It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

I heard about Disclaimer by Renee Knight on Radio 2 whilst driving down to Wales last month. It sounded interesting so I requested it from the library. It came with a staff recommended sticker on it so I am hoping it will be a good one.

When an intriguing novel appears on Catherine’s bedside table, she curls up in bed and begins to read.

But as she turns the pages she is sickened to realize the story will reveal her darkest secret. 

A secret she thought no one else knew…

Please pop over and say hello to Shelia at The Book Journey.

Skywatch Friday

Lossiemouth West Beach - my local beach - aren't I lucky? A perfect beach for a walk with friends (and a dog)

Pop over to the Skywatch blog for more skies from around the world.

LSNED 2015 #16

My local cafe.

I run.

I cycle.

I work for the local council.

Does that mean I can get 30% off?

LSNED 2015 #15

My furbabies - both rescue cats from the Cats Protection.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

I raced through A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson. A bit to early to be reaing Christmas stories but it was a lovely and light amusing read.

'Tis the season to be jolly… But can Eve find happiness through the frost…?
Eve has never liked Christmas, not since her beloved fiancé was killed in action in Afghanistan on Christmas Day. So when her adored elderly aunt dies, the last thing she is expecting is to be left a theme park in her will. A theme park with a Christmas theme…
And that's not the only catch. Her aunt's will stipulates that Eve must run the park with a mysterious partner, the exotically named Jacques Glace. Who is this Jacques, and why did Aunt Evelyn name him in her will?
But Eve isn't going to back down from a challenge. She's determined to make a success of Winterworld, no matter what. Can she overcome her dislike of Christmas, and can Jacques melt her frozen heart at last…?

I am now reading Something To Hide by Deborah Moggach. It has been many many years since I read one of her books. So far I am loving all the stories from around the world - and I am wondering how thay are all connected. A few pieces of the puzzle are already dropping into place.

‘ Nobody in the world knows our secret... that I’ve ruined Bev's life, and she's ruined mine.’

Petra’s romantic life has always been a car-crash, and even in her sixties she’s still capable of getting it disastrously wrong. But then she falls in love with Jeremy, an old chum, visiting from abroad. The fatal catch? Jeremy is her best friend’s husband.

But just as Petra is beginning to relax into her happy ever after, she finds herself catapulted to West Africa, and to Bev, her best friend who she’s been betraying so spectacularly. Meanwhile, on opposite sides of the world, two other women are also struggling with the weight of betrayal: Texan Lorrie is about embark on the biggest deception of her life, and in China Li-Jing is trying to understand exactly what it is her husband does on his West African business trips. . . 

It turns out that no matter where you are in the world, everyone has something to hide. Can Bev – can anyone – be trusted?

Please pop over and say hello to Shelia at The Book Journey.

Birthday Boy

Today Callum turned 15 - where have the years gone - my "baby" can't be that old surely?

Of course as every mother should you have to post old photos on Facebook to embarass him - but as I said they could have been a lot lot worse!!

It was a quite birthday with Sam away at uni and Andy away in the Far East with work.

But we went our for a full Sunday lunch.

Followed by a Stew n Drews ice cream down at the beach - and it had to be birthday cake flavoured ice cream (it really did taste of cake, buttercream icing and jam!)

LSNED 2015 #14

But even with my failings as a decorator I think it has tuned out OK - and Callum loves it - which is the main thing.

LSNED 2015 #13

I have learnt that decorating isn't my strong point.

I am too impatient.

I am not tidy.  And I am using 6 year old paint!

LSNED 2015 #12

I have learnt that my face resembles a Ribena berry after a 10K run - and I feel about 92! I won't mention the hair.

Skywatch Friday

I thought this was a fitting tribute to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

These photos are taken at St Peter's Church, Little Rissington just outside Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds. The church has strong links with the RAF and one of the stained glass windows depicts the famous Red Arrows.

Pop over to the Skywatch blog for more skies from around the world.

LSNED 2015 #11

Today I have poached an egg for the very first time!

LSNED 2015 #10

I'm not very good at making decisions.

On the plus side I finally have nails long enough to paint.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

I finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah at the end of last week with tears running down my face. The next book I read was going to be a hard act to follow.

But I have picked up Inside The O'Briens by Lisa Genova. I loved Still Alice so was looking forward to this one. I haven't been disappointed. Another emotional rollercoaster of a story.

What would you do if the body and brain you rely on suddenly let you down - and would it change the person you are inside? Joe O'Brien is a Boston cop; his physical stamina and methodical mind have seen him through decades policing the city streets, while raising a family with his wife Rosie. When he starts committing uncharacteristic errors - mislaying his police weapon, trouble writing up reports, slurred speech - he attributes them to stress, though some colleagues aren't so sure. Finally, he agrees to see a doctor and is handed a terrifying, unexpected diagnosis: Huntington's disease. 

Not only is Joe's life set to change forever, but each of his four grown-up children has a fifty per cent chance of inheriting the disease. Observing her potential future play out in her father's escalating symptoms, his pretty yoga teacher daughter Katie wrestles with how to make the most of the here and now, and how to care for her dad who is, inside, always an O'Brien. Inside the O'Briens is a powerfully true and tender elegy to the resilience of the human spirit.

My next book will be a more cheerful read I think!

Please pop over and visit Shelia at The Book Journey. Today marks the return of this meme since she tragically lost her son Justin earlier in the year.

LSNED 2015 #9

It is the simple things we often miss (while hanging out the washing this morning)

LSNED 2015 #8

I am a very slow stitcher - only on May!

LSNED 2015 #7

Cannot get rid of my annoying cough so swigging this out of the bottle may help!

LSNED 2015 #6

Chocolate and salt - a magic combination.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

This week I am reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I have only read a few books by this author (mainly because a majority of them are not available in the UK) and this one is quite different.

Bravery, courage, fear and love in a time of war.

Despite their differences, sisters Viann and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Viann is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. But when the Second World War strikes, Antoine is sent off to fight and Viann finds herself isolated so Isabelle is sent by their father to help her.

As the war progresses, the sisters' relationship and strength is tested. With life changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Viann and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions.

Vivid and exquisite in its illumination of a time and place that was filled with atrocities, but also humanity and strength, Kristin Hannah's novel will provoke thought and discussion that will have readers talking long after they finish reading.

LSNED 2015 #5

Today I learnt that is difficult not to cry when saying goodbye.

Sam starts university and Saturday saw us pack up the car to take him on to his next adventure.

He is in halls of residence for the first year and his flat seems very nice. Hopefully the 5 lads who are sharing will all get on fine.

I held it together till I drove away but will hold my hands up to shedding a few tears on the drive home.

I am so proud of him - but I will miss him.