Madeleine

I agree with you about the swearing in this book, it was a bit much! However I've just read the second book (The Silkworm) and although a bit gruesome there's much less swearing (still a bit, but nothing like the first book - I wonder if she got told to tone it down a bit) and Robin and Cormoran both develop much more as characters. Might be worth a try?

I've been to The George at Southwark, it's lovely with a gorgeous courtyard garden, it does get packed though. It's actually owned by the National Trust now, I think it's the last galleried coaching inn in the country (definitely in London anyway).

Got quite a haul over the weekend: from Amazon: Murder on the Run by Lesley Cookman Cragside by L J Ross And in a bookshop: The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths (latest Ruth Galloway, yay) Last Seen Alive by Clare Douglas

I loved White Nights too, I think it's the best of the Jimmy Perez/Shetland series.

That last book photo looks like my room.... you're doing a good job of organising everything, well done.

And it's a woman - Jodi Whittaker. Hmmm.

The new Doctor is going to be announced tomorrow after the men's final at Wimbledon - Kris Marshall was mentioned today; I hope not, he didn't do much for Death in Paradise; in fact I think Ben Miller would be a better choice for the Doctor.

Congratulations Will, from another jealous worker! Hope you have a long and happy retirement. That's a good haul of books, your class obviously know you well.

Been muggy here as well, rain was threatened but hasn't happened yet, or if it has, only briefly. Very dull at the moment.

Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke

Well as forecast the weather did clear up around mid day and we had a lovely afternoon in the park, it was sunny and cloudy, and quite breezy so not too hot, although I'm looking a bit rosy today! Just caught the sun though, not burnt (thankfully). Nice again today.

I used to like Charmed as well.

She's lovely, and yes I agree with Athena about the temptation of a book not being available at such a good price another time!

Been raining since yesterday afternoon, and quite a cold wind too. Meant to be having a work "team building afternoon" in the local park, but it's showing no sign of clearing up at the moment, despite a warm and sunny weather forecast!

Hi and welcome, do you have any favourite authors?

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Just got: the Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch (finally published!) Last Seen by Lucy Clarke (just seen that Lauraloves has got this one too)

After being very threatening and cloudy for a while last night, which finally blew over, it's now raining, and much breezier and cooler.

The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon - this latest instalment of the Commissario Brunetti series is slightly different, in that it isn't, for the most part, about a murder. Instead it's a bit of a cold case - at a tedious dinner party given by his in-laws, Brunetti is introduced to an elderly friend of his wife's mother, who wants him to find out what really happened some 15 years ago, when her grand-daughter was allegedly pushed into one of the canals and, although she was rescued, sadly she was underwater long enough to suffer brain damage, and as a result was left with the mental age of a 7 year old. After all this time, it's difficult to prove it was anything more than an accident (and not a suicide attempt as some have suggested); the man who rescued her was a known drunk back then, and is even more so now, but he is the only definite witness. But Brunetti does his best, and despite being thwarted at pretty much every turn, he persists. This is another enjoyable book, with some nice dry humour, and plenty of food too! It's quite languid, but there are a few twists later on, and Brunetti and his family and colleagues (well some of them anyway) are likeable as ever. 8/10

Can I join you? I don't like large gatherings either, and I agree about small talk - it's just a way of passing the time, and neither party is probably that interested anyway.

Song for Whoever - Beautiful South

Good Morning, Midnight by Reginald Hill

Fathers

Relations

I watched the first episode last night, and really enjoyed it - one sex scene but it was done quite tastefully! I thought it was good overall, and quite well cast, although I found Clare's voiceover a bit annoying, I think there was too much of it. But apart from that, I loved it.