Melodious

Glad you had a good first day I LOVE that mug. Matilda was my favourite book when I was in school. Soooo jealous. But then again I have a cool mug with Owls

A nice review of The Strange Library. I've read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Norwegian Wood and loved both but I was a little disappointed with his last novel. It felt like a poor imitation of himself and I was left wondering if this was worth the time. I may pick it up if the library gets it in but there are a few Murakami novels I want to read. P.S I love Totoro

Cool song, cool video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBAYr73mlTk Birdland by Weather Report is a great song too Jaco was a true talent.

I really want to see Birdman. The only other film on that list I've seen is The Grand Budapest Hotel which is great.

2014 review Synopsis: This book explodes with wonder and delight. Making use of remarkable scientific discoveries that transform our understanding of how natural systems work, George Monbiot explores a new, positive environmentalism that shows how damaged ecosystems on land and at sea can be restored, and how this restoration can revitalize and enrich our lives. Challenging what he calls his “ecological boredom,” Monbiot weaves together a beautiful and riveting tale of wild places, wildlife, and wild people. Roaming the hills of Britain and the forests of Europe, kayaking off the coast of Wales with dolphins and seabirds, he seeks out the places that still possess something of the untamed spirit he would like to resurrect. He meets people trying to restore lost forests and bring back missing species—such as wolves, lynx, wolverines, wild boar, and gray whales—and explores astonishing evidence that certain species, not just humans, have the power to shape the physical landscape. This process of rewilding, Monbiot argues, offers an alternative to a silent spring: the chance of a raucous summer in which ecological processes resume and humans draw closer to the natural world.. Review: If you are not familiar with the name George Monbiot he's the Guardian's environmental columnist. I've enjoyed his articles for many years and although I know he's written a few books, mainly on climate change, this is the first of his I have read. I came across it when I saw a clip of a talk he did for TED. In it he talks about how when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in the US and the subsequent change it had not just on the wildlife ecosystem but the physical changes to the landscape it produced. This book is a new way of looking at our environment by stripping away the large bare fields for sheep grazing (and all the damage it does to the environment) and let nature take its course. This is not to be confused with conservation which is largely keep it the same where by letting nature takes its own course will yield much better results. He links not only politics and environmental science but also the human need for natural surroundings, infact he states children in inner urban environments are more likely to get ADHD than those with access to parks, fields and woods and there are numerous reports on how a 10 minute walk in the woods/park can help with depression. He outlines passionately that rewilding would help fulfill a much neglected need for us to be closer to the natural world. To be clear he isn't saying we should all go and abandon our way of life and go back to living in the trees but he states why fly to Africa to see such exotic wildlife when we can have it on our own doorsteps? There isn't just a scientific need for a change in our relationship but a personal one too and Monbiot makes no apologies for his own personal enthusiasm in his own wildlife adventures. This book is hard to review as it covers so many topics and disciplines from anthropology, environmental to political. Some chapters are focused on himself while others take a more academic, informative tone. I loved this book and if you are interested in either the environment or have a interest in the natural world then its certainly worth your time and I'm convinced it will, if nothing else, make you see the world a little differently. This is the TED talk that led me to buy the book. It's only 15 mins long and worth your time. Parts of this video has been chopped up and made into other videos that a few went viral last year so some it may seem familar. 4/5

Well I've certainly seen cardboard cut outs with a more likable personality than Stevens but he's a perfect character to explore the themes in the book. The only problem is the 'love' story is the central pillar in the book and there is no evidence as to why she has any feelings for him. Not even just a little bit here or there that you can just brush over. I guess we would need to read her journal to discover why. I can see why people would find the book moving at the end as unrealised love/life is a relateable theme for anyone. @Marie - I love Daria

Overfishing is a huge problem. Once upon a time fish was considered an infinite resource but not any more. The fact is we are seeing one of the great mass extinctions and its the first in the planets history where it was due to another species. The carbon tax and the Kyoto protocol was the main pillar in my dissertation. It was mainly just a showcase legislation rather than anything significant but it should have been the first step in building something better. It is mind boggling when you have all these scientists whom we rely on for modern life and even all these economists stating it will cost us more money in the future to repair the damage rather than spending money now to prevent it but we still cling to the old ways. We could have weened ourselves off oil a long time ago at least when it comes to cars but all the money and tax breaks go to the oil industry not the green industry. We don't even learn from our own history and the civilisations that have disappeared because they were unable to control their population and resource management. I wonder what the man thought as he cut the last tree down on Easter Island? 'I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance.' - Reuben Blades Governments will only do something when the population demands it but it will probably be too late by then. There is a great agenda to keep the public uninformed about these kinds of issues and we are way too scientific illiterate considering science is the pillar that props up our society.

It took me a few months to read Atlas Shrugged, not just because of its length but it reads almost like a philosophy text book. One speech in some prints of the book go on over 60 pages.

Now we need a picture

YAY! So happy you had a great time with doggie. What's his name?

The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro Synopsis: In 1956, Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall, decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. The six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in fascism, two world wars and an unrealised love between the butler and his housekeeper. Ishiguro’s dazzling novel is a sad and humorous love story, a meditation on the condition of modern man, and an elegy for England at a time of acute change. Review: I bought this book simply off the back of a book blogger on youtube and her high praise for it. This is a highly regarded Booker Prize winner but I struggle to see what makes this book so popular. The book is written as a journal entry from a high flying butler and spends most of the book recounting tales of the past rather than the actual road trip itself. Stevens speaks an archaic form of English that was no doubt considered 'proper' once upon a time but whether some people will find a problem with this I dunno. Example: 'However because I knew her at close quarters only during her maiden years and I have not seen her once since she went to the west country to become 'Mrs Benn', you will perhaps excuse my impropriety in referring to her as I knew her, and in my mind have continued to call her throughout these years.' That's right folks, this is how our Mr Stevens speaks to himself in his own journal. However the book reads well enough and I did find it a little predictable. The biggest problem for me is that this book is about unrealised love but there is nothing in the book to suggest why she fell in love with him in the first place. All he talks about is 'dignity' and being a great butler and none of the stories he recalls show any warmth or moment he had with the housekeeper in any way. The only possible exception is that she caught him reading a 'sentimental romance novel' one time. So in all it's hard to feel attached to Stevens who comes across as a very boring individual. I haven't felt like this about a character since Dorian Grey. However dear readers there is still enough going on thematically in terms of loyalty, dignity and leading a worthwhile life to keep me interested and finish it. I think he's a character of blind servitude which I am myself quite the opposite so maybe a clash of philosophy didn't help either. I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was and overall I did enjoy it but not the great novel I was expecting. Maybe I simply missed something in the subtleties. It won't put me off trying another book from Ishiguro further down the line. 3/5

Michelle your cats are beautiful Frankie I hope the dog walking goes well. I wonder if that's something I could do here.

I loved The Time Machine I know some people dislike the heavy laden of social commentary on class division but I lap that kind of thing up, especially when it's done in such a compelling way as Wells did.

I bought Twiglets. I'm easily pleased

That wasn't me no. I've always been into these kinds of issues, overpopulation, green energy, rewilding etc. I did a business degree but for my dissertation I did it about green issues and energy. It's really shocking how we are dragging our heels about tackling these issues despite the decades of warnings and evidence from our scientists. Everybody just wants to leave it to the next generation and we risk our way of life through ignorance. Water, food and energy shortages are a looming reality. The planet will be fine and life will continue but it's whether we will still be apart of that cycle and to the capacity that we are now. This is a great book I read last year that I'm going to do a review for in the next day or two: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17160008-feral?ac=1

Esther is gorgeous and just reaffirms my desire to have a pig in residence I stayed with the Massai for one weekend and they herded a bunch of goats a few miles away from the village one day. All the baby goats were kept in a wooden cage in the center. When the goats came back it was mayhem and all the goats where crying for their mothers/babies. They let the little ones out and in about 2 mins it was all silent. Goats can tell each other apart from their cries so once they found each other it was still. It was cute but like I said, the smell... Ewwwww. Sounds like a lot of cleaning goes on in your dad's place

Such an incredible band. Certainly deserved more attention than they received.

Ha ha ha that's amazing. I'd love to have a place with loads of animals knocking about. I want a pig for sure, super intelligent and sooooo cute. I've never had a dog but I would need to make sure I had the time to walk it properly before I got one. Goats however are another story. I spent a weekend with some goats and the smell, eugh!

Naaawwww. We've always had a cat in the house since I was little. It doesn't feel like a home without one.

He's soooo adorable. I want to hug him. Beautiful fur too.

Dem eyes

He loves belly rubs This is how he sleeps with me at night. Always on my shoulder. Bless him

I thought this was hilarious