Adrian thought we looked more like Yul Brynner's mob but 57% of the Magnificent Seven doesn't have the same ring.
View from the top (of Gypsey)
Horse food does not look very appetising.
Saturday 31 March 2012
March Photo a Day - Where I relax
Adrian thought we looked more like Yul Brynner's mob but 57% of the Magnificent Seven doesn't have the same ring.
View from the top (of Gypsey)
March Photo a Day - A toy
Thursday 29 March 2012
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Tuesday 27 March 2012
March photo a day - Your name
Monday 26 March 2012
March photo a day - Key
Come, Tell Me How You Live - Agatha Christie Mallowan
I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie's crime stories both as books and their film adaptations. I can't remember how I came to buy this book, it may have been by accident thinking it was another novel which it isn't. Its a very engaging account of the mechanics of how archaeology retrieves the ancient world.
First published in 1946 but recalling events from the 30's it reflects a society rather different that the one we experience in 21st century Europe but it also illustrates that even though behaviour considered socially acceptable changes from age to age (The Mallowan's leave their daughter in boarding school in England while they spend the summer in Syria) human characters do not.
I'm not usually a fan of non-fiction but I enjoyed this archaeological memoir enormously even though the Roman artifacts are considered an irrelevant inconvenience by the archaeologists.
First published in 1946 but recalling events from the 30's it reflects a society rather different that the one we experience in 21st century Europe but it also illustrates that even though behaviour considered socially acceptable changes from age to age (The Mallowan's leave their daughter in boarding school in England while they spend the summer in Syria) human characters do not.
I'm not usually a fan of non-fiction but I enjoyed this archaeological memoir enormously even though the Roman artifacts are considered an irrelevant inconvenience by the archaeologists.
Sunday 25 March 2012
March photo a day - Breakfast
This was my first breakfast to provide some healthy fuel before a run. I did have a bacon sandwich afterwards but I ate it before remembering to take a photo.
Saturday 24 March 2012
March photo a day - Moon
Thursday 22 March 2012
Wednesday 21 March 2012
March photo a day - Delicious
I think these are delicious, much better than the Cadbury's Eclairs.
I love the accomplishments of the acrobatic and delicious pigs below.
You can see that Svidrigailov finds these delicious from the cheeky way he has opened the packet at the bottom.
Tuesday 20 March 2012
March photo a Day - Before/After
I chose these pictures before looking at tomorrow's theme and they could double up for that too.
March photo a Day - Funny
They and their photographer could see that we were looking at them - we were staring rather obviously - and I didn't have the courage to take a picture of them.
Sunday 18 March 2012
March Photo a Day - A corner in my home
I didn't drug him and put him there.
Saturday 17 March 2012
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
I always feel a bit out of touch with the world when I go to the cinema as its usually an annual event for me and I find it an odd experience sitting in the dark munching away on sweets and maintaining a dignified silence.
This is a film about a group of ageing Brits who go to live in India. The cinema must have thought that the audience were all a bit past it as well because it was so loud my ears were still ringing an hour later. I almost wished I had been a hearing aid user because I could have turned it down a bit.
Anyway, apart from the volume, everything else was lovely. The company of Melinda and Helen, the half price ticket courtesy of a link from Jo and the pizza and hospitality afterwards.
This film doesn't seem to have had critical acclaim but I found a lot to enjoy in it. The clashing of cultures, values and classes was rather well done. These are interesting times to live in where the rigid old ways are starting to crumble under pressure from the modern world but they are still sufficiently in tact that they can be experienced.
There is a limit to the depth of character it is possible to reveal in 118 minutes and films tend to be a bit superficial which is why I don't care much for the genre but I think quite a lot is packed in here if you look for it. Of course there is the obvious funny scene of an ageing Lothario preparing for a night of seduction and falling over in the shower and the old racist who has a sudden change of heart. But stereotypes are so because such people do exist as a type and they have become what they are in response to the knocks that life has dealt to them and to others like them.
The cast is very strong, particularly the women. And its sad but true that the aged become invisible and a nuisance in Britain. Outsourcing old age is a really good idea.
This is a film about a group of ageing Brits who go to live in India. The cinema must have thought that the audience were all a bit past it as well because it was so loud my ears were still ringing an hour later. I almost wished I had been a hearing aid user because I could have turned it down a bit.
Anyway, apart from the volume, everything else was lovely. The company of Melinda and Helen, the half price ticket courtesy of a link from Jo and the pizza and hospitality afterwards.
This film doesn't seem to have had critical acclaim but I found a lot to enjoy in it. The clashing of cultures, values and classes was rather well done. These are interesting times to live in where the rigid old ways are starting to crumble under pressure from the modern world but they are still sufficiently in tact that they can be experienced.
There is a limit to the depth of character it is possible to reveal in 118 minutes and films tend to be a bit superficial which is why I don't care much for the genre but I think quite a lot is packed in here if you look for it. Of course there is the obvious funny scene of an ageing Lothario preparing for a night of seduction and falling over in the shower and the old racist who has a sudden change of heart. But stereotypes are so because such people do exist as a type and they have become what they are in response to the knocks that life has dealt to them and to others like them.
The cast is very strong, particularly the women. And its sad but true that the aged become invisible and a nuisance in Britain. Outsourcing old age is a really good idea.
The Bottle Factory Outing - Beryl Bainbridge
I ordered this book after listening to the podcast of Radio 4's 'A Good Read', broadcast on 25 November 2011 and still available to listen again on the Radio 4 website.
I don't much enjoy Harriet Gilbert's style, she is a bit irritating and patronising and talks over her guests. I much prefer James Naughtie's Book Club or Mariella Frostrup's Open Book but they alternate on the podcast and I've been inspired, to read books I might not have chosen otherwise, by all three.
The Bottle Factory Outing is a slight odd story that suddenly goes in a direction I wasn't expecting. To be honest I lost my way a bit in the middle and found it less than gripping, I kept falling asleep after a couple of pages and consequently lost the momentum.
A rainy morning with a rest from running gave me the opportunity to finish it after which I went back and speed read the beginning again and discover that it's actually a well constructed book that really needs to be read in a single sitting. 200 pages and the language that is accessible makes this is quite achievable.
Freda and Brenda are two English women who's lives stumble together. They share a bedsit and both get jobs working in a wine bottling factory. Their colleagues, apart from the Irish driver, are all relatively recent Italian immigrant peasants. The factory is owned by a Mr Paganotti who is always present in the story but never puts in a personal appearance and doesn't influence the outcome in any way.
There is a failed shooting that results in no injury or charge and a murder (manslaughter is probably a better description) that goes unnoticed by the authorities and is accepted and tidied up rather stoically by the witnesses. Doesn't sound like a recipe for mirth but it is a funny book. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
I don't much enjoy Harriet Gilbert's style, she is a bit irritating and patronising and talks over her guests. I much prefer James Naughtie's Book Club or Mariella Frostrup's Open Book but they alternate on the podcast and I've been inspired, to read books I might not have chosen otherwise, by all three.
A rainy morning with a rest from running gave me the opportunity to finish it after which I went back and speed read the beginning again and discover that it's actually a well constructed book that really needs to be read in a single sitting. 200 pages and the language that is accessible makes this is quite achievable.
Freda and Brenda are two English women who's lives stumble together. They share a bedsit and both get jobs working in a wine bottling factory. Their colleagues, apart from the Irish driver, are all relatively recent Italian immigrant peasants. The factory is owned by a Mr Paganotti who is always present in the story but never puts in a personal appearance and doesn't influence the outcome in any way.
There is a failed shooting that results in no injury or charge and a murder (manslaughter is probably a better description) that goes unnoticed by the authorities and is accepted and tidied up rather stoically by the witnesses. Doesn't sound like a recipe for mirth but it is a funny book. I enjoyed it and recommend it.
Friday 16 March 2012
Thursday 15 March 2012
Tuesday 13 March 2012
Monday 12 March 2012
Save our Post Offices
I can't think of a single reason why anyone would want to. The combination of Parcel Force and the Post Office provide the least customer focused and the least efficient service I can imagine.
On Thursday last week I received two notifications about parcels delivered to my house. One notified me that the parcel had been left with my next door neighbour as I hadn't been in. The other, from Parcel Force, notified me that they had taken my parcel to Horsham post office because I hadn't been in.
There is a postal depot with free parking just outside in Horsham but that was obviously too convenient. There is nowhere to stop in the middle of town so I had to go into a council run car park, pay £2.00 to park for up to 2 hours when I hoped I would only need 5 minutes.
I went straight to the parcel counter where two members of staff who kindly stopped chatting to each other to point out that I should join the queue. I waited for 20 minutes behind people some of whom had inexplicably queued up to buy stamps or use a debit card to withdraw cash. When it was finally my turn I handed over my card and was sent back to the chatting couple to collect my parcel.
If this had been 1840 I might have welcomed the opportunity to spend 30 minutes in the Post Office to take a break from hand washing household linen or killing and plucking a chicken.
But its 2012, why on earth is the Post Office not open on a Sunday, or run with some efficiency and customer focus? At the very least they could provide an express lane for people who have better things to do with their time than stand in a queue where only half of the windows are open.
I think the Post Office is doomed because they haven't joined the 21st century, I'm not even sure they've completely got to grips with the 20th yet.
On Thursday last week I received two notifications about parcels delivered to my house. One notified me that the parcel had been left with my next door neighbour as I hadn't been in. The other, from Parcel Force, notified me that they had taken my parcel to Horsham post office because I hadn't been in.
There is a postal depot with free parking just outside in Horsham but that was obviously too convenient. There is nowhere to stop in the middle of town so I had to go into a council run car park, pay £2.00 to park for up to 2 hours when I hoped I would only need 5 minutes.
I went straight to the parcel counter where two members of staff who kindly stopped chatting to each other to point out that I should join the queue. I waited for 20 minutes behind people some of whom had inexplicably queued up to buy stamps or use a debit card to withdraw cash. When it was finally my turn I handed over my card and was sent back to the chatting couple to collect my parcel.
If this had been 1840 I might have welcomed the opportunity to spend 30 minutes in the Post Office to take a break from hand washing household linen or killing and plucking a chicken.
But its 2012, why on earth is the Post Office not open on a Sunday, or run with some efficiency and customer focus? At the very least they could provide an express lane for people who have better things to do with their time than stand in a queue where only half of the windows are open.
I think the Post Office is doomed because they haven't joined the 21st century, I'm not even sure they've completely got to grips with the 20th yet.
Sunday 11 March 2012
March Photo a Day - Someone I spoke to today
Saturday 10 March 2012
Friday 9 March 2012
Death at La Fenice
First published in 1992 it is the first of her novels starring Commissario of Police Guido Brunetti.
I loved this edition because the writing was quite big and it didn't strain my eyes to read it in bed. Also because I liked the scene setting and found myself in parts of Venice off limits to outsiders.
I found the characters believable and the pace of the plot kept me interested. I considered the twist right at the beginning and then decided it was not likely so it came as a surprise again at the end. I will definitely try another Brunetti story of hers and think it will be a lovely companion to a bottle of sunscreen and a sun lounger.
Thursday 8 March 2012
March Photo a Day - Window
into my cyber world, in my yellow room. The chocolates are live by the way.
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Tuesday 6 March 2012
March Photo a Day - 5pm
Robert Peel is the one who's name didn't make it into the photo.
Monday 5 March 2012
Sunday 4 March 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)