3 cherries!

got it. 6 month secondment. pretty chuffed.

in other news i got to share the surprising delights of Isla Negra with the borrower and her computer generated boyfriend and Alimal this evening. Uncanny resemblance on the golf course.

to answer your "?", big dog, i'm liking ghostwritten. some parts are really gripping, others are very readable but not earth shattering. it will be interesting to see how the threads join up. i can see why you mixed it up with murakami. lots of similarities. well one or two maybe. if you need a prompt think of the cultural revolution, a ghost girl in a flat and a freaky terrorist religious group trying to purge the world!

who says?

Who said having teenagers was relentless hassle? I'm sat on my computer while mini-me is downstairs dipping peppered chicken breasts into beaten egg and coating with an interesting mix of crushed crackers and parmesan ready for dinner. Yeah, it's really tough being me this evening. Ahh, back to my reader.

freaky monday

What a weird day...had an interview this afternoon for a job I only applied for on Friday, after I had found out I had the interview. I was mediocre. No question. Official result Wednesday.

Actually spent this evening doing something I really wanted to do rather than prep for interview at short notice or speed read kids books for review. So I sat down with take out pizza, Chianti, my hound and 'Jimmy Corrigan. The world's smartest kid.' Finished 2/4 of them.

gourmet-a-go-go

...and last night he made Paprika Pork which I have to say was amazing. Really sizzling and yummy. He decided to sprinkle sage into the rice. Damnit if it wasn't delicious!

the uncommon cold

damned if i can't taste my red wine properly with this awful cold.

Got home tonight and mini-me was planning dinner. he made me bacon pasta with spinach and pine nuts. he seems to have this uncanny knack of throwing something else in that just works. it was meant to have lemon but we didn't have any so he chucked in a couple of cap fulls of red wine vinegar - it went great with the bacon and gave the dish a bit of extra kick that the lemon would have. hmm.....if the animation doesn't work out for him ...!

i provided pudding and the evening's entertainment. a small chocolate easter egg each and an hour in front of planet earth!

i've already bought ingredients for the dinner he's making tomorrow! he laid the table with wine for me tonight so i'm looking forward to getting back from my late shift already :)

snow patrol

MIDWINTER IN MIDSUMMER >

< NO BATHING

< STARLING

ICE CAP >

35

Friends, wine, chocolate, lights, jokes.....

...not a bad way to see in middle age.

Coming in May

Moths by Karl Manders.

Well worth picking up. I finished it in the small hours. I need to write a review for it so will post here later.

Am in the depths of another 10 or so books to review for work. Kids fiction. Currently on 'Skulduggery Pleasant' which is fun for a 10 or 11 year old.

what do you say?

"Excuse me, do you sell those things that you stick on other things?"

12

Every night at midnight nothing happens and yet i still seem to wait up for it...?

hospital visit

visited the world's best sister in hospital today. i am so fed up of her having to struggle with ill health. it's not fair. she deserves so much better than this.

wine b(l)uff

Running out of adjectives to describe the reds in my wine journal without sounding pompous. One day I'm going to write out a description of something as having rich plum flavours and a lingering taste of lemon then turn the bottle over and 'sweet mother of pearl, i've got it word for word!'

Casino Royale

There's probably not a lot i can say about this film that hasn't already been said.
Enjoyed the twist of male/female roles and the psychological background to 007.

Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this film considering how much I've hated
James Bond in the past. Was it his vulnerability and possibility of failure or was
it the big blue eyes. I don't know!

red-crested pochard

Saw one of these as I ran.

half marathon? ha ha ha. oh my aching sides.

Ran 3.1 miles with stops. Rubbish.

tuesday's with me

writer's group yesterday, which i think ought to be given a literary name like lawrence or arnold or something, was really good but i so hadn't put in the effort beforehand. all that has changed. sat for my whole lunch time making plot notes. would having lots of stuff going on be the same as having a plot? not convinced!

K left MK today :( will miss her good humour and bad language.

writers group

nicely nicely how are you yes i'm fine oh let me tell you about oh is that right how interesting no it's awful not me you your work do it again lots of red ink good good good BAD no no do that again call yourself a writer ha more drinks oh yes thank you and you oh yes please ha ha ha rocket on a monorail genius so anyway it's great i'm only jealous oh yes you've finished well we didn't like you anyway glug glug nice more oh ok so where did they find the head in the end the arm was where slurp where are the pictures on the wall no in my head oh i see more geeky than linux don't get me started on my unix joke so she was picking up her own teeth how about chips don'[t tempt me yes a portion please walk taxi key lock dog computer bed.

puzzle riddle

When is a complete puzzle only half done?

When it's reversible and you have to break it up to start on the other side.

A really cool Christmas present from 2006.

Saturday with impeccable hosts

i've been terrorising a ball pool all morning and you want me to stay awake as well??








you don't go to monkey puzzle and come back feeling sociable, ok??

Mmm, cup of tea, box of chocolates and a film.

Just me and Mrs Nesbit then!

who brought him up?

Having a conversation down in Shoeburyness today with a friend who has started teaching. Deep into the conversation on how film adaptations can be used to make Shakesperian texts more accessible, mini-me turns to me and says " Is that what dumbing down is?"