Paul's Race to 75 Part 9

Melaka's Jonker Street - a bustling night market where the orient comes alive!

Books read so far:
1 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
2 The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
3 The Guards by Ken Bruen
4 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
5 Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela
6 Shadow by Karin Alvtegen
7 The Road Home by Rose Tremain
8 One Pair of Hands by Monica Dickens
9 Pure by Andrew Miller
10 The Appointment by Herta Muller
11 The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
12 The Battle of Pollocks Crossing by J.L. Carr
13 No Glossing Over It by Gary Edwards
14 Unknown by Mari Jungstedt
15 The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
16 Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald
17 Zoo Station by David Downing
18 The Troubled Man by Henning Mankell
19 Jack Sheppard by William Ainsworth
20 An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington

Currently reading
The Years of Renewal by Henry Kissinger, Troubles by J.G. Farrell, The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black,

Best Books of the Year so far:
Literary Fiction
1. The Road Home
2 Lyrics Alley
3 Wolf Hall
Thrillers
1. Zoo Station
2. The Troubled Man
3. The Guards

12 in 12 categories

1: Historical Fiction 2/12
2: 19th Century Fiction 2/12
3: Biography 2/12
4: In translation 1/12
5: Series Starts 2/12
6: Scandicrimesters 2/12
7: Sci-Fi 1/12
8: Noughties 1/12
9: One Word Titles 2/12
10: African Born Writers 2/12
11: Bought and Read in 2012 3/12
12: Off the Shelves 0/12 (IN RESERVE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR)

Woo hoo! New thread and great picture as usual.

AND I'm your first visitor--how did that happen? Top 'o the day to ya, Paul.

Phew, all caught up, let the next round begin!

Glad to hear Bambi still coming along nicely. And that meal you posted a picture of certainly looks fantastic! Yum-O, I can see why you look forward to coming home from work now :)

Happy St Paddys Day, I am celebrating by dressing Wilbur in green for preschool (they made me do it!).

Not caught up at all, but I spotted a thread with only a few unread messages so I thought I'd start here. I'll have to go back to your previous thread to see what you thought of Offshore, the only one of your recent reads that I've read myself. I'm not quite sure what to make of Penelope Fitzgerald, I think I liked Offshore better than the other of hers I've read.

How are you doing with the Kissinger, Paul?
He once made the comment that power is the best aphrodisiac, and he certainly had power, but who ever would be willing to wait for that ponderous, self-concious, pompous voice to say, "Zo, How about it, Baby?" One would die of boredom first. Or laughter. The "eww" factor was high for him.

Roni - Yep your first up and very welcome!

Megan - still one more day to St. Paddy's - make sure poor old Wilbur doesn't get too days in Emerald Green sticking out like a sore thumb! Bambi has just dragged himself past me and is starting to think mischief again so he must be on the mend. SWMBO's cooking was a definite reason in deciding not to be single!

Genny - Nice to see you and I hope things are a bit calmer in Geordieland at the moment. Offshore was saved by the brilliance of some of the dialogue for me.

Gail - no sex mentioned yet in Kissinger - with a triumvirate of Ford, Kissinger and Nixon I don't see much opportunities for sex scenes in his 1100 page memoirs of the Ford Administration. I do however recall the John Lennon LP cover from 1972 (Some Time in NYC) with Richard Nixon dancing naked on the front cover.

Sorry btw

Laura / Kerri thanks for the wonderful ideas regarding veggie Shepard's Pie on the old thread. Curried Shephard's Pie is a most interesting idea. Photos would be nice!

Hi Paul!
Scallop dinner looked great. Scallops are horrendously priced over here. Have been waiting a long time for the price to go down and it's not budging!

Keeping it short so you can get some work done! LOL

Nice new thread, Paul! (part 9 already!)

Cee - I don't think scallops are cheap here either! I pass the marketing money over to SWMBO (actually she takes a "wage" from my company as 'Head of Marketing' what I fail to inform the authorities that 'marketing in this instance has less to do with Business Development and more to do with shopping!)

Terri - Thanks my dear - I didn't imagine I would get quite so quickly to 9 threads.

LOL - very funny, Paul!

Hi there Paul! Dropping a star! I have to try to get back to Henning Mankell sometime soon! Somewhere along the line I stared reading other Scandicrime, and I've lost my place in the series.... sigh!1222 a Scandi Crime novel arrived in the mail today! Hurrah!It will still have to wait it's turn though.:)

Cee - funny and actually for a change...entirely true.

Deb - nice to see you....do you still have to drop a star? With Mankell make sure you start at the beginning and read them in chronological order as his life meanders on somewhat and he likes to reflect on his past especially in the newer books.

I'm caught up with your threads! That should last a minute or so....

Dejah...hahaha your few minutes are up already! Thanks for stopping by.

Hi Paul... I fell so much behind on your last thread that I was intimidated to jump in again. I'll still go over to get and idea of what I've missed, but this brand new thread seemed more inviting with a reasonable amount of posts to take in. Congrats on thread #8. You certainly are a popular guy, and for all the right reasons too! xx

Well, I have to go backwards, but like Genny, I see a short thread and jump on it.
'Head of Marketing' - GRIN.....and what is it that you're selling, Paul?
(Got to get back to Mankell.)

Regarding the Kissinger, the sex will be there. I seem to remember someone rather swank.

Dear Ilana - I would have thought I was one of the least intimidating fellows imaginable! I guess you are a bit out of it though as this is #9 already not #8! Always brightens my day to see your name posted on my thread.

Peggy - I believe that she is busy marketing as we "speak". My Mankell has but a few pages more and I will give it a favourable review shortly.

Judy - I am hoping for a bit more spice to be honest - it is very heavy going at the moment eulogising Ford and apologising for Nixon. The mental picture of Kissinger indulging himself "with someone rather swank" (especially dear old Hilary Swank) is an image that sends shudders to the soul of my very being....ewwwwww

>21 PaulCranswick: I believe that she is busy marketing as we "speak"
Or should the quotation marks be around the work marketing? haha

And is St Paddys Day the 17th or the 16th? Maybe the preschool was doing it the day before....days all blur into one for me these days anyway :)

Megan - I think there should probably have been 2 sets of inverted commas.
If you needed any further help (my Irish blood would dry up in my veins if I got that wrong) on St Pat's day
http://www.when-is.com/st-patricks-day-2012.asp

I would guess that Wilbur "celebrated" it a day earlier as Saturday is not a school day?

18.

The Troubled Man by Henning Mankell

What would appear to be the last installment of the Inspector Wallender stories was completed in the back of a Porsche Cayenne whilst my lawyer was snoring merrily away on our journey back to Kuala Lumpur after looking at a potential investment opportunity in the small town of Bidor.
Throroughly enjoyable and up there with the very best of the Wallender canon, the story features the disappearance of the father of Wallender's grand-daughter's father (but not quite yet his son-in-law) and the Inspector's hunt to find him. Also features Wallender's attempts to reconcile him with his increasing agedness and particularly a tendency to forgetfulness. In Mankell's usual elegiac style wherein he often manages to be droll and morose in the same paragraph, the story is a success and, if it ends the series, it is a worthy end thereto.

9/10

Hi Paul- It sounds like Wallander went out with a bang! That's great. Now I need to get caught up. I'm only on book 5.
I'm glad to hear you're going to read Sea of Poppies next month. Yah. We are holding the Group Read of River of Smoke in June. Hope you can join us.

Hey Paul, still reading Kissinger? I would think, considering the life he's led, it must be rather lengthy. Glad to see you're reading Hillerman to off set it. I love Hillerman. Shame he's gone.
Anywho, nice new thread - nice picture - All I undertand is the work "Guinness", but then again, would I need to know any other ;}

Oh, I've only read the first Wallander! (And seen about two episodes with Kenneth Branagh.) I think I might pull the second Wallander off the shelves sometime rsn...

It may be St Patrick's Day tomorrow, but it's also Don's birthday. I'm hoping to cook him a slap up meal (a roast? steak?), but have been unable to think of what to do! I hope something jumps out at the shops tomorrow morning. (Our original plan was to go out, but that got scuppered when my sister booked my parents to babysit first! Oh well, them's the breaks.)

Phew. Caught up. I think I last said that about 2 days and 100 messages ago. :)

Hi Paul - just stopping by to say hi. Hope life is treating you, SWMBO and the tribe well.

Mark - trying to catch up on so I can join you mate. Wallender can at least be succeeded by his daughter.

Lynda -well spotted on the Guinness - I didn't notice it myself! My first Hillerman I am looking forward to it very much.

Tania - Happy birthday to Don on St. Pats. Hope you have a nice candlelit dinner - oysters would be preferable if you remember it is supposed to be his birthday. Love all the Wallender books but you have to be in the mood to be brought to despair by his reflections on mortality, and diabetes and the poor state of modern society.

Calm - thanks for stopping by all the way from sunny Aberystwith - SWMBO is fine with a stomach full of arab food. Tribe all well as their exams are done with.

Hi Paul. Nice new thread! I have read several of the Wallenders but I can't tell you where I left off in the series. And I'm a fan of Tony Hillerman and I have Troubles on hold at the library (I'll pick it up this weekend). So, your reading is all (as usual) very interesting to me.

Hi Paul, looks like you chose a great read for a Mystery March entry! I love the Wallender series, but am many books behind you. I have picked up another historical mystery, Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn and am also endulging in one of my guilty pleasures, a western by Louis L'Amour, Down the Long Hills.

Richard Nixon dancing naked on the cover - wow, there's an image that'll put you off your feed! I'm going to focus on the good reading you're doing and try to forget that I saw that post.

Happy St Patricks Day, that would be today according to your link so thoughtfully posted (where I am anyway), means I get to have Kilkenny with lunch I think? Prefer that to a Guiness. Have a good weekend Paul.

eta: will pass on the Mankell despite your good review, but its in my psyche now, it might get read one day

Have a good one, Paul!

Ellen - so many friends have plugged Tony Hillerman that I have to give him a go and Troubles continues along its distinctive path towards a positive review. Have a lovely weekend.

Judy - nice to see in the rudest of health dear Guru. That's two mysteries down for March and I have a feeling the Hillerman won't see out the weekend. I have a huge pile of Louis L'Amour, William Johnstone, J.T. Edson and George G. Gilman westerns in the house and I can actually get through those as quickly as Suz!

Joe - The super-imposed image of Nixon and Mao were a result of Yoko Ono's song 'We're All Water" one line of which read "Sometimes even the President of the United States has to stand naked". Sorry to put you off the excellent fare at the cafe mate!

Megan - it is also where I am too. Best wishes on St. Pat's to you too. Enjoy your Kilkenny (don't se SWMBO letting me have any since it is a Saturday) and give Wilbur my best in Emerald Green!

Caro - Thanks for that, I hadn't realised that Winnie was from the God's own country?! I'll finish with something I haven't said before on LT - See you soon!

Slightly embarrasing update on the Posting League. Keeping these stats I presumed I would be safely tucked away in the pack as I am in the reading league, but, taking advantage of RD's internet problems I slowly sneaked up on him: My tip is still for Kath to eventually go past the both of us. Top 25 at present are:

1 Paul 2086
2 Richard 2081
3 Kath 1717
4 Joe 1663
5 Mark 1599
6 Stephen 1422
7 Ilana 1319
8 Claudia 1080
9 Amber 902
Caro 902
11 Donna 879
12 Chelle 861
13 Darryl 852
14 Lucy 784
15 Suz 761
16 Stasia 750
17 Megan 669
18 Jude 655
19 Roni 624
20 Ellen 607
21 Linda 604
22 Micky 584
23 Peggy 579
24 Sara 577
25 Bonnie 576

Update on the book reading lists later where I thankfully won't appear!

Hi Paul, Wow I just made that list. That's a first. Did you mention somewhere in the last 8 threads how you tally up the posts? It boggles my mind to think of trying to do that. Open every thread, see how many posts there are, add them up for each member, etc.....you must have a better method than that or that would be your full time job.

Bonnie - spreadsheet prepared - totals per thread is listed on group page so no need to open each one (although I do eventually get to do so being a gossip of gigantic proportions) - now realise can sort by topics (basically by threader) so it is even easier.
Books read I have to open all threads but do it only 2ce a month as you are right it would be a full time occupation keeping it up every day.
I also have a record of who has posted on my thread which I keep up to date regularly too.
Love stats as can be clearly seen but I am nowhere near as organised as Morphy who has been keeping data on all the TIOLI challenges. Have a great weekend and rest easily there is quite a gap between you in 25th place and Deb in 26th.

rest easily there is quite a gap between you in 25th place and Deb in 26th.

Paul now you're just being funny. That's not something I will worry about. You have a wonderful weekend too. Every time you post a new picture, I long to visit your lovely country more and more:)

Ok then Bonnie this one is especially for you. My condo is called Kampung Warisan (Heritage Village, literally) and this is our swimming pool:

Gah! Words do not suffice! Maybe this one does: beautiful. Simplicity says it best.

>40 PaulCranswick: Nice. Very nice.

That's where you live? Wow, I could handle that. Would just need a more agreeable climate if I was to transport it here to NZ....

Bonnie, Joanne and Megan - Will allow that the pool is great but it doesn't see yours truly that often if truth be told. Belle on the other hand is a daily visitors and there are suspicions that she could well turn into a mermaid!

Paul- I love that pool too! Lovely. With the type of heat you get, it must be nice to take a dip now and then. Enjoy your weekend.

A mini splurge to start the weekend:

An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington - well I am going on holiday soon.
Headhunters by Jo Nesbo
Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
Somebody - The Reckless Life of Marlon Brando by Stefan Kanfer
Valleys of Death by Bill Richardson
Switched by Amanda Hocking

Hi Paul! I like Tony Hillerman! I haven't read anything of his for a while, though..

post #38 gave me the headache ! lol

>38 PaulCranswick: I also have a record of who has posted on my thread which I keep up to date regularly too.

And to what purpose do you plan to use that information, Paul? Lurkers beware....

#40 Wow - what a pool! And I don't even like swimming...

Note to self to start the Wallander series soon.

Oh, that pool does look inviting, Paul. It's warm enough here in Malaysia West to start thinking about swimming . . .

Happy St. Paddy's to you too, Paul -- I'll be playing at a lovely session in Montpelier later today!!! One of the leaders of the session is this marvelous piper, Benedict Koehler. The harper is Eileen Gannon lives in St Louis, MI. They are playing a Carolan tune,"Festus Burke."
St. Patrick's Day!

Kath - nice to see you making it over from your own overworked thread. I've read #38 back and I see what you mean! I was trying to tell Bonnie that it is not too difficult to keep up the stats but made it sound as if it was difficult.

Linda - hahaha no nefarious purposes I can assure all! Did mention a prize for the most posts - I also like the lurkers when I can hazard that they might be there.

Heather - it is a great pool actually. Not so deep (4 ft 6 ins is the deepest and covers most of it - in Malaysia a 5ft pool needs a permanent lifeguard) and there is a lovely village style jetty going out into the water for both lounging and sport. I have passed many an hour and turned many a page under one of the parasols while doing the hard work of looking after the kids all of whom can already swim better than me anyway.

Joe - hahaha let's campaign to twin Chicago with Kuala Lumpur and then the Malaysia of the West complete with unseasonal warm front would be official.

Lucy - would love to sit in on that - I remember one St. Pats in Galway singing my heart out with 'Raglan Road', 'She Moves Through the Fair' and, of course, 'Danny Boy' and tears in the eyes of all in the place - lovely days!

Hey, Paul. Lovely pool - but what's all that green stuff? lol Do you ever get tired of all that loveliness?

#46 More purchases?
I will look forward to what you think of Urrea book as that is one I have on my WL after reading Hummingbird's Daughter.

Cee - it is a bit lush isn't it? If I get fed up of looking upon loveliness I can always come into the house and seek out SWMB...no I'm only kidding.

Thought I'd got away with the purchases. The Urrea book caught my eye especially today because it was 50% discount (+ my 20% times card. It finished up costing only $2.30).

I do love Mr Urrea..and Into the Beautiful North is a good one.. a very good one..

Kath - I will promote the book up the TBR pile rapidement with all these positive comments.

What a beautiful pool, Paul. Ever so much lovelier than the run of the mill American pool. Malaysia looks to be such a gorgeous place - I keep forgetting the uncongenial (for me) temperature.

Hope your weekend is a good one...

Paul, I can't remember what order they go in, but I do recommend reading Hillerman's series in order.
I LOVE the pool. What a beautiful spot!!!!
Congrats on taking over dear Richard's top spot! I can't believe I'm still in the top 25. Like you, I certainly won't be on the top-25 book-reading list. In part, The Woman in White is a monster and it's eating up a big chunk of March for me. Pleasantly so, but still......

Paul, I'm glad to see you've given up on that ridiculous resolution to slow down your book purchases ;-) I myself have had a rather indulgent Friday/Saturday....

The other manager in my group is winging her way to KL as we speak so if you run into a lost-looking girl with a Texas accent in the next few days, she answers to "Andrea"!

Charlotte - thanks, the weather is not congenial to me either really. Wishing you an equally lovely weekend.

Ellen - a bit embarrassed actually as I was keeping the record in order to celebrate the prodigious abilities of others and end up with my flying cat, my 'interesting' wife, the internet difficulties of others but most of all a fantastic group of friends, getting the numbers that I have to put my own name first. Will post the scores less often now for sure unless Kath or Joe can burst from the pack as they occasionally have hinted at doing. My next 19thC 12 in 12 read is The Woman in White so at least Suz, Susan, Morphy and Luci can rest easy that I'm not likely to make an inroads into their lead!
btw you have climbed the table steadily this month.

Katie - I am a completely hopeless case again you will be pleased to note! Shame that "Andrea" is not "Katie" but I'll listen out for that Texan drawl nonetheless.

Paul, if you keep posting pictures like your pool in #40, you are going to be invaded by house guests! Looks like a lovely place to do some outdoor reading.

An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington - well I am going on holiday soon.
haha!!

And $2.30 for Into the Beautiful North sounds like an excusable purchase, cheaper than a coffee, and lasts a whole lot longer

Judy - soooo right and I am rarely tempted to spoil it all by getting myself wet.

Megan - Pilkington has a show on satelitte TV which is hilarious as a miserable northern englishman abroad - the parallels are astounding!

Im pretty sure I have encountered some Idiots Abroad....the pale young thing in Thailand comes to mind. Ultra enthusiastic about being abroad he was, so much so that he hired a scooter on his first day there and crashed it straight into the scooter hire shop! lol, poor fella.

Hahaha Megan - I won't be hiring scooters in Christchurch don't worry.

Lovely pool! And a happy St. Paddy's Day to you, although I fear it is already past in KL.

Thanks Roni - yeah it's long gone but I did manage a quick drop o the black stuff yesterday with a Jameson chaser whilst SWMBO was pre-occupied. Enjoy what is left of your St. Paddy's.

Hi Paul- I think we cross posted up above. Nice mini-book haul. I'm a big fan of the Hummingbird's Daughter too and have Into the Beautiful North sitting impatiently on a shelf.
I had a shot of the old Jamesons last night too. Yum.

Absolutely -- read the Hillerman's in order!!!!! That's an order!

Mark - could be a good spot the Urrea and got it for next to nothing too.

Lucy - will follow your orders boss - phew and I thought SWMBO was fierce!

Today went to the cinema and caught John Carter. This reminded me of all the Edgar Rice Burroughs books I read as a boy and I remember enjoying the John Carter of Mars books in the days before I decided I didn't like Sci-Fi! Must go and find which box those books are in and get them catalogued. Film was good fun but atrociously acted.

A Princess of Mars was one of the first two SF books I remember reading as a kid and I have a lingering fondness for the John Carter series - as should be obvious from my LT user name (which actually was my cat's name).

Some version of A Princess of Mars has been in the works for years and years. I have to admit, that I've been a little worried about the end result. Atrocious acting, huh? Well, at least the special effects should be good!

>40 PaulCranswick: WOW! Beautiful pool!

*Briefly rethinks spring break plans*

--

*Returns to reality. Sigh.*

Dejah - Watching the movie rang a bell for me for obvious reasons (it is too long since I read them as a bairn) - when the character of Dejah Thoris was introduced SWMBO seemed concerned at my sharp intake of breath!

Anne you would of course be most welcome here! Would that the place was a little closer for all of you to visit.

>73 PaulCranswick: I'm afraid that's been one of my belated concerns about using Dejah Thoris as a user name - that someone might think I'm trying to imply I look like a Boris Vallejo cover art beauty! I rather regret that in my younger years I never got into the SF Con scene when I could have gotten away with dressing like the book version of DT. I have no idea how DT is dressed in the film, but I doubt she's wearing much!

Just a glimpse of how they have made her look. Certainly from the graphic novels she was quite well covered up in the movie.

This is probably the most "decent" shot I could find of that ilk:



Have changed the picture as the previous one though scrumptious was simply too large.

One thing about the lady playing Dejah in the film is that she had the most piercing blue eyes.

Just catching up Paul and enjoying the discussions about the John Carter movie. My husband wants to see it and also read the books as a boy (although probably 20 years earlier than you did). With all the talk about the movie I've heard the character of Dejah Thoris mentioned and immediately thought of our LT member. Now I know what the LT screen name means! My husband even unearthed his copy of one of the books from 1963 which is very worn and obviously well-loved.

I'm very much looking forward to your LT meetup with Caroline.

Could you have made the graphic a little bigger? LOL. My brother in law is a huge John Carter fan and is so excited about the movie. I don't know that bad acting is a real disappointment. After all, the genre sort of requires bad acting, or stiff actors, or something (thinking of Luke Skywalker, Captain Kirk, etc.)
I'm trying to decide if I should see the film before taking my 13 yr old son...

When I was in 5th grade in a town of 1000 in the middle of Kansas, someone died and left their complete collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs hard cover books to the town library (1 room, open 3 days a week). My friend Bobby Jones and I went nuts. I was never that crazy about the Tarzan books, but I gobbled up all the Mars, Venus, Pellucidar and other assorted science fiction stories like candy. Thinking about re-reading the book before seeing the movie--got the free Kindle copy just in case.

Pat - I think my books are 70's editions. They will get a re-read soon for sure now. I'm also looking forward to playing mein host to Caro but I doubt that I'll be able to keep up with her in the munching stakes.

Jenn - Mmm I'm not sure what happened there because the picture was supposed to be scaled down and now I'm stuck with it - thank heavens I chose one with a least some clothing involved. The corny acting was much in keeping with the thing to be honest and it is good fun - there is no reason not to take your son - no nudity, the violence not so ridiculously gratuitous - good entertainment in short.

Would recommend a visit over to Suz's thread as I have just posted up pictures of her reproduction chocolate book to celebrate her Goldman Sachs writing. Well done Suz.

Stopping by for a visit to get caught up and have to say... oh that pool does look inviting!

Here is hoping you have a great week!

I still have the old Edgar Rice Burroughs books in paperback, Paul, from when I was a kid. I loved them back then. I'll have to see this movie for the memories at the least.

Lori - Nice to see you and you are welcome by the pool anytime! Felicitations on your week too.

Joe - They were my feelings on seeing the movie too - I also wanted to see what Kyran thought of it as he loves Sci-fi and interestingly the two of us were the only two who thought the movie worth seeing. There was a small boy in front of us who when the titles came up at the end said in a very loud but cute voice, "finally!" which got more audience response than the entire movie.

Hah! Oh my, that little boy's reaction, and the response, is quite a comment on the movie!

Interestingly though Joe we went to Borders (yeah they are still going strong here) straight after and Kyran picked up Volume 1 of the collected John Carter of Mars books which contains the first three. He was also pushing for Dracula and Frankenstein in Penguin Classic (i.e. cheap format) - I refused the Frankenstein as I told him I have it anyway on the shelves and he can read it anytime (he wanted his own personal version!!) but let him away with the Bram Stoker as I cannot find my old copy.
Belle has also announced that she wants to collect all the Nancy Drew adventures and bullied me into buying 6 of them over the weekend - bit worried because there are about a bazillion of them in the series.

Love hearing stories like that, Paul. Good for you for raising readers - and ones with such good taste! My Becca collected all the Nancy Drews - it's always been a wonderful memory for her. I'd read them to her early in the series, and then she took over.

My son never took to mysteries, but he loved fantasy as a young guy (and still does). We read the L. Frank Baum Oz books together.

Joe, Kyran has always been a Manga fanatic (guess he would get on with Mark like a house on fire) but has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of early (pre 2nd WW) horror movies and loves Sci-fi generally. Draws wonderfully and has changed over the years from 3 years old announcing to me that he wanted to be a paeleontologist to leading his school in most of their drama projects. Only problem is that a 12 he is already taller than his old man!

I, too, think it's great that you are raising readers, Paul. I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. And of course, you of all people, can't blame them for wanting to collect their own libraries. :)

Hi Paul, am all caught up with you again. For the record, I did NOT say you are intimidating, but considering your thread is now in top position, it does mean that it's a full time job keeping up with you, as you must know. I'm surprised I hung on to my 7th spot considering my recent desertion, but a little break did me good and allowed me to do a few other things.

Judy - all three of them love to read so I'm blessed I guess. Kyran has sci-fi tastes which probably echo my younger days with the Doctor Who books; Belle has taken over Nancy Drew, and Yassie is into chick lit as befitting her "little madam" ways. She also loves YA fiction avidly and would be a good pal for Kerry in that regard.

Ilana - Of course I know you know I'm not intimidating (if you see what I mean). You actually had a fabulously busy start to the month and was leading the posters for the month for the first week and are still top six for the month despite the "recent desertion" (little rest, I would say!) Love having you visit here and visiting you at your place and either always puts me in a good frame of mind for the rest of the day. x

It was purely coincidence, but our March "Family SF Read" is A Princess of Mars. We won't see it in the theater but will wait for it on DVD.

A love for reading is one of the greatest, life-long gifts you can give to your child. Buy them as many books as they want and feel happy and proud while you are doing it!

'Family SF read' - Morphy what a great idea - will do this with Kyran.

Linda - Thanks for making me feel a lot lot lot better at the huge slice of my income which is arranged on shelves and in piles around the house!

Good morning (here), Paul. Just cruising through your thread. Your recent film outing has, once again, generated some interesting discussion. As I think I've mentioned in the past, I decided very early on that I was not a sci-fi fan (The Martian Chronicles and The Left Hand of Darkness notwithstanding). I did a brief foray into fantasy (early Anne McCaffrey). I was definitely a Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys fan when about 9-10 years of age, so I'm glad Belle is giving those a try. I'm surprised they have "kept" --- they would seem so old-fashioned, I think.

Hi, Paul. Kyran sounds great. Can I borrow him for a while? I think he'd be right at home in our house. If he's going to be tall, I can contribute some basketball knowledge.

Oh I am so dying to see John Carter!!!!! The hubster is out of town and I just can't stand it!!!! I've thought of sneaking off to a matinee and then pretending I haven't seen it, but I know he'd catch me out.

Heard the other day (yesterday?) that Disney has written John Carter off as a complete bomb - financially speaking. They'll have to make a squizillion dollars in order to break even and that doesn't look as if it's going to happen.

Frankly, I'd never heard of this book before the first ads for the movie came out and the name - John Carter - came across to me as not suiting what the movie seemed to be about. However, as the book seems to have left it's fans with such fond memories, I think it sounds as if it might be worth checking into...

Ellen - lovely to see you and I hope the weather in Seattle is not playing up too much. I "grew" out of Sci-fi in my teens after loving Dr. Who, H.G. Wells, John Wyndham and Edgar Rice Burroughs in my youth and I never really got a taste for it back. Apart from Tolkein, fantasy has largely passed me by too.
Belle thinks she is Nancy Drew already and it is probably suitable as she is old-fashioned herself!

Joe - Kyran would love some guidance on basketball - his Dad is only 5 ft 6 - he is captain of the school basketball team and has led them stoically to a perfect season......they have lost all their games!

Lucy - Don't forget it is dark in the cinema and he probably won't see you sleeping through the second sitting of the movie. Is it the hubster being away you can't stand or the impatience of not seeing John Carter?!

Charlotte - I am not surprised it is a loss leader as we went to the film with 10 of us (my tribe plus Erni, my Dutch friend and his family) and only 3 of us (Kyran, myself and the eldest daughter of my friend) took any enjoyment from the film. The special effects were also something special and could not have been cheap. The books are better.

Hah! Hmm, maybe we could work on the concept of "perfect season" first.

What's this about keeping up with me in the munching stakes, Paul? I am but a nibbler at the best of times, although I will admit to liking frequent nibblings. But we'll be meeting up at the end of a work day and on a school night too, so worry not, I'll try not to let my voracious alter-ego tie me up in the hotel room to go meet you instead. *she sez, while munching on pistachios*

Joe - sports psychology is not well advanced in Kyran's school obviously!

Caro - I seem to recall "frequent nibblings" included nine meals in eight hours a few weekends ago.....don't worry I'm not regarded as too abstemious when it comes to nibbling either.

but but but... they weren't BIG meals ...ok, one was big ... the others were group bites. :-)

Caro - ok a nibble is not a meal....how do you bite a group?

Caught... up... again.... Phew!

Really whizzes by fast over here. Congratulations on your top spot on the league ladder! Don saw "John Carter" and enjoyed it, but I have zero interest. (Our movie tastes don't often overlap, and I refuse to spend time watching something I don't want to watch. I have been known to meet friends for a movie, and then end up in a different cinema from them, watching what I wanted to watch! Possibly not the point of a group outing...)

I don't think we have any of the John Carter books (although Don has read them many years ago), but I remember Nancy Drew with great fondness.

Okay, now it'll probably be another 100 messages or so before I catch up again! :)

Sometime Tania I would like to follow your method but SWMBO will always go for a couple seat if they're available. One of my best friends here is a Dutch chap married to a Malay lady. He works on a dredging vessel clearing the River Plate in Argentina on a shift 6 weeks on and six weeks off. Needless to say with his commitments he hasn't developed many friends or tremendous social skills and his running battles with his wife make my own marriage seem tranquil/boring by comparison. The four of us saw a movie on one of his stints home recently and the ladies got a couple of couple seats. The ladies (as usual) wanted to powder their noses before taking their seats and were horrified that Jos' (my friend) idea was to share the couple seat with myself! See you in a hundred messages or so! x

Hi Paul. What's a couple seat?

Pat there are seats normally at the back of the cinema which is built for two - i.e. there is no intermediate armrest there. Good for romantic viewing but not all the cineplexes have them.

Ah, we have those too! I generally know them as Gold Class seats. I also like how they'll bring you food (and wine!) while you're watching your movie. The food's never been more than adequate though, so it's mostly just popcorn (and wine!) that we indulge in.

(Wow! Two postings here in one day! Will wonders never cease. :)

Tania you might also find that I made a rare foray over to the 100 club to sneak a post on your thread over there - it looks like you spend more time over here! You should give it up and come fully back to us! Wine in the cinema - how civilised.

Nah, I like the 100 books group, it's easier to keep up with. I've got a (largeish) handful of threads starred here in the 75 book group, and it's hard not to chat here when everyone is nattering so much; but I don't think I could keep up with this group on a regular basis! I don't know how any of you manage it. :)

Tania- It's a tricky combination of dedication and insanity and if you pull it off, it's precariously perfect.

Paul- Hope your work week is going well. When do you meet up with Caro?

Tania - it's precariously perfect.
Mark says it so much better than I could.

Mark - I think I'm meeting up with Caro on 22 March. Work is hectic as usual. Has the weather broken in Chicago yet?

>107 PaulCranswick:, 108: couple seats and wine? That sounds nice; not aware of such posh cinemas in my neck of the woods. But I've heard of a cinema somewhere in the US that enforces a code of silence and throws out chatty people.

Just popping in to say my husband and I saw John Carter a few weeks back, and found it to be a lot of fun, despite the bad acting and plot holes. But entertaining!!! I suspect Disney simply didn't know how to market this film... which is really too bad, because I think they could make some really fun sequels. I'd definitely recommend going to see it and remembering that it's a Disney sci-fi piece, which means family-friendly and plenty of great special effects!

Laura - You can get a fairly noisy crowd in the cinema's here but they normally respond positively to friendly persuasion to tone it down (SWMBO is persuasive believe me!)

Faith - I agree with you about John Carter - thoroughly entertaining dross! Brought back the books for me nicely with a little Disney license of course.

No films for me of any kind, so the John Carter stuff is going right over my head. Also the couple seats although I like the idea! On the other hand, I have wondered what somebody who lives in Paradise does for a break, and the answer seems to include an LT meet-up. Very nice!
Also a very nice crop of books somewhere way up-thread. It's always a good idea to go ahead and get what you want within reason............I'm not sure what that means, but I have known myself to put books back on the shelf during a buying spree, and the regrets generally outweigh the pride in frugality.

Flying by and saying "Hi!"

Peggy....the regrets generally outweigh the pride in frugality.
Beautifully put my dear - the daily Dickens is rubbing of on you indubitably!
The couple seats are not so much fun when the couples are as wide as me and my loved one!

Cee - Hi straight back at you....always nice to see you whether loitering or flying!

I have wondered what somebody who lives in Paradise does for a break
LOL me too :)

Sometimes I think that it is pure envy that keeps me from being able to find this thread at all.
Some subconscious little cloud or something, because I always have to go and hunt you down
in the threadbook., Paul!
LOL

Funny Kath cos yours is always one of the first thread I look for! Mine is a very conscious little cloud because I appreciate your unique blend of wisdom, wit and warmth mixed with doses of family drama, good books real life. x

aw Paul.. thanks.. Nothing personal, mind you... you thread is a mashup of
rollicking fun times with a few bits of not so fun.. :)
but I lose you every time. Very weird. But I do go and hunt you down, you know so I
hope you will forgive me.

Now I find myself wondering what's happening over on the 100 books group. Tania, when you first said they were easier to keep up with, I thought "when they're reading a hundred books??!!" --- and then it occurred to me that they might spend more time reading and less time posting! Sounds good on the surface..... :-)

Good morning, Paul.

Kath - Nothing to forgive. You manage to get over here with impressive regularity!

Ellen - I hope Tania doesn't give you any misguided ideas! Good morning to you too over in Seattle.

#111 & #112> Love the "precariously perfect" phrase. :)

#113> Laura, Sydney needs a cinema with a code of silence! (Or is that a cone of silence?) I like losing myself in a movie, and it's hard when people are chatting on their mobiles during it. The smaller (art house) cinemas are better in terms of chattering (or lack thereof).

#122> LOL, I'd say there's definitely more reading and less chatting, although we do have no one to rival Stasia (and some others) in terms of numbers of books read. Most of us read (roughly) 100 a year.

Paul, I seem to be hijacking your thread here. :)

More than welcome anytime Tania! Since you don't have a perma-place over here I am happy to keep up my tradition of offering shelter to friends and family everywhere - especially such entertaining ones as you!
There is a handphone/mobiles code in Malaysian cinemas - there are advertisements that they should be silenced. Some of the cinemas actually block the signals which is great.

Paul- No the weather in Chi-town has not broke. More 80s coming up. I heard the weekend might be down to the low 60s, which ain't bad either.

Low 60's would be delightful Mark. Pleased that you are having pleasant walking conditions on your "rounds" mate.

It's been years since I have been to a cinema, but I remember they also had the anti-mobile phone ads. People are overall quiet and well-behaved in German cinemas I'd say, though it also depends much on the movie. I am sure it can get quite loud in comedies of "The Hangover" type.

My main problem was usually the mixture of smells - popcorn, beer and those horrible warm cheese tacos. You know I love cheese, but don't need the smell in a theater. The biggest cinema in Frankfurt also had those couple seats, but I always preferred the normal ones with an armrest for my drink. And there was an English cinema in Frankfurt as well. An old and shabby (and also overall smelly) place, but it was good to see the movies in the original language. Memories... *sigh*

I signed a petition here two weeks ago for the opening of a cinema in my place. They really need one!

Have I commented on the pool yet? So beautiful - it looks like perfect paradise!

Very interesting discussion on cinema Nathalie and especially how national characteristics (or should I say cariacatures?) are reflected even in the manner of cinema behaviour. Old and shabby describes my old country quite nicely although I would have thought the smell of sausage and beer would have been more prevalent in the germanic theatre world than cheese! Would hate to be without cinema as I basically love the medium and we average probably 50 movies a year as a family.

The pool is lovely although there is a rumour that you get wet by jumping into it! I seem to recall sometime in the distant past when I actually used the resource this was the case and Belle who uses it daily assures me it is damp inside - I will try to find it out for myself again and hope that the Archimedes displacement theory doesn't dry it up too rapidly.

Finally catching up with you, Paul. I don't like being out of touch for even a few days. I'm glad to hear your love of reading is being passed along to your children. My adult children still love to read when they can fit it into their busy lives. And, now that I think of it, they all married readers. My SIL in KC has a 45-minute commute to work and has been listening to books for several years now. We plan to do a shared read of Truman when he gets the audiobook. We'll follow up with a visit to the Truman Library.

98: LOL at Kyran's 'perfect' season. I hope he had fun with it. I love to watch kids play sports. I have one very athletic (though small for her age) granddaughter. Sadie is 10 and plays basketball, soccer, and softball. She lives 3 hours from us so I don't get to many of her games unfortunately.

I love going to the movies but try to be discriminating in my choices as they are getting pricy these days. There is a new IMAX theater close to us that we are saving for a big date night. I think ticket prices are in the $15 range. Naturally, I'm thinking of the book that I could purchase instead.

Paul, do you know if there is a thread for the Troubles group read? Regardless, do you know what a "Shinner" is? I'm in the early reading and the crazy scene with Edward and the old tennis players taking off after some imagined trespasser with shotguns..... they said it was a "shinner"... Help?

Donna - Nice to see you! Kids are a treat aren't they? Wow the cinema over there is soooo expensive. Over here the tickets are $2!

Ellen - a Shinner refers to a Republican supporter. Sein Feinn was the political party - "Sein" is pronounced "Shin". There is a group read thread and I'll put it on your thread.

2$ for current movies? Wow...
We have a movie theater in the next town over..
http://www.ambridgefamilytheatre.com/family-friendly-prices

They are only open in weekends and they have fairly low prices..

it is a sort of Hobby for the family, I think. They only make enough money
to keep the place running.. it is a very small place.. the whole thing about the size of one
of the little theaters in a cineplex..

Kath - Kuala Lumpur has an abundance of cinemas - all the major malls have a cineplex - KLCC, Pavilion, Mega-Mall, OneUtama, The Curve and Times Square would be the six biggest malls and all have one. The competition drives down the prices of course and they are all pretty much full.

I remember when I lived in Alexandria the small hotel that I stayed near had its own (20 seat) cinema and it was great fun taking over that place regularly - in the year I was there I think I saw every movie in the place.

It is 3.30 in the morning here and am having difficulty sleeping. Looking forward to meeting Caro later in the day so I better go and get some sleep meanwhile, otherwise she may think the Malaysian branch of the 75ers has been taken over by zombies!

no worries... she hasn't gotten any sleep either..
her flight was delayed

poor Caro - now she's likely to be really hungry/thirsty!

19.

Jack Sheppard by William Ainsworth

Books are not written of this ilk anymore. A rip-roaring, rollicking tale of a housebreaker (burglar to most of us) who is our eponymous hero Mr. Sheppard who despite appearances has really a heart of gold. Packed with action and incident and enough twists and coincidences to place a corkscrew with the claret, the story commences with the death at Tyburn of Jack's father and the circumstances surrounding the death of the lover of another lady's lover saved from extermination by the kindly Mr. Wood who also apprentices Jack. The two boys fortunes are tied together irrevocably thereafter. The story contains one of fiction's more chilling and despicable characters in the shape of the "thief-taker" Jonathan Wild who chases Jack towards the same fate that met his father. Set in the early 1700's and writen in the early part of the 1800's this is a fascinating and entertaining read - it seems amazing that persons were routinely put to death in those times for burglary. There is also a sub-plot concerning the Jacobite uprisings which is equally fascinating. Recommended.

8/10

>132 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. I've been getting lonely over on the Troubles GR thread. Hope you and Suz and others will be by soon!

>129 PaulCranswick: we average probably 50 movies a year as a family.
wow wow wow
That is super cool, I wanna be in your family. I already know Ill be too tight to spring for too many film outings for my tribe. I used to go once a fortnight at least, but since my mothering has been needed the last year (plus earthquakes taking out my fave 2 cinemas) I have averaged ONE film. In TWELVE months. Pssht. Not happy about that, but hoping to rectify now that my milk machines are no longer on home detention

Have a great LT meetup Malaysia style! Hi Caro :)

Hi back Linda - Will be over there soon - just finishing it up!

Megan - it is fun and very cheap over here - plus Belle is a popcorn fiend.
my milk machines are no longer on home detention - how colourfully observed!

And remember to post pictures!

Will do Kath!

Hi Paul, I'm afraid we see very few movies in a movie theater. The cost is one thing: more than $10 a ticket (and the much more exorbitant cost of the not-to-be-foregone movie popcorn). And then there's the convenience of just renting the DVD and watching it on what is now a pretty darn large screen in my own home with all it's conveniences including being able to pause the movie whenever we want so we don't have to lose a minute of the movie if it's actually necessary to take a brief break from the action. But most of all I guess is the fact that with the cost so high, who wants to take a chance on what might be a really lousy movie, of which there are many (Unstoppable comes immediately to mind).

When it comes to SF I am so undemanding at the movies -- that's all, I'll try anything in that genre that comes out. I only wish there was tons more.

I bet Disney will do fine with it -- just not up front in the theatres.

Bonnie - DVDs (pirated almost certainly) are even cheaper here but I don't watch them as the experience for a further 50 cents of the cinema cannot compare.

Lucy - Disney will probably get back their dosh on the venture eventually.

Jack Sheppard sounds like a lot of fun. I'm all for a rollicking read every now and then.

It is indeed a good old fashioned yarn Rebecca and its observations on life in late Anne early Georgian England are fascinating, especially the harshness to which prisoners and fairly petty felons were exposed.

Update on the posting league for those interested:
25 posters above 600 posts
16 posters above 700 posts
15 posters above 800 posts
9 posters above 900 posts
8 above 1000 posts
2 above 2000 posts

Main mover at the moment is Joe who has surged into 3rd place on the back of a frenetic last week. In March alone he has the 2nd most posts. Top 25:

Paul 2199
Richard 2158
Joe 1813
Kath 1812
Mark 1648
Stephen 1454
Ilana 1354
Cee 1133
Caro 934
Donna 922
Amber 915
Darryl 881
Chelle 866
Lucy 843
Suz 818
Stasia 768
Megan 697
Jude 674
Roni 650
Ellen 643
Bonnie 634
Linda 625
Micky 602
Peggy 600
Sara 600

Most March Posts (Top Ten)
Paul 510
Joe 462
Kath 362
Mark 345
Richard 324
Ilana 276
Cee 247
Suz 211
Stephen 205
Lucy 196

I have hopes that at Joe's present rate of progress he will lighten my burden soon!

You didn't get any sleep last night, Paul.
Did you?
Do I have to come over there and tuck you in?
(With SWMBO's energetic help, that is.)
Does she know you are sneaking posts on LT under the covers?
I'm worried about you, Mister Cranswick :{
You need to get more sleep...

Jack Sheppard sounds pretty interesting, I'll add it to my list.
The prices for going to the cinema are too high here to make it a regular outing, though we always get to most scifi movies, love those special effects.

I think the chocolate elephant and the chocolate book put me on the posting list for March, o revered stats maniac!

I've been v. bad about the Troubles group read; I just can't settle down to the book for some reason. Part of the problem is that I've got a mountain of work, and am behind on nearly everything, and I'm supposed to be on a train down to Washington this weekend to be at a conference Monday & Tuesday. Ugh.

So I've been really bad about visiting other threads. Just grabbing 30 mins now to do what I can...

Cee - lovely post as usual - I normally don't have much sleep but I did doze for an hour or so very late evening in front of the TV. SWMBO grumpy a little this morning and not requesting her normal morning cuddle. Any help tucking me in would be appreciated Cee but I'm not sure about stumping up the air fares!

Kerry - William Ainsworth is quite forgotten and certainly underrated in modern times. He was apparently a mentor to the young Dickens and Dickens certainly continued something of the flavour he imparted to his work.

Suz - Maniac I think is accurate not so sure about the revered bit! I have also struggled with speeding up Troubles - am enjoying it but don't seem to chew up much of it in a short session.

Just realised that I can get it as a free kindle download to our iPad.

Insomniacs can do double the internet time than those of us who sleep, that must be your secret to top posting Paul :)

Cheap movies is a huge drawcard. Here its about $16 (consider that the min wage is about $12.50 or so), I never (usually) go without some kind of discount voucher. If it was cheap, I'd be there far more often I'm sure. I used to go a lot in Taiwan where I'm sure even some of the films shown in theatres were pirated!

Kerry - Then it is worth to buy!

Megan - Maybe that is the secret. You know I always thought that we on the eastern side of the world were at a distinct disadvantage as we are outnumbered by our North American friends. If you chat contemporaneously it is certain that your numbers should increase as you respond to the messages with one of your own as they come in whilst if the "window" for posting in North America closes and you are not there (sleeping) then you respond to several messages with only one of your own. If you look at the mega posters from over there and especially RD, Kath and Stephen they have a quick fire response mode (when poor RD's internet is not on the blink) and this can shoot up the numbers very quickly. Just an anorak observation. It is noted that North American posters generally have more posts on their threads by themselves than European or Asian threaders. Of course when I cannot sleep like this morning I get the best of both worlds!

$ 2 is an unbelievably low price. I remember prices of more than 10€ back in Frankfurt, at leats on Saturdays. Often it was cheaper to wait for the DVD, unless it was a movie I really wanted to see on the big screen. There were 'low-price nights' (7,50€ think) where the theaters were terribly crowded and you needed to book the seats days in advance for the popular movies. Adding the high prices for soft drinks and pop corn, a movie night was a costly thing.

The Jack Sheppard book sounds interesting. I'll get the free Kindle version.

Netflix rocks. We don't go to movies anymore. Not just because of the cost but all the petty irritations of people talking, no potty breaks, overly loud soundtracks, etc.

>158 Morphidae:: Agreed on Netflix! Though I mostly love the selection of Bollywood movies. One of these days I'll check everything else out on there, but El Husbando has been very happy with the selection. We used to rent movies all the time, but Netflix is just so much more affordable.

Well Paul, I sleep... need to. Don't know how on earth people function on so little sleep. It's just not healthy! Can't be.
I do envy those with seemingly boundless energy.

Another fan of Netflix... agree w/ Morphy - it rocks! Would much rather view movies at home... more comfy and cheaper, healthier snacks :)

um.... if Cee comes to tuck you in, will you have SWMBO or someone
take a few pics?

eta

oh and I would rather watch movies at home, too.

Add me to the list of Netflix fans. I love that they carry films originally done by Public Television, etc. And I like being able to pause when I want (need to refill the wine glass occasionally) and watching in pajamas!

Sleep. Gotta have it. Don't always get it. Ambien is my friend.

Faith : When we go to the movies, the hubster can sit through the entire thing without once having to get up to take potty breaks, but when we watch movies at home, he suddenly develops a bladder the size of a walnut and keeps having to pause the movie to make potty trips.

And Paul....

Nathalie - cheap nights at Euro7.50!

Morphy, Faith & Cee - As expected I have never heard of Netflix. Looks a useful resource though.

Cee - after a couple of pints of Kilkenny keeping Caro and her g&t's company I am ready for a sleep after a lovely evening out.

Kath, If Cee comes all the way over here to tuck me in I'll arrange a film crew and you can all get it on Netflix! Kath so sorry I was far too busy gabbling and gossiping and guzzling with Caro this evening that I remembered about photos only after giving her hug goodnight.

Ellen - cinema in pyjamas should be compulsory! Sleep beckons frankly.

As stated above had a lovely evening with dear Caro this evening although I did take the opportunity to get the pair of us to a bookstore - added a few new purchases and one for our intrepid traveller - just to help her keep to the challenge she set for us and which I have failed miserably.
Nice food which was meant to be al fresco but which the waitress decided didn't suit us too well. Four savouries and three sweets as well as decent drinks.
Caro is every bit as delightful in RL as on LT - I was a little worried that, despite being an inverterate gossip, I would dry up having to talk rather than type! Conversation never flagged I am glad to say that we had several topics of conversation suggested by some of the stories of all of you on here. Lovely lady made a wonderful companion for the evening which flew past so quickly that I wasn't able to buy the crepe paper and swimming goggles I had been requested for reasons beyond my ken to purchase.

Caro hahaha give my best to the walnut when you see him next! - you rock too!

I also wish to be a member of your family, Paul. Consider this my formal application for the part of "The Crotchety Old Aunt".

Jack Sheppard is now on my GFW. Will buy it as soon as I can sort out how I'm going to dispose of all my birthday gift cards.

Hope you and Caro have/had much fun!

Send me a PM and I'll send you an honorary membership card.
Don't know about her but I had a whale and she went out with one.

Sounds like a great time with Caro, Paul. Crepe paper and swim goggles? I love that combo. I never get requests like that.

Any photos of the Paul/Caro meetup? Other than that rockin' M&M of course ...

It sounds like you and Caro had a lovely meetup. We are truly an international group! Too bad about the lack of pictures, but you are promptly forgiven, Paul. I know how easy it is to get caught up in book talk. It's very cool that you got to go book shopping together.

Intercontinental meetup a success! Hooray

Totally agree with you on your theories regarding rapid response posting, a lot of quick fire conversations in real time vs longer replies to multiple comments does make for different experience in reading the threads, as well as post numbers too I guess.

I'm figuring your insomnia last night was sympathy pangs for Caro's unfortunate plane adjustments and lack of sleep as a result! Sounds like you both had a great time and some tasty food.

Hi Paul- I'm so glad you had such a great time with Caro! LT is such an ice-breaker isn't it? It's like our 1st Chicago Meet-up last year. Within 10 minutes we were chattering jays! Even my wife got caught up in it.

drat! no pics :P
Glad to hear that you had a good time though!
I am so glad that you two had the chance to meet..
Who else but caro would by passing through KL?

Thanks for the offer of the film crew for Cee's visit.
I will wait patiently :)

You will have to be eternally patient, I'm afraid Kath. I need to replace my passport and have been saying that for years now.

What kind of bookstores do you have over there, Paul? No crepe paper or swim goggles? Hmm.

So glad you and Caro had a great time...
No way the two of you exciting personalities could miss...unless you both fell asleep (under the circumstances). LOL

Never say never, though ! One just never knows what might happen :)

Hi Joe, you were mentioned yesterday as the dark horse to top the end of year posting lists. Yeah crepe paper and goggles is an interesting combo isn't it? To be fair one is for SWMBO and one for Yasmyne and I don't think they are planning to put them together!

Laura - no photos unfortunately - we were busy gassing away and in the car back to her hotel (Caro also got to meet my "talkative" driver Azmi) we suddenly realised that we had no photos of our get together. My chivalry to the fore I of course immediately blamed Caro but it is of course my fault.

Donna - you are right - having so many friends from literally the four corners of th globe is special indeed. I seem to recall we did mention books once or twice too.

Mark - You are on the nail with LT being an ice-breaker. I had a few doubts as to whether I would be able to converse coherently with a friend having developed that friendship electronically if you know what I mean. Sometimes my humour can be a little on the edge and without the benefit of the delete button to remove words likely to offend I thought I may have a problem but, (I'm fairly sure) we were comfortable with each other from the off.

Kath - I think Katie has been here fairly recently and hopefully will again. Also Prue is coming later in the year I understand. Apologies again on the lack of photos and I'll make up for it with the film crew.

Cee - I would spot you a passport if we really had a film to make! You will be pleased to note that I slept peacefully for a good six hours last night and of course feel more tired now than yesterday!

Kath - so true but I guess it is more likely that I'll be visiting some of you first.

Books yesterday:
I gave two books to Caro and bought her one in Kinokuniya.

Caro gave me:
The Potter's Field by Andrea Camilleri (not available here!!!)
Signal Red by Robert Ryan (thanks also to her brother)
Audition by Ryu Murakami
The Olives Table by Todd English (actually for SWMBO)

I bought:
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
Testament by Alis Hawkins (no touchstone?)
The Affair by Lee Child
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker

Megan - my scroll mode went awol above and I missed your post. Yeah the group is quite cosmopolitan isn't it?

Roni - I would guess that Caro also managed a decent sleep yesterday - she arrived 3 am, had a full day of meetings, four hours with me and has a full day today. She is a darling still fitting me in despite all that she faced yesterday.

Glad that the intercontinental meetup with Caro went well! I do like nattering online, but I also do find all the blather dries up in a face-to-face situation sometimes...

Back to earlier discussion about movies: tickets are $18.50 at the multiplexes here on popular nights. I still go, but to the smaller independent cinemas, taking advantage of their cheap nights, membership deals, etc. And I avoid the multiplexes and extra costs like 3D. (Makes me headachy/nauseous at times.)

Watching a movie at home is NOT the same, as it's constantly interrupted by small people in their pajamas complaining that they can't get to sleep. Much nicer to leave them in the care of their grandparents, and run out and have some adult time with a beer or glass of wine and a nice dinner (without having to cut up someone else's meal or discuss the latest schoolyard fad; and I'm turning into Sherlock Holmes in my middle age: the more memory taken up by Skylanders means the less memory for things that I actually care about), and take in a movie.

I used to go to the movies several times a week; now it's once every couple of months. And I've given up renting/buying DVDs, I just don't make time to watch them what with the constant interruptions from small people. Much easier to watch something episodic.

We don't have Netflix, although we do have that one where they post DVDs out to you (and you return them when you're finished, and get the next on your wishlist), but it's not worth the cost for me, given how few movies I watch now. Don gets the occasional downloaded movie and I'll occasionally watch some of it, but mostly they're trash that he happily watches while I go out with friends. :)

Hope you sleep better tonight, Paul, insomnia is a killer! You need to be fresh and alert in order to read more books!

#180 Glad to hear your LT meetup was fun Paul. Did you get the pink Gillespie and I? I really hope you enjoy it - I'm over halfway through and completely hooked.

Tania - I was worried about the blather drying up but it didn't - we both couldn't stop talking.
$18.50 is ridiculous for a cinema ticket - you only want to sit there you don't want to buy the whole chair! I also hate 3-d and it does make you jump with things seemingly coming at you all the time. Slept ok yesterday btw.

Heather - thanks my dear - I have got the pink Gillespie and I and very fetching it looks too. Will catalogue the books tomorrow.

Today is my wedding anniversary so we will be going for a candlelit dinner at our favourite french restaurant. Hopefully I can get away from the office in time so as not to incur her wrath!

Paul- Once again, I'm glad the meet-up went so well with Caro. And you ended up with some good book titles. I remember Caro recommending a few of those. Looking forward to your thoughts on Gillespie and I & the Detour.
Hey, enjoy your weekend!

A happy anniversary to you and Hani - enjoy your meal.

Hopelessly behind from being away for a week - just stopping by to say hello!

Hi Paul! Just popping in. Happy anniversary, and have a lovely time tonight!

Happy anniversary, Paul & Hani! May you have many, many more :)
When I go out to supper tonight I will have a drink and toast to your happiness!

How did I miss that?
A happy anniversary to you and Hani :)

So glad you & Caro had such a lovely evening! Four savories, three sweets, decent drinks, and lively conversation. Nice. I admit that I worry thatGillespie and I is getting lots of LT coverage these days. I'll be interested to hear how you like it.

Note to self: it's hard to type on laptop when one hand is being used as a pillow by a sleeping cat.

Oh, and happy anniversary!!

I'm another one interested in your reaction to Gillespie and I, Paul. It's very much on my radar, although I hadn't heard anything about it until a few days ago.

And happy anniversary to you and Hani! How many years is it? I always tell my much better half that the first {anniversary number minus one} years are the hardest.

Happy anniversary Paul and Hani - hope you have a wonderful day.

Happy anniversary!
(was this just a blatant ploy to keep your thread stats high?!! LOL!)

Here I go adding to your stats;-) Happy anniversary Paul and Hani.

Hi Paul! Seems I'm just in time to wish you and Hani a Happy Anniversary. I'm sure you both have nice plans and almost hope you won't be showing up on LT tonight, which will mean you've had a most successful date. ;-)

Others may have forgiven you for not having photos of your meet up with Caro, but I do not. I'll still speak to you though, because you're such an all around great guy!

Can't believe I'm still holding on to my spot on the stats considering how little activity I've had on LT this month. I'm not sure where I've been. In fact, where am I now??

Happy Anniversary, Paul! I hope you had a great night out.

Mark - thanks mate and the same to you - I hope the Chicagoan weather holds for you over the weekend. The Detour has been anticipated avidly by several (especially Deb as I recall) and I couldn't resist it. To be quite honest Caro and I had a quite express 20 minutes or so in the bookstore as we were both more aware of our reputations as nibblers! Also it was a tad unfair to Caro given that she is still trying to keep to the Read More than you Buy challenge.

Heather - thanks so much - the meal was in a place called "La Vie En Rose" which is a fairly new french restaurant in a quiet villa atop a hill overlooking the city. The Patron Jean-Michel is a real character and woebetide you if you do not accept his "recommendation" of what he would expect you to eat. Fortunately yesterday his assistant Alex (also from Toulouse) was our host as J-M was overrun with customers from the French Embassy so we got to choose our own food. I had a starter of Stilton and Smoked Duck Salad followed by Veal Flank in a Liquorice Sauce which was to die for (well unfortunately for which a calf had to die for) followed by Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Ice-cream (I always have this) - J-M then surprised us with a complimentary dessert he had created especially for us for our anniversary which was delicious but I have no idea what it was. Hani had French Onion Soup with a twist (a twist of what I'm not sure because she wouldn't let me have any), Salmon Trout and J-M's dessert.

Amber - thanks for dropping by - I am also way behind after a hectic week but will be catching up on all the threads over today/tomorrow.

Kerri - the meal was wonderful and we got along swimmingly during the meal (I will explain more below!)

Cee - Thanks so much, how many more will depend a little on how many toasts! When we ordered drinks yesterday I asked for San Pellegrino sparkling water as I know SWMBO doesn't approve of me drinking and I wanted to ingratiate myself. She was in a mellow mood and suggested I have some wine. Misreading the situation completely I ordered a bottle of my favourite Sancerre Rouge (yes there is red wine from Sancerre also). I followed up the meal with my customary Armagnac and felt fabulous. Unfortunately the drive home with SWMBO now behind the wheel, coupled with a week of very little sleep caught up with me somewhat. Got home my son was still awake and on his computer on his bed and I fell asleep giving him a cuddle. I did resuscitate and repair to the master room but was not well received and caught the sharp end of her tongue (quite rightly) this morning.

Thanks Kath, I will tell SWMBO and I'm sure she will say thanks when she's talking to me again!

Ellen - nice to see you still (relatively) busy on the threads! The get together with Caro was great and I texted her yesterday to wish her bon voyage. She has a great sense of humour and is extremely intelligent and of course well travelled. We shared some quite hilarious travel tales and the time slipped by. Gillespie and I will be read soon due to its topicality. My reading rate in the last two days though is pathetic. A bit of the Hillerman, some of the Benjamin Black and most of the Karl Pilkington and nothing of the Kissinger or Troubles. Well I have troubles of my own I suppose but I intend to wrap up all bar the Kissinger this weekend. Oh and thanks for the good wishes.

Joe - Yeah the Jane Harris book is quite hot at the minute isn't it? Mine is ensconsed in a cover of the gaudiest pink which screamed "pick me" from the shelves and, of course, I did. It has been 16 years of married bliss so far....ahem.... Actually SWMBO made a mistake a number of years ago when telling her friends about the same matter and inadvertently added a year to the marriage. So I have to remember to add the extra year when addressing her friends! 16 years - I would have got less, with remission, for armed robbery, wouldn't I?

Calm - thanks - as I said the day and evening was indeed lovely!

Laura - even I am not so devious! hahaha. Actually as I told Caro I am a bit embarrased (but hugely gratified) at how many posts I have engendered here and, believe it or not I have high hopes of Joe and Kath coming up on the rails past RD and myself.

Thanks Bonnie - post duly recorded!

Ilana - It was a great night thanks my dear until I went a spoiled it somewhat! Entirely to blame for the absence of photos but I would have only spoiled the picture for Caro anyway who looked splendid in jeans and a top whilst I was straight from the office and already shabby. Your continued popularity is in no way a surprise to me and in fact you are closing in on sixth place if truth be known!

Tania - my favourite honorary 75er - thanks so much!

Not so clear because SWMBO took it as a photo from a picture in our bedroom. This was our wedding in 1996.

What a super photo! Have a fantastic day and night long celebration, Paul ! Trust your tykes are helping you guys celebrate in style and cheer as well.

>201 PaulCranswick:: What a handsome couple you and Hani are. I'm sure you'll be forgiven for falling asleep... at least by the next anniversary. It will make a wonderful story to tell your grandkids. ;-)

'waves' as I pass through ....... I see you have been book buying again - where will they get hidden this time?

Passing through...

Happy Anniversary! Love the photo.

Caro - aha not so lovey-dovey this morning as my size eights stepped in the muck well and truly on getting home and getting comatose! Thanks anyway my dear and safe trip back home.

Donna - thanks but it should probably be "were" rather than "are"! (in my case anyways)

Alex - I made out that Caro had bought them all for me!

Jenn - thanks - brings back only semi happy memories as we spent almost the entire day is various states of dress producing an entire wedding album which is customary over here.

I hear you. The wedding day is more for the parents, really. A kind of here are our kids, we've got them this far and didn't we do a great job? Thing. And boy won't I feel that way when I get #1 married off (hopefully well). :)

Jenn - hahaha but not quite my case - her parents not so bothered about the photos - this was produced after the wedding - Malay ladies love these albums so I had to suffer in (near) silence!

A little late with my anniversary wishes, Paul, but all the best to you and Hani. I hope you won't hold it against me, but I can certainly see why Hani was a little miffed at you becoming comotose on your wedding anniversary!

Judy - hahaha - if only I still look the same today! Thanks for your post and boost to my quavering ego!

oooh! That's so sweet you two! (apart from the muck-stepping-in... hehe) Congratulations. That's the only thing about not being married I dislike, not having a date to celebrate the years passing.

Belated Happy Anniversary! The food sounds absolutely delicious. Liquorice normally is a no go for me, but I could very well imagine it as part of a sauce. Love and miss Stilton cheese!

I'm sure you'll soon be forgiven for falling asleep. Can't you (partly) blame it on the work and the sleepless nights before, so it wasn't the wine?

What a great picture!

Hi Paul- I'm a tad late but Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing the wedding photo. What a great looking couple!

Megan - Can't you celebrate first date or something like that? Hani used to get that one too (12 May 1995 by the way - I picked her up at the Green Shop where she was dropped off by her fiance - its a long story!). Have a lovely weekend and hope the weather is planning an Indian Summer for the arrival of the intrepid explorers next week.

Nathalie - I thought you would like the cheese! I blamed my sleeping on everything bar Caro but no go - SWMBO informed the children that they are welcome to sleep in our room anytime they want as it is very chilly in there for the tropical climate! I wasn't smiling.

Mark - thanks mate - these professional photographers work wonders don't they?

20.

An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington

Basically a support book to the excellent TV series which finds our intrepid hero sent by Ricky Gervais abroad to see 7 of the wonders of the world and comment upon all he finds. Ricky also makes sure that Karl gets no luxuries and the upshot is often hilarious.
If not exactly an idiot, Karl is a typical "Little Englander" and his observations on mand made objects which have inspired millions are priceless. The Taj Mahal is described as "not exactly Alton Towers", he was unimpressed by the sloppy workmanship on the pyramids and he felt that Rio de Janeiro's famous landmark would not make any impression at all if it was relocated to the external of the Arndale Centre in Manchester. Funny but an almost exact reworking of the TV series so those looking for new material will be disappointed.

7/10

Good morning, Paul.

Just about right Ellen - it is now 1.19 a.m. on Sunday morning in Kuala Lumpur. We have just had a surprise party for my SIL (the middle one Yabo not Fifi who stays with us) - my inlaws and Yab and her girlfriend came up from JB (340 kms) and the kids and SWMBO had arranged balloons and ticker tape and a house with a cake swathed with candles as was the living room in lieu of electric lighting. Nice to see the look on YABO's face when she entered to "Surprise!"

Paul. Paul. Paul.
When I mentioned getting more sleep - I didn't mean on your anniversary night hugging your son! Oy! You are one mixed-up puppy. You'll be lucky to make it to your next anniversary. *heavy sigh*

Lovely wedding picture. You chose well... Hani is a beautiful lady and apparently long-suffering too. Hopefully she is also forgiving. What did you get her for an anniversary gift - and it'd better be good!

Cee - I don't call her my better half for nothing - she really is!
As to present well there was the swimming goggles which she had requested and that I was lucky enough to get for half price! No only kidding - she had chocolates and a necklace - from the look on her face this last morning she had eaten the latter and was wearing the former! I am glad that I can always count on your unwavering support viz any marital disputations.

>219 -Cee-: Good on Cee, we can always count on her to set people on the straight and narrow! :)

Sounded like a great surprise party for your SIL.

Paul to find out our first "date" would involve a LOT of research back into old diaries and calendars. I know it was at the Dux de Lux (a beautiful old pub) and was really an introduction with the introducer also present. And I found out later, his flatmate was also present but in hiding in case "he didnt like the look of me" in which case said flatmate was to intervene and get him out of there!

Megan - lol - the idea of the pal lurking in readiness just incase you were...ahem...not quite to his taste. Priceless.

> 201: Belated happy aniversary Paul and Hani

Ohh, "how young we were", that is what I think looking at our wedding photos ;-)

I've been meaning to watch the TV show "An Idiot Abroad", so I figure I'll skip the book and just watch the show!

Anita - thanks - that is exactly my thought when I review pictures of our skinny selves from the not so distant past. I hope you and Frank have a great weekend, lurking on your thread a fair bit recently and noticed that you seem a bit down, so I trust the weekend finds you in very good spirits.

Faith - on this rare occasion your strategy is absolutely correct - the book is enjoyable but doesn't add anything to the TV show which precedes it accept to act as a reminder to watch the repeats.

Linda - hello and happy weekend to you too.

HI Paul! not surprisingly I am 300 posts behind! I won't even pretend to catch up
Lovely wedding photo and happy belated anniversary. Hope all is well in KL!

Chelle - hi and lovely to see you and Nate settling in over in New Scotland! All is fine here - SWMBO is presently talking to me (actually she is sleeping it is 9.15 am on Sunday morning) and the world is fine. Have my NZ holiday coming up but quite worried about leaving my dedicated little team to the wiles of some of my nasty clients for a full three weeks. Thanks for the anniversary wishes!

Paul, sorry to hear you got yourself in the dog house after such a lovely dinner. Hope you don't have to stay there too long for your sake. But if you do, you can always while away the time right here on LT, as you well know already!

when I review pictures of our skinny selves from the not so distant past

You do realize the *not so distant* past is over 25 years ago, right? That's enough time to have a child grow up and finish university! Just saying' ;-)

I think time is relative ...... just depends on where you are standing

Super behind here. Enjoyed the movie discussion, nice to read about the LT meetup you had with Caro and Happy Belated Anniversary!

..... did I miss anything else? ;-)

Ilana - not so distant in my case is 16 years ago when the photo of Hani and I was taken , but I see what you mean. I am half out of the doghouse cause her parents are here and she has to pretend! To be fair she is always stressed by packing.

Alex - From where I'm presently sitting in my music/book room age is clearly catching up. Still life is certainly not all bad and I will be standing/sitting in your wonderful country this time next week.

Lori - I think you have summarised recent things nicely! Have a lovely weekend.

Have a great weekend Paul, hope things are peaceful for you and yours.

Halfway through the weekend -- hope you have had some P&Q and reading time.....

Just trying to keep up :)

Calm, Lucy and Kath - thanks for taking time out of your restful Sundays (and in Kath's case from the pain associated with Walter's passing) to give your wishes.

Spent a nice day with the in-laws - (it does occasionally happen!), Seafood lunch followed after a reasonable juncture with an afternoon of swimming punctuated by tropical storms. Plenty of reading so far too!

Hi Paul- Just stopping in to say hey! Sounds like you had a nice weekend. The Seafood lunch sounds tasty!

It was Mark - it was at a Chinese Muslim Restaurant - certified halal if you would as the bits of chicken and beef were slaughtered according to stipulations. The seafood of course doesn't care - I devoured a number of prawns cooked in oatmeal which would have made Richard and Caro proud. SWMBO did her respective number on sotong (cuttlefish to you and I).

Hi Paul. The seafood lunch and swimming sound wonderful. But I think I could live without the tropical storms!

In case you don't get back over to my thread right away, I just wanted to let you know that you don't need to finish Troubles before joining in on the group read discussion. The way Suz structured it, we are discussing Part I until the end of the month, when we'll open up to the full book. So no spoilers so far, although I am getting anxious to discuss the ending.

Oh, what I would give for a 3 week vacation...
When do you leave?

Cuttlefish... if I remember correctly that is what I put in the birdcage for my canaries to peck on. eeewwwooo

Linda - my next port of call!

Cee - We leave on Wednesday. I'm with you on the cuttlefish - it is like eating fishy smelling elastic bands - needless to say not one of my favourites.

Hi, Paul. A vacation sounds great. Keep us posted. Great description of cuttlefish (like eating smelling elastic bands) - that's a dish I think I'll steer clear of.

Roger that Joe (I think that's the right way round). The wife loves the stuff, Yasmyne loves the stuff. Kyran is ambivalent, Belle and I can't stand the stuff - it is one of the few things my youngest and I agree on.

balloons and ticker tape and a house with a cake swathed with candles as was the living room in lieu of electric lighting

Well, that sounds very festive!

And I'm glad you had a nice day with the in-laws (laughing about the "it occasionally happens" comment ---- I can very much relate...). Good food helps.

Cuttlefish? Do I want to know what that is?

Hi Paul, just catching up on the last 64 messages that have accumulated unread for me since yesterday on your thread! I'm glad to hear you had a (mostly) fantastic anniversary celebration and loved seeing your wedding picture--what a good looking couple. Have a great vacation in NZ--are you taking us all with you, ie. will you be on LT while you're gone?

Paul, belated wishes for a very happy anniversary! We tend to gorge ourselves on seafood when we get to Cyprus, but I steer clear of cuttlefish -- the taste is too strong. Stelios gets his fill, though!

Ellen - Yeah good food can help settle the in-laws! Cuttlefish is squid.

Pat - thanks I will hopefully be able to stay on-line a wee bit. Hani is a dab hand with a camera so we should get plenty of photos too.

Anne - thanks, I am also a fan of seafood - oysters, prawns, scallops, fish, crabs (if they are not too much of a battle to eat) but cuttlefish I never did see the point of.

Ohhhhh, squid. Who knew? Well probably everybody but me Paul.

Bonnie - I also forgot yesterday that some people call it cuttlefish and some squid - I just normally call it yucky.