Madeleine

Raining here too, bit cooler but still muggy.

Oh yes I've had moments like that in the UK too, and you think - you don't need to go abroad! Could do with a few more days like that though

I'm actually really enjoying this series, I think it's much better than the 5th one, and the not knowing what's coming gives an extra frisson, although some of this series is actually based on events in book 4. It does feel a bit fragmented sometimes, as there are so many characters and storylines, although the storylines do follow a logical sequence. Haven't seen this week's yet though.

I think the right to bear arms is written into the US constitution - please correct me if I'm wrong? But I do think there needs to be something done about the gun laws, whatever the reasons behind this latest atrocity.

Lots of rain over the weekend, another storm, dull today but still quite muggy. The nights have been horrible, very hot and headachey.

The mother's very pretty, I've not seen black and white hens before.

Glad you had a good time Chesil, hope you had some good weather and escaped the storms!

Lovely day here so far, warm with a nice breeze, the weekend is meant to be though.

Tesco is pretty much ubiquitous in the UK, and I remember going on holiday to Greece a few years ago (can't remember which part) and the first thing we saw as we left the airport was a bit sign for Tesco....don't know if they're still there though. I didn't know you didn't have that many of the big chains in Ireland, interesting. A lot of Aldi stores are opening up now, they are cheaper but some of their stuff isn't the same quality as it is from the bigger supermarkets, although I've found that the bigger supermarkets cheap ranges tends to be vile eg pasta sauce and soup were like water.

And another humdinger of a storm is underway, I think the rain is even heavier than it was yesterday, and thundering too

And it has broken, around 2.15, now in the middle of a humdinger of a storm - rain, thunder, lightning....

I bought a mattress topper a couple of years ago and it was great, still have it now on top of my new mattress - money well spent I'd say.

Warm again but meant to break soon. That's probably summer done.

Ah he's adorable, will he get very large? Glad the dogs are enjoying themselves, although I don't envy them in the heat however short their coats are cut.

Dickens had some great names, so did Shakespeare, I like Mistress Quickly (not sure what play she's in though). Thursday Next is probably my favourite though.

Have you seen the film "The Others"? That featured some of the photos you're talking about.

Happy birthday Jojo! Hope you get lots of treats.

Hi Sazza and welcome, I'm sure you'll get plenty of reading ideas here.

Cold and drizzly here, was so cold last night I put on a second pair of socks! Can't believe I'm still wearing an anorak at the beginning of June....

Hope you're feeling better now Nollaig, don't worry about the laptop, when I got mine I took it back 2 or 3 times...it was a nightmare to set up. And now I have a disk stuck in the disk bit! What a lovely surprise from the author, that's very kind of him.

We got all that rain this morning, it was horrendous going to work, especially as my useless train company had problems so we were all kept hanging around outside the station for ages, then when they let us in had to wait nearly 20 mins for a train. Stopped now but still drizzly and cold. At least it wasn't bad over the weekend, quite sunny (eventually) on Sunday and on Saturday evening, but very dull and windy yesterday. Did want to go to the garden centre but it was so miserable I just went shopping instead!

I've read "Midnight Texas" and enjoyed it, the 2nd book is now out too.

Yep it's been a long week, but at last it's Friday

Oh yes Imelda Staunton was fabulous in Cranford.

Amazon is now saying October.