Cold rainy August day
It's cold and raining outside. How is this August? Bloody English weather.
Does give me an excuse to curl up on the sofa with a book (or laptop) and a cup of tea though, which is not so bad.
My summer ha.s involved a lot of reading of books. And I mean a lot. I've always powered through books. When we used to visit my Grandparents in Spain as I was growing up I had to take a book for every day. And I was quite happy to literally spend the two weeks with my head in a book. My Grandma always laughs that me and my brother must be the only children in the world that would take a book to the beach from about the age of 5. These are some of the ones I've read over the past weeks that are most definitely worth a look:
Blueeyedboy - Joanna Harris
Written in the form of blog posts (so quite apt!) about 3 brothers being brought up by their (less than stable) mother, as well as explring sysnthesia and expectation. Explores the idea of anonymity online and the assumptions that are made. Incredibly well so that I really can't go into the plot any further otherwise the whole premise of the book would be ruined, but it is a really good read and well worth the time. Also not a complex read whilst not being simple.
Horns - Joe Hill
Written by Stephen Kings son so the guy in the library tells me. Although a lot less outright scary than Kings work. About a man who grows devil horns that mean everyone he comes into contact with tells him the truth. Coupled with backstory of the murder of his ex-girlfriend it's heart breaking and sweet while being scary in places. The guy in the library also told me it had strong female characters but I'm not totally sure I agree.
The Jungle Books - Rudyard Kipling
OK, so this is hardly a new book to be jumping all over. But I hadn't read it and was looking for something, I almost want to say older? Something less caught up in today and a bit fanciful. Well, I know what I mean anyway. I tend to go either way with the Classics. Either I love them, or I just don't get what all the fuss is about. When I was about 12 and needing something more than childrens or even teen books to read my English teacher told my parents that anything written before 1900 would be fine (they were worried about corrupting me I think). Which led to me trying to get through horribly meaty books that were so dull. But as I've grown older I've found some that I do really love and can read without thinking. Turns out the Jungle Books fall into that category. I loved the imagery, the playing with the language and the fun of a lot of the stories. Bits are dark, but with reason. Clearly these are the books I should have been reading age 12.
Book reading has been coupled with watching of far to many TV shows. (I was working with one of my old housemates last week and someone brought something up about some TV show. When my opinion was asked Steph laughed saying "She doesn't really watch TV". Which in turn made me laugh. I do watch a lot of TV. It just happens to be specific shows, repeatedly.)
Torchwood is hardly thrilling me. I'm watching because it's habit to but really? Meh. The premise is good, that bit should be interesting, but I don't care about the characters at all. I haven't been hanging on the edge of my seat over Gwens Father, nor did I really care when Vera died. It's OK, and I'll carry on watching to fill the time, but that's about it.
I did buy the Sherlock DVD's (of course). Have now re-watched the episodes and watched the extras. It has grasped hold of me quite firmly. I also think I have read far to many Sherlock/John fics by now and am going to be genuinely confused when they are not actually together. I do have a much longer more involved post on Sherlock (well, kind of on Sherlock), that I'll post later or tomorrow.
Riding is also filling my time. Had a lesson with a different instructor on Saturday as mine was away. On one of the competition horses and it was a really good lesson. We didn't really get out of walk, but she made me do most of the lesson without my reins, really focusing on where my weight was and how I was moving the horse. Really useful and informative. She also said at the end of the lesson that she'd like to get me on a smaller horse, but I was far too good to ride the only one we have that kind of size. Which was obviously a huge compliment, more so for being given casually not really dressed up as one.
Unfortunatly she is not a very nice person. She spent the whole lesson telling me why the way I'm normally taught is wrong and picking holes in my normal instructor. For one, not particularly proffessional. I know I spend a lot of time at the yard so I do generally have more than just a client relationship with most of the people there, but still. And secondly, clearly I like my instructor. Slagging someone else off rather than focussing on me is really not going to make me change instructors now is it?
Getting there with Tanzania stuff. Did have a strange realisation yesterday that it is now only 5 weeks until I leave! All of my equipment seems to have decided to give up the ghost at once, which is unfortunate. This year I've had a new roll mat, sleeping bag and now new boots. Mine were 7 years old and it appears no matter how much waterproofing I put on them were never going to be waterproof again. My new pair were rather expensive (£134! I've never spent that much on anything other than a plane ticket or rent I'm sure), but I figure it will be a sound investment as they are very comfortable and Brasher and leather so should last at least another 7 years. Just waiting for the rucksack to break now I think!
Do have a longer thinky post to come. I think this might have been me putting off posting it. But probably later.
Does give me an excuse to curl up on the sofa with a book (or laptop) and a cup of tea though, which is not so bad.
My summer ha.s involved a lot of reading of books. And I mean a lot. I've always powered through books. When we used to visit my Grandparents in Spain as I was growing up I had to take a book for every day. And I was quite happy to literally spend the two weeks with my head in a book. My Grandma always laughs that me and my brother must be the only children in the world that would take a book to the beach from about the age of 5. These are some of the ones I've read over the past weeks that are most definitely worth a look:
Blueeyedboy - Joanna Harris
Written in the form of blog posts (so quite apt!) about 3 brothers being brought up by their (less than stable) mother, as well as explring sysnthesia and expectation. Explores the idea of anonymity online and the assumptions that are made. Incredibly well so that I really can't go into the plot any further otherwise the whole premise of the book would be ruined, but it is a really good read and well worth the time. Also not a complex read whilst not being simple.
Horns - Joe Hill
Written by Stephen Kings son so the guy in the library tells me. Although a lot less outright scary than Kings work. About a man who grows devil horns that mean everyone he comes into contact with tells him the truth. Coupled with backstory of the murder of his ex-girlfriend it's heart breaking and sweet while being scary in places. The guy in the library also told me it had strong female characters but I'm not totally sure I agree.
The Jungle Books - Rudyard Kipling
OK, so this is hardly a new book to be jumping all over. But I hadn't read it and was looking for something, I almost want to say older? Something less caught up in today and a bit fanciful. Well, I know what I mean anyway. I tend to go either way with the Classics. Either I love them, or I just don't get what all the fuss is about. When I was about 12 and needing something more than childrens or even teen books to read my English teacher told my parents that anything written before 1900 would be fine (they were worried about corrupting me I think). Which led to me trying to get through horribly meaty books that were so dull. But as I've grown older I've found some that I do really love and can read without thinking. Turns out the Jungle Books fall into that category. I loved the imagery, the playing with the language and the fun of a lot of the stories. Bits are dark, but with reason. Clearly these are the books I should have been reading age 12.
Book reading has been coupled with watching of far to many TV shows. (I was working with one of my old housemates last week and someone brought something up about some TV show. When my opinion was asked Steph laughed saying "She doesn't really watch TV". Which in turn made me laugh. I do watch a lot of TV. It just happens to be specific shows, repeatedly.)
Torchwood is hardly thrilling me. I'm watching because it's habit to but really? Meh. The premise is good, that bit should be interesting, but I don't care about the characters at all. I haven't been hanging on the edge of my seat over Gwens Father, nor did I really care when Vera died. It's OK, and I'll carry on watching to fill the time, but that's about it.
I did buy the Sherlock DVD's (of course). Have now re-watched the episodes and watched the extras. It has grasped hold of me quite firmly. I also think I have read far to many Sherlock/John fics by now and am going to be genuinely confused when they are not actually together. I do have a much longer more involved post on Sherlock (well, kind of on Sherlock), that I'll post later or tomorrow.
Riding is also filling my time. Had a lesson with a different instructor on Saturday as mine was away. On one of the competition horses and it was a really good lesson. We didn't really get out of walk, but she made me do most of the lesson without my reins, really focusing on where my weight was and how I was moving the horse. Really useful and informative. She also said at the end of the lesson that she'd like to get me on a smaller horse, but I was far too good to ride the only one we have that kind of size. Which was obviously a huge compliment, more so for being given casually not really dressed up as one.
Unfortunatly she is not a very nice person. She spent the whole lesson telling me why the way I'm normally taught is wrong and picking holes in my normal instructor. For one, not particularly proffessional. I know I spend a lot of time at the yard so I do generally have more than just a client relationship with most of the people there, but still. And secondly, clearly I like my instructor. Slagging someone else off rather than focussing on me is really not going to make me change instructors now is it?
Getting there with Tanzania stuff. Did have a strange realisation yesterday that it is now only 5 weeks until I leave! All of my equipment seems to have decided to give up the ghost at once, which is unfortunate. This year I've had a new roll mat, sleeping bag and now new boots. Mine were 7 years old and it appears no matter how much waterproofing I put on them were never going to be waterproof again. My new pair were rather expensive (£134! I've never spent that much on anything other than a plane ticket or rent I'm sure), but I figure it will be a sound investment as they are very comfortable and Brasher and leather so should last at least another 7 years. Just waiting for the rucksack to break now I think!
Do have a longer thinky post to come. I think this might have been me putting off posting it. But probably later.