Madeleine

Lovely!

I can't get my head round Sudoku, but well done you! I have a friend who's addicted too. I've started a small cross stitch, progress is slow to put it mildly, I lost the first needle but took one from another kit, picked it up again the other day, and managed to find some old needle threaders which will help a lot as I'm always coming unthreaded! I need good light though and it's been pretty dull over he last few days.

Tender - Blur

I read this years ago and can't remember much about it, but yes it is meant to be partly autobiographical. I loved Jane Eyre which I also did for O level, I re-read it about 10 or so years ago and did find it very wordy, but I think that was a thing with Victorian novelists. Overall I think it's still a stunning book, when it works well but yes it could have done with a bit of editing!

Don't you forget about me - Simple Minds

Are you Lonesome tonight ? -- Elvis Presley

Crying in the Rain - various

The Retreat - this is the 2nd in the series featuring Detective Elin Warner, who we first met in The Sanatorium, which was the author Sarah Pearse's first novel. In this follow-up, Elin is back at work in Devon, cautiously getting back to normal after the events of the first book, when she is sent to an island off the Devon coast, where a woman has fallen to her death at an exclusive holiday resort, which just happens to have been designed by her boyfriend Will, who has been nominated for an architectural award for the building's design. She heads off with her work partner, Steed, and while they're on the island another death occurs, which is definitely suspicious. Although forensics were able to process the scene of the first death, they have now gone back to the mainland and a series of major incidents mean that no more police resources are available to get to the island, and then, yes a storm moves in, so when someone else goes missing Elin and Steed are pretty much on their own. Not knowing who to trust, they have to work very carefully, as well as dealing with an increasingly nervous clientele, who by now have realised that something is going on. it's the usual Agatha Christie type scenario, and though not particularly original it's a fast easy read, with Elin having to deal with her own problems as well as keep a clear head, and keep the remaining guests safe ie stop them being killed off! Although why anyone would want to stay at a resort on an island with such a grim history is beyond me, asking for trouble! 6.5/10

Wings of a Dove - Madness

Our next door neighbour used to have something in her garden which looked like deadly nightshade, though as you say it was probably black nightshade. Hope so anyway!

He certainly was a legend, a true character, I'm not a huge fan either but listening to some of the songs they've been playing he was more talented than his notoriety could lead you to believe.

Save a Prayer - Duran Duran

They are very invasive! Currently battling with my hydrangea,as mentioned before. My other issue is a miniature strawberry plant which has also, over the last few years, started to pop up everywhere,I don't know where it's come from. The strawberries are absolutely tiny so no use, though I suspect they won't be that nice anyway!

Like a Prayer - Madonna

Papa was a rolling stone - The Temptations

I Love the sound of breaking glass - Nick Lowe

Don't go breaking my heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee

I found this went off at too many tangents for me, even the slightest witness seemed to need to have their whole story told, and I gave up on it! I enjoyed the TV version though, which did stick to the main case.

Wishing (if I had a photograph of you) - A flock of Seagulls

I always used to pick them as a kid, we have loads growing wild in country parks as well and along the roadside.

Night boat to Cairo - Madness

Slow - Kylie Minogue

Not me, they're always really sour.

World in Motion - New Order

Yes I think it will have to wait til it's finished, I don't want a blackberry bush, I have some down the end of the garden which are enough, I hate the prickles and don't even like blackberries! So hopefully at some point someone will be able to dig it out, though it could of course be coming through from somewhere else.