100,000 and Counting . . .

Car is doing well - just clocked 100,000 and still going strong!

A Doris Day

Was advised not to travel - still tried - didn't work . . .

That's seven hours of my life I won't get back - at least it didn't cost me anything . . .

Let There Be Light

In the beginning, there were two triumvirates of overhead spotlights reaching out to all corners of the kitchen, oh so bright, and oh so functional . . .

. . .  which once replaced with a pair of lamps with a more industrial aesthetic, left us with some rather dark corners and shadowed work surfaces.



Over time, Martin has been addressing this problem with new lighting solutions.

An led strip under the cupboards, lighting up the countertop.



A pantry light, activated by a switch on opening the door.








And the latest addition - some led lights over the rayburn.   Look good and I must admit they've made a huge difference.


So no more dark corners . . .

In 2016 I Mostly Read . . .

The reading list for 2016:

December 2016 - finished the year with a topical Chronicles of St Mary's short story Christmas Present - all the hallmarks of a typical Jodi Taylor St Mary's offering - highly enjoyable, answered some questions, but far too short!

December 2016 - briefly sidetracked back to fantasy, with Ben Aaronvitch's latest in the Rivers of London series, The Hanging Tree. Very good, moving the mythology on and introducing some new characters - distracted me from the cold from hell for the day or so it took me to read it!

November-December 2016 - and back to the Plantagenets with Dan Jones' The Plantagenets: The Kings Who Made England a rollicking narration of the emergence of a constitutional relationship between kings and their people, covering 1120-1399. No in-depth treatment by any means, but a very readable overview of the period.

September-October 2016 - some proper history with Helen Castor's Blood & Roses: the Paston Family and the War of the Roses based on the surviving correspondence of the Paston family and other documentary sources. Gives a real impression of the uncertainties with which people were living during the so-called War of the Roses - and the difficulties of holding on to your property! Did find it a bit hard going though.

July-August 2016 - and the comedy fantasy continues with Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St Mary's (all 7 of them). Really enjoyed these - might even have to buy the short stories!

July 2016 - Justin Lee Anderson's Carpet Diem: Or ... How to Save the World by Accident - more fantasy, on the comedic side this time, but highly enjoyable, and an author to watch for since this appears to be a debut offering.

May-June 2016 - made my way through Kate Griffin's Matthew Swift / Magicals Anonymous novels - more fantasy, set in London, where the main protagonist Matthew Swift (a sorcerer) gets beaten up on a regular basis (shades of Dresden). A Madness of Angels, The Midnight Mayor, The Neon Court and The Minority Council - all good stuff! Then the spin-off Magicals Anonymous books Stray Souls and The Glass God are more of an ensemble, and a little bit lighter in tone (although Matthew Swift still features) - was sorry to finish them.

May 2016 - brief detour from fantasy land into Mike Parker's Neighbours from Hell: English Attitudes to the Welsh - a rather humorous tour (but with some very serious undertones) through the relationship between the English and Welsh - interesting reading for the bench in the sunshine!

April 2016 - a re-read of Tanya Huff's The Wild Ways before the latest in the Enchantment Emporium series The Future Falls. Both good fantasy reads - charming characters, compelling stories, and a bit of fun.

March 2016 - revisiting my childhood with Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers series - interesting to look at the morals and views from an adult perspective. Don't think teachers today would talk about having 'brainless' pupils!

January-March 2016 - Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy -A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life - partly inspired by reading the Kit Marlowe biog (since he's a character in the second book). Good series - fantastic ensemble of characters - reading the last one, didn't want it to end!

January 2016 - Charles Nicholl's The Reckoning: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe. Interesting read, and impressive use of archival resources!

January 2016 - continuing with the Tudors - Josephine Ross's The Men Who Would Be King: Suitors to Queen Elizabeth I - a decent enough summary of her matrimonial negotiations over the years, but lacks depth and tends to regurgitate other opinions. Still a decent read.

Wee Tim'rous Beastie

A selected highlight from what I shall shortly re-dub 'Mouse-Cam':

Thundersnow

The weather forecasters have been predicting 'thundersnow' (thunderstorms with snow apparently!) for Wales.  Have to admit I was a little cynical about the likelihood of seeing anything here near the coast, but yes, here we are with the snow (sleet? hail?):

And looking out of the window half an hour later there was a flash of light followed by a rumble of thunder . . .

The snow didn't last mind you - roads were clear by the morning - so it was more of a thundershower than a thunderstorm!

Epic Fail #2

Not quite as black this time - was aiming for potato crisps (using up a bit of leftover potato) - still inedible!