Wednesday, 22 January 2020

In 2019 I Mostly Read . . .

The reading list for 2019:

December 2019 - something new (a kindle bargain), Francesca Hornak's Seven Days of Us, a Christmas-set family drama. Kept me occupied, but I probably wouldn't re-read.

November - December 2019 - ill with the lurgy, so back to Georgette Heyer and some old favourites - These Old ShadesDevil's CubThe Masqueraders, The Talisman Ring and The Corinthian.

July - November 2019 - finally got started on the Dresden re-read ahead of the publication of the latest, Peace Talks (took a break after no.10 as publication isn't due until April 2020).
Storm Front- in which we meet our hero Wizard, Karrin Murphy, Susan, Marcone and a bunch of others, as Harry battles an evil sorcerer.
Fool Moon - introducing the Alphas, as Dresden does the werewolf thing.
Grave Peril - introducing Michael Carpenter and family, and the Knights of the Cross, the Red Court vampires - death and loss.
Summer Knight - Dresden meets the Faerie Queens - and faces off with the White Council.
Death Masks - all manner of mayhem, with the Red Court, and uber-baddies the Denarians.
Blood Rites - White Court machinations, and (no spoilers) we get to know Thomas Raith . . .
Dead Beat - necromancers and a zombie dinosaur.
Proven Guilty - horror movies coming to life, and black magic at work in Chicago.
White Night - Dresden tries to track down a serial killer targeting magical practitioners among more White Court shenanigans.
Small Favour - the Denarians hit town again . . .

June 2019 - a re-read of Good Omens (having watched the tv adaptation) good stuff, but think the book is better!

May - June 2019 - more Georgette Heyer - Black SheepArabella, Cousin Kate, Venetia and Frederica (all old friends) while waiting to start re-reading the Dresden series (apparently book 16 is nearly finished after nearly 5 years!).

April 2019 - on to something scientific, Hannah Fry's Hello World! Good read so far . . . although never did finish it!

April 2019 - needed to take my mind of my finger, so picked out an old favourite, Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy - great set of characters, really enjoyed it!

April 2019 - another new one, a free Kindle offering Moonshine & Murder: Moonshine Hollow #1 - can kind of see why it was free, easy enough to read, but no depth to it at all - even though it didn't resolve anything I doubt I'll be reading #2.

April 2019 - something new, The Night Raven by Sarah Painter - a supernatural family detective story, with a ghost for a flatmate. Enjoyed this - will be looking out for the next in the series.

January - March 2019 - back to all things supernatural, this time with Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series. Again some serious re-reading to do before getting to the new stuff. Really enjoyed these second time round, and the new ones too.

January 2019 - on to one of my kindle purchases, Derren Brown's Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine. I liked this - some interesting stuff on philosopy, and some good advice on living your life without letting things outside your control get you down. Worth a read (especially if you ever fancied being famous!).

January 2019 - continuing with the Rivers of London books . . . one unread novella The Furthest Station (an amusing aside), a re-read of The Hanging Tree, and finally the latest full-length offering Lies Sleeping. Goodbye 'faceless man' and looking forward to whatever comes next. Have also indulged in the purchase of the 'graphic novel' additions to the series.

Sunday, 19 January 2020

Sunset and Starlings


A sunny Sunday and another extended walk along a busy prom - people paddling, fishing, and stone-stacking . . .









. . . jackdaws strutting, and starlings gathering for the night on the pier:




Then on the way back to the car, glorious pink sunset skys behind an Aber roofscape . . .



Lovely!

Saturday, 4 January 2020

A Bird By The Beach


Well actually, lots of birds by the beach - gulls, crows, starlings, etc. and one (slightly) more exotic Purple Sandpiper.








Didn't see the kingfisher today, but the sunset produced an angelic silhouette over the pier . . .





Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!


Welcome to the New Decade . . .













. . . here's hoping it's a good one!

Wednesday, 25 December 2019

Christmas Day, Kingfisher and Cormorant


And another Christmas Day rolls around - family visitors, mulled wine, too much food, all the usual things. 

Never did quite get to the cake (this year's theme - the Welsh Dragon) - had more than enough with dinner!


In fact it was down to the prom later to take in the evening starling 'show' (and walk off dinner) - along the way spotted the kingfisher on the shore, and captured a rather blurry photo!



This cormorant stretching its wings came out a bit better  . . .














. . .  and of course the starlings themselves:


Saturday, 21 December 2019

Through Hell and High Water

Well 'hell' might be a slight exaggeration, but there was certainly high water!

On the way to Stratford (en route to pick up the parents for Christmas) - water, water, everywhere - driving through rivers of it.


Got to Stratford safely in the end, and had a nice evening, admiring the lights, drinking cider, and eating curry!








On to Cambridgeshire - more Christmas lights, and time to catch-up with family before the journey back to Wales.


Food, wine and chat - watched by one very hungry little dog . . .




Sunday, 1 December 2019

Let's Go Fly a Kite . . .


. . . well photograph one anyway - a sunny winter afternoon up at Nant yr Arian attempting to snap the Red Kite feeding frenzy.

Lots and lots and lots of kites - but they move so fast it's very difficult to get a decent shot . . .

This was the best I could do!