Skywatch Friday

Looking out across the Moray Firth towards the snow topped hills on The Black Isle.

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It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

A new author to me is Leah Fleming. She has written quite a few books and her latest one is The Postcard.

2002, Australia. When Melissa discovers a postcard addressed to 'Desmond' among her recently deceased father's effects, she is determined to discover this person's identity and his relationship to her father. She soon embarks on a journey that will take her across oceans and into the past…
1930's, London. Caroline grew on a secluded Scottish estate with her 'Aunt' Phoebe. Now, the shocking realisation that Phoebe is actually her mother fuels a rebellious streak in Caroline, who elopes to Cairo to get married. But her marriage quickly turns sour and leads to an affair with an old lover, and to a baby boy, Desmond. With her personal life in tatters and WWII approaching, she volunteers as a secret agent, smuggling valuable information into Europe for the British government.
When Caroline finally returns from the war, Desmond is gone; he was secretly taken to Australia by his nanny years before. Will Caroline be able to track him down? And how will her journey to find her son lead to Melissa's mission to uncover her father's past?

It was quite slow to begin with but is gradually picking up pace. It's a nice gentle read and I will certainly pick up another by this author (in fact I think I might have one lurking on my bookshelves if I look hard enough!)

Please pop over to The Book Journey and see what everyone else is reading today.

Skywatch Friday

The weather this week has been amazing - but sadly due to work I haven't bee out an about to enjoy it.

A couple of weeks ago I ventured south of the border to visit family. One damp morning I headed over to Croft Castle to have a wander around the gardens with my camera. It is a truly lovely place.

Please pop over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

spent last weekend with my Dad - he like myself uses his local library on a wekly basis (wonder if that is where I get it from?) and he recommeneded Want You Dead by Peter James.

Virtual romance becomes a terrifying obsession in Want You Dead . . .

Single girl, 29, smouldering redhead, love life that's crashed and burned. Seeks new flame to rekindle her fire. Fun, friendship and – who knows – maybe more?

When Red Westwood meets handsome, charming and rich Bryce Laurent through an online dating agency, there is an instant attraction. But as their love blossoms, the truth about his past, and his dark side, begins to emerge. Everything he has told Red about himself turns out to be a tissue of lies, and her infatuation with him gradually turns to terror.

Within a year, and under police protection, she evicts him from her flat and her life. But Red's nightmare is only just beginning. For Bryce is obsessed with her, and he intends to destroy everything and everyone she has ever known and loved – and then her too . . .


Thanks Dad for the recommendation - it's a real page turner.

Pop over to The Book Journey to see what everyone else is reading today.

Skywatch Friday

The view from Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds.

Walked up there with my Dad - and Bedge the dog.

And we saw one of these.

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2014 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt.

For the 3rd year running I am taking part in the photo scavenger hunt hosted by Rinda at Gallo Organico.

I have just spent a week down in Wales and the Cotswolds visiting family - for the first time ever I think I didn't need "whose coat is that jacket" whilst in Wales - in fact I actually got sunbunrt. There is a first for everything.

I managed to cross off a few of the photo prompts whilst I was away.

1. A sign welcoming people to your hometown (or a nearby town). I spent quite a few of my childhood years living in Knighton and it is where my Mum and Mother in Law still live.

2. A garden gnome. Didn't see any in the local gardens but liked the look of this one in the garden centre.

4. A group of tourists. They had to be Chinese or Japanese tourists in the Cotswolds - taken on a walk up to Broadway Tower with my Dad.

6. An urban street scene. On a leg of my journey I stopped in Worcester (where I spent 3 years at university many years ago) and this is the main shopping street.

7. A rural landscape. One morning I drove to Croft Castle to wander around the lovely garden with my camera.

16. A sign in a language other than English. Although very few people speak Welsh in Knighton ( I certainly didn't hear anyone speaking it whilst I was there) most signs are bilingual.

17. A lamp post. Spotted whilst we were enjoying the sunshine by the lake in Llandrindod Wells (where I also started high school many years ago.

You can read more about the challenge here and hopefully I can cross off more prompts soon.  

1. A sign welcoming people to your home town (or a nearby town)
2. A garden gnome
3. Birds on a wire
4. A group of tourists
5. A rack of post cards
6. An urban street scene
7. A rural landscape
8. A tattoo on a person
9. A bakery
10. A photo bomb (someone found lurking in the background of photo; the lurker may have intended to disrupt the picture or may be doing it unintentionally, but the background lurker is a surprise to the photographer)
11. A horn
12. A mascot
13. A sunrise
14. A parade
15. A juggler
16. A sign in a language other than English
17. A lamp post
18. A water fall
19. A public garden
20. A bus (not a car, truck, lorry, camper or RV) with a picture painted on its sides.
21. A photograph of you with something representing the season (recognizing that the season will be Winter for our friends in the southern hemisphere). Note: you may not use a substitute for this item.
If you find something on the list too difficult, you may substitute one of the following items for anything on the list, except for Item #21:
Alternative A: A kite, hot air balloon or blimp
Alternative B: A bird house

My Month In Numbers

My biggest achievement this month was finally reaching my Slimming World target. 3 whole stone gone - hopefully never to return. But I feel like I'm on a roll so I have challenged myself to lose a further 1/2 stone. We will see how it goes.

As I result of the weight loss I have been able to buy size 14 clothes again - happy days!

Fitness is still right up there. In June I walked 12.33 miles, biked 74.96 miles and ran 38.73 miles. I am still loving the running - so much so I entered my first challeneg race. It was only a 3k but I did it in 19.05 minutes. I was disappointed there were no medals (even a chocolate one would have done) but I have kept my number!!

We have 2 small and furry additions to the family - 8 week old kittens called Milo and Maisie. They are quickly finding their feet and we are all finding out that nothing is safe - especially the washing on the airer!

A slow reading month with only 5 titles read - my favourite was The Vintage Teacup Club by Vanessa Greene.

Pop over and say hello to Julie and to see everyones Months in Numbers.

Skywatch Friday

On Saturday we went to the 21st annual Portsoy Boat Festival. As the name suggests it was all things nautical with some old boats, coracles and skiff racing. Lots of local food and produce, crafts and traditional music.

I loved this wire sculpture of a dolphin (a species that are regularly seen along our coastline) on the harbour wall.

Please opo over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.