For those readers out there looking for what to read next. I’ve just posted a handful more book reviews over on The Library of Alexandra.
These ones are all fantasy recommendations.
Happy reading!
🎄Christmas Question Time🎄
Who’s the hardest person To Buy For on your list?
My father was always the hardest person to buy anything for as, like most dads, he never seemed to want for anything, as they buy what they want when they need it, and generally shy away from gifts almost in embarrassment.
One year though I got him a 4 year old and up childs plastic train set that was, when set up, actually pretty nifty. The look of sheer joy on his face when he opened that present, and then, the laugh that roared out afterwards, brought a tear to my eye.
Sometimes it’s the simple and the silly that work best.
And you, who’s the hardest person to buy for in your family and friend’s circle?
I forgot to mention, for those of you who are looking for something sweet and funny to watch over the Christmas holidays, to go and check out THAT CHRISTMAS on Netflix. It features the voices of Brian Cox, Jodie Whittaker, and Fiona Shaw.
It’s everything you could want in a well-written movie; it’s humorous, poignant, silly, fun, dramatic and full of warmth.
Why I Write
Thursday, December 19, 2024
I’ve been writing for as long as I’ve been reading. All thanks to both parents who were both avid readers, though very different kind of books. My mother mostly read romances and historical family sagas — think, Thorn Birds. My father, on the other hand, who use to take us weekly to the library, would go to the new section of recent arrivals and pick 6 of the biggest books he could find.
And ... I Want!
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
The idea for this post is happily stolen from Keenan who lovingly stole it from Katherine who probably stole it from someone else. And so it goes … steal this idea if you want! I want to sing more I want to dance more I want to write more I want to play more I want to sleep more I want to create more I want to travel more I want to give more I want to take more I want to try more I want to be more I want to listen more I want to dream more I want to live more
The Library is open
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
The Library of Alexandra is now open for business. I’ll be posting every book review I’ve ever written over on the blog. Genres covered include: science fiction, fantasy, history, thrillers and crime fiction. So hopefully, there will be something for everyone to check out by way of suggestion and recommendation. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.
My EDC
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Following in Hyde’s footsteps and, I’m sure, everyone else on the planet, I thought to scribble an EDC (Every Day Carry) post. Don’t get your hopes up, you may fall asleep reading this. So, what do I carry most every day? I’m glad you ask, though you probably won’t be … Keys My keyring of choice, so I can find it in the depths of my shoulder bag, is a once plushy pig.
To Read or not to Read
Thursday, December 12, 2024
I am slipping again with my reading. After a incredibly slow year I read three books almost back to back — Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, by the wonderfully talented SJ Bennett — and then? Once again came to a grinding halt, having tried and failed to get interested in 3 different titles. So, dear reader, I pose to you, how about I post three possible titles of next reads and get you to vote on which one I should read next, thereby (in a way) being held accountable to read said title.
In Passing
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
We ended the year with a sad death in the family last year—my father in law died of cancer Dec 11th—so it’s hard to sit here and be witty or have anything pity to say about the start of a new year and what it might hold other than to say, I want to do more. I no longer feel like I have time to hang around treading water letting days slip by.
Weekly Recap #49
Monday, December 9, 2024
The weeks just seem to slip by so fast these days. Which is funny given that some afternoons I’m sat at my desk scribbling away on this or that project and feel like time is stretched in every direction. Which, of course, it isn’t because, well, that would be novel in and of itself. And I’m sure if I were even remotely able to stretch time like that, I’d make sure each hour lasted a week.
Weekly Recap #48
Monday, December 2, 2024
Well, that was the week that was. Another weird week of being busy doing nothing and, at times, flying solo as the OH had a funeral to attend. With the weather thwarting any opportunity to get out to the local park and take some last minute photos before the snow came … a bit of a frustrating week. I didn’t make it and, yes, we had snow all weekend. Well mostly yesterday.
WeblogPoMo AMA #5
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Following in Helen’s footsteps, I’m answering (to the best of my ability) Jedda’s AMA question: “What are you thankful for? Well, in truth, quite a lot really. But again, like Helen, I think I’ll stick to a handful of things that I’m thankful for. First of all, I'm thankful for being alive. For having made it in one piece through the worst of covid to arrive here and now.
What is my NOW?
Monday, November 25, 2024
Following in Gabz footsteps and, like him, having never heard of, What’s In My NOW, I had to go check it out and, of course, write up my own, What’s In my NOW post. Each week one interesting person shares the tangible and invisible things that are influencing the NOW — 3 physical, 2 digital, and 1 invisible. So, here we go. Physical Hobinichi Techo — I’ve been using these daily planner / journals for about a decade now because not only are they beautifully made, with exquisite Tomoe River paper, but they’re small enough to carry around in my messenger bag.
WeblogPoMo AMA #4
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Today I thought to answer a few questions asked for the WeblogPoMo AMA challenge: “What’s your comfort movie/show/piece of media, and - if you feel like sharing - why?” This one is easy. My go to comfort movie is The Fifth Element. I have lost count the number of times I have watched this movie, as I watch it at least 5-6 times a year. If I need a pick-me-up for any reason whatsoever, and sometimes, for no reason at all, I slot the DVD in, press play and escape.
Do You Tip at Coffee Shops?
Monday, November 18, 2024
Okay, here’s a really deep, deep question of the day: Do you tip at coffee shops? The reason I ask? Me and mine were at the mall yesterday and, for the first time in maybe over a year, the OH wanted a sugary Starbucks confection called: coffee. Me? Not so much. So we went. We ordered. They got some spiced cinnamon latte affair and me? I got a cranberry refresher.
Well, I knew it … my secret vegetable identity is … drumroll please!
WeblogPoMo AMA #3
Monday, November 11, 2024
Today I thought to answer another of the great #WeblogPoMo AMA questions floating around. This question was originally asked by Hiro and answered by Gabz and also, Helen. “What’s the best music-related experience of your life so far?" Narrowing my answer down to just one person or act is impossible given the sheer number of concerts I’ve been to over the course of a long life (so far). I could say the best was meeting, inadvertantly, the Rolling Stones when I was about 7-8 years old, and getting my photo taken with them.
It's Pet Peeve Time
Sunday, November 10, 2024
I’ve see a few people sharing their pet peeves recently, so that to add a few of my own: It drives me nuts when someone tells you not to break up a relationship over politics. Honey, let me tell you, if you're compromising your values to suck up to a jerk who votes right-wing conservative, it's time to move countries. Sending me a link to go watch a video or listen to music where I have to create an account and or sign in.
The Plan
Thursday, November 7, 2024
In answer to Jedda’s post, The Plan To Not Have A Plan, I wrote: I find plans never go to plan, it's best to have an outline written in pencil, maybe on a napkin that can be toss in the recycle if necessary when it all goes to hell in a hand basket ... Because invariably, I always end up tossing the plan in the bin, or it gets lost, forgotten, trodden on, eaten by the cat (oh, wait, we don’t have a cat) or covered in coffee stains so that it’s unreadable.
America Has Fallen
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Today, as the news finally sinks in courtesy of every news channel, online outlet, and newspaper on the entire planet, we are all fully aware of just Who has won the US Presidential election: He whose name shall never be uttered out loud! And those of us who are sane enough, rational enough, thoughtful enough, are left asking ourselves how, how did this happen? Or, more to the point, “what were you thinking America?