Barbara (Ameise1)'s world (4)

Welcome to my fourth thread.

The Swiss National Museum in Zurich has a special exhibition on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.
Before, during and after the revolution many Russians have immigrated to Switzerland. Lenin spent several years in Zurich and has prepared a lot for the revolution here in my home town.
The exhibition shows how the revolution came, Lenin in Zurich and Russian artists on the run.
Click on the link under the picture to see the small video.


Link for the video

January
# 1 the Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
# 2 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (5 stars)
# 3 The Collected Short Stories of Elizabeth Bowen by Elizabeth Bowen (4½ stars)
# 4 Geraubte Liebe by Dacia Maraini (4½ stars)
# 5 Fragrant harbour by John Lanchester (4½ stars)
# 6 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill (4 stars)
# 7 The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels (3½ stars)

February
# 8 The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (5 stars)
# 9 Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl (4 stars)
#10 Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine thien (4 stars)
#11 Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan (4 stars)
#12 I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett (3½ stars)
#13 Place de l'Étoile by Patrick Modiano (4½ stars)
#14 I Will Have Vengeance by Maurizio de Giovanni 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
#15 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré (4 stars)
#16 The Reluctant Hero by Michael Dobbs 2017 ROOT Challenge (4 stars)
#17 The Sacred Cut by David Hewson 2017 ROOT Challenge (4½ stars)
#18 Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson (4 stars)
#19 Julia by Otto de Kat (4 stars)

March
#20 The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker (4½ stars)
#21 Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hide by Robert Louis Stevenson (4 stars)
#22 Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (4½ stars)
#23 Benegas by Francisco José Jurado (4 stars)
#24 Töte deinen Nächsten by Michael Herzig (4½ stars)
#25 Every Day Is For the Thief by Teju Cole (5 stars)
#26 Mord unterm Nordlicht (3½ stars)
#27 Beyond Reach by Graham Hurley 2017 ROOT Challenge (4 stars)

April
#28 Oil On Water by Helon Habila (4 stars)
#29 The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman (4 stars)

American Author Challenge 2017

January: skipped
February (Stewart O'Nan): Last Night at the Lobster (2017-02-11)

British Author Challenge 2017

January
The Collected Stort Stories of Elizabeth Bowen by Elizabeth Bowen read in German (2017-01-06)
February
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett Listen in German (2017-02-15)
March
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré Listen in German (2017-02-21)
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (2017-03-02)
July
Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson (2017-02-27)
Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hide by Robert Louis Stevenson (2017-03-02)
October
Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl (2017-02-05)
December
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill read in German (2017-01-18)
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman read in German (2017-04-02)

Canadian Author Challenge 2017

January
The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels (2017-01-29)
February
Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine Thien (2017-02-07)

Take It or Leave It Challenge


January
2.: Read a book with a compound word in the title
The collected Short Stories of Elizabeth Bowen (German title: Sommernacht) 2017-01-06
3.: Read a book from a best of or notable books of 2016, name the list
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead 2017-01-04
6.: Read a book whose title includes at least two of the same number
The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy 2017-01-02

February
5.: Read a book where both “humor” and “romance” are words listed in the tags for that book
Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson 2017-02-27
12.: Read a book where the title starts with the last letter of the previous title
The Reluctant Hero by Michael Dobbs 2017-02-23
17.:Read a book by an author whose full name is at least 5 syllables long
Place de l'Étoile by Patrick Modiano 2017-02-15
18.: Read a book with a title word beginning with "L"
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan 2017-02-11
19.: Read a memoir by a living author of a different gender from yours
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Wall 2017-02-04
20.: Read a book whose title only contains one noun
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett 2017-02-15

March
2.: Read a book set in a real country other than the US, Great Britain, France or Germany. Name the country.
Töte deinen Nächsten by Michael Herzig (Switzerland) 2017-03-08
4.: Read a book by a female author with a female main character
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 2017-03-02
5.: Read a book by an author who publishes under three names
Benegas by Francisco José Jurado (4 stars) 2017-03-05
6.: Read a book with "day" or "light" in the title or author's name
Mord unterm Nordlicht 2017-03-12
7.: Read a book where the author's first or last name has exactly five letters
Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hide by Robert Louis Stevenson 2017-03-02
11.: Read a book written by an author who has won a Windham Campbell Prize
Every Day Is For the Thief by Teju Cole 2017-03-11
14.: Read a book with a title which has the last letter of the previous title in the middle
Beyond Reach by Graham Hurley 2017-03-26
15.: Read a book that holds an odd-numbered position in a series
The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker 2017-03-01

April
1.: Read a book whose title has two words sharing one adjacent letter across those two words
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman read in German (2017-04-02)

currently reading

 The Marseille Caper  Red Mandarin Dress

currently listening

 Nutshell

On the second floor of this house lived Lenin.

Happy new thread, Barbara!

Congratulations on the new thread, Barbara!

How are you liking Ocean at the End of the Lane? Is Gaiman the narrator?

Happy new thread!!

>9 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer. Being first something from Zürich Tirggel

>10 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. I'm listening it in German. So far I like it.

>11 Berly: Thanks so much for the balloon, Kim.

>12 Ameise1: Awww, my tirggel seems to have broken...

Happy New Thread, Barbara. I hope you have a good week and that the spring weather continues.

Happy new thread - looks like a fascinating exhibition about the Russian Revolution.

>15 mstrust: LOL what have you done. It's normal that they break ;-)

>16 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. The spring weather should last until Friday. The upcoming weekend seems to be rainy.

>17 charl08: Thanks so much, Charlotte. I definitely will go to the exhibition.

Happy New Thread, Barb! Hope your week is off to a fine start.

>21 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. I can not complain with this great spring weather, which will certainly last until Friday.

Happy Monday and Happy New Thread, Barb!

Happy New Thread, Barbara! I too am astonished at home much travelling my son and his wife can do in a short space of time. I put it down to being just 27 years old . I'd be exhausted though.

Happy new thread, Barbara.

Happy new thread and enjoy your spring weather. We have our usual spring weather back - rain.

Happy new thread! I am envious of your spring weather! We just received snow after being spoiled with record high temperatures. I guess that's usual for winter to fight with spring :)

>23 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Stasia. It's wonderful to see you posting sgain. I missed you.

>24 vancouverdeb: Deb, you're probably right that travelling that way must bee something for young people. I would be worn out after such a trip and would need holiday from the holiday.

>25 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul. Do you already have a date of your moving back to the UK?

>26 Familyhistorian: Thanks so much, Meg. I definitely enjoy it because your weather will arrive here at the weekend.

>27 figsfromthistle: Thanks so much, Anita. I just enjoy these moments/days because I know too that snow and cold can come back anytime.

Happy new thread, Barbara!

Happy new thread, Barbara!

Happy new thread, Barbara and happy Tuesday!

I hope you continue to enjoy your lovely spring weather.

I read The Ocean at the End of the Lane last year, my second Gaiman, and enjoyed it very much.

>33 DianaNL: >34 scaifea: Thanks so much, Diana and Amber.

>35 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. We have another beautyful day.
I suppose it will take me a while to finish the Gaiman audio because I'm not so much on the way by public transportation at the moment but so far I enjoy the listening.

I'm glad to see your spring weather is continuing. Long may it last!

Happy new thread!

>38 lunacat: It should last until Friday before rain is coming, Jenny. So far I enjoy every single minute.

>39 drneutron: Thanks so much, Jim.

Happy New Thread!

>42 thornton37814: Thanks so much, Lori.

Hi Barbara, Happy new thread my dear, fourth one already. You are having a good year so far on the reading front with 26 books read so far, well done. I hope you had a good weekend my dear and are having a good week so far. Hope your ribs are ok and not causing any pain, sending love and hugs dear friend.

>44 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. I have indeed a wonderful reading year so far with lots of good books.
The weekend was beautiful with perfect spring weather to be nany hours in the garden. The week is going well so far. Yesterday, Isabelle came home and stayed overnight. We had enough time for a good chat.
My rib is ok and I hope it will stay so. Love and hugs xx

Morning, Barbara! I'm glad your rib is better. It's gotten pretty hot here this week, but the wildflowers have bloomed, so it looks like Spring but feels like Summer.

>46 mstrust: Glad to hear that you have fantastic weather, Jennifer. Below our first daffodils blooming since this afternoon.

Happy new thread, Barbara!

>48 Crazymamie: Thanks so much, Mamie.

>47 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, aren't they sweet, those small daffodils?

Hello Barbara.

>1 Ameise1: What an interesting exhibit. One of my favorite college professors from long ago, taught Russian history with such depth that I couldn't help but be hooked on it. I've read many books on the 1917 revolution and the sad outcome of Nicholas, Alexandra and family.

>47 Ameise1: Awww, sweet little daffodils! They look like they're just waking up.

>50 EllaTim: Hi Ella, welcome on my thread. I adore spring flowers because they are telling that winter is over. Last year we have redone our garden completely new and therefore planted lots of bulbs new. Now, we are waiting like little kids what will bloom.

>51 Whisper1: It's so lovely to see you here, Linda. The last century with its turnoils has changed Europe completely. I always loved Russian history and have read lots about theses different periods, too. Personally I have to admit that I'm more than happy that all the kingdoms and empires are broken down but a real democracy needs a long time to grow and being established.

>52 mstrust: Bingo, Jennifer. I really caught the moment when they started to bloom. I asked my husband if he had seen them blooming when he left mid morning and he told me, no. I came home shortly after lunch and saw them.

Hurrah for blooming daffodils. Truly the sign Spring is well on its way, we've got lots out now. They are so cheerful :)

Sweet Thursday, Barb! Hooray for daffodils & Mr. Gaiman!

Sweet Thursday, Barbara! I hope your rib continues to improve. Daffodils and Gaiman - those are the makings for a good day.

>56 lunacat: Oh yes, it's so wonderful to see them blooming. Sweet Thursday, Jenny.

>57 msf59: It's so wonderful to see the spring flowers blooming, isn't it, Mark?

>58 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. The rib doesn't make any problem- Yep, spring flowers and a good book is very cheerful.

Love your daffodil tub. I'm currently looking at reasons daffodils go blind, as most of mine have come up headless. Next year, hopefully, I'll have cracked it!

>62 charl08: I had the same problem with tulips once. For years they were blooming perfectly and one year they had all the leaves but no head. The following years it was the same. I think that they don't get enough sun due to a tree which is much bigger now.

Happy new thread, Barbara! We had some warm days and like you I saw the first daffodils blooming in the garden today :-)

The daffodils are so cute and small :) I always associate daffodils with my birthday - in September - as that is when they bloom here. The have to be one of my favourite flowers.

Hi Barbara! I'm so glad your daughter got to visit you, and I love daffodils!

Happy Friday a bit early.

>64 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. Today, it's another beautiful day. Tomorrow it will be pouring. That's ok. The garden needs some water.
Happy Friday.

>65 LovingLit: My birthday is in September too, Megan, but I'm a very typical autumn person.
Yep, daffodils are beautiful and saying spring is here.

>66 karenmarie: Karen, perfect timing. You're post was on Friday. I'm always happy when Isa is staying ovet night. There are times I see here every fortnight but sometimes only once a month.
As soon as more spring flowers are blooming I post another photo of our garden.
Happy Friday.

Happy Saturday, Barb! Have a great weekend.

>70 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. It's a rainy and windy day here. I'm doing some work for school and then lots of reading.

Rain here too - perfect for reading (gardening will just have to wait here! )

>72 charl08: Indeed, and the garden needs some water, so I don't mind that it is raining.

>65 LovingLit: & >68 Ameise1: I am also a September baby, ladies.

I don't care for gardening as it was treated as a punishment to we boys as children.

Have a lovely weekend, Barbara. xx

>74 PaulCranswick: I hope you'll find the patience once you're back to the UK. It's so lovely to see the flowers blooming.

Thanks so much for the weekend wishes, Paul.

Hi Barbara! Happy Weekend! I saw a lot of beautiful crocuses in bloom out walking the dog. The weather here has been dreadful! So rainy and blustery. My son and daughter - in - law are on their way from Reykjavik to Iceland today. I have not had an email from them, just a picture or two via Instagram. I think they are too busy travelling to write up an email.

We have daffodils here too. But it has been oh so rainy!

>76 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb, the crocusses are blooming here too. I suppose your son and DIL are on the way to Denmark today. Well, as we say: No news are good news and when they are posting photos via Instagram than you knew all is well.
I hope you'll get better weather soon. Here it looks like that only today is such a rainy day and that's good for the garden. The upcoming days should be better.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Happy Saturday, Barbara! Rainy days are good for the garden, and reading on a rainy day has its own special rewards.

>78 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen.I plagued myself the whole afternoon from the planning, which sent me the stedent teachers, to become cunning and to make suggestions for improvement to them. It is hopeless when young people are not even able to read timetables and deal with an agenda.

Happy Weekend, Barbara! Sorry about your student teachers.

>80 ronincats: Thanks so much, Roni. I wrote a long mail the mentors of the student teachers to let them know what has happened up to now and to get rid of my frustrations.

Hi Barbara, sounds like we have been having the same weather today my dear, it has rained here but like you I have been reading while Karen was at work. Hope you have a lovely Sunday dear friend and send love and hugs.

>82 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John. Tomorrow is definitely a reading day. Love and hugs

Yes, that is what I meant to say - that my son and DIL are on they way from Iceland to Copenhagen today. They will have landed by now and found their AirBnb. They are travelling with another couple, so I feel better knowing they are with another couple when they stay in AirBnb and travel around the ring round in Iceland as they did. All four of them are very responsible sorts. But I am keen to know how they have enjoyed their visit. They are off to Amsterdam in another 2-3 days. Then home on Sunday, and all 4 of them work on Monday. I'd be exhausted! The two young women are both elementary teachers , so I hope they have energy for Monday. Spring Break here is just 2 weeks long , so I think they packed as much in to the 2 weeks as they could . And initially, even with good job and a university degree, for the first 5 years of work here, you usually only get two weeks of holidays, if you work for a private company, as my son and the other fellow do.

>84 vancouverdeb: Completely understandable that they will enjoy every single minute when only have two weeks of holiday per year. In my opinion it's unhealthy. Here, one get four weeks of holiday, between 50-59 it's 5 weeks and from 60 it's 6 weeks.
Happy Sunday, Deb.

In NZ the full time worker is entitled to 4 weeks annual leave. Some get more, and casuals like me get none, but the holiday pay is built in to the hourly rate.
I think it is vital that people have access to pay time off, in some form. It is so important to get a brain-break!

>86 LovingLit: For me and I suppose for the most of working people is a break very important. In my opinion two weeks a year isn't enough. Four weeks is for most ok but more would be better.

Happy Sunday, Barb. Hope you are enjoying the weekend.

>88 msf59: Hi Mark, I'm reading. *big grins*

>90 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. Perfectly chosen.

>89 Ameise1: Good way to spend a weekend, if you ask me!

>92 alcottacre: So true, Stasia. Especially dealing the whole Saturday on the computer dealing with my student teachers who don't prepare properly.

>93 Ameise1: Yikes! I would definitely be taking my Sunday off to read in that case too.

>94 alcottacre: Thanks so much for understanding me.

>95 Ameise1: Happy to!

:-)

> 85 I agree heartily with you, Barbara, on the lack on holidays here in Canada. I had not realized our holiday time was so short by world standards. Apparently only Japan and the USA are worse than Canada. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-ranks-3rd-last-in-paid-vacations-1.1306523
It does vary. A person working for the government will usually get more holidays and statuary holidays than someone who works for a private employer. A teacher has an enviable amount of holiday time - July, August, two weeks at Spring Break, as well as 2 weeks at Christmas. But for those employed with a private company, time off usually increases with time at the company. After 30 years with my husbands company , he gets 5 weeks off per year.

Wishing you a lovely week ahead!

>98 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb for the link. I'm very sorry to read about the Canadian and American work shedule.
As a teacher I have the same amount of holiday as everybody else. It isn't difficult to fulfill it when school is closed because we are working long hours during the school weeks (also weekends) and during the school holidays I'm doing lots of things for school, too.
Wishing you a wonderful start into the new week.

I didn't know either that in Canada and the USA working people have so few free days.
Over here the minimum is 4 weeks + the days everyone is free (first and second Easterday, Ascension day, first and second Pentecost day, first and second Christmas day and Kingsday). Most people work under collective agreements that regulate more days and extra days for older workers.

Wishing you a good week, Barbara!

Hi Barbara! I'm sorry about your student teachers being such a problem. You do not need that after your colleague's illness and your broken rib!! I hope things are settling down somewhat.

Jumping into the US version of what we call vacation - if you're full time permanent for most companies you do get paid vacation and paid holidays, but it varies wildly by company. Most companies give you more vacation the longer you've been there, usually starting off with two weeks AFTER your first year, when you've accrued that time for use the following year. By the time I retired from my job after 20 years, I had 22 days vacation per year, plus 10 holidays. There is no standard government requirement/schedule for vacation in the US. Part-time and temporary workers usually have to take time off without pay. And, it was demoralizing for those of us in the US to learn how much the Italians in Italy got off since we were Italian-owned. Finally, once our company started hiring employees through agencies, there was a two-tier pay system and vacation/holidays system, which caused a lots of bad feelings.

My husband started a new job in January and the company is so small that they don't even have a formal vacation policy. However, we're grateful for the job and he may ask for a week of vacation sometime next year.

>102 karenmarie: I absolutely cannot imagine going to work day in, day out, without any prospect of vacation. Your husband has my sympathies. We're busy grumbling over TheBF's 25 paid days plus 9 paid bank holidays. Your system is astonishing and disheartening in equal measure.

>100 FAMeulstee: Isn't it interesting how much holiday people get in different countries, Anita?
I hope you had a good star into the new week.

>101 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. It was a good Monday. After I got rid of my frustration about the student teachers at their mentors. They had to join their mentors this afternoon. After the lessons they came to me and apologized for their behaviour. During two hours we tried to clarify the most important points. In addition, I asked them to come to me on Friday with their preparation for Monday, so we can clarify the most important before they start next Monday.

>102 karenmarie: Karen, I hope I've solved the major problems with my student teachers today.

We have 25 days of holiday for young people in their apprenticeship up to their 20th birthday. Until the age of 50, all employees have 20 days of paid holidays. Between 50 and 60 you get 25 days of holidays and then 30 days. In addition, for everybody, all public holidays, etc., which gives nine days more free days.
Part-time employees also receive paid holidays.

>103 lunacat: I agree with you Jenny. Holidays are so important to recharge the battery.

In the U.K. it's five weeks and three days minimum of paid holiday (which includes eight days of bank holidays) no matter how long you have been with the company, but you start accruing it immediately you start. Better jobs tend to give more. But all companies have to give employees holiday no matter their size.

>108 SandDune: Thanks so much for your update on the UK, Rhian This discussion is very interesting for me.

>109 Ameise1: It really is fascinating! Suddenly we seem pretty well off in the UK. I was even given paid holiday (pro-rata) when I was temping. My husband does very well because Network Rail, though no longer public sector, has public sector holidays as a hangover, he gets 28 days PLUS 8 bank holidays.

>110 eclecticdodo: That sounds wonderful, Jo.

Happy Tuesday, Barbara!

>102 karenmarie: I have not had a job that has paid vacation time for going on 9 years now. I feel your husband's pain.

Hi Barbara! Happy Wednesday a tad early.

>112 alcottacre: Eep. Doesn't what we hear about other countries make us just sick?

It is a very interesting discussion about holiday time in different countries. And yet , apparently Canada still ranks 7th in happiness, according to a study - here is a link to the article - http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/20/travel/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-20... . But of course Norway I think ranked first. I just saw that on the news.

My husband used to get 7 weeks off as holidays about 15 years ago, but then his company was taken over by another and his maximum allowable holidays changed back to 5 weeks. Our holidays in Canada are without regard to age, which seems unfortunate. But then, a company might be more reluctant to hire an older person if they has to give a certain number of weeks off due to age. It is a conundrum , that idea. I do like the idea, as one definitely gets more tired as one ages.

Most part - timers would get holidays , depending on the particular employer.

>112 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Stasia and happy Wednesday to you

>113 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen and happy Wednesday to you too.

>114 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much for the link, Deb. I remember that I saw the study in the newspaper. The regulation of holidays and official holidays are the same in our country. There are no differences where you live or work. This, of course, helps to prevent any competition or envy between different parts of the country.

Happy Wednesday.

>110 eclecticdodo: We employ quite a few people on bank contracts, who just work odd shifts here and there, and they all get paid holiday leave - I think it works out to about an extra 11% on what they would be paid otherwise.

>118 SandDune: That's good to hear.

Hi Barbara! I hope your week is going well and that the student teachers are problem free and working hard!

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a good week so far my dear, sending love and hugs from us both.

Hi, Barb! Mid-Week check in. Hope work is going smoothly for you.

Just to clarify about teacher holidays in the US--although it varies by school district, generally teachers get sick leave and sometimes personal days (my district did 10 per year total) but do not have paid days off otherwise. Their contract is for a certain number of working days--186 in my district--and if you use up your sick leave and then have to miss a day, your salary is deducted 186th of your yearly pay. So even though teachers and other educators have more nonworking days than most, they are not paid for those days.

ETA and like Barbara, very few of us stuck to the contract day. My contract hours were 8 to 3:15. I typically got away around 4:30, then went home and wrote reports in the evenings. And weekends.

>117 Ameise1: That is a wonderful policy that your country has, Barbara! I'd love to have that here in Canada!

Good to hear people are still talking about holidays. They rule :)
I hope you are well!

>125 LovingLit: Holidays? Never heard of 'em!

Hi Barbara! I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.

Hi Barbara, hope you have had a good week my dear and wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable weekend my dear. Sending love and hugs from the both of us dear friend.

>126 PaulCranswick: You should try them, Paul ;-)

Hi Barbara, happy weekend!

Happy , relaxing weekend, Barbara! Enjoy your time off.

Hope your student teachers have shaped up after your "intervention", Barbara.

Happy Saturday, Barb!

Thanks so much everybody for keeping my thread warm.
I had a strict second half of the week with various meetings at the university regarding my student teachers, direct meetings with them to coach them, up late the nights to correct their plans etc. but now I feel that they can start on Monday.

>120 karenmarie: >127 karenmarie: Hi Karen, they made a great effort and now I really do have the feeling that we can get started on Monday.
My plans of the weekend are reading and relaxing.
Happy weekend to you.

>121 johnsimpson: >128 johnsimpson: Hi John, it was a very busy second half of the week and I'm glad that I get time for me this weekend. Love and hugs to both of you.

>122 msf59: >132 msf59: Thanks so much for all your kind greetings, Mark. I'll have a R&R weekend planned.
Happy Saturday to you too.

>123 ronincats: Roni, thanks so much for the insight of a teacher's work shedule at your place.
I have 2184 working hours per year, of which leave the vacation and holiday, that is I work 1890 hours as a teacher. This includes not only teaching and preparing but also various teamwork, parental work, planning and preparing various projects, etc.
I know that many people only see the many holidays (school free time) and not what is still behind.

>131 ronincats: They made a big effort and we should be able to start on Monday.

>124 vancouverdeb: >130 vancouverdeb: Isn't it, Deb? I know we are lucky people here in Switzerland.
Happy weekend to you too.

>125 LovingLit: I'm fine, thanks so much, Megan. Especially with a weekend ahead which is filled with reading. :-)

>126 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, I know that can't be true. ;-)

>129 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. I'm sure I'll be enjoying my weekend. I hope you too.

I wish everybody a wonderful weekend. The photo below is from our garden. I took it today at noon and spring is definitely on its way even though we have a very chilly wind today.

>142 Ameise1: That's beautiful!

>143 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. I suppose some tulips will be blooming within the next few days.

>140 Ameise1: I was of course kidding, Barbara. I have enjoyed my Saturday and am looking forward to my Sunday but am not looking forward to my Monday to Friday!

I trust that your weekend will be wonderful. xx

>145 PaulCranswick: Ha, I thought so.

When will you be moving to the UK? Is there a fixed date?

I enjoy my weekend so far. Thanks so much, Paul.

>146 Ameise1: No Barbara and I will definitely be a week or so delayed. I am flying to Florida from Manchester on 16 April so I need to get to the UK before then!

>147 PaulCranswick: Well, in this case you should move to the UK before the 16th.

>142 Ameise1: Love the signs of spring Barbara. I've just mown the lawn, but most of the tulips are yet to bloom. I'm looking forward to a bit more colour, although the 'forget me nots' are adding a little bit of blue.

>149 charl08: Charlotte, we don't have a lawn to mown regulary. We do it once or twice a year because it's just gras with lots of wild flowers and in spring the spring flowers.

Nice garden photo, Barbara! I hope that you're enjoying your weekend so far.

A very promising looking garden scene above! Meanwhile, we light the fire and mourn the loss of summer. :)
It is actually quite nice to have the cosy fire today, it is drying the washing and it is raining outside so feels lovely and warm. (almost like summer!)

>151 kidzdoc: Thanks so much, Darryl. Our elder daughter is spending the weekend here, so yep, it's a wonderful weekend. Yesterday, I read a lot.

>150 Ameise1: There is a meadow like this in our local park. It's lovely to walk in. I'd have the whole garden as flowers and shrubs if I could.

>152 LovingLit: Thanks so much, Megan. The forecast for the upcoming week is gorgeous. So, lots of these tulips should start blooming soon.
Autumn is my favourote season and having a fire is perfect. Right now, I'm happy that winter is gone.

>154 charl08: Charlotte, when we reconstructed our garden last year, my husband and I decided not to have a classical lawn anymore. First, our kids don't need it as a playground anymore and second I adore lawns (grass) with lots of different wild flowers.

book 27

 Beyond Reach
ROOT 2017

This was another good episode from the DI Joe Faraday series. The story takes place in Portsmouth and its surrounding area. Faraday has to rewind cold cases and try to solve them. Soon he realizes that a recent murder is linked to one of these old cases. The deeper he digs the more connections he can draw between the cold falls. In part, he is happy about it, but in part, he also has conscience whether he does the right thing. Of course, his nemesis the drug baron Bazza Mackenzie and the ex-cop Paul Winter also play an important role again.
I love how Graham Hurley can write an exciting thriller by bringing together different loose ends into a whole.

As I began to read in the middle of this series (7, 9, 10), I decided to buy the first books of this series by and by.

>142 Ameise1: I like the photo of the garden, Barb. We NEED some color around here. Everything is still so drab.

Happy Sunday, my friend.

I hope you enjoy what remains of Sunday and have a frisky start of the new week, Barbara.

I hope you've had a lovely weekend, Barbara. And that your student teachers don't add too many difficulties to your week.

>159 Trifolia: Will do so, Monica. Thanks so much for those cute lambs.

>160 lunacat: I had a relaxed sunny weekend, Jenny. The student teachers start teaching tomorrow. I thinks they are ready.

Happy Monday, Barbara!

All caught up with you, Barbara. I have not read any of the books in the DI Joe Faraday series, but it sounds like something I would like - adding the first one to the list.

Hoping the week is kind to you.

>163 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber.

>164 Crazymamie: I suppose you'll like it, Mamie. I love the DI Joe Faraday series.

Today, the student teachers have started to teach. After the preparations were anything but good, they started well today. The children love them and they are finally well prepared.

Hi Barbara! I'm so glad that after the rough start your student teachers have started well and the children love them.

How is your colleague doing after being so sick?

I hope your week continues well.

Happy start to the week, Barbara :)

>167 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. It is a relief that they are doing so well.

Unfortunately my colleague is still not 100% ok but she is working her part.
My younger daughter has also a heavy cold since the beginning of the year which won't go away even the antibiotics didn't help. I don't know what kind of bug is around here but it's definitely a persistent one.

>168 lunacat: Thanks so much, Jenny. I just came back from work, sitting in the garden with some coffee and enjoying a wonderful spring afternoon.

>170 Ameise1: Oh, that sounds perfect, Barbara. Enjoy.

It seems the weather over in Switzerland is as good as it is over here. Nature's exploding and I love the burst of colours everywhere. Enjoy!

>171 jnwelch: Joe, I can confirm that I spent a lovely hour in the garden, enjoying the late afternoon sun with a nice cup of coffee.

>172 Trifolia: Indeed, Monic, it's so beautiful at the moment and it should last until Friday. I suppose some tulips should be blooming until then.

Glad to read the students started well today, Barbara.
My early turilps started blooming yesterday.

Hi Barbara. Stopping by to get caught up. Daffodils are a wonderful sign of spring, aren't they?

Joining the whole vacation conversation a bit late. Vacation/free days in Canada are definitely less than those offered to employees in European countries as Deb mentioned, but it can vary based on industry and company. I do know of some industries where companies have offered extras to their employees like every second Friday off (with pay) and other perks like paying for the employee's heated underground parking which in some Canadian cities can be as expensive as $1,200 per month. These kind of perks only survive when the economy is rolling and the companies offering the perks are seeing healthy profits. It becomes a very different story when the economy is not doing so good.

Wishing you a wonderful week.

>175 FAMeulstee: Yep, I'm happy too that they are doing well, Anita.
I suppose out tulips need another two days.
Happy Tuesday.

>176 lkernagh: Thanks so much for your contribution, Lori. Intetesting about the payed heated parking but I would prefer every second Friday off, long weekends ate fantastic.
Happy Tuesday.

So glad your student teachers have finally stepped up to the challenge.

OH that sounds lovely, Barbara! A hour in the garden sipping on coffee! We had a lot of rain today . Spring is slow to arrive this year, it seems. We do have snow drops up, crocuses and the some tulips, but we have had a cooler, wetter , winter than we usually have. Wishing you a lovely week ahead.

Hi Barbara!

I'm sorry your daughter's been sick since the beginning of the year and isn't even responding to antibiotics. I hope she gets well soon. This has to be worrisome to you.

At least your colleague is doing her part, even if not 100%.

I'm glad you're getting beautiful spring weather, too.

>179 ronincats: Me too, Roni.

>180 vancouverdeb: It was fabulous, Deb. We have another beautiful day and I hope that I can stay another hour in the garden this afternoon around 5pm when coming home from school. Crocusses and snowdrops are gone by now but the daffodils, anemones and grape hyacinths are blooming.

>181 karenmarie: Hi Karen, my daughter is seeing her doctor this afternoon. I hope they can make some blood tests today. Last time the inflammation was too high to make a fool blood screen.

The weather is gorgeous. Unfortunately I'm at school during the day otherwise I would be in the hammock.

>184 Ameise1: I have been fighting my crud since December, but I am hoping I am finally on to a cure. Sending best wishes to your daughter. Hope they at least get some answers so they know what to treat!

Totally jealous of your nice weather. : )

>185 Berly: Me too, Kim. I think she hasn't got the result so far. I think the bugs this winter have been more agressive then during other winters. I know many people they aren't fit since November.

Sending lots of spring waves over at your place.

Hope the tests came back and you have some answers - and wishing you and the family a good weekend. This feels like it has been a Long week!

Happy Friday, Barb! Hope you have a nice weekend planned. Keep us posted on your daughter.

>187 charl08: Me too, Charlotte. I told her when she doesn't hear something until Monday, she should make a call.

It looks like we should have a beautiful weekend.

>188 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. Today is my elder daughter's 25th birthday. She is coming home but will celebrate today with friends. For tomorrow evening I booked at her favourite Indian restaurant where we are celebrating en famille (grandparents included).

Happy birthday to your daughter!! Indian...yum!

>191 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. Will tell her. She just posted a photo via whatsapp herself sitting in the garden. Jealous, I'm still in the class room.

Hi Barbara! Best wishes for a wonderful weekend and happy birthday to your daughter!

I hope you can get some good reading and outside time in, in addition to the birthday festivities.

>193 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I just missed her because I was coming back from school later then I thought. So the congratulations went virtually today. The younger daughter goes to the concert hall soon. Therefore my husband decided to make the first barbecue of the season just for the two of us. So, I'm looking forward to a fabulous dinner.
There is definitely reading planned.

BTW our cherry tree started to bloom today.

>195 Ameise1: Lovely!

Happy Friday, Barbara!

>196 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Stasia. I hope I can soon post a photo of the blooming tulips.

I hope your Friday is a happy one, too.

Happy weekend, Barbara, and congratulations to your daughter.

>195 Ameise1: Lovely tree, I saw the plum in my garden started blooming today :-)

Hooray for the blooming plum tree! Once it fills out it will be gorgeous.
I moved my mint plant outside a few days ago and it really perked up, so I went ahead and planted basil seeds this morning. Our Spring will be over in a week when it shoots back to the 90s F.

>198 FAMeulstee: Thanks so much, Anita. I love it when fruit trees are blooming. I only hope that the weather will be dry for the upcoming days so the bees can doo their trick.
Hapoy weekend to you too.

>201 Ameise1: Hi Jennifer, the plum tree is Anita's one. My one is a cherry tree and yes, when it is full blooming it is fantastic.
Here, the nights are still too cold to put the basil out. So it still stands in our kitchen.
Wow, you soon have hot temperatures.
Happy weekend.

The cherry tree looks lovely - such a beautiful blossom. There's one in the garden behind us, that has just flowered pink. Hope your bbq was tasty and that you have a lovely celebratory meal.

>202 charl08: The first BBQ is always tasty. After many months without it I'm always looking forward to the first one. This time it was special because we did it without our daughters (they are flying out of the nest) something we didn't have the last 25 years. We enjoyed it to be back just the two of us.

Happy Weekend, Barbara! Our cherry trees are starting to bloom too, but they are late this year. The city usually has a "Cherry Blossom Festival" , but this year it has been delayed . Congratulations to your daughter!

>204 vancouverdeb: Thanks so much, Deb.
Here the cherry tree blooming is rather early. Usually it starts mid April.

Hi Barbara, wishing you a really lovely weekend my dear and wishing Isabelle a belated happy birthday my dear.

>206 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John.

Happy Saturday, Barb. Hope your daughter had a nice birthday. Yah, for blossoming cherry trees.

>208 DianaNL: What a lovely gif, Diana. Thanks so much. Happy weekend.

>209 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. We're enjoying another wonderful spring day.

Isabelle says thank you to everybody for the lovely birthday wishes.

Yeeh, the tulips finaly start blooming.

>212 Ameise1: Thank you so much for the spot of spring!

Hi Barbara and happy Saturday! Best wishes for a wonderful weekend.

Thank you for the pictures. Is that your kitty or a visiting kitty?

>213 Whisper1: Thanks so much for visiting my thread, Linda. I love it when colours are coming back in spring. Life is beautiful.
Happy weekend.

>214 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I'm in the garden since hours. Reading, drinking coffee and eating chocolate cake.
Yep, that is Piccola the younger of our two cats. She is close to five years old. The other one is black and white with longer hair and is called Stitch. She is five years older than Piccola.

>212 Ameise1: You garden makes me wish I did not have two black thumbs. I kill anything I try to grow! *sigh*

Happy weekend!

Beautiful garden! We still have snow on the ground.

Hi Barbara, I wish you a lovely weekend. Enjoy spring!

Hi Barbara. Beautiful pictures of your garden. I am ready for spring, but so far there are no signs here.

Have a wonderful weekend.

>217 alcottacre: Stasia, last year we made our garden new and in autumn my hubster planted hundreds of diifertent bulbs. Now we are waiting every day what is next blooming. It's like a grab bag.

>218 The_Hibernator: What a wonderful surprise to see you, Rachel. Sorry to hear that you still have snow.
Ah, fool's day. Nobody made a joke here so far.

>219 Trifolia: Happy weekend, Monica. I spent many hours in the garden.

>220 BLBera: I'm glad you like it, Beth. There is always a possibility that we'll get some snow in April.
Happy weekend to you, too.

Happy Weekend, Barbara!

>212 Ameise1: Nice to see spring starting, and that's a good-looking cat.

>225 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. She is indeed a nice cat. When we are at home she is always around us.

>221 Ameise1: I love that idea! You never know what you are going to get.

>212 Ameise1: That's so beautiful! I have yard envy.

>227 alcottacre: Isn't it? :-)

>228 mstrust: Thanks so much, Jennifer. I'm an outdoor person and so happy now, that I can stay in the garden again.

We came back from Isabelle's belated birthday dinner at the Indian restaurant Kerala. It was delicious.

  

Loving all your pictures of family and flowers. : )

>231 Berly: Thanks so much, Kim. We were happy to have my father and my MIL with us.

Looks like an awesome meal!

It is impossible not to smile at some stage eating Indian food, Barbara, isn't it?

Have a lovely weekend.

Looks like a wonderful dinner being enjoyed by all, Barbara!

>233 drneutron: It was delicious, Jim. It was Isa's choice. My hubster and I were a bit sceptical because years ago when eating there we told them that our food shouldn't be too spicy. Unfotunately it was incredible spicy then. This time everything was perfect. For those of us who like spicy food it was and for the others it was mild.

>234 PaulCranswick: Thanks so much, Paul. My husband and I aren't huge Indian food lover but yesterday's dishes wer very good.

>235 ronincats: Roni, we enjoyed a fabulous time and were happy that also my father and my MIL coud join us. Usually my dad is on holiday when my daughters have their birthdays but this year he could join us for Isa's birthday. For her it was a novelty.

book 28 Read in German

 Oil On Water
BB from Beth (BLBera)

A very interesting fictional story, if one filters it on the real background Nigeria's oil industry. Habila tells the story of an abducted Englishwoman who is the wife of an oil manager. Two Nigerian reporters are acting as intermediaries in search of her and the abductors. But soon it becomes clear that the abduction is only the hanger of this story. Rather, it is about the people who are driven out by the oil majors with false promises. Whole villages sell their land to these companies, shortly after the drilling begins, the fish die in the water because the quality of the pipes is miserable. Thus the food of the population is withdrawn and they have to look for a new place. However, this is becoming more and more difficult since the contamination spreads with the expansion of the drilling sites. In addition, rebels are at work, who want to fight the oil industry on the one hand, in order to help the population, on the other hand partly no longer know why they are fighting.
This story is very profound and gives much thought. I highly recommend this book.

Next reading:

 The Marseille Caper

Happy Sunday, Barb! Hooray for the tulips. Love the family photos. It looks like everyone is enjoying their meal.

>241 msf59: Thanks so much, Mark. We had a splendid time.

book 29 ♫ Read in German

 The Ocean at the End of the Lane
BAC December

This story is like a fairy tale, where everything is possible and the impossible is non-existent. It is easily told. In between, I like these types of stories, but it is a kind I do not want to read regularly.

Next listening:

 Nutshell

Oh, Indian Food! My favorite!

Happy weekend, Barbara!

>216 Ameise1: Happy Sunday, Barbara! I love your kitties names, Piccola and Stitch. I never realized you had kitties.

You had a large day yesterday - eating cake and drinking coffee in your garden and then a wonderful family dinner. Thanks for sharing pictures.

I hope you are getting in lots of reading today.

Looks like a lovely meal Barbara. How nice to have three generations together.

>245 scaifea: Thanks so much, Amber. It's not my favourite one but it was the birthday child's wish. :-)

>246 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. Our daughters had chosen the names. We always had kitties.
We had indeed a wonderful yesterday.
Today, after finishing one book I did some ironing and was able to finish an audio book. I would call it an efficiently task.
Now, I'm reading inthe garden.

>247 charl08: We had a wonderful evening, Charlotte. It's always lovely to have all generations together, isn't it?

Looks like you all had a great time in >230 Ameise1:, Barbara. I agree, it's great to get the generations together.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is one of my favorites of his. His new one, Norse Mythology, is different, a well done retelling of those old myths.

>251 jnwelch: Thanks so much, Joe. We were lucky to have my father with us. He is mostly abroad and is missing all our birthdays.
It was a nice listening, indeed, but not a genre I would do to often within a reading year.

>239 Ameise1: Hit me with that BB!

Happy Sunday, Barbara!

>253 alcottacre: Thanks so much, Stasia. It was a BB from Beth. I hope you'll like it as much as I did.

Hi Barbara!

I hope this is a good week for you workwise, with your colleague getting closer to 100% and your student teachers continuing to improve.

Reading, listening to audiobooks, then reading again are all good things. I rarely iron any more, but when I did, I really liked it as a way to listen to music or the radio. For some reason I only like to listen to audiobooks in the car, and after I retired last year my audiobook listening took a huge hit. I'm just about to finish up His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph Ellis, either today or Thursday, my first of the year.

>230 Ameise1: Thanks for sharing the pictures of Isabelle's birthday diner, Barbara. Looks like all of you had a good time :-)
I hope your working week started well.

>255 karenmarie: Thanks so much, Karen. I had a good start into the new work week.

I like listening to audiobooks when doing chores. I have only stuff for ironing during the warm period of the year. In winter there is nothing to iron.

>256 FAMeulstee: Your are welcome, Anita. We really had a fabulous time. The star into the work wekk went well.

Please join me on my new thread.