JohnSimpson- Chunksters rule in 2018 No 7.

Please come along and join me here and post your lovely comments and witticisms.

My challenge for 2018 is to read books of 500 or more pages only this year, I know it sounds a bit crazy but we all need a bit of craziness now and again and I do have lots of Big Ones to go at and to add to the madness of this challenge I will try and read 75 of them.

So please come and join me on my thread and see how I progress with this crazy challenge, I will need all your support I think.

BOOKS READ IN JANUARY

1. Betrayal by Martina Cole, PB - 556pgs.
2. Mount by Jilly Cooper, PB - 681 pgs. Rutshire Chronicles No 10 of 10.
3. Echo Burning by Lee Child, PB - 572 pgs. Jack Reacher series No 5 of 22.
4. Taboo by Elizabeth Gage, PB - 623 pgs.
5. The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd, PB - 883 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN FEBRUARY

6. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith, PB - 550 pgs. No 1 of 3 Cormoran Strike Series.
7. No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson, PB - 581 pgs. No 1 of 3 in Kerry Kilcannon Series.
8. Never Look Back by Lesley Pearse, PB - 737 pgs.
9. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, PB - 620 pgs. No 1 of 5 in Robert Langdon Series.
10. Paragon Place by Harry Bowling, PB - 598 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN MARCH

11. Bad Boy Jack by Josephine Cox, PB - 632 pgs.
12. No Angel by Penny Vincenzi, PB - 626 pgs. No 1 of 3 in Spoils of Time Trilogy.
13. Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson, PB - 704 pgs. No 2 of 3 in Kerry Kilcannon Series.
14. Crisis by Frank Gardner, PB - 558 pgs. No 1 of 2 in Luke Carlton Series.
15. The Americans by John Jakes, PB - 793 pgs. No 8 of 8 in The Kent Family Chronicles.

BOOKS READ IN APRIL

16. The Au Pair by Janey Fraser, PB - 582 pgs.
17. Give Us This Day by R.F. Delderfield, PB - 767 pgs. No 3 of 3 in Swann Family Saga.
18. Alaska by James A. Michener, PB - 1073 pgs.
19. Blind Eye by Stuart Macbride, PB - 549 pgs. No 5 of 14 in the Logan McRae series.

BOOKS READ IN MAY

20. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith, PB - 576pgs. No 2 of 4 in the Cormoran Strike series.
21. Something Dangerous by Penny Vincenzi, PB - 893 pgs. No 2 of 3 in Spoils of Time Trilogy.
22. The Summer Before The War by Helen Simonson, PB - 580 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JUNE

23. Into Temptation by Penny Vincenzi, PB - 876 pgs. No 3 of 3 in the Spoils of Time Trilogy.
24. Two Brothers by Ben Elton, PB - 617 pgs.
25. Godchildren by Nicholas Coleridge, PB - 711 pgs.
26. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, PB - 510 pgs.
27. Trinity by Leon Uris, PB - 890 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN JULY

28. Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross, PB - 501 pgs.
29. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB - 671 pgs.
30. The Dwarves by Markus Heitz, PB - 733 pgs. No 1 of 5 in the Dwarves Saga.

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST

31. The Country Escape by Fiona Walker, PB - 601 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER

32. Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson, PB - 1180 pgs. 3 of 10 in The Malazan Book of The Fallen Series.
33. The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes, PB - 531 pgs.
34. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks, PB - 645 pgs. No 1 of 3 in The Night Angel Trilogy.
35. Perfect by Judith McNaught, PB - 805 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER

36. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB - 698 pgs.
37. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith, PB - 572 pgs. No 3 of 4 in Cormoran Strike Series.
38. The Olive Tree by Lucinda Riley, PB - 573 pgs.
39. Love and Devotion by Erica James, PB - 536pgs.
40. Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough, PB - 883 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER

41. Some Old Lover's Ghost by Judith Lennox, PB - 572 pgs.
42. The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, PB - 772 pgs.
43. The Love Letter by Fiona Walker, PB - 665 pgs.
44. Winston's War by Malcolm Dobbs, PB - 685 pgs.

BOOKS READ IN DECEMBER

45. Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks, PB - 636 pgs. No 2 of 3 in The Night Angel Trilogy.
46. The Soprano Sorceress by L.E.Modesitt Jr, PB - 659 pgs. No 1 of 5 in The Spellsong Cycle.
47. Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks, PB - 689 pgs. No 3 of 3 in The Night Angel Trilogy.

1BOOKS BOUGHT IN JANUARY

1. The Riven Kingdom by Karen Miller, PB.
2. My Country's 'Keeper by Wally Grout, HB.
3. Endless Beach by Jenny Colgan, PB.
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, PB. Free via BBC promotion
5. Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott, PB. Free via BBC promotion
6. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine By Gail Honeyman, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY

7. How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, PB.
8. Fred, Portrait of a Fast Bowler by John Arlott, HB.
9. Death of a Bore by M.C. Beaton, PB.
10. Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern, PB.
11. The Little Bookshop of Promises by Debbie Macomber, PB.
12. The Don 1908 - 2001, The Definitive Biography of Sir Donald Bradman by Roland Perry, PB.
13. The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon, PB.
14. Death Wears a Mask by Ashley Weaver. PB.
15. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor, PB.
16. Bertie Plays the Blues by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
17. A Secret Garden by Katie Fforde, PB.
18. A Good Heart is Hard to Find by Trisha Ashley, PB.
19. The Prime of Ms Dolly Greene by E.V. Harte, PB.
20. A Most Novel Revenge by Ashley Weaver, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN MARCH

21. The Cheltenham Square Murder by John Bude, PB.
22. The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon, PB.
23. Down the Wicket by Graeme Pollock, HB.
24. My Way by Glenn Turner, HB.
25. Property of a Noblewoman by Danielle Steel, PB.
26. The Woman who Stole my Life by Marian Keyes, PB.
27. Frank Worrell by Ernest Eytle, HB.
28. Island Cricketers by Clyde Walcott, HB.
29. Death in the Stars by Frances Brody, PB.
30. Forging On by Catherine Robinson, PB.
31. A Man called Ove by Fredrik Backman, PB.
32. The Fault in our Stars by John Green, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN APRIL

33. A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman, PB.
34. Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich, PB.
35. Felix, The Railway Cat by Kate Moore, PB.
36. The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, PB.
37. The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland, PB.
38. Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson, PB.
39. Reaper's Gale by Steven Erikson, PB.
40. The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry, PB.
41. Death at the Seaside by Frances Brody, PB.
42. Playfair Cricket Annual 2018 by Ian Marshall, PB.
43. A Beautiful Game by Mark Nicholas, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN MAY

44. Angelica's Smile by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
45. The Treasure Hunt by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
46. Death of a Kingfisher by M.C. Beaton, PB.
47. The Baboons Who Went This Way and That by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
48. Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
49. Chance Developments by Alexander McCall Smith, HB.
50. Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party by Alexander McCall Smith, HB.
51. The Cleverness of Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
52. Murder in the Museum by John Rowland, PB.
53. Resorting to Murder by Martin Edwards, PB.
54. The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley, PB.
55. Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yearbook 2017 by David Warner, HB.
56. Pagan Spring by G.M. Malliet, PB.
57. A Demon Summer by G.M. Malliet, PB.
58. A Fatal Winter by G.M. Malliet, PB.
59. The Dance of the Seagull by Andrea Camilleri, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JUNE

60. Rules, Things are Changing at the Little School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, PB.
61. Loss by Victoria Hislop, PB.
62. The Riviera Express by T P Fielden, PB.
63. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, PB.
64. The Little Grey Men go Down the Bright Stream by 'BB', PB.
65. Sin Killer by Larry McMurtry, PB.
66. The Wandering Hill by Larry McMurtry, PB.
67. Sherlock Holmes and the Birth of the Ashes by Arunabha Sengupta, PB.
68. The Abyss Beyond Dreams by Peter F. Hamilton, PB.
69. Cibola Burn by James S. A. Corey, PB.
70. The Burning Girl by Mark Billingham, PB.
71. Devil's Breath by G. M. Malliet, PB.
72. Death of a Cosywriter by G. M. Malliet, PB.
73. A Death at Fountains Abbey by Antonia Hodgson, PB.
74. Death of a Witch by M. C. Beaton, PB.
75. Death in Devon by Ian Sansom, PB.
76. Manhunt by Janet Evanovich, PB.
77. Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross, PB.
78. The Sixth Man by David Baldacci, PB.
79. Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol by Gyles Brandreth, PB.
80. Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton, PB.
81. Damaged by Martina Cole, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JULY

82. A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead, PB.
83. The Thousand Lights Hotel by Emylia Hall, PB.
84. Summer at Hope Meadows by Lucy Daniels, PB.
85. A Clear Blue Sky by Jonny Bairstow and Duncan Hamilton, PB.
86. Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon, PB.
87. A Dark and Distant Shore by Reay Tannahill, PB.
88. Hitler, 1936 - 1945 Nemesis by Ian Kershaw, PB.
89. Capital Crimes by Martin Edwards, PB.
90. The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin, PB.
91. The 12.30 From Croydon by Freeman Wills Crofts, PB.
92. The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan, PB.
93. Morgan's Run by Colleen McCullough, PB.
94. Monte Cassino by Sven Hassel, PB.
95. Indian Cricket 1972 by P. N. Sundaresan, PB.
96. Cricket's Strangest Matches by Andrew Ward, PB.
97. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, HB.
98. Death of a Ghost by M. C. Beaton, PB.
99. Dragonfly Falling by Adrian Tchaikovsky, PB.
100. The Antiquary by Sir Walter Scott, HB.
101. Anne of Geierstein by Sir Walter Scott, HB.
102. Last Letter Home by Rachel Hore, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN AUGUST

103. Peril in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB.
104. The Little Flower Shop by the Sea by Ali McNamara, PB.
105. In Prior's Wood by G. M. Malliet, PB.
106. The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, PB.
107. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB.
108. 4321 by Paul Auster, PB.
109. The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom, HB.
110. Lord Hawke, A Cricketing Legend by James P. Coldham, PB.
111. A Column of Fire by Ken Follett, PB.
112. for one more day by Mitch Albom, PB.
113. the first phone call from Heaven by Mitch Albom, PB.
114. Death and the Lit Chick by G. M. Malliet, PB.
115. Death at the Alma Mater by G. M. Malliet, PB.
116. Resort to Murder by TP Fielden, PB.
117. This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay, PB.
118. The Kicking the Bucket List by Cathy Hopkins, PB.
119. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER

120. Westmoreland Alone by Ian Sansom, PB.
121. The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom, PB.
122. The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansom, PB.
123. Mr Dixon Disappears by Ian Sansom, PB.
124. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers, PB.
125. Dancing over the Hill by Cathy Hopkins, PB.
126. The Woman who met Her Match by Fiona Gibson, PB.
127. You and me Always by Jill Mansell, PB.
128. The Essence of Malice by Ashley Weaver, PB.
129. The Little Breton Bistro by Nina George, PB.
130. The Bowness Bequest by Rebecca Tope, PB.
131. The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Ashton, PB.
132. Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George, PB.
133. Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
134. The Alington Inheritance by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
135. Spotlight by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
136. The Catherine Wheel by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
137. Danger Point by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
138. Miss Silver Intervenes by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
139. The Gazebo by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
140. The Key by Patricia Wentworth, PB.
141. Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate, PB.
142. Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate, PB.
143. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1947 by Hubert Preston, HB.
144. Never Surrender by Michael Dobbs, PB.
145. Churchill's Triumph by Michael Dobbs, PB.
146. Handly Cross by Robert Smith Surtees, HB.
147. The Betrothed by Sir Walter Scott, HB.
148. The Test Match Career of Walter Hammond by Derek Lodge, HB.
149. Time Bomb by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
150. Catalina by W. Somerset Maugham, HB.
151. Tom Brown's Schooldays by Thomas Hughes, HB.
152. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, HB.
153. Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell, PB.
154.Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, PB.
155. The Store by James Patterson, PB.
156. The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich, PB.
157. Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, PB.
158. The Book Of Dust Vol 1 (La Belle Sauvage) by Philip Pullman, PB.
159. The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale, PB.
160. The Pyramid of Mud by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
161. A Distant View of Everything by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
162. The Zanzibar Wife by Deborah Rodriguez, PB.
163. The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes by Ruth Hogan, HB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN OCTOBER

164. Bats in the Belfry by E. R. C. Lorac, PB.
165. Liquidate Paris by Sven Hassel, PB.
166. Why Mummy Swears by Gill Sims, HB.
167. Why Mummy Drinks by Gill Sims, PB.
168. A Question of Trust by Penny Vincenzi, PB.
169. The School at the Top of the Dale by Gervase Phinn, PB.
170. An Unsuitable Match by Joanna Trollope, PB.
171. Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington, PB Freebie for Karen
172. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard, PB.
173. King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard, PB.
174. The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson, PB.
175. When The Lights Went Out by Andy Beckett, PB.
176. A Snapshot of Murder by Frances Brody, PB.
177. Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER

178. Touched by Greatness by Andrew Murtagh, HB.
179. Yorkshire's Pride by John Callaghan, HB.
180. Tour of Tours by Patrick Eager and Alan Ross, HB.
181. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson, PB.
182. Total Recall by Sara Paretsky, PB.
183. The Choice by Edith Eger, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN DECEMBER

184. 17th Suspect by James Patterson, PB.
185. Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights by Carole Matthews, PB.
186. The Christmas Stocking and Other Stories by Katie Fforde, PB.
187. Payback by Simon Kernick, PB.
188. The Barefoot Queen by Ildefonso Falcones, PB.
189. The Division Bell Mystery by Ellen Wilkinson, PB.
190. Blackout by Connie Willis, PB.
191. All Clear by Connie Willis, PB.
192. Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer, PB.
193. Fire in the Thatch by E. C. R. Lorac, PB.
194. The 12.30 From Croydon by Freeman Willis Crofts, PB.
195. Mystery in the Channel by Freeman Willis Crofts, PB.
196. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare, PB.
197. Firsts, Lasts & Only's by Paul Donnelley, PB.
198. Connie, The Marvellous life of Learie Constantine by Harry Pearson, PB.
199. To Hell on a Bike by Iain Macgregor, PB.
200. The Adventure of the Wordy Companion, an A to Z of Sherlockian Phraseology by Nicko Vaughan, PB.
201. The War of The Roses, Yorkshire Cricket's Civil War 1968-1986 by Stuart Rayner, PB.
202. The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, PB.
203. The Long Mars by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, PB.
204. The Long Utopia by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, PB.
205. The Long Cosmos by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, PB.

CURRENTLY READING

Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

Hi I am John and this will be my fifth 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 2,350 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 in 2018 I will only be reading Big Fat Books.

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

I just love Big Books, these are my 1000+page reads so far with more to add.

1.Shogun by James Clavell, 1243 pgs
2.Gai-Jin by James Clavell, 1578 pgs
3.Noble House by James Clavell, 1435 pgs
4.War & Remembrance by Herman Wouk, 1171 pgs
5.Whirlwind by James Clavell, 1343 pgs
6.Centennial by James A. Michener 1100 pgs
7.The Covenant by James A. Michener, 1080 pgs
8.Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd, 1344 pgs
9.Homeland by John Jakes, 1138 pgs
10.Russka by Edward Rutherfurd, 1007 pgs
11.A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, 1474 pgs
12.Love and War by John Jakes, 1019 pgs
13.Texas by James A. Michener, 1508 pgs
14.My Life by Bill Clinton, 1000 pgs
15.Child of the Phoenix by Barbara Erskine, 1086 pgs
16.Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, 1059 pgs
17.The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, 1219 pgs
18.Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton, 1144 pgs
19.Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton, 1235 pgs
20.Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, 1185 pgs
21.Wicked by Jilly Cooper, 1007 pgs
22.The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, 1412 pgs
23.London by Edward Rutherfurd, 1299 pgs
24.The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, 1076 pgs
25.A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, 1391 pgs
26.World Without End by Ken Follett, 1111 pgs
27.Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, 1,015 pgs
28.The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, 1,056 pgs
29.An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, 1,065 pgs
30.New York by Edward Rutherfurd, 1017 pgs
31.Hawaii by James A.Michener, 1130 pgs
32.The Company by Robert Littell, 1281 pgs
33.The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F.Hamilton, 1225 pgs
34.Spangle by Gary Jennings, 1276 pgs
35.Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, 1024 pgs
36.Alaska by James A. Michener, 1073 pgs.
37.Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson, 1180 pgs.

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-11-18 - 2488
Books added in November - 6
Books read in November - 4

Revised book total - 2490

Pages to read at 1-11-18 - 1,045,777
Pages added in November - 2,340
Pages read in November - 2,694

Revised total pages to read - 1,045,423

NOVEMBER'S READING STATS

Books Read...................... 4

No of Authors.................... 4

New Authors...................... 1

Male Authors..................... 2

Female Authors.................. 2

Pages Read....................... 2,694

Daily Avg........................... 89.8

Book Length avg................. 673.5

New thread is now open for business.

Yesterday was a bit of a mixed day, once we were up and about we had breakfast, a pot of tea and our meds and vitamins before I took Karen to work. After dropping Karen off I parked nearer to the store entrance and went in and did our little bit of shopping. Once the shopping was done and paid for I made my way back to the car and put the shopping bags in the boot and made my way home.

Once home I unpacked and put the shopping away and then made a pot of tea and read my paper before picking up my book. After a couple of pots of tea and a couple of hours reading I set the DVD up to record a programme for Karen and then got on with the downstairs housework. The final part of the housework was cleaning the kitchen which I did whilst listening to CD2 of Queen's greatest hits 3CD box set, I listened a bit more carefully to the lyrics especially after having seen Bohemian Rhapsody at the cinema and to be honest I realised that some of the lyrics were quite prophetic knowing what we know now. Once this was done I made myself some sandwiches and a pot of tea and went back into the living room to eat and then continued reading.

At just after 5pm I heard the back door handle being tried and then a knock at the door, it was Amy paying a visit, I let her in and then after a quick chat I made a drink of tea in the travel mug for Karen and went to pick her up from work. I told Karen that Amy had arrived and that she was here because Andy was podcasting with Arron. After I had made us all a drink, Amy then told us the real reason she had come and that was to tell us that she was going to be made redundant shortly, as you can imagine this was a bit of a shock to us. Amy went on to tell us that it was a bit of a surprise to her and that she was absolutely furious at the way she was treated when she was supposed to being told and then a meeting that was to sort a few things out was cancelled but she was not really told by the chap who was going to do this but by another colleague as the chap was stuck over in Lancashire and hadn't the guts to ring Amy to tell her he would struggle to get back on that day and that it would have to be a day later, the colleague rang him in a fit of pique to say he should ring Amy as it was only courteous to do so and why the hell hadn't he done this before she had rung him to tell him to do it. Luckily in one respect that Amy had already contacted a couple of job agencies after her friend Stacey had left a couple of weeks ago as Stacey had said that she didn't think things were good at Penspen and that maybe Amy ought to be thinking of looking around for another job, no doubts when Amy rings Stacey to let her know what has happened she will say I thought as much when I spoke to you last.

We had a good chat with Amy and she seems to be in a good place about going forward and who to contact regarding mortgage and utilities etc to let them know what is going on and what if any help they can give in the short term but on the current job front she is furious as I have said above. Andy is doing extra hours at the moment due to the Christmas run-up and is mad for Amy but is being positive and supporting like a good husband should, bless him. Not long after Amy left for home and then both Karen and I had a good chat before going up to bed.

Today has been rather good after yesterday's late news. We awoke with the alarm and I went and made us a pot of tea to have in bed and once we had finished Karen went and got washed and washed her hair before freeing the bathroom for me. I had a good wash and a really good shave before getting dressed and heading downstairs. Once downstairs I got the meds and vitamins out while Karen put the kettle on before setting a dark load of washing going. I made us both a pot of tea and we had that before Karen made us both a bowl of porridge.

We had just finished our porridge when Rob arrived with Hannah, he had a quick chat with us and left some money he owed his mum, as Karen said after he had gone he said this is the £10 pounds I owe you mum, loudly so that I wouldn't see the extra money for the pen and ink I had got that he is giving me for Christmas as he thinks I know nothing about this, bless him. After a bit of chat and me getting the tow rope out for him they left. We had a pot of tea before I took Karen to work.

I dropped Karen off and then went into store to get my usual Saturday copy of the Yorkshire Post newspaper and some cigars and then getting some cash out of the cashpoint machine and then I got back to the car and set off to Wetherby racecourse to go to the Antiques Fair. By this time the rain was coming down lightly but there was a lot of spray being kicked up by the HGV's on the motorway. I arrived and parked up at about 12.45pm and paid my entrance fee and made my way to one of the halls where the dealers were.

My first call was to Nick Banks' stand as he had an old office ledger for me to look at with no obligation to buy unless it was what I was looking for, as it turned out it was just what I had been looking for and the spec I had given Nick so he could maybe find one was spot on. The price was pretty good too at £30 and I was very pleased, I paid and then had a look at his pens. I found a nice pen in one of his display cases and he looked at the price and then gave me a far better deal and so I also came away with a Wahl Eversharp 'Skyliner' from the 1940's for £30 as well. At this point I was very pleased and ten minutes later I was even more pleased as I managed to pick up a nice vintage silver and amber brooch as a Christmas present for Karen, I have been given a list of possible presents she would like and a vintage brooch was on the list. I left the fair a very happy boy and made my way home.

Once home I made a pot of tea and then inked up the Eversharp and tried it, it writes really lovely, it has a nice broad nib and will be just right when I start writing in the ledger. I had another pot of tea whilst I was listening to the Final score programme on the red button channel before I made Karen a drink of tea in the travel mug for when I picked her up. I left a short while later to collect Karen from work.

Once back with Karen I made us both a fresh pot of tea before she went upstairs to get ready as it is her works Christmas party tonight and while she did this I went and got some frozen chips out and put then on a tray with my steak pie and put them in the oven. By the time Karen came back downstairs all dressed up to the nines I had got my food and was beginning to eat. A few minutes later her taxi arrived to take them all to the party venue and so I am on my own tonight. I finished my food and had a yoghurt and then I made myself a pot of tea and settled down to watch Strictly Come Dancing- Musicals week. The dancing was good and I voted for Stacey and Kevin and also Lauren and AJ, Karen will be able to watch it in the more on the BBC iplayer but obviously will not be able to vote so I did double voting for both of us. Once Strictly had finished I made another pot of tea and read for a bit before firing up the laptop to come on here and set up a new thread.

Hopefully Karen will not be too drunk or tired from all the dancing when she gets in sometime around midnight, alright for some, ha ha.

>21 johnsimpson: I'm probably going to enjoy a nice cup of tea this evening. I know mine will not be a proper tea as I'll use a bag and my automatic drip water heater, but it will accomplish the task.

>22 thornton37814:, Hi Lori and welcome to the new thread as the first visitor my dear. Do not worry about using a tea bag as that is what I do all the time dear friend, just enjoy the tea as I do.

Happy New Thread! Here's to 50 chunksters!

>24 quondame:, Thanks Susan my dear. Hope you are having a good weekend so far dear friend.

Happy new thread, John!

>21 johnsimpson: Sorry about Amy loosing her job, I hope she finds a better one soon.
Good you found what you were looking for at the Anique Fair.

Wishing you and Karen a lovely Sunday.

>26 FAMeulstee:, Thanks Anita my dear, I have no doubts Amy will get herself sorted out, just annoying that the news has come just before Christmas. I had messaged Nick with what I was looking for and he messaged me a week ago to say he had one but I was under no obligation to buy if it wasn't quite what I wanted but as soon as he showed it to me I knew it fitted the requirements and it has never been written in which was a big bonus, the pen was just a bonus and he gave me a good deal again as I am a regular at his stand when he is at Wetherby and he repaired three of my pens at the end of August, one I didn't think he would be able to do anything with as it was in a poor condition. So nice when you meet someone like this and a friendship has grown with him and his good lady wife.

Karen is not back yet, must be a good party.

Have a really nice weekend my dear, sending love and hugs to you and Frank.

Happy new thread!

Sorry to hear of Amy's job loss. I'm sure she will find another one soon. A job is a job, but she's lucky to have family there for emotional support :)

Happy new thread mate.

Also sorry to hear the news about Amy. What a spineless creature to not have the guts to come to the office and break the news himself.

Great purchases from Wetherby too.

Have a restful Sunday. Love to Karen.

Happy new thread, John. I hope that Karen had a great time at the party. Sorry to hear about Amy's job. I hope she finds a better one soon.

Hi John! Happy new thread to you.

I'm sorry to hear about Amy's being laid off AND the way it was done. I hope she finds something soon.

Yay for Karen drinking and dancing at her company Christmas party.

I hope you're having a super Sunday, and I'm sending love and hugs to you both.

I'm sorry about the Amy news, John. Here's hoping something amazing pops up that she'll be happy with.

I have no doubts Amy will get herself sorted out, just annoying that the news has come just before Christmas. Well said, John. Lousy timing, and it sounds like it wasn't handled well either. I'm glad she had already gotten the heads-up from her friend to start looking around. Sending lots of positive vibes for her to find an even better job.

Happy new thread! I hope Amy gets something soon. I understand her anger - that was a shabby way to be treated.

>28 figsfromthistle:, Thanks Anita my dear, there is one thing about us and that is that whatever happens we stick together and help each other through whatever is thrown at us.

The year we got married I was on strike but not knowing if the strike would be over quickly we went ahead with the wedding, both sets of parents were supportive, little did we know that the strike would go on for a further seven months. We had very little but were very happy, I eventually left the Coal mining industry and joined the Police Force, that was a bad move and I resigned 10 months later with a four month old daughter and a 26 month old son. This sadly seems to have dogged us throughout our married life BUT we have always come through and the kids have seen this. Next July we will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary, the best thing I did in my life.

At the moment Amy is very angry and we have told her to use this as a positive in her job search.

>29 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, Amy is very angry at how she has been treated and she just thinks it is a shabby way and that he shouldn't be in the position he is in if he can't deal with things like this professionally. We will make sure Amy has all the support that she needs.

I have been searching for two years for a ledger with predominantly blank pages and having dealt with Nick over a number of years buying an Edwardian Stationery box from him and numerous pens and he has repaired some pens for me I messaged him to see if he could source one for me. He messaged me back a week ago to say he had got one but I was under no obligation to buy it. The ledger was just what I wanted, completely blank and of a size that will suit my purpose and then I had a look at his pens and got a good deal from him so a good job all round.

We have had a nice relaxing Sunday after Karen's late night at her works Christmas party, hope your weekend has been a good one mate.

>30 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, Karen had a really good night apart from the food which she thought was poor for the price they had paid. I have no doubt Amy will find a suitable job it is just a shame she has to go through this again but what hurts and has made her angry is the timing and the way it has been done and handled. We have told Amy to use this anger in a positive way in her job search and we are always here for her and Andy as we were for Rob and Louise.

Hope you are having a really nice weekend dear friend and send love and hugs.

>31 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, it was a bit of a shock when Amy told us but the way it has been done is shocking, Amy is justifiably angry with what has gone on but we have told her to use the anger positively in her job search.

Karen had a good night drinking and dancing but has paid for it today bless her, the only fly in the ointment was that the food was poor for what they had paid but you live and learn so they won't be going there again.

We are having a nice relaxing Sunday and that is good, hope you are having a really good weekend dear friend and send love and hugs.

>32 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, it wasn't good news about Amy's job but I am sure she will find something she really likes and hopefully it won't be long, in the meantime we are always here for them both.

I did some Christmas baking yesterday and will bake two more loaves of bread today. I am doing a new recipe this year. Pumpkin ginger bread with raisins. I hope the people I am giving them to will like the bread. I am learning how to do the dough in my bread machine, so the recipes have been an experiment all the way around, but great fun to do.

>33 jnwelch:, Thanks Joe, it was a disgrace the way she has been treated and she is justifiably angry but we have said to her to channel that anger in getting a new job that she really likes and to put Penspen behind her. She has messaged Stacey I thin and had a chat with her and hopefully Stacey may hear of something and pass it on to Amy.

I will pass on the positive vibes mate and thank you for them.

>34 drneutron:, Thanks Jim, I am sure she will use the anger she is feeling in a positive way and put Penspen behind her. The way she has been treated is totally unprofessional and that is what hurts most, as if it was really nothing.

It looks like the next book off the rank will not be finished until sometime tomorrow but I am still on track for the remainder of the month.

Finished Book 45 this afternoon, Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks. This is the second in the Night Angel Trilogy and finds Kylar Stern has decided to reject the assassin's life. In the wake of the Godking's violent coup, both his master and his closest friend are dead. His friend Logan Gyre, heir to the Cenaria's Throne, but few of the ruling class survive to mourn his loss. So Kylar is starting over;new city, new companions, and new profession.

But when he learns that Logan might be alive, trapped and in hiding, Kylar faces an impossible choice; he could give up the way of the shadows forever, and find peace with his young family. Or he could succumb to his flair for destruction, the years of training, to save his friend and his country - and lose all he holds precious.

Another great read in this series and I am looking forward to the final part.

Yesterday was a nice relaxing day for us, Karen got back in from her works Christmas party at 00.30am on Sunday morning and by the time we had a pot of tea and a quick read it was 1.30am by the time we turned the lights off and went to sleep.

I awoke with the alarm at 8.30am and went and made us a pot of tea, by the time we had finished and got up, washed and dressed and changed our bedding it was 9.40am. I got our meds and vitamins out and had mine before leaving the house to take the car to Kwik-Fit for a front drivers side tyre replacement. I got back from the tyre place at 11am and then I had some crumpets for breakfast. While I was out Karen had set a load of washing going before she had some breakfast and watched Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC iplayer

The washing finished and Karen put the washing on the airers and then did some ironing before we began to put some Christmas decorations up in the living room and Dining room. We are leaving the tree until we come back from our trip to Salisbury with the house being empty. The rest of the day was just spent relaxing after a busy Saturday.

Today we were up by 7.45am and soon washed, dressed and we had time for a pot of tea and our meds and vitamins before it was time to take Karen to her Dietician's appointment at Pontefract Hospital. Karen wasn't in too long and we were soon on our way home. I dropped Karen off and I continued onto the pharmacy to collect our meds that I ordered last week, I forgot to go and pick them up on Friday.

Once back home with the meds I had some cereal and then we went upstairs to sort out clothes we are taking with us on our trip. Once the clothes had been sorted out we had a pot of tea and a short time later Karen had something to eat before she went to work.

I dropped Karen at work and then went into Wakefield to pay this month's Council Tax and send a book off to a member of Karen's Facebook Book group. Once all this was done I made my way back home and once home set the DVD player up to record a couple of programmes for Karen. Once all this was done I had a pot of tea and read for a bit before doing the bank statement and clearing some other paperwork up. When all the paperwork was done I made another pot of tea and read finishing my 45th book of the year. I selected another book and did a couple of bits and pieces before putting a pizza in the oven for my tea.

Only 5 more books to go, John. I hope you get in some reading time while you are off seeing the sights in Salisbury.

>46 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg, I hope to get some reading done but it will depend on how tired we are after busy days browsing the Christmas markets and the city centres of Winchester and Salisbury. On our way down to Salisbury and our Premier Inn Hotel room we are going to call into Marlborough which has the widest high street in the UK, Friday will be Winchester and Saturday will be Salisbury. Depending on how we do in Salisbury we may go back in on Sunday or we will head back North, possibly diverting slightly East or West to find another nice place to visit.

Not a good start to the day when I had to ring up the Dentist to see if they could see me again as the infection reared its ugly head again. I noticed last night that it felt a bit tender and by this morning the area was rather tender and felt rather squishy. They said I could come in at 12.15pm and I would be seen. After the phone call we had a pot of tea and then some breakfast before watching last night's Strictly Takes Two and the Christmas cookery programme.

Soon it was time to take Karen to work and then I headed off to the dentist, once I was called in he asked me what was going on and then had a good look. He wasn't very happy with the way it looked and decided to numb that side of my mouth and then he drilled a small hole through the filling of the back tooth to drain the infected area and then filled it back in, he also nicked the gum to check the area as it looked as though an ulcer was appearing. I will have to go back in January to have Root Canal treatment on the tooth to make sure it is secure and as healthy as can be. I should be problem free until then but he said if I had any trouble to give them a call.

After leaving the dentist I made my way into Wakefield as I had a Rugby shirt to pre-order for Rob's Christmas present and to pick up a new hessian shopping bag for Karen. Once I had done my bit of shopping I made my way home and had a pot of tea before getting on with some jobs. First job was to clean and polish the leather three piece suite, after cleaning it I applied the leather polish and while waiting for that to dry before I could buff it up I did a couple of book notes and stats in my book. After the book stats I buffed the suite up and put it back in place and then went to clean the bathroom.

Once the bathroom was cleaned I came back downstairs and made a pot of tea and a short while later an old school friend of Karen's came to collect her Christmas cake, we had a chat and once she had gone I went to look in the freezer to find something for my tea. I made a pot of tea before putting the sausages and southern fried wedges in the oven. Once my food was ready I plated it up and ate it before having some Swiss roll and some biscuits and then made a pot of tea before firing up the laptop to come on here and post this comment.

This morning there was quite a frost and having just been out to put the recycle bin out it looks as if tonight is going to be a frosty night, will probably have to scrape the windscreen on the morning.

A look at the forecast for later in the week shows that it should be dry for us but a little on the cool side, we can cope with that whilst browsing around the Christmas markets.

All set for the morning when we set off to Wiltshire for a few days break and some Christmas shopping and the Christmas markets. I hope to get a little bit of reading done and I will have the laptop with me so hope to get online and keep you updated on our escapades.

Catching up on the last few days. Sorry to hear that tooth was giving you trouble again. Hope you all have a nice time in Wiltshire!

Hi, John! I'm sorry to hear about your dental problem, but I hope that everything is sorted out next month. Best wishes to you and Karen!

>51 thornton37814:, Hi Lori, the gum infection has been sorted out so that I am pain free but still need to have root canal treatment in January. We are relaxing at the end of our 2nd day in Wiltshire, tired but enjoyable.

>52 kidzdoc:, Hi Darryl, luckily the dental problems have eased somewhat but I still need to have root canal treatment in January. We are now relaxing at the end of our 2nd day on our Wiltshire jaunt.

We had a reasonable journey down to Wiltshire yesterday, we did have one or two traffic problems but got parked up in Marlborough by 12.40pm after setting off at 7.40am. We had a good look around Marlborough and picked up one or two items and I did get a book from a lovely independent bookshop. After a good hour or two we had a coffee stop and a bite to eat before continuing our browsing.

After a good three hours we got back to the car and made our way towards Salisbury and our Premier Inn for the next four days.

This morning we got up and had a pot of tea in bed before getting up, washed and dressed and then had some breakfast in our room and then we made our way down to the car and headed to Winchester and the Christmas Market. We had found out that there were four park and ride car parks but from the direction we were coming from, none were signposted. We were wandering around the outskirts of the city centre and so Karen used her phone and picked up where we needed to be and so she turned her phone into satnav and directed me to the P&R car park.

Once parked up we paid our fee and made our way to the bus stop, we only had to wait a few minutes before the bus arrived, as I showed our ticket to the bus driver, she told me to make sure I got a seat. A young lady gave up her seat for me, I was not happy as it should have been the other way around but she was happy to do it. We got chatting to this young lady and found out that although she was originally from Winchester but lives in Southampton, she asked where we were from and we said Yorkshire, she wanted to know whereabouts exactly and when we said Wakefield she said her husband was also from Wakefield, what a small world. We got off the bus at the very bottom of the high street, opposite the lovely Town Hall.

We set off to have a wander around and we had a really lovely day, we picked up a few bits and pieces and saw a group of Junior schoolchildren singing Christmas carols, Karen shed a tear bless her. Further up the high street I left Karen while I went into a nice Stationers and came away with a refill for the 5th gen Parker pen I have, a small bottle of Herbin ink and a small Sheaffer Fountain Pen from their Star Wars range, mine depicted Yoda. From here we went into Waterstones bookshop while a short sharp shower of rain abated. After the rain stopped we made our way to Winchester Cathedral and the square where the Christmas market stalls were. We had a really good look around but didn't purchase anything.

From the Christmas market we made our way back towards the high street and did a bit more browsing and purchasing, Karen picked up a nice jacket with 30% off and we got some Scarves for a friend and managed to pick up three more books, I will list them when we get back home as they are in the car at the moment. By 5pm we were getting a bit tired so we made our way back to the bus stop to get our bus back to the park and ride car park. We got chatting to a couple of ladies on the bus and the conversation got around to where we were from and when we said Wakefield she said her brother lives in South Kirkby which is not far from us. He married a Yorkshire lass and decided to settle in her native county and he loves it in Yorkshire. We told her that we tend to gravitate to the South and South-East with our numerous jaunts down this way over the years.

Once back at the car we put our bags on the back seat and then set the satnav to get us back to our hotel. On our way in we passed through a small market town called Stockbridge and we had noticed a number of pubs and restaurants so on our way back we decided to call in and see if we could eat. We knew we might struggle with not having booked a table with it being a Friday and on the run up to Christmas. We stopped at the White Hart pub/restaurant and went in, they were quite booked up but found us a table for two. We had no sooner ordered when our drinks arrived and after a quick sip our food arrived, the food was delicious and very filling, we were so glad we stopped here and that they had a table free. After a really good meal and a drink we got back in the car and continued on our way back to our hotel.

So far we have had two good days, tiring but enjoyable and are looking forward to Salisbury tomorrow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here. We had some sleet early this morning, and we have a couple inches snow on top of that now.

>56 thornton37814:, Hi Lori, how nice, a bit of snow my dear.

We had a good day on Saturday wandering around Salisbury's Christmas market and shops, we used the nearby park and ride facility which made things easier for us. Once we got off the bus we had a wander around a few shops before having a coffee break at the English Chocolate Company. I just had a coffee whilst Karen had a coffee and a slice of Ginger cake, the Ginger cake was so light that Karen wanted the recipe. After our drinks break we continued wandering around before heading towards the Christmas market.

On the way to the stalls we came across a flower stall and he had some lovely Christmas wreaths, holly and mistletoe, Karen checked what time he would be closing up and he told her it would be around 6pm. Karen was happy with this so we said we would call back before we got the bus back to the park and ride. We wandered down the street and came to Rymans stationery store, we called in and picked up some nice A6 sized notebooks that had been reduced to £1 each, so we got five and I picked up a nice Parker Ballpoint pen as a present for Karen as she wants a nice pen. After leaving Rymans we entered the Christmas market.

There were quite a number of nice stalls and we soon found one that was selling "Moonshine", we sampled the three varieties and settled on the "Tough Nut" as it was a lovely liqueur. We had been looking for some Toffee Vodka as that has been nice in the past but once we had tried this the search was over. We had a good wander around until it began to rain, we took shelter in the Guildhall where a craft fair was being held. We had a look at the craft stands and a stand caught my eye. The stand was selling homemade pens made from hard woods, I spotted a nice small Fountain pen and found out it was made of Panga Panga wood, a hard wood from Mozambique. I looked at Karen and she said buy it as it was lovely, yet another pen to the collection. We got back outside and the rain had stopped. We went back around the market and came to the normal Saturday market and there were some lovely food stalls. We saw one that was selling quite a lot of Game and we picked up some Venison Burgers and a Venison Hock, Karen spotted some nice Cheese and after we had tried a bit we settled on the one we wanted.

We continued having a browse around until Karen decided we needed to eat so we went searching for a nice Italian Restaurant, we found Prezzo and went there where we had a good lunch that set us up for the last of the shopping. After another 90 minutes Karen was feeling tired and her feet were sore so we went back to the flower stall to get a couple of wreaths, a bunch of Holly and a bunch of Mistletoe and then made our way to the bus stop to get back to the park and ride.

We had a good relaxing evening in our room watching Strictly Come Dancing-the Semi-Final, we had bought some sandwiches and some cake to have in our room along with some booze we had brought with us. We both had a relaxing bath to ease our aches ready for Sunday.

On Sunday morning we got up at 7.30am and had a pot of tea and after getting washed and dressed Karen sorted out breakfast for us while I took some luggage back to the car. We had breakfast and then vacated our room and loaded the last bits of shopping etc in the car and then got in and I started the car, it would not start. I tried again but nothing, I rang the breakdown service I am a member of and was told someone would be with us within an hour. We went back to reception and the member of staff on duty gave us our room key back so we could have a drink and sit in comfort and warmth. The breakdown service contacted me again to say the engineer would be delayed by 20 minutes.

The breakdown engineer arrived at the new time I was given and quickly found that my battery was dead although he could see no reason for this considering the driving I had done over the last few days. He quickly got things sorted out and a new battery was fitted. We eventually set off towards Oxford at 11am, if the car had been ok we would have arrived at the park and ride at Oxford by 10.30am at the latest, as it happened we were two hours late. Once parked up at the park and ride we managed to get a bus a short time later and we had four enjoyable hours mooching around Oxford before getting back to the park and ride. Once back at the park and ride we had a sandwich and a drink of coffee before we set off for home. We arrived back home at 7.30pm and after quickly unloading the car and putting things away and sorting the dirty washing out it was around 8.30pm before we made a drink of tea and sat down. We had a lovely few days away and did quite a bit of Christmas shopping but we were tired with all the driving and walking round.

Christmas shopping is tiring! Glad you enjoyed your time away though.

Sounds like a lovely trip, John and successful with the shopping, too. We enjoyed Salisbury when we were there. I'd like to get back again.

>60 thornton37814:, Hi Lori, Christmas shopping is tiring my dear but we had a lovely time and met some nice people along the way.

>61 jnwelch:, Hi Joe, it was a great trip and we got some nice shopping done. This is the third time we have been to Salisbury and we love the city and it is a good base to visit other places nearby, I can understand why you would like to go back sometime mate.

It has been a busy but fruitful day for us today, we were up with the alarm and quickly got washed and dressed before having a pot of tea and our meds. Once we were done we set off to the dentist in Normanton for Karen's check-up appointment at 9am. Karen wasn't in too long and once we had paid we made our way back to the car and drove the short distance to the Lidl store. This was the first time we had been to this store and we were nicely surprised with what was on offer, we did find some Pasteis da Nata which made us both happy. After picking up a few bits and pieces we went to the checkout and paid before getting back to the car and heading to the Aldi in Featherstone.

Once at the Aldi I stayed in the car and read while Karen went in to get the few bits we needed and once she was done she put the shopping in the car before going into the B&M store next door to look for something. Karen wasn't long in the B&M store as they didn't have what she wanted and so we made our way home.

Once home we unpacked and put the shopping away and then we had a pot of tea, after we had finished our tea, Karen decided to get on with decorating the tree. Karen got all the baubles and decorations out and then got started, Karen is Santa in this and I am just one of the helpful elves passing baubles when required. Three hours later the tree was finished and all that was left to do was to clean the tree skirt and then put it around the vase of the tree and turn the lights on. I must say that the new tree looks spectacular although it does seem to dominate the room. After another drink of tea I took Karen into Wakefield to meet up with another lady from the bariatric group and then they were going to be picked up by another member and go to the Dewsbury meeting.

Once I had dropped Karen off I made my way home and put my pie in the oven along with some oven chips and then made myself a pot of tea. After I had eaten my pie and chips I had another pot of tea before I got a message to go and pick Karen up from the bus station where she was being dropped off. The rest of the evening has been spent relaxing.

I have to admit now that I am going to struggle to get to 50 Chunksters for the year, I got very little reading done whilst we were away and Karen has kept me busy so far this week. This will be the first time since I joined LT that I have failed to reach 50 books at least in a calendar year but it has been and enjoyable year although I am looking forward to my 2019 reading year back at normal sized books.

Happy new thread, John!
Sorry to see you won't be reaching your goal but 45 huge books is still an awesome achievement!

>64 johnsimpson: Your page count will probably be higher than many who hit 75! I wouldn't worry about it.

>65 ChelleBearss:, Thank you Chelle my dear.

>66 thornton37814:, Hi Lori, it is a decent page count for me matching previous years.

The last few days have been quite busy for us. On Thursday we had Hannah during the afternoon and before and after we had Hannah we were busy pottering about.

On Friday I dropped Karen at work and then I drove to the park and ride just on the outskirts of Leeds so that I could go into Leeds to do some Christmas shopping and finish off the gifts for Karen. I had a good shopping trip and once done I got back to the park and ride and then made my way to Costco to pick up a few bits and the Pork for Christmas Day lunch. By the time I was done and made my way home it was 4.35pm, I just had time to put things out of Karen's way and have a pot of tea before going to pick Karen up from work.

Once back with Karen we had a pot of tea and then both got ready to go out as we were having a meal with our very good friends Geoff and Linda. We had a lovely meal and a very good night.

On Saturday we had a steady morning until it was time to take Karen to work, after dropping Karen off I got back and had a pot of tea before wrapping all Karen's gifts up ready to put under the tree. After doing the wrapping I had a pot of tea and a bite to eat before reading until it was time to pick Karen up from work. Once back with Karen we had a pot of tea and once Karen had got out of her work gear we made our meal and had that before watching the Strictly Come Dancing final. We enjoyed the show and were very glad that Kevin and Stacey won, this was Kevin's fifth final and it was so nice for him to win and Stacey showed the dancing journey she has been on.

On Sunday we were busy once we were up and about, I had to pop out to deliver a few cards and drop off a birthday present before picking up some bulbs for the room lights and more Sellotape. Karen was wrapping presents while I was out. After a pot of tea or two and a bite to eat, Karen got ready to go to a neighbours who was having a little party for the ladies. When Karen went across the street, I went to deliver a few cards around our estate and put a couple of decorations on the village memory tree before getting back and reading.

Today we had a steady morning, Tom the plumber came to have a look at the boiler as it had finally packed in, he found that a couple of parts had come to the end of their life and so ordered them and hoped to come back later today to fit them and get our heating back on. Karen spent a couple of hours wrapping presents before we had some lunch and then Karen got ready for work. Earlier in the morning Amy rang to say she had been to see the lady at Krone about a job there and when she rang she was parked up where her old colleague Stacey works as she had rung Amy on Friday to say that she had got her an interview at 11am this morning. Just before I took Karen to work Amy rang to say that the chat with the lady at Krone was good and that she had a good feeling about it but she would have a proper interview in the New Year, the interview at Stacey's firm went well and although they had another couple of people to interview, they intimated that they would like her and could she start fairly quickly.

After taking Karen to work I got back and had a pot of tea and then read for a bit before Tom rang to say he would be with me by about 4.30pm to fit the boiler parts. True to his word, Tom arrived just on 4.30pm and within an hour we had the heating back on.

I have been having a look at the books on the shelf and have already got a small pile that I am going to attack from the start of 2019, I am looking forward to quite a number as they have been taunting me for most of this year and Karen has read a few of them and has had to keep quiet about them.

>69 johnsimpson: Enjoy those shorter books!

>68 johnsimpson: I'm glad you got the heat repaired!

>68 johnsimpson:, >69 johnsimpson:, Thanks Lori my dear.

I am in Kansas City right at 5:00 p.m. and not liking the rush hour traffic. I stopped at a Starbucks and will get a cup of coffee and send a few LT notes to pass about a half hour. That should put me behind the rush hour traffic as it goes out of K.C. From there I have another 4 hours to get home for a two week break from work.

I am sorry to hear that you had a poor year of reading (at least when it comes to numbers). I had my best year ever. I read upwards of 90 books. That will be a benchmark for me. In ten years in LT I have never gotten that high of a number read. I didn’t try really hard to do that - it just happened. I doubt it will happen again.

>72 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, sounds like a hellish journey in rush hour traffic but the stop has at least got you away from the mayhem and then as you say still a four hour drive to get you home.

This will be the first year I have not reached 50 books for the year since joining LT although I only reached 50 books in a year twice before joining LT. I have started my last book of 2018 and if I complete it I will be just shy of 32,000 pages for the year which is about par for me at the moment on pages per year. Next year I will be back to normal sized books and have quite a few that I am desperate to read and have been looking at me forlornly throughout this year and Karen has read a number of them and has had to be quiet about them.

Finished book 46 last night, The Soprano Sorceress by L.E.Modesitt Jr, this is the first in the Spellsong Cycle. The author famed for his Recluse series created a new series where a fantasy world is governed by the incredible power of song magic. For one woman, it is to be a place of unimaginable wonders and terrifying danger.

Anna Marshall is a singer and music instructor at Iowa State University who wishes she could be somewhere else. The world in which she finds herself, however, is not what she had in mind. For on Erde, Anna Marshall is not just a professional singer: on Erde. her ability means that she immediately becomes a target, not only of the political factions, who fear the unknown, but also of the men of Erde. who fear a woman with the power she possesses. Anna must learn enough magic - and enough about Erde - to protect herself before it's too late.

>74 johnsimpson: I really enjoyed The Soprano Sorceress series just as I was getting tired of the interminable Recluse series. I've since read a bunch of the later Recluse books, but haven't felt the need to go back and fill in the holes.

After the boiler was fixed on Monday we had a couple of issues yesterday when low water pressure caused a fault but after ringing Tom he assured me that it was nothing to worry about, he said because the expansion tank had to be changed there might have been a little bit of air in so he told me what to do and if there were still problems to give him a call. It went off again just after 5pm yesterday and I topped the water up and got the pressure correct and it has been fine since, touch wood, so hopefully it has resolved its issues.

After a steady morning I took Karen to work and once I had dropped her off I went into Wakefield to pick up a couple of bits and look for a couple of small items as we are all having a secret Santa stocking, I was unsuccessful. Once home I had a pot of tea and read for a bit before I went and had a shower before doing all the upstairs housework and cleaning the bathroom. Once the housework was done I made myself a pot of tea and some sandwiches and read some more.

After watching the news I made myself something to eat and warmed up the homemade Curry that Karen had got out of the freezer for me. Once I had eaten I read and managed to finish my book and selected the last book I will read in 2018. I feel a little disappointed that I will not reach 50 books for the year, this will be the first time this has happened since I joined LT.

>75 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, I enjoyed The Soprano Sorceress and look forward to reading the remainder of the series, I have the first sixteen in the Recluse series but may not get to start them in 2019.

I hope all is well with you my dear and it is always nice to see you here, hope you are having a good week and looking forward to the Christmas season. Sending love and hugs dear friend.

The alarm went off and Karen decided she wanted a pot of tea, so off I went to make it. It was nice to feel the heat so I knew the heating was working ok. We had our pot of tea in bed and once finished we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs.

Once downstairs I got our meds out while Karen set a load of washing going and then I made us another pot of tea while Karen sorted out breakfast for us. Once we had our breakfast and meds and finished our pot of tea we got our coats and got in the car and headed to the Aldi at Featherstone. Once parked up Karen went towards the Aldi while I went into the B&M store as we needed some colour catchers for the washing machine and I could look for some stocking fillers for Karen. I was in luck and picked up two items along with the colour catches and some Starbars. I went back to the car and read while waiting for Karen to come out of the Aldi.

Eventually Karen got back to the car with the shopping and once it was in the boot and she had put the trolley away, we headed back home. Once home we unpacked the car and then put all the shopping away before I made us both a pot of tea. After we had finished our pots of tea Karen arranged the flowers in the vases's and then put the washing on the airers before she got on with wrapping more presents. While wrapping presents we caught up with a couple of programmes that I had recorded yesterday.

After another pot of tea or two Karen had finished the wrapping and once all the presents had been put away and all the wrapping paraphernalia put away we had a bite to eat before we watched another programme or two and then we had something more substantial to eat.

We are now having a nice relaxing evening, me on LT and Karen knitting while we watch an episode of Escape to the Country.

Yesterday was quite a busy one, we were up with the alarm and quickly got washed and dressed before coming downstairs to make a pot of tea, put our meds and vitamins out and sort out the cereal. Once we had drunk, eaten and taken the tea, cereal and m&v's it was time to take Karen to the hairdresser's. After dropping Karen off I had to call into the supermarket to pick up a couple of bits and then made my way home.

Once home I made myself a pot of tea and then wrapped the two remaining secret stocking gifts for Karen and then put them in the stocking. Karen's stocking is rather full and needs to be handled with care. I had a couple of other bits to do and by the time they were done I had a message from Karen to say that she was nearly done and could I set off to pick her up. Once back home with Karen we had a pot of tea and quickly watched a short programme before Geoff and Linda arrived with Dexter the dog to drop off our Christmas gifts and we gave them theirs. Not long after they arrived, Debbie the nail technician arrived to do Karen's nails. I made everyone a drink and we had a chat with Geoff and Linda and Dexter just loved being somewhere new. Geoff and Linda departed at around 2.30pm and a short time later I set off to go and pick Hannah up from school.

By the time I got back with Hannah, Debbie had gone, a good job I wished Debbie a happy Christmas and got a kiss before I left to get Hannah. Once back with Hannah she wanted to open her secret Santa present and before we could stop her, it was opened. Hannah thought all the presents under the tree were for her and so Karen told her that Santa had her presents and these were the ones for Grandma and Grandad from each other. Hannah played for a while before Karen made her something to eat and we also had something to eat.

Once we were all fed and watered Hannah wanted to watch the Peppa Pig Christmas DVD, Hannah got everything sorted and I turned it on and this kept her entertained for 40 minutes. Time seemed to race away and it was time to take Hannah home, on the way I dropped Karen off at her ex SIL's and then dropped Hannah home. Once Hannah was home I made my way home and had time for a pot of tea and to read for a short time before it was time to pick Karen up. As we had had a bad nights sleep the night before, we had a pot of tea and then went up to bed.

Today has been quite busy, once up and about we had breakfast and a pot of tea before I took Karen to work. Once Karen had been dropped off I parked up and then went into the store to do the bit of shopping. The supermarket was busy and some shelves were empty and this was not because of the volume of shoppers which annoyed me. After getting most of what was on my list I joined the queue at the checkout, luckily I wasn't too long in the queue.

Once through the checkout I made my way back to the car and put the shopping in and headed off to the Barber's for a haircut. The barber's was quite full and so I sat down to wait and I had my book with me. By the time it was my turn I had read a good number of pages. Once my hair was cut and I had paid, I made my way back to the car and headed into Wakefield to go to Sainsbury's supermarket to get the bits I couldn't get at Asda. A short time later I had my bits and pieces and then made my way home.

Once home I unpacked and put all the shopping away and then made myself a pot of tea and read my paper. After another pot of tea I got on with the downstairs housework and cleaned the kitchen before making myself something to eat along with a pot of tea. Once I had eaten and finished my pot of tea I made another and read until it was time to go and pick Karen up from work.

Merry Christmas to you Karen and all the family!

It sounds like you and Karen are having an eventful holiday season, John. I hope the rest of the season goes well without any hitches.

Happy holidays, John, to you and your family!

>81 quondame:, Hi Susan, What a great photo of a lovely Kaweco ornament, thank you my dear.

>82 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg, it has been eventful so far and now we are just about ready for the big day.

>83 jessibud2:, Hi Shelley, thank you my dear.

Yesterday was quite a nice day, once up and about we had breakfast and a pot of tea before I took Karen to work. After dropping Karen off I popped into store to get my Saturday edition of the Yorkshire Post newspaper and somehow a book dropped into my hands, Amy will like it as she will read it before I get to it.

Once home I had a pot of tea and read my paper before doing a couple of little jobs. The rest of the day was spent sorting some things out in the loft and amongst my stationery cabinet. The afternoon seemed to fly by and before long it was time to go and pick Karen up from work. Once home with Karen we had a pot of tea before Karen got changed out of her work clothes. After watching a bit of television we set off to Cineworld at Castleford to see Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindlewald. We both really enjoyed the film but were a little puzzled at certain points but are looking forward to the next one.

By the time we got home from the cinema it as 23.20pm and so after a quick check of our phones I made us both a pot of tea and off to bed we went. By the time we had finished our drinks and read for a bit it was 00.30am and we were soon asleep.

We awoke with the alarm at 7.30am, I went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed. Once we had finished our tea we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs I got our meds and vitamins out and Karen set a load of washing going. Once all this was done we set off to the nearby farm shop to pick up some Pork pies, Black Bomber cheese and some bread.

The farm shop was quite busy at just after 9am but we got the pies and cheese but the bread didn't look too good, at the checkout Karen found out she had spent enough to get some mince pies and a small pot of cream, she selected the items that the young lady pointed out to Karen and we paid up. As we were on our way towards Wakefield Karen checked her bill and it seemed that we had been charged for the free items. Luckily I was able to turn round not far from the farm shop and go back so Karen could sort it out and get the money refunded. Once this was done we headed into Wakefield to go to Sainsbury's supermarket to pick up a couple of items I couldn't get yesterday. Once all this was done we made our way home.

Once home we put the shopping away and then got the Turkey Crown, pigs in blankets and stuffing balls out to defrost before having a pot of tea. Once we had finished our tea I got the washing out and put it all into the tumble dryer and then Karen wanted to get the table extended and then set the table for Christmas lunch. About an hour later the table was set and I just needed to go into the loft to get the spare dining chairs and a directors chair down along with a chair from Amy's old room. Once these were brought down and set around the table everything was complete. We settled down with a pot of tea and one of the free mince pies. Later in the afternoon we went to see Karen's best friend Tina and her partner to deliver Christmas presents and cards and received the same back. We spent and hour or so with them before coming home and making something to eat.

After we had eaten I made us a pot of tea and we began to watch some TV before I decided to get the laptop up and running and come on here, while I type here Karen is doing a bit of knitting.

May you have a wonderful time with your family this holiday season! Merry Christmas :)

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas, John!

Stopping by to wish you a wonderful season of peace and light and a magical new year!

Merry Christmas, John, and the happiest of New Years!

Merry Christmas, for you and your family John!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Looking forward to a very bookish 2019

Happy holidays, John and Karen.

Do you have any time for a meet up and/or a beer on the 27th?

Happy Christmas from Santa Mouse and Rudy the Red Shelled Lobster, John! I look forward to meeting you and Karen for the first time in 2019, God willing.

>87 figsfromthistle:, >88 Ameise1:, >89 ChelleBearss:, >90 witchyrichy:, >91 Matke:, >92 EllaTim:, >93 mahsdad:, >94 PaulCranswick:, >95 kidzdoc:, Thank you dear friends for your lovely Christmas messages.

I forgot to say yesterday that it was my seventh Thingaversary, doesn't time fly by when you are with some really lovely friends.

We have had a lovely last few days, busy, hectic but thoroughly enjoyable.

Monday was a busy morning, once we were up and about we had breakfast and a pot of tea and then while Karen did some prepping I went out to pick up our prescriptions and then dropped off a few Christmas cards before getting back home. By the time I got back Rob had arrived with Hannah, Rob was upstairs wrapping some presents and Hannah was doing some colouring.

About an hour later Rob left and we had peeled all the vegetables ready to go on Christmas day, the Pork came out just after Rob had gone and looked lovely with some great crackling. Not long after Amy and Andy arrived a bit earlier than expected, we had a quick chat and a drink before it was time for me to take Karen to work. After dropping Karen off I went into store to pick up something for Amy and a couple of bits that we thought might be needed along with a paper. Once back home I had a drink of tea and a good chat with Amy and Andy before Andy's best friend Jamie arrived with some presents for them.

Not long after Jamie left, Amy and Andy set off to the White Rose Shopping Centre Cinema complex to see Bumblebee, I declined to go as I had a couple of jobs that needed doing and then wanted to have a good long shower. I got my jobs done and had my relaxing shower and then read for a bit along with the obligatory pot of tea. Amy and Andy arrived back just before 7pm and then not long after we had Pizza for tea. We spent the rest of the evening chatting until I got a call from Karen to say they were nearly finished and could I go through and pick her up. I got parked up just before 9.30pm and a minute or so later Karen and her colleagues came out, we dropped a colleague off before getting back home just after 10pm. Karen immediately got changed out of her work gear and then we had a proper drink and a good chat before going up to bed by 11.30pm.

Christmas Day morning started with the alarm going off at 7.30am and I went and made us a pot of tea to have in bed and just after 8am Amy and Andy joined us to open our surprise stockings. Once this was done Karen went down to put the Turkey Crown in the oven and then we all joined her. Amy helped her mum get breakfast of Crumpets, sharing Brioche and breakfast muffins (Two choices), done. After we had eaten it was time to open presents and Amy did her usual job of passing out the presents from under the tree. We all liked our presents and then we finished off our drinks. I went and got ready and then Karen, Amy and Andy all followed.

Once we were all dressed, Karen and Amy sorted things out in the kitchen and then the veg were put onto cook, I was just a helper. The Turkey was done and looked great and then it was just a matter of Rob, Louise, Shannon and Hannah to arrive along with Louise's parents, Peter and Gill and then we could sit down to a lovely meal. Everyone arrived just after 12.30pm and we were all sat down by 1pm. We all enjoyed the main meal and then went into the living room to open more presents. After all the gifts had been opened we were ready for the puddings, there was something for everyone but Karen and I along with Peter had traditional Christmas pudding with Brandy Sauce.

We did a quiz and chatted before Peter and Gill left and then an hour or so later Rob, Louise and the girls left. We had a nice relaxing evening and had some Pork Pie, Cheese and Crackers around 9pm along with a few alcoholic drinks. The day went well but we were all tired.

Yesterday we awoke at 8am and I went and made us a pot of tea before we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs, Amy and Andy followed not long after and we had breakfast and just chilled. After a bit of time chatting and playing on our phones we decided to go to the cinema at Castleford to see Mary Poppins Returns. We all really enjoyed the film and got back home just after 3pm.

Once home I made us all a drink and we had this and chatted before Karen and Amy sorted out a late dinner of Christmas day leftovers. It was another good meal and then pudding to follow. After another drink Amy and Andy got ready to go so that they weren't home too late and could settle down before bed as Andy was up at work for 6am this morning. Once they had gone we put the TV on and watched a bit before I fired up the laptop. It was nice to just chill down after a couple of hectic days.

Today we got up with the alarm at 8am and got washed and dressed before coming downstairs to make a pot of tea and get our meds out. Karen set a load of dark washing going. Once we had finished our tea and had our meds we set off to Meadowhall Shopping Centre to have a look at the sales. It was busy but not manic by the time we got there, first stop was a café so we could have something to eat. We ate in the Debenhams store café and both had toast with either marmalade or Jam. Once we had eaten we set off to the stores we knew we wanted to go to. Karen had two gifts to exchange and the rest of the time was getting wrapping paper and cards for next year. By 1pm Karen had had enough as she has been feeling under the weather the last couple of days and she just wanted to get home. We had bought what we had gone for and that was the main thing. We got home by 1.30pm and while Karen took the shopping upstairs to put away in the cupboard, I got the washing out of the machine.

I brought the airer back downstairs and Karen sorted the washing out while I made us a pot of tea. Once we had finished our pot of tea Karen decided to make us something to eat and we had a late lunch. After eating we caught up with some programmes we had recorded and had more pots of tea. Poor Karen has slowly got worse as the evening has progressed and is going up to bed shortly.

Sounds like you've had a great holiday with your family!
Mmmm crumpets! I'd love to taste a real english crumpet as the ones we have here probably taste quite different, although I love them!

Sounds like you had a nice Christmas!

John--Hurray for your 7th Thingaversary!! And I am glad you had a nice Christmas. Hugs.

>100 ChelleBearss:, Hi Chelle, we had a good Christmas day my dear and hope that you also had a good one. We all love Crumpets especially with either Jam or Marmalade on them. If we could get them to you quickly we would send you some dear friend

>101 thornton37814:, Hi Lori, we had a lovely Christmas my dear with everyone around the table, Karen never has a gathering under catered for, lol.

>102 Berly:, Hi Kim, I couldn't believe it was my seventh Thingaversary, the time seems to have flown by but then again that is what happened when surrounded by such lovely friends my dear. Christmas was lovely with all the family around, hope yours was good dear friend.

Had a good meetup with Paul Cranswick, Hani, Belle and Kyran especially having Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas at the Kingfisher Restaurant. After a good meal Hani and the kids went to see Paul's dad and Paul and I de-camped for a coffee and more chat at the nearby Starbucks. Nearly four hours passed by so quickly and I only left as I had to go and pick Karen up from work, she was less than happy at missing seeing Paul and Hani and a Fish lunch, lol.

It was great to catch up again John. Hopefully we can meet up with Karen together before I go back to Malaysia.

>108 PaulCranswick:, Hopefully mate.

>97 johnsimpson: Belated happy 7th Thingaversary, John!

>106 johnsimpson: How nice you met Paul and family, I hope Karen gets the chance to meet them too.

Happy Thingaversary, John. Poor Karen, she always seems to miss the meet-ups. Hope she makes the next one.

>106 johnsimpson: We're all requesting photos of the meet-up over on Paul's thread! Glad you got to visit with him.

>106 johnsimpson: Oh, Karen had to work and I was on the wrong continent!! Glad you had such a nice meetup. Totally jealous. : )

>110 FAMeulstee:, Thanks Anita.

>111 Familyhistorian:, Thanks Meg.

>112 thornton37814:, Sorry no photos Lori, we just plain forgot to take any, busy just chatting and putting the world to rights.

>113 Berly:, It was a good meetup Kim.

Belated happy thingaversary, John. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.

>114 johnsimpson: Good for you John! Too busy chatting and putting the world to rights sounds like a good meet up!

Happy Thingaversary, buddy. Too busy chatting and putting the world to rights sounds good to me, too. Hope we get a chance to do that with you and Karen some time soon.

Finished my 47th and final book of 2018, Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks. This was the final part of the Night Angel Trilogy.

>115 Ameise1:, Thanks Barbara.

>116 EllaTim:, Thank you Ella, get two Yorkshiremen chatting and we are putting sport and the world to rights as only Yorkshiremen can, lol.

>117 jnwelch:, Thanks Joe, once me and Paul get chatting it soon turns to putting the world and sport to rights as only Yorkshiremen can. It would be nice to get the chance to chat to you and Debbi mate and we will have to make sure that Karen can join the party as she has missed out on a couple of meet-ups and that is not really fair.

I will post my year end stats on my 2019 thread, I can do all these today as I will not be doing any meaningful reading that relates to LT. I think today is going to be a day to recharge my batteries after the Chunkster year and I will be raring to go tomorrow and get off to a good start to reach my target, also I will have a bit of loving competition this year as Karen is going to make a note of her 2019 reading, this could be interesting.

>120 johnsimpson: Now that will be fun to follow!

>121 clue:, Hi Luanne, it will be fun BUT what if I read more, that is the main question, lol.

>123 thornton37814:, Thank you Lori my dear.

>121 clue: No John, the question is how smart are you? I'd hate to hear that kitchen has shut down! LOL!

Hi John!



Wishing you a new year filled with joy, happiness, laughter, and all the wonderful books you could wish for.

and, of course, sending love and hugs to you and Karen.

>125 clue:, I don't think the kitchen would be closed down my dear, she loves her baking, lol.

>126 karenmarie:, Thank you Karen my dear.

I think that is it now for this thread and 2018, join me on my 2019 thread now.