Madeleine

Same here Flip Martian, I love being near the sea - although a lake or river will do, even the local duck pond looks good in the sunshine! They say there's something in sea air which is meant to make you feel better so maybe that has something to do with it?

I spoke too soon, it's dull and grey here too, and muggy so not nice at all.

They're gorgeous, they'd make nice book covers too

Nice and sunny here too.

Hope your cold is better soon Athena, they're horrible aren't they? Nearly fell over the dog this morning, and trod on the poor thing's paw, but she was comforted by some treats...

Sea

Different sizes are really annoying - plus they tend to be more expensive too

Just taken the dog for a nice walk, loads of slugs about though, she nearly trod on one Hope your boyfriend's bites aren't too bad Athena. Your week away sounds lovely Shirley, I love the sound of the sea, especislly the lovely sucking sound you get on shingle, when the waves recede - I tried to record it on my phone in Devon but there was too much other noise around, and I could watch it for hours.

We had some of that rain on Friday, although not as bad as some areas, glad I wasn't going to work in it though! The weekend was much cooler, and today was nice this morning, then s bit muggy in the afternoon. It was trying to rain a bit before but dry when I went out to feed the birds before it got dark.

I hate mosquitoes, I hope you didn't get bitten Athena? Horrible things. I've had a nice few days off looking after our guest dog - last week it was too hot, and on Friday too wet, to take her out, but since Saturday she's been out over our local nature reserve, and yesterday we took her to a nearby town's festival - a sort of exhibition by local charities, crafts people, businesses etc, which was very busy and afterwards we went to a cafe for tea, and she was very tired last night! I've got tomorrow off then it's back to work....oh well.

I think my favourite was James and the Giant Peach. Well done on completing the challenge!

I have seen the last two Potter films ie parts 1 and 2 of DH, and was bored to tears, hope the book's better!

Thanks Athena, and nice to see you Nollaig!

I like having matching covers too, but I can live with non-matching - the worst thing is if they change the cover design halfway through a series, so annoying!

I'm halfway through the Mortal Instruments series as well, enjoying them so far. I've also got the Infernal Devices trilogy to read, have you got those?

Got Christobel Kent's "The Loving Husband" today.

Well the weather broke sometime in the early hours and it's been raining ever since, had some thunder but not too bad. Still quite muggy though.

Susanna Gregory's series about Matthew Bartholomew, a physician, and his friend Michael, a Benedictine monk, is also worth a look in this genre, it's set slightly later than Cadfael in 13th century Cambridge and has a fair bit of humour in it, and isn't too gruesome.

Yes I might get the pb too, although I still haven't read book 7!

Noll, there is a new paperback by S J Watson, who wrote Before I go to Sleep, which has recently been published, so perhaps that's the one you're thinking of? I haven't heard of a film version of the new book though. I imagine the film will probably be on again, they usually show them a few times.

I've also had these for years, in paperback, and have never got round to reading them, although I loved the TV series. I like historical crime, as you say it's a change from guns and drugs etc although they had their own vices then! Thanks for the hint about the short story collection, I'll read that first.

Hope your ankle feels better Virginia, those supports can be very good. We had a bird of prey in our garden this morning, demolishing a poor dove. I think it was a buzzard, it was about the size of a crow and brown, fascinating if a bit gruesome (especially just after breakfast )

Been similar here Athena, seems a bit breezier today but meant to cool down for the weekend. Will be glad when it's cooler at night, and the car is unbearable (air con not working properly).

They don't do that many historical segments now anyway, they did one a few weeks ago on a German cake, but they rarely seem to do them now. Shame as I find them quite interesting.

I got that impression from Dorian Gray as well, he certainly seemed to love and loathe that self-indulgence.