John Simpson - Back to the Normal Reads No 5

Dit is een voortzetting van het onderwerp John Simpson - Back to the Normal Reads No 4.

Dit onderwerp werd voortgezet door John Simpson - Back to the Normal Reads No 6.

Discussie75 Books Challenge for 2021

Sluit je aan bij LibraryThing om te posten.

John Simpson - Back to the Normal Reads No 5

1johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 7:52 am

Welcome to thread Five, please post your lovely comments here.

2johnsimpson
Bewerkt: okt 4, 2021, 7:52 am

Dit bericht is door zijn auteur gewist.

3johnsimpson
Bewerkt: okt 6, 2021, 4:55 pm

Hello everyone, this is my Ninth year being part of this wonderful group. I am John, 58 years old and married to Karen for 37 years and counting. We have two lovely children, Rob and Amy. Rob lives with his Fiancee Louise, daughter Hannah who will be 11 in February. Amy married Andy in 2015 and they now have a cat called Combie and Elliott who was born on Star Wars Day. We also have a mad Cat called Felix and we love him, he is nearly two and a half.

Please come along and leave a message and let's see what fun we have.

I love books and currently have just over 2,772 books on my shelves and this doesn't include my Cricket collection which stands at about 430 books. While reading I do enjoy the odd pot or two of tea.

4johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 7:54 am







5johnsimpson
Bewerkt: dec 4, 2021, 3:14 pm

CURRENTLY READING

6johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 7:55 am

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.
38.Chesapeake by James A. Michener, 1132 pgs
39. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster, 1070 pgs.
40. The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch, 1156 pgs.
41. The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton, 1259 pgs.
42. The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton, 1244 pgs.
43. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, 1104 pgs.
44. The Source by James A. Michener, 1032 pgs.
45. Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon, 1220 pgs.
46. The Stand by Stephen King, 1325 pgs.
47. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, 1006 pgs.
48. Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer, 1401 pgs.

7johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 7:56 am

BOOKS READ IN JANUARY BY JOHN

1. Heavenly Dates and Other Flirtations by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 200 pages.
2. The Rocky Road to Romance by Janet Evanovich, PB - 249 pages.
3. The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman, PB - 275 pages.
4. Juror No.3 by James Patterson, PB - 331 pages.
5. Following On by Emma John, PB - 257 pages. Non-Fiction
6. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, HB - 377 pages.
7. The Strange Disappearance of the Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan, PB - 356 pages.
8. Agatha Raisin and the Witches' Tree by M.C. Beaton, PB - 232 pages.

BOOKS READ IN FEBRUARY BY JOHN

9. The Store by James Patterson, PB - 322 pages.
10. Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child, PB - 522 pages.
11. The Wandering Wombles by Elizabeth Beresford, PB - 169 pages.
12. Mrs Sinclair's Suitcase by Louise Walters, PB - 294 pages.
13. The Scent of the Night by Andrea Camilleri, PB - 228 pages.
14. Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer, PB - 322 pages.
15. Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer by M. C. Beaton, PB - 233 pages.
16. Resort to Murder by T.P. Fielden, PB - 310 pages.

BOOKS READ IN JANUARY BY KAREN
1. A Good Heart is Hard to Find by Trisha Ashley, PB. 4.5 Stars
2. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, HB. 5 Stars
3. Seven Kinds of People you find in Bookshops by Shaun Bythell, HB. 4 Stars
4. My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith, PB. 4 Stars
5. Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell, HB. 4 Stars

BOOKS READ IN FEBRUARY BY KAREN

6. Things we left Unsaid by Emma Kennedy, PB. 5 Stars +
7. To the Land of Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith, PB. 4 Stars
8. The Wandering Wombles by Elizabeth Beresford, PB. 4 Stars
9. Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB. 4 Stars
10. Death in a Tunnel by Miles Barton, PB. 3.5 Stars
11. The Haunted Season by G. M. Malliet, PB. 5 Stars +
12. Devils Breath by G. M. Malliet, PB. 3.5 Stars
13. Hormones, Hexes and Exes by J. C. Blake, PB. 3.5 Stars

8johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 7:57 am

BOOKS READ IN MARCH BY JOHN

17. Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley, PB - 402 pages.
18. 18th Abduction by James Patterson, PB - 381 pages.
19. I Talk Too Much - My Autobiography by Francis Rossi, HB - 306 pages. Non-Fiction
20. Nice Work (If You Can Get It) by Celia Imrie, PB - 391 pages.
21. the next person you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom, PB - 210 pages.
22. 59 Memory Lane by Celia Anderson, PB - 382 pages.
23. Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer, HB - 306 pages.

BOOKS READ IN APRIL BY JOHN

24. Agatha Raisin - Beating About The Bush by M. C. Beaton, HB - 238 pages.
25. The Firm by John Grisham, PB - 490 pages.
26. Changing Times by Jack Sheffield, PB - 334 pages.
27. The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, PB - 176 pages.
28. Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues by Trisha Ashley, PB - 402 pages.
29. Private Vegas by James Patterson, PB - 479 pages.
30. Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich, PB - 313 pages.
31. Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich, PB - 313 pages.

BOOKS READ IN MARCH BY KAREN

14. Top of the Dale by Gervase Phinn. 5 Stars
15. Intrigue in Capri by Ashley Weaver. 3 Stars Novella on Kindle
16. Perils of Morning Coffee by Alexander McCall Smith. 4 Stars Novella on Kindle
17. Notting Hill Carnival by Candice Carty-Williams. 2 Stars Quick Reads.
18. Becoming by Michelle Obama. 5+ stars
19. Nice Work if You Can Get It by Celia Imrie. 5 Stars
20. The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell. 4 Stars

BOOKS READ IN APRIL BY KAREN

21. A Nice Cup of Tea by Celia Imrie. 4 Stars
22. Finding Love at Hedgerow Hollow by Jessica Redland. 4 Stars.
23. Bill Mitchell's Yorkshire Compiled by David Mitchell. 3 Stars.
24. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. 3 Stars.
25. Wedding Tiers by Trisha Ashley.

9johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 7:58 am

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN MAY

32. Damaged by Martina Cole, PB - 410 pages.
33. Date with Danger by Julia Chapman, PB - 419 pages.
34. A Perfect Stranger by Danielle Steel, PB - 278 pages.
35. A Nice Cup of Tea by Celia Imrie, PB - 380 pages.
36. Murder Games by James Patterson, PB - 340 pages.
37. The Colours of all the Cattle by Alexander McCall Smith, HB - 230 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN MAY

26. Absolute Pandemonium by Brian Blessed, HB 4.5 stars
27. The Death Box by Lorna Michel Morgan, PB 4 stars
28. I Talk Too Much, An Autobiography by Francis Rossi, HB 5 stars
29. Death by Fancy Dress by Antony Gilbert, PB 4.5 stars
30. Rules by Jenny Colgan, PB 4.5 stars

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN JUNE

38. A Quarter Past Dead by T P Fielden, PB - 309 pages.
39. Crossings by Danielle Steel, PB - 406 pages.
40. The Killing Place by Tess Gerritsen, PB - 443 pages.
41. Buried by Mark Billingham, PB - 498 pages.
42. 19th Christmas by James Patterson, PB - 339 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN JUNE

31. A Talent For Murder by Andrew Wilson, PB 3.5 stars
32. The Beachside Guest House by Vanessa Greene, PB 5 stars
33. My Autobiography by Guy Martin, HB 3.5 stars
34. Saving the Day (Quick Reads) by Katie Fforde, PB 3 stars
35. Chocolate Wishes by Trisha Ashley, PB 5 stars
36. A Woman Unknown by Frances Brody, PB 5 stars

10johnsimpson
Bewerkt: okt 4, 2021, 7:59 am

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN JULY

43. The Little Pieces of You and Me by Vanessa Greene, PB - 374 pages.
44. Death of a Macho Man by M.C. Beaton, PB - 281 pages.
45. From Potter's Field by Patricia Cornwell, PB - 405 pages.
46. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman, PB - 289 pages.
47. An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell, PB - 410 pages.
48. Dark Blood by Stuart Macbride, PB - 493 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN JULY

37. The House on Bellevue Gardens by Rachel Hore, HB 5 stars
38. The Tyler Mystery by Francis Durbridge, PB 4 stars
39. Practice Makes Perfect by Penny Parkes, PB 4 stars
40. A Dangerous Engagement by Ashley Weaver, PB 5 stars

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST BY JOHN

49. Death of a Dentist by M.C. Beaton, PB - 277 pages.
50. Blood Test by Jonathan Kellerman, PB - 317 pages.
51. Tales Out of School by Gervase Phinn, PB - 394 pages.
52. My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 249 pages.
53. Forging On by Catherine Robinson, PB - 295 pages.

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST BY KAREN

41. Sofia Khan is not Obliged by Ayisha Malik, PB 4 Stars
42. Fill my Stocking by Alan Titchmarsh, PB 4 Stars
43. The Dress by Jane L. Rosen, PB 3.5 Stars
44. Tales of the Country by Brian Viner, PB 5 Stars
45. Sweet Valentine by Debbie Macomber, PB 3.5 Stars

11johnsimpson
Bewerkt: nov 25, 2021, 5:03 pm

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER BY JOHN

54. 20th Victim by James Patterson, PB - 398 pages
55. Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan, PB - 318 pages.
56. Bloodline by Mark Billingham, PB - 467 pages.
57. The Overlook by Michael Connelly, PB - 291 pages.
58. Rounding The Mark by Andrea Camilleri, PB - 274 pages.
59. Woman of God by James Patterson, PB - 362 pages.

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER BY KAREN

46. Flappy Entertains by Santa Montefiore, PB - 5 Stars
47. Best Practice by Penny Parkes, PB - 4 Stars
48. The Thousand Lights Hotel by Emylia Hall, PB - 4 Stars
49. The Appeal by Janice Hallett, PB - 4 Stars

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER BY JOHN

60. Fear in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB - 413 pages.
61. The Quiet Side of Passion by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 277 pages.
62. Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, PB - 548 pages.
63. for one more day bu Mitch Albom, PB - 197 pages.
64. No Mercy by Martina Cole, PB - 487 pages.
65. Ambush by James Patterson, PB - 303 pages.
66. Simple Genius by David Baldacci, PB - 560 pages.

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER BY KAREN

50. Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates by Kerry Greenwood, PB - 3.5 Stars
51. The Pheasants Revolt by Brian Viner, PB - 5 Stars
52. Hard Pushed, A Midwife's Story by Leah Hazzard, PB - 4 Stars
53. Mystery at Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, PB - 4 Stars

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER BY JOHN

67. Death of a Scriptwriter by M.C. Beaton, PB - 274 pages.
68. The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 247 pages.
69. The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews, PB - 422 pages.
70. The People Vs Alex Cross by James Patterson, HB - 413 pages.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER BY KAREN

12johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 8:01 am

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2021

JANUARY

1. 1st Case by James Patterson, PB.
2. Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Childs, PB.
3. A Cricketer and a Gentleman by Bob Willis, HB.
4. Seven Kinds of People You Find In Bookshops by Shaun Bythell, HB.
5. Hawk by James Patterson, PB.

FEBRUARY

6. Lessons by Jenny Colgan, PB.
7. 20th Victim by James Patterson, PB.
8. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, PB.
9. Hormones, Hexes & Exes by J.C. Blake, PB.
10. Inspector Singh investigates : A Curious Indian Cadaver by Shamini Flint, PB.

13johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 8:01 am

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2021

MARCH

11. Becoming by Michelle Obama, PB.
12. The Moroccan Daughter by Deborah Rodriguez, PB.

APRIL

13. Private Moscow by James Patterson, PB.
14. ME by Elton John, PB.
15. Caedmon's Song by Peter Robinson, PB.
16. The Killing Place by Tess Gerritsen, PB.
17. Date with Deceit by Julia Chapman, PB.
18. Camino Winds by John Grisham, PB.
19. Playfair Cricket Annual 2021 ed by Ian Marshall, PB.
20. Playfair Cricket World Cup Guide (1996) ed by Bill Frindall, PB.
21. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2021 ed by Lawrence Booth, HB.
22. The Battle of the Bulge - Britain's Untold Story by Charles Whiting, PB.
23. The Death Box by Lorna Nicholl Morgan, PB.

14johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 8:02 am

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2021

MAY

24. Letters From the Past by Erica James, PB.
25. The Garden of Forgotten Wishes by Trisha Ashley, PB.
26. Vagabond by Gerald Seymour, PB.
27. Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman, PB.
28. The Stranger by Camilla Lackberg, PB.
29. So Lucky by Dawn O'Porter, PB.
30. The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah, PB.
31. The Wombles at Work by Elisabeth Beresford, PB.
32. The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford, PB.
33. The Wood Beyond by Reginald Hill, PB.
34. The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths, PB.
35. Bloodline by Mark Billingham, PB.
36. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child, PB.
37. Stalker by Gemma Rogers, PB.
38. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty, PB.
39. The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley, PB.
40. A Talent for Murder by Andrew Wilson, PB.
41. A Different Kind of Evil by Andrew Wilson, PB.
42. Where we Belong by Anstey Harris, PB.

JUNE

43. Lockdown by Peter May, PB.
44. The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn, PB.
45. Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan, PB.
46. The Village Green Bookshop by Rachael Lucas, PB.
47. and now you're back by Jill Mansell, PB.
48. A Country Escape by Katie Fforde, PB.
49. Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell, PB.
50. A Springtime Affair by Katie Fforde, PB.
51. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, PB.
52. NYPD Red 6 by James Patterson, PB.
53. Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell, PB.
54. It Started with a Secret by Jill Mansell, PB.
55. Meet me at Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell, PB.
56. Maybe This Time by Jill Mansell, PB.
57. This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell, PB.

15johnsimpson
Bewerkt: okt 4, 2021, 8:04 am

JULY

58. The Geometry of Holding Hands by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
59. Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce, PB.
60. Death and The Brewery Queen by Frances Brody, PB.
61. Bad Love by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
62. Silent Partner by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
63. Devil's Waltz by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
64. Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik, PB.
65. The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina, PB.
66. The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs, PB.
67. A Time for Mercy by John Grisham, PB.
68. Behind Closed Doors by Catherine Alliott, PB.
69. The Shadow by James Patterson, PB.
70. Deadly Cross by James Patterson, PB.
71. A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree by Shamini Flint, PB.
72. A Frightfully English Execution by Shamini Flint, PB.
73. A Calamitous Chinese Killing by Shamini Flint, PB.
74. The Dress by Jane L. Rosen, PB.
75. A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley, PB.
76. Target Alex Cross by James Patterson, PB.
77. Simple Genius by David Baldacci, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN AUGUST.

78. The Evening and The Morning by Ken Follett, PB.
79. Black Dog by Stephen Booth, PB.
80. Dancing with the Virgins by Stephen Booth, PB.
81. From the Dead by Mark Billingham, PB.
82. Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story by Leah Hazard, PB.
83. Tales From the Country by Brian Viner, PB.
84. Fortune is a Woman by Elizabeth Adler, PB.
85. Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer, PB.
86. Hidden in Plain Sight by Jeffrey Archer, PB.
87. Death of a Nurse by M.C. Beaton, PB.
88. The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett, PB.
89. Blood on the Tongue by Stephen Booth, PB.
90. The Sicilian Method by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
91. A Voice in the Night by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
92. The Affair by Lee Child, PB.
93. Personal by Lee Child, PB.
94. A Wanted Man by Lee Child, PB.
95. 61 Hours by Lee Child, PB.
96. Worth Dying For by Lee Child, PB.
97. Darkest Fear by Harlen Coben, PB.
98. Paul Temple Intervenes by Francis Durbridge, PB.
99. Paul Temple and the Front Page Man by Francis Durbridge, PB.
100. News of Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge, PB.
101. Send for Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge, PB.
102. Send for Paul temple Again by Francis Durbridge, PB.
103. The Ruby Knight by David Eddings, PB.
104. Ultimatum by Frank Gardner, PB.
105. The Appeal by Janice Hallett, PB.
106. Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman, PB.
107. Skinner's Ghost by Quintin Jardine, PB.
108. Private Eyes by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
109. Dragonspell by Katherine Kerr, PB.
110. A Year in the Chateau by Sarah Long, PB.
111. Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell, PB.
112. To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell, PB.
113. Swing Brother Swing by Ngaio Marsh, PB.
114. Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh, PB.
115. Died in the Wool by Ngaio Marsh, PB.
116.The Blood King by Gail Z. Martin, PB.
117.The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, PB.
118. See How They Run by James Patterson, PB.
119. No Mortal Thing by Gerald Seymour, PB.
120. Beyond Recall by Gerald Seymour, PB.
121. The Corporal's Wife By Gerald Seymour, PB.
122. Against all Odds by Danielle Steel, PB.
123. Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigani, PB.
124. Sorry For The Dead by Nicola Upson, PB.
125. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, PB.
126. Archie Jackson by David Frith HB
127. Sir Vivian, The Definitive Autobiography by Vivian Richards HB
128. Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yearbook 1940 HB
129. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot HB
130. The Chef by James Patterson, PB.
131. So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish by Douglas Adams, PB.
132. Yorkshire and Back by Ray Illingworth, PB.
133. Montalbano's First Case and Other Stories by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
134. Flappy Entertains by Santa Montefiore, HB.

16johnsimpson
Bewerkt: nov 28, 2021, 4:10 pm

BOOKS BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER

135. How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
136. The Switch by Beth O'Leary, PB.
137. Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, PB.
138. Murder by the Book (Mysteries for Bibliophiles) Ed by Martin Edwards, PB.
139. The Farther Corner by Harry Pearson, PB.
140. The Safety Net by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
141. The Guardians by John Grisham, PB.
142. Basingstoke Boy by John Arlott, HB.
143. Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior, PB.
144. Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer, PB.
145. Full Bloom by Janet Evanovich, PB.
146. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler, PB.
147. The Other End of the Line by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
148. A Nest of Vipers by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
149. The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri, HB.
150. Return to Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, HB
151. Festival in Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, HB.
152. The Other End of the Line by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
153. A Nest of Vipers by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
154. The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri, HB.
155. Return to Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, HB.
156. Festival in Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, HB.
157. Mystery in Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, PB.
158. The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear, PB.
159. The Social History of English Cricket by Derek Birley, PB.
160. Jim Laker by Alan Hill, HB.

BOOK BOUGHT IN OCTOBER

161. 2 Sisters Detective Agency by James Patterson, PB.
162. The Secret Gift of Lucia Lemon by Celia Anderson, PB.
163. The Fire Dragon by Katherine Kerr, PB.
164. The Confederation Handbook by Peter F. Hamilton, PB.
165. The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell, PB.
166. First Family by David Baldacci, PB.
167. A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths, PB.
168. Mum and Dad by Joanna Trollope, PB.
169. The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly, PB.
170. Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel by Jane Costello, PB.
171. The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs, PB.
172. Death in Captivity by Michael Gilbert, PB.
173. Crimson Snow ed By Martin Edwards, PB.
174. Death in White Pyjamas / Death Knows No Calendar by John Bude, PB.
175. The Final Minute by Simon Kernick, PB.
176. Home For Christmas - Compiled by Miriam LeBlanc, PB.
177. A Class Act by Gervase Phinn, PB.
178. Blade of Light by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
179. The Cook of the Halcyon by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
180. The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary, PB.
181. Demon Lord of Karanda by David Eddings, PB.
182. The New Champions by Richie Benaud, HB.
183. Bill Edrich: A Biography by Alan Hill, HB.
184. A Murder Inside by Frances Brody, PB.
185. The Winter Cottage by Rachael Lucas, PB.
186. The Echoing Green by John Arlott, HB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER

187. The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar, PB.
188. One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan, PB.
189. A Wedding in the Country by Katie Fforde, HB.
190. Cajun Justice by James Patterson, PB.
191. Hot to Trot by M.C. Beaton, PB.
192. Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan, PB.
193. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini, PB.
194. A Beautiful Spy by Rachel Hore, PB.
195. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, PB.
196. The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman, PB.
197. Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles by Phillipa Ashley, PB.
198. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot, PB.
199. Somewhere Close to Happy by Lia Louis, PB.
200. the truth about you by Melissa Hill, PB.
201. A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley, PB.
202. Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood, PB.
203. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, PB.
204. Back to School by Jack Sheffield, PB.
205. Red Roulette by Desmond Shum, HB.
206. Piano's and Flowers by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
207. School Days by Jack Sheffield, PB.
208. Call of the Penguins by Hazel Prior, PB.

17johnsimpson
Bewerkt: okt 4, 2021, 8:17 am

SEPTEMBER'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 6

No of Authors.................... 5

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 4

Female Authors.................. 1

Pages Read....................... 2,110

Daily Avg........................... 70.33

Book Length avg................. 351.67

18johnsimpson
Bewerkt: okt 4, 2021, 8:19 am

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-9-21 - 2,757
Books added in September - 21
Books read in September - 6

Revised book total - 2772

Pages to read at 1-9-2021- 1,137,970
Pages added in September - 6,391
Pages read in September - 2,110

Revised total pages to read - 1,142,251

19johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 8:08 am

Thread is now open for business.

20karenmarie
okt 4, 2021, 9:04 am

Happy new thread, John!

Things seem to be moving along pretty well with you.

We're beginning to experience some shortages here, but nothing that impacts us personally, yet. It's just that the shelves are looking bare again, as they did early in the pandemic last year. I'm paying $2.89 for gas for the car. Bill and I have had our Covid boosters.

We're finally getting some fall weather and the leaves are turning. My favorite season, and I'm happy to see it.

Sending love to you and Karen, and kitty scritches for your sweet Felix.

21drneutron
okt 4, 2021, 9:25 am

Happy new thread!

22johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 10:06 am

>20 karenmarie:, Thanks Karen my dear, we are both fine and getting on with things, the shortages are not really impacting on us but it is mainly down to the lack of truck drivers getting things to the supermarket distribution centres.

It is definitely getting Autumnal with us now and i do like this season, i seem to be able to get more reading done at this time of year.

Sending love and hugs to you and Bill and Kitty skritches to Inara, Zoe and Wash my dear friend.

23johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 10:06 am

>21 drneutron:, Thanks Jim.

24PaulCranswick
okt 4, 2021, 10:21 am

Happy new one, John

25johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 10:25 am

>23 johnsimpson:, Cheers Paul.

26benitastrnad
okt 4, 2021, 12:54 pm

To the list of items that have a restricted number of sales you can add eggs. I went to get groceries last night and in my local Publix grocery store you were limited to two cartons of eggs. (that would be 2 dozen here in the states.) I noticed that the dried beans were off the restricted list. For most of the spring and summer you could only purchase 1 bag of dried beans at a time. Here in Tuscaloosa there are a large number of vegetarians, due to the university and dried beans were in short supply for a time.

Toilet paper was NOT restricted at Publix. I think that the toilet paper shortage might have been overblown.

27quondame
okt 4, 2021, 2:40 pm

Happy new thread!

28FAMeulstee
okt 4, 2021, 2:44 pm

Happy new thread, John!

29m.belljackson
okt 4, 2021, 3:28 pm

John - if you and Karen have some extra time and patience and ten extra dollars,
go to Jacquielawson.com and enroll first in The Country Cottage, then in the next Garden one.

There you will be rewarded by a funny little hedgehog running across your path!

30johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 3:53 pm

>26 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, that's an interesting one, restrictions on eggs. Are the Hens on an overtime ban or is this another truck driver shortage issue.

31johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 3:53 pm

>27 quondame:, >28 FAMeulstee:, Thank you dear ladies for stopping by.

32johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 3:56 pm

>29 m.belljackson:, Sadly time seems to be one thing that runs away from us at the moment, a family issue is taking time and patience from us and we are doing a bit of baby sitting at the present time and then there is Christmas to think about, before we know where we are it will be two weeks to Christmas Day.

33johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 4:15 pm

The last few days have been pretty good for us, last Thursday we went over to see Amy and Elliott, Andy was at work. We had lots of cuddles and play with the little man in between his naps and feeds.

Friday was busy, i took Karen to work and then popped into store to do the little bit of shopping we needed. Once home i unpacked and put it away before having a pot of tea and listening to the Cricket, sadly the game only lasted 70 minutes on the fourth day leaving Warwickshire winners of the Bob Willis Trophy over Lancashire. I read for a while before getting on with the downstairs housework, once this was done i had my lunch before reading again until it was time to pick Karen up from work.

Once home Karen quickly changed out of her work clothes and then we set off to Amy's to do a stint of baby sitting while they went to see comedian Gary Delaney at Selby Town Hall. They were back for just after 10pm and we made our way home.

Saturday was a steady day, we had breakfast while watching James Martin's Saturday cook show. We had a pot of tea or two before Karen had a bit of lunch and then i took her to work. Once back home i had my lunch and then watched Final Score on the Red Button and when it had finished i read for 90 minutes before having my tea. I listened to Johnnie Walker's Rock Show and then read until it was time to pick Karen up from work.

Sunday was a nice day for us, we had a pot of tea in bed before getting up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out. We had breakfast while watching Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing, when that finished i put the London Marathon on and kept popping into the kitchen when Karen needed a bit of help. Karen made a Rice Pudding before getting the Curry ready for our lunch.

I was overjoyed to see that Lizzie Deignan won the inaugral Paris-Roubaix Femmes classic but then annoyed that the prize money she received was only 1,535 Euros compared to 30,000 Euros for the men's winner later on the Sunday. Luckily her team, Trek-Segafredo, stated on Eurosport that they would make up the difference in prize money. My annoyance increased when it was said that the viewing figures on French TV was about 2 million compared to 1.9 million for the last Men's edition. As organisers of the race, ASO disgusted me, this was the first Female edition of this famous race, it is one of the five monument classics that the men race each year and ASO made a mockery of this famous race.

34FAMeulstee
okt 4, 2021, 4:31 pm

>33 johnsimpson: Completely agree with you about the first Paris-Roubaix for women. I also watched, and was so mad about the ridiculous prize money. I cheered for Marianne Vos, she came in second.

35johnsimpson
okt 4, 2021, 4:42 pm

>34 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, i was surprised that Lizzie took it on after 33.5 km but then initially she was working for her teammates by making other teams having to chase her down but nobody did. Lizzie said herself that she kept having a look around but no one was there and so by the time Marianne decided to to go after her, the time gap was just too big for even a great rider like her to pull back.

The top three was three of the biggest names in Women's cycling and yet ASO denigrated them with such a poor purse, 7,005 Euros to fund the top twenty finishers, what were they thinking, they still class them as second class sportspeople.

36scaifea
okt 5, 2021, 6:15 am

Happy new thread, John!

37PaulCranswick
okt 5, 2021, 7:16 am

>34 FAMeulstee: I think that the men deserve a bigger prize fund as they have made the race what it is and draw the greater amount of the sponsors etc for now, but I agree that the amount of the disparity is shocking and unacceptable. It should have been maybe 12 or 15 times the sum.

I have ridden on those roads, John and believe me Lizzie's winning cheque is scant reward for the effort she made.

38alcottacre
okt 5, 2021, 4:35 pm

Checking in on the new thread, John. I hope to keep up better from here on out!

39witchyrichy
okt 6, 2021, 10:49 am

Your promised new thread! Love to all in the Simpson clan.

40johnsimpson
okt 6, 2021, 4:28 pm

>36 scaifea:, Thanks Amber my dear.

41johnsimpson
okt 6, 2021, 4:32 pm

>37 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul mate, i agree that it is the Men that have made the race but the reward for the first Women's edition was ridiculous, it should have been at least half what the Men got. They admitted that viewing figures were really good and add to this advertising revenue and they made a fair bob or two both ASO and the TV network.

42johnsimpson
okt 6, 2021, 4:33 pm

>38 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, glad you have stopped by dear friend.

43johnsimpson
okt 6, 2021, 4:33 pm

>39 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, thanks for stopping by dear friend.

44johnsimpson
okt 6, 2021, 4:38 pm

Monday morning and we had a pot of tea in bed before getting up and getting everything sorted out downstairs. We had breakfast while watching BBC Breakfast and not long after i took Karen to work. After dropping her off i made my way home via Geoff's to drop off his birthday card.

Once home i made a pot of tea and then fired up the laptop to go through the posts on the group and then did the posts on my thread. Once this was done i began to set up my fifth thread. Once it was all done i had my lunch and then read until it was time to go and get Karen from work.

We had a drink when we got back home and a short time later we had our tea before i fed the hedgehogs. We watched some TV and i was on the laptop and on LT.

45johnsimpson
okt 6, 2021, 4:47 pm

Tuesday morning we were up with the alarm at 7am. once washed and dressed we came downstairs and set a load of washing going and then made a pot of tea and had our meds. Once done we set off to the hospital for Karen's physio appointment at 8.45am.

I stayed in the car and read while Karen had her physio and once she was done and back in the car, we headed to the Aldi at nearby Snowhill to get the bit of shopping we needed. Once done we made our way home and unpacked and put the shopping away before having a pot of coffee and our breakfast. Karen put the washing on the airer and radiators as it was raining outside.

I suggested that we should have a ride over to Headingley to visit the Oxfam bookshop that we pass regularly on our way to Skipton. Why i was suggesting a visit to a bookshop with all the books we have to read, i don't know.

We got there and parked up by 1pm, we made our way to a nearby coffee shop for a coffee and to avail ourselves of the facilities. Once we had finished our coffee we made our way to the Oxfam shop and began perusing. We asked if we could leave a selection of books behind the counter so we could look at more books. By the time we went to pay we had 14 novels and one cookery book, just a little bit of book buying, lol. Once paid for, we made our way back to the car and made our way home.

Once home we had a pot of tea and a bit later we had some tea and the last of the homemade Rice Pudding. We watched The Great British Bake Off and then the last half hour of a programme about Dementia.

46alcottacre
okt 6, 2021, 4:50 pm

>45 johnsimpson: 14 New books?! Do tell what you picked up, John!

47johnsimpson
okt 7, 2021, 4:05 pm

>46 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, below is the list of novels we picked up on Tuesday, a few are either books to complete a series or the next book in a series.

The Fire Dragon by Katherine Kerr, PB.
The Confederation Handbook by Peter F. Hamilton, PB. The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell, PB.
First Family by David Baldacci, PB.
A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths, PB.
Mum and Dad by Joanna Trollope, PB.
The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly, PB.
Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel by Jane Costello, PB.
The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs, PB.
Death in Captivity by Michael Gilbert, PB.
Crimson Snow ed By Martin Edwards, PB.
Death in White Pyjamas / Death Knows No Calendar by John Bude, PB.
The Final Minute by Simon Kernick, PB.
Home For Christmas - Compiled by Miriam LeBlanc, PB.

48johnsimpson
okt 7, 2021, 4:20 pm

Yesterday was quite a good day, we had a pot of tea in bed to start the day and once up and dressed we got everything sorted out and had breakfast. Not long after we finished breakfast and i had put the washing out on the line, Amy arrived with Elliott and then a short time later Debbie the nail technician arrived to do Karen's nails.

I made us all a drink and then had a cuddle with Elliott before it was food time for him. I went outside to empty the water butt as rain was forecast. Once Elliott was fed and i had finished outside, i played with Elliott for a while.

Debbie left just before noon and then i made us all another drink while Karen had Elliott, eventually Elliott fell asleep on her. We all chatted quietly so as not to wake Elliott and not long after Amy had to move her car to let me out so that i could go and collect Hannah from school. I didn't mention Auntie Amy and Elliott as i knew they would have gone before we got back and Hannah would have been upset that she had missed him as she really likes seeing him.

Hannah had a drink before playing on her ipad and then we made her something to eat, while she had her tea we put fresh bedding on our bed. Hannah finished her tea and went back on her ipad and later Karen took her for a bath and i had my tea. I took Hannah home for 7pm.

49thornton37814
okt 7, 2021, 5:57 pm

>47 johnsimpson: I recognize a few of those as being in the British Library mystery series.

50alcottacre
okt 7, 2021, 7:00 pm

>47 johnsimpson: The only one that I can say that I have read is The Last Precinct, which I read years ago. You will have to let me know how they are!

51johnsimpson
okt 8, 2021, 3:19 pm

>49 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, four of them are British Crime Library Series books.

52johnsimpson
okt 8, 2021, 3:20 pm

>50 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, when i get around to them i will let you know what they were like.

53johnsimpson
okt 8, 2021, 3:29 pm



Finished book 60 on Monday, Fear in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB - 413 pages.

29-9-21 to 4-10-21

54thornton37814
okt 9, 2021, 8:00 am

>53 johnsimpson: I'm not sure I've ever read a book by Rebecca Tope although I remember seeing one on my TBR list. I'm guessing I took the book bullet from you or someone else in the UK because I don't think her books are that common here in the States.

55karenmarie
okt 9, 2021, 9:23 am

Hi John!

>45 johnsimpson: Why i was suggesting a visit to a bookshop with all the books we have to read, i don't know. Becauseā€¦. books? šŸ¤—

>47 johnsimpson: Nice haul!

>53 johnsimpson: I read the first in this series in 2017, and for some reason got distracted and havenā€™t continued. Thanks for the reminder.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen, and kitty skritches for dear Felix.

56PaulCranswick
okt 9, 2021, 10:29 am

>41 johnsimpson: Oh I certainly agree there John. A slight disparity is fair enough in my opinion but the women's prize should have been at least 75% of the mens.

Ashes team will be announced soon I guess but I have no faith whatsoever in the ECB clowns and selection "club" to send our best XVI down under.
Buttler seems to be picked without demur but I do think it difficult to justify his place in the red ball team over two Bens - Foakes and Brown.
The core of the team is solid but unspectacular. Wood will be our only truly quick bowler and he doesn't have the finesse to run through teams. Parkinson of Lancs is head and shoulders the spinner most likely to take wickets but he won't be in the squad.
Lawrence, Bairstow and Crawley have not shown sufficient appetite for the test format but I would wager all three will fly.

57connie53
okt 12, 2021, 5:29 am

Happy newish thread, John!

58Ameise1
okt 12, 2021, 6:42 am

Sending big waves, I hope all is well at your place. Love and hugs to both of you xx

59johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 3:44 pm

>54 thornton37814:, >55 karenmarie:, Hello ladies, we both love the Rebecca Tope books and we have visited the area a few times and so can relate to the various villages and hamlets. Ms Tope also has a Lake District series but we are not as familiar with this area as we are with the Cotswolds even though the Lake District is nearer to us.

60johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 3:49 pm

>56 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, i agree that the Women should have got 75% of what the Men got for the Paris-Roubaix classic.

On the Test squad you are quite correct, have you got a crystal ball mate, Parkinson should have got the nod over Bess and the middle order trio you mentioned must be in the last chance saloon surely, the only one who should be safe is Bairstow but only if they give him the gloves back, i am sure he plays better when he is/has been behind the stumps.

61johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 3:49 pm

>57 connie53:, Thanks for stopping by Connie my dear.

62johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 3:50 pm

>58 Ameise1:, Hi Barbara my dear, things are reasonably good here and we see quite a bit of Elliott, he is so cute.

Sending love and hugs to you and the family my dear friend.

63alcottacre
Bewerkt: okt 12, 2021, 3:58 pm

>53 johnsimpson: I am not familiar with Rebecca Tope at all so into the BlackHole it go as they sound right up my alley. My local library does not have anything of hers. I will have to look further afield.

64johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 4:21 pm

Last Thursday we decided to go to York and we called at Amy's to pick Elliott up so that Amy could have a few hours on her own. We got Elliott into his baby car seat and set off to York, once there we parked up and our first stop was Costa for a coffee. We took Elliott out of his buggy and he sat at the side of us on the bench seat and he loved it.

Once we had finished our Coffee we wandered down to Coney Street as that was where Karen needed to be, i left them and made my way across the City to Gillygate to find Snowhome. I located Snowhome and went in and had a good look around before finding the Fountain pens. I chatted with Helen, who along with Husband Matt, run the business. I selected the Kaweco Lavender Sport, the 2020 limited edition along with a convertor and a bottle of Kyo-no-oto Sakuranezumi ink which is a purple/grey and is lovely. As we chatted she mentioned that they want to gradually build up the pen and ink side of the business and in the New Year they will be stocking two types of Sailor fountain pen and bottled and cartridge ink, they are also going to discuss giving the FPUK group a 10% discount. It is up to group members along with the general public to occasionally buy a pen or ink so that from small acorns a giant Oak will grow as we are short of Bricks and Mortar pen shops.

After making my purchase i met back up with Karen and Elliott in another Costa Coffee shop as the young man needed feeding. Once we were done we wandered around for another 90 minutes before setting off back to Amy's, Elliott wasn't a bit of bother at all, we loved having him with us.

Friday was a good day, i dropped Karen at work and then did the bit of shopping we needed and then went into Wakefield to do the banking. Once i had done the banking i made my way home and unpacked and put the shopping away before having a pot of tea and reading. I got on with the downstairs housework and then had some lunch before picking Karen up from work.

On Saturday Rob came over to cut my Conifer hedge, he did a really good job, i assisted by holding the ladder for him. We got done just in time for me to take Karen to work. By the time i got back, Rob had tidied everything up and put things back in the garage and was in the shower, bless him. We had a pot of tea together and then he left for home.

I finished my book and then selected my next book.

65johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 4:28 pm

On Sunday we had a nice relaxing day, we had breakfast while watching Saturday nights Strictly Come Dancing on iplayer and when that was finished, Karen decided to make some Parkin. In the end Karen made three Parkin cakes and then we put Sunday lunch on. After lunch we listened to Johnnie Walkers 70's radio show before putting the TV on to watch Countryfile, Strictly-the results show and then The Larkins, which is a reboot of the Darling Buds of May which was on TV 30 years ago.

On Monday i took Karen to work and then i called at the Post Office in Crofton to pay this month's Council Tax before making my way over to Amy's to help her and Andy put up her new Ikea wardrobes. Amy and Andy alternated having Elliott and alternately helped me. By the time i had finished at 4pm to go and get Karen from work. i was knackered.

66johnsimpson
okt 12, 2021, 4:36 pm



Finished book 61 on Saturday afternoon, The Quiet Side of Passion by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 277 pages.

4-10-21 to 9-10-21

67alcottacre
okt 13, 2021, 7:19 pm

>65 johnsimpson: By the time i had finished at 4pm to go and get Karen from work. i was knackered.

I think I would be knackered too!

68Familyhistorian
okt 13, 2021, 8:49 pm

Happy newish thread, John!

>53 johnsimpson: I thought I'd read Fear in the Cotswolds but I checked and most of Rebecca Tope's novels are something in the Cotswolds! Although I did read A Dirty Death - I do remember that being quite dirty, farmyard dirty. I also have The Coniston Case somewhere on my shelves. Maybe I should dig it out.

69PaulCranswick
okt 14, 2021, 3:41 am

>65 johnsimpson: It is now Wednesday, John, but if it was myself I would still be sitting there trying to figure out how to put together those wardrobes!

70PaulCranswick
okt 15, 2021, 3:30 am

I have seen the England Lions squad and I am frankly aghast, John.

How on earth do Sibley, Bracey and Jamie Smith get themselves included in the squad? Even our own Matthew Fisher should not be travelling based on form.
No Ben Brown, no Kiran Carlson, no Matt Critchley, no David Payne?

71johnsimpson
okt 16, 2021, 3:28 pm

>67 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, i was fine on Tuesday and did the upstairs housework.

72johnsimpson
okt 16, 2021, 3:31 pm

>68 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, Fear in the Cotswolds is the Seventh in the Thea Osborne series and book Eighteen came out a while ago. The Farmyard Series is the Drew Slocumbe series and The Coniston Case is part of the Lake District series and i think she is up to book nine in that series.

Hope all is well with you my dear and i must pop along to your thread, dear friend.

73johnsimpson
okt 16, 2021, 3:37 pm

>69 PaulCranswick:, >70 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, following the Ikea instructions is a piece of piss for me although i had to go slowly at first because Andy was having a look and trying to follow them. Just waiting for Amy to get a plasterer in to sort out the side of the Chimney breast and when that is done a dried i can complete the job.

The Lions Squad did not surprise me to be honest after the Test Squad, why has Callum Parkinson not been given a chance, this is probably because Leicestershire is an unfashionable County.

The four you have mentioned will probably follow Hildreth in being players who perform regularly but never get a call up.

74johnsimpson
okt 16, 2021, 3:47 pm



Finished book 62 this morning, Nothing to Lose by Lee Child, PB - 548 pages.

9-10-21 to 16-10-21

75Berly
okt 17, 2021, 7:21 pm

Okay, I see we are neck and neck on books read! : )

And I know what you mean about IKEA instructions...LOL.

Hugs and tea to you!!

76johnsimpson
okt 19, 2021, 3:53 pm



Finished book 63 late last night, for one more day by Mitch Albom, PB - 197 pages.

16-10-21 to 18-10-21

77Berly
okt 20, 2021, 12:52 am

Just saying...I finished #65 today. Not that I am competitive or anything. ; ) Hugs!

78PaulCranswick
okt 20, 2021, 1:01 am

>73 johnsimpson: Both twins should be involved, John. Callum with the Lions and his brother with the senior team.

>77 Berly: Haha I love that - both of you are well to making 75 books anywho!

79jnwelch
okt 20, 2021, 9:37 am

Hi, John. 430 cricket books?! I'm a basketball nut and have nothing close to that many books for that sport. That's impressive. you could probably start a cricket library.

I see you read Andrea Camilleri. i just, sadly and happily, finished the last Inspector Montalbano book, Riccardino. It's a corker. Camilleri lived a long life, and put out a remarkable number of Montalbano books late in life, but of course I wish he could live and keep writing forever.

80johnsimpson
okt 22, 2021, 3:55 pm

>77 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, it's like that is it, ha ha. I should finish book 64 tomorrow so i am trying to keep pace with you, not that i am competitive either, lol.

81johnsimpson
okt 22, 2021, 4:00 pm

>78 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, the Parkinson twins have both had a good season and should be both out in Australia, they need to learn and to be honest, Australia are not the team they were when the likes of Schofield and Kerrigan were taken apart. We seem to forget that Warne was taken to the cleaners in India, yet still took 708 test wickets. We are holding back these two yet we take the likes of Crawley, Pope and even Bairstow who haven't done much or broken any pots over the last year or two.

As for me and Kim, just a nice bit of competitive reading going on, lol.

82johnsimpson
okt 22, 2021, 4:05 pm

>80 johnsimpson:, Hi Joe. i need to update my Cricket book details as i have bought a few over the last few months and i think i could be near to 460. I am waiting for Ikea Leeds to get the shade of Billy Bookcases in, so that the third bedroom/ library can be sorted out and then i need to build some shelving near the bulkhead for the Cricket books.

I have got back to the Camilleri books and we have purchased the ones we were missing but i am only up to book 7 so have 21 more to savour.

83johnsimpson
okt 25, 2021, 3:52 pm



Finished book 64 last Saturday, No Mercy by Martina Cole, PB - 487 pages.

18-10-21 to 23-10-21

84johnsimpson
okt 25, 2021, 4:13 pm

The last week has been pretty good, last Wednesday we went off for the day to Beverley in East Yorkshire. We normally have Hannah on a Wednesday but it was the school disco so we changed days.

It was a wet start to the day and really didn't improve much for the rest of the day, we arrived in Beverley and parked up. As it was raining we headed to Costa Coffee and had a coffee, the rain had eased up a bit by the time we left. We had a wander along the high street and Karen popped into one or two shops, she came out of the Christmas shop with a few small bits and i went back to the car with them to save them getting damaged. I got back to Karen and we entered the Antique Centre, this is a regular place to visit when we got to Beverley. We had a good wander around, Karen spotted a nice Amber necklace, she checked that it was genuine and used some of her birthday money to pay for it, i picked up a couple of Cricket books. I did see a nice Fountain Pen, a Watermen Reflex Mona Lisa for Ā£40, i decided to leave it. I later had a look online and found out that when it came out along with one or two others were designed as a cheap pen and sold on card stands, as it has turned out, they are now collectable, the last price i could find was from 2017, and they were around $150 upwards, should have bought it, you win some, you lose some.

We left the Antique Centre and continued our wandering, we had hoped to see the market but i think the threat of heavy rain put paid to this. We called into a bookshop and had a wander around, the sun was still out, 20 minutes later, as we were leaving and it was raining heavy again. We wandered back along the high street and called into one or two shops, we went in to both the Oxfam shops, the second being the bookshop, i came out with two more books. As the rain continued we went to Caffe Nero and had a coffee and a piece of cake before going back to the car and heading home.

We stopped at a retail park a few miles outside Beverley and Karen did the Aldi shopping and i went across to Waitrose ostensibly to pick up some cigars but i also managed to pick up this months Cricket magazine. I had been looking for the last few days for this magazine in Wakefield and surrounding areas to no avail, i will be subscribing when the Christmas offers are in next months magazine. Once we were both done we made our way home.

85johnsimpson
okt 25, 2021, 4:33 pm

On Thursday, Amy and Elliott came over and arrived just before Debbie, the nail technician arrived. I made us all a drink and when i finished i got on with cleaning the upstairs landing and staircase carpet. We had borrowed the carpet cleaner from Geoff and Linda and he had shown me what to do. I made sure that a good job was done and it took me just over an hour and it looked quite good but we would see better when it had dried.

Debbie left and then we had a drink and Karen and Amy had some lunch, Elliott had already had one feed and it wouldn't be long before he needed another. After a while i went to collect Hannah from school, the first thing she asked me was, is Elliott there, she was over the moon when i said yes. We got back and Hannah went straight over to Elliott and gave him a cuddle, she stayed downstairs for quite a while with him.

We all had some tea before Amy and Elliott left and an hour later i took Hannah home.

On Friday i took Karen to work and then parked up and went into the store to do the bit of shopping we needed, once done, i put the shopping in the car and then went back in with a pair of Karen's shoes to have them soled and heeled at the Timpson's concession.
Once done i made my way home and unpacked and put the shopping away before making a coffee and reading. I read until the end of the lunchtime news and then got on with the downstairs housework and when done i had some lunch. After my lunch i read until it was time to make a drink in the travel mug and then go and collect her from work.

86johnsimpson
okt 25, 2021, 4:46 pm

On Saturday we had a pot of tea in bed before getting up, washed and dressed and then coming downstairs to sort everything out. Felix went out and Karen cleaned and refilled his dishes while i got our meds and vitamins out. Once this was done i went to get the newspapers and once back, i delivered Margaret's papers before i had my coffee, meds and vitamins and breakfast.

We watched James Martin's cookery programme and had another drink, Karen went to wash her hair while i watched Football Focus and then we had a drink and Karen had something to eat before she got changed for work.

I took Karen to work and then popped into the store to pick up some ink cartridges for the printer. Once done i made my way home and made a coffee, i had my drink and then put the ink cartridges in the printer and printed off the Knitting patterns that Karen had sent me. Once the printing was done i made a pot of tea and then brought down some Cricket books so that i could update my sub-heading on the book lists on here. I spent the rest of the day apart from a break to have my Curry and Naan bread for my tea, to add Cricket books to my library on here.

87thornton37814
okt 26, 2021, 7:39 am

>84 johnsimpson: Only 2 books? I think you are falling down on the job! (Just teasing.)

>85 johnsimpson: I think most Americans no longer use cobblers to repair shoes. I may have trouble tracking one down when I need one. I have a narrow/combination width foot, and it is almost impossible for me to find shoes to fit. I'll probably need to have these shoes redone since I can't find new ones.

88johnsimpson
okt 26, 2021, 3:36 pm



Finished book 65 late last night, Ambush by James Patterson, PB - 303 pages.

23-10-21 to 25-10-21

89thornton37814
okt 27, 2021, 8:11 am

>88 johnsimpson: I think you may actually go over 75 this year, John!

90Berly
okt 27, 2021, 6:38 pm

Happy Wednesday, John!! : )

91alcottacre
okt 27, 2021, 6:48 pm

>74 johnsimpson: You remind me that I need to catch up on the Jack Reacher series, John. *sigh* Another one. . .

Hope you have a wonderful day!

92johnsimpson
okt 28, 2021, 3:56 pm

>87 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, two books was a bit poor but this has been a decent month of new recruits to our shelves, ha ha.

I must admit it is hard to find a decent Cobbler's, Timpson's is a chain that is not only a Cobbler's but cuts keys and i have noticed sells a small selection of Loake shoes for men but the one thing they are now getting recognition for is the rehabilitation of Ex-Cons. They take on people who have served a prison sentence and some have gone on to becoming the manager of their own shop or Concession. This was started by the founder, John Timpson and now that he is taking a step back, his son is carrying it forward, they also mend shoes of those on benefits who are going to a job interview on proof of both.

I was a bit surprised when i was told that the cost was Ā£28.95 but when i picked them up and told the manager that Karen worked for Asda in the George department and showed him my discount card, the price came down to Ā£26. Karen only wanted these shoes doing because they are comfortable, still in fairly good condition and she hasn't been able to find anything similar.

93johnsimpson
okt 28, 2021, 3:58 pm

>89 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, i think i may get to 80, only once have i reached 100 or more books in a calendar year, oh well i will try again in 2022, lol.

94johnsimpson
okt 28, 2021, 3:59 pm

>90 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear,hope you are having a happy Thursday.

95johnsimpson
okt 28, 2021, 4:03 pm

>91 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, That was my Twelfth Reacher and i love the guy. I have been trying to catch up on the various series' i have going with lots more to start. I won't start a new series until one is completed or i am up to date with one, that is why i have so many books to read, if it wasn't for all the series i have books for or have read, my total would be at least a thousand books less.

96quondame
okt 28, 2021, 11:28 pm

>92 johnsimpson: I have been buying an English brand of shoes, Hotter because they have some models in EEW and I've given up New Balance for political reasons. The are comfortable and have some interesting colors among the models.

97alcottacre
okt 28, 2021, 11:38 pm

>95 johnsimpson: Yeah, I am currently trying to re-read series too, John, and catch up on them - I did not keep up with anything while I was in school, so I am about 7 years behind!

98thornton37814
okt 29, 2021, 7:38 am

>95 johnsimpson: I'm hoping to complete (or get caught up with) several series next year. I'm slowly gathering a list that is doable. For a few, I want to make a dent in 2022 so I'll be caught up in 2023. With others, I want to make progress. I will still read fiction that isn't in series, and I'll read lots of non-fiction too, but I want to feel like I've accomplished something.

99benitastrnad
okt 29, 2021, 11:28 am

I have also been trying to finish up some series and while adding others, have not started them. I resolved that it was time to finish a few of those loose ends that I have had around for some time. Of course, some of the series I am reading have had new titles added to them, but it does seem easier to read the one new title per year than trying to read several of them in order to finish a series.

100johnsimpson
nov 1, 2021, 4:24 pm

>96 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, Karen has bought some shoes from Hotter as they are so comfortable. As for New Balance, i bought a couple of pairs of training shoes for our holiday in Madeira in 2019 but tend to wear my Adidas training shoes most often although the current pair are getting towards their last legs so i will have to look around for a new pair.

101johnsimpson
nov 1, 2021, 4:28 pm

>97 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, at the moment i have three files with lists of books in series, up to date/series ended,Series Ongoing and Not Started. I will only add from the NS file when i am up to date with a series from the SO file.

At the start of 2021 i had 39 in the first file, 96 in the SO file and 152 in the NS file.

102johnsimpson
nov 1, 2021, 4:31 pm

>98 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, each year i try to read some of the series i have Ongoing along with standalone books and occasionally i will read a Non-Fiction, mainly autobiography's of biography's but some times just books about Cricket or Cycling.

103johnsimpson
nov 1, 2021, 4:33 pm

>99 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, i am the same as you and many series have 15+ books in them and i am only on say book 2 or 3 and if they add one a year then the lists grow ever longer.

104johnsimpson
Bewerkt: nov 1, 2021, 4:53 pm

OCTOBER'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 7

No of Authors.................... 7

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 5

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

Pages Read....................... 2,785

Daily Avg........................... 89.84

Book Length avg................. 397.86

105johnsimpson
Bewerkt: nov 1, 2021, 4:55 pm

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-10-21 - 2,772
Books added in October - 26
Books read in October - 7

Revised book total - 2791

Pages to read at 1-10-2021- 1,142,251
Pages added in October - 9,117
Pages read in October - 2,785

Revised total pages to read - 1,148,583

106johnsimpson
nov 1, 2021, 4:57 pm



Finished book 66 yesterday afternoon, Simple Genius by David Baldacci, PB - 560 pages.

25-10-21 to 31-10-21

107thornton37814
nov 2, 2021, 8:30 am

I have so many first in series books downloaded on my Kindle so I'm not willing to not start a new series. I did abandon a couple of series this past year and caught up on some, but I just want to catch up on reading some of what is on hand or readily available at the library.

108johnsimpson
nov 2, 2021, 5:14 pm



Finished book 67 last night, Death of a Scriptwriter by M.C. Beaton, PB - 274 pages.

31-10-21 to 1-11-21

109johnsimpson
nov 12, 2021, 3:58 pm



Finished Book 68 on the Fourth of November, The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 247 pages.

1-11-21 to 4-11-21

110johnsimpson
nov 12, 2021, 5:03 pm

It has been a few days since i last posted on here and things have been quite busy and pleasant. On Thursday the 4th November, we had quite a busy day, after a pot of tea in bed we got up,washed and dressed and came downstairs, i had brought the washing basket down and Karen set a half load of washing going. Karen did Felix's dishes and i got our meds out and then we went to the Aldi in Sandal to get the few bits we needed before making our way home and unpacking and putting it all away. Once this was done we had our breakfast, during breakfast Karen got a call from the hairdresser's to say she could go earlier for her appointment as someone had cancelled.

I took Karen to the hairdresser's and dropped her off and then i made my way to Barber Joe's to have my hair cut. As soon as i was done i made my way home and had a coffee and read until it was time to go and pick Karen up. After picking Karen up from the hairdresser's we made our way home and then we put the washing on the airers and then it was time for me to take Karen into Wakefield to meet her best friend Tina. I dropped Karen off and then made my way home, made a pot of tea, put the radio on to listen to the Cricket and read.

A couple of hours later Karen rang me to let me know where to pick them up, i collected them and took Tina home before we headed for home.

The following day Karen was at work, this was her last shift for ten days, after dropping her off i went into the store to pick up the few bits we needed. Once i had done the little bit of shopping, i made my way into Wakefield to do the banking and when this was done i made my way home and unpacked and put the few bits of shopping away. I had a pot of tea and had a perusal of my rail magazine and watched the news before doing the downstairs housework.

On Saturday the 6th we had a lovely day, Amy came over with Elliott, we had lots of cuddles. Amy left just before 5pm and left Elliott with us for his first sleepover. Karen gave him a bath and then he had a feed before she took him up to bed. We didn't hear a peep out of him during the rest of the evening, we had the baby monitor in our room when we went to bed and at 2am Sunday morning Karen heard a scream but when she checked him, he was fast asleep. Elliott finally woke us at 6.45am, Karen brought him into our bed while i went and made us a pot of tea.

We had our tea and then because Elliott was getting a bit crochetty she changed his nappy before dressing him and taking him downstairs to have a feed. I got washed and dressed and came downstairs and took Elliott after his feed so that Karen could get washed and dressed. We had a lovely morning with him and Amy and Andy arrived just before 1pm. They had missed him but enjoyed the time they had together, they stayed with us for the afternoon and we had a lovely Curry for lunch.

111alcottacre
nov 12, 2021, 5:51 pm

>110 johnsimpson: I am glad that there were pleasant reasons for your absence, John, and not terrible ones! Congratulations on Elliott and his first sleepover with you!

112PaulCranswick
nov 12, 2021, 9:19 pm

Your predictions on Yorkshire cricket were accurate but the level of vitriol and vindictiveness is taking me by surprise, I have to say. Joe Root is the most politically correct England captain ever period. Why do the flames need to be fanned because he states he didn't personally witness any of the incidents being alleged? Why does the BBC assume that a man with such an unblemished character is lying?

Michael Vaughan was a splendid English captain and advocate for the game and always a very inclusive member of the establishment of the game. People like Monte Panesar have been very forthright in that in no way would they consider him to be a racist but he looks like getting cancelled on the basis of a completely unsubstantiated allegation.

Talk of throwing Ballance out of cricket is ridiculous frankly. What happened to contrition, education and second-chances? He apologised for incidents that happened more than a decade ago and maybe it should also be asked as to why it is perfectly ok to refer to him as Zimbo but only his retaliatory remarks are racist?

I get that the Yorkshire board should be under scrutiny for not having acted promptly or properly on the allegations made or for dismissing racial epithets as banter and it is right that some of them should fall on their swords. It is not ok though that the media are openly pressuring Joe Root to ditch the county of his birth. If the ECB think that it is only Yorkshire CCC that had such issues ten years ago then they are fooling themselves.

Racism of any kind should be called out and never condoned but it should also not be over-hyped to distort the very changes in attitudes that, ten years later, allow disavowal to be universal.

Have a lovely weekend mate and love to Karen.

113PaulCranswick
nov 15, 2021, 1:07 am

>112 PaulCranswick: It seems that Essex County Cricket club is the next one to be under scrutiny. I don't know where this stops or how far we are supposed to go. These accusations stem from almost twenty years ago in one instance. A statute of limitations issue surely. Some of these "historical allegations" (and I don't mean the Azeem Rafiq case as it is the failure to act in 2018 that is at the root of that problem) would be better dealt with in a more inclusive manner.

I think this needs to be approached as one of open disclosure in a sort of truth and reconciliation manner as South Africa did following the end of Apartheid.

I cringe when I look back at 70s and even 80s TV, John and how stereotypes of race and colour were dealt out on all sides.

I grew up hero worshipping Viv Richards and Imran Khan in particular and I would like to think that in doing so I was either paying no cognisance whatsoever to their race or celebrating it.

114johnsimpson
nov 18, 2021, 4:23 pm

>111 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, real life has been getting in my way regarding coming on here, i am also glad it is nothing sinister, lol.

115johnsimpson
nov 18, 2021, 4:53 pm

>112 PaulCranswick:, >113 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, my love of Cricket was started with the two Series in 1971, both three Test series with India and Pakistan, at the time they both showed flashes of brilliance but could also just roll over away from home. I saw a young Gavaskar, Engineer, Wadekar, Solkar, Bedi, Chandasehkar and Venkataraghavan from India and on the Pakistani side there was Bari, Intikhab, Sadiq and Mushtaq Mohammed, Asif Iqbal and a player i absolutely loved after his 274 at Edgbaston, Zaheer Abbas, he repeated the feat of scoring a double hundred with 240, again at Edgbaston in 1974. Although a Yorkshire supporter through and through, in the Seventies i also kept a keen eye on 'Proctorshire' with my favourite, Zaheer and Mike Proctor, a player whose test career was cut short by Apartheid.

The DCMS investigation was brutal, Yorkshire players and staff found to be at fault, nothing done about it and then two leading figures named refusing to attend. Listening to Rafiq's testimony and also having read Chris Water's piece in the Yorkshire Post along with snippets from George Dobell, it would appear (please excuse the language, i am only surmising what the attitude has been), that as we are known as being forthright and blunt, that certain committee members took the tone that "Bloody hell he's a Paki, he should be bloody grateful we let him play for us".

Further evidence given by ex-chairman and supplemented by Lord Patel when asked for a few words, it would appear that our old friend Colin Graves, via his Charitable Trust, has got Yorkshire by the Bollocks and that Hutton could not sack anyone without their say so. Sadly it looks like Lord Patel is going to have to find money to pay off Graves and get rid of them. When the ECB were questioned, they came across as weak and not worth much, the only good point was that they were also not happy about the Charitable Trust and that will be investigated. As of today it would seem that the County Chairmen are going to get together to get rid of Harrison and others as the ECB has come across as weak, ineffective and not fit for purpose.

By a complete lack of interest, old attitudes of " We are Yorkshire and everyone else can fuck off", they have brought the club to its knees, our dirty linen once again washed in full public view and the reputation of a once mighty club brought down as being racist by self-centered power and money grabbers.

I wish Lord Patel the very best to do a root and branch clearout of the club and to help the club rise like a phoenix with the right and correct values. At the moment i am ashamed of my County Club BUT i think there are stories still to come out from other counties.

116PaulCranswick
nov 18, 2021, 6:06 pm

>115 johnsimpson: I certainly don't think anything was limited to Yorkshire County Cricket Club, John. That said, Martyn Moxon came out of the investigation extremely badly and I don't see how he continues.
Society has changed a lot since 2009 and the decade following 9/11 was not a great time, I would imagine to be an Asian muslim man in England. I hope the way forward is more inclusive than before.

County cricket in the seventies was wonderful wasn't it?

117PaulCranswick
nov 18, 2021, 6:34 pm

Also noticeable that Azeem Rafiq has also been guilty historically of racist tweets and messaging on social media particularly anti-semitic messages and messages of a derogatory nature towards black people and Africans. Certainly doesn't excuse racism directed against him and at least now this has come out he has apologised. It does serve to show though that there is much to learn by everybody in this.

118alcottacre
nov 18, 2021, 6:36 pm

I have absolutely no idea what you guys are talking about, so I will just gracefully bow out of the cricket conversation and say "Hi, John!"

119thornton37814
nov 18, 2021, 6:54 pm

>118 alcottacre: Stasia, We'll just have to talk about American football!

120johnsimpson
nov 19, 2021, 11:11 am

>116 PaulCranswick:, >117 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, as you say, it is not just limited to Yorkshire but this is the catalyst for everything. Moxon has not come out of it well along with others, i think Gale has questions to be answered and to be honest, even before this i think Gale and Moxon have to go, the performances have not been good since he took over. I do think that there has been a clique, Gale and Bresnan are brothers-in-law, i wonder what will come of the accusations that Ballance was shielded for failing drug and alcohol tests and then there is the Elephant in the room that is Colin Graves and his clique.

The Seventies were our way into Cricket mate, B&H Cup games, Gillette Cup games as well as the JPS Sunday league and of course Test Matches. We saw Greenidge, Richards, Rice, Proctor, Zaheer, Lloyd, Engineer, Richards, Roberts, Kallicharran etc, the list is endless of the talent we saw, a golden era for us.

121johnsimpson
nov 19, 2021, 11:16 am

>118 alcottacre:, >119 thornton37814:, Hi Stasia and Lori, we are discussing the fallout from Yorkshire County Cricket Club's failure to act on the racism claims made by former player, Azeem Rafiq. In the end the Chairman resigned along with two other on the non-executive board and then they were summoned to a Parliamentary Committee to talk about what had gone on. The racism towards Rafiq was horrendous and some members did not attend, one resigned and one went on stress sick leave just before. It has been hard to listen to and now other Black and Asian players are speaking out at other counties. It is not a good time for English County Cricket at the moment. I do hope this explains things for both of you.

122benitastrnad
nov 19, 2021, 12:56 pm

>121 johnsimpson:
I have been hearing some of this story through the BBC World News Sports News and from the beginning it sounded to me like some of the things that have been going on in American Sports for several years. Racism is all around us, and sports is not immune. It is a good thing to get it out into the public eye, but it will be a hard thing to stop.

I noticed that last night the BBC World News Sports News had something on with racism in cricket. Something about a dog named Kevin, but I didn't hear the whole story.

Sports are a reflection of what a society thinks is important and so is not exempt from the other things that are going on in that society.

123PaulCranswick
Bewerkt: nov 19, 2021, 4:04 pm

>120 johnsimpson: I agree John that Moxon and Gale need to go and Yorkshire need to start over without the stigma these two individuals bring - whatever the rights and wrongs of what they did and didn't do. I have made comments here and elsewhere that Azeem Rafiq has also not been blameless either throughout all of this (though I found his evidence on the treatment he received during his difficulties with his child compelling and, as he perceived it, that treatment was disgusting and entirely unjustifiable on a human level irrespective of any race issues). His comments on the Jewish community and on blacks and Africans more generally are egregious examples of racism on his own part and the exposure of that yesterday left him covered in the glass his stones shattered all around him. It is incredibly important however that this should not obscure the truth of some of the issues he has brought out. I do wish however that instead of solely blaming racism for his career failings he had also acknowledged his own lack of discipline and work ethic when given several opportunities to fulfil his undoubted talents.

I am pleased he unreservedly apologised after being exposed on this as did Gary Ballance when it was pretty clear who "Zimbo" was. Notwithstanding whether the use of "Zimbo" is acceptable either as "banter" there is a big difference between the racism Azeem Rafiq (and other ethnic-Asian cricketers at Yorkshire) faced compared to what Rafiq himself did. That difference is that the comments were issued directly at Rafiq and personally so and it makes them far more in need of criticism and correction as it speaks to a rotten culture at the club.

Like people like Tino Best, I don't think Ballance should be thrown out of the game and he will have learned a lot of lessons from this too. I think that the Club itself, Gale and Moxon are far more culpable for allowing that sort of culture in their club and others need to come in and help carry change forward.

>122 benitastrnad: The conversations and public response to those conversations are evidence in the UK that things are moving - though too slowly - in the right direction. Most of the instances under investigation at present stem from a decade or so ago and I hope that the airing of these issues will help towards a more "colour blind" society or at least one that celebrates our ethnic differences not seeking to vilify them.

124johnsimpson
nov 19, 2021, 5:06 pm

>122 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, the term "Kevin" related to Rafiq's comments that Ballance (one of the protagonists in the abuse Rafiq suffered) used the name Kevin for anyone of colour within the National team dressing room. Ballance was good friends with Alex Hales in the England setup and when Hales got a Dog, it was Black so he called it Kevin, they seemed to think this was all a big joke.

125johnsimpson
nov 19, 2021, 5:14 pm

>123 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, one of the big things that came out of all the machinations going on at Yorkshire was that Rafiq said everything was fine while Gillespie was Coach but when he went things went downhill with abuse being something that was prevalent.

It does make you wonder what the full reasons for Gillespie's departure were, one was money of course and after what he had done, why shouldn't he get a rise in pay but i do wonder if Moxon was sticking his oar in too much and some of the abuse was starting to pick up. Things have gone downhill in more ways than one since Jason left the club and i wonder if he didn't like the way things were going. The stubbornness of the Yorkshire board would be a major reason for leaving and maybe they didn't like his Aussie forthrightness.

On another point regarding Graves, was that when Lehmann was playing for Australia in Sri Lanka, he was disciplined by the ICC for calling a Sri Lankan player a Black Cunt, graves said he was dismayed by the sanction from the ICC, that says a lot about him.

126PaulCranswick
nov 19, 2021, 5:33 pm

>125 johnsimpson: Graves is beyond contempt.

127benitastrnad
nov 19, 2021, 11:53 pm

>124 johnsimpson:
Thanks for the explanation about "Kevin." Why did they pick that name? Here in the US that is almost an exclusively "white" name - if names have colors?

128Berly
nov 20, 2021, 12:00 am

Hi John! Glad you had such a nice sleepover with Elliot. : ) Tehn there's lots of talk about Kevin and Cricket...See? I did read your thread! Hope you and Karen have a great weekend. xoxo

129alcottacre
nov 20, 2021, 12:53 am

>119 thornton37814: That I can do!

Happy weekend, John!

130kac522
nov 20, 2021, 12:57 am

>127 benitastrnad: I'll disagree--hardly exclusive to whites in the U.S.. I personally knew at least 3 African-American men named Kevin, and as a white old lady I don't know that many black men.

131figsfromthistle
nov 20, 2021, 5:52 am

Delurking to wish you a happy Weekend :)

132PaulCranswick
Bewerkt: nov 20, 2021, 6:21 am

It is sad isn't it because names don't or certainly shouldn't have a colour. The Kevin name seems to have been used by one player as a code word for any player of colour which is clearly beyond banter and out of order. There was complaint about one of the overseas players who is called Cheteswar Pujara and the players called him "Steve" because they had trouble pronouncing "Cheteswar". How that was received by that player I'm not sure, but this is quite normal in the workplace in Yorkshire for people to get nicknames or shortened names and it very much depends on the manner in which is was intended, delivered and received. Pujara doesn't seem to have complained about it and whilst the "Kevin" would seem to have been used as a racial (racist codeword), I'm not so sure that the "Steve" one was ill-intended.

It is normal for someone in Yorkshire to have their names shortened in friendly situations. I was always "Cranny" to my friends. The problem with making "Cheteswar", "Chetty" is that in India a Chetty signifies a money lender or loan shark and would be an offensive term to an Indian.

It is interesting because white people do get tagged racially in Asia being called "Matsalleh" in Malaysia and "Gwailoh" in most Chinese speaking places. Neither of the two are particularly flattering either.

133benitastrnad
nov 21, 2021, 11:20 am

>132 PaulCranswick:
Thanks. That explains alot. I am not accustomed to the custom of "nicknaming." Where I come from people are generally called what they are named. I know many a guy whose name on his birth certificate is "Jim" and not "James". In my own home community I only knew one person who had a nickname and he was referred to as "Butch." I didn't know he had another name until his obituary came out in the paper. My own Uncle's name on his birth certificate was Bohumil but the name on his tombstone is Billy.

However, here in the American South the custom is quite different. Here nicknames are very normal. There are hundreds of Bubbha's and Butch's. In general, I don't like the use of nicknames as they are seldom endearments and more likely to be derogatory in some fashion. I even find the term MeMa (used as a nickname for Grandmother) to be demeaning. I do get it that some names are hard to pronounce. Just listen to American's try to pronounce Georghi. And what about the differences in pronunciation? I refer to Angela Merkle as Ann-gel-a, while German pronounce it as Angle-a. The hard G and soft G sounds difference. I guess that means that I get that the use of "Steve" might not be used with the same intention as was "Kevin." It is clear that intent is what this was all about.

Intent is also what concerns me with the use of so many curse words. These words are almost always female and since they are "bad" words it seems clear to me that the idea is to put down the group of people with whom these words are closely associated. It just goes to show that language is powerful and how we use it is important.

134PaulCranswick
nov 21, 2021, 2:27 pm

>133 benitastrnad: True that intent is important, Benita, but there is sometimes also a carelessness in not knowing that the perception of the receiving party may be offence. Azeem Rafiq being brought up in Barnsley obviously understood this and this is demonstrated by him calling Ballance, "Zimbo". I have no idea whether Ballance took this to be an acceptable nickname but his response of "Paki" is much more likely to be obvious to offend. Since Ballance grew up in Zimbabwe then the senior players in the dressing room should have stepped in to stop the name calling. They obviously didn't.

135johnsimpson
nov 23, 2021, 3:59 pm

Going back a couple of weeks to why i was missing in action (see post 110). On Monday 8th November we got up, washed and dressed and once breakfast was done with, we loaded a few things into the car and set off to Blackpool for an overnight stay. Our neighbour Catherine was looking after Felix for us, she had a key to let Felix in and out.

We had a brief stop at Rivington services for a coffee before arriving in Blackpool, we were staying at Blackpool Football Club Hotel. We parked up and checked the car in, our room was not available until 3pm and that did not bother us.

We set off from the Hotel and wandered down to the Promenade and then headed to the South Pier. I had intended going to Blackpool on a Tuesday after dropping Karen at work as she is not that enamoured of Blackpool and i wanted to do a bit of wandering down memory lane. As we got near to the South Pier we turned off down Dean Street, as a young child we stayed at Number 14 Dean Street and i wondered if 'Wescoe House' was still thriving as a B&B. To my surprise it is still in operation, that pleased me although wandering down the Front i was very disappointed at the shabbiness of it.

After seeing our old Boarding House we wandered down the back streets, Karen spotted a rather large Wool and Craft shop and popped in, she wanted some advice about some wool she had and she came out with some good ideas and some vintage wool. We wandered a bit further along before going back to the front, heading towards the Central Pier, the shabbiness continued although some of the bigger hotels were in good condition but surrounded by shite. We were a little surprised that some of the Rock shops and stalls and other vendors were closed even allowing for it being a Monday.

We continued our wandering up to the Tower and the Town Centre, we called into the shopping centre and had a mooch around before stopping for a Coffee and a pastry. The weather was a lot better than had been forecast but that changed a short time later when light rain started. As with many other Town Centres, Blackpool had suffered from closures due to Covid and some retailers going bust. We picked up a few books and then had another coffee before having a steady walk back to our Hotel. We checked in properly and went up to our room, it was lovely with a Super King Size Bed. We unpacked our few clothes and then i made us a drink, we had another drink and watched the news before going down to the restaurant for our meal. We sat at a table with a wonderful view of the pitch.

After we had eaten we went back to our room, got our coats and the car keys and went out of the hotel to the car. As the weather was not so good and we were both tired from so much walking, we decided to drive from the South Pier up to Little Bispham to see the world Famous Illuminations. The tableaux do not start until you get to Gynn Square and then end at Little Bispham. We were able to drive through at a nice steady pace all the way to Little Bispham and then i turned around and we headed back towards Starr Gate. I stopped a few time so that Karen could get out of the car and take some photos. In all the years i have gone to Blackpool, i have never ventured further south than the Pleasure Beach so this was a first going all the way down to the start of the Illuminations at Starr Gate. Once at Starr Gate we turned round and headed back towards the South Pier and Dean Street and then back to the Hotel.

I did what i wanted to do but it will be quite a while before we venture to Blackpool again, i didn't have rose tinted glasses on, we saw the resort for what it is, sadly, a shithole. Millions of pounds have been spent on the promenade, it looks nothing like what it used to be when i went on holiday here BUT the shabbiness of the Front, which to me is a major selling point for the resort, is a disgrace and makes a mockery of the money spent on the Promenade. Because it was a week after the schools had been on holiday and it was a Monday, the Piers shut at 8pm, the Coral Island arcade was open but it looked quiet, it is probably all open on Friday to Sunday.

I scratched my itch but it will be a long time before i venture back.

136johnsimpson
nov 23, 2021, 4:25 pm

We had a lovely night's sleep in the super size bed and awoke with the alarm, i made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed. Once we finished our pot of tea, we got up, washed and dressed and then packed up our belongings before going down to the restaurant for breakfast. We had a lovely breakfast and then went back to our room to collect our case and bag and went down to reception to check out. I would definitely stay in this hotel again if i was coming to watch the football or for an event.

We got everything in the car and then set the satnav for Southport, we had a pleasant drive to this old fashioned Town and resort. I managed to park up on the famous Lord Street and then we had a stroll along it. We came across the Westminster Tearooms and went in for a coffee and cake, it reminded us of Betty's in Yorkshire. We finished our coffee and cake and made our way to Broadhurst's bookshop.

Broadhurst's is an old building, the shop is set on three floors, the ground floor is very welcoming with a roaring fire to warm you up and offers new books along with stationery and other book related gifts. Once you start to go upstairs you encounter the Children's room and the start of Antiquarian and secondhand books, i was in my element. We ended up with one new book and two old Cricket books. We left very contented and happy and went a wandering around the town centre.

We ended back on Lord Street and crossed the street to go into Waterstones where we picked up two new books before going next door for a coffee before going back to the car. We left Southport and headed to the little market town of Ormskirk. We had a nice wander around Ormskirk and picked up a few more books before going back to the car and heading for home.

We had an uneventful if slow journey home in the beginning until we got to the M62 motorway. We left the M62 and joined the M1 down to our junction off and then the fun began. We left the slip road at 5.45pm and what should have been about a 15 minute journey took us 65 minutes due to a stolen Lorry and trailer getting stuck under the bridge at the junction of Denby Dale road and Thornes road earlier in the afternoon.

137johnsimpson
nov 23, 2021, 5:01 pm

On the Wednesday, Karen made and then steamed our homemade Christmas Pudding and later i picked Hannah up from her after school club. On the Thursday i took Karen to the Asda for her eye test and while she had this done, i did the little bit of shopping we needed. I stayed in the car once the shopping was done until Karen phoned me to come to Optical to help her choose some new glasses. Once this was done, we made our way to the nearby Aldi and Karen went in to get the usual bits while i stayed in the car and read. Once all the shopping was done we made our way home and unpacked and put it all away.

I made us a pot of tea and we sat and relaxed whilst having our drink before we set off to go to Costco in Leeds. We picked up a nice piece of Pork for Christmas Lunch as well as a couple of gifts and some cereal, tea bags (Yorkshire Tea for a change) and some of their Mince pies. Once home we put our Costco purchases away and had a pleasant rest of the afternoon and evening.

On Friday we had a steady day although i had to go out on errands, i dropped some food off for the Hedgehog Rescue Christmas Hamper prize, i went to B&Q to pick up a Tenon Saw before going to Sainsbury's supermarket to get some Sheba cat food for Felix and some Ginger biscuits before heading to the Post Office in Crofton to pay this months Council Tax. The rest of the day was spent relaxing.

On Saturday 13th November we were up at 7.30am, we sorted Felix's dishes out and Karen got our meds out while i went and got the papers for myself and Margaret. We had breakfast and then set off to Northallerton. We parked up in the George Hotel car park and then went inside to have coffee and Karen had some Toasted Teacakes. Once we were done we set off up the high street.

We called into Waterstones and came out with two books before going into Lewis and Cooper and picked up a few bits for Christmas. We left and wandered down the rest of the high street and then crossed over to the other side and called into Rymans Stationers. We picked up a few bits in there and then made our way to Costa coffee for a drink. We left Costa and did a bit more wandering about before going back to the car and then we made our way to Marks and Spencer's before heading for home. We had a lovely evening, we had homemade Curry before watching Strictly Come Dancing and then listened to Radio 2 until bed time.

138figsfromthistle
nov 24, 2021, 7:42 am

>135 johnsimpson: Sorry to hear that the resort is not what you expected it to be. Shame about the promenade.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

139thornton37814
nov 25, 2021, 9:04 am

It's always sad when places that hold a special place in our hearts are not up to our standards or some in decline. It's even sadder when they close. Sounds like you had some nice shopping at bookstores and stationers though.

140m.belljackson
nov 25, 2021, 12:55 pm

>137 johnsimpson: Hi John - here's a book with a Hedgehog as a character important to the plot-
Five Hundred Miles From You!

141Berly
nov 25, 2021, 3:27 pm



John, I know you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I am so very grateful for you, my wonderful friend here on LT so I thought I'd post anyway and let you know!

I wish you and Karen (and all the rest) happiness and health on this day. And cookies. : )

142johnsimpson
nov 25, 2021, 4:32 pm

>141 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, thank you for your wonderful post dear lady, it has touched me so very much that i have a tear in my eye although i could lie and say it is a bit of dust. I must say that you are a wonderful friend and someday we will get over the pond to meet you and your family. In the meantime we will continue t converse on here and FB i ahve no doubt, friends forever.

143johnsimpson
nov 25, 2021, 5:10 pm



Finished book 69 on the 15th Nov, The Cake Shop in the Garden by Carole Matthews, PB - 422 pages.

4-11-21 to 15-11-21

144quondame
nov 25, 2021, 5:15 pm

Have a happy day and I hope you enjoyed all the vicarious feasting you get to do wandering through these pages.

145johnsimpson
nov 25, 2021, 5:15 pm



finished book 70 on Monday afternoon, The People Vs Alex Cross by James Patterson, HB - 413 pages.

15-11-21 to 22-11-21

146alcottacre
nov 25, 2021, 5:18 pm

Getting close to 75, John! Good on you!

147karenmarie
nov 26, 2021, 9:21 am

Hi John!

I'm sort of all caught up - yay for Elliott's first sleepover, glad Hannah loves spending time with him. Congrats on lots of good reading.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen and kitty skritches to your dear Felix.

148johnsimpson
nov 28, 2021, 4:04 pm

>146 alcottacre:, Thanks Stasia my dear, nearly there.

149johnsimpson
nov 28, 2021, 4:06 pm

>147 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, i am slowly getting there catching up on everything that has been going on around the threads.

Sending love and hugs to you, Bill, Jenna and Kitty skritches for Inara, Zoe and Wash from both of us dear friend.

150johnsimpson
nov 29, 2021, 4:40 pm

Continued from post 137.

We had a steady day on the 14th, not long after we finished breakfast Amy and Elliott arrived, i made us a drink and then Karen gave Elliott a feed. We both had cuddles before we put him down on his playmat gym and he had a good play and roll around. Karen rocked Elliott to sleep as he was fighting it but was tired and i popped into Wakefield to drop some boots back to Next. When he awoke Karen gave him a feed and then we had Sunday lunch, Elliott was watching us like hawks and Karen gave him some mashed potato and carrots and he loved it.

We went back into the living room after lunch and had more cuddles, Elliott had a bottle before Amy got everything together and she and Elliott left for home. After they had gone we had a drink and watched TV, i had to go upstairs to watch Doctor Who in our bedroom before joining Karen to watch Strictly: The Results. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing.

On Monday 15th Nov we had breakfast before i took Karen to work, after dropping Karen off i popped into the store to pick up some jars of Hydrabadi curry sauce, i picked up 6 jars as they had not been on the shelves for a couple of weeks. I made my way home and put the curry sauce jars away before making a coffee and then getting the dust sheets, paint and brushes ready to start decorating the staircase. I took some of the books off the bookcase on the landing and then moved it a little bit, i put the dust sheets down and then got on with painting the ceiling, i did the ceiling at the top of the stairs, the bulkhead ceiling and the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs. I had a tea break and then got on with painting the coving, sadly i did this with gloss paint and got in trouble with Karen when she got home.

On the 16th Nov we had breakfast and then i took Karen to work, after dropping her off i made my way home and made myself a drink and watched the start of the Digital Communication, Media and Culture (DCMS) committee hearing about the racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. After watching for half an hour i went upstairs and put our bedroom TV on so i could still listen to it and then took all the pictures and plates down off the staircase walls and started painting them. Again i had to move the landing bookcase and the painting progressed, i stopped to make a drink and then brought the drink upstairs and continued painting.

I stopped at 1pm to have some lunch, i watched the news while eating and once the news finished i set up the DVD recorder before restarting the painting. I broke off at 3pm to make another drink and then continued painting. I finished off at a good point at 4.15pm, i cleaned my brush and then my hands before making a pot of coffee in the travel mug for Karen and then went to pick her up from work.

The following day, the 17th, we awoke with the alarm and i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed. Once we finished our tea, we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs and Karen did Felix's dishes and then set a load of washing going before we set off to the Aldi in Featherstone to do the bit of shopping we needed. I stayed in the car and read while Karen did this, once she was done and the shopping was in the car, we made our way home.

Once home we unpacked and put it all away and then i got our meds out and made us a coffee while Karen got breakfast out. We had a late breakfast and once finished we put the washing on the airers and radiators. We both checked the walls to see if the paint had taken OK or if it needed a second coat, luckily for me it was OK so i could carry on and finish the staircase at the next opportunity. I put the pictures and plates back up before we had some lunch and then i got on with the upstairs housework while Karen did some baking. Once i had done the housework i made us a drink and after i had finished it was time for me to go and pick Hannah up from her after school club. I brought Hannah home and she had some milk and cheese before disappearing upstairs with her Kindle Fire. Karen made Hannah's tea and then she took her to the bathroom for a shower, she had another glass of milk before i took her home.

151johnsimpson
nov 29, 2021, 5:03 pm

On Thursday the 18th Nov we had a pot of tea in bed before we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs and got everything sorted out. We had breakfast and shortly after we had finished, Amy, Andy and Elliott arrived. I made us a drink and as Elliott was due a bottle, Karen gave it to him. It wasn't long before his eyes began to shut so Karen took him in her arms in the armchair and gently rocked him until her dropped off to sleep.

Elliott woke up and when he had got his bearings Karen put him down on his playmat and we had a drink. We chatted for a while and then we had some lunch and Elliott had a bottle. We continued chatting after lunch and had a drink before they left for home. We had a steady evening and had something to eat before watching some TV, i went on the laptop and went onto LT to try and catch up with happenings.

On Friday the 19th we had breakfast before i took Karen to work, after dropping her off i parked up and went into the store to do the little bit of shopping we needed. Once done i made my way home and unpacked and put it all away before making myself a coffee. I read for a bit and had another drink before getting on with the downstairs housework.

Once done i had some lunch and a drink before reading until it was time to make Karen a drink in the travel mug and go and collect her from work. Once home with Karen we had a drink and then made our tea and watched Strictly Takes Two. We watched other programmes and i fired the laptop up to come onto LT and check my thread and other threads until it was time for bed.

152johnsimpson
nov 30, 2021, 4:35 pm

Saturday 20th Nov was a busy day right from the start. On Friday night i was checking Ikea's website to see if Billy Bookcases's were back in stock along with spare shelves and they had some in stock at the Sheffield store.

The alarm went off at 7.45am and i went downstairs to make a pot of tea for Karen and one in the travel mug for me. I took Karen her tea and got washed and dressed and then took my tea and got in the car and headed to Sheffield via Asda to put some fuel in the car. The store opened at 9am and i got parked up at 9.05am and then found my way into the store. We have never been here before and it is massive, on two floors, i was just glad that Karen was not with me as we would have been in there for hours.

I found the section where the bookcases were and noted down the location of where the stock could be picked up. By the time i got to the stock area i must have got my 10,000 steps in for the day. I got a trolley and loaded up the bookcase but could not find the shelves, after speaking to a young man, another member of staff got the shelves for me and i made my way to the checkout, once paid i made my way back to the car. I loaded up and them set off for home.

After a 30 minute journey i pulled up the drive and then delivered Margaret's papers and then went into the house to have my breakfast. After i had finished my breakfast, Karen opened the front door while i got the car keys and went out to the car, Karen helped me get it onto the staircase and while she went back to what she was doing, i hauled the bookcase upstairs and then unpacked all the pieces ready for assembly.

We had a pot of tea and i perused my paper before we had another drink and then it was time for me to take Karen to work. I dropped Karen off and then made my way home, once home i made a pot of tea and took it upstairs and began to assemble the bookcase. Once built, i put the bookcase in position and stated the long job of putting books on the two Billy bookcases added to the room. I broke off at 5pm to make a drink and Amy rang, she had forgotten her mum was at work, i told her what i was doing and she said she would see us the following day. I got back to sorting books out until 7pm when i broke off to put my tea in the microwave, i had my Prawn Linguine and took my coffee upstairs and carried on sorting books until 9.25pm. I stopped for the night and made Karen a coffee in the travel mug and went to collect her from work.

Sunday 21st Nov, we awoke with the alarm and i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Karen had got up at 7am to put the piece of Beef in the slow cooker. We had our tea and then got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get things sorted. We had our breakfast and shortly afterwards, Amy, Andy and Elliott arrived. I made us all a drink and as Elliott was due a bottle, Karen gave it to him. Once Elliott was fed, we went into the kitchen to peel the vegetables for Rob's Birthday Sunday lunch. Karen part cooked the Cauliflower ready to make Cauliflower Cheese and then cut the potatoes and the Carrots ready to cook. The veg were cooking nicely when Rob, Louise, Shannon and Hannah arrived, we had a drink and a chat and fed Hannah before our lunch was ready.

The Sunday lunch was Rob's choice and it was lovely, after we had finished we went into the living room and Elliott was cuddled by Shannon before Louise had a cuddle. Hannah was on the sofa and Louise put Elliott at the side of her and he wanted to get involved with her Ipad game, Hannah was doing her best to show him, she really loves him. Karen asked who wanted pudding, the choice being Sticky Toffee pudding with Custard or Chocolate Cake and Cream, both went down well. Rob's birthday was the following day and he would be 34.

After more chatting and Elliott cuddling, Rob, Louise and the girls left and 45 minutes later, Amy, Andy and Elliott left for home. We were shattered and had a relaxing evening, i had to go upstairs to watch Doctor Who but then rejoined Karen downstairs to watch Strictly: The Results.

Monday 22nd Nov, Rob's birthday. My alarm went off at 7.30am and i went downstairs to make myself a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Felix joined me upstairs once i had let him in. Karen went into work for 6am this morning, her section leader Helen picked her up to save me having to get up. I never heard Karen get up or leave the house. I had my tea and then got up, washed and dressed and then came downstairs to get my meds out and have my breakfast and have a coffee.

Once i had finished my breakfast i made anther drink and then went upstairs to get on with finishing sorting the books out. I took a break at Noon to make a drink and then went back to the books. I broke off again at 1pm to have my lunch, i watched the news and then set the DVD recorder up for Karen and then went back to the books. I did the books for 20 minutes before making a drink in the travel mug for Karen and went to pick her up at 2.15pm. Once home with Karen i went back up to the books and finished at 4.15 pm. I went back downstairs and made us both a drink and we watched The Repair Shop before we watched Pointless. After this Karen made our tea and it was ready just in time to watch Strictly Takes Two. We finished our tea and coffee and i went back up to bedroom 3/Library with the vacuum cleaner and cleaned the room and put things back in and then i put the excess books back in the loft. All was finally finished by 8.15pm, a job well done.

153thornton37814
nov 30, 2021, 7:17 pm

>152 johnsimpson: New bookcases are a reason for celebration!

154PaulCranswick
nov 30, 2021, 9:31 pm

Both Pre-Ashes warm up games washed out John does not augur well for our fragile batting. I really dislike this modern habit of dispensing with proper warm up games. The MCC / England team should play 7 first class games plus the 5 test matches (with the 6 Sheffield Shield States and the Governor's XI or Australia A team).
Please, please, please can the game start to recapture some respect for the traditions of the game?

155Berly
nov 30, 2021, 11:41 pm

Job well done indeed! Book shelves, a birthday and a sleepover. And tea. Life is good. : )

156johnsimpson
dec 1, 2021, 3:45 pm

>153 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, Celebration time indeed.

157johnsimpson
dec 1, 2021, 3:48 pm

>154 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, i wish we could go back to proper tours and respect the traditions of our wonderful game but the power of TV money and the money grabbing of the BCCI have torn this apart.

158johnsimpson
dec 1, 2021, 3:48 pm

>155 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, life is certainly good at the moment.

159johnsimpson
dec 1, 2021, 4:14 pm

Tuesday Nov 23rd, we were up with the lark this morning, 6.30am as Karen had a physio appointment at the hospital at 8.30am. We had breakfast and watched a bit of BBC Breakfast with the focus on Kevin Sinfield's 101 mile run in 24 hours for the Motor Neurone Disease centre in Leeds and for the MND Association, his ex-Rugby League colleague and best friend, Rob Burrow was diagnosed with this awful disease in late 2019.

I took Karen to the hospital for her appointment while i stayed in the car, Karen was able to watch Kevin finish his challenge on the waiting room TV while i listened to it on the radio. Once Karen was done and back in the car, i took her to work, after dropping her off i made my way home and made myself a pot of tea and then got on with finishing off the staircase painting. Mid morning i broke off to make a pot of coffee and then stopped at 1pm to have lunch, a drink and set the DVD recorder up before getting back to the painting. I broke off at 3pm to make another drink and finished off at 4.10pm, i cleaned my brush and roller then made a drink and then one for Karen in the travel mug and went to pick her up from work.

Wednesday 24th Nov, the alarm went off at 7.30am and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed. We had our tea and then got up washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort things out. We had breakfast and not long after Amy, Andy and Elliott arrived, i made us all a drink and Elliott was due a feed which Karen gave him.

We had a good natter and cuddled Elliott and he played on his playmat, we had another drink or two before we had lunch and then another drink before i went to pick Hannah up from her after school club. The first thing that Hannah asks me is, is Elliott there and today i could say yes he is there. She loves Elliott and gets so excited to see him, once home and in, she took her coat off and went straight to Elliott and gave him a cuddle and he gave her a big grin. We had a drink and then had something to eat before they left for home and Karen took Hannah for a shower. Once Hannah was showered and downstairs, she had some milk and then i took her home.

Thursday 25th Nov, i went and made us a pot of tea when the alarm went off at 8am, Felix joined us as it was a bit chilly outside. Karen was in pain with her swollen middle finger and she needed her anti-biotics. We got up, washed and dressed and i stripped the bedding off of our bed ready to be washed.

We came downstairs and i put the bedding and some other bits of white washing in the machine and set it off before we got breakfast ready. We had breakfast and by the time we had finished, the washer had stopped and i put the washing onto the airers and radiators. When that was done we went upstairs to put fresh, clean bedding on our bed, Karen helped as best as she could. The rest of the day was nice and steady, we watched a bit of TV, we read and we had a few pots of tea and coffee.

Friday 26th Nov, the alarm went off at 8am and i went and made us a pot of tea, Felix would not go out as it was bitterly cold and the wind was getting up. We finished our tea and got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort things out. Karen's finger was still tender and sore but not quite as red and angry.

We got things done and had breakfast before i went to the Asda to do the little bit of shopping that we needed, once done and home, i put it all away before making us a drink of coffee. Karen's finger had started to throb again and so the rest of the day was spent relaxing with hot drinks, a bit of TV and reading.

160johnsimpson
dec 1, 2021, 4:42 pm

Saturday 27th Nov, we awoke to the sound of the bedside phone beeping, Karen tried to put her bedside light on and nothing, a power cut had taken place. We awoke again at 7.30 with the alarm, still no power but Karen wanted a drink of tea. I went downstairs in the dark and opened the blinds to a winter wonderland, we had had about three inches of snow and all was deathly silent.

I filled a couple of pans with water and had to use a match to light the gas to boil the water, once boiled i made our tea and then filled a flask with the rest of the boiled water. I took our tea back up to bed and Felix joined us, i had opened the door for him and he stepped out and quickly shot back in, the combination of snow and wind was not for him.

We finished our tea and then got up and had a cold water wash, dressed and downstairs to sort things out. We made a coffee with the hot water from the flask and we sorted Felix's dishes out, got our meds out and breakfast out. After breakfast i went to Crofton to get the papers but could only get mine and one for Margaret, i delivered her paper and went home to another hot drink from boiled water. We had text messages about the loss of power and at 10.25 we got power back on, the heating quickly kicked back in and we raised the thermostat to get warmed up.

I popped out just after 11am to pick up some sourdough bread that we had ordered from Tanya's and a couple of pieces of Rocky Road before heading to the supermarket to pick up some lightbulbs for the kitchen. Asda had no papers at all and i popped to Sainsbury's on Ings Road and they had no papers. I made my way home and by now our local shop had opened so i popped in there and managed to get a Daily Mirror for Margaret, though they only had the Sun, Star and Mirror on offer. Once home i read that at the highest Motorway point in the UK, the M62 between junction 21 and 22, they had closed the Motorway because of heavy snow and 120 Heavy Goods Vehicles were trapped alongside cars and vans and some of the newspapers that should have been in the shops were stuck in the lorries.

We had a steady rest of the day keeping warm and watching a bit of TV and reading, it was bitterly cold all afternoon and by early evening it was starting to freeze over again.

161johnsimpson
dec 1, 2021, 5:13 pm

I am nearly all caught up and will be setting up a final thread for 2021 either tomorrow or Friday.

162scaifea
dec 2, 2021, 7:45 am

Hi, John!

I'm jealous of your snow, but not of your power outage - I'm glad it got sorted and you were able to warm up!

I also have to say that my heart gets warm every time I read about you getting a thermos ready and taking it with you for Karen when you pick her up. I love those everyday little things we do for the ones we care about.

163thornton37814
dec 3, 2021, 11:29 am

We've had a few flakes, but no significant snow yet. I'm hoping this year brings us at least one nice snowfall. We're overdue for a good one.

164johnsimpson
dec 3, 2021, 4:11 pm

>162 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, i do like to see snow on the ground, it is 40 years since we had some serious amounts of snow over an extended period, Karen likes the snow to look at but not if she has to go about in it, lol. We are so lucky compared to folks in Scotland, Cumbria and Northumberland and parts of North Yorkshire who in some cases are still with out power a week on from the storm.

I started taking Karen a drink when her shifts all finished between 8 and 10pm and i have just continued it, her colleagues are all in awe that i bring her a nice hot drink to have as soon as she finishes her shift. As we have always said, it's not about the big gestures, it's the little things that count most.

165johnsimpson
dec 3, 2021, 4:13 pm

>163 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, it was nice to see the snow but by Monday lunchtime it had all gone as the temperature rose to a heady 9C, the temperatures have been up and down all week and we are due to a fall in temperatures over the next few days with more snow predicted.

166drneutron
dec 3, 2021, 6:33 pm

it's the little things that count most

Yes, indeed!

167PaulCranswick
dec 3, 2021, 8:10 pm

Keep warm John. 4 days from the first Ashes test and my expectations are low. I am a little down on cricket at the moment with the debacle at Yorkshire but I would put out this team:

Hameed, Burns, Malan, Root, Pope, Stokes, Buttler, Robinson, Wood, Leach, Anderson

Tempting to play Chris Woakes but I think we do need at least one spinner in the team.

168PaulCranswick
dec 3, 2021, 10:55 pm

Just to let you know that my lost post was your 1,000 th on your threads this year John.

169johnsimpson
dec 4, 2021, 2:41 pm

>167 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, keeping warm mate especially when Karen keeps giving me jobs to do, lol. I have to admit that Cricket at the moment is not exactly enthralling me with our County embroiled in such a mess.

That's not a bad team mate, there has been talk about Bairstow batting at six but i would agree with you on Pope but bat him at six for the time being. If he had Root or Stokes going well it would give him some confidence and then we can think about moving him up to five.

>168 PaulCranswick:, I have been hit and miss this year since July when the family issue started, i am hoping to do a lot better in 22.

170johnsimpson
Bewerkt: dec 14, 2021, 4:17 pm



Finished book 71 on 1st December, Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child, PB - 542 pages.

22-11-21 to 1-12-21

171johnsimpson
dec 4, 2021, 3:21 pm

Time for a new thread folks, join me shortly on thread six, thank you.
Dit onderwerp werd voortgezet door John Simpson - Back to the Normal Reads No 6.