The Sunday Post 22; It's Monday What are you reading? 22

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... I'm trying to think! Work was much the same as always, but that's not a bad thing. 

We came second again at quiz on Wednesday - only one point off the leaders. But it was a fun night.

Spawn had one of his wee friends over for a sleepover on Friday night. (Spawn and his friends are all teenagers, and most are taller than me. It amuses me greatly to call them his wee friends).

I've started to list some cross-stich charts on Facebook that I know I'll never get around to doing, and posted one of those yesterday. Spawn came with me, and we trawled a couple of secondhand stores - I'm on a quest for new kitchen chairs. So far nothing, but I persist.

I've been working on a gift for a workmate who's birthday was this month. It's a bit late, but I'm sure she'll like it anyway. And I went to my friend's last night as usual. We've been watching Hunted Australia, and also The Traitors NZ. The UK one is starting here in a few weeks, which I haven't seen at all, but we're greatly enjoying the NZ version. 

I finished The Land of Stories, and also The Writing Retreat.

So now my bedtime reading is Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by P G Wodehouse. And I'm trying this thing where I alternate a library book with one from my own shelves, to actually READ some of the books I own. Since The Writing Retreat was a library book, I've decided to pick up Some Kind of Fairytale by Graham Joyce - in my opinion a criminally under-rated writer.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 20; It's Monday! What are you reading? 20

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see. My week was largely uneventful. We came second at quiz on Wednesday night, and I had taken Thursday off as Spawn was supposed to go to the dentist to have a crown fitted. However, the dental surgery cancelled due to staff illness. Which would be fine, but all the text they sent me said was that they'd contact me to reschedule. Which means I'll need to arrange more time off.

On the bright side, it was nice to have the day off and not have to go anywhere in particular. So I let Spawn stay home, since I wasn't going to send him to school anyway, and we went to the library.

On Saturday morning, I was all set to take Lily to the vet finally. So I duly put her in the back seat of J's car, got in, and I was trying to adjust the seat as I'm a lot shorter than J. And then did the dumbest thing I have ever done. I accidentally put my foot down on the accelerator and drove right through the door of the garage. (We don't keep the cars in there as there's not enough room, and it was closed).

J was in there, as he keeps a computer in there. Luckily, no one was hurt, and the car seems to be okay apart from a few scrapes and scratches. Not my finest moment in my 52 years.

I still managed to take Lily to the vet (in my own car this time), and the good news there is her thyroid has finally stabilised, and she doesn't need to go back until November.

I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon reading, and then went to my friend's as usual.

Today has been quiet, though I did go to the library again to take some books back.

I've also done some stitching and watched Red, White and Royal Blue, which was super cute. 

I've finished Carpe Jugulum, by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett, and also Tangerine by Christine Mangan.

I started The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten, but got 50 pages in before I realised I was looking down the barrel of a love triangle. I hate love triangles. So that got returned to the library today.

I have The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer lined up (which has been on my bookshelf for many years) and I'm thinking of starting The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz.

That's a lot of sentences starting with "I". 

Anyway. I had also started Open Grave by A. M. Peacock but in the first two pages the main character talks about two work colleagues who don't like him/don't like working with him. I call that "Oi, Guv" - a character who Bucks the System or doesn't Get Along with Others but Gets Results. I hate it. People can get along and still catch serial killers. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading? 

Sunday Post 19; It's Monday, what are you reading? 19

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see .... work was once again a thing that happened in order to pay bills. 

I've been driving my husband's car as mine still doesn't have an up to date warrant of fitness (we work opposite hours). I basically drive a hot wheels (a Nissan Tiida) and J drives a Suzuki Escudo (a tank). So that's been fun. 

We won at quiz on Wednesday night, and I was peer-pressured into going to a quiz on Thursday night as well. Normally back-to-back nights out - especially during the week -  are my nightmare, but I did it anyway. To add injury to insult, our team didn't place. 

Spawn and I watched Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Friday night, and it was absolutely hilarious.

Saturday I was meant to take Lily to the vet but she vanished until 5 minutes before the appointment, so I had to reschedule. 

Spawn and I went to the library yesterday, and I trawled the withdrawn book shelf as I always do. The books are $1 unless priced higher for various reasons. I picked up The Legend of Sigrud and Gurun by 

J R R Tolkien and a dictionary on the history of the fashion industry. I know the second one sounds a little bit out the gate, but it should come in handy for quiz research. 

Saturday night I went to my friend's as usual.

Today, I've been playing the closed beta for the game Palia: https://palia.com/ which is a cosy exploration/setting up home type game. It's had a couple of glitches, but so far I'm enjoying the overall vibe.

I've done some stitching today, and listened to a couple of episodes of one of my go-to podcasts - You Must Remember This, which is about the first 100 years of Hollywood history.

I'm still reading Carpe Jugulum, and I also started Tangerine by Christine Tangan, a novel set in Tangiers in the 1950s about two former college room-mates who reconnect after a year and some kind of Terrible Event. It's very atmospheric - almost claustrophobic, and gives me strong 1940s/50s noir vibes.

How about you? How's your week? What a re you reading?

Sunday Post 19; It's Monday, What are you reading?

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/07/sunday-post-586.html and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see .... how was my week?

Work was a thing I went to in order to get paid so I can then pay bills, so that happened.

We won at quiz on Wednesday night, which was nice (winning is always nice).

I had Thursday off, so parked up for most of the day to do some stitching and reading. I'm working on a small gift for a workmate, and I started The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison, which I finished today.

Spawn and I started Good Omens 2 on Friday night, and we'll probably finish that tonight.

Yesterday I went to my friend's as usual, and also did some reading. I'm not usually a listener of classical music, but the house was so quiet while I was reading (spawn was at a friend's and husband was sleeping), I searched for a classical music reading list on Spotify. And I didn't really know a lot of the music on the playlist, but it was nice to listen to while I was reading. 

Today I've been playing Mum's taxi, and doing some stitching and reading in-between. One of these days I'll do a post on what I'm working on, but I need to take some photos so today is not that day. 

I also went to the library and, even though I already have a pile of library books, I walked out with more. I'm not 100% on what I'll start next - probably Carpe Jugulum by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett. 

I ended up parking The Merlin Conspiracy for a bit - I like the premise, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. I also tried Murder She Knit but got bored about 50 pages in. It's the first in a cosy mystery series, and I was lured by the cat on the front, but found it repetitive, so I stopped. I'm too old to finish books I'm not enjoying.

The Grief of Stones is a direct sequel to Witness for the Dead, and both books are set in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor. Which is also great.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading? 

Sunday Post 18; It's Monday! What are you reading? 18

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... it was cold last week, I know that much! 

We came second at quiz on Wednesday night. It's always nice to place.

I went to the Barbie movie on Friday night with a group from work, and greatly enjoyed it. It was VERY entertaining.

Saturday I took my car for a warrant of fitness. Which it failed. I'm waiting for the invoice, but I know it's going to be bad. Also - waiting and people watching - customer service really is the same wherever you go.

One customer was told over the phone that the wrong part had arrived for his vehicle. Not that the mechanic had ORDERED the wrong part, but that the wrong part had been delivered. Then the receptionist told the mechanic that the customer was coming in and he wasn't happy about the part, and about something else that they'd told him, so he wanted to take photos.

Being Saturday morning, the workshop was - naturally - busy. As I was paying (just for the warrant, not for ALL OF THE THINGS wrong with my car) another woman asked why someone else's car was taken when hers was ahead in the line, as they were in a hurry and had to leave to travel. It was because - according to the receptionist - that the other car would be quicker. There were TWO LINES of cars!
If you're planning a trip on Saturday, don't warrant your car the same day!

Ahem.

I spent part of Saturday reading, and also playing Strange Horticulture: https://www.strangehorticulture.com/ which is fun, and also relaxing. I've played it before, and really enjoy it.

I went to my friend's on Saturday night as usual, and parked up today after doing some housework stuff and watched some House and a movie while doing some stitching. Now here I am. :)

I finished The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly, and also I Like Me Better by Robby Weber, which was very cute. 

I decided to read something from my own shelves, and picked up The Merlin Conspiracy by Dianne Wynne Jones, which I've never read. 

How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 17; It's Monday! What are you reading? 17

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... it's winter here, and the weather certainly showed up for that this week - wind, rain, cold. I don't mind that kind of weather - as long as I'm not out in it.

Work was okay, and it was a public holiday here on Friday, to celebrate Matariki - the Maori New Year: https://teara.govt.nz/en/matariki-maori-new-year It's a relatively recent addition to New Zealand's public holidays, but it's a nice one to celebrate, I think.

We won at quiz on Wednesday, after a string of seconds and one non-placement thanks to losing a tiebreaker. 

On Friday night, spawn, myself and a friend of mine went to a local production of Jersey Boys, a musical about the life of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It was great, and spawn discovered some new-to-him music.

Saturday I didn't do much. Went to the library, and to my friend's place. Did some reading and stitching, and lather-rinse-repeat for today. I also watched a movie today (Red Notice) and conquered Mt Washmore.

I finished Return of the King, and my bedtime reading currently is I Like Me Better by Robby Weber, an LGBT+ romcom. So far so good.

I'm also still reading The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly, which is still very entertaining.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 16; It's Monday! What are you reading? 16

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

I had last week off, so did a fair amount of reading and stitching. I also binged season 8 of CSI: NY. I've been bingeing my favourite procedurals for a while. I started with the original CSI and Criminal Minds, and now I just have one season of CSI: NY left. Whether I then move on to CSI: Miami or just re-watch Criminal Minds, who can say.

Anyway. It's school holidays currently - Spawn had last week off, and also has this week. I took last week off but I'm heading back to the salt mines tomorrow. He'd fallen behind on one of his classes, and the teacher was at the school last week to help students catch up. It wasn't a popular decision, but I made him go anyway, and he actually found it helpful. 

We didn't place at quiz on Wednesday for the first time in a really long time, which I always take hard because I'm extremely competitive. Ah, well. There's always next time.

Friday I took spawn to the dentist for the second of his 3 root canal procedures. It went well, but his face has swollen a bit over the past couple of days, so I'm going to call them tomorrow. He's not in a lot of pain, which can be managed with painkillers, but I suspect he might need some antibiotics.

I've also managed to do a couple of things on my 52 list (which still doesn't have 52 things on it). One of the things I wanted to do was learn beading, and I found a tutorial in one of my cross-stitch magazines. That turned out to be pretty easy, so I'm happy about that.

I tried a new-to-me recipe which failed badly. I had some cabbage to use up, so decided to try sauteeing it, which I've never actually done before. Sadly, it tasted like the overboiled cabbage I grew up with.

I also made a seed cake - I got Recipes from the World of Tolkien by Robert Tuesley Anderson for my birthday, and has a seed cake recipe in it, inspired by The Hobbit. I haven't tried it yet, but it smells pretty good.

I'm still reading Return of the King, but should finish it this week.

I also read Survive The Night by Riley Sager, and The Sandman: Volume 2 by Neil Gaiman. I enjoyed one of these much more than the other. 

I also started The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly which is very ACTION! CONSPIRACY! ACTION! and reads a little bit like a 15 year old boy's wish fulfilment, but I am entertained. I do like to be entertained. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 15; It's Monday, What are you reading? 15

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... it's winter here, and last week was very cold. I live near-ish the coast, so we don't get a lot of snow, but we certainly feel it when snow falls to low levels. We have had wind, rain and hail, however,

Which I don't mind, as long as I'm warm and I don't have to be outside in it.

One of my managers at work has retired, and her farewell was on Thursday. I'm fairly low on the ladder, but got drafted to speak anyway, because I can talk off-the-cuff and be funny. It was still an ordeal, though.

We came second - again - at quiz on Wednesday. We may need to do some studying to break that streak, I think.

Lily had a vet appointment yesterday. As I've mentioned in a previous post: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.com/2023/03/about-lily.html Lily has hyperthyroidism, which means daily medication, and regular blood tests.

The last time she went, her thyroid function had dropped to 9, which is too low. On Saturday, her levels had rocketed to 47 - they're meant to be under 40. So her meds have been adjusted again, and she has to have more blood tests in another month. 

I needed some cross-stitch threads, so Spawn and I went to Spotlight and the library yesterday, and then I went to my friend's last night for our usual cross-stitch/reality TV/set the world to rights evening. The weather has been cold and wet all weekend, so I decided not to go anywhere at all today. 

I've been re-watching some old House episodes as it's on Prime. So I've done some stitching today, and Spawn and I also watched Nimona, which was a lot of fun.

I'm still reading Return of the King, which is my bedtime reading, and The Outsider by Stephen King. Which I am certainly not reading at bedtime, but the weather currently fits perfectly with Mr King's books.

I tend to have at least two books on the go - one I deem acceptable to read at bedtime, and one that I tend to pick up on Saturday/Sunday afternoons.

Anyway. How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 14; It's Monday! What are you reading? 14

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberley, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... I always end up repeating myself because my weeks tend to be very similar. No bad thing, though.

We came second at quiz on Wednesday night - a respectable showing.

My friend loved the llama cross-stitch, and immediately put it on her desk. 

I try to watch a movie on Friday nights, and it had been a LONG week, so I bought some pizza pockets and spawn and I watched The Emperor's New Groove. It was the perfect end to a less than perfect week.

Yesterday I parked up in the living room for a bit to work on a dragon cross-stitch which is entirely shades of green, so I try to only work on it in natural daylight. 

I went to my friend's last night - and spent an hour trying to fix a mistake in a different project, which was frustrating, and I was glad to finally figure it out.

Today Spawn and I went to Spotlight as I needed some cottons, and to the library, just because. I've spent most of the rest of the afternoon today reading, stitching and listening to a podcast called You Must Remember This, which is about the first century of Hollywood history. 

I am also eating potato chips, but we don't need to talk about that.

Anyway. I finished The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics, which I enjoyed a lot.

I'm still reading The Outsider by Stephen King, and last night started The Return of the King. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 13; It's Monday! What are you reading? 13

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

I turned 52 on Monday, and got some fancy chocolates and the book Recipes from the World of Tolkien by Robert Tuesley Anderson, which is very pretty and - as the title states - full of recipes inspired by Tolkien's works.

I had Tuesday off, which was nice. I had lunch with a friend and didn't do much of anything else.

The rest of my week was much the same. I didn't do much yesterday, but went to my friend's house last night as usual.

I also finished the festive llama cross-stitch for my friend's birthday. Her birthday was a couple of weeks ago, and it's definitely a Christmas llama, but she'll appreciate it.

I'm still reading The Outsider, and The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics. Once I've finished  the latter, I'll move on to The Return of the King.

I'm still working on my 52 things in 52 weeks list. I now have ... six, I believe. I'm trying not to make too many of them food-related. I'm open to ideas. :)

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 12; It's Monday! What are you reading? 12

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba. here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Is it just me, or does Sunday seem to come around faster and faster? 

We had a long weekend last weekend, so I had Monday off, which was nice. I don't think I did anything outside of reading and stitching ... wait. I baked. I had a couple of bananas that I needed to use up, so I made some muffins. They came out not too badly, considering I don't bake very often. 

Work was much the same as always, which is no bad thing, and we came second at quiz on Wednesday night. 

Spawn went to a friend's for a sleepover on Friday night so I caught up on some TV shows and worked a bit on the llama cross-stitch which is destined as a gift for a friend. 

Saturday I played mum's taxi for spawn and friend for a bit, and went to my friend's for our usual Saturday night stitching and reality TV session. 

Today spawn is hanging out with another friend, and J is sleeping as he works nights, so I've pretty much had the house to myself. I watched a movie (Plane, which wasn't too bad) and worked on my Sunday projects. 

And now here we are. :)

I finally finished both The Two Towers and The Rembrandt Affair. I'm now reading Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit by P G Wodehouse, and The Outsider by Stephen King. I also have The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite on the go, but that's on Libby and I keep forgetting I'm reading it.

It's my birthday tomorrow, and I have Tuesday off, so I'm looking forward to that.

I'm still making a list of 52 things to do during my birthday year. I have ... five so far. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

 

Sunday Post 11; It's Monday! What are you reading? 11

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? Is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... my week was fairly standard. Spawn had a few days off school at the start of the week as he developed a cold over the weekend. He was coming right by Wednesday though.

On Thursday night we went to his school's production as he had friends in the show. It was fun, but made for a LONG night.

Friday night I did as little as possible. 

Yesterday I went to the annual Rotary book sale, and managed to restrain myself. I bought a few novels, and a couple of cross-stitch books. 

Today I haven't done much besides watching a movie with spawn and some stitching.

It's a long weekend here, so I anticipate much the same tomorrow.

I'm still reading The Two Towers and The Rembrandt Affair but should hopefully finish both of them this week.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 10; It's Monday! What are you reading? 10

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Is it me, or is the year going faster and faster? I swear I blinked on Monday morning and now it's Sunday afternoon again!

Let's see... 

Spawn was struggling last Sunday with a swollen cheek and very sore tooth. I kept him home on Monday, and performed a miracle: I got him into the dentist that same day (it's almost impossible to get a same-day dentist appointment here). I worked in the morning, then took him in.

He had a dead tooth, and the options were either an extraction or a root canal and a crown. With the extraction the problem was once his wisdom teeth cam down(they haven't yet) it would push his other teeth over into the gap.

So we opted for the root canal. He's had his first appointment, and has two more. At the last one they'll put in the crown. Luckily, in New Zealand, dental treatment is free for children under 18. (Not braces. Braces ask for a kidney, half of  your liver and a portion of your soul. [He doesn't have braces for this reason]). 

So Monday and Tuesday were rocky for the poor kid, to say the least.

I went to quiz on Wednesday night as usual, and we came in second, which was nice.

Friday night I had the house to myself as spawn was off for a sleepover, and Jeremy works nights.

I ended up going to bed early and reading for a bit. It gives me a glimpse into what my life might look like once spawn is away, living his own life. I have enough of my own interests (I hope) to get through empty nest syndrome, but it's not something I'm looking forward to.

On Saturday, myself, spawn and a friend of mine went to the library, and as always on a Saturday evening, I went to the same friend's house for reality TV, stitching, and setting the world to rights. 

I'm still reading The Two Towers, and also The Rembrandt Affair. I also still have Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit on the go. 

I still need to take some pictures of the cross-stitch works in progress I have on the go for a post, but that's a job for next weekend, I think.

Anyway. How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 8; It's Monday! What are you reading? 8

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see. My week was much the same work-wise. Which, in this economy, I will take honestly.

Went to quiz as usual on Wednesday night, where we came second. 

Saturday I was supposed to take Lily to the vet. She's due for blood tests to test her thyroid function.

I've written about Lily's health issues here: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.com/2023/03/about-lily.html

So of course she was nowhere to be found. I can't call her, either, as she's deaf. 

I rescheduled the appointment, and then completely forgot about it until the vet rang me.

She was - again - nowhere to be found. (She's fine. She just has a radar.)

So please cross all fingers that she's around after 5pm on Tuesday so I can scoop her up and get these blood tests done!

Went to my friend's as usual on Saturday night and made (slow) progress on my Saturday stitching projects. I'm going to do a post on that soon-ish but I need to take some up to date pictures of my current works in progress.

Spawn is 16(!) tomorrow, so he had a sleepover here on Friday night with a couple of his wee friends. (It amuses me to call them that because they're all taller than me.) Luckily teenage boys are fairly low-maintenance. All I had to do was provide pizza, and then I hid in my own room to watch TV.

We went to McDonald's (spawn's choice) for lunch today, and had a browse in the mall.

I got some stitching done on my Sunday projects today, while listening to episodes of the podcast You Must Remember This, which is about the golden age of Hollywood.

And now here I am - lol.

I've finished Killers of a Certain Age, and will do a review later this week.

Now I'm reading The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva, and I'm about to start The Two Towers for my LOTR re-read.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 7; It's Monday, What are you reading? 7

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see.... I didn't do a lot last week. We won at quiz, which was nice. I always have the intention of a weeknight to do some stitching, but it does depend on how tired I'm feeling. I'm working on more than one project at the moment (and always) but the main one is a small llama picture I'm doing for a friend's birthday. Her birthday is next month, so I might miss the deadline but I'm going to try.

When I get some pictures organised, I'll do a projects post.

I took spawn for a haircut yesterday, as he was starting to look like Johhny Bravo. It's a lot tidier now.

Then he pointed out that his sneakers have a mouth, so we also went shoe-shopping. 

I went to my friend's as usual last night to watch reality TV and stitch.

Today has been a day of ferrying spawn about and binge-watching some old CSI:NY episodes.

I'm still reading FOTR, and I also started Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn about a team of 60-something lady assassins who soon realise their retirement celebrations are not what they were expecting. So far it's very entertaining.

I also started The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva which is proving to be entertaining so far.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 4; It's Monday! What are you reading? 4

                                                                                

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... it was a short week here because of the Easter break. And on Thursday I woke up with a sore throat and blocked nose. Tested, like a responsible citizen, but it was negative. However, as I am a responsible citizen, I took a sick day from work. So I think I just have a mild cold - it certainly hasn't got any worse over the long weekend.

I didn't do much on Friday - possibly a little bit of stitching? Some reading? Not a lot, anyway. Spawn had a friend over for a sleepover, so I did the responsible parent thing. I ordered pizza for tea. 

Yesterday I decided it had been far too long since I had visited my parents' gravesite. So I went to a secondhand store and bought a small vase, and some flowers from the supermarket and took them down in the afternoon. There were a few people around, but the cemetery was actually pretty quiet. It was quite nice. 

Went to my friend's place as usual last night for stitching and TV. 

Today I've done some housework stuff (ugh) and I also went for a walk in Queen's Park, which is smack in the middle of the town I live in. And even though we're halfway through autumn, quite a few of the roses in the rose garden were still in bloom. The park is starting to look autumn-ish finally (we've had a very mild autumn in my part of the country so far) so I took a couple of photos.

The second photo on the left is part of the rose garden - much more impressive in person, and the first one is just the view of the park from where I was sitting. It was nice to just ... be outside for a bit, I think. 

Tomorrow is a public holiday here as well, and then back to work on Tuesday.

As for what I've been reading... I finished Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes, the sequel to Rachel's Holiday, and there will be a review up later this week for that.

Currently I'm re-reading Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper, and reading The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison. It's not a direct sequel, but it's set in the same world as The Goblin Emperor, which I LOVED. And so far The Witness for the Dead is great as well.

I'm also trying to watch a movie at least once a week, so on Friday night I watched Murder Mystery 2 on Netflix. I enjoyed the first one more than I thought I would but this was. A movie. That I watched. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

The Sunday Post 3; It's Monday, What are you reading? 3

 

The Sunday Post -  a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

My week was much the same as the week before. Work stuff and then home, lather rinse repeat.

Although there's nothing wrong with that. 

I didn't do any stitching last week. Most weeks I try to do at least one thread of a colour a night, but some weeks it just doesn't pan out. The side effect of this is it seems to turn me into more of a stress bunny than usual. And - of course - I always forget. So definitely this week I need to try and do at least a little bit.

I did do some on Saturday night at my friend's place, but that's always a given so I don't really count it.

Saturday... what else did I do on Saturday? Not a lot. I've been re-watching CSI:NY so I watched half a dozen episodes of that, and painted my nails. I'm trying to paint them weekly or fortnightly in seasonally appropriate colours. It's autumn here (and the clocks have just gone back, ugh) so I painted them Royal Rajah Ruby by OPI, which is described as jewelled burgundy. It's sort of a deep red with shiny bits. 

Today, J and I went to a friend's place as she asked for his help with computer things. She's someone I used to work with many years ago, and have stayed friends with so we had a proper catch-up.

We got home later than expected so had a late lunch of McDonald's. I need to stir some energy to make my bed and my lunch for tomorrow, and then I can just kind of hunker down for the evening.

I know a lot of people hate Sunday evenings, but I love them. I used to work Sundays, 4 to 12 and it's a miserable shift. It's been many years, but I don't take it for granted.

As for what I'm reading now ... I'm reading Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes which is the sequel to Rachel's Holiday. 

Rachel's Holiday is a great book, one of my favourites of Marian Keyes - only surpassed - for me - by Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married.

Again, Rachel is. It's good, it is. But there's something a bit lacking? Some tiny hint of magic or .. I don't even know how to describe it. It's definitely eminently readable, and Ms Keyes can tell a good story, but. It's just a bit lacking. For me, anyway. Review to come, once I've finished it.

Unusually, for me, I'm only reading one book (normally I have at least two on the go). After Again, Rachel I'm going to read Silver on the Tree, the final book in The Dark is Rising Sequence. And I've been meaning to re-read LOTR for a while, so Fellowship of the Ring will surface soon, I think.

What about you? How's your week been? What are you reading?

This week's posts:

The Embroidered Book review: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.com/2023/03/review-embroidered-book-by-kate.html

About Lily: http://lifetheuniverseandcats.blogspot.com/2023/03/about-lily.html

The Sunday Post #2 It's Monday! What are you reading #2

 
Is it me, or are the weeks going faster and faster? Anyway.

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to chat about their weeks - is hosted by Kimba, here:https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

I'm going to try and write a few blog posts today and schedule them for later in the week. I know me, and the last thing I'm going to want to do after work during the week is sit down and have to use my brain-parts. 

Let's see ... last week... 

I went to quiz (as always) on Wednesday night. Our team came third, which isn't too bad.
There was a work event on Thursday night, so by Friday my social battery was pretty dead. 

Yesterday spawn and I went to the library, and I went to my friend's as I always do on a Saturday night. We cross-stitch, watch reality TV and set the world to rights. 

I haven't done a lot today. I'm listening to the LOTR soundtrack while I write these posts, and then I'll probably watch some TV and do some stitching.

I've finished The Grey King but am taking a break before embarking on Silver on the Tree.

I also finished The Embroidered Book today - I'll hopefully have a review of that one up later in the week.

As for what I'm intending to read next - I have Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes started, and I want to re-read The Lord of the Rings, so I'm planning on starting Fellowship of the Ring this week.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading? 

Sunday Post - 1? It's Monday! What are you reading? - 1-ish

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

I haven't blogged for about  ... five years I think? I didn't stop for any particular reason. I just sort of stopped. And honestly I didn't miss it for a long time. But lately I've been thinking that it might be nice to start up again. So I thought "why not?" and here I am. 

I'm still in the same job as I was when I fell off blogging. With everything that's gone on in the world in the past few years, I'm grateful that I do have a job. 

Spawn will be 16 in May, which is a lot for me to get my head around. And he's taller than me now. It's very disconcerting, having to look UP at the person that I built. He's doing NCEA this year which is always stressful but so far he seems to be keeping up with the work.

He's at DnD with a group of friends tonight. No matter how far technology takes us, I guess you just can't beat the classics.

We're in the process of buying the house we're renting currently. I don't want to say too much about it because I'm horribly superstitious but hopefully it will go the way we want it to.

Let's see ... we have 7 cats now, and poor Lily - who has been through a LOT the past few years - has hyperthyroidism. Which means daily medication that needs to be applied to her ears. Fun times, especially for a deaf, highly strung cat who develops trust issues every time we need to take her to the vet. 

What else. Currently I'm re-reading The Dark is Rising Sequence - one of my favourite series from childhood. It holds up really well. I'm about two-thirds of the way through The Grey King, so there's really not a lot of the series left to go.

I'm also reading The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield. It's a historical fantasy set in the 18th century. It's centred around Marie Antoinette, and her sister Charlotte, the Queen of Naples. The girls find a book of spells as children, and as they grow up and into their own lives and fates, they discover a hidden world of spells and magic. 

The two women take very different approaches to how they use magic in their lives.

Marie Antoinette I'm vaguely familiar with, obviously, but I knew nothing about Charlotte.

I've done more than one Wikipedia search while reading the book, and discovered that Charlotte was a fairly formidable woman.

I also discovered 18th century female artists who lived at the time, and who have cameos in the book - Angelica Kauffman, a Swiss history painter and member of the Royal Academy in London and Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, who painted Marie Antoinette many times. 

It's more history than fantasy, really, but I'm enjoying it greatly. 

I'm not sure what's up to the plate next, apart, of course from Silver on the Tree.

Anyway. How was your week? What are you reading? :)

Sunday Post 105, It's Monday, What are you reading? 90

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimba, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://bookdate.blogspot.com/

Let's see ... I turned 47 on Tuesday. I had work, and a quiet day, but a nice one. We ordered pizza on Saturday night as a sort of belated birthday tea. The boys got me Stephen King's new book, and a new wallet, something I very much needed as my old one was falling apart.

There's not much else to report from the week apart from that, I don't think. I took Spawn into town yesterday for Subway, and to pick up the new Lego Incredibles 2 videogame which he was very excited to get.

I painted my nails yesterday and I've managed to get some reading done. I've been re-watching Brooklyn 99 on Netflix, waiting for series five to show up, and while I'm writing this I"m watching I, Frankenstein, which I'll review later on in the week.

I'm still reading Railsea and The Fifth Season. I trough with my reading every so often and it slows right down, which is what's happening now, but it's no bad thing.

How about you? What's your week like? What are you reading?