Paul C's 2016 Reading and Life - 5

Last thread was Yasmyne; the one before it Belle. Here they are together in Phuket shopping for clothes:

Opening Lines

I am presently reading the compelling Return of a King by William Dalrymple which opens with the following:

The year 1809 opened auspiciously for Shah Shuja ul-Mulk.

BOOKS READ IN 2016

First Quarter

JANUARY
1. Ru by Kim Thuy (2009) 153 pp
2. A Story I am in : Selected Poems by James Berry (2011) 208 pp
3. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983) 200 pp
4. Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis (2015) 159 pp
5. Clem Attlee by Francis Beckett (2015) 476 pp
6. The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Denis Theriault (2005) 117 pp
7. 40 Sonnets by Don Paterson (2015) 44 pp
8. The Quality of Mercy by Barry Unsworth (2011) 294 pp
9. The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry (2010) 92 pp
10. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler (1993) 269 pp
11. Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen (1998) 104 pp
12. Coast to Coast by Jan Morris (1956) 238 pp
13. Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler (1982) 314 pp
14. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (2014) 688 pp
15. The Perfect Stranger by P.J. Kavanagh (1966) 182 pp
16. The Manticore by Robertson Davies (1972) 255 pp

FEBRUARY
17. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934) 347 pp
18. The Zimmermann Telegram by Barbara Tuchman (1958) 200 pp
19. Coventry by Helen Humphreys (2008) 169 pp
20. Selected Poems by Cecil Day Lewis (1951) 158 pp
21. Return of a King : The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple (2013) 487 pp

Reading Plans and a little about me

Me?
I am 50 this coming September and have enough unread reading material on my shelves to take me safely into my seventies! I have lived in Malaysia since 1994 and have a long suffering (but never quietly) wife, Hani (sometimes referred to as SWMBO), three children Yasmyne (18), Kyran (16) and Belle (12 - well almost), as well as a supporting cast which includes Saad Yasmyne's Egyptian boyfriend and very much part of the family fabric, my book smuggling assistants Azim (also my driver and a part time bouncer who, despite his muscles, lives in almost as much fear of my wife as I do) and Erni (my housemaid, almost-little sister and the worlds greatest coffee maker). On this thread you'll probably read as much about the vagaries of life, book buying and group related statistics as you do about the actual books themselves.



clockwise from top left: Kyran, Saad, Yasmyne, Belle, Hani & I

2016 Reading

British Author Challenge - This is on its second year with two books/authors a month. Since I administer this challenge I will keep up with this one fairly religiously.

American Author Challenge - Mark (msf59) is on the third year of this great challenge where the task is to read a work by a featured US author each month.

Canadian Author Challenge - This is its inaugural year and I will try to read (and find books for!) as many of the 24 authors featured as I can.

ANZAC Challenge - Set up by Kerry this year. I will try to follow this one alternating between Oz/Nz

Pulitzer Challenge - Bill has created a challenge to read a Pulitzer winner each month in 2016

Chunkster Challenge - Also set up by Bill to take care of that small matter of books over 600 pages!

Non-Fiction Challenge - Suz (Chatterbox) has put this up and I will follow this one too

TIOLI Challenge - Surely needs no introduction!

1001 Books First Edition - I am working my way through these. So far at 262.

Booker Prize Winners - Another one I am wending my way through

Nobel Laureates - I am trying to read something by all the Laureates - so far have read 57 of the 112 winners.

Poetry - I will be trying to read a different collection/anthology each week and at the same time promote poetry in the group (tough one that) which will include my own occasion clumsy scribblings.

Series I have so many I follow Montalbano, Reacher, Hole, Banks, Davenport, Sejer, Allon, Lennox .....and I will be trying to read many of those as I can.

History Another favourite of mine

Political Biography - I am of the left in political terms so I prefer to read more from my heroes than my villains but sometimes it pays to check out what the opposition are up to!

I will try to combine challenges as much as I can to do something in each challenge each month.

BRITISH AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2016

February thread : http://www.librarything.com/topic/218471

January : Susan Hill & Barry Unsworth
February : Agatha Christie & William Dalrymple
March : Ali Smith & Thomas Hardy
April : George Eliot & Hanif Kureishi
May : Jane Gardam & Robert Goddard
June : Lady Antonia Fraser & Joseph Conrad
July : Bernice Rubens & H.G. Wells
August : Diana Wynne-Jones & Ian McEwan
September : Doris Lessing & Laurie Lee
October : Kate Atkinson & William Golding
November : Rebecca West & Len Deighton
December : WEST YORKSHIRE writers
Wildcard : Rumer Godden and George Orwell

Round up of Stats

1001 Books First Edition - Read 262 of 1001

Nobel Winners - Read something by 56 of the 112 Laureates (half exactly)

Pulitzer Fiction/Novel Winners - Read 12 of 88 outright winners

Booker Winners - Read 21 of the 50 winners

TIOLI READING PLAN FOR FEBRUARY

1. A book of modern Japanese fiction - Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids
2. A book whose title suggests damage -
3. A fiction book Number #1 on NY Times bestseller list during 2010s -
4. A book that references a gold rush -
5. A book where a word in the title can be an action
6. A book set on a means of conveyance - Murder on the Orient Express COMPLETED
7. A book set in a place you've not read about before
8. A book that has an animal in the title - Cat and Mouse
9. A book's first line answers 'Where did it happen' - Coventry COMPLETED
10. A book with the word 'extraordinary' on the cover -
11. A series book that has been a television show - Demelza
12. A book written at least 50 years ago - Selected Poems COMPLETED
13. A book in which the newspaper "The Times" is mentioned - The Zimmerman Telegram COMPLETED
14. A book with a "leap" in the title or text
15. A book about black history -
16. A book from Bowie's Top 100 list -
17. A book with a person-possessive title
18. A book with a four-corner-letter-word on page 20 or 16 -
19. A nonfiction book of the Asian continent - Return of a King

TBR Records Update : (TO UPDATE)

Year reading record to date:

January 1st frozen TBR : 3,714

Books read : 15

Revised TBR : 3,699

January 1st Pages : 1,300,667

Pages read in completed books : 3,634

Revised TBR pages : 1,297,033

Other Books added since 1 January : 25
Pages : 8,136
Read : 1
Read Pages : 159

Total Books Read in 2016 - 16
Total Pages Read in 2016 - 3,793

BOOKS ADDED SINCE 1 JANUARY 2016

1. Fifteen Dogs Andre Alexis (2015) 159 pp (Added 6 Jan) COMPLETED
2. Rain by Barney Campbell (2015) 362 pp (Added 6 Jan)
3. Coventry by Helen Humphreys (2008) 169 pp (Added 7 Jan -Secret Santa (Katie)) COMPLETED
4. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (2015) 362 pp (Added 14 Jan)
5. How Good We Can Be by Will Hutton (2015) 250 pp (Added 14 Jan)
6. Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco (1988) 641 pp (Added 14 Jan)
7. The Chimes by Anna Smaill (2015) 289 pp (Added 14 Jan)
8. Wild Swans by Jung Chang (1991) 669 pp (Added 14 Jan)
9. The Black Moon by Winston Graham (1973) 546 PP (Added 14 Jan)
10. Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford (2014) 238 pp (Added 22 Jan)
11. Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker (1992) 270 pp (Added 22 Jan)
12. Cat and Mouse by Gunter Grass (1961) 191 pp (Added 22 Jan)
13. The Castle of Crossed Destinies by Italo Calvino (1969) 129 pp (Added 22 Jan)
14. The Enigma of Arrival by VS Naipaul (1987) 387 pp (Added 22 Jan)
15. Mao II by Don DeLillo (1991) 241 pp (Added 22 Jan)
16. A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham (1990) 343 pp (Added 22 Jan)
17. Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburo Oe (1958) 189 pp (Added 22 Jan)
18. Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernieres (1991) 280 pp (Added 22 Jan)
19. Spring Flowers, Spring Frost by Ismail Kadare (2000) 182 pp (Added 22 Jan)
20. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (1972) 172 pp (Added 22 Jan)
21. Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts (2014) (Added 29 Jan)
22. March by Geraldine Brooks (Added 29 Jan)
23. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (1935) (added 29 Jan)
24. Mary Barton by Mary Gaskell (1848) (added 29 Jan)
25. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (1990) (added 29 Jan)

26. White Crocodile by KT Medina (2014) 374 pp (added 8 Feb)
27. A Brief Stop on the Road From Auschwitz by Goran Rosenberg (2012) 331 pp (added 13 Feb)
28. Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser (1996) 274 pp (added 13 Feb)
29. The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien (1967) 199 pp (added 20 Feb)
30. The End : Germany 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw (2011) 400 pp (added 20 Feb)
31. In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haider Rahman (2014) 555 pp (added 20 Feb)
32. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929) 293 pp (added 20 Feb)
33. Peacemakers : Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan (2001) 500 pp (added 20 Feb)
34. My Life as a Foreign Country by Brian Turner (2014) 224 pp (added 20 Feb)
35. Astragal by Albertine Sarrazin (1965) 190 pp (added 20 Feb)
36. If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes (1945) 259 pp (added 20 Feb)
37. The Seven Madmen by Roberto Arlt (1929) 304 pp (added 20 Feb)
38. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2012) 331 pp (added 20 Feb)

Fitness Regime

I am now 232 lbs which is heavier than I have ever been and it is not acceptable when I have a stressful life and so many dependents. I am also losing some of my stamina and have to act now.

I have come back from Phuket with a determination to look after myself a little better; lose weight, exercise more, eat better foods, rest up more and sleep in a more planned manner. Some things I will be doing:

1 Start my day with lemon juice slightly diluted in warm mineral water (it has been shown to balance your body sytem and help metabolism.

2 After my shower. Wholemeal toast, muesli and my coffee.

3 Lunch will be hard boiled eggs or tuna and a piece of fruit and a yogurt.

4 Dinner will be before 7 pm and will NOT involve any rice which I will replace with quinoa.

5. No fast food, no cakes and chips, cut out anything over a single glass of wine, nip of single malt or glass of beer. Plenty of mineral water. No added sugars.

6. Swim or walk every day for the month prior to stepping up things as the weight reduces a little.

Is it safe? Love the thread topper. Such cute girls! I think the only one you need good luck with is the Fitness Challenge cuz I know you totally rock stats and books. : )

>11 Berly: Thank you Kimmers; it is as safe as it will ever be! I am fairly confident about the Fitness Challenge as I am turning 50 in September and Peter and I (Peter is my twin for those who don't know) will be jointly celebrating in Leeds and I don't want everyone sympathising with me over that cruel master time when it has been kinder to Peter.

Just popping in to say happy new thread!

Congrats on your shiny new thread, Paul.

>13 amanda4242: A little time off from reading all those BAC books!; thank you Amanda

>14 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara. I had to catch up before setting up in new digs.

Kyran didn't follow us to Phuket as he is paying attention to his studies (he says so). Thankfully he must have missed his Mum and Dad as they missed him.

Saturday evening the three of us went to the midnight show at the cinema to watch THE REVENANT. What a movie I must say. The cinematography is so well done that you almost feel as if you are in those backwoods with them and the Native Americans and grizzlies all around them. Thought both Di Caprio and Hardy were wonderful but the film making itself deserves the spoils.

Tonight he (playing gooseberry slightly) joined us for dinner at Hani's favourite Vietnamese restaurant. Nice to spend some quality time.

What beautiful children you have, Paul. You must be a very proud papa.

I admire your resolution to take your health and your weight in hand. I am also heavier than I've ever been, and a lot of my clothes are much too tight, if they even fit at all. I know I need to make some changes, but just need to get up the inspiration and mostly, the discipline to get going, the latter of which is sorely lacking. I'm thinking I'll have to try cutting out sugar from my diet for a few months to see if it has any effect on reducing the level and frequency of my migraines, and of course once I do that I will inevitable whittle down a little. But to get going... now that's a different matter, since I am definitely a sugar addict. Eek! I've been meaning to start my days with lemon in hot water, which I've been told can be helpful for migraines, and of course those other benefits you bring up, so perhaps I could start making that a habit and take it from there...

Best of luck to you! xx

This is the Sa Nam Restaurant where we celebrated Valentine's Day this evening



Papaya Salad with dried beef

Inside the restaurant



Kyran and myself chewing the fat about Republicans, Pink Floyd and the eccentricities of family

>17 Smiler69: Thanks and Thanks Ilana. xx

It is extremely disheartening to try clothes on and find that they either don't fit at all or, if they do, don't look nice or fit comfortably. As someone who used to consider himself athletic and not unattractive to the ladies it is a real blow to my vanity to feel ashamed to remove my top to swim in the pool or the sea. The clincher though is not having the stamina, puff or strength to do some of the things I want to do and the fear of not being able to continue to protect my loved ones.

Happy New Thread, Paul! Good luck on your fitness and diet goals this year. That poster in >19 PaulCranswick: is a bit chilling, though.

Happy new thread, Paul! Enjoying all of your photos - a feast for the eyes.

I applaud your plans for the life-style changes, but want to warn you that they may be very ambitious. I did much the same thing when I turned 40 and found that the key for me was to find a form of exercise that I enjoyed doing, and with the eating to start small. The first year I resolved to drink more water and eat oatmeal for breakfast everyday. From there I was able to make some big changes.

>21 kidzdoc: It was an entertaining evening Darryl as Sao Nam is in a major Chinese hub of the city and the bongs and bangs and blows of the dragon celebrations for new year resonated throughout our meal at regular intervals. It is a very authentic place in terms of food and, erm, decor.

>22 Crazymamie: Thank you Mamie - it was a feast for the tum too. I had a share of the papaya salad, a share of a crispy prawn and mushroom pancake and beef slowly cooked in coconut water (not cream). This was accompanied by sparkling mineral water and a wonderful Viet Arabica Drip coffee to finish. No rice.

>23 benitastrnad: I think that I'll manage the food part of it, Benita (Hani will help me and herself and I do like planning and buying the ingredients). I am more worried about making the time for the exercise part. It will not be a diet as I am not planning to deprive myself but rather change my way of living with an awareness of the need for better health.

Good luck Paul with your health campaign. I gave up alcohol in January, was an 'easy' way to cut back some calories.

Will you be joining Susan and Mamie et al in the LT fitbit challenge? (I'm sorely tempted by a similar gadget that measures laps and times etc in the pool. Do love a gadget!)

>26 charl08: I will go and look up the fitbit challenge as I have not really seen it - any links?
I am not going to give up liquor exactly Charlotte but I will limit myself to one only and only twice a week tops.

Happy New thread, Paul! Love the gorgeous topper! Good luck with your diet/fitness plan. It definitely gets more difficult, as we get older, but maintaining your health is a major priority. Sending positive vibes...

BTW- My daughter is visiting Thailand, at the end of next week, for 10 days. Very exciting. Once, I find out specifics, I'll let you know.

Paul, Thanks for the info on fictfact.com. I had no idea it existed, and I have already signed up. What a great site!

You have a beautiful family! Hopefully, those beautiful girls aren't too much of a handful! I have two wonderful boys, 14 and almost 11, and although having a daughter would have been just fine, I wouldn't trade my boys for anything, of course!

I sympathize with about your weight loss efforts. I am in a similar situation, having weighted under 100 pounds for the first half of my life, I found myself at my highest weight ever last year. So I too am motivated to get back to my old lifestyle. I wish you good luck in your efforts and hope you are successful.

Congrats on the new thread, mate.

I liked my re-read of Agatha's The Moving Finger very much. She even managed to get a fun romance into it.

Hi Paul - sounds like you are determined and by posting about your situation here it will help. Just remember that every day is a new day so don't get dismayed if you end up breaking your diet at some point or missing your exercise for a couple of days in a row...cos life happens.
Your posting here will probably help motivate me back to the gym, I just need to get my holiday out of the way first. A few years ago Madeline had a weightloss thread where we all charted our progress to our various goals.

Reading - I'm hoping to start/finish Papers in the wind by Eduardo Sacheri in the next few days. I'm mentioning it here because it might interest you as it's set in Argentina in the world of soccer.

Happy new thread, Paul.

>20 PaulCranswick: *sigh* I know what you mean; I've given up wearing my jeans over the past couple of months. But maybe Hani's mind is more at ease ;0)

Happy new thread Paul, a gorgeous photo as your thread topper mate. Good luck with your new regime Paul. Sending love and hugs to you all.

Hi Paul! lovely photos, as always, and an interesting mix of books read so far this year.

#12 - missed the thread about your being a twin. Cool.

Happy new thread, Paul!

I, too, want to move to healthier food and exercise habits. I was doing quite well for a while, then sometime last fall I lost motivation for a while. It definitely shows in how clothes fit and how I feel.

Good luck with the new diet and fitness regime! I ought to be joining you, and lots of good plans in that direction, but my plans are easily derailed by chocolate or other treats.

(don't you think that all the heavy book lifting ought to count for something.

Hi, Paul! Lovely picture of the beautiful sisters up top!

Rooting for you with your plans to get healthier. I agree with those who said exercise is the key and the hardest; at least it is for me. I can't even seem to get out for a 15 minute walk during the day. But I know Hani will be encouraging you to do all that's necessary.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your beautiful family!

Happy new thread Paul! Fitness regimes is something I can relate to. I discovered last year - well, accepted the reality - that my metabolism has decided to turn into a turtle or sloth when it comes to speed, which is partly why my other half and I embarked on our vegetarian experiment this time last year and why I started my walking journey this past summer. The benefits have been noticeable: I don't get sick as frequently as I used to and I have more energy. I get to put that to the test next month. We live on the fourth floor and our building will be without an elevator for roughly three weeks (possibly longer) while the elevator goes through some major servicing, so I will be lugging groceries, etc using the stairs to our home. Sending you good luck wishes for your goals to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthy!

Thought I have not seen The Revenant I am proud to tell you that most of it was filmed in Hollywood North - that is too say, Canada. But they had to go south to the Argentina for the snow bit! :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Revenant_%282015_film%29 The film was shot in twelve different locations and three different countries: Canada, the United States, and Argentina. In Canada, filming took place in Calgary and Fortress Mountain in Alberta, and at Squamish and Mammoth Studios, Burnaby, in British Columbia. While the initial plan was to film entirely in Canada, the weather was ultimately too warm, leading the filmmakers to locations at the tip of Argentina with snow on the ground, to shoot the film's ending. Best wishes on your new regime. I have a fit bit myself and my vice is chocolate!

Already 40 messages into a new thread! I'm having trouble keeping up.

Hi Paul! I love all the pictures at the end of last thread, as well as your topper here. Happy new thread! and...

Happy Valentine's Day!

>16 PaulCranswick: oh oh, I want to see that.the only midnight showing I've been to is Moulin Rouge, in Perth, Australia. It was fun!

Good luck with your challenges including the weight loss one., which I see you have posted again, to keep you to task?! My own motto for restricting junk food is just don't do it!. Sometimes it works, mainly when I'm full :|

Oh, and another thing....
My niece has a unique name, Millija (said Millia). When she was little and people would ask her her name they would always think she said Maria. Time and time again...then someone asked her once and she put her hand on her hip, looked up at them chin-first, and said "well- it's not Maria!!!
It sounded so rude, until you heard the context ;)

Hi Paul.

You know, I often choose a quote or two to highlight my "reviews" but I'm liking your opening lines thing. I might steal borrow it....

I heartily encourage you in your plans for self-care. I would hate for you to have a scary wake-up-call like I had to shove you into healthier eating and daily exercise. They want me walking twice a day -- 30 minutes each -- and I'm trying to build up to that. I'm hoping that embracing audio books will help me build this into my days more reliably.

Change happens slowly, Paul. Take it one step at a time, my friend.

Hi Paul
a hint on exercise- it works if you have someone watching and guiding- a trainer- I have seen a trainer for exercise for the past number of years once a week - it works- It is the best that I did for myself. My exercises target flexibility and co-ordination as well as core training.

>28 msf59: If she gets the chance to drop down to Malaysia we would happily show her the ropes mate. Let me know.

>29 rretzler: Robin, I guess the problem of our kids futures and our difficulty in maintaining good health are a little interlinked. They are a constant joy as well as a frequent worry.
Fictfact was suggested by me a good while ago by Caro (cameling) and I do know that there are a goodly number of the group also using that site.

>30 Thebookdiva: I suppose that must be the good stormtrooper inside the get-up Abby. Thank you my dear. xx

>31 jnwelch: Joe, Dame Agatha was one of my safest picks this year for BAC - I purposely paired her with a travel writer and had a shortlist of Dalrymple, Thubron or Leigh-Fermor from which the former was chosen and he seems to have been a big hit to date.

>32 avatiakh: Kerry - I did think that if I aired my plan it would push me towards it - didn't help that I overslept this morning and rushed out without breakfast and my packed lunch! Still I haven't panicked.
Argentina hosted the 1978 World Cup and the world was introduced to their ticker-tape adoration of their nation's team (the field got covered in the stuff) so I can well imagine that the title derives from there.

>33 humouress: Nina I am usually a glass half full kind of chap but I do get downcast by my shape increasingly these days and decided enough is enough. xx

See you have your own personal cheer squad already, so am sure you will make those changes above.

I have found the fitbit is great for keeping you honest & as a stats man there is something there for you - if nothing else help keep the competitive spirit up ( against yourself or others).

I find junk food too easy in hot/humid weather ... thankful summer will start to wane soon here

>34 johnsimpson: Thanks John. You have, of course, had the dubious pleasure of meeting the two young ladies although Ysabelle in particular is not at her best in public houses!

>35 karenmarie: Yes Karen, I have been a twin for as long as I can remember! Unfortunately (for me) we are a little akin to the movie, "Twins". I needless to say am not the one portrayed by Arnie.

>36 tymfos: Shape once lost is difficult to refind I am beginning to experience Terri. I do hope that I can seek out a slightly trimmer self soon!

>37 banjo123: Chocolate and beer would be among my minor vices Rhonda. The major issue with me has been simply eating too late, eating too fast and not exercising very much at all. I don't think a little treat will hurt once a while and I expect Sundays will provide me with an extravagance in the shape of chocolate, ice cream or a meal out. The items (fizzy drinks, rice, cakes, potato chips & fast food) are out but life without a treat or two is not one I want to keep punishing myself with but is rather something to reward myself for.

>38 Storeetllr: Thanks for that Mary and I am glad to see that Herman Melville had sufficient time to assist you in the greetings after all his obsessing about Ahab and that bloody big whale.

>39 lkernagh: I don't think I would last too long as a vegetarian, Lori, but I can see the benefits of walking. I believe that my habits if changed will still reap benefits despite a slothful constitution.

Hi Paul, Just picked up News from Berlin last night, which I see from the book page you have. Enjoying it so far. I don't think I've come across this author before.

>40 vancouverdeb: The cinematography on the movie was extraordinary Deb to the extent that you feel yourself right in amongst the action. I'm not sure which bits were filmed where but there was a raw and visceral beauty about all of it.

>41 thornton37814: Well so am I Lori! I fell asleep in the early hours and woke up too late to get my food sorted out (totally out of character) or to catch up here.....so catch up all day.

>42 The_Hibernator: Thanks Rachel, I like to share the pictures but it is easy for me as SWMBO tends to put so many up on facebook.

>43 LovingLit: We do go in for the late show fairly regularly Megan. In the case of Di Caprio's latest it was the only one available. Just finished my grilled chicken breast marinated in ginger with sauteed leek and bell peppers and two small but exquisite jacket potatoes. Having missed the breakfast and lunch bits and only having coffee to keep me going until that time, I savoured every mouthful. I will not make the mistake of missing breakfast and lunch tomorrow!

>44 LovingLit: I am sure Maria / Millija will prove a very formidable lady indeed.

>45 EBT1002: Borrow away Ellen, dear. Thank you for the eminently sensible advice too. I don't expect to change everything overnight - it took me years to get where I am after all.

>46 torontoc: Lovely to see you here Cyrel. I think looking after the flexibility and core is definitely necessary for me too but I want to improve my cardio a bit first. Hani will help me along with the new regime and keeping fit together, or so we have promised each other.

>49 roundballnz: What a great group we have Alex to have so many people wishing you well without conditions. I will look up fitbit for all the reasons you expound.

>52 charl08: I picked it up last year, I think, Charlotte but I haven't read it yet. Looks very good though I must say.

Happy new thread, Paul! I've said it before, but you have the most gorgeous family - thanks for sharing them with us!

>56 scaifea: Thanks Amber. I don't know about sharing, there are times when I would gladly give them away!

>57 PaulCranswick: *snork!*

>58 scaifea: :D

Paul, I subscribe to a health newsletter and just today they posted some recipes from the Mediterranean style diet that look quite nice (and easy). Check it out:

https://www.sharecare.com/health/diet-nutrition/slideshow/mediterranean-style-di...

Like many people, I am also trying (not so successfully yet) to get back into those clothes that have *shrunk* on me as I age. Easy is important to me because I am generally lazy, though adventurous enough to be happy to try new things. The roadblock, for me, seems to be if I am the one who has to take the time and effort to make new recipes. I am getting better at this though. Good luck. There seem to be enough of us around here to spur each other on!

>60 jessibud2: Shelley - two things I like the idea of.

One is that lentil dinner with leeks and kale (I have the ingredients for that one too)

Two is the fact that it is the clothes shrinking that is the root of all my problems. I will have strong words with Erni shortly.

Happy new thread, Paul, and good luck with your health goals. I was doing well on that front myself this fall, but have been doing a lot of traveling over the past two months and picked up a few of the pounds that I lost. Now I'm trying to get back into my normal routine and back on track with my goals.

Happy new thread, Paul. Going at top speed again, I see. Too bad it doesn't consume calories, right?

>50 PaulCranswick:, If Ysabelle lived over here she would soon be at her best in the pubs, I remember the days of getting into Tiffany's on a Saturday night as long as we paid a girl in at the same time and then starting work at 16 and being out on a Friday and Saturday night on a regular basis soon made being at home in a pub easy.

>62 foggidawn: Thanks Foggy. One day down and certainly a big reduction calorie wise. I feel lighter already!

>63 ronincats: Well Roni, Mamie told me that she lost 50 pounds last year and the slimmer version is moving like the wind this year!

>64 johnsimpson: My brother used to frequent Rooftop Gardens regularly when we were younger whilst I hated such places; I guess Belle will be more like me than her uncle.

Just skimming so I'm mostly caught up, Paul.

The discussion of kidisms and "Not Maria" reminds me of how I used to name my dolls and stuffed animals after the people who gave them to me. It was great in concept, right? My dad has a bunch of aunts and I had a reindeer named "Aunt Peggy" and I'm sure others named after all her sisters. Well, I mispronounced "aunt" as a toddler so when people asked me, I'd say it's name was "Not Keggy" promptly confusing the asker! "Okay, but what is it's name?" And of course my parents would have to "translate" for me.

Hi Paul! I hope to start Return of a King tonight after I finish The Frozen Thames. My timing with The Frozen Thames isn't great. We've had snow, sleet, and freezing rain here in the last 24 hours. Thankfully, it's all rain now.

ETA: Why, oh why, does the touchstone for Return of a King default to The Hobbit?

Happy New Thread, Paul, and Best Wishes for your fitness routine. I also am heavier than I've ever been in my life. At 71 and with a BMI bang in the middle for my age group, I can't get motivated to do anything about it. I put on about 5 pounds over the holidays and will eventually get them off. Meanwhile, I swim my ¾ mile three times a week and walk about 45 minutes the other 4 days. We'll see.
I'll say one more time that you Cranswicks are a handsome bunch!

>51 PaulCranswick: - In all honesty, we didn't fully convert to vegetarianism but we did use the experiment as a way to figure out how to incorporate more legumes, grains and vegetables into our diet. Also learned how to get a better handle on portion sizes. We found we were eating just too much food!

>66 bell7: I cannot remember my own faux pas Mary from earlier in life so hats off to you. One incident I do recall and it is germane to my early love of books and bookmarks in particular. My parents had bought a new dining set for the dining room and left Peter and myself unattended for a half hour. My mother was horrified and my father enraged at how proud the twins were to have basically cut up one of the leather dining chairs to use and sell bookmarks of our own unique design.

>67 cbl_tn: I had noticed and was bemused by that touchstone too Carrie. I suppose it links slightly to Tolkien's third LOTR book but imperfectly so.

>68 LizzieD: That is an impressive level of fitness Peggy, I must say. My aim is to shed 20 kilos which is around 44 pounds in weight or a little over three stone. I think it is doable but it will take a change of lifestyle more than anything else.

>69 lkernagh: Yes Lori that is a big part of my problem too. I simply used to eat too big a portion of food. I had, for example a 1/3 can of tuna seasoned and served with a hard-boiled egg and a couple of tiny honey cherry tomatoes for my lunch and I was surprised at how little a 1/3 of a can was! Eating it mindfully more slowly that I would usually gulp down my food makes the experience of eating more of an event than a necessary re-fuelling which I think works for me so far.

>70 PaulCranswick: I probably should've mentioned that this was a family story and not one I remember on my own! :)

Hahaha sounds like your bookmarks were one of a kind at least... I don't remember cutting up anything that my parents wouldn't have wanted us to, but I do remember that for years my mom wouldn't put up curtains in our bedrooms because wanna-be gymnasts would climb up onto the windowsill and use the curtain road has a handhold to walk across the windows.

>72 bell7: Ha and most of our childhood furniture was used at some stage as part of an obstacle course - it really is a wonder that my mother got to middle age and beyond in one mental piece.

My kidism, told to me by my mom was that I used to say "riving zoom" instead of "living room" and that they were concerned that I had a speech impediment and had me checked out. Turns out I was just very quiet, shy, and tended to speak with my fingers in front of my mouth.

Good luck with the health goals. My goal for the last 2 years has been to lose 50 lbs and regain the strength that I lost after 3 years of chemo and transitioning into a sedentary job. I've managed about 15-20 so far. The weight loss and strength training should both help reduce my lymphedema symptoms.

I have workout buddies for lunchtime who are consistent, but my after work buddy has been not so reliable, so that part of the plan hasn't really gelled. I also moved to an apartment that's an easy walk to work, and when I move this summer, I hope to find a place that's still within maybe 2 miles so I can continue walking as my commute as much as possible. Once it gets to 3 miles away, I tend to rely on the bus more than anything.

The food you're describing and sharing pictures of appears totally scrumptious. Yum! I am getting ready to try yet another elimination diet to figure out what foods trigger my unhappy GI symptoms. Not sure how long the whole process will take, especially if it really is reintroducing things like herbs and spices one by one. Sigh. Plus, I have a big work trip coming up that will entirely disrupt the regimen. Traveling to the West Coast of the US means that I will eat all the fresh seafood I can.

I hope you are able to find people to exercise with since that can really help stay on track. It's great that your wife is there with you for the food changes.

Love the photos! Such a gorgeous family!

I realised my post wasn't clear Paul - I just gave up the drink for January (the 'dryathlon' supported by Cancer research and Alcohol Concern). Giving up for good is a bigger step than I've considered. So much a part of the culture here.

Cute photos of the kids! & good luck on your fitness challenge. I need to try something like that too, only I'll keep it simple. Walk the dogs. The papaya salad looks wonderful. I just turned 50 and was taking it hard until everyone told me I didn't look it or act it. I guess I act like a middle schooler then. So happy 50th year! A bit early.

I'm not doing the 75ers this year. Too fast lane for me! I'm hanging out at the Category challenge, which has been my main challenge since I came to Librarything Land. Hope you drop by www.librarything.com/topic/210271 and give me a tagmash. I'm doing tagmashes for the categories this year.

>74 justchris: Chris we should probably call you Zoom henceforward! You are obviously well on the way to achieving your goals weight wise but in my case to be fair Hani will help with the walking and swimming accompaniment.

>75 charl08: I am in the same position Charlotte - I need to reduce; I don't foresee me being able or willing to stop alcohol altogether. My twin brother is an alcoholic and hasn't touched a drop for four years. Shortly after getting married I gave up drink for almost seven years and only drink infrequently (once or twice a week) but I do want to control my intake.

>76 cammykitty: Missed you Katie so far this year and I will go across and star your thread over there. I have little idea what a tagmash is but I am sure that I'll find out!

Time for catching up with my reviews:



15. The Perfect Stranger by P.J. Kavanagh
Publication Date : 1966
Pages : 182
TIOLI January Challenge : #4 (15/21)

PJ Kavanagh passed away last year and died in undeserved obscurity. A close friend of Laurie Lee, I had the pleasure of meeting him many moons ago and he was a charming, erudite and extremely funny man.

He was married to Rosamund Lehman's daughter and she is the eponymous "Perfect Stranger" of this work and she appears two thirds into this book after Kavanagh has taken us through a chequered early life which included a stint as a Butlin's Redcoat and fought (and was wounded) in the Korean war. Told in splendid prose and with an amiable manner which was borne out in his personality. Kavanagh always aimed to be a poet and he became one of some distinction despite insufficient recognition.

This is not on a par with Cider With Rosie but I don't know any work that could say that but this is very good.

8/10

16. The Manticore by Robertson Davies
Publication Date : 1972
Pages : 255
Canadian Author Challenge January
TIOLI January Challenge #1 - 16/21

I have seen a number of reviews of this novel and most of them are extremely positive. I do feel that anyone reading this book after Fifth Business couldn't help being a tad disappointed because it isn't to quite the same level.

Son of Boy Staunton, the hero of the earlier novel, David Staunton is a heavy drinking lawyer convinced that his father was murdered and we follow him to Zurich for psychoanalysis and by way of his sessions his tale is told.

Robertson Davies was a stylist and an exceptionally gifted writer and you cannot help realising this whilst reading The Manticore. There is an impression however that he was being too clever by half and as a result there is more style than substance with Staunton an unsympathetic hero.

Efficient, well put together and an exercise in intellectualism but this is also dry and not a tale that kept me gripped.

6/10

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Date of Publication : 1934
Pages : 347
British Author Challenge February
TIOLI Challenge February #6 - 1/19

This was a re-read.

We join Hercule Poirot in Aleppo as winter has set in and he needs to get home. He gets to 'Stamboul' and manages to squeeze a berth on the Orient Express to take him back home.

A man is murdered in his own carriage and the circumstances are confusing whilst the murdered man transpires to be not whom he at first seemed. Poirot is called in to investigate as he is in situ and he proceeds to do so in his inimitable manner.

I of course remembered the denouement but I enjoyed the journey there as usual. Of course this is not high lit but was thoroughly enjoyable all the same.

7/10

18. The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara W Tuchman
Date of Publication : 1958
Pages : 200
Suz's Non-Fiction Challenge February (History)
TIOLI Challenge February #13 : 2/19

The Guns of August is one of the great works on the early days of the First World War. This book preceded that landmark tome and covers instead the events that lead to the United States' entry into the conflict and particularly German machinations both to keep them out or to combine with Japan and Mexico in a strike against them.

Zimmermann was the German foreign minister and his telegram was sent to the German missions of Mexico and the US in code advising the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and that offers were to be made to Mexico/Japan to invade the US and recover Arizona, New Mexico and California for the Mexicans. The Germans believed that other nations did not possess the intellectual capacity to decipher their codes but the British had already done so and were now faced with how to use the information gained to their advantage.

This is Tuchman so needless to say it was very good. I came away with my views reconfirmed that Wilson was a pedantic and foolish man who prolonged a conflict which the US were never going to be able to stay aloof from indefinitely. That he did so to the US's eventual commercial advantage hardly excuses the numbers of people who died from his insistence on neutrality.

Strongly recommended.

9/10

19. Coventry by Helen Humphreys
Date of Publication : 2008
Pages : 169
Canadian Author Challenge February
TIOLI Challenge February #9 - 3/19

I am biased in regard to the location of this. I studied and lived in Coventry in the 1980s largely with the backdrop of the hideous 'new' cathedral.

This short novel covers events in 1940 when in one awful night German bomber raids destroyed the old cathedral and told as it particularly affected the lives of three characters - a mother, her son and a widow. This is a sensitively told and emotionally charged tale with sympathetic and believable characters.

As I said; I am biased, but I liked this (thanks Katie).

8/10

>82 PaulCranswick: That one is already on my TBR list; however, it isn't available at the library so it's on hold for awhile.

20. Selected Poems by Cecil Day Lewis
Date of Publication : 1951 (although some later poems have been added)
Pages : 158
TIOLI Challenge February #12 - 4/19

Cecil Day Lewis was poet laureate of the United Kingdom from 1968 until 1972 when he passed away from Cancer. He is nowadays at least as famous for being the father of Daniel Day Lewis his fourth and final child but that is extremely unfair and, that his work is now largely ignored, I find both bizarre and wrong.

This is a retrospective selection chosen by the poet himself and what a wonderful stylist he was. I would encourage anyone interested in poetry especially of those who modernised traditional forms to look up Day Lewis and enjoy.

I could quote liberally from this but I will refrain from doing so but I must mention his poem "The Disabused" from his collection "The Gate" and not in the first edition of this collection. He terms this a "dramatic monolgue" and the poet looks back on a shocking event in his life wherein he watched and felt unable to help his brother drown (I believe this to be a fictional imagining but it is extremely effective).

He also writes wonderfully on his childhood, the early loss of his mother and a disparate formative years. His earlier work is much influenced by his friend WH Auden and I concur with those who feel that his poetry finds its own voice in the 1940s and beyond when Auden upped sticks for the USA.

This is a tribute to his maternal aunt who was influential in bringing up the grieving young man:

MY MOTHER'S SISTER
I see her against the pearl sky of Dublin
Before the turn of the century, a young woman
With all those brothers and sisters, green eyes, hair
She could sit on; for high life, a meandering sermon

(Church of Ireland) each Sunday, window-shopping
In Dawson Street, picnics at Killiney and Howth…
To know so little about the growing of one
Who was angel and maid-of-all work to my growth!

- Who, her sister dying, took on the four-year
Child, and the chance that now she would never make
A child of her own; who, mothering me, flowered in
The clover-soft authority of the meek.

Who, exiled, gossiping home chat from abroad
In roundhand letters to a drift of relations –
Squires’, Goldsmiths, Overends, Williams’ – sang the songs
Of Zion in a strange land. Hers the patience

Of one who made no claims, but simply loved
Because that was her nature, and loving so
Asked no more than to be repaid in kind.
If she was not a saint, I do not know

What saints are…Buying penny toys at Christmas
(The most a small purse could afford) to send her
Nephews and nieces, sh’d never have thought the shop
Could shine for me one day in Bethlehem splendour.

Exiled again, after ten years, my father
Remarrying, she faced the bitter test
Of charity – to abdicate in love’s name
From love’s contentful duties. A distressed

Gentle woman housekeeping for strangers;
Later, companion to a droll recluse
Clergyman brother in rough-pastured Wexford,
She lived for all she was worth – to be of use.

She bottle plums, she visited parishioners.
A plain habit of innocence, a faith
Mildly forbearing, made her one of those
Who, we were promised, shall inherit the earth

…Now, sunk in one small room of a Rathmines
Old people’s home, helpless, beyond speech
Or movement, yearly deeper she declines
To imbecility – my last link with childhood.

The battery’s almost done: yet if I press
The button hard – some private joke in boyhood
I teased her with – there comes upon her face
A glowing of the old, enchanted smile.

So, still alive, she rots. A heart of granite
Would melt at this unmeaning sequel, Lord,
How can this be justified, how can it
Be justified?

A pretty naff book cover but a very good collection of poems.

8/10

>83 thornton37814: Almost missed you there Lori! As a moralistic and committed progressive I should like Wilson more but his foreign policy, well intentioned maybe, had terrible consequences in prolonging the most bloody conflict then faced by the world and his post-war failure to talk, particularly the revenge minded French, from insisting upon the onerous terms of Versailles and to get the League of Nations through Congress helped sow the seeds for Adolf.

Some will point to parallels between Wilson and Sanders but I believe the world is much moved on and Sanders more sanguine than Wilson ever was.

Good for you for focusing on your health. It's the best gift you can give to your family.

>86 SuziQoregon: Well I am trying Juli - very trying according to Hani

TBR Records Update :

Year reading record to date:

January 1st frozen TBR : 3,714

Books read : 18

Revised TBR : 3,696

January 1st Pages : 1,300,667

Pages read in completed books : 4,339

Revised TBR pages : 1,296,328

Other Books added since 1 January : 28
Pages : 9,115
Read : 2
Read Pages : 328

Total Books Read in 2016 - 20
Total Pages Read in 2016 - 4,667

I liked Coventry a lot, Paul. I'm glad it worked for you. I've become a fan of her books.

Nice poem from Cecil Day Lewis. I'll have to look at more of his.

I'm glad you got Dame Agatha on people's radars in the BAC. She's a reliable good time, she is.

>89 jnwelch: Joe, Humphries has a good eye if you know what I mean as did Cecil Day Lewis. I was absolutely blown away by his poem the Disabused.

Got some decidedly bad news today. Spoke to a frantic mother who informed me that she has been told that she has an aggressive tumour in her tummy and they are certain it is cancerous. It was a difficult conversation as she was palpably terrified and not wholly coherent and I was stunned and unable to speak properly myself. My sister in law will take her to the specialist tomorrow and it seems sure that an early operation is to be scheduled.

Hell the world seems so big and my mother so far away when we need to be there and cannot be. I had planned a business trip in March to England and she is clinging to that at present - I better accelerate it I think. Hani is tearful a little and I am pretending to be hanging tough but am screaming a little on the inside as I feel so useless.

Aw damn sorry to hear that Paul. Hang in there. My thought's are with you guys....

>92 mahsdad: Thanks Jeff

>91 PaulCranswick: - Yes, distances never seem so wide as when we want to be somewhere that we are not. Hang in there, Paul. Good that your mum has your sister-in-law to go with her to the specialist. Fear can make a person not hear everything being said and it's good to not have to be alone at such a time. March isn't that far away so your trip will certainly be good timing for you both

Paul so sorry to hear about your Mom. Sending you my thoughts and prayers, and all of my love.

Sorry to hear your news- you will be with your mother when she needs family in March

My sympathy, too, Paul. Sending positive thoughts to you and Hani and your mother.

I'm very sorry to hear the news about your mother, Paul. My thoughts and prayers are with her, you, and your family.

Oh, Paul, I know exactly what that feels like, although I was only 1500 miles away when I got the news about my brother's tumor. Sending you boundless support!

Oh Paul, I'm so sorry to hear this terrible news. My thoughts are with you and yours. I keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well. Hugs xx

So sorry to hear the news about your Mum, Paul. I hope the meeting with the specialist tomorrow is more promising than she is thinking.

So sorry to hear that Paul. Hope that you are able to visit your mum soon.

Oh, Paul, that is scary. I hope the prognosis is good after your mum has seen the specialist. My thoughts are with you and your family. {{{hugs}}}

Hi Paul, so sorry to hear the news about your mum, hopefully the meeting with the specialist tomorrow has better news for her. Sending special love and hugs to you all and our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.

Very sorry, Paul, I hope the specialist can give some hope. Sending good thoughts for all of you.

I'm sorry to hear about your mother's illness. Having been through cancer with both parents, I know how difficult this road is. You and your mum will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Oh, Paul. I'm a praying woman, so I'm praying for your mother's good recovery and for some peace and strength for all of you right now.

>94 jessibud2: Shelley, I just felt impotent in that I knew other than words of comfort and encouragement I wasn't able to do anything.

>95 Crazymamie: Thank you Mamie dear.

>96 torontoc: Thanks Cyrel. She was talking in a voice full of fear and panic about locations of house deeds and not being able to see me and Hani and the kids again - it really was quite excruciating and I couldn't hold her through the phone.

>97 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. She said she had deliberated whether to tell me but decided that "I had better be prepared"

>98 kidzdoc: Thank you Darryl. I suppose more will be learned tomorrow after she sits with the specialist. She had the hysterectomy a few years ago and told me she cannot understand how there can be a problem as "there is nothing left in there".

>99 ronincats: Yes Roni, I distinctly remember your tough time too. Thank you my dear for your support; this group is great.

>100 Ameise1: Thank you Barbara

>101 SandDune: Apparently they have told her that an operation is definitely on the agenda but her news on the status of the tumour was a little bit befuddled. Nicola, my sister-in-law was previously a nurse in the NHS so I expect there will be at least some coherence tomorrow whatever the level of bad news.

>102 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. At least I already had a plan to go and it can be a little flexible. She did sound defeatist yesterday actually and my sister told Hani that she was concerned about my mum "just giving up".

>103 Storeetllr: Thanks Mary. I have a busy day today which includes the presentation of a claim for additional time to complete a project for a contractor before the Public Works Department and I am not, erm, very well prepared.

>104 johnsimpson: Thank you John. I think it is Pinderfields that she will be going to.

>105 FAMeulstee: Anita, thank you. She has been grumbling about not feeling right for more than six months but, in truth, we thought that she was a little bit like the boy who continually cried "Wolf".

>106 cbl_tn: Thank you Carrie. I spoke to my brother too last night and he was more than a little deflated too.

>107 LizzieD: All the prayers from my friends are welcome Peggy and received with love and gratitude. I really do have some great friends in this group.

Paul ,I just read the news about your Mother and I am so very sorry. I too, am sending good thoughts to you and all of your family.

>113 DeltaQueen50: Thank you so much, Judy

Not a good news day. Adding to the prayers for your and your family and sending healing thoughts for your mom, Paul.

Hi, Paul! I also enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express. It was nice getting reacquainted with Dame Christie!

Sorry, The Manticore fell a bit short for you. It really rang all my bells and I felt it was just as good as Fifth Business, IMHO, of course.

I would like to get my mitts on Coventry, although I have another Humphreys lined up.

O Paul, I'm sorry to hear the news about your mother. I'm sending you all tender love and care. xx

>115 lkernagh: To put it mildly Lori. Spoke again to my mum this morning (her time) and she was a bit calmer. One possible upside is that the rift between my brother and sister might get healed.

>116 msf59: Mark I saw your very positive review of The Manticore but I have to call it as I see it! In truth though we rarely disagree about books buddy.

>117 DianaNL: Thanks Diana - you are a diamond.

So incredibly sorry about your mom, Paul. (((hugs)))

Really great reviews.

Oh, Paul. I'm keeping your mom and you and the rest of your family in my thoughts and in my heart.

Am praying for your mom and you and your family.

>120 Thebookdiva: I do so hope that I am able to provide a really great review following a report on my mum's visit to the specialist this evening UK time. Thank you sweetie.

>121 scaifea: Thanks Amber. It is one of the the things about growing up and getting older that so irks - this stark facing up to our mortality and particularly the mortality of those we love the most.

>122 drneutron: Thanks Jim. We talked over the phone today about the two of us being there present at my Grans passing in 1994 (we held a hand each) and she recalled her nephew and my cousin Neville rushing from the room unable to cope (Neville is my mum's age and the son of her much older sister). I told her honestly that I couldn't remember him being there at all as I was so focused on what was important at that moment. As many of my friends here will know I was very close to my Gran and she so desperately wanted the comfort of my hand as we slipped from life. My mum is sort of hinting that I need to be there for her too - it was a little chilling actually and as I told her grossly premature. She has to see my two girls married I told her......"when will Belle get married?" she asked me - I was quick to point out I wouldn't countenance her marrying before turning 35 (another 23 years). Managed to get a chuckle from her anyway.

Thinking of you, buddy.

>124 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I must say that I so often am reminded of the warm spirited nature of this group and its ability to cheer and comfort.

I understand about those phone calls. I had the same experience two years ago with my father. Since I live 1,000 miles away from them it was hard to do the back and forth to be there when it counted. We can only "muddle" through as best we can.

>126 benitastrnad: I do muddled pretty good, I think, Benita. xx

Hi Paul, sending love and hugs to all and hope that better news for your mum is on the cards, our thoughts and prayers are with you all each and every day and a good ending will prevail, after all she is a Yorkshire lass and wants to see you all soon, with happy smiley faces especially as you have significant birthday coming up in a few months.

Oh Paul, I'm so so sorry to hear about your Mom. Sending good thoughts her way as well as yours.

>128 johnsimpson: Thanks John. Well the prognosis was sort of better than anticipated I am pleased to say but not entirely good news either. After the hysterectomy she has developed a growth which through neglect (by the NHS I am afraid) has been allowed to entwine itself around her bowel and has stopped one of her kidneys functioning. They have to put a stent in next week to get the kidney function back followed by a major operation later to remove the growth which could result in her losing the bowel. The reason I say neglect is that she has been in and out of the hospitals for 18 months checking why she has so much stomach discomfort and they have only just discovered it - it seems some of the tests she should have had were overlooked and once she was booked in for the test and the machine was broken and she only got the test 10 months later.

>129 SuziQoregon: Thank you Juli. I am not a person who likes to apportion blame, especially to an institution I am inordinately proud of, but I am a little bit miffed this morning.

>130 PaulCranswick: Sorry to hear that Paul. I think sometimes older folks put up with a lot of pain that younger people (me included) would be shouting the house down about. Hope that they have been grovelling and that her care here on in is stellar.

>131 charl08: She was actually admitted for four days about four months ago and they discharged her saying that it was 'merely' post operative scarring that they couldn't do much about. You are right though hopefully now they will treat her with a little more deserved care and attention.

Well, I think that's better than I feared, but it's still maddening and anxiety-provoking. Wishing you all courage and patience and peace.

>133 LizzieD: Yes thanks Peggy. I am sure that positive vibes work wonders and our little cohorts here help supply plenty. xx

>91 PaulCranswick: I went through that with my mom six years ago. Sorry for what you are going through. It's difficult when you can't be right there. My distance was much shorter.

>135 thornton37814: Lori, I am probably a day away in reality as I could hop on a plane at a push but in reality there is a lot of planning that goes into going back to the UK and it is this that restricts my ability to come and go exactly how I please. I could do with a TARDIS a la Doctor Who only with its settings properly tuned so I don't end up on Skaro facing the daleks.

Well, it sounds nasty but also sounds fixable, and it isn't cancer, so that's good!

>137 ronincats: I am quite sure that it was the Big C that had my mum the most scared. The fact that it isn't that will relieve her enormously but there is still a tough operation to overcome and she is not the strongest. The other downside is obviously the possible need to use a colostomy bag.

I am trying very hard to confirm one or two projects in the UK these next months which would put the company in a reasonable financial position.

I have determined that my core project management company of eight staff four of whom have never been overseas before will be treated to a company paid trip to the UK at the end of August and beginning of September to coincide with my 50th birthday. It will cost the company about $25,000 (the staff only) but I reckon is more than justified compensation for a good bunch. Erni our much beloved maid will also get to travel with us for the trip.

>84 PaulCranswick: That's so sad.

Just finished reading. Sending best wishes to your mum and family, Paul. Good to see the news is better than you thought at first.

>140 humouress: Daniel Day Lewis as an actor has that sensitivity that is boundless in stirring emotion - he learnt it from his pa.

It was a tough day yesterday in terms of worrying about her appointment.
Thanks Nina. xx

Paul, just catching up now with the news of your mom. I'm glad it's not cancer but will definitely still be paying for her and your family. I'm sure you're feeling the distance right now...thank goodness for what we do have with phone calls and technology to stay in touch! I'm sure your mom has appreciated talking to you and has the March visit to look forward to.

Hang on, Paul xx

>142 bell7: Mary, one of the threads I like very much is the one of Morphy who has managed to find something to be thankful for everyday. I know she struggles on many occasions to feel grateful for all life seems to deign to throw in the path of her and her dear husband, but she gives the finger to those black clouds every time she puts down one of those life-affirming lists on her thread. I am inordinately grateful that my mother, who was frankly terrified, did not get the diagnosis she most greatly feared. She now has to refocus her fear on a difficult operation and a very discomfiting lifestyle change. She will get as much love as I can give her to help her through it and I can do that in part because I have such great friends, including all of you.

Happy Friday, Paul! My daughter's flight leaves this morning. She will be staying in Bangkok for a couple days and then taking a train up to the Chiang Mai Province, where she will spend the bulk of her trip. Have you been to the north?

>143 DianaNL: Thanks Diana. xx

>145 msf59: Yes mate. Cooler, hilly and interesting. Also my experience was that there were a lot of locals trying to take advantage of tourists so tell your daughter to check prices first before buying!

She is going with a friend, with a lot of travel experience, so she'll guide her along. Was there anything you did there, that you could recommend? Any must sees?

>147 msf59: It depends on activity levels. There is trekking and scenery a plenty; jungles and temples. Elephant riding and river rafting. The cooking class at Aroi Thai cooking school was good fun.

That's good news re your mother, Paul (no Big C), but frustrating that they took so long to identify the problem, making the present situation that much more difficult for her. Hope you're bearing up all right with it all while trying to do right by your business.

>148 PaulCranswick: She will like all the active stuff, including hiking and rafting. I am sure she will find tons to do. Thanks, Paul!

>149 jnwelch: Thank you buddy. You know the NHS is hard pressed and they genuinely do their best but things do go wrong in an imperfect world.

>150 msf59: You are welcome mate. If she has the chance to swing by KL I will stand her a slap up meal and a beer or three. Happy to PM my contact details. Next week should be fun as darling Caro is in town and we'll be meeting up.

Paul, good news about that diagnosis, such as it is. And really, bottom line is, it's better than the alternative. One step at a time. Adjustment to a possible new lifestyle afterwards won't be easy and possibly, won't be pleasant either but again, better than the alternative. I think the breathe in, breathe out, one day at a time rule may be the best approach. And I do hope her treatment from here on in is better, too.

{{hugs}}

I'm just catching up with the news about your Mum, Paul. I know how awful it is to deal with medical crises by long distance. Luckily your mother does have your sister-in-law to help her understand what's going on, because it's so hard to take in what doctors are telling you when you're terrified. Sounds like she has some tough days ahead, and I wish her all the strength and determination needed to face them. Same for you, buddy.

I'm glad and relieved that your mother's growth isn't cancerous, Paul. However, the care she received was abysmal and indefensible. I hope that she receives much better treatment from this point forward.

>130 PaulCranswick: Thank you for the update on your mother's medical situation. I am glad it is not as awful as it could be, and distressed that it was preventable in terms of getting to this level of problem without detection. I was going to advocate that your mother always go to the follow-up appointments with a friend--having someone else who isn't quite as emotional in the moment to act as a reality check, remind one of questions one meant to ask, and to advocate is so important. Insert comments here about how angry I am that too often women's reported symptoms are dismissed by medical professionals (people of color and fat people and people with various disabilities too, but those are whole different rants). I too hope she receives a much higher standard of care moving forward and that the surgery doesn't lead to further complications.

Well I'm glad the news about your mother is not as bad as initially thought but jeez do I understand your anger and the delay in diagnosing.

Hi Paul, good news on the diagnosis in one sense but this could have all been avoided. The problem is that like you I love the NHS but they still make far too many errors which are costly to the patient and nothing seems to be done and then it happens again. I would not like to sue the NHS but it could be a case to do so as really your dear mum should not need a colostomy bag and they can be a little tricky to get used to, Karen's mum had to have one but as her health declined it was left to Karen's dad to deal with it and he was a star, never phased by the task. Sending love and hugs to you all and special love and hugs to your mum.

Hej Paul, I am sorry to hear about your mother's condition and also about your feelings of helplessness. I can sympathize with you - geographical distance is tough and keeps us separated but spiritual/emotional closeness can still be felt and helps along. May you find the right mind to listen to your mother and find the right words at the right time.

>152 jessibud2: Shelley, hugs very happily accepted! I reminded my Mum today about my comment that she has to see the girls get married.

>153 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks Linda. The tough times ahead need to be shared - I think the fact that there is now less open animosity between my brother and sister will help to ease the strain for her.

>154 kidzdoc: In all fairness Darryl I think a number of individual carers were outstanding in giving her support and pushing the medical administrators to keep looking at my mums case until the answers were found. There clearly were some horrendous f*!k ups in terms of procedure but there is little point in focusing on it too much now. I was quite angry about it yesterday mate but I don't want my mother to clutch to negativity.

>155 justchris: Chris, my mums character means that she will definitely not go to those appointments on her own! In addition to my SIL she has a good friend who used to be a nurse and is terribly patient with her. Unfortunately she had just had a knee replacement and couldn't accompany. My mum would probably be most comfortable with her than Nicola my sister-in-law but someone will be there. xx

>156 SuziQoregon: Thank you Juli.

>157 johnsimpson: Thank you John. I don't foresee suing the NHS despite quite probably having a prima facie cause of action.

>158 paulstalder: Paul one of the key things with my mum is to keep her positive as she does tend naturally towards depression and that is really what she doesn't need right now.

Hi Paul--I love your story about the dining room chair bookmarks--you rascal you!! And I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. Good news is it is not the dreaded C. I don't know how much bowel removal she is facing, but I have done quite well without some of mine and have remained very physically active with a mostly unmodified diet, so best of luck to her and let me know if I can answer any questions. PM me. : )

>163 Berly: Thanks for that Kimmers; I may well pick your brain on the subject at some stage. I would of course in return send you a bookmark!

Deal!! ((hugs))

So sorry to hear about your mom's upcoming surgery. I pray it goes well and she is able to fairly quickly adapt to the colostomy if need be. I would also advocate for someone to go with your mom during the appointments. From family experience I can say that when one is the patient it is a challenge to take it all in. I am so sorry that you are not nearer to your mum, but take heart in the kind support that you are offering to her. Ah, as I read further it sounds like she will have someone with her. If it is any comfort, my grandma had to have an ilestomy at the age of 88, and she adapted after a time. In her case, she refused to have a colonoscopy , despite having symptoms of bowel cancer. She was a stubborn old bird and refused to seek medical help until she had a blockage in her colon , at which time they removed the cancer and had to do the ileostomy. Shel lived on to age 96, at which point heart failure too her.

Big hugs to you and your mum and your family.

>165 Berly: Now where did Hani put those new chairs?

>166 vancouverdeb: Thanks for sharing that Deb. My mum is fearful more than stubborn, I think, but the nett result can be just the same can't it?

I wanted some therapy today so I dropped off Kyran at a soccer tournament (he is the coach) and went straight to Kino. I added :

The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien (1967) 199 pp
The End : Germany 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw (2011) 400 pp
In the Light of What We Know by Zia Haider Rahman (2014) 555 pp
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929) 293 pp
Peacemakers : Six Months That Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan (2001) 500 pp
My Life as a Foreign Country by Brian Turner (2014) 224 pp
Astragal by Albertine Sarrazin (1965) 190 pp
If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes (1945) 259 pp
The Seven Madmen by Roberto Arlt (1929) 304 pp
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2012) 331 pp

Ooh, nice haul. Hope the shopping was comforting.

>169 charl08: Well it took my mind off things just nicely, Charlotte.

>168 PaulCranswick: Book therapy can do much to heal an aching soul, my friend! Continued prayers for your mother's health.

Came across this article. One has to take the NY Post with a grain of salt. Even if half this is true, how does anyone run a successful business in the region?

http://nypost.com/2016/02/13/goldman-sachs-banker-involved-in-a-massive-overseas...

>168 PaulCranswick: Buying books always helps :-)
I hope all goes well with your mother, I will keep on sending good and healing thoughts for you all.

>168 PaulCranswick: well done

>171 michigantrumpet: It isn't even half the story - The Malaysian PM has personally been involved in so many high crimes and misdemeanors that the Goldman travails are barely newsworthy here. Over $700m paid into his personal bank accounts seemingly via a government fund he set up as a so called political donation. A mongolian lady murdered and her body exploded by his bodyguards with explosives only he as defence minister (at the time) could have authorised to be issued from government stores and ostensibly because she was agitating for a share in commission they were all enjoying via commissions on the purchase of submarines from France and threatening to expose sexual relations with the PM. The Attorney General retired for ill health on the day he filed criminal charges (which were never served) against the PM and his public prosecutor who drafted the charges murdered and his body encased in a cement drum. The Deputy Prime Minister and two other cabinet ministers dismissed and muzzled for publicly questioning the misappropriation of public funds. The fact that the 1MBD Sovereign Wealth fund set up had an accounting blackhole of US$12 B and the Prime Minister was stopping any investigations into it........................

It is a lively, interesting and volatile place in which to do business, Marianne.

>172 FAMeulstee: Too right it does; thank you Anita. xx

>173 paulstalder: Well Paul, I had to keep my eye in somehow!

Just de-lurking to add my best wishes for the simplest and best outcome for your Mother. Love to you all. X

Sorry The Manticore felt a bit short for you Paul. I felt it was a bit of a letdown after Fifth Business the first time I read it too, though wouldn't agree it has more style than substance, especially after a second reading, as I felt this time that it was a very clever way to approach the same story from a very different perspective and filled us in on familiar characters from a fresh viewpoint which forces us to reframe the events and people we witnessed in the first book. Having read the third book, I can tell you without any spoilers that it again forces you to shift paradigm and is quite fascinating as well.

>174 PaulCranswick: wow! As I kept reading your post, I just kept shaking my head in disbelief. Just incredible. My hat's off to you for being able to survive in an environment like that

Sending good thoughts for your mother and family.

And your work sounds crazy! Maybe you should write a book.

Sorry to hear about your Mum, Paul. Being at a distance from loved ones at such a time is hard, I know. The main thing to remember is to take care of yourself and continue your health goals so you can be there and healthy to support your family.

>176 BekkaJo: Thank you Bekka. xx

>177 Smiler69: I so much wanted to be enraptured by the second Deptford book and it was perhaps the fact that it fell significantly short of Fifth Business that told against it for me. I would certainly agree it was clever, Ilana.

>178 michigantrumpet: The scariest thing Marianne is that none of it was made up! If you add to that some of the weirdest bureaucratic nonsense imaginable - like that in order to win a government contract your company needs to be wholly owned by Malays - not Malaysians - Malays.

>179 banjo123: Rhonda, in fairness I was referring to the political situation in general and the Prime Minister in particular but I concede that some of it is too fantastic for plausible fiction!

>180 Familyhistorian: Well at least Meg the bad news coincided with my determination in Phuket that enough was enough as far as my fitness and diet went. I am already at my lowest weight for six months.

>174 PaulCranswick: I'm surprised that you're aware of any of this at all, living within it as you are. ;0) I somehow got the impression that internal news like that wouldn't make it to local media.

>164 PaulCranswick: omg

>183 humouress: One of the biggest problems for the government here now is that they cannot control social media any longer. The mainstream media does not include much reference to these issues other than by way of a whitewash, but social media and the www are much less easy for them to silence. The fact that separate investigations are underway in France, the USA and Switzerland makes it even less easy to keep a lid on things.

More book therapy today:

Six Days : How the 1967 War Shaped the Middle East by Jeremy Bowen (2003) 373 pp
Cuba Libra by Elmore Leonard (1998) 360 pp
I, The Jury by Mickey Spillane (1947) 164 pp
The Life of Elves by Muriel Barbery (2015) 258 pp
Ostland by David Thomas (2013) 430 pp

I have not read any of the books in either of those two hauls, Paul, except for the Hemingway - just read that earlier this year. Hoping that the retail therapy is working and sending my best to you and your family. Hoping that the coming week is kind to you.

Hi Paul! I will continue to pray for your mum's health. Even though cancer is off the table, the surgery required sounds like it could be tricky and has the potential to change her life permanently. I'll be praying for the best possible outcome from the surgery.

Congrats on the weight loss Paul. To already be seeing a difference is impressive stuff. I love the moment when you get back into clothes that were abandoned as having 'shrunk'.

I am trying to read Elmore Leonard this year (the library has lots), so good to see him pop up in your latest haul.

You and your family are in my thoughts, Paul. And congratulations on the weight loss!

HI Paul, I keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well with you Mom's op. Wishing youa lovely Sunday evening and a good start into the new week.

>186 Crazymamie: There are a couple of lovely looking Europa book editions in that lot Mamie plus a few of a new series by Serpent Tail books collecting cult classics.

>187 cbl_tn: Thank you Carrie - I think she is relieved but still expecting it to be tough.

>188 charl08: Sunday is, within reason, my off day when I allow myself a few luxuries (a dessert for example) but still no rice!

>189 Dejah_Thoris: Lovely to see you Princess and thank you for your support and kind words. xx

>190 Ameise1: Thank you Barbara. I am sure that she'll be ok.

Oh, I love those Europa editions, and I am always a fan of anything Elmore Leonard! I don't know about the Serpent Tail books - I'll have to investigate.

Sending positive thoughts your way, Paul!

Lovely book therapy lists - I almost bought the Muriel Barbery novel the other day. It looks excellent!

>194 Cait86:, >185 PaulCranswick: - I am listening to a radio interview with Muriel Barbery right now, as I type! I haven't read anything by her but she has a lovely French accent.

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/writersandcompany

Click to listen to today's show (Sunday, Feb. 21)

Having been very behind on everyone's threads, I was distressed to hear about your mother's health problem but am now somewhat relived to hear that it is not what was feared, although there will be difficulties to adjust to. It is good that you are planning to be there next month. And I am always interested to hear of your book shopping trips.

And I just listened to the above radio interview, (>195 jessibud2:). That is wonderful that she had so much success with her first big novel, that she could spend two years living in Kyoto. That we could all do that!

Good evening, Paul! Just scrolled down half your thread to see what I've missed and I'm saddened to find that your mum is going through so much do to the incompetency of others. I will certainly keep her in my thoughts as she rectifies these medical problems.

I read Cuba Libre way back when. Loved it! and I hope you do too.

>193 Crazymamie: They are quite stylish actually, Mamie.

>194 Cait86: Thank you Cait. Being something of an elf myself, I simply couldn't resist her book!

>195 jessibud2: I am listening whilst typing, Shelley. She has a sexy accent I must say.

>196 catarina1: Thanks Catarina. I think it is wonderful that a novel which most would consider high literature would sell 1.5 million in this day and age - I guess that the French still do have a guardianship of their culture.

>197 Carmenere: Lynda, I am trying to steer her away from any bitterness against the Health services as I do not think that that will assist her in gaining the positivity she needs to recover.

>198 PaulCranswick: You can listen and type at the same time? Damn, Paul. Talk about multi-talented! I try that and get total garbled text and no memory of what I just heard.

>200 Storeetllr: Yikes, Mary, I had better go back to the last post and check for typos!

No need. I did already, and there were none. That is why I am so impressed. :)

>202 Storeetllr: Fluke or skill I am not really sure. xx

It has been a difficult week for lovers of literature:

Firstly at the start of the weekend we sadly lost Harper Lee author of so many people's favourite debut novel To Kill a Mocking Bird



And now at the end of the weekend I am saddened to note that Umberto Eco has passed away. Most famous of course for his novel The Name of the Rose



Both of them will be very sadly missed.

I'm sorry to hear about your mum. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

It is sad that we've lost both Harper Lee and Umberto Eco. I am ashamed to say that I haven't read any of either's books - which is quite shocking! I should read To Kill a Mockingbird and The Name of the Rose immediately.

>205 The_Hibernator: In addition Rachel, Margaret Forster also died recently. Very good writer of fiction often with a slight historical bent and was quite prolific. Possibly most famous for her 1960s novel Georgy Girl.

>198 PaulCranswick: Okay, so of course I had to google them, and you are SO right - very stylish!

Hoping your week is off to a fabulous start, Paul!

Just reading up and adding my relief that it isn't cancer and lots and lots of good wishes for a successful surgery and treatment and a quick recovery for your mum, if any possible without losing the bowel. What a shock!

>174 PaulCranswick: Politics and morals/ethics... too often don't coincide. What's wrong with people? *sigh*

I love it that you're taking so many people with you to the UK in August, you're obviously a great boss! :)

>207 Crazymamie: Told ya, Mamie!

>208 Deern: Spoke to my mum today Nathalie and she told me that the specialist told her it was 95% that she would lose the bowel. She is pretty scared but wants the surgery done and dusted by mid-March. It is playing on her mind that she lost her Father at Easter 1966 and her Mother at Easter 1994 - she is extremely frightened to have life-threatening surgery at Easter and wants it done earlier.

Malaysian politics are a whole different type of soap opera.

It will be great to have them along for my party - sort of rent a crowd!

Sorry to hear about your mother, Paul - hope the surgery will go well.

Oh yes, what a week - both Harper Lee and Umberto Eco. Haven't read Eco's fiction, but read with interest and laughter some of his essay collections. What an avid reader and writer he was. Loved that he both embraced "low" and "high" culture with enthusiasm - whether it was football or medieval philosophy.

Paul, catching up just now with all the news re your Mum. So sorry to hear you have all been dealing with so much lately. I will be hoping and praying the operation goes well and that you can get back to England to see her.

>209 PaulCranswick: That is hard news for your Mum, Paul. I can understand her dread of having the operation at Easter. Sometimes bad things happen in families around the same time (a reason why I keep my head down all March and breath easier when it is over.) I hope everything turns out ok for her and she lucks in to the 5%.

>210 ctpress: Thank you, Carsten. I should read something more by Umberto Eco very soon. I do think that he and Doctorow both of whom have died recently were unlucky not to have been awarded the Nobel when you look who did get the laureates recently.

>211 souloftherose: With all the power of prayer my friends here are generating Heather she should be in very good hands. XX

>212 Familyhistorian: I don't consider myself to be overly superstitious Meg but I did shudder somewhat when she remarked about both her parents passing during the same time of year.

21.

Return of a King : The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple

Date of Publication : 2013
Pages : 487
British Author Challenge February
TIOLI Challenge February - #19 5/19

William Dalrymple brings to life Afghanistan at the time preceding and immediately after the First Afghan Wars with Britain splendidly and gruesomely in this wonderfully rendered work of readable history.

It is not a period of history that I was particularly aware of but it is one I am unlikely to forget after reading this. Our narrator teases out the story and the events that lead up to the catastrophic uprising and its aftermath in a slow burning manner. When it hits full throttle though the savagery of events leads us to the conclusion of the folly of nations entering worlds they have no comprehension of.

This is a book which is remarkably prescient of our times and the struggles of the west lead by the US in Afghanistan and the region generally. The voices of observers then could just as well be speaking of 2012 as 1842:

Wade at the British intelligence department said in a note to Governor General Auckland in 1839:

"There is nothing more to be dreaded or guarded against...than the overweening confidence with which we are too often accustomed to regard the excellence of our own institutions, and the anxiety that we display to introduce them in new and untried soils. Such interference will always lead to acrimonious disputes if not to a violent reaction."
pp 187

Wade's wife incidentally divorced him in the aftermath of the uprising, marrying a jihadist against the British and helping to expose some British secrets.

Recommended.

8/10

Delighted to read that your mom's diagnosis was not cancer. The surgery could be difficult. Still praying.

>215 thornton37814: Lori, thank you so much. The support from the group is more than a little heartening. xx

Just catching up on your thread, and so sorry to learn of your mum's health problems, but relieved to learn that it is not cancer. I hope the surgery goes very well for her, and that she recovers nicely. I know how difficult it must be for you to be so far away.

I'm also just catching up on your thread and am sorry to hear about your mother's problems/happy they aren't as bad as they could be. Sending well wishes to you and your family.

>217 arubabookwoman: She is certainly clinging to the notion that I will be back in March, Deborah. I am a little concerned about both her strength of body as well as her psychological preparedness for such a major operation.

>218 amanda4242: Thank you, Amanda. xx

>21 kidzdoc: Nice review Paul. I am hoping to pick that one up soon.

>220 Oberon: Thanks Erik. It was a slow read setting up the action and explaining the dynastic rivalries that helped to precipitate it.

Slow couple of days leading up to Yasmyne's birthday on 27th February.
Have lunch to look forward to with Caro on Friday and a wee party planned for Yasmyne to take us to midnight on the same day.

My reading is a little stuck at the moment: I am reading

Towards Asmara by Thomas Keneally ....which shows no sign of actually getting there and which isn't gripping me as it should.

That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo which I do kinda like.

It is going to be a slow reading month......one of underachievement in fact.

I also had lined up:

Roots for the Pulitzer and Doorstop challenges
Passing for the 1001 Challenge (it is on Bowie's list too)
Cat and Mouse by Gunter Grass (Nobel)
Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburo Oe
Demelza by Winston Graham

but I may not get any of them done.

Passing is great but more like a novella. Maybe be possible to squeeze that in?

>223 charl08: Hopefully I will get a full weekend of reading in, Charlotte, to make my numbers a bit better.

Paul, I understand your mother's fear of an Easter surgery. I had my gallbladder removed in April when I was 35, and I was very aware that my grandfather died in April within days if his 35th birthday from complications following gallbladder surgery. I knew my grandfather was diabetic and I am not, that it was 1943, and his surgeon was possibly drunk, but the fear was still there.

>225 cbl_tn: Well Carrie I am now sure that all I want for Easter is a chocolate egg!

Hey Paul, I'm glad you're kinda liking That Old Cape Magic. I didn't care much for it, sad to say, but I'm not writing Russo off just yet.

Keeping your mum in my thoughts and sending positive energy her way.

How fun! A meet up with Caro! Enjoy!

>227 Carmenere: It is pretty slow moving Lynda but I do find the characters believable.
A fun meet-up with Caro is assured but because of time commitments this time (hers not mine) we will be doing a lunch.

I really liked Demelza, Paul - but then, I really like Demelza. :-)

>229 jnwelch: Ooh La La, what's not to like, Joe?

>230 PaulCranswick: :-)

True in the BBC production, too - I love the scene when she sings.

>231 jnwelch: I have only seen snippets of the series Joe because I don't want to spoil the books but what I have seen looks very evocative and Poldark's missus in particular.

Hi, Paul. I'm just catching up and seeing news of your mother. I'm so sorry she's facing such health problems. I hope and pray her surgery goes smoothly. I know from experience that it's hard to be far away when a loved one is facing serious illness.

>233 tymfos: Thank you Terri. She has managed to have her surgery brought forward to avoid Easter and she will go under the knife next week now. She is scared but knows that it is the only way that she will get rid of the misery she has faced for more than a year.

My it is quiet here; so quiet I thought that there may be a bad smell lingering!

One thing that passed me by and which I think is worth noting concerns the Women's Prize for literature. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been awarded with the best of the best prize for the best winner of the prize of the last ten years for Half of a Yellow Moon. Good decision in my opinion, what do you think?

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes/19

Hi, Paul. Just checking in. My daughter is having a great time in Thailand. She is spending the day in a place called Pai. Have you heard of it?

>235 PaulCranswick: I think it's high time I read Half of a Yellow Sun.

*Sniff, sniff* Nah, think you're okay here. Though to be perfectly honest, my sense of smell is as dreadful as my memory.

Best wishes to your mum for next week, Paul.

>236 msf59: Hiya mate, Pai is not somewhere I have personally been to but it is considered one of the backpacking havens of Northern Thailand ~ I have heard it described as an island retreat without the beaches. If she hasn't sent to you, this is what the place looks like:

>237 laytonwoman3rd: I am not given to flights of hyperbole, Linda - well not everyday anyway - but I do think it among the very best novels written in my lifetime.

>238 humouress: Hahaha wafting back in through the perfumed air to say thanks for visiting, dear Nina. Thanks for the wishes for my mother too, she is going to have a weekend of worry but I think she is right to get on and do it as quickly as possible.

Spent a lovely couple of hours with Caro this lunchtime and she made my day by diplomatically commenting on a slimmer me; coupla pounds it might be but it was lovely of her to "notice". For those in the group that have had the pleasure of meeting her I hardly need stress once again what wonderful company she is and two and a half hours flew by.

I had a fairly healthy gnocchetini chicken kung po (fushionish, I suppose) followed by the less healthy apple crumble and Caro had a burger which she rounded off with bread and butter pudding. Hani was unable to join us but Caro and herself had a quick chat by phone - Hani is preparing a surprise party for Yasmyne who turns 19 tomorrow which I am sure will prove to be little surprise at all.

Caro heads back to Singapore tomorrow and Boston on Monday and I am so pleased that she managed to squeeze the time in to chew the fat with yours truly.

She did give me a few books, (I shamefacedly admitted to her that her stuff was still in the office as I had rushed over to see her from a meeting, but more the reason to meet-up next time!) which I will post up later.

>70 PaulCranswick: lol
Love the sorry story of you and your brother and your entrepreneurial skills!
My mother was horrified and my father enraged at how proud the twins were to have basically cut up one of the leather dining chairs to use and sell bookmarks of our own unique design.

Lovely to hear you and Caro met up again. Who needs worry about this being a largely international group when meetups happen so often...and how cool that your healthy eating plan is working. You must be better at self control than I am.

>242 LovingLit: To be honest Megan I think that the aftermath of that particular instant left me with a disregard of DIY which I have carried stoically into my middle age.

I do think that my noticeable reduction in size has much more to do with Caro's good manners than my actual proportions but I was eminently gratefully in any event! I do feel a little bit healthier though in actual fact.

>234 PaulCranswick: It's good to see that your mothers' surgery will now be next week. You'll all have less time to worry. Best wishes for you, your mom and your family.

It's so nice to read about meetups. I'm glad you and Caro had another wonderful time together.

Great to hear you had a good meet up.

I love crumble! Rhubarb if given the option. (Hope the healthy living continues, how nice to be complimented like that).

Glad to hear that your mum will avoid the scare of the Easter date. It is strange how some times are so significant to families, repeating in that way.

>244 DianaNL: Thank you Diana. The faster the better for me but she is a bit scared. It would be difficult not to enjoy Caro's company.

>245 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. The fields behind my mums house are seasonally full of rhubarb. I have stolen so much of the stuff that it no longer is a fruit I too much look forward to!

Happy Friday, Paul! Pai looks gorgeous! Looking forward to Bree's thoughts of the place.

Hooray, for another Caro Meet-Up! I finally get that honor in early May.

Happy Friday, Paul! Wishing for you a weekend filled with fabulous! And a very Happy Birthday to your lovely Yasmyne, who will be nineteen in just a few more hours.

Keeping you and your mum in my thoughts and prayers.

>247 msf59: It does look lovely mate doesn't it?

We did talk about your upcoming trip to Boston and then onto Vermont for Booktopia. You are a lucky guy as I understand that my favourite jet-setter will act as something of a tour guide for your Boston leg. She is looking forward to it as would I be.

>248 Crazymamie: That is so lovely Mamie. I always wallow in your wishes of fabulous. xx

Hi Paul, delighted to be back but saddened and frustrated by the news of your mother's health issues. My nephew (22)is facing potential amputation of his leg after a surgery for a fractured tibia, I think, that ended up with a serious infection caused by the hospital. It is so frustrating that those we count on because we need their expertise are failing us. it sounds as though your mother is in a situation that did not need to occur if she had been listened to and /or the buck wasn't passed. Now her quality of life will be affected. Can she adjust and learn to cope? Yes, very likely. Should she have to? Absolutely not. We have a wonderful phone line of people of all religions and backgrounds who put out their prayers and positive vibes when called on for those under assault. It helps me to know so many people are sending positive thoughts and feelings my way. I'll be glad to add your mom and family to the roll call. Everybody needs support at some time in their life.I have also been journaling every day to find at least 5 things that I am grateful for. Let me tell you, after thinking about how many things there are to be grateful for I realize that while I worry about so many things I lose sight of how very many lovely things are still happening in my life.

I,m trying to get a list of my books read so far this year on here and get some reviews done. Until I catch up I'm afraid my reviews won't be the best ever but I promise they will get better.

What is that odor wafting by! ;) Not at all! Just starting The Murder of Robert Ackroyd by Agatha Christie for the Feb BAC. So much to revisit books from my youth -and I do mean my teen years and early twenties. I have not read this particular gem though. I very much enjoyed Half of a Yellow Sun so indeed , an excellent choice!

>250 mmignano11: Mary Beth, it is lovely to see you but the news of your nephew is horrific and it is so sad that it is an eventuality brought upon as much by incompetence as by misfortune. I will remember him in my own thoughts and prayers and hope that weight of numbers and sincere expression have an impact positive,

>251 mmignano11: Take your time my dear; we are here and waiting almost patiently for you. xx

>252 vancouverdeb: No pong discernible now, Deb, thanks to you all. Roger Ackroyd is definitely my favourite Agatha.

It's been awhile since I visited, and I see there is much happening. Yes, it is good news regarding your mother, and still, much to be concerned about in the upcoming days/months as she faces some difficult surgeries.

Please know I am thinking of you and your family and surrounding you with positive thoughts.

Much Love to you!

>254 Whisper1: Thank you Linda. I wondered if your ears were burning yesterday as you came up in discussions with Caro. She told me of the two of you meeting up by almost accident in Newark station when you just happened to be a gate apart and how much she enjoyed your brief natter.

My eldest is a year older and has turned 19 today.

This believe it or not is her birthday cake - she loves her MacBook and her Iphone hence the cake which was pretty well done I think:

This is Yasmyne with boyfriend Saad.



Happy birthday sweetheart.

Hani has now set off with Yabo (her sister) to Johor to visit two hospitalised relatives and leaving me and the kids and Erni to our own (slightly elated) devices.

Wow! Impressive cake! I am sure that her birthday was full of fabulous, Paul!

>258 Crazymamie: It went off quite well Mamie except last night she was supposed to be shepherded back before midnight for her surprise but was agitating to stay out with her pals.....it worked out though.

What an incredible birthday cake! Yes, It was harmonic convergence when great fortunate placed Caro one gate away. It was a full day spent in Newark airport when two of my flights scheduled to Ohio were cancelled. Fortunately, I was able to get the last seat on a late plane headed to Cincinnati. Caro saw my facebook page, asked where I was in the airport, and we discovered we were a mere one gate apart.

When she walked down the corridor, we instantly hugged. As with any LT meeting, we bonded immediately. I was so weary, but miraculously had lots of energy when talking to Caro. She is indeed a lovely, lovely lady.

And, some day I hope to meet you Paul!

>260 Whisper1: As do I Linda. As do I. I have only met Caro, Megan (ireadthereforeiam), Prue, John and Rhian of the group regulars but can confirm your opinion that there is an invariable and instant easiness in our relations. I did wonder prior to my first meet-up whether there would be awkwardness but not at all. I do think that our personas come out quite clearly in our threads and posts and I haven't been surprised or disappointed in any of my meet-ups.

Happy 19th Birthday to Yasmyne! Oh! and happy Saturday to you too, Paul!! Perfect cake! I'm sure it will be as delicious as it looks. Have a wonderful evening. I'm betting an extraordinary dinner out is in store.

>262 Carmenere: I had a mere sliver of it Lynda because of my wish to lose weight. It looked good though. xx

Exceptional cake....STUNNING Birthday Girl. Not to strike terror into a Daddy's heart, but 18 months (approximately) after MY 19th birthday, I was a college graduate and a married woman, moving 1200 miles away from home. So give her a few extra hugs, whether she wants 'em or not.

Beautiiful cake and daughter!

>264 laytonwoman3rd: I got married when I was 19. Wouldn't advise it. I'm glad my kids both had much more sense - or perhaps less stubbornness - than I did!

As the saying goes, I love the man and woman my offspirng have become, but sometimes miss the kids.

ETA: Whooops! I originally popped in to say I've just started The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, my first Christie ever outside of a short story in a Christmas anthology.

Happy birthday to Yasmyne! That is an impressive cake.

I'm glad that your mother's surgery has been moved up to next week, Paul. I pray that it goes smoothly and that she has an uneventful postoperative course.

I'm glad that you and Caroline were able to meet up. She's at the top of the list of favorite LTers I've met. You'll have to make a visit to the US in order to taste her amazing cooking, though.

I don't have a problem with Half of a Yellow Sun being listed as the best of the 10 most recent winners of the Orange Prize/Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction. I would have chosen The Song of Achilles, though.

>264 laytonwoman3rd: She usually doesn't want them Linda! I expect at the very least she will be in Scotland in less than a year's time.

>265 streamsong: Nice to see you Janet and I think that is a very profound observation. I do still look for the child in the young lady or man that my lot have become. I do think that you've picked the best Christie to start with.

>266 kidzdoc: Someone who enjoys her food as much as Caro does, Darryl, must be able to cook just a little! You did of course crop up in dispatches yesterday buddy but as you can guess there was nothing mentioned that wouldn't have made you nod, glow or smile. You might get in touch with her as Ed has not been so well with suspected Dengue fever.
I preferred Half of a Yellow Sun but do think that there have been some good books chosen by the Women's Prize over the years including Mitchell's debut novel.

Happy birthday Yazzy!

What's scary is that it honestly feels like last week I was typing that. The last year howled by in a flurry of such peaks and troughs that I'm quite bewildered and somewhat lost. Whilst I'd love you to tell me it levels out, from what I know of your brood, I'm guessing I've more roller-coaster ahead. So here's to more roller-coaster years from all of them because at the end they are all amazing.

Big love and hugs to your mother - and if there is anything we can arrange and send, being closer by, please let me know.

>267 PaulCranswick: I would make a distinction between someone who can follow recipes successfully (me) and someone who can cook (Caroline). I'm not even remotely in her league.

Thanks for letting me know about my buddy Edd. I'll get in touch with her soon.

Happy birthday to Yasmyne! Love the cake!

My daughter turned 19 this summer, and I have to say, so far it's a good age. She has gotten so much more independent, but she still puts up with her parents on occasion.

That is an amazing cake! Funny how the birthday girl didn't want to come home for her party, must have been more of a surprise than you thought.

Beautiful cake! Hope you all had fun at the surprise party too.

Happy birthday to Yasmyne!

Hi Paul--So far behind...again. OK. Let's see...Congrats on already losing a few; totally jealous of the Caro visit; Happy BDay to Jasmine; the Malaysian PM sounds crazy; nice book haul; it smells just fine here; and good luck to your Mom! And big hugs.

Happy Birthday to Yasmyne

wish you all a good weekend

Hi Paul, thanks for the messages mate, I am getting back on here slowly typing with one finger. So glad Yasmyne had a lovely party for her 19th birthday and no doubts she got some lovely presents. Sending love and hugs and hope you are having a nice weekend.

Happy birthday! Wow, that's quite a cake!

I was about to say the same thing: what a cake!!
Congrats all around!

>268 BekkaJo: Yes it continues as a roller coaster ride. I often caution Hani not to wear her heart on her sleeve or not to put too much pressure or worry about the kids, especially Yasmyne, too much. In her absence yesterday Yasmyne went out with her boyfriend and "bumped" (yeah right) into some Uni friends in, shall we say the most western part of town. She had a curfew akin to Cinderella but rolled in at 2:45 and I was struggling to keep to the spousal advice!

Thanks so much for your kind words about the old girl and the offer of help. She has my sister in the same village and my brother also 10 minutes drive away. I am sure that they would take you up on the offer!

>269 kidzdoc: So right buddy. A bit like making a distinction about how I cook and Hani does. She is also a fabulous cook as my waistline unfortunately attests. I understood that Edd was over the worst before he realised what it was.

>270 banjo123: Yasmyne and her mum are like Tom and Jerry, Rhonda. Lots of love but constant campaigning.
It is a good age though isn't it - I remember my own time being 19 and looking forward so to what life was going to bring me - I did ok I think

>271 Familyhistorian: Hani did do a great job organising the cake, Meg. I think the surprise was blown a little in ensuring the party didn't unravel into a damp squib.

>272 charl08: People are often so much at home at our place that the thought of going back doesn't readily occur to them! My dutch friend and his wife left at four while Charlie and Lisa stayed over with Luke and the twins. When we arose at just before 9 they had already breakfasted (via dear old Erni) and were set for their day! We love having people over actually as a happy home makes for a happy family.

>273 humouress: Thanks Nina. xx

>274 Berly: Thank you Kimmers. The PM is a little bit scary but his wife, Rosmah Mansor is extremely scary and known to be the greediest of a particularly greedy bunch. The previous Deputy Prime Minister was sacked together with the Attorney General just as papers were being filed to have the PM and his wife arrested and, on Friday, the DPM was suspended from the ruling party. The country is descending rapidly into farce here; the government greedies have been raping the national oil and gas company for a decade at least and now with the price of oil as it is that company has little in the way of cash reserves and mass redundancies will surely ensue. They have attempted somewhat successfully to islamify the political scene to make it appear to the fickle and frankly brainwashed Malay agricultural majority that disloyalty to UMNO is anti-Islamic.

This is the shrew/witch like Rosmah Mansor:

>275 paulstalder: Thank you Paul.

>276 johnsimpson: Nice to see a message from you John; one-fingered or not!

>277 drneutron: Thanks Jim. It was quite realistic actually. Charles almost smeared the picture of Yasmyne trying to make the picture bigger!

>278 jessibud2: Nice to see you Shelley and thank you my dear. xx

>281 PaulCranswick: Nice hair she has!! Maybe she should hang out with Trump. Because of the hair. Not talking politics. LOL

>283 Berly: Hahaha her politics of greed and self first would resonate with him too I think.

Hmmm....you don't say!

>285 Berly: I'll minimise the politics Kimmers as politics are never absolutes of black and white. I can understand some of the fears and concerns that Trump speaks to and attempts to address. I think he was right to point out that Bush's move into Iraq was the biggest single mistake made by a US President and I also agree with him on the need to readdress trading positions with China as free trade doesn't work with a nation that does not pay for its own R&D (it generally steals it) and has no welfare system or rights for its workers. I can understand the mistrust and fear against a muslim minority and about the drug culture and illegal immigration on your southern border. I just don't agree with his proposed methods of dealing with or addressing those concerns. If he implements his programme in full upon election I would not be able to visit my LT friends in the USA which would break my heart!

Sorry, Paul, my sarcasm didn't translate well. I am normally shy about talking politics, but here goes...I should have said, "Duh!" indicating my complete assent with >284 PaulCranswick:. I am not a Trump fan. I find him arrogant, insulting, racist, and I do not believe that he will work well with Congress. I was further floored and disillusioned to hear last night that Christie is now endorsing him; I believe Christie has his eye on getting some sort of payback, either the VP position or some other high profile cabinet role. Grrrrr. I sincerely hope Trump does not win. He was amusing on the TV show, "The Apprentice," but if he becomes the President, it will make me ashamed to be an American.

>287 Berly: Hahaha Kimmers I read your thread enough to know you are hardly likely to endorse The Donald! I was just making the point that I don't want to dwell overly on politics but there are things in his programme that make me worried just as I can understand why it is popular in some quarters. I do think that there are systemic problems with the American polity - problems that have basically ensured that the legislature have stymied the executive and a principled President like Obama achieved far less in his term of office than I believe he was otherwise capable of. I also think that your electoral college system over what is usually a two horse race is pretty meaningless. Whoever gets the most votes across the country should be President, end of.

I am making a February resolution to not wait too long to visit your threads, Paul - too much happens, too many interesting things to read about, too many books to think about.

I hope your mother's surgery goes well. I'm not a member of any organized religion, but am sending positive thoughts and healing energies her way.

It is embarrassing to admit, but I have never read To Kill a Mockingbird. I will read it, however, in August just before we read Go Set a Watchman for RL bookclub discussion in September. I have 4 books by Umberto Eco but have only read The Name of the Rose. I think I started Focault's Pendulum but didn't finish it. Memo to self: excellent ROOT challenge books.

Your daughter's birthday cake is clever - having taken cake decorating classes, I can appreciate the fondant and the hours it must have taken to make it. Happy (late) birthday to Yasmyne.

I totally agree with your brief review of the American polity, Paul. I would laugh at what's happening to the GOP except that it's so scary. And it bears repeating that we are not a democracy, but a republic. Four times the popular vote has not been in synch with the Electoral College vote, most recently and disastrously IMO, in 2000 when Bush gained the Presidency.

Yep. Your threads are always thought provoking!

Happy Sunday to you.

>289 karenmarie: Thanks for a lovely post Karen.

I have only read The Island of the Day Before by Eco and found it incomprehensible so I am not surprised that you found him tough too.

I wouldn't agree with too much that The Donald had to say but I do agree with his opinion on the venture into Iraq by Dubya. That lunacy would have been avoided if the electoral college had not so unjustly denied Al Gore.

>256 PaulCranswick: That's a fantastic cake! :)

>291 The_Hibernator: And I only had the merest sliver of cake too, Rachel!

>239 PaulCranswick: That looks stunning! Might have to add that to my want list