Lunacat's reading and other ramblings, Part šalaš (3)

I thought it might be fun to number my threads in different languages. Number 3 is brought to you by Akkadian!



This little chap is a foal my best friend is helping bring up as it's part of her work. Here he is last week, in his first ever snow!

Saved for February reading

Currently reading:

Fables, Vol. 3: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham
Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell ♫

1. The Photograph by Penelope Lively 240 pages (BAC; a book by a female author)
2. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman 337 pages (a book with nonhuman characters)
3. The Secret of Platform Thirteen by Eva Ibbotson 243 pages (a book with a number in the title)
4. The Writing on the Hearth by Cynthia Harnett 256 pages (a book from an author you love that you haven't read yet)
5. Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood 185 pages (a book with a colour in the title)
6. Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood 192 pages (a book based or turned into a TV show)
7. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch 400 pages (a book by an author you've never read before)
8. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch 384 pages (a book you own but have never read)
9. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande 297 pages (a nonfiction book)
10. Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively 208 pages (a book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit (Egypt) )
11. The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer 320 pages (a book you can finish in a day)
12. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (a graphic novel) ➸
13. Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch 303 pages (a book with magic)
14. The Lambs of London by Peter Ackroyd 224 pages
15. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys 192 pages (a book of short stories)
16. Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell ♫
17. Fables, Vol 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham ➸
18. Fables, Vol 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham ➸
19. The Queen's Man by Rory Clements 402 pages (a mystery or thriller)
20. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt 508 pages (a book that was originally written in a different language)
21. Fables, Vol 3: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham ➸
22. Fables, Vol 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers by Bill Willingham ➸

Definition of Lunacat:

A mild mannered eccentric known for nonsensical comments, an abundance of animals, and a general love of the absurd and impossibly cute. Creator of crafts. Accident-prone in the extreme.

Mostly reads fantasy, light science fiction, historical fiction and light pre-Georgian history.

Has five cats, a guinea pig, and a horse, and is often visited by many many many ducks.

Resides in rural England, and achieves country-yokeldom by always having mud or straw attached to her body.

May or may not read 75 in 2015!

Can't remember what I wanted this for!

Gratuitous Connie photo:

Random question for the day:

How many layers of clothes are you wearing right now?

I have: underwear, thermal leggings, jeans, thick socks on my bottom half and spaghetti strap vest top, t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, blue and white horizontal striped (thick stripes) cable knitted jumper. And I'm cold.

We ran out of heating oil on Sunday so have had no heating for the past couple of days. It arrived about an hour ago and I'm more than ready to shed my layers but we need to wait until the fuel pump is primed. Thank goodness it happened this week, not last.

So.......over to you!

Happy New Thread, Jenny! Go Connie!

Right now I've only got a t-shirt under a shirt, in part because we're at about 0 degrees Celsius in Chicago, so not too bad, right? But when I go outside, a sweater and heavy coat get added on.

Did you ever read The Rosie Project? It's a fun one, and I'm quite caught up in the sequel, The Rosie Effect.

>8 lunacat: Sweatpants and a T shirt. I'm working from home today, so no effort required! But when I go out (if I do), I"ll have silk longjohns and a silk long sleeved top, at least one sweater, sweatpants and two pairs of socks stuffed into my boots. coat over all, of course. Unless I'm just going to the deli downstairs. Then I might just throw the coat over my T shirt

Happy new thread, Jenny. What a great idea numbering your threads in different languages. I had to Google Akkadian because I didn't know what language that was.

Love the gratuitous Connie pic. She's really lovely.

I also like your thread topping photo. What a cute foal. although they all have blankets ... has anyone thought of making little hats for the horses so their heads are warm too?

ooooo, Akkadian! Now I'm looking forward to seeing what you pick for thread 4. :)

>1 lunacat: New thread and in Akkadian which I had never heard of before!

>7 lunacat: Lovely photo of Connie looking very smart with her purple ribbon.

>8 lunacat: Yikes to the no heating. I'm wearing normal underwear, then a thin jumper and then a (fake) fur-lined hoodie so three layers on most of me and a super thick pair of sliiper-socks over my normal socks. The heating's on but we try to keep it low-ish (it's about 17.5 C).

>9 jnwelch: Hi Joe! Welcome to the new thread, it's lovely to see you here. I'm ashamed to admit it's about 6C out there and I have twice the layers on that you do..........how do you do it? I clearly have very thin blood! Nope have never read, or heard of, The Rosie Project but I'll go and investigate.

>10 ffortsa: Hi Judy! I love no effort days. I managed to not have to get dressed on Saturday and it was lovely. You sound like my kind of dresser, although I'm sure you're dealing with lower temperatures than I am. I'm just feeble and am ALWAYS cold.

>11 cameling: Caro! You came! I wish I had something to offer you. Actually, I'm about to tuck into one of the buns below, so I could share it with you.........if I were feeling generous ;)

I was suddenly struck with inspiration on the languages thing, and Akkadian is a little homage to my grandfather, who could read and write a lot of current and ancient Middle Eastern languages.

The photo of Connie is her at one of her better moments.

Hah! I'd like to see us try and wrestle a hat onto the horses' heads. They sometimes wear fly masks in the summer to stop the flies getting at their eyes, and the horses get them off remarkably quickly so I don't think we'd get the hats to stay on long.

Ohh, more visitors :)

>12 drneutron: I'm glad my bolt of inspiration is interesting people Jim! I'm quite looking forward to seeing what I pick for number 4 as well. Who knows where my mind will take me?

>13 souloftherose: I'm surprised at the lack of knowledge of Akkadian. Glad to offer a little new information to people.

>14 lunacat: The purple rosette in that photo means I came fourth or fifth I think (the sponsor of that particular event do their colours a little differently from most other events).

I'm curled up next to the radiator which is now on! Yay! We don't have a thermostat so I've got no idea what temperature we have it at usually, but both the women in the house (my best friend and I) like it a lot warmer than best friend's husband. Then again, he spends all his time in his 'man room' which is the small third bedroom, with a HUGE plasma TV and games console that pump out heat like nothing else.

I'm just about to tuck into this gorgeous Belgian Bun that I purchased this morning, and thought I'd share with the rest of you:



I had a successful outing this morning and got two secondhand books from the Oxfam bookshop,

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick, because I really like her historical fiction and haven't read this one.

and The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson, because I enjoyed his first book.

I then popped into our local hospice charity shop which didn't have anything I was tempted by, but does have this fabulous wallpaper in their little book section!



Edited to add: I just remembered Heather (souloftherose) posted on the ebook thread that Bitter Greens was one of Amazon UK's Daily Deals today, so I bought it for 99p! It made my morning.

Well, check you out! Already on Thread number šalaš and January isn't even over yet! Love the photo of Connie in her pretty purple ribbon. She may not like to wear a hat or fly mask, but it's apparent she is happy to sport her ribbon!

Glad you got your heating oil in, Jenny. I can't imagine living without heat here in the winter. In Southern California, I almost never used the heat, though it was there if the temps ever dipped below, oh, say, 60F. LOL

Me? I'm in a little cami and a pair of light sweatpants, and a pair of sports socks, and the heat's off. It seems we're having a heat wave here in the Denver area! 72F yesterday, and it promises to meet or beat that temp today. Craziness, but I'm sure not complaining.

I'll be going out in a little bit to run a few errands (library, grocery), then later this afternoon going in for my annual wellness exam. I plan to wear the very lightest clothes I own since I'll be getting weighed, and even if I were nekkid it wouldn't be pretty. :)

>17 Storeetllr: No one is more surprised than I that I'm on my salas thread! Especially given my propensity to fall off the LT planet at regular intervals.

Thankfully the weather did us a favour and the temperature didn't drop below freezing while we had no heat. We did have a fan heater and an electric one for upstairs so we weren't without anything all together, but life around here is definitely improved now the radiators are doing their job.

Blimey, what on earth is going on the weather around you? Sheesh, that's almost tolerable :) Although you might still get a little chilly if you went nekkid.......and perhaps a little arrested as well?

Connie doesn't mind rosettes too much, although she doesn't like me being handed them when I'm on her. I think she'd be most upset that I shared that photo though, because of her ridiculous perm. She'd like everyone to know that her mane is not usually a mass of frizz!

I feel like I just wished you a happy new thread like yesterday..ha!

Happy new thread in Akkadian this time. :)

I'm wearing a shirt and sweatpants but will be opting for my workout clothes in a bout 2 secs to get on my treadmill!

It's not often that I get in on the start of a thread. Hi Jenny! I have on jeans, a blouse and slippers so I'm mighty comfy right now.

I really like that reading challenge. I wish you luck on it :)

I'm wearing a short sleeved shirt under my sweater, jeans and socks and slippers. I am cold too, but I usually am the last person in the room to say it's too warm...

Happy New Thread, Jenny! I am wearing a T-shirt, under a long-sleeved shirt, my usual winter garb, for inside the house, along with sweat-pants, socks & slippers. Got to keep cozy!

What are wearing right now? Please be specific...LOL!

Hi Jenny and happy salas! The climate here in Vancouver is rather cold and damp right now, so I am wearing underwear, a t-shirt, a heavier t-shirt and knit pants, socks and slippers and then to top everything off, I also have my robe on. Not feeling all that great and even with the heat set at 68 degrees I can't seem to get warmed up. When I am finished with LT, I am going to snuggle into my reading chair with a couple of afghans.

So, The Rosie Project was great fun and I just got the sequel, which I hope to read soon. You should look into it! No such luck with the Bitter Greens deal in the US: half-price, but not good enough. Hope your heater kicks in ASAP and you can shed some layers!!

Hi Jenny

I am wearing mismatched pj bottom and top, both are flannel.

However, when I go outside, I wear so many layers that I cannot close the buttons on my coat.

I'm wearing a t-shirt and a heavy overshirt (a Woolrich), jeans, and slippersocks (I knit them - no heels and very simple, but nicely warm (acrylic worsted, two strands on the sole and one on top)). And sitting under a slanket that my sister made - anyone remember blankets with sleeves? It was a short-time fad, but it's actually very nice - I use the arms once in a blue moon, but when I do I need them.

And a laptop on my lap and a cat on my legs, both emitting heat. Not too bad. It's 58F outside and 68F inside, according to my thermometer; I don't have the heat on, but I'm on the third floor of a three-story building and the person downstairs likes it hot. Mostly I don't have to turn my heat on, though I needed it for several days in December (maybe they went on a trip?).

And 252 on the old thread - the wine hangover is probably tannins - that's the usual culprit when someone's sensitive to wine only (don't know myself, of course...).

My app has white noise and brown noise, but I find the brown noise too soft. As I said I mix the white noise with ocean waves and that rounds off the sound nicely; the machine's white noise is perfect by itself (which is good because it can't mix). Blue, purple and pink, huh? Weird! My app has lots of noises, but most of them are too intrusive - crickets and seagulls and, yes, a typewriter and a train and so on. If the noise is identifiable it's too much for me - I need the formless rush of white noise.

Happy new thread, Jenny!

How many layers of clothes are you wearing right now? 1.
It's 9:30 in the evening where I am and a rather balmy 7'C outside right now. Weird.

Sorry to see you were huddled under layers of clothing with no heating.... that sucks.

Underwear, jeans, 3/4 sleeved tee, socks, one shoe and one ankle boot. It got up to 73 Fahrenheit here today, a lovely day out. That's 22.8 Celsius. It's 62 out now (17 C.), but still 73 here in the house.

Blimey, it's wet, wild and windy out there today! The jet stream is moving across us today and dragging a cold front down from the Arctic as it goes.....it's back to freezing tomorrow with even *shock horror* the threat of a little snow. Thankfully I've already done Connie (no riding, I think I'd have got blown off) and so I can curl up for the rest of the day. I might even do some real-book reading which doesn't normally happen during daylight hours.

>19 jolerie: I'd have been very impressed if you'd managed to find 'Happy New Thread' in Akkadian, Val. Hope you had a good workout - you're a better person than I am!

>20 brenzi: Hi Bonnie! Ahh, slippers. If only normal footwear was as comfortable. Glad you were lovely and comfy.

>21 Kassilem: I was really pleased to fit most of my January books into the list, but I fear it's going to be harder from here on in. Some creative reading may be in order.

>22 bell7: Me too, Mary. I shocked my best friend last night by declaring I was too hot. She asked me if I was ill, but nope, just a weird hot flush.

>23 msf59: Hi Mark! I'm very tempted to get back into my pyjamas as I don't have to go out for the rest of the day, but at the moment I'm still in scruffy yard clothes after doing Connie. Leggings, old jeans, thick socks, a thermal long sleeved shirt and a tatty fleece. Not exactly glamorous!

>24 DeltaQueen50: Sorry to hear you're feeling under the weather Judy. I always get even colder when I'm coming down with something. I hope getting nice and snuggled helped.

>25 Berly: I did manage to shed some layers Kim, and even had my usual temperature fluctuations overnight so I woke up soaked in sweat (TMI?). Very glad that the heating is back as the weather has turned monstrous out there, though nothing like the East Coast of the US.

>26 Whisper1: Mismatched PJs are generally the state of mine as well Linda, so I'm glad to be in good company.

Akkadian - ha! I took Akkadian in grad school, believe it or not.

What I'm wearing - homemade flannel pajamas in a sewing notions print, knee-high stripedy socks and my ratty old at-home sweater.

>27 jjmcgaffey: Wow, I'm impressed at sock knitting. My skills aren't up to that! My mum knits amazing socks that are in high demand by me and the rest of the family. Cats are wonderful hot water bottles, aren't they?

>28 jjmcgaffey: Tannins was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't quite dredge the word up. I put 'sandstorm' on the app last night to try and sleep, but it didn't work so I had to resort to an audiobook. However, it was brilliant for drowning out the TV I could hear from downstairs while I read in bed.

>29 lkernagh: Only one layer? It has to be about 25C before I can only wear one layer! I'm impressed.

>30 ronincats: Lovely and toasty Roni. Wish it was those temperatures round here.
_______________

Well, the rain became almost Biblical just now, with a mixture of water and hailstones. This is the view from the back window, but it doesn't show how blustery the wind is. It's quite impressive to watch rain come down in two different directions.

Morning Jenny! I'm focused (in the picture) on the fact that you can see the ground and that the grass is green. Lovely. Swap my outside view for yours!

>33 scaifea: My grandfather learned it at his equivalent of grad school as well, although it might have been a BA, I'm not sure. He was on course to be a vicar but then joined up in '43, was injured in '44 and it changed his outlook on life completely, so I'm not certain if he had completed his Theology degree before switching to the Ancient Middle East.

>35 Fourpawz2: Not sure I'd swap the view, but I think the snow might have done less damage - our lean to/conservatory area which has the fridge, freezer, washing-machine & tumble-dryer has flooded. It's not a particularly sturdy construction with a corrugated plastic roof and wooden single glazing, and it's now very wet out there!

" Leggings, old jeans, thick socks, a thermal long sleeved shirt and a tatty fleece." I was hoping for something a bit more interesting...LOL!

Happy Wednesday, my friend. I hope you have a nice day planned.

>8 lunacat: Congratulations on your latest splendid thread, Jenny. It is sneaking towards bedtime here and in keeping with my normal habit - it is off with corduroys, underpants, socks, jacket (no tie), and shirt. A quick cooling shower and then change into my easy bedtime clothes of easy pants and baggy tee-shirt.

>37 msf59: Apologies for not being more exciting! If it hadn't been such awful weather I'd have been riding today which would have necessitated tight jodhpurs, but alas, I feared for my safety so chose not to.

>38 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. I'm holding off on the temptation to get into PJs as it's only 2.53pm, but I suspect I'll only last another hour. Also wanting a nap quite badly.

>34 lunacat: - LOL! Well, I was not standing outside.... it was about 25'C in the house and I was in my PJs. ;-)

Jenny--Enjoy the rain from INSIDE! Sounds like a perfect reading day. : )

Hey again, Jenny! I can well understand your feelings re: the rain with all those items under threat of drowning. I would be having a major anxiety attack if it were my house and stuff.

No work again today so I have time to finish shoveling out. At the moment am under blankies on couch and wearing sweat pants, turtleneck from yesterday and fleecy top. Socks and underwear, too. Have come back from outside where I was working on digging out my little car. Am about 1/3 done with that. Needless to say am overheated and have not boosted the furnace thermostat from 60 degrees which was where I put it when I went outside. (Jane has a fur coat after all and she can stand cooler temperatures.) Will go back outside this afternoon to do more once I dry out. My feet were perfectly warm and dry, but my legs were freezing and wet because of having to slog through thigh-high snow.

Happy New Thread, Jenny.

>40 lkernagh: That sounds far more reasonable. Wish I could have the house at 25C all the time but alas, not my house and I don't pay the heating bills so it's lots of layers for me.

>41 Berly: It's been lovely. Unfortunately it hasn't been the most peaceful day in the house but I escaped to my room with three cats, headphones in and white noise on my phone, and got a good two hours reading in. Bliss.

>42 Fourpawz2: Eesh, I'm glad you're not a block of ice Charlotte. My mind cannot comprehend thigh high snow - England shuts down if it gets about 2 inches. Also glad that you still have power :)

>43 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! Great to see you.

16. Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell ♫



It's really hard for me to review my audiobooks as I listen to them very slowly, in 30-40 minute blocks while I ride Connie. As such, I tend to follow the plot fine but I don't pay as much attention to the language or the intricacies of the story and just go along for the ride.

That being said, this is just as enjoyable as the first book, and is brilliantly narrated by Jonathan Keeble. There are elements of superstition and magic as is to be expected with a novel of Arthur and Merlin, but there are never overdone and always fit well in with the historical details. The battle scenes are convincing, and satisfyingly thrilling without taking liberties with the goriness, and the plot moves well with nice moments of respite in between. The clever characterisation of Arthur as a dedicated leader who carries on striving to do what is right instead of what will give him most power adds nice touches to the selfish and power-hungry Lancelot, and each war leader (including those of the Saxons) is well enough written that it's easy to keep them straight.

I'm sure I'd have raced through this trilogy if I'd been reading rather than listening, but audiobook is a perfect way to enjoy these. I've already downloaded the third.

17. Fables, Vol 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham



Residing in their own section of Manhattan, Fabletown is full of fairytale characters who have been exiled from their own lands and must now try to settle down in our world. Despite the fact they've been here for centuries, there is still a lot of conflict, and this first volume of the series begins with a disappearance, and a possible murder.

Rose Red has gone missing, and her apartment is covered in blood. Her sister, Snow White, is the defacto leader of the Fable community and calls in the sheriff, Bigby Wolf (of three little piggy fame), to try to solve the mystery. There are many possible suspects including Bluebeard, Jack Horner, Prince Charming and Snow White herself.

This is good fun, and a nice way to introduce all the characters. I really enjoyed the adult spin on the normal myths and legends, and the laws of the world Willingham creates. However, following on from Saga, the artwork is a little clunky at times and doesn't have the same finesse as the former, though still very good. The 'filler' pages at the beginning and end as well as at occasional moments during the book are much more to my liking.

All in all, this are very entertaining and I'll be racing my way through the series.

18. Fables, Vol 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham



As the title suggests, volume 2 of the Fables series is a pastiche of Animal Farm, and takes place at the out-of-town farm where those persons and creatures of Fabletown that cannot disguise themselves into the human population live.

Snow White and Rose Red take a trip to the Farm in order to check up on the goings on and attempt to fix their broken relationship. But when they arrive, they find the Administrator missing, and the animals plotting.

Things take a turn for the macabre and threatening when a pig is found murdered with his head on a spike in the yard. As Snow White realises the danger she's in and desperately tries to escape the property and find help, she is ganged up on by Goldilocks, a militant and psychotic woman who is willing to go to any lengths to get what she wants, and various vicious and dangerous animals.

This is certainly more adult-themed than the first volume and doesn't pull any punches in setting out a plot that is chilling and thrilling. The darkness of the myths and fables is fully realised, and the deaths mount up. Still, I couldn't put it down.

Thanks for the rec on Enemy of God. I've always been a fan of Arthurian stories.

Connie is beautiful!

Adding Fables to my wish list as I try to expand my GN experience.

>8 lunacat: Ha! Funny question. My answer is many more layers than I'd like. Underwear, t-shirt, sundress. I am way too hot! Funny too, to think that a year ago in the same temperatures, I was happy in a light cardigan. I have now acclimated I guess. I still cant get my head around the fact that I feel hot at 25-26 C. I used to consider that the perfect temperature. Now I'd like to see 18 again. Lol.

>15 lunacat: I love Arthurian stories as well. Enemy of God looks good.

>48 Kassilem: The first in the trilogy is The Winter King if you want to look out for it Melissa. How is the preparation for Ghana going?

>49 EBT1002: I think Fables is a really good one to read if you're not used to GNs - this is only my fourth series and I'm enjoying the new experience of being able to read without requiring 100% concentration! like when others have the TV on.

>50 nittnut: I don't think I've ever been too hot at 25C, that's just about right for me if I'm being active (riding etc). Strange how quickly we can acclimatise though!

As I said above, The Winter King is the first in the trilogy if you fancy them.

Question Favourite dessert ever?

I'm a huge dessert lover, unsurprisingly given my sweet tooth. I'll struggle to narrow it down to one but I'll give it some thought.

Bonus question: If you HAD to give up either cheese or chocolate, which would you choose? It would be a sacrifice but I'd have to give up chocolate, there are too many dishes that are useless without cheese.

Well, I've been absent from threads for a few days and am trying to catch up a little bit. Love the picture of Connie. My friend who has a small "farm" and who boards horses as well as having her own called yesterday to chat about cameras.
It made me want to pack up my camera kit and go visit her! I love trying to catch good pictures of horses, but she is a bit nervous that they will find my approach with a camera could be nervous making for them.

I am in my bed, having awakened at a totally unreasonable hour of 1:30 am. I was very tired last night and popped off to sleep way too early, obviously. So, at the moment I am wearing a cotton night shirt, and a cozy robe, with the bed covers over my legs.

My favorite dessert: lemon meringue pie. A childhood joy. Today I don't eat desserts often as I've tended to "fat" all my life and am currently dropping a small amount of weight due to avoiding wheat flour (which means most carbohydrates). I love that if I do not eat wheat flour, I drop a small amount of weight each week. I'm weighing about what I did when I was a young woman and I love it. I hope to be better at exercising so I can also have some good muscle tone.

So, I also have other ideas for favorite desserts: crepes with fresh, ripe strawberries, and lots of whipped cream; pecan pie; Strawberry shortcake.

Enough.

I hope your home is comfortable again! Lack of heat is not something I can tolerate very well at all. I'm very happy to have my home being about 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day; and about 62 in the night.

>7 lunacat: I love the Connie photo! We need more gratuitous pictures of her :)

Hey Lori! past due happy dance for your new thread! but sad face that not even one morsel of the Belgian bum remains. I'm bummed about that.
Connie wears purple beautifully!
Hope you're able to ease up on the layering today.

^Now, I am going to be thinking about this all day! Thanks, Jenny!

>51 lunacat: Thanks! I'll look for that one. And the preparations have slowed a little. In the middle of a bunch of medical appointments right now.

>57 lunacat: haha. Love it

Half of my family has an Austrian kitchen background, so I grew up with having real dessert like ice cream quite rarely, but instead often got sweet meals as main dish. My grandma often made a vegetable soup followed by pancakes that were rolled up and filled with jam, sweet noodle casserole (with cherries or apples and ricotta), bread puddings, sweet dumplings with plums and vanilla sauce, etc. Potato dumplings filled with apricots served with hot butter, sugar, roasted breadcrumbs and cinnamon are my absolute favorites!

Real desserts: cheesecake!!

Chocolate or cheese: until a year ago I would have said that I can't live without cheese, but then I did for a while and surprisingly didn't miss it much. And in cheesecake it can be substituted. So I'd chose the chocolate!

>53 maggie1944: I'd be surprised if the horses minded the cameras as I've never come across one that has made a fuss yet. Of course there would need to be no flash, but other than that I can't see it being a problem. Connie has certainly never reacted, and she's the first to kick up a stink about something ridiculous!

Case in point, she's still having forty fits about the end of the arena where the man in the van was last week. There is a huge and terrible monster up there that only she can see. Of course, she can only see it if she approaches it clockwise, not anti-clockwise. Then a VERY low and very fast fighter jet went over (we're near a big US airbase and two smaller RAF ones) that I didn't notice until it was almost upon us, followed by the roar of it, and neither she nor the other young horse we were with reacted at all. Stupid creature.

1.30am is indeed inappropriate, but I see it far too often. If I get to sleep easily I tend to sleep for a couple of hours and then be awake for a block of time from 1-5am ish.

You're in luck, I won't want any of your lemon meringue pie! Or your other choices actually.......you can have a binge :)

Glad to hear you're feeling so fit and well. It has got cold again here, and we had actual snowflakes falling this afternoon so the layers are back on, but at least I can go and flick the heating on if it all gets too much. I've got pottery tonight and I don't fancy going out in the dark but I'll enjoy it when I get there.

>54 alcottacre: There are certainly plenty of Connie photos waiting in the wings although most of them are competition photos that have me in them which I don't like as much! I'm always so critical about myself, and look for the flaws, whereas Connie is mostly perfect :)

>55 Carmenere: Lori eh? I like the new name! Katie calls me Ermintrude so I'm gathering a collection ;) Yup, the Belgian Bun is all gone, but I could look out some Belgian buMs if you'd like.......there are bound to be some nice looking ones. I'd assume this actor, Matthias Schoenaerts, probably has a pleasant specimen, judging by this photo:



>56 msf59: How did I know yours was going to be beer related, Mark!

>58 Kassilem: Ah, the fun of waiting rooms and endless vaccinations. I remember the extreme number of jabs I had to have before going to Mongolia, so I imagine you are having a similar number.

>59 Deern: I do like a good bread pudding and I'd be happy to have it as a main meal. I've never been a fan of cheesecake but my mum makes an incredibly decadent chocolate cheesecake that is the only one I like.

I think it would be practically impossible for me to give up cheese so I'm very impressed that you could manage without it!

>52 lunacat: My favourite dessert is chocolate cheesecake, which makes the answer to your bonus question impossible!

>52 lunacat: Creme Brulee!

I would totally give up chocolate. Cheese is essential.

>61 lunacat: Honestly! Lori!? I am so inept before 10am. I should just keep the covers over my head till noon. However, my blunder earned me an introduction to Mr. Schoenaerts. So, not a bad mistake after all. :0))))

Hmm... my Belgian colleagues look NOTHING like Matthias Schoenaerts. What's up with that? I demand a trade in!

I love torrential rain storms .. if I'm indoors and my basement doesn't flood. I was in Hong Kong one time during a lovely little typhoon and saw rain streaming past at a ninety degree angle to the ground. Amazing!

...I am still dreaming about that Guinness milkshake.

>62 archerygirl: No willpower at all ;) You'd love my mum's chocolate cheesecake then, it's definitely considered to be the best ever by all who have tried it.

>63 nittnut: Agreed, cheese is an essential life component.

>64 Carmenere: I'd say any blunder that brings a pleasant sight like Matthias to the fore is not only forgivable, it's almost compulsory.

>65 cameling: Yup, you need to have a word with HR about those colleagues. Although having a specimen such as him could cause a lapse in attention and problems working.

Being in the Dominican Caribbean during a tropical storm was incredible. I've never seen rain like it. It came close yesterday but only lasted about 10 minutes as opposed to 36hrs!

>66 msf59: Can I tempt your mind onto other desserts? This for instance:

Sweet and Salty Guinness Chocolate Pie with Beer Marshmallow Meringue

I'm probably going to get stoned but I could give up both. Neither are absolute musts in my life. That goes to say desserts are not my favourite things either...ha!

>68 jolerie: I should click 'ignore' on you right now and never acknowledge your presence again for such sacrilegious talk on my thread. However, I shall simply throw melted chocolate at you for now.

OMG!

I didn't say I hated the stuff. I just wouldn't go out of my way to eat it. :P

>71 jolerie: Maybe I shall pelt you with olives instead. I don't want to waste my precious chocolate on such a degenerate ;)

LOL. I'll just open my mouth big and wide. I love olives. Bring it on. :D

ETA: Am I back in your good graces if I told you I have a SIL who loves chocolates so much she debated leaving her chocolate fountain next to her bed for convenient consumption?? I think she more than makes up for my lack of love..hehe

'Allo, Ermintrude! I got a bit (47 posts!) behind but am now all caught up.

Favorite dessert - I like fruity things, so lemon bar or strawberry shortcake. Or peach cobbler...

Cheese or chocolate - I am not a huge chocolate fan. It's fine but I could give it up okay, I think. But cheese! Love cheese. A must have.

>73 jolerie: I do approve of the chocolate fountain idea so you are out of the doghouse.....for now ;)

>74 katiekrug: Well hello there Katie! Cheese is indeed a must have. I might have a question on cheese at some point but when I'm not craving it - at the moment it would be a strange form of torture!

I found a children's book from my childhood that my mum wouldn't allow in the house so I had at my grandparents instead. I have very strong memories of sitting between them in their bed and reading it.

It has also given me fuel for my inquisition of you lot, so for the next.....well, as long as it takes me to get through the questions in the book, I shall be asking Would You Rather....

The first question is fairly basic (they get weirder, trust me):

Would you rather your house was surrounded by snow, water or jungle?

It is blasphemous to even ask if one should live without cheese or chocolate. The shame!

I would rather my house be surrounded by water.

Err...my house is usually surrounded by snow most of the year so that's nothing new to me.

Jungle depends if there are wild, meat eating animals?

Water seems nice and convenient.

Dang..your questions are hard...haha!

1. I have two layers on now, but I am of the age where the sweatshirt is coming off and on quite frequently, as I sit at the computer.

2. I recently had an awesome ginger ice cream. I will vote for that.

3. Interesting question-- I just recently decided to cut out both coffee and sugar for a bit, to see if that helped my headaches. So I guess I will stick with cheese.

4. Snow! I love snow days, we can ski around the neighborhood, and then snuggle in and bake.

>76 lunacat: I found a children's book from my childhood that my mum wouldn't allow in the house...

Not sure what my answer to your last question would be, but I have a question for you: Why wouldn't your mom allow that book in the house? It seems innocuous from what I can tell of it.

Thanks so much for playing along everyone, always lovely to have you here.

>77 Morphidae: I do apologise. I should never have asked such an offensive and disrespectful question ;)

>78 jolerie: The illustration didn't have any meat-eating animals in it so perhaps it's safe. I can't remember what tomorrows question is and the book is upstairs, so I can't comment on whether it's easy or hard!

>79 banjo123: Hi Rhonda! Snap, I'm currently wearing two layers but I did only just get out of the shower so I'm nice and warm. More will be going on shortly, I'm sure.

>80 Storeetllr: I think because I was obsessed with it and my mum hates it! I would assume that either it had originally been mine and it got donated to my grandparents for the above reason, or more likely that they had it and I begged to be allowed my own copy and wasn't because of her loathing for it. I don't know if she dislikes it because of my obsession, or if the dislike was already there before it became one of my favourite picture books.

Sometimes the recipe for a bad day turning good is as follows:

1 face-planted cat



An argument with 'the cat who couldn't cuddle' when we got her, who is now impossibly demanding







And a rather glorious sunset after my ride.





(The book I was attempting to read is The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt, which I'm loving.)

I vote for a house surrounded by snow, as long as I had enough supplies to last me and didn't have to go out in it or shovel it or anything.

And if you mean a house surrounded by water as in it's on an island and there is nobody else around except a few hand-chosen people, but there are lots of books and a Whataburger, then I would like one of those houses, too, please.

Favorite dessert is too variable - at the moment it's a Boston Cream (creme?) Pie, mostly because I haven't had one in ages and just found a recipe. Not sure I'll actually try to make it, but it brought the treat to mind...

I agree, I'd give up chocolate. Cheese is too important to me. And there are other kinds of sweets (hmm, could I cheat and have carob? It's not chocolate, but it fills much the same slot).

I can't answer the Would you rather because it's too vague. A house surrounded by snow all the time would be awful (it's fun for a while...) if I had to go out in it. Surrounded by water - if it means a (warm) island, sounds great (though again, the going out might be a pain)! If it means floodwaters, no thanks. Jungle similar - if you mean a little house in the middle of the jungle with normal jungle animals, no thanks; if you mean a house near a jungle, quite possibly (especially as it would probably be warm there!). (hmmm, slight theme of "warm" happening...)

By the way, anyone know the origin of the word "jungle"? It's actually from Farsi (Persian) - and means, anything that grows without human tending. My parents were Peace Corps in a town in the Afghan desert, Farah, and the townsfolk were very proud of their "jungal" (can't do the Arabic letters) - three palm trees outside the walls of the old town.

Jungle, water or snow? Well water is right out, that sounds either suspiciously like there's a flood, I live in a floating house, or on a very tiny island. All of these are unacceptable to me. If it has to be permanent, then I'd opt for jungle, although that kind of climate isn't my favourite. Hmm, snow could be ok too, as long as I could get to not-snow easily.

I vote for water around my house, as long as there is a boat. Then I could go water skiing, or swimming, or float around and then watch beautiful sunsets. And get to land for friends and groceries and stuff. Second choice would be the snow, which I also enjoy and last would be jungle, because I have never been in one and I think it would freak me out.

I want water on one side, with a lovely civilized forest (deciduous) on the other side, and short winters and moderate summers. Okay?

That's a difficult one... water can be romantic (thinking Venice and channels with boats), but then there might be floods and in summer you'd have all those mosquitos. Snow would be too white for me after a couple of weeks. Jungle sounds tempting as long as there are no dangerous animals. I once stayed in a rainforest lodge in Queensland and loved it! The jungle never sleeps is true, all those sounds during the night were fantastic. And all those different greens!! On the other hand: continually damp clothes/ towels/ bed linen. Clearly I am not really an adventurous person and should stay in central Europe...
So water it would be, top floor with roof terrace and lots of mosquito nets.

Hi Jenny, I wish you a lovely weekend.

>83 katiekrug: Alas, the house in the illustration appears to be flooded, not on an island, so you'd best stick to your vote of snow!

>84 jjmcgaffey: I don't think the author of the children's book designed for 3-6 year olds was quite thinking through all the repercussions of his 'would you rather' questions, but I love how seriously everyone is taking them.

The house is in the jungle is properly in the jungle, and has the following animals around it: a crocodile, a white lion, a zebra, an elephant, a lion cub, a stork (pelican?) 4 monkeys, a parrot and a giraffe.

Floodwaters are indeed the situation with the water. The snow looks to be about waist height but comes with no other animals!

Love the errant palm trees being a jungle :)

>85 evilmoose: Water is indeed a flood. Not sure how easily you could get to not-snow as it is pretty deep round the house, so you'd have to argue with the author on that one. Jungle sounds the warmest so that's what I'd pick too.

>86 Berly: Yup, there is a boat in the picture, and you could just move all your belongings upstairs so water would be doable.

>87 ronincats: I'm afraid my children's book can't accommodate you Roni! Maybe you'd better head back to Mamie's island instead :).

>88 Deern: The water doesn't look very romantic Nathalie so you're probably best to avoid it. There are indeed wild animals roaming around the place, so Central Europe seems like your best bet.

>89 Ameise1: Hi Barbara! Thank you for my adorable fluffy pony. Alas, I've woken up with a splitting headache after some very odd dreams but I've taken some painkillers so I'm hoping it will ease off soon.

Today's Would you rather.......(which is distinctly weirder than the house question).

Would you rather an elephant drank your bath water, an eagle stole your dinner, a pig tried on your clothes, or a hippo slept in your bed?

I will get back to books at some point today, I promise!

Oh dear, get well soon. xx

No, no, no. THIS is the house I'm referring to...

Ah, Morphy, you remind me of the chateau in France we visited which is built partially in the middle of the river; so, if that's the "surrounded by water" option I certainly could enjoy that. But surrounded by water in the pacific northwest corner of the USA means it is cold, and damp, and foggy, and generally pretty uncomfortable all the time.

My first thought was Snow as my experience is with real "snow days" when it meant school was closed and we had free holidays, we would stoke up the wood stove, and stay home to read all day.

No jungle for me. Don't like too much heat, and certainly don't like too many insects, snakes, and creepy crawly creatures.

Next question: I'd rather have a pig try on my clothes. I'd love to have a place where having a pig as a pet would be a realistic possibility. Sort of a small farm with a 4H type operation where one or two of many farm animals were about and there was plenty of money to feed everyone and my only job was to take good care of a small number of animals, and then retire to the reading room.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

Happy Saturday, Jenny! I hope you are getting plenty of R & R in this weekend.

>93 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. Nothing like your illness, not sure quite what is going on, but hopefully it won't turn into anything else. Bored of feeling odd.

>94 Morphidae: Ohh, yes please. I could live there. Although the damp might get on my nerves, and I don't think the cats would like it very much.

>95 maggie1944: I'd like a farm like that as well, with a few of everything. Best friend says its a good thing I don't have more space or money as I'd end up besieged by animals.

>96 msf59: Had to venture out earlier while it was snowing but it has now turned into blustery, freezing cold rain instead and I'm not leaving my hermit cave. Surrounded by snoring cats, and have lost all motivation for everything. I might resort to a nap!

19. The Queen's Man by Rory Clements



John Shakespeare is a young lawyer approached by Sir Francis Walsingham to be part of his spy network, and to seek out threats against Queen Elizabeth. His first mission involves another Queen, and he travels to Sheffield to inspect the castle Mary of Scots is imprisoned in, and look for signs of a suspected plot to free her.

Surrounded by intrigue, and a whole host of mysterious characters each with their own perception of right and wrong, the various threats weave around John and take him home, where his own family also finds itself caught up in the battle between papist persecution and religious fervour.

When I ordered this, I hadn't realised it was a prequel to an already established series, but it was still a fun and interesting read. Shakespeare's devotion to the side of justice for his Queen, rather than being willing to alter his morals as others around him do, causes a decent amount of internal conflict and shows how tricky it was to find the 'right' path between the various sects, all of whom are willing to go to far more extreme lengths than he for their beliefs.

Sinister characters abound, with few moments of levity to break up the suspicion and dark themes, and that is one of the failings of the book, along with the incorporation of two or three too many strands of plot. There is little breathing space provided to ruminate on the possibilities or get people and their motivations clear. Still, things eventually come to some interesting conclusions, even when the logical part of the brain has to be suspended to believe the plot.

The cover claims the series 'Does for Elizabeth's reign what C.J. Sansom does for Henry VIII's' but I wouldn't go that far. Maybe the main series of books is slightly better but I'd classify this as a well-written but middle of the road historical thriller, rather than the brilliance of the Shardlake series.

I'll happily read the first in the series, Martyr, from the library or if I come across it second-hand, but I won't place it on my 'must read' list.

I'd prefer the eagle or the elephant, mostly because they sound like less damage. Hippo in my bed (well, I don't see how it would get up to my loft bed, but leaving that aside...) kind of indicates no bed afterward - and pig in my clothes probably means fewer clothes. I don't take baths (only showers), so the elephant wouldn't get much to drink. I'd love to see an eagle close up, as long as it didn't attack me (only my dinner). So I guess eagle for me.

I love hippos, so...

>92 lunacat: Oh, well that one's easy. The elephant would hopefully be the least destructive... assuming he doesn't try and come into the house, our bath is accessible for a trunk via a ground floor window. And I'd quite like to have an elephant visit me. I wouldn't be having with birds stealing my food, and I suspect the pig and hippo would ruin my clothes and bed respectively.

>99 jjmcgaffey: I agree, I'm between the eagle and the elephant. I don't think our floors could support a full-grown elephant but a baby elephant would be adorable. Someone like this:



Although an eagle up close would be cool.

>100 katiekrug: Hippo it is for you then!

>101 evilmoose: I'll send one of the above guys around for you then ^
__________________

Do you ever have periods of extreme jealousy and not be brave enough to do anything about it? Friends of mine seem to be constantly socialising together, and while I wouldn't want to be out every weekend, I would like to be invited or acknowledged some time. I've tried dropping hints but the one time I came out and asked to come along, I got told 'oh, it's not my 'gathering' to invite you along to.'

It's not a huge deal, but I get sick of being ignored and looked over (which is probably my fault for being a wallflower), and I hate the horrible emotions it brings up in me.

>102 lunacat: - I totally get that. It actually happened to me earlier this week, and it wasn't even something I was interesting in going to but it would have been nice to be included. If I lived closer, I'd totally hang out with you any time, Ermintrude!

>102 lunacat: I can identify. I was in the kitchen this morning when my niece asked my sister if she'd like to go to my other niece's house tomorrow for a Superbowl party. Neither of them even looked my way. I probably would have said no thanks, but it would have been nice to be asked. I don't like the feelings it engenders in me either, but I don't usually say anything about it so that it keeps happening is probably partly my own fault.

Your question reminded me of a kid's song from when my daughter was little: "Hippo in the Bathtub."

ETA a YouTube rendition of Hippo in the Bathtub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waF6YIsNaks

Yay, glad to know I'm not alone in my jealous patheticness. ;)

I'm sure some of it is I'm known for being a hermit and not wanting to be around a lot of people, but I've also voiced wanting to socialise more. And I think it's that I'm also not terribly likeable - I'm awkward and sardonic and not the kind of person you have a hilarious giggle with. So why would people think to invite me along?

And I won't ever do anything about it because I'm too afraid of coming across as needy and being rejected, or finding out it really is because they don't want me around. Then my defense is to put my walls up and feel sorry for myself inside, and of course I end up distancing myself even more.

Welcome to the Saturday Night Pity Party I'm hosting here on my thread. You're only allowed entry if you can whine sufficiently....and bring wine.

I hate spring and summer and usually go into major depression mode because everyone is inviting their friends over and you can hear them all having a great time in their backyards and on their balconies, while I'm usually ALONE. Maybe this year will be different if I don't manage to drive Pierre away before then.

Yay, a pitty party! *Gets comfortably seated, pours large glass of wine*.

Definitely could live without chocolate especially if I were able to have any kind of cheese that I want and often.

I am currently surrounded by snow with more to come and not liking it at all. Don't want to be surrounded by water and don't care for jungle. How about forest? Forest might be nice.

Would like to see a pig in my clothes. That would make me laugh.

I am late for the pity party, it's Sunday morning here already, so I'd rather have a cup of coffee now. But I had some nice Tuscan red last night. :)

I was SO jealous of the things others did although most often I wouldn't have joined them anyway. Now I know I was jealous because other people (mainly my parents) had been telling me all my life "you must be more open and outgoing/ have more friends/ be more active/ you're missing out on life and will regret it one day". Especially that last bit struck. So while I mostly preferred being alone instead of for example going to summer BBQs (those things make me feel drained instead of energetic) I always felt wrong for it. Now I accept that I need much alone time to recharge and while that may be wrong for others, for me it's right and that's what counts.

Then, by the end of last year however, I had to admit to myself that I was alone so much that it was becoming loneliness and that I needed more socialising. So I told my friends openly that I wanted to see/hear them more often and to my own surprise they at once started calling me and inviting me to do quiet things like having lunch or hiking together or that last weekend in the snow.

And I think it's that I'm also not terribly likeable - I'm awkward and sardonic and not the kind of person you have a hilarious giggle with. So why would people think to invite me along?
Well, my experience is that people get in fact irritated when the sardonic thing gets too strong and mostly when it is directed towards yourself. It scares them and they don't know how to handle it. During my most sardonic times I had a friend who was very similar. We had much fun together, but one day someone told us that together we were unbearable for him to listen to, that we were like poison. He said "you're both so great, why are you so bitter with the world and yourself"? He liked us both but thought we were 100% serious with everything we said and that hurt him.

This has changed over the years, but it needed self-work. Now I don't even enjoy gossip anymore and I used to have such a biting tongue. I am nicer to myself and automatically became nicer and more accepting to people I couldn't stand earlier.

And awkwardness - I came to the point now where I ask my friends how best to behave in this or that situation because it seems I skipped a certain step in my childhood where you learn those social codes. That's how it is and I have to accept it. I'll never learn with whom to shake hands and whom to kiss for hellos and which side and how often. I try not to be the first in a line and then I copy the others.

Sorry for the length, but I know how this can torture you. Remembering all those summers in Frankfurt when I thought "I should be down by the river with everyone else and have a good time" and the few times I went I was bored and didn't want to have a picnic on the muddy ground or be run over by skaters and bikers and didn't drink anything because there were no loos and all I really wanted was being back home with a book... :)

******
And I wish an eagle was stealing my breakfast, lunch and dinner for a couple of days, but they don't go for sugar and carbs I fear. :(

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday - and like Katie, should I ever make it to your not too far away part of the world, I will happily (and quietly) hang out with you.

I think I would choose a house surrounded by water. I think I'm pretty close to having it.

Oops. That wasn't sufficiently whiny. I will worsen the situation by saying that I have, on occasion, had a hilarious giggle over here on your threads...

Okay, *wipe sweat of brow* I think I managed to get caught up here.

1. The weather here is quite similiar to England, so currently I am dressed in several layers of clothing. Whilst my dad sits in his t-shirt in the front room I wear a vest, long-sleeve t-shirt, thermal jumper, cardigan, ahem, and as you I am quite often still cold.

2. My fave desserts are cheese cakes in all shapes and sizes.

3. Well, to be honest I can't make up my mind where I would like to live. I do enjoy the different seasons of the year and I couldn't imagine being without them, or just be surrounded by water, by snow or a jungle.

I see you enjoyed the Fable GN's. They are on Alex WL, so hopefully we willl get to them soon.

The pity party might well continue as I had a horrible night and have woken up in a foul mood! I shall do my best to shake myself out of it, but in case I don't........let the whining continue ;)

>106 Smiler69: Settle in Ilana, always room for some complaining here. That's possibly why I don't like spring so much either - lots of people out doing things and being social and I'm not! I shouldn't really allow you in here now you have Pierre, but I'll be kind and not ostracise you for daring to be happy ;)

>107 Fourpawz2: Alas, forest not an option according to the book, but I can provide you with the pig. Perhaps a pig in a jumper?

>108 Deern: At this Pity Party we provide coffee as well, but only if you add a shot of something alcoholic to it as well ;)

I definitely find social occasions exhausting, and the recent memes etc going round about introverts and how we see and respond to the world are very applicable. I need some alone time afterwards, or the next day, to recharge my social batteries, but that doesn't mean I don't want to push my boundaries and try to do these things more, even if it means just meeting up for a couple of drinks and then leaving while they go on to a club or something.

I think I do need to tone down the cynical side of myself and try to be more open and friendly, and I'm working on it. I probably need to work harder at it though. The two friends I was specifically mentioning last night both know I'm trying hard with my mental health so I might say something to them about trying to socialise more and ask for suggestions, hopefully that might have a result.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences Nathalie, I really appreciate it. And I don't think the eagle in the book looks too picky about what food he steals, so he'd be happy to take the sugar and carbs off your plate!

>109 nittnut: Ahh, a giggle? Here? Caused by me? Begone, you strange, happy, unwhiny person ;)

Wait.............I didn't mean it............come back!

>110 drachenbraut23: The Fable GNs are good fun with decent complexity and some seriously dark moments as well. I'm really enjoying my excursions into the GN world. Lovely to see you Bianca.

>111 lunacat: - woke up to the pig in a jumper and I was right - it did make me laugh. Thanks, Jenny!

January Stats

Books read: 22
Pages read: 4673
Rereads: 0
New authors: 11
Female authors: 7
Male authors: 8
Nonfiction: 1
Fantasy: 6
GN: 5
Historical fiction: 7
Contemporary/Challenge fiction: 3
Audiobooks: 1

Pages read per day: 150.74

Top 3 of the month (I'll pick 1 if I read 1-10 books, 2 if 11-20 and 3 if 21-20):

Being Mortal
Saga
The Frozen Thames

with close contenders:

Rivers of London
The Letter for the King
The Shock of the Fall

Worst book:

Moon Tiger

20. The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt



Originally published in Dutch in 1962, this YA fantasy adventure was finally translated into English and published here in 2013, and is well worth the wait.

Tiuri, a sixteen year old knight in waiting is performing his final vigil before being knighted by the King the following day. During the night, he and the other boys locked in the church are expected to fast and pray, and under no circumstances are they to open the door. He is expecting a test, a knock to see if they will relent, and when it comes all of them find it easy to ignore.

But then he hears something else. A plea for help. A plea he cannot ignore, and in opening the door he receives an adventure he could never have imagined, and one more dangerous than anything he has ever faced before.

Dispatched by the mysterious messenger to deliver a letter, it first seems an easy task, but when murder and a man-hunt quickly follow, he must escape from his homeland and everyone he knows in order to succeed.

This quote sums up the situation he finds himself in perfectly:

"He had to travel to a distant land to deliver an important letter, and all he had was the clothes on his back. And his tattered robe was far from suitable for such a long journey. He had no weapons, no money and no horse. People thought he was a thief. And what was more, he had dangerous enemies: the Red Riders and their leader, the Black Knight with the Red Shield."

A wonderful, epic adventure that takes the usual fantasy themes and skillfully weaves them into a charming and exciting novel with interesting characters and well written and easy to understand politics going on behind the scenes to add depth. The characters, both Tiuri himself and those he meets, each have their own personalities and internal struggles that make them interesting, and Tiuri's attempts to differentiate friends from enemies are certainly challenging. The constant threat that hangs over him is never far away and the suspense keeps you hanging till the last page as he tries to survive, and wonders what might be waiting for him at home if he does.

There are also lovely black and white illustrations at the beginning of every part that suit the atmosphere of desperation perfectly.

I was disappointed to discover at the end of this book that the sequel hasn't been released in English yet (although the story isn't left on a cliffhanger), but hopefully it will be soon.

"There was indeed sorrow in his eyes, but that seemed to be part of his character. It was the melancholy of a man who knows and understands a great deal, and so cannot be light-hearted."

"There will always be something that you miss, whether you leave now or stay here. All throughout our lives, we must keep saying goodbye."

Happy Sunday, Jenny! I just went out to clear a path for the dogs. We have at least 6 to 7 inches of heavy wet snow out there, with more coming down Ugh! Although, better today than tomorrow. Whew!

>113 Fourpawz2: Glad the pig had the desired effect!

>116 msf59: Apparently we had snow this morning but I was asleep for that, and it is now wet, windy and wild out there. Not pleasant. I'll take that over your snow though! Hope it stops snowing soon and stays away tomorrow for you.
______________

Saw this article posted on FB, "40 Tiny Tasks for a Richer Reading Life"

http://bookriot.com/2015/01/30/40-tiny-tasks-for-a-richer-reading-life/

Not sure I agree with all of them (and a lot of them aren't tiny at all) but there are some interesting ideas.

1. Wake up 15 minutes earlier than usual and use that time to read a poem.

2. Visit your library — especially if it’s been awhile — and ask a librarian for a recommendation.

3. Let go of one reading prejudice and never think about it again.

4. Read one book in a genre you think you despise.

5. Ask someone you respect for a book suggestion, and read it right away.

6. Give away the book that’s been on your TBR pile the longest.

7. Volunteer for an organization that promotes literacy.

8. Read a book that looks like it will make you feel uncomfortable.

9. Commit to a reading challenge.

10. Cull ten books from your collection and donate them without bringing any new books home.

11. Read out loud to someone you love.

12. Make a list of the ways reading intersects with love in your life.

13. Listen to the audiobook of a book you DNF’d years ago.

14. Read your best friend’s favourite book, no matter what it is.

15. Dog-ear a page.

16. Write in the margins.

17. Ask your oldest relative or friend their favourite book. Read it right away and tell them.

18. Read outside.

19. Listen to an audiobook while you run errands.

20. Read a play. Let yourself take the time to imagine how it might be staged.

21. Reread a book you hated in high school. Reread it twice.

22. Apologize to someone you’ve been snobby or snarky to about books.

23. Read a book by an author from a country you’ve never imagined visiting.

24. Read a collection of poetry by a single poet, front-to-back, twice.

25. Give your favourite book from childhood at the next baby shower you attend.

26. Give your favourite book from your 20s to your favourite college student.

27. Read a book by a person who doesn’t look like you.

28. Read a book by a person who wouldn’t understand you in a million years.

29. Read one page of a holy book from a faith you were not raised with.

30. Listen to a podcast about books.

31. Attend the next reading in your town, even (especially!) if you don’t know the author.

32. Write a handwritten letter to a living author you adore.

33. Visit the grave of a dead author you adore.

34. Visit a place you’ve only ever read about in books.

35. Crack a spine. Go on. Do it.

36. Read a superhero comic, especially if you haven’t in years (or ever).

37. Watch an adaptation of a book you like and try to like it for what it is.

38. Memorize a poem.

39. Reread the book you loved best when you were sixteen.

40. Have a conversation about books with someone you’ve never talked books with before.

>45 lunacat: I have a similar problem with writing comments for audiobooks. I usually take notes when I'm reading print stuff, but that's impossible with audiobooks, so my comments suffer, I'm sure.

>85 evilmoose: Awe! Love the face plant photo!

>112 lunacat: I'm definitely an introvert (an un-shy one) and I can definitely relate to the social events causing exhaustion thing. The funny thing (and this is probably common) is that I seem to have always attracted major extroverts as good friends. I'm guessing this is because it tends to be difficult for two introverts to get it together socially and it takes that "rah rah I love being around people" thing to develop a consistent friendship.

>118 DorsVenabili: That's how she sleeps most of the time - ridiculous, isn't it?

I wish I had some more extroverts as friends but I'd say mine are probably equal extroverts and introverts. Of course, I don't have many friends so maybe I'd just like more friends period.
_____________

I had a serious French Toast craving this morning - I was dreaming about it and so woke up wanting it, but we had no bread in the house. Given the appalling weather I thought there was no chance of it, but the craving was so strong I ventured out in my PJs and got some from the village shop.

I never cook anything for breakfast or lunch, so today is pretty exceptional. My brunch (I'm ignoring that I had it at 3pm as it was still my first meal of the day):

Hi, Jenny! I think that's a great idea, just go back to Mamie's island. And also a great idea to just level with your friends and ask their assistance. Another introvert here, with an extrovert husband who tends to take it personally sometimes.

And definitely the elephant drinking my bath water (hopefully before I jump in!).

>120 ronincats: Maybe I should set part of Mamie's Island up here as well. To escape to when it all gets too much. I quite fancy a treehouse at the moment.

Something like this:

Okay. Dropping down here to say that I had somehow lost your thread - I am 121 posts behind!! I cannot even hope to catch up now because I have to help make the Super Bowl snacks, but I will be back to completely catch up by tomorrow at the latest. In the meantime, Happy SUnday to you, and I LOVE the treehouse!

>121 lunacat: - THAT is the forest I want to surround my house. Actually, I would love to trade my house for this one. But, in the interests of good fellowship, I yield to your previous claim upon it.

>123 Fourpawz2: Thanks to the magic of the Fantasy Island (it needs a better name), I can provide alternative tree houses, situated close enough but not too close to mine (I am a hermit, after all!).

Perhaps this one would suit Madam?

I think this one is my style!!

Excellent, we'll have our own little treehouse area on the Island. Just what I need at the moment, friends, books and trees :)

>124 lunacat: - it will suit very nicely indeed. Thank you , Jenny. Must hurry off to pack up selection of books, Jane and cat food.

>117 lunacat: Well, that's certainly an interesting list. I'm not certain I agree with them all, either, but interesting all the same. :) Happy weekend!

Oh, oh, I would also like to move into this treehouse paradise please!

Question Favourite dessert ever? Cheesecake. Special mention also goes to coconut cream pie.

If you HAD to give up either cheese or chocolate, which would you choose? Chocolate. (see answer above for reason) ;-)

Would you rather your house was surrounded by snow, water or jungle? Having lived surrounded by all three (at different times in my life) I choose water, but only if it is in a tropical region (somewhere between 30'N and 30'S latitude)

Would you rather an elephant drank your bath water, an eagle stole your dinner, a pig tried on your clothes, or a hippo slept in your bed? I vote for the elephant. I can survive longer without a bath (although people may not want to be near me) than I can without dinner and just 'ewe' at the thought of a pig trying on my clothes or a hippo sleeping in my bed.

>94 Morphidae: - LIKE!

I also like the tree houses.

My goodness I had fallen very far behind here and it's taken me awhile to catch up, but -

- favorite dessert is good ole apple pie

- I would give up chocolate and keep cheese, but I would definitely have to have a period of mourning for the chocolate.

- I would rather have an elephant drink from my (empty) bath than any of the other options.

- I love the treehouses that are posted here, but over all I would prefer a log cabin.

- and I would rather my house be surrounded by snow.

Can't wait for your next question, Jenny!

Question time! But since I have been holidaying for a millennia....here are my responses to the last thread's question(s).
Hot drink: coffee. Hands down coffee. A triple shot latte. Full fat milk. Thank you :)
Cold drink: water, cold cold water.
Alcoholic drink: red wine, some kind of blend like a cab merlot. A shiraz would also do nicely.

Dessert: something with whipped cream. Pavlova would be good.

Cheese or chocolate? That is an impossible question, I could not (and will not) give up either.........oh, I have to? In that case, I will give up cheese. No- chocolate! *bangs head on table*
See what I mean!?
:)

Oh my, such wonderful answers :)

>122 Crazymamie: Thanks for the love Mamie. It seems we're having a little treehouse conclave as an addition to the Island. It should be lovely.

>127 Fourpawz2: The treehouse will be ready any time you wish to move in Charlotte! We even provide birdsong at no added cost.

>128 The_Hibernator: Yeah, not sure I'd want to do a lot of them, but I thought it was interesting enough to share.

>129 evilmoose: Certainly Megan. What kind of treehouse would one like? We have this one on offer, but can find another if you'd rather.



>130 lkernagh: I guess having experienced all of them at separate times in your life is better than having them all at the same time! The water in the illustration didn't look too warm though, but perhaps I am mistaken.

>131 DeltaQueen50: Katie has a log cabin surrounded by snow in the mountainous area of the Island (visit Mamie's previous thread for a good look round) but you can move in next door if you'd like.



>132 LovingLit: I can see your point. I'm with ... that I'd need to have a period of mourning for the chocolate but I know I can get my sugar fix in many different places but so many dishes would be inedible without cheese, it would be too much of a sacrifice.

Today's would you rather, courtesy of the children's book:

Would you rather be covered in jam, soaked with water or pulled through the mud by a dog?

Easy - LOL experienced this already several times with my beloved Ayke *grin* ....... pulled through the mud. I don't like feeling sticky. I absolutely hate wet clothes, so the mud option is definitely the lesser evil 😃

I'd go with the soaked with water, Jenny. I've gotten caught in rainstorms, and eventually it dries off.

Water, as long as it's not freezing where I am - it's easier to get rid of.

>111 lunacat: Pierre or no Pierre, I promise you I haven't been very happy in the past couple of weeks what with this nasty flu around. He's been a good companion to have around and been a dear running errands for me and all, making supper and such, but I wouldn't go as far as saying I've been feeling happy. Miserable, maybe. Does that make you feel any better dear?

>117 lunacat: That list makes me feel deeply uncomfortable.

18. Read outside.

In -20 degree weather?!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!?!?!?!?!?

19. Listen to an audiobook while you run errands.

So what else is new?

35. Crack a spine. Go on. Do it.

What next? Burn my books maybe?

And why would I want to read a book I hated TWICE???

>135 drachenbraut23: I've never been pulled along by a dog but I have by a horse. I can't see the appeal personally! Falling off just in front of a log which the horse then jumped while I was still holding onto him was the most unpleasant. I still never let go.

>136 jnwelch: Yup, I went with soaked with water as well. I figure you can just get changed and it will be fixed, as opposed to the intensive washing required in the aftermath of the other two.

>137 jjmcgaffey: Agreed :)

>138 Smiler69: I did wonder about the reading a book you hate twice. Seems like a strange form of torture to me. Then again, I HATE Jane Eyre and I had to read that multiple times at school so I think I've fulfilled that one. -2C out there and I won't be reading outside any time soon!

I will admit to cracking spines though. It's a character flaw.

Volunteering sounds my worst level of hell so that won't be happening either.

Well, cracking spines is fine if you're already doing it, but if you're averse to it, then why??

Stretch your boundaries? Send you into a furious anxiety attack and make you gaze down at your ruined book in abject horror and despair?

>115 lunacat: I've had my eye on The Letter for the King so glad to hear you enjoyed it.

>117 lunacat: '21. Reread a book you hated in high school. Reread it twice.'

Ugh - no!

The Question of the Day is a very easy one for me, I definitely would rather be soaked by water than have to deal with jam or mud.

I'll take soaked with water.

>142 souloftherose: The Letter for the King is worth getting to Heather so I hope you take the plunge at some point.

>143 DeltaQueen50: & >144 AuntieClio: Agreed, I think water is the best bet!

I love how many people are joining in, and I'm really surprised. Still, keep it up!

Today's Would You Rather:

Would you rather have supper in a castle,



breakfast in a balloon,



or tea on the river?

I kind of like the tea on the river idea, Jenny! Can I switch that to a fine ale?

Hope you have a good day, my friend.

ETA: Are you a fan of Sarah Waters?

Tea on the river for me plase with some of your French toast, thank you! :)
Or in any of those lovely tree houses... *sigh*

Oh and soaked with water would be my boring answer to yesterday's question. Mud could be fun as well but I'd have to wash those clothes later and the mud would certainly clog the pipes and kill my washing machine.

The person who made that list was desperately trying to get to 40 points, it seems. Reread Young Werther twice?? Never!

>146 lunacat: - definitely not breakfast in a balloon. I like the idea of being in a boat but am not a big fan of tea. Can I just eat the little sandwiches and dessert-y things instead and leave out the actual tea? Am assuming there will be little sandwiches and dessert-y things. Otherwise by default I would have to choose supper in a castle.

Don't want to be covered in jam, mud or water. If I take a shower would that do?

I go for tea on the river.

How are you today?

All caught up again here. Phew! Hope that you find that right balance for you re: needed alone time and social inclusiveness. I tend to overshoot and then undershoot that mark, but find that I am oscillating closer to the mark over time.

And I choose supper in the palace because I have done the other two!!

I'm a pushover when it comes to castles, Jenny, so that's what I'd pick. One of my favorites is the now-jumbled Urquhart Castle in Scotland.

Castle for me please!!! I have a soft spot for them...so much history and so many stories behind them. :)

Breakfast in a balloon, for sure.



that looks more like dinner, but still.....

>147 msf59: I can certainly provide fine ale rather than tea, Mark. I was imagining it as a kind of afternoon tea with scones and crumpets etc, but we can throw some ale in as well.

>148 Deern: Ohhh, French Toast in a treehouse would be fun. I like the sound of that.

>149 Fourpawz2: Well of course there are little sandwiches and dessert-y things. And the sandwiches have no crusts on, as that is obligatory.

Can I offer you some of these?



>150 Ameise1: Welcome along to our tea party. Some of the desserts are on offer above if you'd like to take your pick.

>151 Berly: I need to keep working on getting out and socialising more which is a big deal for me. It's the thought and dread of it that paralyses me more than the actual doing, as I generally thoroughly enjoy myself. Of course it takes me days to recover again but hey, what ya gonna do?

>152 jnwelch: I've never actually been to Urquhart Castle but I've been very close. We drove past just as it was closing for the day, so alas, no visit. We did go to Dunnottar Castle which is one of the most stunning ones I've ever seen.



>153 jolerie: We're so lucky to have so many good castles in the UK. There aren't many in my immediate area but if we travel more towards the north of the UK there are some lovely examples.

>154 katiekrug: Breakfast, dinner, who's going to quibble? I used to want to go in one but now I'm a bit freaked out at the thought of one catching fire so maybe not.

Thanks so much. They look very delicious.

Looks like you got your hands on The Crossover, Jenny, at least according to the LT book page. Have you read it yet? Now that it won the Newbery, I'm going to track it down.

>158 jnwelch: Alas not, just wishlisted.
___________

Feeling rather wobbly as I was browsing t'internet and suddenly photos of the latest ISIS atrocity, the burning of a Jordanian pilot, flashed up. I closed the screen as quickly as possible but the still photos that were shown like a flick book are.....well, they won't stop making me feel sick any time soon, as they have embedded themselves in my mind.

Just what I needed.

Supper in a castle with cheese and chocolate, please!
(Give up cheese or chocolate - HA!)
I've had a great time catching up with everything going on here since the Akkadian beginning. Golly! I'm in sweats with a turtleneck and thermal vest, and still not quite warm enough. My DH is bringing our Lulu home after her big-girl surgery, and we are turning the whole house heat on for her. Wow! (Normally, we use the many and various gas logs.)
(We cross-posted, and I'm so sorry that you had a look at those photos. I am doing my best to avoid all of that. A picture is worth 1,000 words, but I can't begin to imagine what those words might be.)

>159 lunacat: - Jenny, I had the same bad experience. I was reading a breaking news snippet about it and without warning, there was a still photo. It made me nauseous.

>159 lunacat: Sorry about that sudden photo, Jenny. I haven't seen it, but I'm sure it was awful.

>160 LizzieD: I think any meal in a castle should have cheese and chocolate involved :) Definitely avoid all the news of it. Think I'll be having even more nightmares than usual tonight.

>161 katiekrug: Sorry you had to see it too. I had six or seven images joined together. Horrific. Hope you can dilute it in your mind soon.

ETA >162 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. Not so happy.
____________

In an attempt to cheer myself up, I went shopping.

From Audible, as part of their 2 for 1 deal I got:


Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce
The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
Love, Life and Elephants: An African Love Story by Daphne Sheldrick (I foster one of the orphaned elephants her charity raises)
Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orphan Pamuk

And from the monthly Kindle deals:



The Once and Future King by T. H. White
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell

Ooh I'm all for breakfast in a balloon! That would be such a lot of fun..... as long as a thunderstorm didn't sneak up on us.

I don't think I am enough of an adventurer to have breakfast in a balloon, but both tea on a river and supper in a castle are tempting. After checking out the castle pictures, that is definitely my choice! The chocolate and cheese that they are serving is an added bonus!

>159 lunacat: Same here. Caught a glance of one picture and felt sick to my stomach. Almost started to cry.

I'm terrified of being up in a balloon and get nauseous on water, so that leaves supper at the castle!

Yikes. Double post. Move along. Nothing to see here.

Sorry about the unintentional photo viewing...I don't want to see it either. : (

All three sound great, but I'd have to plump for the castle - love them. Well, as long as I get to explore as well as eat...

I didn't see any photos, but I did get a BBC new update about it on my phone yesterday afternoon, and when I read it, I just started crying, thinking of how scared he must have been and thinking of his family, too and how powerless this sort of thing makes me feel - what can I do to make things better? It seems like there's nothing, really, except try my very best to raise Charlie up to be a person full of tolerance and loving-kindness for all people. That's my one little contribution to the world, I suppose, as long as I can manage that much...

Three changes of PJs during the night indicate what kind of restful sleep I had.........when I finally got to sleep. Currently functioning in some kind of numb, spaced out state.

Not just having seen the screenshot/play by play of the atrocity yesterday, it's a couple other things as well. Seems when my defenses take a hit, all kinds of other stuff gets thrown to the surface.

I appreciate your visits and kind words but I'm not myself today, so unless I snap out of it I'll spare you my whining :). I'm off to binge on Star Trek, which is my comfort viewing as it was my Dad's favourite TV show.

Sorry, to hear about the bad night, Jenny. I hope you improve during the day. Hugs!

>115 lunacat: That book sounds terrific, Jenny! Too bad about the sequel not being out in English, but hopefully it will be soon.

I hope the Star Trek treatment works!

Sorry to hear that you didn't sleep well, Jenny. Love and hugs xx

What's Your Book Nerd Score? (Originally shared by KatieK on FB)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/feature/whats-your-book-nerd-score/

Think you’re a book nerd? Yeah, you’re probably right. Want to know how much of a book nerd you are? We’ve got the ultimate book nerd scoring system set up for you right here. Just go down the list below and add one point for every statement that applies to you. Add them all up to see how you stack up against other readers!

What are you waiting for? Your book nerd score awaits!

You currently own more than 20 books.

You currently own more than 50 books.

You currently own more than 100 books.

You amassed so many books you switched to an ereader

You read so much you have a ton of books AND an ereader.

You have a book-organization system no one else understands.

You’re currently reading more than one book.

You read every single day.

You’re reading a book right now, as you’re taking this book nerd quiz.

Your essentials for leaving the house: wallet, phone, keys, and a book.

You’ve pulled an all-nighter reading a book.

You did not regret it for a second and would do it again.

You’ve figured out how to incorporate books into your workout.

You’ve declined invitations to social activities in order to stay home and read.

You view vacation time as “catch up on reading” time.

You’ve sat in a bathtub full of tepid water with prune-y skin because you were engrossed in a book.

You’ve missed your stop on the bus or the train because you were engrossed in a book.

You’ve almost tripped over a pothole, sat on a bench with wet paint, walked into a telephone pole, or narrowly avoided other calamities because you were engrossed in a book.

You’ve laughed out loud in public while reading a book.

You’ve cried in public while reading a book (it’s okay, we won’t tell).

You’re the one everyone goes to for book recommendations.

You take your role in recommending books very seriously and worry about what books your friends would enjoy.

Once you recommend a book to a friend, you keep bugging them about it.

If your friend doesn’t like the book you recommended, you’re heartbroken.

And you judge them. A little bit.

In fact, whenever you and a friend disagree about a book you secretly wonder what is wrong with them.

You’ve vowed to convert a nonreader into a reader.

And you’ve succeeded.

You’ve attended book readings, launches, and signings.

You own several signed books.

You would recognize your favorite authors on the street

In fact, you have.

If you could have dinner with anybody in the world, you’d choose your favorite writer.

You own a first-edition book.

You know what that is and why it matters to bibliophiles.

You tweet, post, blog, or talk about books every day.

You have a “favorite” literary prize.

And you read the winners of that prize every year.

You’ve recorded every book you’ve ever read and what you thought of it.

You have a designated reading nook in your home.

You have a literary-themed T-shirt, bag, tattoo, or item of home décor.

You gave your pet a literary name.

You make literary references and puns nobody else understands.

You’re a stickler for spelling and grammar, even when you’re just texting.

You’ve given books as gifts for every occasion: birthdays, Valentine’s Day, graduations, Tuesdays…

Whenever someone asks what your favorite book is, your brain goes into overdrive and you can’t choose just one. You end up naming twelve books.

You love the smell of books.

You’ve binge-read an entire series or an author’s whole oeuvre in just a few days.

You’ve actually felt your heart rate go up while reading an incredible book.

When you turn the last page of a good book, you feel as if you’ve finally come up for air and returned from a great adventure.

BONUS POINTS: For every friend who sent you this quiz (because they know you’re a huge book nerd), add one point.

Tally ‘em up and let us know—how much of a book nerd are you?

Must be a bad day. Not only am I struggling to reply to people but I've spent too much money on books I don't need in an attempt to improve my mood. Now I just feel guilty for the books. *sigh*

Bought for £1.99 each:

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
J: A Novel by Howard Jacobson
The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis

>176 lunacat: - But those are good books! I would have snapped them up for that price, too.

Here, will this make you smile?



No? What if you substitute "burritos" with "wine"? Better now?

But truly, I'm sorry it's such a bad day, Ermintrude... Thinking of you and hoping tomorrow is a better one!

*Hugs*

Sending a little sunshine your way.

Don't mind the germs. I'm still quite sick but I do hope you feel better soon!

Haha, so many of those book nerd statements apply to me, practically all but the eBook ones and also I have never missed a bus or train or flight from reading. Yet.

Oh boy. I got 41 on the quiz. I'm SUCH a book nerd.

I'm sorry you are having such a rotten day. I'm glad you figured out something to help distract you. I'm working on watching every Disney movie ever made from the beginning. I'm up to Dumbo.

>175 lunacat: I can't count that high....Loved that quiz!!

Book Nerd of the almost nerdiest. I don't own a first edition. I don't currently have a pet named after a literary character, but I used to. I had a cat named Sir Richard the Lion Heart - Ivanhoe... But I still don't have a first edition of anything.

In the interest of full disclosure, I feel I should mention that you caused me to produce a couple of giggles (begone, no, come back!). And a few tears (bad news stories).

Hope things look better in the morning.

I got 42 - the answer! I've never judged someone for disagreeing on a book - it usually makes me curious (what did they see in that awful book? or What did they miss that made them not like this wonderful book?). And I've never sat in a bathtub reading until I was pruney - since I hate taking baths and only do it when I need to soak (sunburn, poison ivy, that sort of thing). But most of the rest applies...

>164 cameling: If we breakfast in a balloon, I'll try to ensure no thunderstorms. Although given our accident prone natures, perhaps we shouldn't try to do any activity together.

>165 DeltaQueen50: I think every feast in a castle should have chocolate and cheese. After all, they are the staples of life :)

>166 Morphidae: Another addition to our Chocolate and Cheese feast. Glad to have you along.

>168 Berly: Yeah. Not nice. Think I'd have been coping better if it had just been one photo which is what most of the media has been showing but....ugh. A whole series from beginning to end, neatly packaged together so it fit on one screen? ****ing world. And poor poor man.

>169 jjmcgaffey: Exploring is obligatory :)

>170 scaifea: I think it makes me scared to have children. What would I be bringing them into? I'm sure with your love and guidance, Charlie will do just fine.

>172 msf59: Wobbly all day Mark, which required rescue medication that I haven't had to have for a month now. Got to love the blips. Thanks for stopping by.

>173 alcottacre: Star Trek definitely helped a little Stasia. I spent most of my day curled on the sofa with my feet on the radiator, cozy and warm. The only blip was riding in the sleety, slushy snow that froze me to the bone. Shouldn't have bothered as Con didn't think much of it either!

>174 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. Your support is very much appreciated.

>177 katiekrug: Wine as a substitution works. Or chocolate. Or cider.

Now I'm just hungry! Thanks for the ecard. It did make me smile, so that's a pretty good result :)

>178 jolerie: I'm usually pretty resistant to germs, so bring it on. Sorry to hear you are bug-ridden, that's no fun. Hope you feel better soon.

>179 LovingLit: I think my chances are low of missing a bus or train because of reading as I only take one perhaps once a year. And it's quite hard to miss my car because of reading!

>180 Morphidae: Glad watching Disney movies works for you Morphy. Sadly I'd have to miss out quite a few as they'd bring my mood down even more. I was quite a sensitive child and films like Dumbo, Bambi and the Lion King traumatised me to the point I can't watch them any more. Cinderella has always been my favourite, with Robin Hood up there as well.

>181 Berly: Not enough fingers and toes Kim? ;)

>182 nittnut: I named my mum's cat Dumbledore so I'm OK on that one. Don't have any first editions though, but that's because it's out of my reach financially as opposed to because I don't want them. Giggles are good, tears not so much.

>183 jjmcgaffey: Hurrah for 42. Just right then. You wouldn't want any more or any less. :)

Today's would you rather:

Would you rather stay all night in a creepy house for £5, jump in the nettles for £20 or swallow a dead frog for £50?

None of those unpleasant things. I would rather read and drink a beer.

Hope you are doing a bit better today, Jenny. Have you read the Night Watch? If not, it might be your cuppa.

I've enjoyed catching up on all the "Would you rather" responses. For today's question I needed to Google nettles and yeah, I would jump in nettles. Herbwisdom.com says it's good for treating hayfever. So, if I can jump in around April or May, you better have that
20 pounds ready ;0)

>119 lunacat: Oh! LOL Would you rathereat french toast with a spoon, a device with tines, or an ice cream scooper? ; }

Apparently I don't need money that badly--pass on all three!

>82 lunacat:..love these photos!!!!!

I wanted to ask how long the frog has been dead and make sure it hasn't been killed for the purpose to be eaten by me, but then I remembered that I don't eat meat anymore anyway. So it's the creepy house, I guess. Or better nothing. :-/

I got 41 points. No pets to be named, no first edition and I'd never recognize any author in the street. I'm usually not interested in the author's private lives unless they are really special in some way. And the ones I admire like are also a bit scary, so never would I have dinner with them.

I got 40 on your quiz. I do have first editions, no pets with literary names, and I would recognize some favorite authors but have never seen them on the street. And I don't get upset with people who don't like my favorite books--not much.

I'd vote for tea on the river since I'm already soaked from the water the day before, in my treehouse surrounded by water. But for today's choice, a creepy house is just atmosphere, whereas nettles STING and no way I'm swallowing a dead frog, not even a tadpole, although I might eat frog legs.

If you are not getting out and around on the threads, you may have missed my response to you on my thread about how much you've brightened it up for me lately and how much I appreciate it!

Love the book nerd quiz and I laughed while reading through the list.. I stopped counting after I reached 38. I've definitely read through the night and would do it again... oh wait ... I HAVE done it multiple times with no regret, and I've certainly sat in a bath to read until the bathwater got cold and I resembled a giant prune.

I've sat in a bathtub until it got cold. Drained the water. Refilled it. Sat until it got cold. Refilled it...

>187 msf59: Reading and drinking a beer won't get you any money Mark, but it does sound the right choice. Still wobbly, yadda yadda ya, I'll snap out of it.

>188 Carmenere: French toast is always eaten with a spoon, otherwise the sugar all falls through the tines. I didn't know that about nettles and hayfever - I might go and run through some nettles once a week in the hope it cures me, hayfever is the bane of my spring/summer!

>189 Berly: Good to know you're not that poor Kim. I am poor enough for the stinging nettles but not enough for the frog.

>190 Whisper1: Thanks Linda. Great to see you here. I'm counting down the days for you.

>191 Deern: I think the creepy house would be easily managed. I'm not easily frightened by strange noises at night. Of course I might change my mind if I actually saw a ghost. I don't think there is a single author I'd automatically recognise immediately, except maybe J.K. Rowling or some other celeb like Stephen Fry, who is also an author.

>192 ronincats: Thanks Roni. I haven't been on the threads as I've struggled again today, so thank you for that. Hopefully I'll be back to normal soon. It's been a hard couple of days, but nothing like some others are going through, including you and your brother so I'm doing my best to get a grip.

>193 cameling: Did you run out of fingers and toes too? I've definitely stayed up all night to read, and stayed in the bath too long.

>194 Morphidae: I don't think I've ever done that many refills Morphy! My congratulations to you, that is impressive bathtub time.
_________________-

I achieved nothing today. Spent most of it watching Star Trek and trying to keep the anxiety down to an acceptable level. I did try to go out this evening but the anxiety got to 'I'm going to throw up if I keep driving in this direction' stage so I turned round and came home again. Now I'm sitting feeling sick on the sofa, so even being at home didn't cure that one.

Roll on bedtime. I shall hit myself over the head three times with a book, to knock the depression out of my mind. That's an appropriate cure for it, right?

Now wait, folks! This is not rocket science. As soon as the water starts to get lukewarm, you run a batch of hot water into it to get it back up to optimum temperature. And you do it as many times as it takes! ;-) Trust me, I know.

>195 lunacat: Tell me if it works? I'm in a bad slump of depression right now too. Keep Strong!

>197 Kassilem: Deal. I might start with a paperback and work up the book size levels until I find one that works. If I'm not concussed by the end of it, I'll report my results!

Sorry you're here as well. Isn't it such a beautiful place? Dark, dismal, lonely and horrible. Perfect holiday destination.

Definitely the creepy house - as long as there was enough light to read (not horror! Not that I read it anyway, but inappropriate).

And re: french toast - I usually eat it with a fork (is that a "device with tines"?) but a spoon would work just fine. I don't think I could get the ice cream scoop into my mouth, so that's a non-starter.

I have some books that happen to be first editions (of obscure books, not famous ones); I bought them as used books, though, not paying "first edition" prices (I have no idea what the price would be on them. Hmmm. Maybe I should check - if someone's willing to pay me lots to have this copy of the book, I can buy a cheap copy and be perfectly happy...it's the words I want).

I know several authors from face-to-face meetings - one nice thing about being a con-active science fiction fan. I _might_ recognize them on the street, though it would probably be in the "That person looks familiar, I wonder where I know them from" mode rather than "OMG, there's my favorite author!". The former mode is very (very very very) familiar to me - sometimes I meet someone, we both think the other looks familiar, and we spend ages discussing the circles we move in to figure out where we might have intersected before (my town, my church, singing, cons, SCA, friends of my sister (who is far more of an extrovert than I am), walking, ...). There's at least one person I've met twice at cooking classes, we both thought we knew the other the first time we met, and we have NO idea from where. Very odd. And we haven't run into each other in the other milieu since the first cooking class.

ETA - yeah...nettle tea, or nettle juice, or powdered nettle may well help against hayfever (herbwisdom doesn't seem to say _how_ it's used to treat the allergy). I doubt letting it sting you is the method, because ow. It's really nasty being stung.

>195 lunacat: I was considerably younger, smaller, and more agile then. I would load up on Diet Coke, cigs, and sometimes munchies for a several hour reading binge. (Toilet for the ashtray.) When my butt got numb, I'd roll over to my stomach for a bit. Not as comfortable, but I was having a grand old time. Especially once I got married and didn't have to deal with parents asking me what the heck I was doing in there.

>196 ronincats: Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant. I wouldn't totally drain it. Just enough to get the temp back up again.

"Reading and drinking a beer won't get you any money Mark." This is true, but I will be having an excellent time. Grins...

Well, I'm totally in for breakfast in a balloon. And I think I'd prefer the nettles too.

Although ya know, I have had frog legs and they were pretty good!

>199 jjmcgaffey: Hmmm.........weirdly I mind the sound of drinking nettle juice more than I mind the stinging. I've fallen off Connie into a nettle patch more than once, and while it's not the most pleasant experience in the world, I don't mind it as much as I mind the hayfever. But I don't think I could force myself to drink them.

>200 Morphidae: Alas, I've never lived anywhere where the hot water tank has been big enough for multiple top ups, and it would take longer to reheat the water in the tank. So no multiple refills for me. Plus if I stay too long in a lovely hot bath I start to doze off, which obviously isn't ideal! One of the reasons I take showers as a rule.

>201 msf59: Too true :)

>202 evilmoose: Hurrah, we can have a fine day out. Balloon, then nettles, then spending our winnings.

>203 Berly: I've never had frogs legs, although I wouldn't have a problem eating them. There is no way I could eat a whole dead frog though.

Caro has been insistent that Connie requires a hat to wear so I tried her with one this morning. An old baseball cap is the only one that was lying around the yard at the time, so that's what she got to wear. She was not impressed.



But she cheered up when she dragged a bucket over to stand in. Yup, she put it there and stood in it all by herself. She's a weird horse.

Yay for Connie cheering you up! I only got 38 on the book nerd score. What's up with that? I've never tried converting anyone into a reader and don't get upset if anyone doesn't like a book I've recommended, and certainly don't pester them about it. I also never fantasize about meeting authors (they can be vastly different in person and on the page, after all), so I lost lots of points there. Oh well, I can live with that.

I prefer Connie hat-less too. You can tell her I support her there. Hope the doldrums lift soon. xx

>206 Smiler69: She cheered me up till I actually rode, and then she was obnoxious and obstreperous, so I ended somewhat infuriated. But tomorrow is another day. I'll let her know you like the bare-headed version. She'll be very happy.

I hope the doldrums lift soon too. I haven't read a book for a couple of days and am currently unable to motivate myself to even have a shower. All I want to do is curl up and sleep. Wavering between anxiety and deep depression - I get more done when anxious as I keep busy to try and distract.

Oh look, the pity party continues! GRRRRRRR, I hate depression. Stupid stupid stupid brain.

>208 cameling: I think you'll find that is a mule, not a horse! If I tell Connie that you compared her to one, you'll regret it. ;)

>208 cameling: What a beauty :-)

>210 Ameise1:

*splutters* the mule gets a comment like 'what a beauty' and poor Connie doesn't?! I'm allowed to be offensive towards her (as I am often) but no one else is! Even just in the lack of comments! Poor Con.

Sorry, Jenny, Connie is a beauty too. It's only the mule looks like a nice old lady with this fantastic hat whereas Connie looks like a young lady full of spirit. Speaking they can't be compared.

>212 Ameise1: OK, you're forgiven. Full of spirit is one way of describing her! She'd definitely never tolerate that hat though so she's destined to never look that fantastic. :)

>195 lunacat: >198 lunacat: sorry to hear you are in the thick of it right now. I hope the book you chose to hit yourself over the head with was at least a thin paperback.

I will not stay in a creepy house all night, thank you very much. I spent a night in the old (as in as old as settled Australia is old) Fremantle Prison once. The cells were converted in to trendy office and art spaces and my ex BF had one. We snuck in and lay low til closing time and slept in there. It was very very creepy tip-toe sprinting the corridor to the loo in the middle of the night. They even do ghost tours in there some nights. File that one under "What was I thinking?"

>214 LovingLit: See, that just sounds fun to me. But then I don't have much fear of that kind of thing. I might deviate from the book for my 'would you rather' and use examples from my life. For example, I'd rather sky dive than have to talk to a stranger on the phone everyday for a week.

Yup, in the thick of it, and the worst bit is I get totally paranoid about my pity parties and my whining and assume it will drive people away, so try to keep my 'happy face' one, which then means I stay away when I can't be happy, and therefore don't receive the support I need to snap out of it.

I just get so ****ing sick of the depression, and of the evil thoughts that pop into my head. It is so debilitating, and having people tell me I just need to get over it is the worst. Do people think I WANT to be like this?

Think I'm half way down my black hole at the moment. I'm clinging onto the side. Haven't fallen all the way in as there would be radio silence if I had, and I'd be self-harming as a method of coping. So I'm not that bad. But I'm certainly not on the surface as I was a couple of weeks ago. I wish I understood these blips, it would make it easier to know WHY the depression suddenly hits with a vengeance when I haven't changed anything.

Whining again. My apologies. I'll go and find a happy photo to draw people back to my thread. :)

I hope you feel better soon! Love the picture of Connie in a hat.

Hello, Granny! ;-)

If you wore the hat in >208 cameling:, you would definitely live up to the name "Ermintrude." Just sayin'...

>217 katiekrug: My ears are too big and wide, they'd never fit through the holes.

*snort!*

>216 banjo123: I shall do my best to get Con into a woolly hat next. It may be impossible, she was cross enough today.

>219 katiekrug: Apparently your nose is stifling intelligible words. We have issues ;)

>215 lunacat: having people tell me I just need to get over it is the worst
Yes, that is totally inappropriate. We have an ad campaign here about depression, an ex-All Black fronts it. He said that when he was at his lowest, he confided in a friend who said that he should just get over it and move on. The ad goes on to say that that is not what you need to do, and that you need to keep talking to people and find the right ones. The good ones. It is my thinking that your LT peeps are those people, so talk away. I am sorry for you that you are feeling like you are sliding down. Having hope is, I suppose, very hard in times like this. But maybe you have done it before? (come through OK, I mean)
Anyway, I hope you keep talking to us. I am at offline for a few hours now but will be hitting the computer again once the kiddos are asleep. Which might be your morning?? See you then!

I know I don't get tired of hearing what you have to say and I don't think of it as whining. Don't feel like you ever have to "pretend" or put on a front. *Hugs*

I think Connie looks better, without the hat, IMHO.

I hope we bring you some light and some cheer, Jenny! Gentle hugs!

Too bad Connie was cranky during the ride, but the bucket made me laugh so much! And I am sorry you are halfway down the hole today. I hope you find "the ladder" soon and I am glad you share with us. Big hugs!

>204 lunacat: Hehe, that sounds like a delightful day out! I say we take our earnings to a book store, but we go there wearing hats adorned with nettles. Then we can cackle and cavort as we select our books.

Wow, what a beauty Connie is! (How was that, Jenny?)

I hope you start feeling better, and get a chance to climb out of that hole.



And to cackle and cavort at the book store. :-)

Hi, Jenny. Had to laugh at Connie's shenanigans today. {{{{Jenny}}}}

>186 lunacat: No.

Love the Connie photos. She is a character.

I can't remember, have you seen a psychiatrist yet about the depression? This isn't something you can get out of on your own once it gets this bad. Believe me I know.

Just showing that if a mule could look good in that hat, just think how gorgeous Con would! *wonders if I managed to dig myself out of the hole yet.... *

the worst bit is I get totally paranoid about my pity parties and my whining and assume it will drive people away, so try to keep my 'happy face' on, which then means I stay away when I can't be happy, and therefore don't receive the support I need to snap out of it.

Gosh, have I been there. I totally know what you mean Jenny, but worry not about that over here, we love and support you and there are at least a few of us who have been down that road often enough not to fear taking a walk along it to accompany a a friend. Goodness knows I'm not immune to bouts of depression still, but the one thing I have learned over time is to take the odd moment to appreciate the tiniest little thing, like how it feels to take a deep breath, or look up and see a bird flying in the sky, or a pretty flower by the side of the road, or any silly little thing that might make me smile, even for the briefest moment before I'm back to sulking and dragging that damn dark cloud around all the time. Like very brief coffee breaks once in a while. More like sips, I guess. Or coming up for air, or whatever... but somehow that 'technique' I've taught myself has helped make it more endurable. Funny eh? Making the unendurable somehow bearable. But we all have to come up with our own coping strategies. At one point I coped by sleeping through it all day and night, but that became pretty boring and even more depressing, so I like this new "looking for things to smile about" strategy better. Of course, now I'm writing about it here and making it sound like advice it sounds incredibly trite and even stupid, so feel free to ignore it, make fun of it, or throw it back in my face or whatever. Can't help but want to share my experience, being so much older and wiser, or course, *says she, with heavy irony* :-b

Waving positve thoughts and energy your way. I hope you feel better soon. xx

Stopping in with hugs from all of us at the Pecan Paradisio, Jenny. I agree with what others here have already said - please share away; the support is what makes this place so cool. Thinking of you.

Hi Jenny. Sending good wishes for a better day today.

>205 lunacat: The photo of Connie with her foot in a bucket made me smile. It reminded me of a silly song my mother used to sing (to the tune of "Turkey in the Straw"):

Oh the horse stood around with his foot on the ground
The horse stood around with his foot on the ground
Oh the horse stood around with his foot on the ground
The horse stood around with his foot on the ground.

Same horse, second foot

Oh the horse stood around with his foot on the ground...

You get the idea! ;)

Hope you're feeling less down today, Jen! Being depressed is no picnic, and the kinds of things some people say sometimes! "Just get over it and move on" is one of the worst, not only in the case of depression but also when in grief over the loss of a loved one, whether through divorce, separation, or death. (Yes, someone really said that to me when I was still mourning a stillborn baby after six months.) As you said, if you could, you would, because who the heck wants to feel that way?!? I'm with Morphy: I hope you are getting professional help, because, at least in my experience, it does help.

Now, on a happier note, cheese!!! :)

>222 LovingLit: It was interesting when a friend of mine who used to be very cheerful, happy and positive suddenly got hit with depression. As she recovered, she said she could never have understood what it was like to feel unable to get out of bed, to be exhausted but not sleep, to want to cry the whole time. She had been of the 'just force yourself better' school of thought so it was somewhat of a revelation to her.

Fortunately for her, it was acute rather than chronic, but as a result she has ceased to really 'get it'. She was able to come through it after some time off work and with the help of temporary medication, so now she thinks it is that easy to snap out of. C'est la vie.

>223 jolerie: Thanks Val. I'll carry on struggling to believe it but I really do appreciate peoples' support.

>224 msf59: I think so too Mark. I may try the woolly hat tomorrow which she won't appreciate, but might come in handy to threaten her with if she's feeling awkward.

>225 Berly: I'll keep looking for that ladder. Must be one lying around somewhere. Connie was so pleased with her bucket, but less pleased when I removed it from her. I keep saying I'll sell her to a circus as she'd love to be taught tricks instead of having to do hard work.

>226 evilmoose: Excellent, sounds fabulous. It's a date. I shall adorn my hat with turnips as well. They always add some flair.

>227 jnwelch: Much better Joe, Connie will much prefer that to being compared to a mule.

>228 ronincats: She's a dope, isn't she? I don't often let her get up to mischief like that, and I didn't know the bucket was in her reach but she made me smile when I came round the corner and saw her pleased expression.

>229 nittnut: Sometimes too much of a character, but most of the time I wouldn't change her for the world. :)

>230 Morphidae: I've got a CPN (community psychiatric nurse) but I don't really like or trust her much so I don't see her often. I'm going to try and summon the energy to go to my GP for a change in medication. Not sure why this week has been so bad - I've been ticking along at below my baseline but bearably below. Now I've dipped, but I'll probably claw my way back up. I usually do.

>231 cameling: Nope, not dug out yet. Connie is amassing ammunition, ready for a nuclear strike if the M word or a photo of one comes anywhere near her.

>232 Smiler69: I wouldn't ever ignore what you say or throw it back in your face. I'll keep plodding on and try to find little things to improve my mood.

>233 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. I hope your health begins to improve and you have a nice time away, and even get some skiing in despite the flu. Look after yourself as well!

>234 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie. Today is better than yesterday so maybe I'm on up a little. I'll take what I can get at this point.

>235 cbl_tn: Hehehe - Connie wouldn't fit that song very well as she rarely has all four feet squarely on the ground. She's usually too busy trying to climb up on something, or reaching something to play with. Little monster.

>236 Storeetllr: Today was better than the low of yesterday so I'll take that. Looking forward to a ride tomorrow and hopefully Madam will also be in a better mood. The cats have rallied round me which has been comforting as well.

I'm glad that you're doing better today, Jenny! Hugs and a bunch of lovely cauliflowers go out from me to you.

Can you change your therapist? Trust is so important! I know when I was going to therapy through my HMO, I went through two before I found one I loved and who helped me more in three sessions than any of the others did in twice or three times that many. Then I moved from L.A. to Colorado and that was the end of that. :(

Will an Easter bonnet appease dear Con?



Or perhaps a knitted cap ?

I have no advice to give because I don't know how it feels to suffer from depression, but I would like you to know that you are loved by us and if I were there, I'd give you a great big hug.... and a box of Lucky Charms.

>243 cameling: Funny you should come up with that picture Caro, as I've been considering one for Con to wear while she's competing. It's not understood completely how they work although they are called fly nets, and are supposed to stop flies getting in the ears and irritating the horse. However, they also often have a relaxing effect and can help the horse let go of tension and focus on the task in hand slightly better. It could be because there is less sensory input going in through the ear, as of course horse hearing is extremely good, but the results are inconclusive.

Anyway, Con gets quite tense when she's out and about, and struggles to concentrate both at competitions and when working at home, so I am considering it. We'll see!

She would definitely disagree to the Easter bonnet, though you're welcome to come over and try and wrestle her into one. I'll just stand back and watch the entertainment. ;)

>235 cbl_tn: Oh, funny. I wonder if it's to the same tune as the song with similar words we used to sing in camp. It was sung when someone dropped something or the like, particularly in the dining hall.

Oh, the mule stood around with his foot on the ground (repeat 2x)
Hee haw, (name of person)!

(Uh oh, more mules...)

Jenny, my coping mechanisms are mostly of the "just wait a day and see" kind. I do try to at least get out of bed and shower, even if I'm just going to go back to sleep. I've stopped looking for triggers and do my best to ride it out through the fogbank. Of course, chocolate, books and LT help some days. As does the habit of taking my meds.

I hope you can find a counselor whatsit who is better suited to your needs. I was very lucky to find mine on the first try. The psychiatrist who wrote my prescription got sacked about a year ago because he banged on about my weight more then he did my mental health. 15 minutes every three months should be spent making sure my meds are treating me well, not trying to make me feel ashamed of my body.

Let's look for your ladder together shall we? I might have an extra flashlight.

>241 kidzdoc: Darryl's cauliflower looks a bit scary. I saw on the news yesterday that the chinese community in the UK are having trouble differentiating between chinese chives and daffodil bulbs to the extent that dozens have been admitted to hospital with daffodil poisoning! Not blooming funny if you ask me.

Have a lovely Sunday, Jenny.

>241 kidzdoc: Well the cauliflower looks very pretty, but I won't be indulging! Thanks for the offer though. ;)

>242 Storeetllr: She's not exactly a therapist - more a nurse coordinator/social worker who refers me for medication changes, counselling, group stuff.......whatever she thinks will help. Except I can't talk to her or let her know how I feel so it's a little redundant. Anyway, thanks to the cuts by the Government, the services have been cut and I've been discharged from her list because of not seeing her for a couple of months, so I'll have to go back to my GP to be re-referred for mental health services. I'm not sure I've got the energy to go through all the paperwork and questions, but we'll see.

>246 jjmcgaffey: Oh no, it's the M word again. Now I'll never get Con back on this thread, and I suspect she'll wreak havoc against me this afternoon in revenge. If she breaks me, I'm blaming you lot.

>247 AuntieClio: The meds I'm on have such awful cold-turkey symptoms that I am very good at taking them. If, because of forgetfulness etc, I realise I haven't had the morning one I soon know about it from about 3pm onwards. I'm trying to ride it out - somewhat literally this afternoon as I'll make myself go and harass the pony. I'm glad you were lucky with your counsellor as it isn't much fun feeling awkward with mine. But as above, I've got to be re-referred anyway so I might end up with someone different.

Not found my ladder but at least I'm firmly situated half way down the hole rather than sliding further. I'll take that for now.

>248 PaulCranswick: Not blooming funny indeed! I knew the bulbs were toxic but not that people would be hunting for something similar to eat. Next the EU will come and slap a warning on them to the effect they are a controlled substance and can't be sold.

Good to see you here.

Happy Sunday, Jenny! Hope you are doing well. We are enjoying a mild weather spurt. About 40 degrees. We need to melt off some of this deep snow pack.
Are you riding today?

I actually quite like the knitted horse cap, and that is so interesting what you share about it - who knew? Happy Sunday, Jenny!

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday.
xo

So far behind... so far behind, I am going to keep it short and wish you a lovely Sunday.... what is left of it anyways, where you are. ;-)

I think that the Easter bonnet is a must.

>242 Storeetllr:, >249 lunacat: That so sucks! Can you get an advocate, a friend or family member you trust and who can take care of some of the pesky little details for you so you can find a nurse coordinator you can work with? And maybe find a different med since the one you're on is so hard on you?

Glad to know you are holding your own today and not slipping down the hole any further. Sometimes, that's the best we can do, yeah?

Thinking of you.

>250 msf59: Yup I rode today and it was lovely out there - only an increase of about 3C but it made it a pleasant temperature to ride in. And Connie was on better behaviour, apart from an encounter with a cat. She used its presence as an excuse to stop working, so I had to let her know the error of her ways.

>251 Crazymamie: Thanks Mamie :)

>252 katiekrug: Thanks Katie. It seems I wake up feeling reasonable and go downhill from there, so by this time of night the anxiety is reaching its peak. Still, it was quite a nice day.

>253 lkernagh: Thanks Lori. Only four hours of Sunday left but I haven't too much to complain about from today. :)

>254 banjo123: I'll tell Con you think so. She won't agree. Perhaps with some serious bribery, I can convince her.

>255 Storeetllr: I'm a master of avoidance so it is difficult for me to ask for help from an advocate etc. Often I'm better at battening down the hatches and plowing through, but I need a bit of momentum to get me to that point. For today, I'll take the not sliding further down the ladder.
____________

I really should start another thread, and hope that it will be a happier and more cheerful one than this, but.........meh. I'd like to get back to talking about books instead of all this jazz. I did read about 20 pages of Affinity last night but wasn't grabbed by it - I'll carry on tonight and hope it can get my attention.

I'm glad you feel a bit better and that you had a lovely day.

>241 kidzdoc: uh oh. The penny just dropped.
My lovely other planted cauliflower this year and one of them I recognise from this picture. The pointy spirally green one. When it grew, I thought it was a genetic mistake and promptly composted it! Oops.

>258 Ameise1: Part of the 'joy' of depression is that I know I didn't have a bad day, and I know there were parts I should feel pleased about, but I don't feel it. It is never easy to know which is worse - feeling bad for a reason, or feeling bad for no reason. But thanks for the well wishes anyway.

>259 LovingLit: Oh no! Oops. At least you now know, in case of a repeat. :)

Hi Jenny, just getting in here at end of your thread (I think). Just wanted to add my support to all the others, and hope you are climbing up that ladder.

259> Well, almost right - genetic variation, though it was (I believe) deliberately cross-bred to produce the oddity...

So sorry to hear you've had such a bad week Jenny.

>256 Berly: Thanks for the ladder Kim. Could do with it, if only I could turn metaphor and analogy into real life!

>261 DeltaQueen50: Yup, am going to set up a new thread at some point today and hope it's a more cheerful one. With luck, anyway.

>262 jjmcgaffey: Learning lots about cauliflower which is a shame as I don't like them!

>263 souloftherose: Thanks Heather. Plodding on.

Morning, Jenny!

Morning Mamie. Hope it's nice in Pecan Paradisio. :)

Rainy, but I welcome the excuse to stay in and read.

Sounds perfect then!