John's 2017 thread - A year of Tea & Books Part Nine, the Finale.

Please pop along and join me for the Finale to the year on here.

Hi I am John and this will be my fourth time with the 75ers and I must say I have made some great friends along the way.

I am 54 years old and have been married to Karen for 33 years, I have two children, Robert who is 30 and lives with his partner Louise and has a daughter Hannah who will be seven at the end of February and a step-daughter Shannon who is 15, and Amy who is 28 and married Andy in October 2015. We also have a cat called Leo who is 15.

I love books and currently have just over 2,300 books on my shelves and this doesn't include my Cricket collection which stands at about 350 books. While reading I do enjoy the odd pot or two of tea and so thought I would combine these in my thread title for this year. In 2017 I will be mixing my reading up and getting some chunksters read as I have missed them in 2016 but wanted to try and reduce my TBR pile and it hasn't worked, lol.

Feel free to pop along and drop a comment or two and join the fun.

BOOKS READ IN JANUARY

1. Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn, PB - 346 pgs, Daisy Dalrymple series, No18 of 22.
2. Sheer Abandon by Penny Vincenzi, PB - 720 pgs.
3. Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris, PB - 216 pgs, Lily Bard series, No 3 of 5.
4. How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry, PB - 367 pgs.
5. The Tangled Thread by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, PB - 474 pgs, Morland Saga series, No 10 of 35.
6. NYPD Red 3 by James Patterson, PB - 418 pgs, NYPD Red series No3 of 5.
7. Anthem for Doomed Youth by Carola Dunn, PB - 327 pgs, Daisy Dalrymple series, No19 of 22.

BOOKS READ IN FEBRUARY

8. The Santa Klaus Mystery by Mavis Doriel Hay, PB - 282 pgs.
9. God is an Englishman by R.F.Delderfield, PB -672 pgs, Swann Saga series, No 1 of 3.
10. Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris, PB - 212 pgs, Lily Bard Series No 4 of 5.
11. Gone West by Carola Dunn, PB - 324 pgs, Daisy Dalrymple Series No 20 of 22.
12. Not That Kind of Girl by Catherine Alliott, PB - 565 pgs.
13. Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy, PB - 816 pgs, Jack Ryan Series 4 of 16.
14. Theodore Boone - The Fugitive by John Grisham, PB - 250 pgs, Theodore Boone Series No 5 of 6.

BOOKS READ IN MARCH

15. Heirs to the Body by Carola Dunn, PB - 292 pgs, Daisy Dalrymple Series No 21 of 22.
16. Faith by Peter James, PB - 465 pgs.
17. Shakespeare's Counselor by Charlaine Harris, PB - 231 pgs, Lily Bard Series No 5 of 5.
18. Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn, PB - 305 pgs, Daisy Dalrymple Series No 22 of 22.
19. The Ring by Danielle Steel, PB - 344 pgs.
20. Theirs Was the Kingdom by R.F.Delderfield, PB - 896 pgs, Swann saga No 2 of 3.
21. Private Berlin by James Patterson, PB - 466 pgs, Private Series No 5 of 16.

BOOKS READ IN APRIL

22. An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear, PB - 340pgs, Maisie Dobbs Series, No 5 of 13.
23. The Emperor by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, PB - 512 pgs, Morland Series, No 11 of 35.
24. Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson, PB - 383 pgs, Maximum Ride Series No 9 of 9.
25. Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri, PB - 305 pgs, Inspector Montalbano Series No 5 of 24.
26. The Warriors by John Jakes, PB - 695 pgs, Kent Family Chronicles Series No 6 of 8.
27. Saturday's Child by Ruth Hamilton, PB - 381 pgs.
28. Trunk Music by Michael Connelly, PB - 437 pgs, Harry Bosch Series No 5 of 26.

BOOKS READ IN MAY

29. Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear, PB - 338 pgs, Maisie Dobbs series No 6 of 13.
30. The Charm School by Nelson De Mille, PB - 671 pgs.
31. A Lesson in Love by Gervase Phinn, HB - 401 pgs, Little Village School Series No 4 of 5.
32. Angels Flight by Michael Connelly, PB - 400 pgs, Harry Bosch series No 6 of 26.
33. Glory Boys by Harry Bingham, PB - 613 pgs.
34. Paradise House by Erica James, PB - 439 pgs.
35. Truth or Die by James Patterson, PB - 491 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JUNE

36. Get Even by Martina Cole, PB - 541 pgs.
37. The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene, PB - 370 pgs.
38. Lazybones by Mark Billingham, PB - 436 pgs. No 3 of 14 in Tom Thorne series.
39. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, PB - 1,024 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JULY

40. The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith, HB - 246 pgs. No 9 of 14 in Isabel Dalhousie series.
41. Ultimatum by Simon Kernick, PB - 436 pgs. No 6 of 7 in Tina Boyd series.
42. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan, HB - 294 pgs. No 1 of 3 in Baby Ganesh series.
43. Palomino by Danielle Steel, PB - 323 pgs.
44. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce, PB - 373 pgs
45. The Lawless by John Jakes, PB - 794 pgs. No7 of 8 in the Kent Family Chronicles.
46. A Pinch of Snuff by Reginald Hill, PB - 287 pgs. Dalziel and Pascoe series No 5 of 19.
47. Flesh House by Stuart Macbride, PB - 595 pgs. Logan McRae series No 3 of 13.

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST

48. Fire in Babylon by Simon Lister, PB - 346 pgs.
49. Cross Justice by James Patterson, PB - 420 pgs. Alex Cross series No 23 of 27.
50. Pushing up Daisies by M.C. Beaton, HB - 232 pgs. Agatha Raisin series No 28 of 30.
51. The Novel Habits of Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 247 pgs. Isabel Dalhousie series No 10 of 14.
52. Sister by Rosamund Lupton, PB - 358 pgs.
53. O'Hara's Choice by Leon Uris, PB - 472 pgs.
54. Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry, PB - 589 pgs.
55. Alert by James Patterson, PB - 465 pgs. Michael Bennett series No 8 of 11.
56. Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind, PB - 112 pgs, The Sword of Truth series No 1 of 16.

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER

57. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, PB - 306 pgs.
58. Date With Death by Julia Chapman, PB - 371 pgs.
59. The Testament by John Grisham, PB - 472 pgs.
60. Dolly's War by Peter Tinniswood, PB - 347 pgs.
61. Zoo by James Patterson, PB - 475 pgs.
62. Secrets at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn, PB - 391 pgs. Little Village School series No 5 of 5.

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER

63. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler, PB - 465 pgs.
64. This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer, PB - 507 pgs. Clifton Chronicles series No 7 of 7.
65. The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun, PB - 183 pgs. Jim Qwilleran Series No 4 of 30.
66. Always by Trevor Meldal-Johnsen, PB - 313 pgs.
67. Cross Kill by James Patterson, PB - 113 pgs. Alex Cross Series No 23.5 of 27.
68. Slaughter in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB - 405 pgs. Thea Osborne series No 6 of 15.
69. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion, PB - 416 pgs. Don Tillman Series No 2 of 2.
70. Derailed by James Siegel, PB - 386 pgs.
71. In The Summertime by Judy Astley, PB - 344 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER

72. Mr Gandy's Grand Tour by Alan Titchmarsh, PB - 313 pgs.
73. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, PB - 302 pgs.
74. Hour Game by David Baldacci, PB - 721 pgs. King and Maxwell Series No 2 of 6.
75. 15th Affair by James Patterson, PB - 434 pgs. Women's Murder Club No 15 of 18.
76. House of Cards by Michael Dobbs, PB - 373 pgs. Francis Urquhart Series No 1 of 3.
77. Topaz by Leon Uris, PB - 405 pgs.
78. The Visitor by Lee Child, PB - 502 pgs. Jack Reacher Series No 4 of 22.
79. Private Down Under by James Patterson, PB - 437 pgs. Private Series No 6 of 13.
80. Little Black Dress by James Patterson, PB - 114 pgs. Bookshots Series No 1 of 85.

BOOKS READ IN DECEMBER

81. Out of the Woods but not Over the Hill by Gervase Phinn, PB - 271 pgs.
82. The Victory by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, PB - 447 pgs. Morland Saga Series No 12 of 35.
83. The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown by Vaseem Khan, HB - 338 pgs. Baby Ganesha Series No 2 of 3.
84. Theodore Boone - The Scandal by John Grisham, PB - 212 pgs. Theodore Boone Series No 6 of 6.
85. Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch, PB - 418 pgs. Rivers of London Series No 3 of 6.
86. Happiest Days by Jack Sheffield, PB - 329 pgs. Jack Sheffield series No 10 of 11.
87. Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie, PB - 326 pgs.
88. Date With Malice by Julia Chapman, PB - 389 pgs. Dales Detective Series No 2 of 3.
89. NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson, PB - 414 pgs. NYPD Red Series No 4 of 5.

CURRENTLY READING

NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson
Date with Malice by Julia Chapman

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-11-17 - 2351
Books added in November - 17
Books read in November - 9

Revised book total - 2359

Pages to read at 1-11-17 - 1,006,187
Pages added in November - 6,002
Pages read in November - 3,601

Revised total pages to read - 1,008,588

NOVEMBER'S READING STATS

Books Read...................... 9

No of Authors.................... 7

New Authors...................... 2

Male Authors..................... 6

Female Authors.................. 1

Pages Read....................... 3,601

Daily Avg........................... 120.03

Book Length avg................. 400.11

Pots of Tea Drunk................ 301

BOOKS PURCHASED IN 2017

JANUARY

1. Crisis by Frank Gardner, PB
2. Woman of God by James Patterson, PB
3. Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay, PB
4. 8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie Macomber, PB
5. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths, PB
6. Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan, PB
7. The Battle of Evernight by Cecelia Dart-Thornton, PB
8. Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams, PB
9. Hidden by James Patterson, PB
10. Exquisite by Elizabeth Hayley, PB
11. The House Husband by James Patterson, PB

FEBRUARY

12. Malicious by James Patterson, PB
13. Debt of Honour by Tom Clancy, PB
14. Death of an Airman by Christopher St John Sprigg, PB
15. Blood Shot by Sara Paretsky, PB
16. Guardian Angel by Sara Paretsky, PB
17. Bitter Medicine by Sara Paretsky, PB
18. Buried in the Country by Carola Dunn, PB
19. A Very Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan. PB
20. Looking for Captain Poldark by Rowan Coleman, PB
21. A Shed of One's Own, Midlife without the Crisis by Marcus Berkmann, PB
22. French Twist by James Patterson, PB
23. A Wedding in Maine by Jen McLaughlin, PB
24. Mount by Jilly Cooper, PB
25. Nice Work (If You Can Get It) by Celia Imrie, PB
26. Secrets at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn, PB
27. Drive to the East by Harry Turtledove, PB
28. D-Day The Battle for Normandy by Antony Beevor, PB
29. The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly, PB
30. In The Cold Dark Ground by Stuart Macbride, PB

MARCH

31. A Summer at Sea by Katie Fforde, PB
32. The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan, PB
33. Never Never by James Patterson, PB
34. If Not For You by Debbie Macomber, PB
35. Rococo by Adriana Trigani, PB
36. Full Speed by Janet Evanovich, PB
37. Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich, PB
38. Death of a Maid by M.C.Beaton, PB
39. Heist by James Patterson, PB
40. The Hostage by James Patterson, PB
41. Hunted by James Patterson, PB
42. Private Royals by James Patterson, PB
43. Learning to Ride by Erin Knightley, PB
44. Dead Heat by James Patterson, PB
45. S.S. General by Sven Hassel, PB
46. Blitzfreeze by Sven Hassel, PB
47. Black and Blue by James Patterson, PB
48. Goodbye Piccadilly by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, PB
49. Sidney Chambers and the Dangers of Temptation by James Runcie, PB
50. Date with Death by Julia Chapman, PB
51. Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah, PB
52. The Father by Anton Svensson, PB
53. The Exile by James Patterson, PB
54. The Shut-in by James Patterson, PB

APRIL

55. The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude, PB
56. Lazybones by Mark Billingham, PB
57. A King's Ransom by Sharon Penman, PB
58. Death of a Liar by M.C.Beaton, PB
59. Rules, Things are Changing at the Little School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, PB
60. Murder at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB
61. Deadly Desires at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB
62. Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB
63. The Novel Habits of Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith, PB
64. Following On by Emma John, PB
65. The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan, PB
66. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler, PB
67. 2017 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack by Lawrence Booth, HB
68. Fragile Lives by Professor Stephen Westaby, HB
69. 2017 Playfair Cricket Annual by Ian Marshall, PB

MAY

70. Romola by George Eliot, HB
71. Dolly's War by Peter Tinniswood, PB
72. The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George, PB
73. Private Delhi by James Patterson, PB
74. Mr Gandy's Grand Tour by Alan Titchmarsh, PB
75. One Day at a Time by Danielle Steel, PB
76. Southern Lights by Danielle Steel, PB
77. This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer, PB
78. The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly, PB
79. Private Gold by James Patterson, PB
80. The Au Pair by Janey Fraser, PB
81. Captains and the Kings by Taylor Caldwell, PB
82. Tunnel Vision by Sara Paretsky, PB
83. The Methods of Sergeant Cluff by Gil North, PB
84. Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders by Gyles Brandreth, PB
85. All Wickets Great and Small by John Fuller, PB

JUNE

JULY

86. Henry Esmond by W.M.Thackeray, HB
87. Sorceress of Darshiva by David Eddings, PB
88. King of the Murgos by David Eddings, PB
89. Sayonara by James A.Michener, PB
90. Game of Mirrors by Andrea Camilleri, PB
91. Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch, PB
92. All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings, PB
93. Betrayal by Martina Cole, PB
94. The Women's war by James Patterson, PB
95. Deadly Cargo by James Patterson, PB
96. A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E.Feist, PB
97. Bungalow 2 by Danielle Steel, PB
98. The Crossing by Michael Connelly, PB
99. Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell, PB

AUGUST

100. Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson, PB
101. The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, PB
102. Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind, PB
103. Burn Marks by Sara Paretsky, PB
104. Happiest Days by Jack Sheffield, PB
105. Corsa Rosa by Brendan Gallagher, PB
106. The Medical Examiner by James Patterson, PB

SEPTEMBER

107. 16th Seduction by James Patterson, PB
108. The Little Teashop of Lost and Found by Trisha Ashley, PB
109. QB VII By Leon Uris
110. Topaz by Leon Uris
111. W.G. Grace by Simon Rae
112. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
113. A Fortress of Grey Ice by J.V Jones
114. Taboo by Elizabeth Gage
115. Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer, HB
116. The Pathfinder by Fenimore Cooper
117. Murder in Piccadilly by John Bude
118. The Lady of Sorrows by Cecelia Dart-Thornton
119. Hour Game by David Baldacci
120. Wisconsin by Dana Fuller Ross
121. The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude
122. The Spring Madness of Mr Sermon by R.F. Delderfield
123. Derailed by James Siegel
124. August 1914 by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
125. The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter
126. Thirteen Guests by J. Jefferson Farjeon
127. The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
128. In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
129. Tommo and Hawk by Bryce Courtenay
130. Theodore Boone, The Scandal by John Grisham
131. Antidote to Venom by Freeman Wills Crofts
132. Murder of a Lady by Anthony Wynne
133. Quick Curtain by Alan Melville
134. Guilt in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope
135. Honeycote by Veronica Henry
136. White Night by Jim Butcher
137. Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1950 by Hubert Preston
138. Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1968 by Norman Preston
139. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
140. The Dolls by James Patterson
141. City of Friends by Joanna Trollope
142. The Whistler by John Grisham

OCTOBER

143. Absolute Zero by James Patterson
144. The Olive Tree by Lucinda Riley
145. The End by James Patterson
146. Out of the Woods but not Over the Hill by Gervase Phinn
147. Date With Malice by Julia Chapman

NOVEMBER

148. The Summer Before The War by Helen Simonson
149. The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch
150. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
151. Agatha Raisin and the Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton
152. The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith
153. Sir Matt Busby - The Definitive Biography by Patrick Barclay
154. Manhunt by James Patterson
155. The Visitor by Lee Child
156. Echo Burning by Lee Child
157. Meet Me at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan
158. The Hogs Back Mystery by Freeman Willis Crofts
159. Holding by Graham Norton
160. After The End by James Patterson
161. A Yorkshire Diary by David Bairstow
162. The Fate of the Dwarves by Markus Heitz
163. Murder in the Snow by Gladys Mitchell
164. Silent Nights by Martin Edwards

DECEMBER

165. Murder Games by James Patterson
166. Panzer Leader by Heinz Guderian
167. The Black Book by James Patterson

The next is yours.

And now for the big reveal, hope you are not disappointed.

As you all know I am a fan of the Chunkster book so for 2018 I am only going to read books of 500 or more pages. I hope to get to 75 books by the end of 2018 and will pick up some new authors along the way and I will begin some new Series, complete a few series and add to a few series. It will be a nice challenge and I have already had a quick look on the shelves and identified about 30 books and that doesn't include the vast majority of books that are in the loft. I have more than enough to reach 75 without purchasing anymore big books and a few are of 1,000 pages plus to go at.

I am aware that it is a bit of a mad challenge but I am always up for something like this so wish me luck on my crazy adventure.

It may be crazy but it could be fun, and expose you to lots of different authors and books.

>19 benitastrnad:, Thanks Benita, it will be fun my dear and a little crazy but life is for living and a bit of craziness will do no harm.

Happy new thread, John!

>18 johnsimpson: I have been thinking about my readings next year, and would like to tackle some big tomes. I can't commit to ONLY reading chunksters, as I have still half of my childrens/YA collection to go, but I am going to try to read some big ones each month.

Ambitious, John, but I know you can do it! Have you decided which book to start the year off with yet? Is it a secret if you have? *smile*

Sending love and hugs to you both.

>21 FAMeulstee:, Thanks Anita my dear.

>22 karenmarie:, Thanks Karen. I haven't decided yet which book to start off with yet but as soon as I have chosen the said tome I will post it on here. There could be a few Jack Reachers as they are normally of over 500 pages and I have the first three Robert Galbraith books to go at as well as the Spoils of Time trilogy by Penny Vincenzi as well as the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett along with a few Sci-Fi and Fantasy series. It is going to be a busy and interesting year ahead on the book front.

Sending love and hugs my dear.

Best of luck with the chunksters! I want to read the Century Trilogy, I have them on my TBR. Hopefully I'll at least get a start next year!

Tomes away!!! I am sure you will have fun with this adventure. Congrats on the new thread. Hugs.

Happy New Thread, John! I'm so glad that you and Karen had a great day in Manchester! Happy reading in December.Love and hugs to you and Karen!

Hi John!

Reachers are always wonderful. The Cormoran Strike books by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling, of course!) are excellent, too. I’ve read them once and listened to them once, too.

I have some Penny Vincenzi on my shelves (Almost a Crime, No Angel, and Sheer Abandon), but for some reason haven’t gotten around to any of her stuff yet. They all definitely qualify for your challenge, though, as they are each over 600 pages.

I got daughter the Century Trilogy and she absolutely loved it.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen.

Happy new thread, mate.

Trust that you and Karen will have a splendid weekend.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, John!

>25 clue:, Hi Luanne, the Century trilogy will be completed next year as my daughter wants them as soon as I have finished them. Hope all is well with you my dear and hope you are having a good weekend, sending love and hugs.

>26 Berly:, Hi Kim, it is going to be a good adventure and the Tomes will be landing with a thud once I get going, 75 is the target so a lot of reading to be done. Hope you are having a good weekend my dear and send love and hugs.

>27 vancouverdeb:, Thanks Deb, we had a great time in Manchester and the weekend has started good so far my dear. Hope you are having a good weekend and send love and hugs.

>28 karenmarie:, Hi Karen, I have some good big books for 2018 and I am loving Reacher so a few of those will be done. Hope you are having a good weekend so far my dear and send love and hugs.

>29 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, we are having a good start to the weekend mate and Karen is out with the girls tonight so it could be messy when she gets in, she is certain to be a bit tipsy, lol.

>30 drneutron:, Thanks Jim.

>31 scaifea:, Thanks Amber.

I forgot to mention that we had a busy and good Friday, once we were up and about we had breakfast and a pot of tea and then went on our travels getting a few things done.

First stop was the pharmacy as he owed me a packet of my morphine patches and once I had picked those up we stopped off so Karen could try and pick up a couple of things before going to Pets at Home to get some food for Leo. I dropped on lucky as his food was on offer at £10 a bag so I picked up three bags and Karen selected a couple of toys for him for Christmas. After leaving the pet store we went to Blacker Hall Farm shop to put our Christmas order in and while Karen did this I picked up some bread and a couple of other bits. Once we had done what we had to do at the farm shop we headed to Asda to do the weekly shopping and as I went to the checkout Karen popped out to meet a colleague as she arrived for work to pick up her Avon order off her. Karen met me back at the car and we popped next door to go to the Aldi for the bits we get there, Karen went in to get them while I stayed in the car and read.

Once Karen was done in Aldi we made our way home and unpacked and put everything away and then I made us a pot of tea. We had our drink and then Karen made us some lunch and I made the tea, we watched a bit of what I had recorded for us while we were in Manchester and then it was time to set off to the cinema for our cinema date afternoon. We went to see Paddington 2 which was really good and we laughed and laughed, it was a perfect afternoon especially as the showing we went to only had about 12 people in the screening. Once the film was done we made our way home and as soon as we were in I made us a pot of tea. We had a bite to eat and then settled down with the TV and I came on here to set up this new thread.

Today we have been quite busy, once we were up and about we had breakfast and a pot of tea before cleaning the leather suite in the living room. Once the suite was cleaned, Karen went to clean the kitchen while I dusted and vacuumed the living room and dining room. Once were done we had a pot of tea before I went into the loft to get the Christmas decorations down.

Once all the boxes of decorations were down Karen put the large crib on top of the bookcase at the top of the stairs and a small white Christmas tree. Karen then sorted out the advent swag of sacks and socks and hung it on the fireplace and then filled all the sacks and socks with chocolates, making sure that the ones when Hannah comes has extra in them. We had some lunch and a pot of tea before Karen went for a shower and washed her hair and I went and got my Yorkshire Post newspaper. Karen got done in the shower and dried her hair before selecting her outfit for tonight as she is going out with the girls from her department into Wakefield for drinks and a curry.

I read for a bit whilst listening to the football scores on TV and made myself a pot of tea. Once Karen was all dressed and her make up sorted it was time to set off and pick a colleague up and then I dropped them in Wakefield and I made my way home. Once home I put some fish fillets in the oven, made a pot of tea and watched Strictly Come Dancing, my fillets were ready halfway through the show and I had them. Once I had eaten I finished my drink and by then Strictly had finished so I fired up the laptop and came on here. Karen will ring me when she wants picking up and I hope she isn't too worse for wear when I collect her, lol.

Hi John, I love "chunkster" books!!!! I feel like you really get your money's worth with thick books! It will be so much fun following your 2018 reads! Today, I took my grandson, Tyler to a dine-in theater to see The Justice League for his birthday! It was so much fun! Great movie and having food delivered to our comfy seats was perfect! When I told my dad what movie we saw, he said that I have the taste of young boys for movies...he's right! Thank goodness I have grandsons who will go to the loud super hero movies with me!

>40 Dianekeenoy:, Hi Diane my dear, I have always loved chunky books which match my collection of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack which are well in excess of 1500 pages.

I am glad that you enjoyed The Justice League with grandson Tyler, it is always good to have someone to go and see super hero movies with. I can imagine you with your grandsons at a rock concert dear friend, the grandchildren keep us young I think.

Apart from going to the movies hope you are having a great weekend my dear, sending love and hugs from both of us.

Karen had a good night out with the girls and she rang me just after 11pm to say she wanted picking up at 11.40pm with Donna and could I take two more home. I said I had room and after dropping everyone home we got in just after midnight. By the time we had had our milk and tea and read, we turned the lights out at around 1.30am.

The alarm went off this morning at 8.30am and I went and made us a pot of tea and let Leo out for his ablutions. By the time we had had our drink and got up, washed and dressed it was just after 10am. We had breakfast and another drink of tea and watched last nights Strictly on catch-up before getting on with putting up the decorations throughout the house. Rob arrived with Hannah just after 12.30pm and she was fascinated watching grandma sorting through the decorations, deciding where they should go. We had a bite to eat and continued and Rob and Hannah left just after 4pm.

Once they had gone we had something more substantial to eat before both doing a bit of reading before Strictly- the results show. The tree will be put up tomorrow after we get back from Karen's appointment at the hospital for a check-up.

The weather once again is changeable, yesterday was cool and dry but during the night it rained and warmed up a bit and we have just seen the forecast for the week ahead on Countyrfile and it is to be mild on Monday and Tuesday and then get wet and wild on Wednesday before getting progressively cooler towards the weekend when frost will be back and the potential for snow grows.

Hi John!

Christmas decorations, yay! I wish we'd get snow, but nothing's forecast. Sending love and hugs to you and Karen!

>44 karenmarie:, Hi Karen, we always seem to miss out here in Walton unless we get a real snowstorm over Yorkshire and in the past I have taken Karen snow chasing up towards the Pennines but next time we miss out we shall head towards Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales following the Settle to Carlisle rail line from Settle on towards the Ribblehead viaduct and then turn right to Hawes.

Sending love and hugs right back to you.

Mr and Mrs S on their way to the Manchester Christmas fair last Thursday.

Happy new thread, John. Reading only chunksters will be quite the undertaking, good luck in advance with your 2018 reads. >46 johnsimpson: Great picture of what looks like a fun outing.

>47 Familyhistorian:, Thanks Meg my dear, it was a fun outing.

The Christmas Tree is now up and so we are all decorated and in the festive mood. My contribution was to get all the decorations down from the loft and then to put the tree together before Karen did all the decorating. As Karen says herself she has P.O.P.D, or Perfect Ornament Positioning Disorder and as she had nearly finished she said that she thought she could do with a few more baubles. I messaged Amy who was flabbergasted and sent a virtual shrug of the shoulders.

I did most of my Christmas baking this last weekend. I baked 2 fancy braided loaves of pumpkin bread and 3 braided breads filled with cream cheese and lemon curd. At least until I ran out of lemon curd. The last filled loaf had only the cream cheese filling in it. I tried a new trick with the pumpkin bread and mixed it in my bread machine instead of doing it completely by hand. It turned out great. I will be doing 2 more of those loaves later this week.

Hi John! Glad to hear that you're all decorated and festive. POPD - LOL. We tend to be a bit more haphazard and with the tree nestled in against the staircase and a short wall with a door, some places 'behind' don't tend to get as well ornamented. But we love our tree anyway.

>46 johnsimpson: Very nice pic of the two of you.

>50 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita, the baking sounds really good my dear and I like the trick with the pumpkin bread, enjoy baking more bread later in the week dear friend, sending love and hugs.

>51 karenmarie:, Hi Karen, I just leave it to Karen with the tree otherwise if I did any she would only move them, lol. It was a good selfie for a change as we are usually rubbish doing them.

We have had a steady day today, once we were up and about we had a pot of tea and I had some cereal before I took Karen to her appointment at the doctors, I got back home ready for Rob to arrive. Rob arrived and just as we were setting off Karen rang to say she was done at the doctors and so we picked her up on the way to dropping Rob at the station.

Once Rob had been dropped off I parked up behind the shopping centre and Karen went off to have a bit of me time and picking up the last bits of presents while I went to pay a bill. I was making my way back to the car when I bumped into Karen in Marks and Spencer's so we went up to the café to have a coffee together. After a nice coffee I left Karen to finish off and made my way home where I made a pot of tea and read. Karen messaged me to say that she had been delayed and bumped into a few friends and was in need of a bite to eat as she felt a bit faint. I messaged her back to say take your time and get something to eat and messaged me when she was ready to be picked up. Karen messaged me back to ask if we had time today to pop to the cemetary to put a wreath on my mum and dad's grave, I said we had and I would do the upstairs housework tomorrow and she said she would do the Christmas baking tomorrow.

I picked Karen up just after 3pm and we headed to the cemetary and put the wreath on the grave and had a chat with them and then headed home to get warm and have a pot of tea. We watched what I had recorded earlier and then had another pot of tea before making something to eat and then I read a bit more before the news came on. After the news we watched Strictly takes two and then a short while later I went to pick Rob up from the station. After Rob had collected his car we finished watching Antiques Road Trip and then I fired the laptop up. A short while later the local Round Table group came round with Santa on the back of a vehicle and we all went to our doors to wave to Santa and put a donation in the volunteers buckets. All in all a good day for the pair of us.

Finished book Eighty-One late last night, Out of the Woods but not Over the Hill by Gervase Phinn. Gervase grew up in Rotherham and went onto being a teacher and a school inspector in North Yorkshire, he is an author of numerous books initially telling the stories of his life as a teacher and school inspector before going onto writing a fiction series and he has a new series on the way.

For Gervase Phinn growing old is not about a leisurely walk to the pub for a game of dominoes or snoozing in his favourite armchair. As this sparkling collection of his very best humorous writing shows, he may be "Out of the Woods" but he is certainly not "Over the Hill".

Brimming with nostalgia, gently mocking life's absurdities, never shy of an opinion, this is Gervase Phinn at his wittiest, twinkly-eyed best.

A nice gentle read about a lifetimes observations in his inimitable style.

Last night I finished another book which pleased me.

We awoke with the alarm and I went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed and then we got up, washed and dressed and then I moved the car for when Rob arrived. I made us both another pot of tea and Karen made me some porridge. Once I had finished my breakfast and pot of tea I read until Rob arrived and once he was here we set off to the station. I dropped Rob off and made my way back home via the post office to send a card to Australia that had been forgotten and picked up some stamps for the UK ones that need posting. Once done at the post office I headed home.

Once home I affixed the stamps to the envelopes for posting before going up for a shower before getting on with the upstairs housework and cleaning the bathroom. After I had showered I put all the empty decoration boxes back into the loft before beginning the housework. While I was doing this Karen was on her Christmas biscuit baking marathon.

Once the housework was done I made us a pot of tea before doing a bit of reading and then Karen broke off and we had some lunch. I continued reading once we had eaten until it was time to go and pick Hannah up from school. I set off to get Hannah and called into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Karen and then continued on my way to get Hannah. I got home with Hannah and Karen made her some tea and I read for a while after making Karen and I a pot of tea.

Once Hannah had finished her tea she wanted me to colour with her which I did before Karen took her for a bath. Once Hannah was bathed she watched her programmes until it was time to take Karen to her bariatric meeting which was more of a Christmas get together. I got back with Hannah and we coloured until it was time to go and pick Rob up from the station. Once back home Rob picked up a couple of bits and then he and Hannah left and I went to pick Karen up from her meeting.

I noticed that the first Camellia bud is nearly open which will be the earliest they have flowered by about a week, the Camellia has been in the garden for about Seventeen years and has always given a fantastic display. The weather has turned cold again and has to get worse towards the weekend with a possibility of some snow. Hopefully this will not hamper us as we are going to the pantomime on Sunday, once again Andy has co-written it and is the genie rather than the villain this year as they are doing Aladdin. Next years panto is well on the way to being completed with Andy and his writing partner Howard ahead of the game, the panto will be Sleeping Beauty. We are really looking forward to it as it is always good and is generally sold out for the ten performances.

>57 johnsimpson: How nice your Camelia is about to open, John.
I have a red one in the garden, but it has never flowered before February.

The camellia's are budding down here and it is way to early for that. We had a period of cool days and cold nights about two weeks ago and then it warmed back up to the 70"s F. That fooled the poor plants into thinking that winter was over. Today the high's will be in the 40's F and the lows into the 20's, so I fear the buds are going to get nipped. That means that in February when they should be blooming they won't.

Two Camellia flowers are out now and the temperature is dropping and a few more buds are just starting to show their pink contents, hopefully it will be a gorgeous display over the coming weeks with over 400 blooms expected.

Bit too cold for gardening isn't it John?

Still don't have a date for my trip back to the UK.

The warm up didn't give many clues for the next test. I must admit that I would probably move Ali to three and bring in Jack Leach and play Wood and Curran instead of Woakes and Overton. How we could do with Stokes.

Stoneman, Cook, Ali, Root, Vince, Bairstow, Curran, Broad, Leach, Wood, Anderson

Have a great Sunday.

>61 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, no gardening going on but my Camellia has started flowering and I think it is because the temperatures have been quite cool over the last week or so. It flowered this early a few years ago, again when we had a cool period but normally it doesn't flower until mid January.

Shame you haven't got a date for your trip back yet mate, hopefully it will be soon.

I have been appalled at the warm-up matches as they have not been against decent opposition to give our lads a taste of what was to come and so we have been lulled a bit. I would go with your selection mate.

What the hell is happening with this squad now that Duckett has virtually ruined his England career, what the hell was he thinking at the time. I think a complete overall at the top of the ECB is required and more emphasis on the four day game as yet again it is at the start and end of the season when weather can disrupt games and wickets are not true, they need to play on hot days when graft is required.

Hope you have had a good weekend mate.

The last few days have been busy and I have not had much time to get on here. On Friday night Karen went up to the pub here in Walton with her best friend Tina for her birthday and I had problems picking Rob up due to our crap rail services.

Yesterday I was busy during the day and we went to our friends Geoff and Linda last night for a meal and a catch up, we had great food and had good chat and were late back.

Today has been more relaxing, we had breakfast while catching up on last nights Strictly Come Dancing on the iplayer before setting off to York to see the Pantomime at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. This years Panto is Aladdin again co-written by Andy and Howard with Andy playing the part of the Genie. The Pantomime was fabulous and we laughed and laughed and the Dame slipped in one or two double entendres for the adults. When the Principal boy came on (played by a female as per history) and this is Marie-Louise in this group, Karen said was I happy and I was as Marie-Louise has darned good legs especially in boots. Hannah loved it and as she is getting older she is now participating more as part of the audience.

Once the Pantomime had finished we went outside and by then most of the principal cast had come outside so the kids could have a photo taken with each character, Hannah loves this and had her photo with most of them especially Uncle Andy and Marie-Louise, maybe I should have asked Karen to take a photo of me with her as well, ha ha.

Once all this had been done we left the cast to go and get changed and warm up as it was freezing outside and we made our way home.

I will be back to my normal posting self from tomorrow and getting back to some decent reading as that has dipped over the last couple of days.

>62 johnsimpson: I agree John that it is entirely disrespectful to the England team that they do not get decent warm up games. Why are they not playing the various states - Tasmania, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia?

I also agree that we need an overhaul to get the balance right again in our cricket and give our counties a chance to profit.
That means playing sufficient first class cricket - 19 games a year minimum. 17 against counties + 1 university + 1 against a touring side or other representative side.

Bring back the Sunday league for heaven's sake as it was marvellous - that may even be the 20/20 stuff although I loved the old 40 over format.

Plus the knockout competition.

The centrally contracted players should play for their counties when they are not playing for England.

Stopping by to say hi, John and Karen! I confess, I don't have Perfect Ornament Disorder at all! My husband has been doing most of the decorating around here. So , next year it's going to be all door stopper books ? Wow, you are a brave man!

Hi, John! The pantomime sounds amazing! Very cool.

Hi John!

I think you should post a photo of your camellia bush at an appropriate time - either now with two early blooms or later on when it's in its full glory. I'd love to see it.

I hope you and Karen are doing well - sounds like you've been happily busy.

I sent my sister one of the fruitcakes. It didn't occur to me to tell her to wait 'til Christmas so it could ripen more, so she and her MiL each had some and loved it. Sigh. I'm being strong. We did break out the un-brandied one because daughter wanted to try it. Heavenly.

Sending love and hugs to both of you.

>64 PaulCranswick:, I agree with everything you have put mate and I think we should take over the running of English Cricket. The ECB moan about how the counties are not all sustainable and yet they are the root of the problem and with no Cricket on terrestrial television how are we going to get the kids interested with no meaningful play on a weekend.

Also I am sick of hearing ex-players on the radio moaning about workload and yet when they are away from the counties they are constantly netting or on fitness drills or at camps overseas, why don't they ensure that these players have sharp match practice. I always remember Andy Caddick saying he bowled poorly in the first innings and then bowling like a demon in the second because up to the Test he hadn't played and by the second innings he had a good 25 to 30 plus overs under his belt and then when he played for Somerset prior to a Test he bowled well in the first innings and yet they still messed him about and didn't learn for a long time. Match play is always better than netting and it is the same in any type of cricket. We had a lad a Sharlston, he was a demon in the nets only because there were no fielders and yet on a Saturday he got himself out easily on a regular basis. I could plot a field to him easily as I knew what he would do and yet he never listened and eventually moved on because he was dropped down the order and then dropped to the seconds.

>65 vancouverdeb:, Hi Deb, Karen has always decorated the tree and so I leave her to it, it is the best that way. Door stoppers all the way my dear, not a brave man but one who needs his bumps feeling, lol.

>66 scaifea:, Hi Amber, the panto was wonderful once again, the work put in by all involved is phenomenal and produced the goods and the panto is virtually sold out for all ten performances. I will ask Andy if the DVD they produce is compatible for the USA and if it is I will try and send a copy for you to watch my dear.

>67 karenmarie:, Hi Karen, I will take a photo when more blooms are out and the weather conditions are better to take a photograph my dear.

We are both well but busy the last few days and Karen is just doing the last few bits of baking when she has a spare bit of time.

I am glad that your sister loved the cake my dear and I am proud that you are waiting until Christmas my dear although you have tried the non-alcoholic version so you have an idea of how good it will be dear friend.

Hope you had a good weekend my dear and send love and hugs to you and your husband.

Finished book Eighty-Two a short time ago, The Victory by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. This is the Twelfth in the series and sees the book starting in 1803 with Napoleon poised to invade England with only Nelson's weather beaten ships in his way. The possible French invasion is not the only threat to the Morland family fortunes.

Things at Morland Place are going along as normal as possible but Mary Ann's relationship with Father Rathbone introduces her to the stark realities of life in plague torn Manchester whilst in the South, Lucy's lover Weston is assigned to the blockade of Brest while her neglected husband, Chetwyn, finally finds love in an affair that threatens him with disgrace and ruin.

From the fashionable salons of Beau Brummell's London to the shot-torn decks at Trafalgar, the Morlands face danger and personal tragedy, as well as love and fulfilment.

Looking forward to the next in the series.

Oh, I'd love to see it! That's so kind of you, John, but no worries if it turns out that they don't make a version that works for us bloody colonialists.

>73 scaifea:, Why do they have to have different versions, it makes things bloody awkward. If they are not compatible it would mean that if I visited the USA I could not pick up something that I liked that I couldn't get over here, madness.

Finished book Eighty-Three a couple of hours ago, The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown by Vaseem Khan. This is the second in the Baby Ganesha Agency Series.

For many centuries the Koh-I-Noor diamond has set man against man and king against king and has been a source of bad luck when in Male possession. It has been said that only God, or a woman could wear it with impunity. The Koh-I-Noor, now part of the British Crown jewels, the priceless gem is a prize that many have killed to possess, so when the Crown jewels go on display in Mumbai, security is everyone's principal concern.

And yet, on the very day that Inspector Chopra visits the exhibition, the diamond is stolen from under his very nose. The heist was daring and seemingly impossible. The hunt is on for the culprits, but it soon becomes clear that only one man - and his elephant - can possibly crack the case.

Another very good read and I am more in love with the baby elephant, Ganesha and his guide, Inspector Chopra (Retd). Looking forward to the next in the series but it won't be until 2019 with my reading plan for 2018.

Today has been quite busy, once we were up and about we had breakfast and a pot of tea and then caught up with a couple of programmes I recorded yesterday and then Karen iced a cake she made yesterday morning before she went to work. After another pot of tea or two we set off to the supermarket as it is double discount day today and tomorrow for the staff. Karen took a small trolley to get bits she needed to look at and I had the large trolley to get the bulk of the shopping. I had just about finished when Karen met me to transfer the shopping she had picked up into my trolley and then she made her way out of store to walk to the staff entrance and clock on for her shift.

I picked up the last item and made my way to the checkout and 15 minutes later I was on my way back to the car to put all the shopping in the boot. I went back to the store to get some cash from the cash machine and then went back inside to pick up a pack of cigars and use the toilet before finding Karen to see if she had the Costco list. Sadly Karen didn't have the list but she remembered what we wanted and I noted it down and then went back to the car and set off to Leeds to visit the Costco store.

Once I had parked up I made my way into Costco and found all the bits we wanted and then made my way through the checkout and then headed for home.

Once home I unpacked the car and then unpacked the shopping and put it all away which took me awhile. I had to pop upstairs with some toiletries and brought some Kitchen roll down to put in the cubby hole next to the sink unit. Luckily for me I picked up a damp smell and investigated and found that the waste pipe from under the sink to the main waste pipe had moved and their was a slow drip, I took everything out of the cubby hole and some of it needed washing off and other bits just needed drying. I thought I had sorted the problem out when I heard a steady drip drip. I took some things out from under the sink near to the pipe and found the problem, a couple of items were balanced on the pipe causing it to tilt at the wrong angle going into the waste pipe. I got a small block of wood and put it under the short bit of pipe so that it was balanced correctly and then put everything back under the sink and then got Karen's hairdryer and dried the floorboard in the cubby hole and then washed what needed washing and dried it and then put everything back in the cubby hole.

I had made a pot of tea after I had put the shopping away and I had to re-warm it as it had gone cold while I was sorting the drip problem out. As I finished this job the window cleaner had arrived so I popped out to pay him and then finally I could settle down with my pot of tea and finish my book. Once the book was finished I selected another and then went online on my phone. By the time I had done all this I needed another pot of tea and then decided to have something to eat so I got some frozen sausages out and some frozen chips and put them in the oven and read while it all cooked. I had my food while watching Strictly Takes Two before making another pot of tea and then doing my book stats before firing up the laptop.

Tomorrow I am going to be busy as I have a podiatrist appointment and then if I have time need to pick Karen up and drop her at the Aldi store before going to pick Rob up from Leeds for his second interview for the job he applied for and then take him back to work when the interview has finished and then later I will have Hannah to pick up from school. A busy day driving tomorrow.

On Thursday we hope to go to Harrogate, this will be our last jaunt out before Christmas and there is a farmer's market on so hope to ick up some Buffalo burgers and some nice cheese and hopefully some Toffee Vodka. I will also disappear on my own as I look for a couple of small gifts to add to Karen's presents, If I fail I will go into Leeds on Friday after I have dropped Karen at work at 9.30am . A busy week all round for me as I also have some housework to do although I could do it on Saturday as Karen is at work from 9.30am until 5pm.

I have survived my busy driving day. Once we were up and about we had a pot of tea and I had some cereal before setting off for my Podiatry appointment. The Podiatrist was good, he asked me about all that had gone on and then examined my foot before getting me to walk about. At the end of this he said the shoe I was wearing could be better as I need something a bit more solid on the sole side to give me more support and told me when to buy a pair of shoes, I had not thought of this but it made sense. He said not to buy shoes early in the shopping day but to do some mooching about for about 2 hours so that the feet have time to expand and then try shoes on, they should be comfortable and even when your foot is fresh the shoes will not be too big whereas if you buy early the shoes may feel quite snug because the foot has expanded.

I left feeling more positive and just had time to get home and pick up a drink of tea in the travelling mug before I set off to get Rob. I knew we would be a bit early but better that than being late and I dropped him off at the firm 20 minutes before his interview time. I left him there and went to the supermarket and used the toilets and then went and had a drink before fuelling up the car. I drove back to the firm and parked up for 5 minutes before Rob got back to the car. We set off back to his office in Leeds, the weather had turned for the worse with heavy rain, this didn't help much with all the spray coming off vehicles on the motorway. I dropped Rob off at work and made my way back home.

By the time I got home the rain had eased and I made a pot of tea, Karen was watching a programme I had recorded for her on Monday. After the programme had finished I made us both a drink and Karen made some lunch for both of us. By the time I had finished my lunch and tea it was time to go and pick Hannah up from school. I picked Hannah up and we made our way home, as soon as we were inside Hannah asked for a drink of juice and got a small piece of cheese. After she had eaten she wanted the dolls box so I went up to the spare bedroom to get It down.

After a short while Karen made us all something to eat and then Hannah watched her programmes for an hour before I changed channels for the news and Strictly. Rob arrived just after 6.30pm and after a chat he took Hannah home. After they had gone we finished our drinks and then I took Karen to see her ex-SIL for a chat and once I had dropped her off I made my way home, made a pot of tea and fired up the laptop to come on here.

I forgot to mention that a short while before I set off to get Hannah from school, Karen decided to sort out the freezer to make sure there was room for everything. It was a good job she did as just as I was leaving the house she said it would appear we hadn't bought the Turkey for Christmas lunch. I could have sworn we had bought one but we hadn't, the only meat we had bought was the lovely piece of Pork, whoops. It looks like I will be going to Aldi on Friday to pick up a Turkey Crown, but apart from that all the Christmas goodies she has baked and bought are all stacked nicely in the freezer and there is room for a bit more.

Hi, John. I am so far behind on LT, but after a quick scan here, all seems good. Glad there is still room in the freezer for more goodies. : )

>79 Berly: Always room in the freezer for Christmas goodies Kim.

We have had a good day, after getting up and about and having a pot of tea and some breakfast, Bridget the hairdresser arrived. Once we had our hair done and Bridget had gone I vacuumed the hair up and then we got in the car and headed for Harrogate. We had a good journey to Harrogate and got parked up and by then the rain had started.

We headed to a café for a nice coffee and a treat. Once we had warmed up a bit we left the café and went to the main thoroughfare where the monthly farmer's market is held. We wandered along the market stalls perusing the goods on offer. Karen nipped into Boots to pick up a couple of bits and then we mooched a bit further. Karen went into Marks and Spencer's while I went to the post office to post a card and then I went to the bank to pay a bill and get some cash out. I got back to M&S and met back up with Karen and then we moved on. We had a wander around and went back into M&S from another street and found some Toffee Vodka which we had been looking for. After we had got our Vodka we continued mooching and went into Jesper's Stationers and I had a look at their range of Fountain pens. We saw the new range of Montegrappa pens which are Game of Thrones themed, the main one on show looked wonderful and so it should at £3,500. We had a good look around and then left.

We continued mooching around and I left Karen to go to Lakeland while I took the heavy shopping bag back to the car. Whilst we were mooching around the rain kept coming and going, I met back up with Karen and we had a bit more looking around but Karen's shoulder was causing her a bit of pain and the rain came down heavier so we made our way back to the car and then headed home.

Glad to see that you and Karen had another mooch about! Sounds lovely! Dave and I need to do that more often. His shift work sometimes works against us, as does owing our lovely dog, who needs someone around to take her on her many walks a day.

I received a lovely Christmas card in the mail on Tuesday. Thanks so much for thinking of me. I am still in the process of writing my Christmas greetings.

>82 vancouverdeb:, Hi Deb, we love our mooches about my dear. This came about 12 years ago when Karen decided to leave her job at Wakefield college, for the previous 12 to 18 months she went to work and things were not good and then she would come home and have a moan about the day and then later in the evening have another moan about what might or might not happen the following day. On the weekend she would talk about work and then on the Sunday she would be wondering who would be off and if things would be bad, in the end the catering side was taken over my another firm and she knew that her working contract was safe for two years so I said use that time to look for something else as I couldn't cope with anymore and it was making her ill. As it turned out she started at Asda supermarkets within 3 months, at the time one of her days off was a Thursday so we decided to go off for the day and visit parts of Yorkshire we had never been to. Later the following year her best friend revealed that her marriage was over as her husband said he didn't love her anymore, unfortunately they didn't spend much time together apart from holidays as she worked through the week and also did a few hours as cook at the local Hospice and when her husband went out on a Saturday evening it was to a local club to play snooker so she would be sat on her own if she went with him. This made us both think and we used it as a potential wake up call and we haven't looked back since. We love our date days and have seen lovely places at different times of the year and made some friends in some of the shops and cafe's that we visit quite often over the last few years.

It can be awkward with shift work but it doesn't have to be every week my dear and maybe you could take Poppy with you at times as there are jaunts we could still do if we had a dog.

>83 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita, glad you have got your card my dear, friends across the pond dear friend.

Finished book Eighty-Four a couple of hours ago, Theodore Boone - The Scandal by John Grisham. This is the sixth in the series and finds young Theodore facing a tough week at school with his exams. The exams are to sort out which stream the students will be in at High School, Theodore doesn't like exams and his mother thinks they are a waste of time.

Things take a turn for the worse when a huge scandal is revealed by none other than his best friend April, and when April makes a decision that Theo advises against, the scandal suddenly blows up and is all over the news.

Their futures are on the line and April is now running scared. Can Theo find a way to reverse the damage and save several lives from ruin?

Another lovely Theodore Boone book from Mr Grisham.

Not a wonderful start to Day Three of the Perth test, John. Don't see us getting that bugger Smith out at all. He is simply too good for the England bowling attack.

Best we can hope for is a draw to take back across Australia for the biggies in Sydney and Melbourne.

Have a great weekend, mate.

>46 johnsimpson: I hope it is not too late to say what a lovely picture of you and the Mrs.

Stopping by to wish you a happy weekend! I love imagining your wonderful life surrounded by books and pots of tea!

>87 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, we need some decent pace bowlers to compete and I think Vaughan's comment that pitches in England should be made for pace bowling to develop our bowlers and for the batsmen to get used to it. All we can hope is that Malan and Bairstow knuckle down and defy the buggers and then someone has a bloody hard word in the dressing room.

>88 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen, thank you it's not a bad photo. I love my books and a pot of tea my dear.

I've been busy the last couple of days getting the last couple of bits for Karen. On Friday I dropped Karen at work for 9.30am and then quickly popped into store to take a couple of things back and pick up a couple of bits before heading to the nearby railway station at Sandal & Agbrigg to get a train into Leeds. I got the train and had a good mooch around Leeds and picked up two small items before returning home.

Once home I had a pot of tea and then delivered the local Christmas cards before sorting a couple of things out before another pot of tea and a bit of reading.

Saturday morning I dropped Karen at work again for 9.30am and then I drove down to Meadowhall shopping centre near Sheffield to try and get the last two small gifts for Karen. Once again I was successful and once I had done I made my way home. As I got near to home I followed a route so I drop off more distant cards on my way back home.

Once back in the house I had a pot of tea and then jumped in the shower before getting on with the upstairs housework and then cleaned the bathroom. Once this was done I had another well earned pot of tea before getting on with the downstairs housework and then cleaned the kitchen.

This morning we got up and had a quick pot of tea before we headed out to the Aldi at Featherstone to try and get a Turkey Crown for Christmas Day lunch. Karen popped into the store while I read and she came out with a Turkey Crown. Once back home we had toasted teacake and crumpets with a pot of tea before Karen got on with making some Christmas treats, either for presents or for work colleagues. The treats were peanut brittle, chocolate covered marshmallows with gingerbread biscuits in a bag and some Ferrero Roche truffles. Karen made some eggnog to make more truffles but it hadn't set so these will be done tomorrow. Once these had all been done we had a bite to eat before relaxing.

>84 johnsimpson: Good for you and Karen making a decision to spend time together and make your relationship work. I love reading about the places that you explore. Have a great week and I hope you got your Christmas shopping all done. BTW what is a Turkey crown?

>92 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg, we love our date days out and we are stronger for them and we love each others company. Karen has four shifts to do then she is off for most of Christmas and the New Year and then she has some holiday time to take and that has been put in so once the New Year is in she has two shifts to do then that is it until the 10th of January.

A Turkey Crown is just the main body of the Turkey, everything else is taken off. We like this as no one is bothered about the legs and so this is ideal for us plus we have a decent piece of Pork as well for Christmas day lunch along with all the trimmings and the vegetables. Karen has already par-boiled the parsnips and covered them with a honey glaze and they are I the freezer ready to go and we will have Cabbage (cooked in a little butter with a bit of bacon), Brussel Sprouts, Carrots, mash potato, Roast Potatoes, Cauliflower in a Cheese sauce, Chipolata sausages, Bacon rolls, Stuffing balls and some glorious gravy. To follow this there will be homemade Christmas pudding, Cheesecake or Ice-cream.

Hope you have a good week ahead dear friend.

I got my Christmas epistle written just before I left Alabama so will be working diligently to get hem mailed this next week. Now I am on the road to Kansas and am stopped outside of a Starbucks just east of St. Louis, Missouri. I still have a long way to drive today but am listening to a “chunkster” recorded book that has taken me all the way from Alabama and I am still not half done with the novel. It is Hour I First Believed and it is holding my interest.

We have been busy today, once we were up and about I made us a pot of tea and Karen set a load of washing going before she set to and made the white chocolate truffles. I had another pot of tea and some cereal before moving the car for when Rob arrived. Karen did some ironing and then I made her a pot of tea and then Rob arrived, he had a quick chat before I took him to the station. Once he was dropped off I made my way home via the doctors to drop our prescriptions off.

Once back home I made a pot of tea for me as Karen had just had a bite to eat so she had to wait awhile before she could have a drink. Karen went and got changed for work and a short time later I made her a small pot of tea. After we had finished our drinks it was time to take her to work, I dropped her off and then quickly popped into store to pick a couple of bits up and look for a bottle of white liquor but I couldn't find any. Once out of the store I made my way into Wakefield and picked up the last little gift for Karen and then made my way home dropping some cards off and then going to Sharlston to drop some cards off there. I had a quick word with an old friend and gave her a Christmas card and then made my way home.

Once home I had a pot of tea and went online to check an email from school, apparently I have a document to sign that should have been done before I resigned, I have to go into school in the morning to do it. Once I had sorted out the document I went and got the wrapping paper and wrapped the small gifts I have got for Karen and labelled them and then I hid them in the spare wardrobe until the weekend when I will put them under the tree. I had another pot of tea and read for a while before I made myself something to eat. After I had eaten I listened to the main and local news in the background while I read and once it got to 7pm I got my coat and went to get some diesel and then went to the station to pick Rob up. I collected Rob and drove home, he didn't need to come in the house so I reversed off the drive to let him out and once I had re-parked I went inside and made a pot of tea and then finished a couple of chapters before firing up the laptop to come on here.

>93 johnsimpson: It is wonderful that you and Karen enjoy doing things together and make the time for that to happen, John. It sounds like you have your Christmas celebrations well in hand.

Hi John! Good to see you're keeping yourself busy. That's the best kind of day. :)

>96 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg, Karen was listening to the ladies in her department talking about relationships and what they got up to and some were surprised by how much we do together. We like to wander off and as I am the only driver we do things together but I do drop Karen off to meet up with her friends and she goes off on the train to meet up with Amy for a girly day and I do my thing and go to the Cricket so we do things on our own but like to do things together.

Christmas is always well in hand as Karen is like the Go-Go's song title, Girl of a Hundred Lists. Karen always has lists and she gives me my list of jobs to do, I think I am still working on the 2005 list but this is mainly outside jobs, lol.

>97 The_Hibernator:, Hi Rachel, I like to be busy either doing jobs that Karen has left me or doing a bit of reading, days don't drag then.

Hi John, thanks so much for your lovely x-mas card. It's so kind of you and Karen thinking of us. Love and hugs to both of you. xx

Finished book Eighty-Five a few hours ago, Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch. This is the third in the Peter Grant series and sees our Police Apprentice Wizard awaiting Monday when he will get to do some proper policing. He gets his wish when Person Unknown has been stabbed to death on the tracks at Baker Street Tube and magic may have been involved.

It turns out that Person Unknown is actually the son of a US senator and before anyone could say "International incident", FBI agent Kimberly Reynolds is on his case.

Down in the dark, in the tunnels of London's Underground, the buried rivers, the Victorian sewers, there are whispers from beyond the grave and DC Grant's latest case is about to go off the rails.

Looking forward to book Four.

>102 johnsimpson:, You are very welcome my dear and that is what friends are for dear lady, sending love and hugs from both of us.

Hi John!

*blinks in surprise*

I haven't posted here for a while, John, but having caught up it sounds like things are going well and that you're going to have a Major Feast at Christmas! I always have to make a whole turkey, as husband and daughter love white meat and I am a dark meat fan.

Where in the plans does the fruit cake fit? I'm still patient.....

>104 karenmarie:, Hi Karen the Christmas Fruit Cake will be started on Christmas Day night, once we have room for food after the stupendous lunch we will have a selection of cold meats including the Turkey and Pork along with some Cheese, Cranberry sauce, Apple sauce and I like some Beetroot. Once I have had my fill of that I will have some Christmas cake, mince pie and whatever else Karen brings out and from then on I will have a slice or two of the delicious cake daily until it has all gone and as most of it is for me to eat I am a very happy boy.

Happy Yule Book Flood!

Finished book Eighty-Six a couple of hours ago, Happiest Days by Jack Sheffield. This is the Tenth in the series and finds Jack beginning the 1986/87 school year, his Tenth as Headmaster.

It's the time of Margaret Thatcher's third election victory, Dynasty and shoulder pads, Neighbours and a Transformer for Christmas. And at Ragley school, a year of surprises is in store. Ruby the caretaker finds happiness at last, Vera the secretary makes an important decision, a new teacher is appointed and a disaster threatens the school.

Meanwhile, Jack receives unexpected news, and is faced with the biggest decision of his career.....

Another amusing adventure in a beautiful school set in a gorgeous North Yorkshire village, not far from historic York, this is overflowing with amusing anecdotes and heartwarming humour. Luckily for me the next one will not be out in paperback until late in 2018 so it will be one of the first reads in 2019.

>106 richardderus:, Thank you Richard.

We have had a good day, busy this morning and then mainly relaxing and restful from the afternoon onwards. We awoke with the alarm at 8am and I went and made us a pot of tea to have in bed, once we had finished our tea we got washed, dressed and made our way downstairs. I had another pot of tea and we both had some breakfast before setting off to the supermarket. Once parked up at Asda we made our way into store, Karen went off to get the bits she thought I would be unsure of and I made a start on the main shopping list. Once Karen had picked her bits up she joined me and transferred them into my trolley and then walked over to the Aldi store while I finished off in Asda.

Karen messaged me to say she was at the checkout in Aldi just as I was leaving the checkout at Asda. I went to the car and put the shopping in the boot and then drove across to Aldi to pick Karen up. Once Karen was in the car we made our way home. We got all the shopping out of the car and into the kitchen, I left Karen to put it all away while I popped out to pick our prescriptions from the pharmacy and then went to the Sainsbury supermarket to get the four items we couldn't get at Asda or Aldi. I got the items and then made my way home and rang Karen to ask her to put the kettle on as I was parched.

Once home we had our drink and Karen then did the small amount of ironing, we had another drink and then went upstairs to put the fresh bedding on the bed in the second bedroom where Amy and Andy will be staying from Christmas Eve until late on Boxing Day.

We had another couple of pots of tea and both read until Geoff and Linda arrived for a drink and a chat before Christmas. We had a good ninety minutes or so chatting and having a couple of beers while the girls had some Bucks Fizz, although Linda only had one small glass as she was driving. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and had a hug and a kiss before they left. We had a pot of tea and I finished my book before having something to eat.

From early afternoon Karen has been in pain with her right shoulder and although she took some painkillers she is still feeling uncomfortable, bless her. We have spent the evening catching up on programmes we have recorded or deleting things that we can't be bothered to watch.

Everything has been bought both food and present wise for Christmas and if we have forgotten anything then we will have to do without. Karen has only tomorrow and Saturday to work then she is off until the 29th and then she will work the 29th and 30th and then she is off until the 8th of January.

I will post my usual festive message to one and all on Saturday as I may be busy on Sunday and we are going out for food on Sunday evening with Amy and Andy.

I think I am going to end the year with 89 books read which is not a bad haul for me, next year could be a struggle to get to 75 but I am determined to try and get as near to it as possible and in doing so should sail through the 40,000 page barrier which eluded me last year and will do so again this year.

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

Hi John!



Stopping by to wish you and yours all good things this holiday season. And, of course, sending love and hugs to you and Karen!

>112 Ameise1:, Thank you Barbara my dear.

>113 karenmarie:, Thank you Karen my dear.

Happy Christmas, John, to you and Karen - I hope you have a wonderful day!

Finished book Eighty-Seven this morning, Not Quite Nice by Celia Imrie. This is the debut novel by a well loved British actress, famous for her double act with Victoria Wood in Acorn Antiques, she also had a major part in Calendar Girls ( we need decidedly bigger buns, Lawrence), Nanny McPhee and the two Best Marigold Hotel films. She is also a star on the stage here in the UK.

Theresa is desperate for a change in her life now that she has been forced into early retirement and she is sick and tired of babysitting her overbearing daughter's obnoxious children. She decides to sell her house and moves to a picture-perfect town, just outside Nice.

Once a hideaway of artists and writers, Bellevue-Sur-Mer is now home to the odd movie star and, as Theresa discovers, a close-knit set of expats. Theresa settles into the gentle rhythm of the seaside and embraces her new found friendships and freedom. Sadly life is never as simple as it seems, and when skeletons fall out of several closets, she starts to wonder if life on the French Riviera is quite as nice as it first appeared.

A nice enjoyable romp of a novel with its eccentric characters, a gorgeous background and a whiff of crime thrown in for good measure. Looking forward to her second novel now but again it will be one for 2019.

>115 scaifea:, Thank you Amber my dear, we will have a great day tomorrow.

We were busy on Friday, after we had got up and had breakfast we had a short time before setting off to the farm shop to collect our Christmas order and some bread before I dropped Karen off at work. I had to pop in store to pick up a couple of bits that were missed off Amy's shopping order. Once this was done I made my way home to put everything away, as I was doing this I realised that they hadn't packed my large round Pork pie. I rang them up and they were very apologetic and said there would be one for me to pick up, I told them I had to be going that way later in the day as I would be picking Karen up from work so we agreed that I would arrive at 5.30pm.

Once the Pork pie was sorted out I went to Normanton to do some banking and try and get some Mackintosh apples from a lovely fruit and veg man on Normanton market. Sadly he had been unable to get any so I made my way home. After a quick pot of tea I got on with the upstairs housework and cleaned the bathroom and put up new shower curtains. Once I had done the housework I made myself something to eat and then read until it was time to go and pick up my Pork pie and collect Karen from work. We had a relaxing evening.

Hi John. I can't add pictures but I wanted to add my best wishes for the holiday season to you and your family.

On Saturday morning we awoke with the alarm and I went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, once we got up, washed and dressed we changed our bedding and then set a load of washing going. When that was done we had a pot of tea and some porridge and by the time we had finished our breakfast the washing was done and we put it on the airers.

Soon after it was time to take Karen to work and after dropping her off I popped into store to get my paper, a lottery ticket and some cigars to see me through the Christmas break. Once I had my purchases I made my way home and had a pot of tea before getting on with the downstairs housework and clean the kitchen. As I was cleaning the kitchen, listening to the new Roy Orbison CD with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rob, Louise and Hannah arrived. Rob had come to wrap Louise's Christmas presents up and a couple of small ones for Hannah. I finished off the kitchen and then made a drink and chatted with Louise and Hannah.

Once Rob was done they left and I mopped the dining room and kitchen floor before making myself something to eat and having a pot of tea. I read for a bit before going to pick Karen up from work.

Once home with Karen I made us a pot of tea and we relaxed for a while before Karen got changed out of her work clothes and then we had steak and chips for tea before catching up on one or two programmes we had recorded.

This morning we awoke with the alarm and I went downstairs to make a pot of tea and set a load of dark washing going before taking our tea back upstairs to enjoy in bed. Once we had finished our tea we got up, washed and dressed and then came downstairs to have some breakfast and a pot of tea.

After we had finished our breakfast and pot of tea Karen got the piece of Pork ready and popped it in the oven before prepping the Turkey Crown for tomorrow morning. Once the washing had finished I split the load and put it in the tumble dryer before finishing my book. I made us another pot of tea and then got the vegetables from the garage and then between us we peeled and prepped the vegetable for tomorrow. Karen cooked the cauliflower ready to be finished off in the morning with the cheese sauce. When all the vegetables had been cooked or prepped we set the table and so most of the taxing jobs for tomorrow Christmas lunch have been done. I put the second batch of washing in the tumble dryer before coming on here to write my festive messages to friends and then update my thread with another book finished.

Karen steamed the homemade Christmas pudding and Karen took a tiny spoonful to check it was ok and she took another for me, it is absolutely gorgeous and it is only willpower that is stopping us from making pigs of ourselves and eating it all up although to be honest it wouldn't really matter as it will probably be just me and Karen having some anyway.

Happy holidays! I am thankful this holiday season for all the good friends I have made in this group. You are all so supportive. I don't know what I'd do without you!

>119 jessibud2:, Thanks Shelley my dear, I must admit I am not very Tech savvy on here to post funny gifs etc but I suppose I will learn one day if I really need to do it, lol.

Amy and Andy should be arriving shortly and later we are going to the New Inn pub just up the road from us for a meal rather than Karen cooking our usual Christmas Eve meal. Should be a good evening with good food and a few drinks before coming back home and having a couple more drinks before going to bed to await Santa.

It is that time of year again, between Solstice and Christmas, just after Hanukkah, when our thoughts turn to wishing each other well in whatever language or image is meaningful to the recipient. So, whether I wish you Happy Solstice or Merry Christmas, know that what I really wish you, and for you, is this:

Wishing you all good things this holiday season and beyond.

Happy Christmas from Philadelphia to you and Karen, John!

Happy Holidays to you and yours! Its such a joy to be a part of this group, and I’m glad to call you friend.

Dear Friend. I hope your day is filled with light, love and laughter AND TEA!

Hi John!

I hope everybody's recovered and that things have settled down again.

The fruitcake was scrumptious.

Is scrumptious - I'm having a piece for breakfast with my coffee.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen!

Belated Holiday Wishes, aka Happy Boxing Day!!

>125 ronincats:, Thanks Roni for the lovely message.

>126 PaulCranswick:, Thanks Paul for your lovely message.

>127 kidzdoc:, Thanks Darryl for your lovely message.

>128 mahsdad:, Thanks Jeff for your lovely message.

>129 Whisper1:, Thank you Linda for your lovely message.

>130 karenmarie:, Thank you Karen for your lovely message.

>131 Berly:, Thank you Kim for your lovely message.

Amy and Andy arrived just after 5pm on Christmas Eve, after a drink and a chat we got ready to go to the pub for our meal. We had a lovely meal and a couple of drinks in the pub before we paid and made our way home. Once home Amy wrapped the two big Barbie boxes for Hannah and put them near the bookcase as they were far too big to go anywhere near the tree.

We had a couple more drinks and a chat before retiring up to bed.

We awoke on Christmas morning and I went and made a pot of tea for me and Karen before we got up and came downstairs with Amy and Andy to open our presents. We exchanged gifts and received lovely presents and once we had unwrapped them we then had breakfast. We had Christmas tree crumpets and I had a couple of Cranberry Christmas muffins while Karen, Amy and Andy had Pain au Chocolat and Croissants. After breakfast we all got washed and dressed before coming back down to get the Christmas dinner going.

We received a call from Rob to say that Shannon had the sickness and vomiting bug that was going around and would not be eating and that Louise was also unwell and would try and eat a little. Everything went smoothly on the cooking front and we were ready to serve for 2pm, Rob, Louise and the girls arrived at 1.45pm and after a welcome but no hugging we sat down for lunch.

Poor Shannon was so pale and gaunt and went up to the spare bed to lie down although Rob and Louise had to go up a couple of times to clean her up poor lamb. Once lunch was done we opened presents and they stayed for a very short while before leaving while it seemed safe that Shannon and Louise would not be sick on the journey home.

Earlier Andy been ill, he sometimes suffers if he has too much dairy and having had an Hot Chocolate and then the Pain au Chocolat and the Croissants it was a bit much for him. Karen just mentioned this on Facebook along with the fact that Rob and family were ill but she didn't say what with and this got misconstrued and so after a few messages between his family members he got one from his eldest sister basically saying not to come as they didn't want to get the vomiting bug and that after his dad had had a heart attack they didn't want him affected. Andy flipped his biscuit and we had tears in the house. Karen messaged his mum and eventually after she explained what had happened we were now going to his mum's for Boxing Day afternoon.

We tidied up the table and set the first load off in the dishwasher before having some dessert, Amy and Andy had Cheesecake while Karen and I had homemade Christmas pudding that was divine. Once the dishwasher had finished we emptied it and filled it again and then watched television starting with The Highway Rat from the book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler and then Dr Who and then Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. Once this had finished we had something to eat, cold meat, crackers, cheese and pork pie. We had a few drinks before retiring around 11.30pm.

We awoke this morning and I went and made a pot of tea for Karen and I before we got up, washed and dressed. Once downstairs we had breakfast and then chatted before watching a bit of television. Around 12.30pm we started to get Amy and Andy packed and once they had got everything we set off to Andy's mums. We had not got far from home when Andy rang from their car to say we had left the food platters they had got, in the freezer so we turned around to go and get it and would meet them their.

We arrived a short time after Amy and Andy had got their and to be honest there was a bit of an atmosphere with his eldest sister and his second sister. We had a good afternoon despite this but at least any arguments were avoided although after the remainder of the holidays and New Year I dare say Andy will say something and I think Amy will definitely say something as his eldest sister is quite bossy and tries to ride roughshod over them all and persuades his mum about all this. Amy has not really felt welcome into the family by Julia although she gets on very well with the others and Andy's mum and dad like her.

We stayed for a couple of hours before making our way home and once home I made us a pot of tea before we settled down for the evening.

Sorry to hear that some of the family are under the weather. Sending healing vibes.

>135 Ameise1:, Thank you Barbara my dear, hope all is well with you and the family dear friend.

>136 johnsimpson: Oh yes, Isabelle is so close now. She is in Mannheim attending a concert with her Scouts friends.

Hey John! Saw your message, hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I am trying to pull out of a reading slump, but still reading...just at a slower rate. Must be age catching up with me...lol...

Hi John!

Whew. Ups and downs and all-overs. I hope things are settled down completely by now and that you and Karen are relaxing.

Did you get any new books for Christmas? I ended up with 5 total, which, for such a small family is not bad at all.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen.

Sending best wishes for the holidays!

>138 utbw42:, Hi Andy, we had a reasonably good Christmas apart from my Son's partner and step-daughter were rather ill with the sickness and vomiting bug that has been going around. Sorry to see that you have been having a reading slump but at least you are still reading albeit slowly which is a good sign. Hope your Christmas was good fear friend.

>139 karenmarie:, Hi Karen, all the ups and downs are over and we are having a relaxing time my dear. I was given seven books, three from Amy and Rob and Karen got the other, they are all the Playfair Cricket Annual from the year 1956 to 1962 and so I only need the 1949 and 1953 Annuals to have a current full set until the 2018 one comes out in April.

What were your books my dear and five is a good haul?

Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>140 witchyrichy:, Thank you Karen my dear.

I forgot to mention that yesterday was my Sixth Thingaversary, I can't believe it is six years since I first joined LT, the time has just flown by and I have so many wonderful friends. One day I will get to meet you all over a period of time.

Today we went down to Meadowhall Shopping Centre on the outskirts of Sheffield ostensibly to take back a present that I had got Karen. I hadn't fully listened when Karen mentioned the said item and that she hoped Amy would get it for her, I just heard that she liked it and so I went to Meadowhall to visit the store to get it. After we had got our refund we had a look around the stores and Karen got a lot of Christmas cards, gift tags and wrapping paper for next Christmas, she likes a bargain. We also went into the HMV music store and picked up five CD's that had been reduced so a good day was had.

Happy Thingaversary!! Another great excuse to buy books. : )

>146 Berly:, Thanks Kim my dear, I will have a look to see what I fancy, once I have purchased I will post the titles.

Hello dear friends, my 2018 thread is up and running and I do hope you will all join me as I soon begin on my mad challenge for 2018.

Hope you had a wonderful holidays with your family!!
And happy thingaversary too!!

Congrats on your Sixth Thingaversary, John!

Ain't LibraryThing grand?

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen.

Happy Holidays, John!

Librarything is grand, isn't it? Happy Sixth Thingaversary!

>149 ChelleBearss:, Thank you Chelle my dear, the holidays have been mixed with illness striking us down but we had a lovely Christmas Day and we all got some nice presents.

Can't believe I have been on here six years, it just seems like yesterday but boy have I got some really good buddies.

>150 karenmarie:, Thanks Karen my dear, life is grand on here with all my wonderful buddies.

>151 jnwelch:, Thanks Joe, life is grand on here mate with all my wonderful buddies.

After Rob and family with the vomiting bug over Christmas and they are still not fully recovered, I have now succumbed to the flu like bug. I had to take Hannah home early yesterday as I was feeling unwell and once back home Karen sent me to bed, I told her not to leave me for more than an hour but when she brought me a drink I had been asleep for 90 minutes and never ventured downstairs. Karen kept me supplied with fluids but the thought of food was horrible. My whole body ached and all I could do was lie back, I could not even read, now that is bad.

This morning we awoke to snow but only an inch or so and by mid-afternoon it had gone, I managed some cereal but apart from that I still felt bleugh. I took Karen to work and popped into store to pick up eight items and then got back and just read during the afternoon with the odd drink. I picked Karen up from work at 6pm but was starting to feel horrible again, we had a pot of tea and then Karen made me some tomato soup before I went and had a shower. After showering I came downstairs and Karen took one look at me and said go to bed, so I am in bed with the laptop and a pot of tea. I will try and go through all the threads if I can before sleep overtakes me.

John! You're not supposed to be sick. Good for Karen for taking such good care of you.

Get better soon!

Sending love and hugs and healing mojo to you and love and hugs to Karen.

Do not share with her!

>156 karenmarie:, Thanks Karen, I will endeavour to make sure Karen to does not get what I've got my dear, she is nursing me well.

Luckily my reading stint this afternoon has got me back on track to finish my last two books of 2017 so I will end the year on 89 books read, not what I will get too in 2018 I don't think, lol.

I think that this is it for tonight folks, I am not comfortable and my eyes are closing so I will bid you farewell for today and I will get back on here tomorrow afternoon UK time, bye bye.

Get well soon, John. xx

So sorry to hear you are sick! Rest, my friend, and get your strength back.

>160 Ameise1:, >161 witchyrichy:, Thank you for your lovely messages Barbara and Karen.

Well last night was a busy one, after I came off the laptop I read for a short time before my eyes closed and then Karen brought me a pot of tea and a small flask of tea to see me through. I read while I had my pot of tea and got to a position where I could finish it this after noon which I did, more of that later. Eventually I finished my drink and turned the light off and went to sleep.

I had just about dropped off when Karen woke me as she went downstairs for some hot milk, she said she felt a little achy like me and she wanted to be right for her last shift today as she is then off until the 8th of Jan. I didn't here Karen come back upstairs but awoke at just after 1am as my mouth felt dry so I poured some tea out of my flask and had that. I soon finished my drink and then back to sleep. I awoke again at 3.25am and thought something was wrong as I couldn't spot the red light on the T.V and it appeared really dark. I tried to put my table lamp on and that wasn't working so I thought there had been a power cut. I waited a few minutes and then went to the toilet and looked out of the landing window to check the lights outside and on my neighbours. the lights were on so I knew it was a problem with my fuse box.

I went back into the bedroom and put my dressing gown and slippers on and went downstairs, Leo met me in the living room and he wanted to go out. I let Leo out while I sorted the problem out, the main fuse had tripped and so I looked at the fuse box and everything to the left was off. I flicked them all back on but nothing so I did them individually and it was the fuse for the shower that was tripping everything. I went upstairs to the bathroom and found that as it had been raining heavily since midnight some water had got in by a loose tile and dripped onto the wiring and tripped everything. I switched it off and went back downstairs and flicked all the fuses switches back on apart from the shower and everything came back on. By this time it was 3.50am when I got back to bed so I finished off the tea in my flask and went back to sleep.

When the alarm went off at 8am Karen came in to see if I wanted a pot of tea, I went and made it and then re-joined Karen back in our bed and told her of my night time job. Needless to say I have temporarily sorted out the problem from in the loft until Tuesday at the earliest when I can get our friendly roofer to check my tiles and flashing out.

Finished book Eighty-Eight this afternoon, Date With Malice by Julia Chapman. This is the second in the Dales Detective Series and finds the Dales village of Bruncliffe approaching Christmas.

Mrs Shepherd arrives at the Dales Detective Agency on a cold December morning convinced that someone is trying to kill her. Samson O'Brien dismisses her fears as that of the ramblings of a confused elderly lady, but after a series of disturbing incidents at the Fellside Court retirement home he begins to wonder if there is something to her claims after all.

With Christmas around the corner, Samson is thrown into a complex investigation, one that will require him to regain the trust of the Dales community he turned his back on years ago. He is faced with no choice but to enlist the help of a local - the tempestuous Delilah Metcalfe.

With the backdrop of a Yorkshire winter, Samson and Delilah must work together once again if they are to uncover the malevolence that is threatening the elderly residents of Bruncliffe. But could the danger be perilously close to home.

All this along with the case of the missing prize Tup, Ralph all adds to a cracking read with bags of Yorkshire charm and wit. This is a great series even if I am a bit biased and the third is due out soon.

The afternoon has been spent finishing a book, reading a bit more of my last for this year and doing the stats part for the book I finished. Once this was done and with a couple of pots of tea I listened to Final Score to keep track of the football this afternoon until it was time to go and pick Karen up from work.

Karen got in the car knowing that this was her last shift until the 8th of January and it is as well as she is under the weather and appears to have the bug I have been suffering with, bless her. I am feeling a bit better so I will be looking after Karen now. Once home we had a pot of tea before having some Bubble and Squeak with Pork pie followed by Christmas pudding and custard. This is the first main meal I have had since Wednesday. I am starting to wind down this 2017 thread and tomorrow will be the last day I monitor my tea consumption. It has been a bit of fun counting my tea drinking but I will not miss my little bits of paper where I have collated my daily drinking and guests wondering what I have been doing, they have generally just smiled and nodded at me and then looked at Karen.

I have made the choice of my first Chunkster for 2018 and am looking forward to the challenge.

Sending healing vibes to both of you. xx

>166 Ameise1:, Thank you Barbara my dear.

I hope you and Karen get better soon.
Maybe I will join your Big Fat Books group, I am reading now a 604 p book that will probably my first book finished in 2018.

>168 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita, I am a lot better and Karen is feeling a bit better, she just aches a bit now so we are having a relaxing day my dear.

Finished my Eighty-Ninth and last book of 2017 this morning, NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson. This is the fourth in the series and sees the NYPD Red elite task force called in and two of its best officers, Detectives Zach Jordan and Kylie MacDonald to investigate the shocking murder and high-stakes robbery of Elena Travers on her way to a glitzy movie premiere. In a hunt that takes Zach and Kylie from the celebrity penthouses to the depths of Manhattan's criminal underworld, they have to find the cold-blooded killer before he strikes again and all of this whilst being called in to investigate the thefts of high tech expensive medical equipment.

I have been quite busy so far today, I finished my last book of 2017 and then did all my book stats on paper and did my book notes, these will be posted tomorrow on my 2018 thread as I still have the tea drinking to be completed, lol. Once all my manual stats had been done and some other stats done that are to be posted I came on here to update this thread and then post New Years wishes to all my friends on here.

Not sure at what time I will close this thread but I will keep it open for a few more hours yet.

Hi John! Wishing you and Karen



Peace, Health, and Happiness in 2018

>172 karenmarie:, Thank you Karen.

I am closing this thread now, thank you for visiting over the year but please come across to my 2018 thread for more fun and comment.