John Simpson - Back to the Normal Reads No 6

Welcome to thread six.

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.

CURRENTLY READING

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

54. Minerva by M.C. Beaton, PB - 4 Stars
55. A Wedding in the Country by Katie Fforde, HB - 5 Stars
56. Flat Share by Beth O'Leary, PB - 4.5 Stars
57. A Christmas Surprise Ed by Martin Edwards, PB - 4.5 Stars
58. Home for Christmas - Various Authors, PB - 2.5 Stars

BOOKS READ IN DECEMBER BY JOHN

71. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child, PB - 542 pages
72. Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB - 392 pages.
73. To the Land of Long Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 227 pages.
74. Private Sydney by James Patterson, PB - 442 pages.
75. Confessions, The Paris Mysteries by James Patterson, PB - 293 pages.

BOOKS READ IN DECEMBER BY KAREN

59. A Christmas Party by Georgette Heyer, PB - 4 Stars
60. A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Trisha Ashley, PB - 4 Stars
61. Murder Most Festive by Ada Moncrieff, PB - 4.5 Stars
62. One More for Christmas by Sarah Morgan, PB - 5 Stars
63. A Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan, PB - 5 Stars
64. A Murder for Christmas by Frances Duncan, PB - 5 Stars

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN DECEMBER

209. The Dead of Winter by Nicola Upson, PB.
210. Stealing the Crown by T.P. Fielden, PB.
211. Burying the Crown by T.P. Fielden, PB.
212. Good as Dead by Mark Billingham, PB.
213. The Patterdale Plot by Rebecca Tope, PB.
214. Glory in Death by J.D. Robb, PB.
215. Strictly Murder by Julie Wassmer, PB.
216. Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly, PB.
217. The Late Show by Michael Connelly, PB.
218. The Lost by James Patterson, PB.
219. The Kiss by James Patterson, PB.
220. The Fire by James Patterson, PB.
221. The Patron Saint of Lost Souls by Menna Van Praag, PB.
222. When Giants Walked the Earth, 50 Years of Led Zeppelin by Mick Wall, PB.
223. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, PB.
224. Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan, PB.
225. A Cotswold Christmas Mystery by Rebecca Tope, PB.
226. The Puppet Boy of Warsaw by Eva Weaver, PB.
227. Girls in Tin Hats by Annie Murray, PB.
228. Too Many Reasons To Live, My Autobiography by Rob Burrow, HB.
229. My Life Story by Jack Hobbs, HB.
230. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack Australia 2000 - 01 ed by Gideon Haigh, HB.

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

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

Thread is now open, welcome one and all.

Happy new thread, John!

>21 drneutron: Welcome Jim, first one to the new thread.

Happy new thread, John!

Hi John, happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, John! You and Karen have done quite well with your reading this year, considering everything. Hope the winds and storms have died down in Yorkshire.

Happy new one, John. Trust that you and Karen will have a lovely weekend.

Happy new one!

Happy new thread!! Hope you are enjoying the weekend. And you are closing in on the magic 75!

Happy new thread, John!

>23 FAMeulstee:, Thanks Anita my dear.

>24 quondame:, Thanks Susan my dear.

>25 thornton37814:, Thanks Lori my dear.

>26 kac522:, Hi Kathy my dear, considering the last six months our reading has not been too bad and i will get to 75 for the year. It will be 15 short of where i wanted to be but better than what it could have been.

The wind and snow have abated but it is still cold although day to day things fluctuate, anything from 2C to 10C. The heating is on then lowered and then off then back on, we don't know where we are and we have rain on and off.

>27 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, the weekend has not been too bad culminating with the Village Christmas lights switch on at 6 pm to day although the village Facebook forum went Pete Tong yesterday after a lady (who it turns out lives seven doors away) posted about the state of the main Village tree. After seeing what Norway sent us for Trafalgar Square, ours is positively bushy, the post was quite harsh on the Working for Walton volunteers and sparked some vitriolic comments, some deleted quickly and harsh words spoken against posters. I couldn't wait to pick Karen up from work to tell her about it and then she could go on her phone and see for herself, it even continued this morning, i haven't looked to see if it is still going on.

>28 figsfromthistle:, Thanks Anita my dear.

>29 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, the weekend has been pretty good culminating with the annual Christmas lights switch on at the Village Hall. See previous post for more details.

I should hit 75 before Christmas Day and considering the last six months it is not too bad but about 15 short of where i wanted to be.

>30 scaifea:, Thanks Amber my dear.

Happy new thread, John. I see you had a snow storm, we had our first snow yesterday but of course it is all gone now. We really don't need any precipitation of any kind after the flooding we've had this autumn.

>35 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg my dear, since the snow it has been cold and wet but as i said in a previous post, the temperatures are up and down at the moment. Through this week is has been around 4C to 7C but tomorrow it has to jump up to 12C and then back down to around 7C, we don't know where we are with the weather at the moment.

Happy new-ish thread, John. I was out-of-town for a week and have come back trying desperately (unsuccessfully, I might add) to catch up. I hope you are keeping warm!

>37 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, we are keeping nice and toastie my dear.

Interested to see Darren Gough going back to Yorkshire as Director of Cricket. Pleased with that as he is an honest and positive minded fellow.

Do you think we will see Gary Ballance playing for us again?

Although i have still to post some events from around the 28th Nov, i must post about the last 24 hours.

Elliott has been a bit grizzly over the last few days so Karen said we would have him overnight, as we wanted to put the Christmas tree up we said don't bring him until after 12. We got up, no pot of tea in bed and had breakfast and then got on with re-arranging a couple of bits of furniture, vacuuming where they had been and then got on with putting up the tree.

On Tuesday evening we had a mini row, i can't remember the last time we had a row, and i think it was overdue for me. We kissed and made up in bed (no funny ideas you lot).

Amy and Andy arrived with the little fella and not long after they made there way to Cineworld at Xscape Castleford to watch Ghostbusters. An hour later i went to pick Hannah up from her after school club, she asked if Elliott was with us and i said yes, she was delighted.

Hannah played with Elliott but he started to get a bit grizzly, we fed Hannah and Karen fed Elliott, not long after Karen took them both up for a bath. While they were bathing, i put the travel cot up ready for Elliott to go to sleep. They had their bath and once both were dried, Karen gave Elliott a feed and i took Hannah home. Once back, Elliott was asleep after a bit of a struggle.

Elliott slept until 9pm when we heard him crying via the baby monitor, Karen went up to soothe him and put him back to sleep, nothing doing. Every time she tried to put him down he started crying and screaming. It got to the point that at 11pm i put him in the car and went for a drive, as it was cold i had the heater going and thought that would help. I went for what i considered a decent drive and when i got back on the drive i got out and looked at him and he was wide awake. Karen took him off me and she took him upstairs, he looked shattered but was fighting it. Karen managed to get him down at midnight while i listened to the Test Cricket.

I noticed that Karen was no longer in bed at around 3am, i was awake and Karen asked me to go and warm the four ounce bottle up for him, he had the bottle but would not go down. At 3.50am she brought him into our bed and he settled down, none of us really slept and he woke up after every hour. At 7am the alarm went off and i went to make us a pot of tea and did a bottle for Elliott. Elliott had his bottle and he was calm while we had our tea.

Once we finished our tea, Karen sorted Elliott out and then i looked after him while Karen got washed and dressed. Karen took him downstairs and i got up, washed and dressed. We had breakfast and then went to the Aldi at Featherstone. Elliott fell asleep in the car but woke up before Karen had got back to the car with the shopping. I pacified him until Karen got back to the car and then we made our way home. We were just getting the shopping out of the car when Amy and Andy arrived.

Seeing as our two are 34 and 32, we had forgotten what seven-month-olds are like, we were shattered and have rested for the rest of the day as we are going to Bakewell tomorrow, this will probably be our last date day out before Christmas. Next week i will be going down to Meadowhall shopping centre on the outskirts of Sheffield to do the last of my Christmas shopping for Karen.

We will sleep soundly tonight, it didn't help that i was also in a lot of pain with my back, this stems from Sunday and our visit to see the Village Christmas lights switch on, more of this and other things later.

>40 johnsimpson: The joys of Grandparenthood!

>41 PaulCranswick:, Oh Yes mate, you forget how demanding a seven month old can be at times, bless him. It wasn't really his fault, he is cutting more teeth and because it has been going on for a few days, he was getting beyond himself. Once he was calmed down he was fine, it was only when trying to put him down that he started up again, although once he came into our bed he was fine for an hour at a time.

I ought to have put the Cricket on for him, that would have sent him to sleep knowing that the Aussies were building up a formidable total. If it had been the previous night i wouldn't have bothered as it was a horror show and i would not have wanted to frighten him, lol.

>40 johnsimpson: - >42 johnsimpson: Ah yes. Time for whiskey. A bit for you a bit for the teething one, you can understand how the practice occurred. The things we survive. Hopefully.

>43 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, ha, ha, ha, oh yes, a Whiskey would have been good both all of us, bless him.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

Friday morning started out a little wet but bright, we got up with the alarm and quickly got ready and came downstairs to get things sorted out. We let Felix out while we got breakfast ready and a nice pot of tea and put him some fresh food and water down.

We managed to get Felix back in before we set off to Bakewell via the Asda to put some fuel in the car. The journey was quite pleasant although the weather was changeable and we arrived in Bakewell to a short shower. We parked up outside The Bakewell Tart Shop and Coffee House and went inside to warm up and have a coffee and a toasted teacake. The Coffee arrived and then what we thought was a toasted teacake which turned out to be Lardy Cake, it was delicious. It is a bit like teacake with a hint of Cinnamon.

We finished our coffee and Lardy cake and Karen went to the counter to pay and also pick up some Iced Bakewell slices, some traditional Bakewell Tarts and a Lardy Cake.

We left the coffee House and began to have a wander around Bakewell, Karen went into a cookshop and i popped into a gift store, Karen joined me and we picked up a nice card and a couple of books and four boxes of Pukka tea in different flavours and because of this we got a free Pukka Mug. We left the shop and crossed the road and began to go into one or two shops. The weather picked up a little bit, the rain stopped and the sun made a brief appearance but there was a biting wind.

We picked up one or two things and i got another book, we found a nice shop that had ladies scarves, socks etc as well as young children's items, Karen picked up a pair of sock moccasins for Elliott. By now we were feeling a bit peckish and we headed to the Costa Coffee shop and had a coffee, toasted sandwich and some cake. After we had finished we left the Costa and headed to Rutland Antiques. We had a good wander around and Karen picked up three vintage small Christmas decorations, sadly i didn't find and fountain pens.

We left the antiques shop and made our way back to the car, we got in and set off to High Peak Bookstore and Cafe at Brierlow Bar near Buxton. This is a place we have frequented many times since we first found it, it is the perfect place to spend a relaxing few hours, browsing an extensive and eclectic selection of books, choosing a card or gift and enjoying homemade food with locally roasted coffee. The majority of books are less than half their original price, all are brand new and are good value. We spent a bit of time there before leaving with eight more books.

We made our way home via the Aldi just outside Bakewell and got home just after 6.15pm, Felix was very pleased to see us and then shot out of the house for the next few hours.

>45 johnsimpson: I think I'm going to have to go to England just to shop! I get so tired of boring department stores in the United States. I'd love to be able to find some of these unique shops you describe!

>46 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, it is nice to visit the small market towns with their range of independent shops. Over the last few years and then the first year of Covid, the department stores have been decimated along with other businesses but the good old fashioned family owned departments stores are still going. We have Barkers in Northallerton, Harvey's in Halifax and Beale's, it is so nice to go into these with their quirky spaces and well maintained original exteriors.

We love visiting the market towns not just in Yorkshire but Lancashire, Cumbria and Derbyshire, where we can get to and back in a day and then a couple of overnight stays to go a bit further afield and if we holiday in the UK we tend to go down south to explore their market towns and there are always independent bookshops, antiquarian and secondhand bookshops along with the many charity shops to quench our book thirst.

Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

Finished book 72 late last night, Under Gemini by Rosamunde Pilcher, PB - 392 pages.

1-12-21 to 13-12-21

>47 johnsimpson: I miss the market towns, John, manly for the turning up of obscure books in unlikely places.

I understand our two ladies will be having a sort of proxy LT meet-up next week mate and I asked my good lady to give both of you my best wishes.

The cricket?! It was a good toss to win to be fair but poor old Rory Burns needs a rest by the looks of it which opens the door to the completely undeserving Zak Crawley. I hope he will repay the faith so many have placed bizarrely in him.

>48 johnsimpson: I do not think I have ever read any of Pilcher's books. Is that one a good place to start, John?

Have a wonderful weekend!

>49 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, i do love having a mooch around our lovely market towns to see what i can find, i have been lucky in finding Yorkshire yearbooks in the most unlikely places.

I believe that a meet-up has been talked about, i am in the dark about details, lol.

The Test Series so far is a bit of a horror show, thank god for Malan and Root, i think their will be many changes for the MCG Test, Burns, Pope, Buttler and possibly Woakes could be jettisoned. I have to feel sorry for Root despite his dubious captaincy choices, the side seems to rely on him for everything, it is getting wearing seeing him walk out to bat at less than 30 for 2, he must wish for the heady day when we are 200+ for 2 when he comes in although he will be that unused to the situation he will be out cheaply.

If the series continues like the first three innings we have had, the hierarchy will have to do something about the Championship playing dates. The prevalence of bish bash bosh Cricket and 50 Over games is leading to the players not knowing how to build an innings.

Not looking forward to tomorrows play.

>50 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, Under Gemini is not a bad start or i would go for Winter Solstice, either would be good to start with.

>51 johnsimpson: I do think Burns, Pope and Buttler could be jettisoned but I am not convinced that we picked back-ups to come in and improve things. Would mean Crawley, Lawrence and Bairstow and we have seen the three of them fail time after number. I would be decisive and call upon Yates, Bohannon and Foakes from the Lions. We need Woakes' runs at the moment but it also looks like Bess could make a fortuitous return as well.

>53 PaulCranswick:: I agree with you Paul in that the back ups are not who i would like to have replace the failures and i would have kept the Lions out there for just this situation. I agree that Bess return could be fortuitous, even Ian Chappell said Bess could do a job with ball and bat, who'd a thunk it from him, lol.

Yesterday i got the last of Karen's presents and this afternoon while she is at work i wrapped them all and put them under the tree. I will probably get into trouble for exceeding the limit we sort of set each other but she did let slip that she had gone over budget before i started shopping so i really should be safe, lol.

I hope to finish my current read by the end of tomorrow and that will give me time to get two more in to reach 75 for the year. I will be glad to see the back of 2021 on more than just the reading front and am looking forward to 2022.

>54 johnsimpson: My main purpose to say it is fortuitous, John, is that his selection was baffling when considering how terrible he performed in India. He is at least decent with the bat which could well be important and he would be less easy to get at than Leach as the Aussie's do seem to like left arm orthodox bowling.
Matt Critchley would have been worth thinking about but Matt Parkinson was the obvious one to come and get us wickets. Liam Livingstone and Amar Virdi should be closer to the team in my opinion as should Jack Carson.

>52 johnsimpson: Thanks for the input, John. I will have to see what my local library has of hers.

Have a terrific week!

>56 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, another horror show despite some final day rearguard batting, Buttler was unlucky to step back onto his stumps but despite all this, his place is still under pressure. Woakes batted well but not long enough and the same could be said of Stokes and Pope, Pope is being found out too often and does not seem to learn from his errors.

Stokes has not played any cricket for such a long time that he can be excused a bit, but as vice-captain he needs to step up a bit to help Root out. I am fearing a 5-0 whitewash, the MCG is such an intimidating ground to try and stop the Aussies steamrollering England.

>57 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, glad to have been some help my dear friend.

Finished book 73 this morning, To the Land of Long Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 227 pages.

13-12-21 to 20-12-21

I banned Karen from the garage yesterday and today while i built this surprise for her. I got home from Christmas shopping at just after 1pm and at 2pm i put the cuphooks on and then took all my tools to the front door and put it on the wall. I added the baubles and then draped the lights around it. I just hoped Karen would like it, she loved it.

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>61 johnsimpson: What a delightfully fun decoration!

Merry Christmas!

I had a busy day today, once we were up and dressed we had breakfast before it was time to take Karen to work. I dropped Karen off and then parked up near the front of the store and went in to get a few bits so that the dates were good. Once i had done and out everything in the car, i set off to Harrogate to do my last bit of Christmas shopping.

We always do each other a small stocking and Karen had done mine, i asked for a ball park figure on what she had spent so that she can't have a go at me for spending too much. The little gifts are small, useful and fun. I got parked up in Harrogate at just after 10.30am and set off to do my shopping.

First stop was Imagined Things bookshop, the owner Georgia has added inks as she has become a member of Fountain Pens UK after getting back into Fountain Pens during lockdown and her pregnancy. Georgia wasn't in today but the two young ladies were very helpful to me, i picked up a Jane Austen book puzzle for Karen, a book for me and a bottle of ink from the 2020 Inkvent calendar. I wished them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and said i would see them in 2022.

Next stop was Ryman stationers to pick up some record cards for my book notes and after paying for them i moved onto Jespers stationers. It was my first visit to Jespers since the shop refit and i wanted to see it, first point of call was the Fountain pens display. They have a lovely selection and i was surprised at how big the Conklin All American pen is, on Black Friday i was torn between the All American and the Opus 88 Bela, i opted for the Opus but after seeing the All American, i want one. I picked up a small pendant for Karen.

I went for a mooch around the rest of Harrogate and ended up in Waterstones and picked up a Bamboo travel mug, it says it doesn't give off that horrible plastic taste, a copper letter K book mark and a pack of three small Alice in Wonderland notebooks. I hope she will be pleased with her Stocking on Christmas morning before she opens her main presents.

I made my way back to the car and headed for home, i arrived back just after 1pm and i got the Stocking presents out and then got the shopping out and unpacked and put it all away before having a coffee. As soon as i had finished my drink i went to the garage to check out the wooden Christmas tree to make sure the paint was dry. The paint was dry so i screwed in the cup hooks and then took it inside to the front door, i got the rest of my equipment, baubles and lights.

I screwed the tree to the front wall and then put the baubles on and then draped the lights on, it was too early to put them on as they are only on a six hour timer. I put all my tools away and then made another coffee and wrapped Karen's Christmas Stocking presents up and pit them in the Stocking. Jobs done and i could relax for an hour until it was time to go and pick her up from work.

I put the wooden tree lights on at 4pm and i was very pleased with myself, i just hoped Karen would be as pleased. I picked Karen up from work and then we went to her ex-sister-in-laws to drop off a present and some cards. We left her sil and made our way home, as we got near to our drive i slowed down and made sure the car lights shone onto the tree, Karen exclaimed and said she loved her surprise, phew.

>62 quondame:, Thanks Susan my dear.

>61 johnsimpson: Looks lovely, John, a nice surprise for Karen!

>65 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita my dear, a neighbour has asked on Facebook if i will make one for her next year, lol.

>66 johnsimpson: Would be a nice sight, John, if there was one on each house in the street, Not all made by you of course ;-)

>67 FAMeulstee:, It could be a little Christmas business venture, lol.

>61 johnsimpson: Nice!

>61 johnsimpson: Love this!! And you are so close to your 75!!

>68 johnsimpson: An idea for your Christmas business - my cousin gave me something similar she found at a crafts fair. A Christmas tree is cut out of plywood (I think), about 5 feet tall. There are ornatments that are cut out of wood too and velcro is used to put them onto the tree. There are twice as many ornnaments as needed for a year so they can be changed out. I let kids play with mine pre-Christmas and they have a great time with it.

I think this was a lovely surprise for Karen!

>61 johnsimpson: That's fantastic, John!! Well done, you!

>69 drneutron:, Thanks Jim, mate.

>70 Berly:, Thanks Kim and i will get to 75, i can just touch it.

>71 clue:, Hi Luanne my dear, it sounds good the idea of a plywood tree and velcro ornaments and Karen did love her surprise.

>72 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, thank you.

>61 johnsimpson: Oh Wow! Very nice. Very clever.

>75 figsfromthistle:, Thanks Anita my dear.

>61 johnsimpson: I love it! I am happy Karen did too!

Merry Christmas to you both, John!

Merry Christmas to you, Karen, and the family!

>73 johnsimpson: Touch is for braille! It's read, read man. I'm sure you'll get there!

>77 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, i am glad that you like, Karen posted a picture of it on a group she is a member of and the latest likes count is 625 and on her own Facebook page she has 118 likes and 73 comments. I have been asked to make some for next year and at the moment i have 9 to make, lol.

A very Merry Christmas to you and your family my dear friend.

>78 drneutron:, Thanks Jim, and a Very Merry Christmas to you, Danita and your family, mate.

>79 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, i should have put it is within my grasp, lol.

Not a bad evening, Suzanne, a colleague of Karen's who lives close by suggested getting Crofton Silver Band to come and play Christmas Carols, Suzanne booked them for the 23rd, Tonight. Eight ladies all put in £6.50 to pay for the band to play for 30 minutes, the fee goes to their nominated charity for 2021.

We drafted a note for the residents of our street, Catherine our next door neighbour printed them and i delivered them last week. We had quite a good turnout and everyone enjoyed this little festive treat, we took a collection and raised £92 to be split between two Charities. The neighbourlyness that has grown since the start of Covid has stayed and we were pleased with how many took the time to come out and sing a few carols.

Or in other words: Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

>2 johnsimpson: I can relate to owning many, many books. I've spent some concentrated time going through my books. Those I know I will not read, were given to the local library.

God Bless my lovely grand daughter who now lives with me.
She helped get the books into my car, and then into the library.


She is such an incredible help. And, Will was right, when she was born, he said "This will be a very special child." And, while he is no longer with us, every day I thank God for all the memories we made that revolved around Kayla. He had a large part of making her the special young lady she is (now 18.)

I think of you and your grandbabies first Christmas. May it be a special time of love and laughter!

Hi John, and a very belated Happy New Thread!

I’m skimming… but will be back full force in 2022. I’m one of those folks who doesn’t start a new year thread ‘til the 1st of January, so I’ll see you then!

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen and special holiday kitty skritches to Felix.

Best wishes to you and yours for now and the new year!

Have a lovely holiday, John (and Karen).

Happy Holidays John!

Today is my Tenth Thingaversary, i can't believe it is ten years since i signed up with LT, time does really fly. When the shops open i will have some book shopping to do, i believe.

Her's to ten more years of fun and friendship.

These were our family ornaments this year and, despite COVID, a merry time was had by all. I hope the same is true for you and here's to next year!! Happy Thingaversary--let me know what books jump into your arms. : )

>84 SandDune:, >85 Whisper1:, >86 karenmarie:, >87 witchyrichy:, >88 PaulCranswick:, >89 quondame:, Thank you for the Christmas messages my dear friends.

>91 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, we had a lovely day yesterday, i will post some pictures of the little fella shortly. I will be sure to let you know what books jump out at me, lol.

Today has been a day of chilling out, the weather has been horrible, wet and miserable. We had leftovers from Christmas Day lunch and then a bit later had some Sticky Toffee pudding and Custard.

I filled my monster of a pen, the Opus 88 Bela, this is an eyedropper pen and has a capacity of 3.8ml, i put in Winter Miracle from Diamine's 2020 Inkvent calendar and i filled by Christmas present pen, a Conklin Minigraph with Herbin's Poussiere De Lune, both bought by my darling Karen. The ink is a plum shade and is lovely, whereas the Winter Miracle is a dark Purple and is a shimmer and shade ink. When comparing the pens side by side it is a case of David and Goliath, the Opus being the Goliath but i love them both. Karen also got me a bottle of Pelikan Sapphire Ink but i haven't decided yet which pen it will go in, i may save it for the pen i have ordered from Tom's studio, it is called Sunrise and i think the ink will go well with it.

I have made a promise to Karen that i will not buy anymore pens in 2022 UNLESS it is a bargain one from a charity shop or either in the Black Friday sale or Fountain Pen day, both of which are at the end of 2022. I have spent a bit more on pens than i should have in 2021. I hope that by the time of the BF or FPD at the end of the year, i will have put enough to one side to get a really special pen from one of the Italian pen makers, a Leonardo, Tibaldi or Gioia or failing that a pen made by one of the fantastic penmakers we have on the FPUK group where i can choose the type of material and nib size and colour.

>94 johnsimpson: Ah come on John, it's ever so simple not to buy any more pens in 2002! Next year it will probably be more difficult!

>95 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, silly me with the typo error, schoolboy mistake, lol.

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>97 johnsimpson: All the awwws!

Cute!!!

I'm late to the game for holiday wishes but I will say an early Happy New Year to you and yours, John. Elliot is a cutie! How old is he now?

Happy Thingaversary, John.

Little fellow @ >97 johnsimpson: looks a real champ. Love the one with him 'reading' his card. He'll be in the group before you can say Jack Robinson or should that be Joe Root?!

>90 johnsimpson: Congratulations on your 10th Thingaversary, John. I cannot wait to see what books you buy for it.

>97 johnsimpson: He looks like he is just having a jolly old time!

>98 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, definitely all the Awwwss.

>99 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, if i say so myself, he is such a cutie, as soon as he sees me he gives me such a big grin and melts my heart.

>100 jessibud2:, Hi Shelley my dear, i hope you has as good a Christmas as we did my dear, and a happy new year to you dear friend. Elliott will be eight months old on the 4th of January, he is growing fast and loves his food. He tries most things in small doses, the only thing so far he is not keen on is tomatoes but that may change as he gets older.

>101 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, thanks mate on the Thingaversary, the little fella is a champ and he already has a good collection of books, well he is surrounded by book lovers. As he grows up he will see me coming on here and i think he will want to join and be alongside his Grandad.

>102 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, thanks for the Thingaversary, i think it will be sometime next week when i start getting my Thingaversary books.

Elliott had a really good time, he loved being fed at the table with all of us and got a bit annoyed when we started eating and so he had a few mouthfuls of Christmas lunch as well as his own food.

Finished book 74 this morning, Private Sydney by James Patterson, PB - 442 pages.

20-12-21 to 27-12-21

>97 johnsimpson: Quite adorable! Glad you had a wonderful Christmas!

Oh dear John; please stay cuddled up snug in your bed. We are all out for 68 and have lost by an innings. What a complete shambles, but really well played Australia.

>109 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, by the time we had got up and downstairs and having breakfast, it was 8am before i heard about the debacle on BBC Breakfast. Two days and 80 minutes is an absolute shocker and then Silverwood says there are positives to take out of it, who does he think he is, Mystic Meg, for God's sake.

2022 thread now up and open to visitors.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/337263#unread

Got you starred but I am not hanging out in 2022 until Friday. : )

>110 johnsimpson: It runs much deeper than him but Silverwood has to go. Root is our only world class batsman and we need him but not as captain. Ashley Giles is also the architect of this fiasco and he is even more urgently required to get the boot than Silverwood.

Finally a lot of the senior players are grousing about the parlous scheduling of England's first class game and we need to root out (pun slightly intended) the white ball maniacs in the ECB and get some balance back.

The Central Contract system should not be allowed to prevent players getting time in the middle in the first class game and the first class game needs to be on pitches good enough and competitive enough to encourage batsmen, quicks and spinners to emerge.

I'm a stuck record but a T20 Sunday League, one knock out competition and the Hundred saved for season end. First class cricket played throughout the summer. If we go with two leagues then the top flight teams should all play a touring team in a first class environment.

Of the current group Root, Malan, Stokes, Robinson, Anderson, (Woakes in England) and Wood should stay. Although I would rest Anderson for the West Indies if he wanted
We need to blood or reintroduce 5 new players in the West Indies.
Ben Stokes should be asked to captain to see how we go
My 10 to join that six would be:

Rhodes or Abell as potential captains in the squad
Libby & Lees as new openers
two from Livingstone, Vince, Bohannon and Carlson to tie down the middle order as Lawrence, Pope and Bairstow go back to the drawing board.
Foakes and Billings as wicket keepers
Parkinson and Virdi as spinners
Garton as a left arm quick and Mahmood as back up seamer

I might favour Rhodes as a slightly more potent bowler and just as good a bat as Abell if slightly catching up in captaincy terms.

My team for the Test Match in the West Indies

Libby
Lees
Malan
Root
Bohannon
Stokes (C)
Foakes
Garton
Wood
Robinson
Parkinson

Rhodes, Carlson, Billings, Mahmood, Virdi touring.

Cannot do worse than we have in Australia.

Finished book 75 this morning, Confessions, The Paris Mysteries by James Patterson, PB - 293 pages.

27-12-21 to 29-12-21

>114 johnsimpson: Congratulations on reaching 75, John!

You did it!!

Well done, John!

I'm waiting until I get home tomorrow evening to visit 2022 threads and begin mine. We're in the midst of a thunderstorm, and I fear the power may go out!

Congratulations!

Great work, John--you can now officially start 2022 in my book!

>115 FAMeulstee:, Thank you Anita my dear.

>116 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, i did it, yay.

>117 PaulCranswick:, Cheers Paul, mate.

>118 thornton37814:, There is no rush to visit the 2022 threads, Lori my dear. I hope that the Thunderstorms dissipated and that you didn't lose any power.

>119 quondame:, Thank you Susan my dear.

>120 kac522:, Thanks Kathy my dear, now that you have made it official for me to start my 2022 thread, i feel better dear lady.

>122 johnsimpson: We were okay where my brother lived, but there was a tornado in an Alabama town a bit southeast of him. I think we were under a tornado watch but never a warning. I'm home now. It's a foggy night. I ventured back out to go to a drive-thru to get something to eat since I need to restock on some "essentials" that expire as well as find things I want to eat for the next few days. I really just want to stay put! The less exposure to COVID, the better.

Congratulations on reaching 75 John! Well done.

And as we will be busy tonight I am early wishing you and Karen, and all the family a very happy new year. Lots of good reading, cups of tea, and family togetherness to all of you, John.

Hi John!

Congrats on #75!

Sending happy new year greetings and love to you and Karen and special kitty skritches to Felix.

Not what Karen expected when i took her for surgery at 7.30 this morning, and definitely not what she wanted on New Years Eve. My nursing skills have been called upon again.

https://pics.cdn.librarything.com//picsizes/29/d0/29d0c58834a0c84636a45767a774368422f7345_v5.jpg 3x">

Oh no!! Please give Karen my love and tell her I'm sending healing thoughts.

>128 johnsimpson: Looks serious, John, take good care of Karen.
How long does she has to wear that cast?

Nevertheless wishing you both all the best in 2022!

Oh I'm sorry to hear that Karen was in for more than she expected, but know you'll take the best care of her. I hope you are all comfy and cosy in the new year as soon as can possibly happen.

Forget your stresses and strains
As the old year wanes;
All that now remains
Is to bring you good cheer
With wine, liquor or beer
And wish you a special new year.

Happy New Year, John.

Saw Karen's plight earlier. Hope she is as good as new shortly.

What a way to end a year! Sending Hope that the start of 2022 brings rest, relaxed reading and tea, and quick and easy healing.

Best wishes to Karen and her Nurse (you!) as the New Year starts off! Take care, drink tea, and send her love notes written in one of your fancy pens. : )

>128 johnsimpson: Oh no! Prayers for quick healing!

>129 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, i have passed on your love and healing thoughts my dear friend.

>130 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, it looks worse than it really is. Karen's right hand middle finger began to swell a few weeks ago and she thought that she had got a sliver of metal from the racks at work in it. Eventually she went to the doctors and was prescribed antibiotics, no improvement, in fact it got worse, so she went back and they gave her another dose of antibiotics.

Still no improvement and the doctor said she would prescribe a third and final dose of antibiotics. She had some improvement but it was till warm and swollen but as it was coming to Christmas Day she left it. She rang the doctors on Wednesday morning and got an appointment at 9.20, by 9.30 we were on our way to the A&E department at our local hospital. The doctor was concerned that after three lots of antibiotics there was no improvement and there must be something underlying.

They x-rayed it and found no foreign body inside and if there was the antibiotics had cleared them, they sent her down to Hand Assessment. It turned out that there is a Cyst that has grown and they needed to operate to A) check there was no pus and B) what size the Cyst was and had it entwined around the tendons. The Hand Assessment team wanted her in on Thursday morning but the Nurse said the rota was full and she would only be ringing to cancel, Friday would be better but they still might cancel.

I took Karen in for 7.30 am and she went down to the operating theatre at about 10 am, they washed it out, no pus but the Cyst was quite large and was activating because of her Arthritis in the finger. They took as much of the Cyst out as they safely could and the tendons seem OK. Karen was surprised that they took her to the main Operating Theatre but shrugged that off, when they started bandaging she said it was unusual that it was warm. The chap said they weren't just bandaging, they were potting it, she said, what for a finger. He told her that it needed fully immobilising and they left her thumb and first finger free and the pot goes to within three inches of her elbow and they put a plate underneath and jutting out slightly so that the fingers cannot be jolted.

When they had finished they looked at Karen's jumper and asked if it was new, she said yes and they said they didn't want to ruin it and she should keep the hospital gown on, luckily she had her trousers on. I went to collect her and saw all this and so put Karen's coat on her left arm and around her right shoulder and carried her jumper which they had put in a bag, to the car. Once home i got her out of the gown and put an old t-shirt on for her.

All being well she should have the pot off on Tuesday when she goes for a check-up but they may put another back on, Karen is not impressed for just a finger and she is grumpy, although we were both tired as we had been up since 6 am.

I put together a Venison stew in the slow cooker yesterday under supervision and we set the slow cooker going this morning, it was delicious. She is still grumpy though, will she make it to Tuesday, two long days to go, lol.

>131 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, Karen was most put out when they said they were potting it but when they explained why, she was mollified. I am looking after her but she is grumpy, more so because she is right handed.

I prepped the Venison stew in the slow cooker yesterday under supervision and we put it on this morning and it was glorious. I also did the mashed potato and Brussel Sprouts and assisted serving it up.

She had an uncomfortable night in bed, we had words around 3 am and i stomped off to the spare bed and slept like a baby. We made it up when i brought up our pots of tea in bed at 8.45 am. Karen had a nap this afternoon while it got together some book stats.

We had a fairly pleasant New Years Eve although i watched the NYE firework display in Funchal on my phone. When Karen retires we will go there for New Year to see the NYE Celebrations and firework display although we hope to go back to the Island before then to celebrate my 60th birthday in 2023 and the following year for our 40th (Ruby) wedding anniversary, both in July.

>132 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, thanks for the 2022 message, mate. I am back to nursing duties once again and looking after her even if she is grumpy. I prepped a Venison stew in the slow cooker yesterday under supervision and we had it today and it was glorious.

We had words last night around 3 am and i stomped off to the spare bed but we made it up this morning when i brought a pot of tea to enjoy in bed.

>133 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, not what Karen was expecting that's for sure, hopefully she will have the pot off on Tuesday. Meanwhile i am back to nursing duties once again and i hope we both have a really good reading year and i will have plenty of tea, at the moment we are swimming in tea bags, lol.

>134 Berly:, >136 Berly:, Thanks Kim my dear, i will look after as usual although we did have words at 3 am this morning and made it up at 8.45 am when i brought us our pots of tea to enjoy in bed. She is particularly grumpy because it is her right hand and she is right handed, hopefully Elliott will cheer her up tomorrow when Amy comes over.

>135 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, thank you for the lovely message dear friend, i have passed it onto Karen.

Thanks for the congrats on me reaching 75 books read for the year.

Hi John. Poor Karen, it sounds very uncomfortabel. And I do hope Elliott will cheer her up, so she will start feeling better. My best wishes for the new year for both of you.

>142 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, the sling they have given her is a tad uncomfortable but she is getting used to it, Elliott will cheer her up, he always does with his cheeky smile.

Thanks for the best wishes for 2022 and the same to you and Marc my dear friend.

I think i will call this thread closed now, please visit me and post on my 2022 thread, thank you.

>138 johnsimpson: It's good there was something to be done about the swollen finger even if it has resulted in a giant PITA for Karen and you by reflection.

I am familiar with 3AM words, though thankfully all long past as a former bed mate thought his snoring was my problem and got grumpy when I left the bed for (his) library.