never really got to know the characters as well as I would have liked to.
Lent from a friend, I'm not too sure that this is a book I otherwise would have picked up let a lone read, I admit that on the whole I really enjoyed it and would certainly read this author's work again even if I wouldn't actually buy any of her books.
The third reading challenge I have taken part in - you can see my other challenges by clicking on the Challenge Page at the top of this page - and I have to say that despite suitable reading material being hard to find at our local library it has been my favourite challenge so far. Whether this was because I have grown more in confidence or because I felt I had really challenged myself by reading some books that I wasn't too sure about I don't know.
My third challenge this might have been but it's my first warp-up post and, despite having read several others, I'm still not sure exactly sure what it is I want/am expected to say so perhaps I'll let the books speak for themselves.
THE XMAS FILES by Patrick Harding. The only non-fiction book I read this year. A fascinating read full of wonderful facts written in a truly accessible way. I only wish I'd taken up the suggestion that I add one of these every day throughout December.
HOGFATHER by Terry Pratchett. This I found the hardest to review as I was so cautious of spoilers. There were so many times I wrote something only to re-read it and discover that it didn't make sense unless you had actually read the book OR been told what was happening. Combine this with Hogfather being one of Husband dearest's favourite books and I felt an even greater need to be able to justify what I wrote - be it good or bad.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens. I don't know which was the hardest, reading or reviewing this book. Always wary that I was in danger of comparing it to the various adaptations and knowing how much the story was loved by so many I found myself worrying that my honesty may upset people and that I may even be judged as a result of my thoughts. Thankfully something I need not have worried about.
THE OXFORD ILLUSTRATED DICKENS CHRISTMAS BOOKS by Charles Dickens. I was totally surprised to find myself reading this - firstly because it was a selection of short stories and I'm not a fan of these (somehow I always end up feeling unfulfilled and left wanting more) and more obviously because it was Charles Dickens and as I had just discovered this equalled hard-going as far as I was concerned.. That said, olde-English aside I did actually find myself (sort of) enjoying some of the stories because of their inherent humour.
HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS by Agatha Christie. I started reading this with the belief that surely I must be the only book blogger in blogosphere who hadn't read Agatha Christie - wrong, I was not alone, there were others out there. Spelling and other printing mistakes aside, I could see how some might have thought this book charming but, as I commented in my review, I personally like my crime novels to be a bit more gritty and, preferably, solved by forensics rather than a dapper little Austrian men with great observational skills.
Not happy with five books, I found myself actually buying a sixth. A SEASON TO REMEMBER by Sheila O'Flanagan. Though I consider myself a fairly eclectic reader, I only rarely find myself reading anything so 'pink and, well, fluffy' and I was worried that I really wasn't going to enjoy this. Not as sickeningly sweet as I had feared, I found myself quite liking it if only for the characters, most of whom I could identify with on one level or another.
So that's it for another year. I'm already planning for next years holiday reading challenge and have a huge list of suitable material thanks to the wonderful bloggers who have participated this year. PLUS I already have one book, tucked away on the shelves, that I have only just discovered, sadly not in time for this years challenge though, so that just leaves me wishing you and yours my best wishes. See you next year .......
I collected all manner of things as a girl - novelty soaps, badges, anything to do with Elvis Presley, the list goes on ..... and on. However I was surprised to learn what the latest 'collectable' was amongst today's youngsters . Would you believe it if I was to tell you elastic bands? But not just any old elastic band - only the red variety (pictured below) as used by the postmen/women of the Royal Mail.
Apparently a must have amongst the three to six year old about town with their own wheels (I'm talking scooters here rather), elastic bands as far as collectables go .....
have several advantages: they're free, there are lots of them and they're on your level, generally in places your parents don't want you to go, ie the gutter. - Jon Henley (21/12/2010) (Read full story by clicking HERE)
(That said the British Hedgehog Preservation Society put out the following appeal after several hedgehogs were found injured or killed by said elastic bands.
PLEASE pick up any elastic bands and dispose of them properly, also please call Royal Mail Customer Care on 08457 740 740 and ask them to instruct their delivery people to take more care.
It looks like another hat may be needed. Yes, a second Royal wedding has just been announced - I wonder if it will mean another day off work?
Buckingham Palace has said that Zara Phillips (12th in line to the throne), the 29-year-old daughter of Princess Anne and her former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, is to marry her long-time partner, the England rugby union international player Mike Tindall. - Stephen Bates (22/12/2010)
THE TELEGRAPH.
Two international stories from the 23rd of December.
Firstly, in Poland ......
A man was arrested by police on suspicion of drunk cycling faces up to 10 years in prison after allegedly trying to bribe the officers with .... chocolate fudge.
And, meanwhile in Norway .......
Reindeer are being fitted with reflectors (if only all of them had red noses) to cut the number of car crashes.
About 2000 reindeer have been fitted with reflective yellow collars or small antler tags this month.
A test drive on a snowmobile showed that marked reindeer were far more visible in the dark.
THE METRO.
Two seasonal stories also from the 23rd of December.
A dad turned his garden into a winter wonderland by carving unusual sculptures of snowmen barbecuing in the snow.
Green-fingered Roger and Valerie Holley (shown above) have clipped two trees into the shape of a giant Christmas pudding, complete with a giant robin perched on top.
It took the Holleys six years to prune the evergreens into the perfectly round shape it is today and just a fortnight to create the huge robin that sits on top of it eating a berry.
THE BBC NEWS.
Thanks to Husband dearest for this sad story that thankfully ends well.
An animal charity is hoping to find the owner of a dog which boarded a Glasgow bus in freezing conditions and refused to leave.
The male cairn terrier,which had icicles attached to its coat, hopped aboard the bus, curled up in a warm spot and refused to move.
The dog, nicknamed Claus (pictured above), was later taken to the Scottish SPCA's animal rescue and rehoming centre in Glasgow.
Centre assistant manager, Anna O'Donnell, said: "Claus is a cheeky wee lad who we think is around eight years old. He isn't micro chipped so we don't know who his owner is.
"The passengers on the bus must have had a real surprise when he jumped on and refused to get off. He was so cold he had icicles attached to his coat so maybe he made a dash for somewhere warmer.
"Even when he arrived here he went straight to a warm spot, curled up and didn't want to move. He's still to have a full vet check though he does seem to be walking gingerly, so he may have arthritis.
"Hopefully his owner will be missing him and will come forward."
Did you realise that I have only 31 hours to do my job thanks to all the different time zones? And that's only if I travel from east to west. Hardly surprising I'm exhausted and in need of a holiday once it's all over.
But first there's the little matter of the annual staff party. If only it were different from last year when, as per usual, Mrs Christmas had one too many spoonful's of the sherry trifle and kept telling everyone who would listen that Bing Crosby's White Christmas is the best-selling Christmas song of all times. Then, there was the unfortunate incident with one of the elves who, having overdosed on one candy cane too many, decided to photocopy and e-mail pictures of his naked bottom to the Tooth Fairy who refused to come to our gathering after last year when she kept on being accosted under the mistletoe by the Easter Bunny. A shocking state of affairs I must say.
Anyway, Petty Witter, who has been a very good girl this year apart from that awful post in which she mentioned something about having read a book about someone called the HOGFATHERtaking over MY role, sends her love to you all and wishes you every blessing. She also wishes to apologise that she didn't get to visit you all but will do so soon.
Be good,
Father Christmas. x
PS You might like to click HERE to read the interview I did for Alok Jhad of the Observer newspaper. It really is very insightful, even if I do say so myself.
Thanks to Molly for inspiring me with her post that is theCURSE OF HOLIDAY SHOPPING. Having mentioned a certain kind of toy made with adults (and older adults at that) in mind (need I say more?) I felt I had to post about some of the unusual presents I had discovered.
PUMPALOONS.
HAMLEYS SWEET PEAS TINKLE THYME DOLL.
Uh oh, baby needs a tinkle! From the Hamleys Sweet Peas range, this adorable Tinkle Thyme doll drinks and wets like a real baby. Little girls will love to play mummy to this cute baby doll. Feed her the bottle and then she can tinkle in the potty and you can change her nappy! Tinkle Thyme is dressed in a pretty pink outfit with flowery design and a matching hat. This fully jointed doll comes with a removable outfit, potty, bottle and nappy. Tinkle Thyme encourages imaginative play and develops nurturing and role-play skills.
And if that wasn't enough ........ how about this to persuade the little girl in your life that her role is to be a wife and mother? Traditional I know but still!
JUST LIKE HOME THREE PIECE SWEEPING SET.
Realistic role play fun and learning for children. Kids will love to help clean up with this fun 3 piece sweeping play set that includes a broom, dustpan and brush!
Having changed Sweet Pea's nappy and swept the floor, now it's time to walk the dog remembering that when it poops you scoop.
POOP AND SCOOP BARBIE.
With the Barbie Poop and Scoop Doll set, Barbie can feed her pet dog biscuits. But be careful, too many biscuits and Tanner will need to go to the bathroom. Barbie can clean up with her special magnetic scooper and bin. Comes complete with Barbie doll, Tanner the dog doll, pooper scooper and bin
Perfect for any dog lover.
Apparently this year's most sought-after toy .... for boys - though why is any one's guess as it looks rather boring to me but then I'm not a two year old boy.
STINKY THE GARBAGE TRUCK.
And for bigger 'boys'? How about this for the man who has it all?
MAIISTO SWAOVSKI MERCEDES BENZ SLS GULLWING.
It costs £1,500 and weighs 2kg! It is covered in over 7,800 crystallized Swarovski elements and is also in a 1:18 scale. It is the Christmas gift dreams are made of as it comes in a stylish black leatherette box and the car sits on top of a black wooden stand. A certificate of authenticity completes this stunning use of Swarovski crystals.
It may encourage saving but this scares the life out of me.
FACE BANK MONEY BOX.
The Facebank (which also comes in blue and pink) is a hungry wall with a face that loves to eat your coins. Luckily, the coins can be easily removed again so you can use the Facebank as a money box for your loose change. This brick Facebank is a special limited edition which is very rare and not just popular with brick layers.
Using sensors in its eyes, the Face Bank knows when you're about to feed it a delicious coin and starts to chew expectantly. Just wedge the coin in Facebank's mouth and it will chew and swallow it up. Don't try to feed it your finger or Turkish Delight, it's only interested in keeping your coins safe.
And lastly ...... here's one for all the doggies out there.
Firstly, Christmas it would seem has come early to the Witter household as I won two prizes last week. My thanks to Suzanne for the Three Weddings And A Funeral DVD and Misha for the book - which book I'm not sure as, my loving surprises, I asked that Misha send one of her choosing rather than one I had picked. Actually make that three - I also won a book courtesy of the Galaxy Chocolate promotion - who said chocolate was bad for you?
Also many thanks to GMR for her HOLIDAY TAG - it looks as if I'm now IT.
When do you usually know and feel that it's finally the holidays?
Without sounding to much like Mrs Scrooge it used to be when I saw the Fenwicks Christmas window but now-a-days I don't really get into the Christmas spirit until Christmas Eve though I do begin to feel ever so slightly festive when we get the double holiday edition of the Radio Times (a tv listing magazine).
Whoa, what's Fenwicks I hear you ask. It's a large department store in Newcastle city centre and every Christmas they have the most amazing display in their main windows - below being this year's offering though this is not the actual music you hear which is of a more traditional variety. I only chose this video clip because it has the most clear images of the windows themselves. The still Father Christmas you see in the 4th image you might be interested to know stands all of 12ft high and is made completely of Lego bricks.
What do you want for Christmas this year?
What's that saying about health, wealth and happiness? Wealth would be nice I guess though I'd hate to win the lottery. Happiness is one thing I don't generally feel I lack. Health? Now that would be a wonderful gift to have. That aside, books and chocolates would be nice.
Do you go all out with decorations?
Here I go, all Mrs Scrooge again. We have displayed our cards BUT this year haven't bothered with any other decorations. I'm afraid they are too much of a dust magnet which isn't good news for my breathing.
What are you doing Christmas Eve?
Fingers crossed, my chest being a little clearer we will be heading off to church at 6 o'clock for the annual Carol and CHRISTINGLE service though we will have to make a hasty exit before the candles are blown out. Then its home to track Father Christmas on NORAD, a wonderful web site that allows you to follow the big fellow in the red suit on his travels.
What are you doing Christmas Day?
We shall be spending the day with husband dearest's family at his youngest brother's home where, this year, nine of us will be sitting down to lunch.
It's Christmas time. What are you reading?
Well, I've finished my Holiday Reading Challenge and am busy trying to finish my latest reading group read in time for Father Christmas who, providing I've been a good girl, will, hopefully, bring me one or two new books. Then, of course, it being Christmas I'll be reading Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and, the newly discovered, Once Upon A Christmas by David Oxtoby.
Favourite movie to watch during the holidays?
You know I don't really have one though I love National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and A Muppet's Christmas Carol.
Favorite Christmas song?
Once again, I couldn't really say though I'll doubtless be driving everyone mad with Dominick The Donkey (scroll down my side bar to find it).
Favourite holiday drink?
I don't drink alcohol so with my dinner I'll be having some FENTIMANS Rose Lemonade, a wonderful lemonade drink flavoured with rose extract "which is from a 100% pure and natural steam-distilled rose essential oil".
How is your Christmas shopping going?
Ah, the miracle that is Internet shopping - how did we manage before Amazon? We are all done apart from having to pick up one or two items locally. I say we, meaning Husband dearest - what would I do without him?
If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it?
Like lots of other people there is generally that dilemma of when do we fit everyone in? Do we spend Christmas day with my family and see yours Boxing Day or vice-versa? And by the time we've spent Christmas Day and then Boxing Day entertaining various family and friends we feel exhausted SO it would be nice for all of us to go to a hotel somewhere so that we could all be together.
Any holiday traditions?
No, apart from the eating of tinned hotdogs for breakfast when I was a child. Oh wait a minute, I suppose there is one ....... our Christmas tree star. Bought the first Christmas we were married, it is now more bronze than silver and almost bald in places where the tinsel has come off but I couldn't replace it.
Favourite thing about the Holidays?
Hd being off work and getting to spend some time with him.
As we are now only 3 days away from Christmas and I know lots of you have already started your holidays and even more of you have already prepared posts I feel it would be unfair (if not cruel) to tag anyone HOWEVER ......... if you would like to take hold of the baton and run with this, it's all yours. Just leave a comment to let us know.
It's Christmas at Sugar Loaf Lodge and everyone checking in to the luxury hotel has their reasons for spending the holiday away from home.
A heartbroken guest tries to put the past behind her; a stressed couple long for peace and quiet; a young woman eagerly anticipates a romantic night with the man she loves - although he should be spending it with somebody else.
And it's not just the guests who are hoping for a happier New Year. Worried about their business surviving the recession, the hotel's owners are determined to make it a holiday to remember.
As many more tales unfold, and a visitor from times past prepares to make her own journey, we watch and wonder: will everyone's Christmas wishes come true?
...... From the inner front cover.
FIRST SENTENCE (Prologue): The Sugar Loaf Lodge wasn't really a lodge at all.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Because as the tears streamed down her face, she felt another presence move towards her, a familiar warmth as her mother's arms enfolded her. "You silly, silly, girl" said Charlotte. "You should have cried before. Then I could have reached you." "Mama" Louisa had never felt like this before. Never felt so peaceful and so right. "Yes," said Charlotte. "It's me. You've come to us at last."
The only book I've actually bought for this Holiday Reading Challenge. When it arrived I was worried it was going to be too soppy for my tastes - with its pinky-purple, glitter embossed cover and a hotel named Sugar Loaf Lodge, I only hoped this wasn't going to be as sugary sweet as it suggested.
Not to fear, not overly sweet (well not all of it), I found A Season To Remember a wonderfully heartwarming seasonal read.
Not technically a set of short stories, this novel told the stories of several different people, all of whom, for one reason or another, was spending Christmas at the Sugar Loaf Lodge.
Really all about relationships this was quite a topical book in many ways as it looked at issues such as recession, redundancy, marital affairs/break ups and parenthood amongst other things. Sounds gloomy? Not at all, this had a real feel good factor about it which left me feeling all warm and Christmassy.
My favourite story? Two Rock (all of the books chapters are named after mountains that can be found close to the hotel) and the story of Jim and Laura (the stressed couple longing for peace and quiet), new parents of Kirstie. After having had the baby, like many couples, financial necessity forced Laura back to work, leaving her daughter in the care of two sets of caring though over-bearing grandmothers both of whom want to spend Christmas with their granddaughter. AND, for a totally different reason, Berleagh and the story of Louisa (the visitor from times past) which brought tears to my eyes several times. Quite an old fashioned tale in many ways, I think the author wanted to include something different and this was perfect.
My least favourite? Kilmashogue and the story of Holly (the young woman eagerly anticipating a romantic night) and Sam (who should be spending it with someone else). I don't want to include any spoilers but suffice to say that, trying very hard not to be judgemental, I found this story quite hard going and couldn't bring myself to like either of these characters despite the author trying very hard to portray Holly as some kind of fragile creature who was simply caught up in events beyond her control.
Though the Holiday Reading Challenge only calls for us to read between one and five books I couldn't resist adding this, a sixth book. In order to add any reviews of your own and/or see what other bloggers have been reading click HEREand for your Challenge wrap-up posts (mine will follow shortly) click HERE.
There are certain people in life that we expect to set an example - judges for example. Not so Judge Beatrice Bolton.
Judge Beatrice Bolton had presided over scores of criminal trials in Newcastle and the north east, so she understood the sort of behaviour expected in court. But when she was convicted over her pet dog's attack on a neighbour she stormed out of Carlisle Magistrates court claiming its decision was a "f***ing travesty".
Bolton, 57, had earlier been ticked off by a court usher for chewing gum, muttered a brief apology.
After the hearing Bolton said she woulds be taking time off to consider her future both personally and (I should think so) professionally. - Martin Wainwright (15/12/2010)
Just released on-line ......
Films commissioned more than 50 years ago by the British Council to showcase the best of Britain to the rest of the world – whether that was a sense of fair play, cricket or the joys of congregated drinking in places "called 'public' houses" – have been digitised and are being released online for the first time.
The films were made for about 20 years, between the 1930s and 1950s, and give fascinating snapshots of largely cheery lives being lived in the UK.
So far 13 films (INCLUDING THESE, click on link and select Digitised Films ) are available on-line with about 160 to go. - Mark Brown (15/12/2010. Click HERE for full article)
THE TELEGRAPH.
Ding Dong Merrily On High?
Carol singers may find it fun to belt out Ding Dong Merrily On High but the chances are their audience will not. The song has been named the worst for amateur carollers to attempt on the doorstep.
It is best for occasional singers to stick to songs they remember from childhood such as AWAY IN A MANAGER. (16/12/2010)
Ding Dong Merrily On High sung as it should be sung by Celtic Woman.
What's in the back of your kitchen cupboards?
Every household has 11 items in the kitchen cupboard that will never be used, a survey claims.
Britain's food cupboards contain 672,245,255 tins, containers and jars (I wonder who got the job of counting them) that we have no intention of actually using, according to the study.
I've brought you some pretty funny robbery stories but this has to be one of my favourites.
A gang of burglars is targeting homes with hot tubs.
Police are investigating a string of bizarre burglaries where raiders leave their underwear in outdoor baths as 'calling signs'.
There have been at least four similar incidents at homes with hot tubs in and around Odswaldwistle, in Lancashire.
It is understood the gang has stolen thousands of pounds worth of expensive goods.
In one case, the raiders took a late-night dip in a hot tub(perhaps they wanted to make a clean getaway) before leaving their wet underwear on the side of the middle-aged couple's outdoor spa.-
Andrew Hough (16/12/2010)
Bah humbug!
A LOLLIPOP MAN has been banned from wearing a Father Christmas hat - in case it distracts motorists. Paul Clevett, who helps school-children cross the road, has been told to stop wearing the hats because they are a risk to elf health and safety.
Mr Clevett, whose headgear also includes a turkey-shaped hat and a jingle bell jester hat, said he would not comment on the ban and would only say (altogether now) "bah, humbug."
(One parent)said: "Paul has been doing this for years and the children love seeing him in different hats. How wearing a Santa hat or a hat shaped like a turkey can cause motorists to suddenly pay no attention to children crossing the road is just plain ridiculous. They tend to slow down to see what hat he's wearing on that day, not speed up." - (18/12/2010)
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem ....... Wales.
Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire, is transformed at this time of year. The little post office, which opens for a mere two hours on a Tuesday throughout the rest of the year, is besieged by folk who want the name of the village to appear as the postmark on their Christmas cards. - Clive Aslet (18/12/2010. Click HERE for full article.)
THE CHRONICLE.
Remember Paul the Octopus who during this years Football World Cup predicted the winner of each of Germany's seven matches as well as the outcome of the final match? Well .........
Jack, a cottontop tamarind, is hoping to cause a stir in the sporting world after correctly predicting the cricket results.
He is making his sporting predictions at Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium, North Tyneside (twenty minutes away), and has so far correctly foretold the results of the first two Ashes test matches.
(Last week) he predicted victory for England in the third test at the WACA (?) in Perth.
If correct this will mean England are guaranteed to retain the Ashes.
However, Jack's run of success may be at an end as (on Saturday evening) the English team were on the brink of defeat. (19/12/2010)
And finally, a very short article from across the pond .........
A bus driver has resigned after bosses saw a video of him on You Tube running over a snowman.- (19/12/2010)
The day I got the murder book, I was still thinking of Paris.
Red wine, bare trees, grey river, city of love. Everything that happened there.
Now this.
Alex Delaware's relationship with his longterm partner, Robin Castagna, is on the rocks. Still reeling from the aftershocks of the murder of one of his young clients, Alex is floored when Robin announces that she is heading off on a three-month music tour in aid of famine and child welfare.
But he soon has other things to think about. In the post, he receives an 8x12 envelope wrapped in coarse blue paper, with no return address. Inside, he finds a three-ring binder with gold letters on it - THE MURDER BOOK. The album is full of macabre pictures of murders, taken at the scene of the crime, with brief descriptions of how,and why, the victims died. But only one picture is marked 'not solved' - the horrifically mutilated body of a young woman, dumped in a ditch on the freeway.
Unsettled, Alex calls his friend, LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, who seems strangely familiar with the case. What is the connection between this photograph and Milo's past, and could the gruesome collection be the work of a police insider? If so, why has it been sent to Alex - and by whom? .... From the inner front cover.
FIRST SENTENCE: The day I got the murder book, I was still thinking of Paris.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: Because even though the department had booted him out, and outwardly he'd made major life changes, Pierce Schwinn had held on to a detective's bulldog sensibilities.
A huge fan of Jonathan's wife, Faye Kellerman - along with Kathy's Reich's she is probably one of my favourite crime writers - I thought it was about time that I read one of his books.
Like doing a very large jigsaw, I thought I was about to finish, to solve the puzzle, only to realise that there was yet another piece to be added and another and another.
To be honest, I eventually became a little bored with all the, not totally, unexpected twists and turns that this novel took and though I started out liking both the two main characters (Alex and Milo) by the end I found myself disliking Milo intensely thanks to two incidents that showed him to be just as, for want of a better word, corrupt as most of the other characters.
Just as noteworthy as the main topic of the book, I found the sections dealing with Milo's sexuality and how it was used against him to be both fascinating and extremely worrying. As far Alex's relationship with Robin? Pointless? I really don't see why so much page space was given over to this except to acknowledge that she has obviously played a part in the other books in the series and may well have a part to play in future books.
The ending? If I can compare the rest of the book to a jigsaw puzzle then this was like a firework - a faulty firework in that there were many sparks but, sadly, no big finale, no big ending, merely a fizzling out that to be honest held no surprises.
Very disappointing, I think I'll stick to the novels of Faye Kellerman and in particular her Pete Decker series.
Having almost completed my Holiday Reading Challenge, I was surprised to find myself signed up for yet another challenge but after having seen that two of my blogger buddies (KELLY and DORTE)had signed up and several more of you were thinking about it I just couldn't resist joining in all the fun.
The challenge, WHAT'S IN A NAME 4, is hosted by Beth, runs from the 1st of January through to the 31st of December 2011 and requires that you read one book from each of the following categories. My initial ideas are in brackets but may change as and when.
A book with a number in the title - (Eleven Hours by PaullinaSimons)
A book with jewelry or a gem in the title (The Golden Bats And Pink Pigeons by Gerald Durrel)
A book with a size in the title - (The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris*)
A book with travel or movement in the title - (The White Woman On The Green Bicycle)
A book with evil in the title - (An Unholy Alliance by Susanna Gregory)
A book with a life stage in the title - (The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend)
* Shoes = feet, feet (and inches) = size, size = one of the book titles to be read for this challenge. See, there is some albeit strange logic here ...... somewhere.
Oh, and you might also need to know:-
Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
Books may overlap other challenges.
Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.
On January 1, Beth will publish 7 posts, each with a Mr. Linky (one for each category and one for your wrap-up post), on HER BLOG so you'll have a place to post links to your reviews (bloggers) or leave comments (non-bloggers) as you finish up each category.
In the meantime you can sign up by clicking on What's In A Name link above.
Me and my big mouth, when will I ever learn? I found myself talking with some FaceBook friends telling them what an easy challenge this would be only for them to suggest they make it a little more difficult. Their rules? I could only use the books already on our shelves - no buying or borrowing any books for this challenge from now onwards.
The fifth and therefore officially the last book to be read for my Holiday Reading Challenge 2010 (click HERE for details and HERE to post reviews) but hopefully I have yet another book to read and review.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas was also read by ANNE @ Learning To Juggle
Christmas Eve and the Lee family's reunion is shattered by a deafening crash of furniture, and a high-pitched wailing scream. Upstairs, the tyrannical Simeon Lee lies in a pool of blood; his throat slashed.
When Hercule Poirot offers to assist, he finds an atmosphere not of mourning but of mutual suspicion. It seems everyone had their own reason to hate the old man.
...... from the outer back cover.
FIRST SENTENCE: Stephen pulled up the collar of his coat as he walked briskly along the platform.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: You have said that Christmas is a season of good cheer. That means, does it not, a lot of eating and drinking? It means, in fact, the overeating! And with the overeating there comes the indigestion! And with the indigestion there comes the irritability!
Hands up all those who have yet to read any Agatha Christie. Up until now this would have included me - hard to believe but true.
My first impressions? For such a world renowned author, isn't this book badly written. Akin to something I would expect of an o'level student aged 16 or so, I could not believe how badly constructed this was and, though in no way Christie's fault, the number of spelling mistakes and misprints in this (2001) edition was unbelievable. Not at all what I expected.
As for the story itself? I think dated is the word I would use. In an inscription to her brother-in-law in the first few pages, Christie writes
".......... You yearned for a 'good violent murder with lots of blood' A murder where there was no doubt about it being a murder."
Oh dear, I don't particularly like mention of too much blood but I'm afraid that this 'violent' murder with lots of blood may well have been cutting-edge when it was first published in 1938 but by today's standards is very tame.
A good, old fashioned whodunit set in far more genteel times. Personally I prefer my crime novels to be a bit more gritty and, preferably, solved by forensics rather than a dapper little Austrian men with great observational skills.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas was a library book read.
I'm not given to moaning and especially not when it comes to matters of my health. Generally speaking, no matter what, when asked how I am, I'll smile and say "Fine thanks, and you?" After all no one really likes the individual who will stand for what seems like hours discussing their every ache and pain and especially not when that individual has several long-term health problems and you are just as likely (nay, more likely) to catch them on a bad day as a good. That said (apologies, I'm now going to moan) you sometimes just need to get these things off your chest ......
Some of you may be aware that I haven't been too well over the last week or two or three and things came to a head on Friday when I saw our nurse for a routine injection. Not liking the sound of my breathing, she sent me in to see one of our GP's - a lovely German woman who is no-nonsense and very, very thorough. Having listened to my chest and done all my observations, she declared I had a(nother) chest infection and would need another course of steroids (my third) and another (not one) but two lots of antibiotics (my third lot) AND should really be going to hospital ..... and would be admitted if I wasn't able to skip into the surgery come Monday morning (on two crutches? Impossible anyway.)
Needless to say, Monday came and I was no better despite trying to convince Husband dearest otherwise. The upshot, after being given a nebuliser (basically inhaled steroids) and oxygen, our GP sent for an ambulance which is where the 'fun and games' nightmare began.
You know as well as not complaining about my health, I'm equally as loath to complain about our National Health Service and especially not when I hear about my US blogger buddies, some of whom have experienced their relatives lying in pain and untreated until insurance details are given etc. No, we are extremely fortunate to get 'free' health care, a service that takes care of us 'FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE'(click on the previous link for an on-line copy of Geoffrey Rivett's book which chronicles the history of our NHS) BUT .........
Despite having been told an ambulance would be with us in less than twenty minutes, I waited an hour. No real problem, the ambulance service was busy answering emergency calls and I was in no real danger, receiving medical care from people I knew and trusted - our sincere thanks to all of them, doctors, nurse and receptionists for their care.
I skip forward to arrival in hospital where I was left in a corridor, they called it a waiting room - it wasn't - until I was taken through to triage to have my first examination which included having my blood pressure (BP) taken. Yeah right, never have I known anyone take a BP reading through a thick jumper and a thick winter coat, I'm amazed they got any reading at all.
Anyway, taken back to the corridor waiting room, we were once again left sitting until a nurse (lovely but so rushed off her feet she kept getting my name wrong) came to take some blood (I was lucky, I got taken into an actual real room, others had their blood taken whilst sitting in the corridor) and do a heart trace.
More waiting until I get to see this arrogant little doctor who has yet to even fully qualify - he may well introduce himself and shake the hands of both Hd and myself but his tone and condescending look says it all - not another overweight patient.
"Do you work" he demands to know. "No" "Why not?" "Because I have a list of ongoing health problems and no one would employ me with that list no matter what my rights to work as a disabled person." I want to shout but can't because I'm too busy trying to breath and not doing a very good job of it.
"Any swelling of the ankles?" he then asks, grabbing hold of a leg which has obviously seen several surgeries. I scream, suffering from CRPSI cannot stand the slightest touch and his grabbing hold does not help. I feel an apology or, better still, some sign of understanding is warranted, he obviously doesn't.
Examination torture over, his final question "So, do you think you are poorly enough to be in hospital or would you prefer to be at home?"
Of course I'd rather be at home, who wouldn't? And as for being poorly enough to be in hospital? No matter what I thought at least one nurse and two GP's thought so.
Rant over, I did get home that day. Obviously not too sick to be admitted to hospital but too poorly I felt to be left sitting in a corridor for almost five hours.
The hospital's diagnosis? A viral infection.
I've tried to keep this as short as possible, I'm just so upset and annoyed right now and, if I'm honest, feeling as if I have wasted a lot of time and resources. My question being are some hospital doctors 'lucky' enough to get to go to charm school? In my experience, they would be far better off being prescribed a big dose of humanity.
