Marie H

Both Sat & Sun afternoons thunder, thankfully without the downpour, so the roses are still okay. I’m just waiting for a proper summer; haven’t seen much sunshine recently, and the temperatures are only in the low 20°Cs

A really good red wine discovered is Casillero Del Diablo, Spain Tempranillo. Lovely! Very fruity.

Trying to finish D E Stevenson’s Music in the Hills - 95% read. Haven’t read much this weekend, but enjoyable when I have.

Reading Cogheart by Peter Bunzl - moody, creepy characters galore. I love it!

Weather is very mixed these days, and none of them are that pleasant. And it’s heading for the end of June….😬

Sitting in my armchair, with a fleece rug over my knees, as it’s not that warm this afternoon! And I refuse to put the heating on at the middle of summer! At least it’s raining steadily for a few hours now, and the garden are needing a good drink.

Thanks

Hello and to the BCF

I have Kuru Toga on my wish list, one of the cheapest ones, just to have a try with them. I usually buy stationary from Cult Pens, and they love Kuru Toga, and are still using them for a long time. Which type do you use?

Reading 7% of Cogheart by Peter Buntzl. It’s definitely a children’s book, and very similar to the style of Robin Stevens‘ Jolly Foul Play series, but good.

I Googled and find these pencils, and they are supposed to be very good especially with soft, but dark leads. I don’t use wooden pencils now, as being left handed it’s impossible of me to use a sharper (and unable to use my right hand at all) so I use mechanical and clutch pencils.

Another part of my stationary obsession is pens and pencils. I love using fountain pens, and the huge range of fountain pen inks. Usually I prefer dark inks, burgundy or chocolate shades, but I have branched out with dark greens. My favourite is Diamine Teal, then a slightly blue/grey of J. Herbin’s Vert de Gris (which translated as green of grey = verdigris). I hardly ever write letters, but I’m a fiendish of making lists, so it is lovely with different colour notes.

I haven’t read much recently, just can’t concentrate for long. Finished Lies Sleeping (Rivers of London #7) by Ben Aaronovitch. Again, couldn’t get into this novel until around 70-80%, but they ending was good. I just found that this of the series was very…bitty, with too many plots within plots (and weaved many characters). Though I loved I think I give this a 3.5 out of 5, though I did gave it 4 out of 5 in the Goodreads, as this novel didn’t gave me the WOW factor that the others of the Rivers of London series had previously. So the next book is Cogheart by Peter Bunzl Children's fiction, I think. This is the blurb from Fantastic Fiction Lily’s life is in mortal peril. Her father is missing and now silver-eyed men stalk her through the shadows. What could they want from her? With her friends – Robert, the clockmaker’s son, and Malkin, her mechanical fox – Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing world. Too soon Lily realises that those she holds dear may be the very ones to break her heart... Murder, mayhem and mystery meet in this gripping Victorian adventure. Steampunk Victorian London, by the look of it, with mechanical foxes 🦊

Torch - Soft Cell https://youtu.be/Tymc0406Kqk

Finished Ben Aaronovitch Lies Sleeping (Rivers of London #7) The book was okay, but this was a slog. It’s just seemed it would have been better pared down. Not the best of the series, but I hope #8 will be better. Starting The Strings Murder (Frey & McGray #1) by Oscar de Muriel Edit: This is the Audible version, so I’m read Cogheart by Peter Bunzl.

By Met Office forecasts, it looks we won't have any thunderstorms until Saturday, in Shropshire. Haven't had a drop of rain, so far.

79% read of Lies Sleeping (Rivers of London #7). Finally getting into this book, but it’s been a slog.

Thankfully it’s been breezy and fresh, so 25°C was pleasant today. Need the rain soon, some of the waterbutts are nearly empty. Some of the vegs need a drink. Though don’t want thunder and torrential downpour either.

Sunny, 24°C, but that’s too hot for me, so I’m avoiding the sunshine. Then it’s very enjoyable in the shade. A chilled glass of Pinot Grigio Blush also helped

UK Kindle Daily today has Divergent (Book 1 o Divergent Trilogy) by Veronica Roth for 99p Oh yeah, and some smart***e has one for…….Christmas at Wynter House. *groan*

It was a shame that it wasn’t the final with Nader v Djokovic, but the semi was the best match that I’d ever seen! Spectacular!!

I’ve seen the movie of Inkheart, and it was great. Hope that Inkdeath is good too.

I hope to read some this afternoon, as I’ve been lacking at the moment. Happy read-a-thin everyone

Read 60% of Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch. Having difficulty getting into this book, and I think that the plots are many, and they are weaving together, but this book is the least exciting of the series so far, for me.

Yes, most French wines are still estate bottled, rather than the Australian etc. wines tanked, then bottled in the UK. I do remember we had Marks & Spencer Le Froglet Shiraz before, and that was lovely, but I haven’t seen that for a few yeas now.