John's 2022 thread - Amongst good friends part Three

Please pop along and pay me a visit, leave a comment if you can.

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 2,824 books on my shelves and this doesn't include my Cricket collection which stands at about 450 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 BY JOHN
1. Death of an Addict by M.C. Beaton, PB - 253 pages.
2. A Class Act by Gervase Phinn, PB - 391 pages.
3. Too Many Reasons to Live by Rob Burrow, HB - 288 pages.
4. The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman, PB - 374 pages.
5. Death of a Dustman by M.C. Beaton, PB - 260 pages.
6. First Family by David Baldacci, PB - 659 pages.
7. Confessions, The Murder of an Angel by James Patterson, PB - 275 pages.
8. Back to School by Jack Sheffield, PB - 338 pages.
9. Shatter the Bones by Stuart Macbride, PB - 453 pages.
10. NYPD Red 5 by James Patterson, PB - 338 pages.
11. Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell, PB - 420 pages.
12. The Final Minute by Simon Kernick, PB - 392 pages.
13. School Days by Jack Sheffield, PB - 337 pages.
14. NYPD RED 6 by James Patterson, PB - 339 pages.
15. The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett, PB - 307 pages.
16. The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear, PB - 411 pages.
17. The Puppet Boy of Warsaw by Eva Weaver, PB - 313 pages.
18. The Sixth Man by David Baldacci, PB - 592 pages.
19. Dancing Over the Hill by Cathy Hopkins, PB - 434 pages.
20. Date with Deceit by Julia Chapman, PB - 420 pages.
21. The Cat Who Played Brahms by Lilian Jackson Braun, PB - 215 pages.
22. Died and Gone to Devon by T P Fielden, PB - 345 pages.
23. The Shadow by James Patterson, PB - 378 pages.
24. Death of a Celebrity by M.C. Beaton, PB - 287 pages.
25. King and Maxwell by David Baldacci, PB - 591 pages.
26. Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler, PB - 263 pages.
27. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch, PB - 357 pages.
28. Once in a Lifetime by Danielle Steel, PB - 341 pages.
29. Distant Images by Audrey Howard, PB - 475 pages.
30. The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, PB - 354 pages.
31. The Partner by John Grisham, PB - 410 pages.
32. Red Roulette by Desmond Shum, HB - 310 pages.
33. Black Dog by Stephen Booth, PB - 514 pages.
34. Mystery in Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, PB - 214 pages.
35. The Drop by Michael Connelly, PB - 418 pages.
36. The House Swap by Rebecca Fleet, PB - 340 pages.
37. Blindside by James Patterson, PB - 360 pages.
38. The Yellow Jersey by Ralph Hurne, PB - 285 pages.
39. A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott, PB - 530 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN
1. A Winter Cottage by Rachael Lucas, PB - 4.5 Stars.
2. Snowed in at the Practice by Penny Parkes, PB - 4.5 Stars
3. Back to School by Jack Sheffield, PB - 5 Stars
4. The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman, PB - 5 Stars
5. The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy, PB - 5 stars
6. Murder has a Motive by Francis Duncan, PB - 5 Stars
7. School Days by Jack Sheffield, PB - 5 Stars
8. Call of the Penguins by Hazel Prior, PB - 5 Stars
9. The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett, PB - 5+ Stars
10. Murder at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah, PB - 5 Stars
11. Life after Lunch by Sarah Harrison, PB - 4 Stars
12. The Truth About You by Melissa Hill, PB - 4.5 Stars
13. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, PB - 3.5 Stars
14. Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer, PB - 4.5 Stars
15. Longbourn by Jo Baker, PB - 4.5 Stars
16. Too Many Reasons To Live by Rob Burrow, HB - 5 Stars
17. Annabelle by M.C. Beaton, PB - 4 Stars
18. The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer, PB - 4.5 Stars
19. The Geometry of Holding Hands by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 5 Stars
20. Blotto and Twinks and the Ex-Kings Daughter by Simon Brett, PB - 3.5 Stars
21. A Proper Family Adventure by Chrissie Manby, PB - 3 Stars
22. Died and Gone to Heaven by T P Fielden, PB - 4 Stars
23. No Word of Blame by Georgette Heyer, PB - 4.5 Stars
24. The Pupil by Caro Fraser, PB - 4 Stars
25. The Black Dress by Deborah Moggach, PB - 5 Stars
26. The Tent, The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy, PB - 3 Stars
27. R in the Month by Nancy Spain, PB - 2.5 Stars (Utter Twaddle)
28. Murder on a Summer's Day by Frances Brody, PB - 5 Stars
29. Death of an Airman by Christopher St. John Spry, PB - 5 Stars
30. Return to Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, PB - 5 Stars
31. Festival at Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, PB - 5 Stars
32. In Prior's Wood by G.M. Malliet, PB - 5 Stars
33. A Deception at Thorncrest by Ashley Weaver, PB - 4.5 Stars
34. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, PB - 4.5 Stars
35. Death and Croissants by Ian Moore, PB - 4.5 Stars
36. The Whitstable Pearl by Julie Wassmer, PB - 5 Stars
37. A Three Dog Problem by S.J Bennett, PB - 5+ Stars

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2022

JANUARY
1.The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths, PB.
2.The Midwife Murders by James Patterson, PB.
3.Texas Outlaw by James Patterson, PB.
4.The Bride of Almond Tree by Robert Hillman, PB
5.Sooley by John Grisham, PB.
6.The Russian by James Patterson, PB.
7.The Library by Bella Osborne, PB.
8.May Day Murder by Julie Wassmer, PB.
9.Murder on Sea by Julie Wassmer, PB.
10.The Whitstable Pearl Mystery by Julie Wassmer, PB.
11.Murder Fest by Julie Wassmer, PB.
12.The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy, PB.
13.Wagons West Missouri by Dana Fuller Ross, PB.
14.Otherland: River of Blue Fire by Tad Williams, PB.
15.Finding Hope at Hillside Farm by Rachael Lucas, PB.
16.Murder has a Motive by Francis Duncan, PB.
17.So Pretty a Problem by Francis Duncan, PB.
18.Behold a Fair Woman by Francis Duncan, PB.
19.Murder on the Downs by Julie Wassmer, PB.
20.The City of Tears by Kate Mosse, PB.
21.Longbourn by Jo Baker, PB.
22.Saying Goodbye to Tuesday by Chrissie Manby, PB.
23.The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, PB.
24.The Jericho Trumpet by Olive Etchells, PB.
25.The Jericho Rose by Olive Etchells, PB.
26.Wainwright: The Autobiography by Hunter Davies, PB.
27.The System of the World by Neal Stephenson, PB.
28.The Confusion by Neal Stephenson, PB.
29.Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths, PB.
30.Tangled up in White by Peter Roebuck, HB.
31.Mad Jack, An Autobiography by Don Wilson, HB.
32.Letting Rip by Simon Wilde, HB.
33.The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer, PB.
34.Duplicate Death by Georgette Heyer, PB.
35.Murder on the Pilgrims Way by Julie Wassmer, PB.
36.Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer, PB.
37.The 24-Hour Cafe by Libby Page, PB.
38.A Wedding at Christmas by Chrissie Manby, PB.
39.Disappearance at Oare by Julie Wassmer, PB.

FEBRUARY
40.A Proper Family Adventure by Chrissie Manby, PB.
41.Sweet Summers by J.M. Kilburn, HB.
42.The Sweetest Rose, 150 Years of Yorkshire County Cricket Club 1863 - 2013 by David Warner, HB.
43.21st Birthday by James Patterson, PB.
44.The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary, PB.
45. China by Edward Rutherfurd, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2022

MARCH
46. Outbreak by Frank Gardner, PB.
47. L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton, PB.
48. A Hooded Crow by Craig Thomas, PB.
49. Australian Summer by Neville Cardus, HB.
50. The D'Oliveira Story by Basil D'Oliveira, HB.
51. Self-Defence by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
52. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, PB.
53. The Village Green Bookshop by Rachael Lucas, PB.
54. The Night Fire by Michael Connelly, PB.
55. A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson, PB.
56. A Necessary End by Peter Robinson, PB.
57. Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride, PB.
58. Road to the Dales by Gervase Phinn, PB.
59. Cheer up Love by Susan Calman, PB.
60. Death in White Pyjamas/Death Knows no Calendar by John Bude, PB.
61. Sunrise by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, PB.
62. Private Rogue by James Patterson, PB.

APRIL
63. Madame Burova by Ruth Hogan, PB.
64. Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, PB.
65. Date with Betrayal by Julia Chapman, PB.
66. Down the Hatch by M.C. Beaton with R.W. Green, PB.
67. Five Hundred Miles From You by Jenny Colgan, PB.
68. A Wedding in the Country by Katie Fforde, PB.
69. A Cornish Summer by Catherine Alliott, PB.
70. The Island Home by Libby Page, PB.
71. Who wants to be a batsman? by Simon Hughes, PB.
72. Unguarded-my autobiography by Jonathan Trott, PB.
73. The Black Dress by Deborah Moggach, PB.
74. Death of the Black Widow by James Patterson, PB.

MAY
75. Lovers and Newcomers by Rosie Thomas, PB.
76. The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths, PB.
77. Kate Hannigan's Girl by Catherine Cookson, PB.
78. The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin, PB.
79. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, PB.
80. The Coast-to-Coast Murders by James Patterson, PB.
81. Breakup by Dana Stabenow, PB.
82. Sofia Khan and the Baby Blues by Ayisha Malik, PB - Quick Reads.
83. The Kiss by Santa Montefiore, PB - Quick Reads.
84. Death and Croissants by Ian Moore, PB.
85. R in the Month by Nancy Spain, PB.
86. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, PB.
87. The First Lady by James Patterson, PB.
88. Death makes a Prophet by John Bude, PB.
89. The Tent, The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy, PB.
90. The Other Mrs Miller by Allison Dickson, PB.
91. everything is beautiful by Eleanor Ray, PB.
92. The President's Daughter by James Patterson, PB.
93. Over my Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer, PB.

JUNE
94. Blood Brothers by Josephine Cox, PB.
95. The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
96. Predator by Patricia Cornwell, PB.
97. Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
98. The Noise by James Patterson, PB.
99. A Three Dog Problem by S.J. Bennett, PB.

JULY
100. Auschwitz, The Nazi's and The Final Solution by Laurence Rees, PB.
101. The Dying Day by Vaseem Khan, PB.
102. The Blood Road by Stuart Macbride, PB.
103. A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott, PB.
104. Small Island by Little Train by Chris Arnot, PB (Birthday Present)
105. Never by Ken Follett, PB.
106. Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce, PB.
107. Tiny Tales by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
108. A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver, PB.
109. The Pavilion in the Clouds by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
110. Death of Anton by Alan Melville, PB.
111. The Incredible Crime by Lois Austen-Leigh, PB.
112. Riccardino by Andrea Camilleri, PB.
113. Betraying the Crown by T.P. Fielden, PB
114. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer, PB.
115. The Longest Winter by Alex Kershaw, PB.

AUGUST
116. We Don't Play it for Fun by Don Mosey, HB.
117. The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
118. The Keeper of Stories by Salley Page, PB.
119. The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Morgan, PB.
120. Death in Cornwall by G.M. Malliet, PB.
121. The Ninth Month by James Patterson, PB.

APRIL'S READING STATS

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

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

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

Male Authors..................... 3

Female Authors.................. 4

Pages Read....................... 2,671

Daily Avg........................... 89.03

Book Length avg................. 381.57

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-4-22 - 2,867
Books added in April - 13
Books read in April - 7

Revised book total - 2873

Pages to read at 1-4-22 - 1,177,554
Pages added in April - 4,903
Pages read in April - 2,671

Revised total pages to read - 1,179,786

Thread is now open to good friends and visitors.

Happy new thread, John!

As some of you know, i do love a book series and so i thought i would share this with you.

SERIES FINISHED

1. Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer 3/3
2. Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer 7/7
3. Lancashire by Trisha Ashley 6/6
4. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell by David Baldacci 6/6
5. Travelling Matchmaker by M.C. Beaton 6/6
6. Asian Saga by James Clavell 7/7
7. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 8/8
8. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 3/3
9. The Avenue by R.F. Delderfield 2/2
10. A Horseman Riding By by R.F. Delderfield 3/3
11. Swann Family Saga by R.F. Delderfield 3/3
12. House of Cards by Michael Dobbs 3/3
13. Daisy Dalrymple by Carola Dunn 23/23
14. Cornish Mystery by Carola Dunn 4/4
15. Suttons of Yorkshire by Elizabeth Elgin 5/5
16. Alderley by Alan Garner 3/3
17. Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton 2/2
18. Night's Dawn by Peter F. Hamilton 3/3
19. Lily Bard by Charlaine Harris 5/5
20. Tawny Man by Robin Hobb 3/3
21. Bellevue-Sur-Mer by Celia Imrie 3/3
22. The Kent Family by John Jakes 8/8
23. North and South by John Jakes 3/3
24. Crown Family Saga by John Jakes 2/2
25. Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce 2/2
26. Dennis Milne by Simon Kernick 3/3
27. Tina Boyd by Simon Kernick 7/7
28. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 7/7
29. Road To by Robert Ludlum 2/2
30. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 4/4
31. Languedoc Trilogy by Kate Mosse 3/3
32. Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini 4/4
33. Maximum Ride by James Patterson 9/9
34. When The Wind Blows by James Patterson 2/2
35. Honeymoon by James Patterson 2/2
36. Confessions by James Patterson 4/4
37. NYPD RED by James Patterson 6/6
38. Kerry Kilcannon by Richard North Patterson 3/3
39. Barton-in-the-Dale by Gervase Phinn 5/5
40. Little Village School by Gervase Phinn 5/5
41. School at the Top of the Dale by Gervase Phinn 3/3
42. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling 7/7
43. Jack Sheffield by Jack Sheffield 14/14
44. Spoils of Time by Penny Vincenzi 3/3
45. Lodes Chronicles by Fiona Walker 4/4
46. WW II by Herman Wouk 2/2
47. Rutshire Chronicles by Jilly Cooper 10/10

>12 drneutron:, Welcome Jim, first visitor to thread three.

Happy new thread!

>15 quondame:, Thank you Susan my dear.

On Saturday i finally got a letter from my Energy supplier E.on to inform me that my direct debit would be going up from £106 to £173.10 per month. Yesterday i contacted E.on to say that this was too much, with the rise of £698 announced in February to come in force from April, this worked out at £57.50 per month which would have taken my DD to £163.50 per month. I chatted with a lovely young lady, she asked what i wanted to query and i said, three guesses, she laughed and said how could she help. I explained everything and that i was checking my smart meter and i would pay £150 per month, in April i used £122 of energy so i would be £28 up based on this new payment. The new payment starts from June 22nd and i said we will see what the regulator announces in August as the new rise in the minimum tariff to take effect from October.

Today the OFGEM regulator was in front of a Parliamentary select committee and he said that he expects the new basic tariff to rise from £1,971 to £2,800, another rise of £829 after the £698 rise in April. If this is correct it would mean that my monthly energy bill would be £233.33 per month, £25 more than my Mortgage, how can this be.

At the moment it seems that the economy and rises in Fuel, energy costs, food etc etc has gone to Hell in a Handcart, around 12 to 15 million people in the UK would be in energy poverty as well as being in poverty full stop. If the energy rise does happen then Christmas will be cancelled and i can see that businesses will go under as folk cut back as much as they can.

Not a good start to the week BUT we could be worse off like the Ukrainians, so not going to complain too much, i am sure they would swap places with me.

Happy new thread, John.

>17 johnsimpson: That is extremely worrying, John.

Happy new thread!

>17 johnsimpson: It is sad that so many essentials ( oil, electricity and food) have drastically increased. It makes for some tough choices.

Your post about the raise in the cost of basics is troubling. Here in Tuscaloosa we have had a steep increase in rents. One apartment complex has raised its rent $500.00 month. Granted this is a complex that caters to professional people but that is a huge increase per month and nobody here at UA is going to get that kind of pay raise to cover it. Gasoline continues to rise and price as well. It is now $.30 per gallon and it is forecasted to go up to $6.00 per gallon by the end of the summer. I had scheduled a weekend off for June 2-5 and was going to take a short trip, but am thinking that I should stay home and save my money for the end of June when I will need it to pay for hotel and plane ticket to our annual library conference. I have already curtailed my weekend driving and feel like I am entering into the COVID lockdown again.

One of the lead stories on the news tonight (aside from the events in Texas) was a story about how the war in the Ukraine is creating a global food crisis. The Russian blockade of ships trying to leave Ukrainian ports is the leading cause. There is also outright theft, as Russian ships are loading grain from storage areas in Mariupol. The perfidy of the Russians is just appalling.

Happy new thread!! Sorry to hear about the price increases. Everyone is getting hit one way or another. Gas prices are horrible here. Food is pricier. : (

Happy new thread, John!

Worrying, how prices are going up! I’ve started checking my smart meter regularly. Trying to get a handle on what appliances use a lot of energy, and how can I save. At least summer is coming, so heating is not needed now.

>18 PaulCranswick:, Thanks Paul, it is very worrying at the moment, hopefully we will be infront during the summer months and can only hope for an Indian Summer and a very mild Autumn. The worst case scenario is that we have a winter like 1947 or 1962/3, oh well we have plenty of tea bags and books and the duvet is very good and we have a lovely blanket to go on top of that, we will esconce ourselves in bed with a book and we have a TV in the bedroom and we will both have a flask of tea for company, how bad does that sound, lol.

>19 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, it is so sad that we are constantly having to make so many choices every day at the moment.

>20 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, it is so sad that we are constantly seeing price rises on so many things and therefore we are having to make choices on a daily basis and looking ahead to what we can or can't do.

A very respected money saving expert, Martin Lewis, has warned that those who have been on fixed rate mortgages could be in for a shock with interest rates rising. The worst case scenario is that some may be refused a mortgage on the basis that with rising costs on energy, fuel for cars or rising bus and train fares along with food may mean that their income may not be enough to afford a new mortgage. We had this happen to us a few years ago and because our mortgage was made up of five elements, i had to pay one off immediately, £1300, to get a mortgage again, even though we have had a mortgage since 1984. We opted to go back to a variable rate and i am so glad that we did and it should be paid off just after my 60th birthday, next year.

As for the dastardly Russians stealing grain, i hope that western navies break the blockade so that the world can get grain, it is not just for us, Africa need this grain desperately.

>21 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, is is so worrying that we are all suffering various price rises that are making life difficult and there seems no respite in sight at the moment. The only saving grace that i can see at the moment is that we are not in the Ukraine and my heart goes out to them every day and i am sure that some would swap places with us.

Happy new thread, John. The heating costs look to be going up by leaps and bounds, very worrying. I'm sure you'll breath a bit easier once the mortgage is paid off.

Happy new thread, John.

Prices are raising so fast, we had to up our weekly grocery budget.
Thankfully our mortgage has a fixed percentage for the remaining 13 years, and we just renewed our energy contact last fall, at a fixed price for four years. But things are not looking bright :-(

Happy new thread, John!!

>27 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, i am hoping that this figure of £2800 is a worst case scenario and it will be a little bit lower. Once the mortgage is paid off it will give us a cushion but by then we will have found out in February 23 what the price will be from April 23, hopefully prices in the wholesale gas market will have reduced significantly.

Today the Chancellor has announced a package of help to try and negate some of the expected rise which will be a welcome boost, sadly this does not help businesses and industry and so this is adding to retail price rises.

I am sure everything will be ok in the long run.

>28 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, once the first price rise was announced in February taking the annual cost of the base level to £1971, the best fixed price available was £3500 so even if the expected rise makes it £2800, i will be paying a lot less than being on a fixed. Where they got a figure of £3500 for a fixed period, i do not know.

We are always conscious of the increase in food prices with Karen working at our local supermarket but we do most of our shopping at Aldi although their prices are rising as well.

We can only hope that things settle down and prices stabalize but with everything going on in Ukraine with the Russians doing their best to affect energy and food prices, who knows what will happen. My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people and hopefully the west will enable them to fight back and re-establish the Ukraine as an independent nation and to help re-build their nation.

>29 scaifea:, Thanks Amber my dear.

Part two of my love of Book Series.

SERIES CURRENTLY BEING READ.
1. PC Peter Grant by Ben Aaronovitch 3/10
2. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 3/5
3. Jackson Brodie by Kate Atkinson 2/5
4. Hamish Macbeth by M.C. Beaton 17/34
5. Agatha Raisin by M.C. Beaton 30/31
6. Ben Cooper and Diane Fry by Stephen Booth 1/18
7. Joe Pickett by C.J. Box 1/19
8. Jim Qwilleran Feline Whodunnit by Lilian Jackson Braun 8/29
9. Kate Shackleton by Frances Brody 1/11
10. Robert Langdon by Dan Brown 2/5
11. Heather Wells Mysteries by Meg Cabot 3/5
12. Inspector Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri 7/28
13. Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey 1/9
14. Dales Detective Agency by Julia Chapman 6/7
15. Jack Reacher by Lee Child 13/25
16. Jack Ryan by Tom Clancy 4/16
17. Myron Bolitar by Harlen Coben 3/11
18. Lucky Santangelo by Jackie Collins 1/8
19. Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly 14/23
20. Terry McCaleb by Michael Connelly 1/2
21. Mickey Haller by Michael Connelly 1/6
22. Kay Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell 7/25.
23. Maze Runner by James Dashner 1/5
24. Vicky Hill by Hannah Dennison 1/5
25. Winston Churchill by Michael Dobbs 1/4
26. Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson 3/10
27. Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich 23/28
28. Max Holt by Janet Evanovich 3/6
29. Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers by Janet Evanovich 2/4
30. Barnaby & Hooker by Janet Evanovich 2/3
31. Miss Dimont Mystery by T.P Fielden 4/5
32. Kingsbridge by Ken Follett 2/3
33. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 7/9
34. Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 4/5
35. Luke Carlton Series by Frank Gardner 1/3
36. Tavistock Family by Tess Gerritsen 1/2
37. Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles by Tess Gerritsen 7/13
38. Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind 1/16
39. Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths 2/14
40. Jake Brigance by John Grisham 1/3
41. Theodore Boone by John Grisham 6/7
42. Ty Hauck by Andrew Gross 2/4
43. Culver Valley Crime by Sophie Hannah 1/10
44. Morland Dynasty by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles 14/35
45. Jack Caffrey by Mo Hayder 1/7
46. Dwarves by Markus Heitz 1/5
47. Honeycote by Veronica Henry 1/3
48. Dalziel and Pascoe by Reginald Hill 8/24
49. Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood/Houston 4/7
50. Book of Silence/Duncton Chronicles by William Horwood 3/6
51. Milton St. John Trilogy by Christina Jones 1/3
52. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 1/14
53. Alex Delaware by Jonathan Kellerman 3/38
54. Walsh Family by Marian Keyes 4/7
55. Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation by Vaseem Khan 3/5
56. Patrik Hedstrom by Camilla Lackberg 1/10
57. Logan McRae by Stuart Macbride 7/12
58. Roderick Alleyn by Ngaio Marsh 6/32
59. No1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith 20/23
60. Isabel Dalhousie by Alexander McCall Smith 12/14
61. Berrybender Narrative by Larry McMurtry 1/4
62. Paul Brenner by Nelson De Mille 1/2
63. John Corey by Nelson De Mille 2/8
64. Spellsong Cycle by L.E. Modesitt jr 1/5
65. Temeraire by Naomi Novik 1/9
66. Alex Cross by James Patterson 26/30
67. Women's Murder Club by James Patterson 20/22
68. Michael Bennett by James Patterson 11/14
69. Witch and Wizard by James Patterson 2/5
70. Private by James Patterson 10/17
71. Zoo by James Patterson 1/2
72. Invisible by James Patterson 1/2
73. Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine by Sharon Kay Penman 1/3
74. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman 1/3
75. Inspector Rebus by Ian Rankin 4/24
76. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs 3/21
77. Liz Carlyle by Stella Rimington 1/10
78. DCI Banks by Peter Robinson 1/27
79. Kate Shugak by Dana Stabenow 1/23
80. Thea Osborne by Rebecca Tope 7/20
81. Trinity & Redemption by Leon Uris 1/2
82. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear 6/17
83. Hope and Glory by Herman Wouk 1/2

Not a Series but Danielle Steel 14/143

Happy New Thread, John!

I see you read the Bosch series. Have you seen the TV adaptation? I thought it was really good, with a great choice of actor to play Bosch (Titus Welliver). For us, it’s on Prime Video or Netflix, I can’t remember which.

>34 jnwelch:, Hi Joe, i am enjoying the Bosch books but haven't seen the TV adaptation as we only have Terrestrial TV in the household.

Finished book 28 late on Thursday night, Once in a Lifetime by Danielle Steel, PB - 341 pages. This is the Fourteenth book of hers that i have read, only 100+ more books of hers to get to, lol.

19-5-22 to 26-5-22

>34 jnwelch: & >35 johnsimpson:
I have read some of the Bosch books and have liked them. I did think that they had a tendency to be very violent and sometimes I have trouble with that, even in books so I have not read the later books in the series. I have also had the pleasure of listening to several recorded books narrated by Titus Welliver and thought that he did a great job as a narrator. I would love to see how he portrays Harry Bosch. I don't have streaming capabilities either so will have to save the Bosch series for when I retire. I have heard good things about the series and I am sorry to see that they are ending it, but perhaps the producers are trying to keep the stories true to the arc of the novels and so are ending it for that reason? Nevertheless, I would like to see the series sometime. Perhaps you can find the series on DVD at some point in the future.

Happy weekend, John!

I agree that the rise in basic necessities is quite troubling. It has been predicted that here in Canada, 4 litres of milk will rise to 12.00 by the end of autumn. Unfortunately, peoples pensions, or pay has been at a standstill for the last four years. Something will have to give-only so much pressure can be put on the average tax payer!

Looks like higher prices will be our small contribution to Ukraine while we wait for Putin and his Mafia to be jailed.

>37 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, i have heard that the TV series has been good but it is no use getting a DVD box set as i am useless at watching them. I bought a few films before Covid and so far have only watched one, Convoy. The other two are Grand Prix and one of my favourite films, The Battle of the Bulge, i always seem to have other things to do or listen to. You would think that during the winter months i would get to then especially on a Saturday when Karen works 2 to 10pm but no, i am either listening to Final Score for the football results and then it is The Rock show on radio two later in the evening and in between i am reading or doing book notes.

>38 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, milk isn't going up that much here but the Office of National Statistics has released a survey on thirty of the basic food items, mainly own brand and have found that a few have gone down, some have gone up by the inflation rate BUT pasta has gone up 50%, Bread up 16% and Rice up 14%.

It does seem that pay has not risen as fast as inflation and some things have gone up massively and we are all suffering because of this.

At least the Chancellor of the Exchequer has done a little bit to ease the rise in home energy costs but even this will not cover it all.

>39 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, it does seem that higher prices will be our contribution to helping Ukraine beat off Putin and his bullies. I noticed a piece that said the oil price has gone back above $120 per barrel so no doubt petrol and Diesel will be going up again.

I said to Karen that it would seem that before long going out to the pub for the evening or going out for a meal or a visit to the theatre will be for the Haves and the Havenots will just have to lump it.

Our Conifer border has resembled Stephen King's Pet Semetary the last couple of days, things began badly on Thursday morning when Felix shot into the dining room while Karen was feeding Elliott his breakfast, with a baby Blue Tit in his mouth, i managed to get it off him, still alive and hoped i had put where the Blue Tits would find it.

The following morning Felix was tormenting a Mouse before i rescued it and released it into the field at the back of us. Yesterday morning i was checking some bulbs i had transplanted when i spotted a dead baby bird, as i moved down the border i came across two more. I picked each one up in a paper towel and put them into a nappy sack and then into the refuse bin.

This morning after i had dropped Karen at work and then done the shopping as Staff Double Discount started today, i checked the border and found a young adult bird in amongst the Bluebells that are dying back. It would seem that i am going to have to do a border check each morning.

One of the problems is that the Conifer border between us and Hilary and Malcolm next door is quite old now and at the top it is eight foot wide and from the base looking up it is quite hollow and so the birds nest in the centre near to the top but Felix just climbs up the middle and gets them. Not only is he a birder he is a mouser and also gets Shrews whereas Leo only dealt with Shrews, in fact as he got older the birds used to torment Leo knowing that before he got going, they would be off onto the top of the fence and then laugh at him. Blackbirds had no fear of Leo, bless him, he would be laying down in the border and they would nonchalently walk down the lawn oblivious to him as they knew they could get away.

>43 johnsimpson: Hi John - could old Felix be kept in just for the Bird Nesting Season...?

He won't like my suggestion, but the Birdies will.

Does he mess with the Hedgehogs?

>44 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, sadly Felix likes the outdoors although he does spend a big chunk of the day on the bed in the second bedroom, we are trying to find a way of blocking the underneath of the Conifers off so that he can't climb up to the nests.

He is a bit unsure of the Hedgehogs and keeps to himself when they are around although at the moment they have stopped coming due to food issues. I have obviously treated them too well with the Spike's Meat Feast cartons and for some unknown reason there are none available at the moment. I have scoured the Internet but everywhere they say they stock this food, they are out of stock, i have been calling into Jolley's pet food store on a regular basis and they have no idea why they can't get hold of it. I have tried dog food, cat food, other Hedgehog food but they don't even touch it and yet up to a fortnight ago, i checked their plate every morning and it was virtually licked clean. I just hope i can hold of some soon otherwise that might be it for this year, they obviously love the meat feast and are now spoiled.

Today has been a mixture of sun and showers and so i have not been able to finish weeding the front garden, i have only about an hour's work to do to finish the clearing and then i can get back to the veg bed build in the back garden.

As soon as a couple of small shrubs and the Peony have flowered i can lift them temporarily and move them into pots for a bout a month or so and then i can get on with getting all the stones out of the soil and move it into a big pile before then putting it back when it has been mixed with some fresh garden soil and some well rotted manure. The plants that are doing well must be hardy and well used to poor soil but anything new struggles because of the soil quality and this will be remedied. Once the soil is of good quality we will look for plants that will give interest throughout the whole year and once planted we will use a bark mulch to keep the weeds at bay.

I just need a nice dry spell of weather to get on with my gardening tasks and the block and brickwork that needs to be done. No Mow May finishes in a few hours but i think it will be the weekend before i can mow the lawn, i am not sure if many more insects etc have ventured into the garden but at least we gave it a go even if it is going to be a good couple of hours of mowing to get it back to where it was on the 1st of May.

With the unsettled weather i have got some decent reading done and still done the upstairs housework and should finish my current book sometime tomorrow.

MAY'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 4

No of Authors.................... 4

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

Male Authors..................... 2

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

Pages Read....................... 1,552

Daily Avg........................... 50.06

Book Length avg................. 388

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-5-22 - 2,873
Books added in May - 19
Books read in May - 4

Revised book total - 2888

Pages to read at 1-5-22 - 1,179,786
Pages added in May - 6,680
Pages read in May - 1,552

Revised total pages to read - 1,184,914

I am always in awe to see that you even keep up how many pages to read you have, John.
I keep a lot of statistics and numbers, but I have never dared to calculate those numbers.

Quite enjoying your gardening and bird stories, John! Who knew that hedgehogs could get spoilt? I imagine them turning up their noses, and hissing at the food you put out. Our allotment cat used to like to hunt as well. Poor birds.
It’s been rather chilly here as well, and we have had those rainy spells, but as it has been so dry earlier in the year the rain is still needed.

Prices have gone up here as well, but what made me really angry was reading that some people are getting rich by speculating with scarce foods, like grains. On the positive side, British government has announced it will be taxing oil companies, like Shell! Shell has recently moved to Britain, because Dutch government was considering taxation. You can imagine we here are quite happy with your government now.

>49 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, this is Mr Cranswicks fault as i saw how many pages of the books he had on his TBR pile and thought i would calculate mine. Initially it took awhile as i has to go through all the bookcases at the time and then all the shelving i had built in the loft. Once done it is easy to keep up to as i have my A4 pad with the monthly stats i keep and just add on when books are bought and read. My aim was to keep it below One Million pages until Karen started noting down her reading and started buying books, over the last three years she has added more books to the TBR pile than i have.

Also, like Paul, i am a massive Cricket fan and following stats is part of the enjoyment plus that is where i mastered basic maths and percentages when i was eight. I love stats and so since the turn of the millennium i have added more notes and stats to my repetoire. If i was to take all my book noting paraphenalia for someone to have a look at i would need my large carrycase that i had for teacher training at that time.

>50 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, i am glad that you like my gardening and wildlife stories, i gave the lawn its first cut since the end of April this afternoon as we had been doing no mow May to encourage the insect life in gardens. It took me three cuts after having to raise the cut level on the mower and then reducing until i got to the level it should be at.

With everything else going on and the inclement weather we have been having lately, i haven't got to the last bit of weeding in the front garden and i am not sure that i will get to it until sometime next week with the forecast for the weekend.

The Hedgehogs are not happy with me at the food choices they are being offered and the longer it goes on, the more i think they will give up on coming into the garden this year. After two clear days of no deceased birds in the border, Felix wandered into the living room with a bird in his mouth at 10.30 this morning. I sent him out with a firm command and then waited for ten minutes before going out to see where he had left it. As i got to the border i found it next to a baby Blue Tit and so cleared them both up and disposed of them in the refuse bin, later in the afternoon he went to the spot where he had left them and was sniffing around and wondering where they had gone.

I am glad that you are happy with our government over its proposal to tax the oil giants and energy companies to help fund its help to the lower paid and socially disadvantaged with energy costs. It is about time they paid some decent taxation as they are making a fortune at the fuel pumps with prices there starting to creep up again.

Finished Book 29 on Wednesday evening, Distant Images by Audrey Howard, PB - 475 pages.

26-5-22 to 1-6-22

>52 johnsimpson: How lucky you are to have hedgehogs in your garden, John. I haven’t seen one in our garden for several years. Although Daisy has taken to rushing outside when we let her out last thing at night, in a definite hunting mode. The only things we can think of that would cause that reaction would be maybe a hedgehog or a fox (and there are foxes about) or maybe a cat. Maybe she just smelt something exciting once and has been searching for it ever since. But she only does it at night, which inclines me towards hedgehog or fox. We’ve never seen anything ourselves, but then we’ve got quite dense shrubs, so that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there.

With the question of birds and cats I console myself with the fact that (in this country at least) according to the RSPB the birds that are declining in numbers are farmland birds, rather than the garden birds in the heavily cat patrolled areas. I suppose if all the baby birds survived then we would be knee deep in baby birds in no time. I know that sounds heartless but in my defence I am trying to make my own garden as wildlife friendly as possible.

>52 johnsimpson:
I am intrigued by your no cut lawn. Why are you doing this? Is it better for the lawn?

I have been trying to get my lawn service to only come twice a month and it is very hard to do so. They want to come every two weeks whether the lawn needs it or not. I want to restrict lawn mowing because here in the U.S. small gasoline engines don't have to have pollution controls on them and I am not in favor of that.

>52 johnsimpson: That would be a pity John, no hedgehogs in your garden this year. Maybe they’ll return once they have babies? I have once seen a mother hedgehog with her young, so cute…

John - Congratulation on extending your No Mow May!

In the U.S., it was designed to help the declining Bee population.

I haven't mowed my 3.3 acres at all since my husband and I separated around 20 years ago -
instead planted a lovely flower which is both low growing and stopped the grass in one large area,
with expanding gardens still coming slowly around the rest of the land.

(...Can't remember name of flower,
but online video shows that my daughter can point her iPhone at it for identification -
I'll let you know...)

Inflation is horrible at the moment. In many cases I'm paying double what things were a couple years ago.

>51 johnsimpson: Thanks for explaining, John. That process is similair to the first time I catalogued my books, and I would not mind doing it.
The problem I run into is that I don't intend to read all books on the shelves. Many of the unread books were acquired long ago by Frank. And I am still not sure which books I DO want to read.
The other problem is that most books I want to read are library books. And as I don't have those around, I can only guess which edition I can borrow, and how many pages are in there. So I would never get more than a calculated guess.

>54 SandDune:, Hi Rhian my dear, it has been lovely to have the garden adopted by Hedgehogs and it is making us sad that they are not visiting due to the food shortage. Karen told a work colleague who lives nearby about the Hedgehogs visiting and one night as she and her husband were going out she spotted a Hedgehog and said, Martin (her husband) look, one of Karen's Hedgehogs and he just burst out laughing. She asked why he was laughing and he said does it have a tag on Saying Karen's Hedgehog, it could be any old Hedgehog, it still makes us chuckle.

Daisy could well be picking up a scent of Hedgehogs but more likely a Fox as they do leave a scent, we once had a Fox come into the garden, it was quite big to be honest. If you want to keep Foxes out of the garden as they can make a mess, male human urine sprinkled about will put them off as they fear that a large male is about.

On the Bird front, the Blue Tits are nesting in the Magnolia tree in the neighbour behind us garden, i have noticed this over the last few days as they are coming to my Sunflower Hearts feeder and then flying back into the tree. What with them using the feeder along with the Goldfinches and a robin, i am having to fill it up twice a day and over the Jubilee weekend i filled it five times in a 36 hour period. The Starlings are back and devouring the fat balls and pigeons and collared doves pick up the leftovers off the lawn

>55 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, the no mow May idea was to help the insect life by allowing weeds to flower and other grasses providing food. I think my lawn needs some work doing to it as only certain areas grew massively, probably due to me having the occasional wee on these areas.

A year ago i was listening to the radio in the car when a respected BBC broadcaster was being interviewed and the presenter asked him about him using urine on his lawn. He said yes it is good for the lawn, he wees in a container and then using his watering can with a fifty/fifty mix of water and urine waters his lawn but only when has has enough urine to make sure he can do the whole lawn. I filled a few large plastic milk cartons in the garage and will be watering the lawn with this later in the week. I think besides nitrogen that the urine provides, other elements need to be spread over the lawn to bring it fully back to life. It is a bit like what i am doing with the soil in the front garden and did with the back garden border, i lift all the old soil out and then sift it to get stones out and then add some fresh garden soil and farmyard manure and mix it up before putting back into the garden. The rear border is brilliant, the shrubs are very healthy and few weeds come through.

>56 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, i am hoping that the Hedeghogs will come back into the garden and at the moment i am making sure that the birds using the feeders are well looked after. We have lots of Goldfinches using the Sunflower Hearts feeder and now the Blue Tits are also using it along with a Robin, the Blue Tits are feeding young in the Magnolia Tree behind us. Over the Jubilee weekend i filled it up five times in a 36 hour period and today i have had to fill it twice, the Starlings are using the Fat ball feeder and Blackbirds,, Sparrows, Collared Doves and Pigeons pick up the cast offs from the lawn, luckily Felix is keeping to the house during the daytime over the last few days.

>57 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, No Mow May is over and i was glad to mow the lawn as it only grew largely in certain areas where i had had a wee late on an evening whilst having a cigar. The Lawn needs some work doing to it to give it some life, and i will be watering the lawn with a 50/50 mix of water and urine which i have collected in empty plastic milk cartons, this will add Nitrogen and i will check out what other nutrients are needed and then i hope when i do No Mow May next year, the whole lawn will grow to give the insects more food varieties.

>58 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, the rise in inflation is terrible with food costs sneakily going up a few pence here and there and before you know where you are, you realise that things have gone up by 10%.

Apparently fuel is due to rise at the pumps again which will have a knock on effect to food prices never mind the cost of going places.

>59 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, glad you liked my explanation of the book cataloging, once all the books i had had been added together to give me a base pages to read figure and number of books, it was then very easy to do it monthly by adding books bought and taking away the number of books and pages read.

As i said, because of my love of Cricket and the stats in the game, it made this an easy and rewarding task and i just love stats and so i thought up other ways of calculating book related things.

All this statistical work and the fact that i want to read all the books we have, it keeps my mind active along with other things that we do and so i hope to live as long as possible, i really do want to read One Million Pages and my total is of the books that i have read since 1-7-95, no book has been re-read, i have too many books to go at to even think of re-reading anything.

>62 johnsimpson: The birds are all very active and hungry at this time of the year. Goldfinches, John! Lovely. We see them now and then, but not at the feeder. We get: great tits and blue tits, blackbirds, robin, finch and Dunnock. And then the big birds, magpie, jackdaw, collared dove, and parakeets. And no hedgehogs, but we do get 🐀

Finished book 30 yesterday afternoon, The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, PB - 354 pages.

1-6-22 to 6-6-22

At the Village Platinum Jubilee party
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At our Platinum Jubilee Street Party
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What a great way to enjoy the weekend! Celebrating.

>68 johnsimpson: Oh my, John, is that you with Hannah and Elliott? Adorable! and hope you all had a wonderful celebration!

I love the jubilee photos! So cool.

Looks like a great party, John!

>70 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, the Village party was lovely and we were surprised how many Villagers turned up, the time just flew by, Noon until 3pm and the weather was very good. Sadly the weather for our street party was the total opposite, we knew rain was expected but it lasted longer than we thought and it was bitterly cold. It turned out that Sunday was the coldest in Yorkshire for 31 years but we all had a good time.

Karen was part of a group of eight ladies who got together to organise it, they jad three meetings and Sunday morning was a hive of activity in three kitchens getting all the food prepped, four of us men got the tables set up and four gazebo's put up. after the food we had a quiz and then Royal Bingo.

>71 kac522:, Hi Kathy my dear, the photo is of me, Hannah and Elliott, Hannah loves Elliott to bits and enjoys time spent with him. About an hour after this photo was taken, Amy and Andy arrived and we all had a lovely afternoon.

>72 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, glad you liked the Jubilee photos.

>73 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, the party was a great success despite the weather and all 40 guests turned up, Karen and seven other ladies got together to get this organised, they had three meetings and i was tasked with getting all the food.

On the day we knew rain was expected but it lasted longer than we thought, while five of the ladies were in Ann's kitchen making sandwiches and getting other things onto cake plates, two other ladies were in another kitchen also preparing food. Five of us men got the tables up and also the gazebo's which were definitely needed. After the food we had a Royal Quiz and then Royal Bingo before residents left and a small group cleared everything up including Karen and Amy. Sadly i was sent home to get warm despite wearing a decent Polo Shirt, Sweater and my Fleece, i put the Electric fire on and shut the doors to the bottom of the staircase and into the dining room to make sure the heat was concentrated, poor Andy and Elliott got really warm but it took a good 45 minutes for me to warm up, luckily my patches were due to be changed that night.

I am stopping by to say happy newish thread! I have been busy trying to retire at the end of June and am getting close. Had to train several people to do my job ;-)

I love all the pictures from the Platinum Jubilee Party! Happy happy family!

>78 witchyrichy: Good luck with retirement, Karen.

I am, on the other hand, recuperating in order to get back to work!

I am decidedly not a monarchist, John, but kudos to Her Majesty for her long service to the country. I don't know how the institution will survive after she is no longer with us.

Tremendous performance from England in the test match at Nottingham and I am so pleased to have been wrong about Jonny Bairstow. I am right about Crawley though and I think it is a kick in the teeth for Compton that the clown keeps his place for Headingley with the series won. He is not the answer at opener and it is glaringly obvious. Overton will inject some pace and I guess they will not play a spinner at Leeds.

It has been a few days since you posted here. Not like you - but then I haven't posted either. We have a long weekend here with Monday being Juneteenth so I will have a day off from work. I am not getting much reading done either. Work and personal life are a trial right now. I found out on Monday that the library in which I work will be closing in February 2023 so I am now planning on what books to move where and which to be weeded and discarded. In the middle of that, a friend notified me of a fantastic job and I have decided that I am going to apply for that. It would be a very good job and tied me over until I reach retirement age in two years. I am qualified and hope that they will consider an old lady for the position. My brother-in-law and nephew are both in the hospital. My nephew has just gotten out of 21 days in intensive care for a ruptured colon. He is 33 years old and will celebrate his 34th birthday next week in the hospital. My brother-in law, has many health problems and his hospital stay is probably going to be about a week. I am very worried about my sister. She is hanging on and coping but just barely. She is back at work because she has used all of her vacation time and with her job she doesn't get sick leave. These are not good times for her. It has been very hot here and it isn't going to be pleasant when I see my electric bill as I am running the air conditioning a good deal of the time I am home. I just can't stand the house being hot. On the upside of things - I will be going to the library conference in Washington, D.C. this coming week and am looking forward to the time with my colleagues.

This is my first post for nine days, time seems to have escaped me of late. Since my last post i have finished clearing the weeds from the front garden and managed to get out lots of Tulip bulbs, this year we had a Baker's dozen flowering Yellow Tulips but i got out about forty bulbs. I found the Snowdrop bulbs and some of these and the Tulips will go into the back garden border.

I began to dig out the footings for the veg garden in the back garden after i had done some weeding in the space, i also took out the Aloha Lily 'Nani' bulbs out of the pot they were in. Last year it was obvious that they had multiplied, the plant was a present to me for taking a colleague of Karen's home a few years ago and when it first flowered there were four stems. One they were out and i had split them up i put five in the original pot and another five in another pot and the remaining ones i put into the back border, they have all taken well and i look forward to them flowering.

We have had Elliott twice for his overnight stays and he came with Amy last Sunday as Andy was working all day, it is always lovely to see him and Amy. This weeks visit was a bit of a nightmare for us, not long after he had awoken from his morning nap, he tripped over his feet and hit the coffee table and has a little bruise on his forehead. He is walking now but is still a bit unsteady at times, especially in his new shoes. The rest of the morning and afternoon was fine and i picked Hannah up from school and he loves to see her. Karen took him for his bath which he loves especially with Hannah helping out, Karen had dried him and put him into his pyjama shorts and top and came to the top of the stairs to shout down to me, somehow Elliott got to one side of Karen and before she could do anything he took a step forward and went tumbling down the stairs, Karen tried to reach out to him and she came halfway down. All i heard was an almighty scream and by the time i got to the bottom of the stairs, he was infront of me, i picked him up and blew in his face to make him breathe and took him up to Karen. I checked how she was while she cuddle a screaming little boy, we were both shocked and Karen checked him out from top to tail. Luckily he was all floppy as he fell and he was shook up and the only injury we could find was a cut lip where he had bitten into it. Karen took him to his bed and cuddled and made sure he was OK, i did his milk and then took Hannah home. Once back, Karen was still with him, soothing him and still checking him out. The following day we checked him out again and he had no bruises thank fully.

Amy had a hair appointment on Thursday morning and arrived at ours at just before 1pm, Karen told her what had happened and she replied that he had done the exact same thing with them, unfortunately for both of us, there is no where to fasten a safety gate apart from the bathroom doorway, which we are both going to do now that he is walking.

Some good news, i managed to get some Meaty Feast Hedgehog food in tins and have tried this, at first nothing happened and i had to clear the food off the plate as it had gone dry. the second attempt saw a slight nibbling of the food and again i had to change it and then the last two nights the food has been cleared by them, we are so pleased that the Hedgehogs have come back.

since my last post my reading has slowed down despite me reading a John Grisham book, which i love. I finally finished it on Thursday night, it had taken me ten days to read 410 pages.

The weather of late has been pretty good with rising temperatures, yesterday we had temperatures up into the mid thirties C in the South and we topped out at 30C, today temperatures across the UK are up to 10C less than yesterday. All this is due to heat coming up from North Africa, with Spain and France hitting June records of between 40C to 45C.

I mowed the lawn this morning after putting the washing out onto the rotary airer and it was lovely sunny and warm but by mis afternoon it had come over dull and cool with a strong breeze.

Finished book 31 late on Thursday night, The Partner by John Grisham, PB - 410 pages.

6-6-22 to 16-6-22

>82 johnsimpson: You have been busy, John. And poor Elliott, taking such a fall! Cuddles to him.

Great that the hedgehogs are back. Meaty Feast Hedgehog tins, you are spoiling them.

410 pages in 10 days, it’s not so bad?

>83 johnsimpson: We had two hot days, and now it’s back to really cool and windy. I’m glad, anything over 25 C makes me feel really uncomfortable.

Have a nice sunday, John, and Karen.

>69 johnsimpson: What a wonderful time!

Have a great weekend!

>82 johnsimpson: The little ones sure take most falls with minor damage, thankfully. I was immediately more worried for Karen, as even a small misstep can make some of us olders wretched for weeks. I'm glad to hear they are both fine.

>82 johnsimpson: That is scary, John. I was always worried about the kids falling down stairs, but gladly it looks like no harm was done.

You are doing well on your reading this year. I'm not to 75 yet--which is unusual for me. I'm hoping I'll be there by the end of August. I think I'll do well to finish with 125 this year.

Finished book 32 last night, Red Roulette by Desmond Shum, HB - 310 pages.

I would say that this is my book of the year so far, Desmond gives a personal insight into how China does business and the way Xi Jinping got to become President and how he has cracked down on dissenters and is making himself leader until he dies whilst lining his and his accolytes pockets. Well worth a read, Shum is the Chinese Bill Browder.

16-6-22 to 20-6-22

>90 johnsimpson: A hit, a palpable hit! Thanks for the recommendation of that one, John. It sounds interesting to me.

>78 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, i am glad that you liked the Jubilee photos that i posted.

>80 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, The Queen is the glue that has kept us together for the last 70 years and i think William will continue the aims she has always strived to maintain.

The Trent Bridge Test was awesome, controlled hitting from both Bairstow and Stokes, Crawley must be living on borrowed time. The Headingley Test has been even better then Trent Bridge, coming back from 55 for 6 to get a small lead due to another awesome innings from Bairstow and Jamie Overton on debut, sad that he did not get a debut Century though. New Zealand owe Mitchell and Blundell massively for their contributions, this Test could have been over before the end of day four if not for these two. Pope seems to be making progress at the tricky No 3 position and then Root anchored the team while Bairstow ended the game in style.

Three from Three for Stokes and McCullum, their seems to be a new energy about the teams put out BUT the style may come unstuck and it will certainly be a rollercoaster ride for the fans but it will be very entertaining.

>68 johnsimpson: and >69 johnsimpson: Thanks for posting these lovely photos! I like the word "village."

>81 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, posting this month seems to be a bit hit and miss for me, Wednesday and Thursdays tend to be missed as we have Elliott and we are both normally tired now that he is walking. I have been busy in the garden while the weather has been good.

>90 johnsimpson: Red Roulette is now on my tbr pile. Happy day to you and Karen.

>85 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, the fall didn't seem to affect Elliott that much although we kept an eye on him on the Thursday. Since then i have put up a baby gate at the top of the stairs.

The Hedgehogs are back nightly now that they have Meaty Feast back on the plate and they are clearing it each night.

>86 figsfromthistle:, Thanks Anita my dear.

>87 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, Karen was OK, just a couple of bruises to add to the ones she has been picking up at work, bless her.

>88 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, thankfully no harm was done and the day after it was as if nothing had happened.

>89 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, the reading is going reasonably well but it could be better.

The last few days have been pretty good especially with the good weather, on Sunday the 19th i was bidding online for a few pens and was successful on five all under £10 each, they arrived on Thursday but we were out so they went back to the main sorting office in Wakefield, i picked them up along with two parcels for Karen on Friday morning. Once home i put the shopping away and then selected five inks and inked the pens up, they all write really well.

>82 johnsimpson: Amen...no one was hurt from that nasty fall down the steps.

Finished book 33 on Monday 27/6/22, Black Dog by Stephen Booth, PB - 514 pages.

20-6-22 to 27-6-22

This week seems to have flown by, Monday was a reading day for me as well as listening to England complete a three -nil series win over New Zealand with yet another run chase of over 270 runs.

Tuesday was another steady day, reading in the morning and then i did the upstairs housework before collecting Karen from work. After a pot of tea we both got changed and at 6.30pm we went to Linda and Geoff's for a catch up and some food. We had a good three hours with them and when we got back, Felix was desperate to go out, it was his own fault as he had been asleep on the spare bed for most of the day and then after coming downstairs he settled himself on the fleece cover on the back of the armchair in the living room in front of the window.

Wednesday morning i was up at 7am, quickly washed and dressed and then came downstairs and got our meds out while the kettle boiled and then i made a coffee in the travel mug and then got in the car and set off to collect Elliott.

Once back with Elliott, Karen gave him his breakfast and i had my pot of tea, meds and then my breakfast before we set off to the Aldi in Featherstone to do the shopping. I dropped off Karen and then went for a drive to get Elliott off to sleep, he dropped off and then i made my way back to the Aldi and waited for Karen to come out with the shopping. Elliott was still asleep and only woke up as we got into Walton.

We unpacked and put the shopping away before i made us a drink and Elliott some juice and then he played with his toys and came to both of us for cuddles. Karen fed Elliott his lunch and also made me a sandwich, i made us a drink and then got things ready to go and pick Hannah up from school. Once home with Hannah, she played with Elliott after he woke up from his afternoon nap.

We had tea and then Karen took Elliott for a bath, once he was bathed and dried, Karen read to him and then as it was time to take Hannah home, i made up Elliott's bottle and took it up to him and gave him a kiss night night and then took Hannah home.

Karen ended up in bed with Elliott at around 1.05 am this morning and then they joined me at 6.15am, i tried to pretend i was still asleep. In the end i woke up and was sent downstairs to make us a pot of tea, make up Elliott's bottle and let Felix out. Elliott had his bottle and we had our tea and then we got up, washed and dressed and then came downstairs to get breakfast ready for Elliott.

While Karen fed Elliott, i made us a coffee and then checked the Hedgehog box before coming back in to have my coffee. We had our breakfast and then got Elliott ready and popped out in the car into Wakefield to pick up a couple of bits. Elliott fell asleep in the car and only woke up as we got back onto the driveway.

I made us all a drink and we played with Elliott before it was time for lunch, we all had lunch and then i took Elliott home and Karen went and washed her hair before having a sleep. I got to Selby and spent two and a half hours with Elliott and Andy until Amy arrived home. We had a quick chat and then it was time for me to take Andy to work and after dropping him off, i made my way home.

>105 johnsimpson: So nice that Elliott and Hannah live near, John, and they can see eachother art your place.

>107 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, it is lovely that they get to see each other every Wednesday if only for a few hours. They will see each other on Sunday when all the family are coming for Sunday lunch as an early celebration for my birthday which is Next Wednesday when i will be 59, my last year in my Fifties. I have no idea what they have all got for me and so it will be a nice surprise on Wednesday morning after i have got back from picking Elliott up.

Sounds like you've had some nice days with Elliott! I'm glad Felix is doing well!

Stopping by to say hello! I really want hedgehogs. All we have are groundhogs and they can be a real danger to the garden.

Happy early birthday! Enjoy that last year in your 50s. I went over to the next decade in May and it's not too bad. Decided to just embrace it.

>109 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, we have some really lovely days with Elliott, we have to be careful with him now that he is walking as he is pretty quick.

>110 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, i just want to see the Hedgehogs, lol, they seem to come for their food after 11pm, i must ask Felix if he sees them, lol.

I will enjoy my last year in the Fifties and my Sixties don't really bother me, age is just a number, i don't feel old (well sometimes) and i certainly don't dress like my Dad who i sadly lost when he was 62. I must say that this group and the friends i have on here keep me young and obviously i have to feel young with Elliott and Hannah around.

Friday was shopping day for me and once it was done i made my way to the Cemetery in Castleford to put some flowers on my first loves grave, she was killed by a hit and run driver on 30th June 1981, aged just 16.

After putting the flowers on Sharon's grave i made my way home and unpacked and put the shopping away before making myself a drink and then i listened to the Cricket on the radio. After lunch i got on with the downstairs housework before watching some of the first stage of this years Tour De France in Copenhagen. I made Karen a drink in the travel mug and went to pick her up from work.

Finished book 34 yesterday evening, Mystery in Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood, PB - 214 pages.

27-6-22 to 3-7-22

On Saturday morning we awoke with the alarm at 7.30am and i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea, while the kettle was boiling, Felix decided he wanted to go out so i let him out. We had our pot of tea and then got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out.

I emptied the dishwasher and put everything away while Karen sorted out Felix's dishes, i then got our meds out and while Karen loaded the washer and set it going and then got breakfast out, i went to get the papers. Once back with the papers, i delivered Margaret's and then got mine out of the car and went inside to pour my coffee. I had my coffee and meds and then had my cereal before hanging the washing on the rotary airer.

We had another drink while watching Saturday Kitchen and then i read the sports section of my paper. We had another drink before it was time to take Karen to work, i dropped Karen off and then popped into store to pick up some mini pizzas for Hannah and some mint tea bags for Karen. Once this was done i made my way home and watched the Tour De France stage in Copenhagen.

I had my lunch and then later i put my rack of ribs in the oven for my tea, once they were ready i had them while listening to radio two. Once the ribs had been eaten i made myself a pot of tea and then listened to the Rock Show on Radio Two before doing a bit of reading until it was time to make Karen a pot of coffee in the travel mug and then went to pick her up from work.

>115 johnsimpson: I think the rest of the world is watching Wimbledon, and you're watching the Tour De France. Somehow I find that ironic!

Happy birthday, John!

>116 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, it is ironic but for me The Tour de France always takes precedence for me. Sadly in the early 1970's all i could get of the Tour was a 15 minute slot on Saturday's World of Sport program and when we went on Holiday to Blackpool i always bought a copy of Cycling Weekly to read and re-read and re-read, the copy was always just about falling apart by the following Saturday when we were coming home.

From 1983 we have had coverage on Channel Four and then the last few years it has been on ITV4 and the coverage has gone from the last hour of each stage to full coverage and an hour long highlights show.

>117 FAMeulstee:, Thank you Anita my dear.

A belated happy birthday, John. I hope you are getting some of the lovely weather we a getting in Edinburgh now.

How's it going. buddy?

Happy Belated Birthday wishes from me, too. I hope the tea is hot and delicious, and you're getting some decent weather. Great to see the photos of you and Karen and the wee ones. We get a visit from our grandees in a little over a week.

Debbi's out getting her locks trimmed. We're sending love and hugs to you and Karen.

>120 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, the weather at the moment is hot, hot, hot and it is supposed to get hotter by Sunday/Monday. We are in the severe hot weather area that the Met Office has called and so we will both be careful outside.

>121 jnwelch:, Hi Joe, mate.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, the tea is going down nicely and the weather is just getting hotter by the day although today and tomorrow the temp has come down a couple of degrees C but then starts rising. We are in the severe weather alert area for the weekend and Monday, we could get up to 34C but London and the South-East could reach an unprecedented 40C, the previous highest temperature recorded in the UK was in Cambridge where the thermometer reached 38.7C.

It has been lovely seeing Elliott so much over the last week.

Sending love and hugs to you and Debbi dear friend.

On Sunday 3rd July we had all the family over for a pre-birthday Sunday lunch, both kids gave me my cards and presents which were put to one side until the sixth when it was my birthday.

We had a lovely lunch and then a choice for dessert before we had a good catch-up before they all left for home.

Monday and Tuesday were good although i was up early on the Tuesday to go and pick Rob up and take him to work as his car was in for its MOT and service. On Wednesday morning i was up at 7am to get myself washed and dressed and after making a coffee in the travel mug, i went and collected Elliott for his usual Wednesday overnight stay. Once home Karen made me a pot of tea before giving Elliott his breakfast while i opened my cards and presents.

I did really well, Karen got me a canvas travel writing case and i had bought a B6 slim MD notebook to go in it, it cam also hole four Fountain Pens, ideal for me. Along with this she got me a book, some fancy socks and the RUSH R40 live CD. Amy got me a nice shirt and some sweeties and Rob also got me some sweets and they gave me some money.

On Thursday we went to Ilkley with Elliott, we had a lovely time with the weather being so good. First stop was the local jewellers so that Karen could have a battery fitted in he Longines watch and she also took in a ceramic watch that she got when we were on holiday in Salou back in 1996. While the batteries were being fitted we popped across to the Costa Coffee shop for refreshments and to feed Elliott, he loved it.

We went back to the jewellers to pick up the watches and then we had a mooch around, i popped into Grove Books and Karen took Elliott off in the pushchair as he was a little bored. We had already called into Martin House Children's Hospice charity shop and Karen picked up a nice casual bag that had not been used for £5 and four books for Elliott for £2.

I caught up with them and i went and got my Cricket magazine and then we went across to the little park for a picnic lunch. Elliott loves his fruit and after a bit of a sandwich he tucked into mango and strawberries while we had our sandwich and drink. Elliott decided he wanted to have a walk around and he got lots of oohs and aahs from the ladies sat on the benches. We left the park and popped into the Oxfam bookshop and i picked up a couple of books before we made our way back to the car and headed for Selby to take him home.

Once we got him home we had a drink or two and a quick chat with Amy and Andy before we left for home.

On Friday i took Karen to work and then popped into store to do the little bit of shopping that we needed, once done i made my way home and unpacked and put it all away before having a pot of tea and doing some reading. After i finished my drink i got on with the downstairs housework so that i would be done before the Cycling came on TV, i watched the Tour de France stage until it was time to go and pick Karen up from work.

On Saturday morning we awoke with the alarm at 7.30am and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, i let Felix out. Once we finished our tea, we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get things sorted out. I got our meds out and poured our juice out and then put the kettle on while Karen cleaned and then filled Felix's dishes. I went to get the newspapers and delivered Margaret's before getting mine out of the car and going inside to have my coffee and breakfast and meds.

After breakfast i put the washing on the rotary airer and then picked the first crop of Red Gooseberries, i thought more were ripe and left quite a lot to ripen for a few more days. We had another drink and watched Saturday Kitchen before we had another drink and then it was time to take Karen to work. I dropped Karen off but then had to go into store to pick up some strawberries and then on my way home i called in at Tanya's farm to collect a dozen eggs.

Once home i put the TV on for the Tour de France stage and watched that until it had finished. I made myself a drink and then topped and tailed one Kilo of Gooseberries before going outside to catch a bit more sunbathing.

I made my tea and had it while listening to Radio Two, i finished just before the Rock show started and had a pot of tea or two before it was time to go and pick Karen up from work.

Sunday was the hottest day of the weekend with temperatures topping out at 30C, 86F, we woke with the alarm at 8.30am and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, once again i let Felix out. We finished our tea and then got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get things sorted out.

While getting our breakfast ready, Amy and Elliott arrived as Andy was working 7am until 5pm. We all had breakfast and a drink before we got the sunshade up and Amy put his little tent up and then we got the paddling pool out. Elliott had a wonderful time in the pool with water everywhere, lol.

We kept ourselves hydrated but had to come in at 12.30pm as it was too hot, Elliott played for a bit before Karen gave him lunch, we did not feel like eating. Elliott went up to bed for a nap and i watched the cycling on TV while Karen and Amy had a good chat.

I heard Elliott stir and went upstairs to get him and took him out to him mum and grandma outside as the rear garden was now in shade.

We packed everything up and Amy and Elliott left just after 4pm so that she could pick Andy up from work.

Yesterday we were up at 6am as Karen had been asked if she could do a 7am until 3pm shift, we got up, washed and dressed and i made us a pot of tea and then i took Karen to work. I got back home and made another pot of tea and got my breakfast out and had it while watching BBC Breakfast.

I had to pop out to the Doctor's to drop off our repeat prescriptions and once back i made a coffee, got my sunglasses, book and phone and got one of the sun lounger's out. I put some sun cream on and spent a couple of hours getting some sun before it clouded over a bit. I put everything away and read until it was time to go and pick Karen up from work.

Today it was clouded over but still warm, we got up, washed and dressed and had breakfast before i took Karen to work for 9am, luckily she was finishing at 3pm.

Finished book 35 on Sunday, The Drop by Michael Connelly, PB - 418 pages.

3-7-22 to 10-7-22

So very far behind on LT, but hello there! Happy birthday month, since I missed the day and the week. Oops. : ) Hope you manage to stay cool this weekend. Big hugs.

John, hope you & family are keeping cool--water, water, water!

Dropping in to say hello and wish you a wonderful weekend!

Hi John,
An announcement for this showed up from Stuart Semple for inks, which made me think of you. I have some of his paints, but don't use inks.

Hi John. Hope you are doing alright. Happy weekend.

I have been missing for a couple of weeks but i am back now, from the 18th July it was a case of it is too warm to do anything as temperatures hit 38C in Walton. By the middle of that week it was time for Elliott's overnight stay and then on with the packing and getting a couple of things done before we set off on our holiday.

Saturday 23rd July and we set off on our holiday, an hour into the journey and i realised that i had forgotten the laptop, so no updates for nine days. We stopped at the services for a call of nature and as i opened the rear door to get my walking stick, i found i had forgotten that as well. As you can imagine Karen had a field day saying that i didn't have that much to remember and still i forgot.

We had a pleasant journey and we stopped at Street in Somerset, we parked up at Clark's shopping village. We had a drink and food stop before having a good look around the outlets, i picked up a nice T-Shirt from Weird Fish and Karen picked up three presents to take home. We had another drinks break before continuing our look around and while Karen went into M&S, i went into the Asics store and spotted a nice pair of trainers. I came out and waited for Karen to have a look at them and she loved them, i tried them on and they fit lovely. Initially they were £105, had been reduced to £75 and were now reduced by 30% to £52.50, we went to the counter to pay and it turned out that they were having a promotion with another 20% off so i ended up getting them for £42, result.

We left the shopping village and set the satnav for Wookey Hole where we were staying on Saturday night, on the way we spotted an Aldi store so we called in and Karen picked up some milk for our pots of tea. We eventually found the hotel , parked up and checked in and then got our overnight case and other bag and went to our room. We had a meal in the restaurant and then retired to our room and watched a bit of TV and read a bit before we turned in for the night.

More to come.

Hi John. I was a bit worried about you all. But I see you have been off on a holiday! Very glad to hear it. And yes, forgetfulness, maybe it was the heat?

>134 johnsimpson: Glad to see a message from you, John!
Nice deal with the Asics. Frank also likes their trainers, and has a few pairs in nice bright colors. What color are yours?
Looking forward to read more about your vacation.

Like others, I was beginning to wonder what happened to you. I am also returning from vacation. I had a bit of a delayed start yesterday as I had a 12 hour drive in one day and didn’t get started until noon. I had to get a doctor’s appointment for my mother. She is having trouble with her heart medication and it took a week to get an appointment with the cardiologist who prescribed the medication. It shouldn’t take that long to get an appointment. After I got the appointment on Monday (yesterday) I called the doctor’s office and made a complaint. The receptionist told me that it often takes that long to “coordinate” the calendars of the hospital and the two clinics involved. I was incredulous. I said, before I thought about it “Haven’t you guys heard about Outlook? It is a system that allows all parties involved to see calendars. We use it all the time at work.” I doubt I made any friends at that clinic, but I did ask the receptionist to be aware that my mother was a “no show” because nobody bothered to call her and tell her that she had a appointment. I hope that they can get this straightened out, but I do know that if nobody complains about bad service then nothing gets changed.

Glad you had a wonderful vacation even with a few forgotten items. At least you were able to "unplug" for a while.

>105 johnsimpson: It is amazing how much our lives change when we have a grandchild! It is obvious that you and Karen adore little Elliott!

Great to see you back posting you forgetful 'Hap'orth!

Must say John I am getting more than a little bit annoyed that the England team continues to carry Zak Crawley - absolutely no justification whatsoever for continuing with him and it is an insult to those players scoring runs in the county game. Ben Compton's purple patch seems to have gone but Adam Lyth is in good nick and Robson is a much more competent opener than Crawley. I would have fancied giving Patterson-White a try too instead of Jack Leach, although I cannot complain too much about that.

John, sounds like you had a good holiday despite the heat. Did you make any bookstore stops?

My son's holiday to France didn't start out well either--they left the same day you did (Saturday morning Jul 23) from Sheffield for Folkestone, where they had a Eurotunnel reservation for 2pm. But when they got there, they spent 18 hours in their car (with 3 kids and a cat!) before they were able to board the train at 8 a.m. the next morning (Sunday). Once they got to France, they went to the place they were _supposed_ to stay the prior night, and the owner was kind enough to let them take showers and have breakfast.

They are now at their final destination (Brittany) and enjoying their holiday. Should be home this coming weekend--hopefully the trip home will be smooth.

>135 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, i thought you all might wonder what i was up to and then forgetting the laptop just compounded things. After breakfast on Saturday morning i began to pack the car, i should have put the laptop case next to the coffee table as i had put my man bag on it along with my canvas pen and notebook case. Forgetting my stick though was not something i have ever done before, thankfully we had our walking canes in the car and i used that, hoping to pick up another proper walking stick along our travels, this did not happen.

I am not blaming the heat for my forgetfulness, more like old age and senility, lol.

Sending love and hugs to you and Marc dear friend.

>136 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, last night was the first chance i had to get back on here and post about my absence. My Asics are Misty Pine/ Seafoam and look lovely, i haven't worn them yet but will probably put them on tomorrow.

I have plenty more to say about our holiday and will post some photos.

Sending love and hugs to you and Frank, dear friend.

>137 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, i hope that you had a good vacation as we did with ours. What a palaver sorting your mom's appointment out and you did right to complain, it is ridiculous in this day and age to not be able to co-ordinate quicker than that.

Sending love and hugs Benita, dear friend.

>138 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, it was a lovely holiday in a part of Devon we have not previously visited. I could not believe what i had forgotten and to be honest what with the finale of the Tour de France on the day we arrived at our apartment/flat, the Women's Euro semi-finals and then the start to the Commonwealth Games, i would have been too busy to go on the laptop. Add to all this that after each days visit, once we had eaten, we were just ready to relax and it was our 38th Wedding Anniversary on the Thursday. We both slept soundly all week, even Karen who normally finds strange beds unsettling all though she did take her pillow with her, this may have helped.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>139 Whisper1:, Hi Linda my dear, Elliott is a little angel and we do adore him, having not seen him for two weeks, we were looking forward to his usual Wednesday overnight stay, today. It is only two weeks but he does seem to have grown a little bit and looks a little different.

I picked him up this morning and after we were home and i had some breakfast, i went to pick up Hannah and she hasn't seen him for the same period and she was excited to see him.

Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>140 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, i'm at that funny age you know, lol. I was too far down the motorway to go back for the laptop and definitely too far from home for my walking stick.

I cannot believe what is keeping Crawley in the side to be honest mate, Compton was due a bad run after his batting heroics for Kent in the early season but was starting to get some form back. What a knock by one of our favourites, Northeast, and they had enough time to force a win. I know it was against Leicestershire BUT it still takes concentration to bat for that long. I am sure that if no result could have been attained, him and Cooke would have put on even more with Northeast breaking Lara's record and Cooke could have gone on to a triple hundred the way they were going, they would also have passed the highest Championship score of 887 by Yorkshire.

I still think their is something going on at Yorkshire, what with Patterson giving up the captaincy and then Lyth, Fisher and i think it was Thompson, all liking a post by one of the physio's sacked, all after agreeing new contracts. They didn't go as far as commenting but even so, they showed they liked what he was saying to Michael Atherton in The Times.

I am back now and want to get back to some decent reading and posting, watch this space.

>141 kac522:, Hi Kathy my dear, we visited quite a lot of independent bookshops around South-West Devon but sadly i forgot to take any photos of them. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many and they were all thriving, we visited two in Sidmouth and Dartmouth and then one each in Salcombe, Totnes and Bewdley, we also visited numerous Waterstones and then lots of Charity shops. Despite all this activity we only picked up six books.

I hope that your Son's family holiday has gone well despite such a poor start, we had been hearing of all the problems down at the ports before we set off on holiday.

Sending love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>147 johnsimpson: I was surprised both by Patterson's resignation as well as Tattersall's elevation especially considering that it is nip and tuck whether he plays in front of Harry Duke. I don't hold with all this self flagellation to be honest. Racism both by players like Ballance as well as, let's not forget Rafiq cannot be condoned but it is in the past and improvements should be lauded over over any regressions being magnified. We are aiming for a truly colour blind game and society and I feel that strides forward are being jeopardised by undue raking over the past.

Finished book 36 on 18th July, The House Swap by Rebecca Fleet, PB - 340 pages.

10-7-22 to 18-7-22

Finished book 37 on 29th July, Blindside by James Patterson, PB - 360 pages.

18-7-22 to 29-7-22

JUNE'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 5

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

New Authors...................... 1

Male Authors..................... 3

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

Pages Read....................... 2,063

Daily Avg........................... 68.77

Book Length avg................. 412.60

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-6-22 - 2,888
Books added in June - 6
Books read in May - 5

Revised book total - 2889

Pages to read at 1-6-22 - 1,184,914
Pages added in June - 2,500
Pages read in June - 2,063

Revised total pages to read - 1,185,351

JULY'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 4

No of Authors.................... 4

New Authors...................... 1

Male Authors..................... 2

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

Pages Read....................... 1,332

Daily Avg........................... 42.97

Book Length avg................. 333

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-7-22 - 2,889
Books added in July - 16
Books read in July - 4

Revised book total - 2901

Pages to read at 1-7-22 - 1,185,351
Pages added in July - 6,711
Pages read in July - 1,332

Revised total pages to read - 1,190,730

The last couple of days have been pretty good with having Elliott for his usual Wednesday overnight stay and also yesterday i brought Hannah over and she was so excited to see Elliott.

Today after an early wake up call courtesy of Elliott, 6am, i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed and made up a bottle of milk for Elliott. After we had all finished our drinks and watched a bit of BBC Breakfast, we got up washed and dressed and then i brought Elliott downstairs.

Once downstairs, Karen gave Elliott his breakfast and i got our meds out, juice out and made us a coffee before we had breakfast. Once breakfast was done we made our way to the Asda to do the shopping, Elliott enjoyed himself in the trolley. Once the shopping was done we made our way home and unpacked and put it all away before i made us a pot of tea and Karen made up a bottle of juice for Elliott.

So far everything was going well until the lunchtime news, first off their was an announcement of a raise in the interest rates by .5%, so mortgage rates will go up and by way of explaining why he had done this, the head of the Bank of England said it was to try and curb inflation which he forecast would rise from 9.4% to 13% by year end. Later in the news the forecast from OFGEM on the expected cost of a standard dual fuel deal would rise from £1,971 to £3,358 in October and these rises would be reviewed every three months so by January it could rise to £3,615. What a lovely few bits of news to ponder on

While you were away >132 quondame:. Inks!

Well, I am well and truly behind, John. Sorry about that!

I hope you, Karen, and Elliott have a wonderful day together!

>157 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, sadly they are not for Fountain pens, they are drawing or Calligraphy inks but they look nice.

Hi John, good to see that you had a wonderful holiday even if you forgot some necessary items.

>156 johnsimpson: I read the concerning financial news at the end of your post. Interest rates were raised here too. I get that the news about fuel is bad but what is a "standard dual fuel deal"?

>160 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, the Standard dual fuel deal is both Gas and Electricity, the cap refers to the maximum that can be charged as long as you do not exceed the usage that the cap is based upon. The vast majority of customers have gas boilers for heating therefore the larger element is Gas usage.

The cap price to take effect on 1st October is announced on 26th August and latest estimates say it will be £3,582 with £4,266 forecast to be from 1st January. The cap used to be changed twice a year but because of rising costs as seen when it went up from £1,277 to £1,971 in April meant that the regulator, OFGEM, decided that it had gone up by too much as would the October rise, that they would change it every three months so that if the price comes down, it can be quickly passed onto customers.

As it is all surmising what it might be when announced, it could be more or less than the £3,582 for October. I hope this makes sense to you.

Finished book 38 on 6th August, The Yellow Jersey by Ralph Hurne, PB - 285 pages.

29-7-22 to 6-8-22

Dropping in to say hello! Hope all is well :)

>163 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, thanks for stopping by, we are both well but a little stressed/worried with all the financials going on over here at the moment. There is nothing we can do about it and thousands will be in the same position but it is still not good for the mental health.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

Finished book 39 yesterday evening, A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott, PB - 530 pages.

6-8-22 to 21-8-22

Like July, my reading has been slow this month although this last few days i have read quite a number of pages. We had Elliott to stay on Saturday night so that Amy and Andy could go to the wedding evening do of her school friend also called Amy and her husband Matt. We had been up early as Karen was in work for 8am and then this morning Karen was in work for 7am, to say that we are tired is an understatement.

My mojo at the moment is up and down and this is due to the worry of the energy cap, October's figure is announced on Friday and it will be in the region of £3,600. Because of the things happening in Europe the daily cost of Gas is constantly rising, this has led to analysts revising January's figure from £4,266 to around £4,700 with April now looking at anything from £5,300 to £6,000. Add to all this the rise in inflation where it is expected to be around 18% in early 2023.

With no government action and it will be the 6th September when the new PM starts, their first day in charge, not much is going to be done about the October rise before it kicks in.

We have already spoken to Rob and Amy about Christmas, the underneath of the tree will look quite bare compared to previous years, i just hope that it won't appear to be a bit of a damp squib on Christmas Day.

Businessess do not have a energy cap and already some have said they will be closing down in September, a Farm Shop near York will try and keep going online, a Pub landlord has given the keys back to the Brewery and things will only get worse.

The only thing we can hope for is a very mild winter, a severe winter would just put the tin hat on things.

I also have a feeling that if Liz Truss becomes PM, we could end up with a general strike as she wants to clamp down on Trade Unions being able to call a strike and if nothing is done to help with energy costs and inflation keeps rising, things will not be good.

We will try to remain chipper but with dark nights coming, it is going to be hard.

>166 johnsimpson: Hi John. That is bad financial news. 18% inflation!
And such a rise in energy prices as well. I gather that it will hit you hard?
Here we are now having something like 9% inflation. How bad it is depends a lot on one’s income, as rising prices for basic necessities are worse for people with low income. I mean we all have to eat. But my apartment is small and well insulated, so rising gas prices don’t hit me as hard.
I sure hope we will find a way of dealing with it all.

>166 johnsimpson: We've cut back on spending for Christmas in our family as well. We've all pretty much agreed to make sure it is still good for the kids and to cut down on what we spend for adults. In the long run, everyone is more likely to recall the memories created by being together rather than specific gifts received anyway.

>161 johnsimpson: Thanks for the explanation, John. That is an amazing amount to spend for fuel. It's nowhere near that bad over here. I hope that the prices come down for you soon.

>166 johnsimpson: we could end up with a general strike I’m feeling that as well John, or a mixture of the Winter of Discontent and the poll tax riots. If she’s got any sense she will have to do something, otherwise I can see the Tories being destroyed at the next election and presumably she won’t want that to happen. But there is absolutely no reason why our energy bills should be so high - it’s bad government decisions throughout in my view.

Hi Guys and Gals, after a self enforced break i am back. I had a bit of a bad day on Saturday, things just came to a head for me while Karen was at work. I had decided to cut back my cigar smoking to what it had been but i succumbed and after dropping Karen at work, i popped into store and bought a pack of cigars. I got a message from Karen asking why i had bought some cigars as i had been left two to smoke, the colleague on the kiosk just happened to mention that she had seen me, a look at Karen's face and she thought she had dropped me in it.

I messaged Karen back to say i was having a bad day and felt useless to help in the current situation, this led to a back and forth and Karen had a few tears. When i picked Karen up from work we had a chat and resolved a few things, at the end of the day there is nothing we can do about it, millions are in the same boat.

Added to all this, the new car has been delayed another month although the dealership did not contact me, i went in last Tuesday as i had heard nothing and delivery was supposed to have been the 27th August. They apologised saying the lad who was dealing with Motability cars had left and a new chap was going through the files. I got home and contacted Motability as my insurance would run out on the 27th August, they assured me that i would be covered and the paperwork came today with the 30th September being the new delivery date. At least then i will be saving some money with it being a petrol/hybrid.

Finished book 40 on 23rd August, Death of a Village by M.C. Beaton, PB - 283 pages.

21-8-22 to 23-8-22

Finished book 41 a few minutes ago, 61 Hours by Lee Child, PB - 493 pages.

23-8-22 to 30-8-22

>171 johnsimpson: Sorry to read you had some rough time, John. And above that no new car yet.
I hope you feel a bit better now.

>173 johnsimpson: As warm as it's been this summer, I'm ready for some of what's pictured on the cover! The Old Farmer's Almanac is apparently predicting our area will be snowy and cold this winter.

>174 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, after having a chat with Karen, we both felt better, we are not alone with what is going on. At the moment we have no one in charge of the country, nothing being done and the news each day regarding the effects of the energy crisis just gets worse.

Small businesses are all worried with the massive increases they have been quoted, unlike householders, they have no energy cap, large businesses are also saying that help is needed e.g the Breweries.

A price freeze at the current rate of £1,971 has been mooted covering two years, the government would have to stump up £100 billion to do this. If no action is taken on this, then we will all need help otherwise businesses will go to the wall, unemployment will rise, inflation will rocket and the government will be paying out masses in benefits. It is all a big mess but we are not overly worrying, you cannot get blood out of a stone as they say.

>175 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, i hope your forecast is not too bad my dear, as for us over here, i think we are all hoping for a very mild winter with the energy crisis that is going on. It would not surprise me that we have a very hard winter and if so i and some experts believe there will be thousands of deaths due to the crisis, it just doesn't bear thinking about.

It is time for a new thread, please join me in a short while when it is up and running.