I used to think that I read quite a lot. I always have a book on the go and rare is the day when I don't read at least a couple of pages. One thing that I have realised though over the last month or so is that although the quantity I read may be quite high, I do just rad quite a random assortment of what ever is available in the charity shop in the order I pick them up in. Last week I picked up a leaflet in Waterstones advertising a three for two offer on their top 50 books of the decade (2000 - 2009). Now, although a three for two offer is quite good value I know that ... read more
The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga
It's strange how you can first hear about books. About 18 months ago whilst Mr C and I were still house hunting we went to view on particular house where the owners had a very minimalist approach. Downstairs everything was white, off white or clear (glass or plastic). Upstairs it was very similar. The one thing that both of us remember though is that in the bedroom there was a white wooden framed bed, with white cotton bed lined, a white bedside cabinet and on it was a copy of The White Tiger (with a previous cover that was, you guessed it, mainly white!) Things like ... read more
Big Garden Birdwatch – Part 2
Whilst the physical location for my second stint at the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch wasn't quite as comfortable as my kitchen there did seem to be plenty more birds on display down at the WWA today.Whilst others took part in the main working party activity the bird spotting team managed to see the following: Bullfinch Redwing Great spotted woodpecker Blackbird (2) Collared dove (14) Greenfinch Robin (2) Blue tit (3) Dunnock (3) House sparrow Song thrush (2) Jackdaw (20) Chaffinch (5) Goldfinch (1) Long tailed tit (5) Wood pigeon (6) Great tit (2) Magpie (2) Wren Mallard (6) Coot ... read more
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Quite a nice way to start the day. Cup of tea to hand. Seat looking out over the snow covered garden. Binoculars and bird book ready. Cue lots of birds. Or not, as the case may be. The morning I spent an hour taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Compared to when we first moved in here we certainly seem to have attracted more birdlife to the garden. Our results weren't spectacular with eleven different species in total (blackbird, black headed gull, blue tit, carrion crow, coal tit, dunnock, great tit, house sparrow, mapgie, robin and woodpigeon) but I was still more ... read more
Hummingbird Bakery Chocolate Cupcakes
With a craving for something chocolate based I searched all my cook books to find something that would satisfy my sweet tooth. There were plenty of options in The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook but the ones that most stood out were the chocolate cupcakes.I've made the plain cupcakes from this book before, but that time ate them all before getting round to making the icing. This time I was determined to complete them before sampling, and succeeded. The cupcakes are completely delicious; lovely and moist. The chocolate rich, but not too rich. The icing sweet, but not over the top. The ... read more
Ten in the bed
Years ago (circa 1997) I used to buy cross stitch magazines as if they were going out of fashion. At some point whilst moving house at a later date I took out all the patterns that I liked and thought I might actually sew at some point in the future. I still have a whole ring binder full of these and last week vaguely remembered one pattern that I thought may work as something to go on the nursery wall. A good rummage in the attic and hey presto here it is! Ten in the bed is a lovely pattern and should look good on the wall whether Baby C is a boy or a girl. A quick trip ... read more
Suite Francaise – Irene Nemirovsky
Suite Francaise is one of those books that I've been aware of for ages, and has even sat on the book case for a while, but for some strange reason it's taken me a while to actually pick it up and read it. I'm so glad I did though! Suite Francaise covers the lives of ordinary citizen in France as it comes under German occupation during the Second World War. The book itself is split into two parts. The first follows a group of Parisians as they try to flee the invasion that is taking place around them. Different people, with very difference circumstances are all thrown ... read more
The No Money Man
If you're interested in hearing about how one man, Mark Boyle, has been living for 14 months without money then take a look at this video that I found on the Guardian's website. ... read more
Birds, cake, nappies and gardening
It's been one of those weekends where loads seems to have happened if you know what I mean. As it had seemed like such a long time since Mr C and I had had a day out anywhere we planed to make the most of the dry weather and lack of snow and headed up the A1 to the RSPB reserve at Sandy. We've been RSPB members for a while now, but often don't seem to make enough use of our membership and this trip was an attempt to turn that around. I was amazed at how large the reserve site was as it provided several different walking routes around through a mix of heathland, ... read more
A pair …
... of bootees! And a completed knitting project. The first for baby C.Have a great weekend. ... read more