JudyB

I'm lucky enough to be sent The Blackest Bird: A Novel of History and Murder by Joel Rose. Sounded good in the write up - more Victorian mystery if I remember rightly.

It's a real eye-opener. My girls watch it and it's nice to have my messages about balanced diet etc re-inforced via the telly and that really there are no alternatives to eating properly.

That's the kind of quick meal I like!

Reading circle book from Headline Reading in Bed by Sue Gee Synopsis: Opening at the Hay Festival, and ending with the prospect of a spring wedding, Sue Gee's new novel is a lively story of tangled relationships and the sustaining powers of good books, loyal friends and conversation. Friends since university, with busy working lives behind them, Dido and Georgia have long been looking forward to carefree days of books and conversation, when each finds herself caught up in unexpected domestic drama. Dido, for the first time, has cause to question her marriage; widowed Georgia feels certain her husband will return to her. Meanwhile, an eccentric country cousin goes wildly off the rails, children are unhappy in love, and perfect health is all at once in question. This novel will bring a writer who 'transforms the stuff of ordinary life into art' (Philippa Gregory, "The Sunday Times") to her widest audience yet. (taken from Waterstones website). Review: Using a narrative that moves from one character to another Sue Gee has created a novel in which you care about the characters so much that you continue to think about them after you have put the book down. Her writing is very poignant - she captures feelings and emotions succinctly - reading about Georgia

Similar to us - we had roast chicken, roast spuds, roast parsnips, peas and gravy and I brought out the horseradish which I have whenever we have a roast especially when there's cabbage.

I read this last year - I'm trying to read the whole of the Rougon-Macquart series over time (there are 20 books in total). I thought Au Bonheur Des Dames was brilliant and it was interesting how much of today's business techniques - loss leaders etc were in existence over 100 years ago.

My understanding is that supper is something you have before bed ie. later in the evening whereas dinner (in this context - because I call it tea) is the evening meal. My gran used to give me supper when I went to stay with her - it was often a biscuit and a drink of milk or a bowl of muesli.

Yes I like the sound of that.

Libraries need people to use them for them to survive - so they probably love you. People like you are good for our figures!

That's a shame - I suppose it varies between counties - ours allows you to renew and order books online plus there are useful links and 'good reads' pages.

Try your county council website - that's where ours is found.

Amazing how we manage to be prolific at both! Welcome Matt - have fun here.

I've earmarked this as a birthday present for my Dad - it sounds just up his street.

That does sound nice, Supergran.

I bought it for my daughter - it looked really good - she was very pleased with it.

Fab - the toffee pavlova sounds particularly nice.

Unlike Life on Mars I found very little in Ashes to Ashes that made me think - oh yes I remember that (apart from the music, of course) - it's like I didn't exist in 1981 or something, when in fact it was a significant year - the year I left school. Still making my mind up about Ashes to Ashes.

On my own for tea tonight so treated myself to a salmon fillet - easy to cook and delicious.

Hi Lucy Welcome to the forum - there's plenty on here to keep you busy and it's a friendly place. Have fun JudyB

Do you have a machine Nici?

In my quest for weight loss and good health I now nibble on soya nuts and seeds (sunflower etc).

I thought the film was good also and I enjoyed being able to see the kite flying.

I love being able to get some of the food I used to have when we lived in Germany.

I think friendship is so precious and that comes across in the book and that's why the events that follow are so shocking and upsetting.

I'm looking forward to it but would have liked Life on Mars to go on forever - but there again I suppose all good things have to come to an end. I just love the 70's and loved John Simm - I'm sure the 80's will be good fun nostalgia wise but my heart's in the 70's.