Talisman

It varies for me as well, depending on the book and genre, but also on how much time I have and what else is going on in my life. At the moment, because I have quite a lot going on and I am trying to avoid distractions, I am not reading much at all. It takes longer to read non-fiction, as the subject matter takes longer to digest, especially with weightier books on history and religion, but with fiction I can get through a book in a couple of days. When I go to Lundy I usually take around 2 books for each week I am there.

There are rules laid down under the working time directive that say for example that you cannot work more than 48 hours a week unless you agree to it, and governing breaks and so on, but there is nothing that Amazon are going that is illegal. They are sailing quite close to the wind, but it is not illegal. The directive states that you are entitled to a 20 minute break after 6 hours of work - in 8 hours Amazon employees get one 20 minute break and one 15 minute one. The Directive also states that staff are entitled to a 24 hour uninterrupted rest break every 7 days, which they also get - assuming they finish work before 6.30pm on a Friday and do not start again until 5am on Monday, they actually get twice that. Technically they do work seven days a week, as that night shift starts on the Saturday and finishes on Sunday, but they get the rest to which they are entitled and this is not outside the law. This doesn't mean that it is okay. As someone who has been badly treated by their thankfully now ex employer I could never condone this sort of behaviour. I used to sell those X-box packages at my old job, and they are heavy - I couldn't lift and pack 140 of them in an hour, or 140 of anything for that matter - that's more than one item every 30 seconds, not allowing for your breaks - it can't be done. While I can understand what lovereading is saying about paying bills, mortgage etc, there has to be something better than this - cleaning, serving coffee etc anything would be better than this. Lets face it, most people who are on this low an income couldn't get a mortgage anyway, and there is always housing benefit to help with rent.

I use whatever comes to hand - I have been known to use tissues, scraps of paper, feathers and lots of different things - at the moment I am using one of my partners business cards.

I read for most of the reasons already mentioned - but for different reasons with different types of books. With non-fiction to broaden my knowledge and for research for my own writing. With fiction if I am honest it is mostly as a distraction to pass the time. I did not have the easiest of childhoods and I found that books helped me to escape from my own reality. I suppose that has stuck, and it has now become a habit. That is not to say that I don't get enjoyment from books, for I do, and have learnt a lot from them, about how different poeple live and so on, and also about human nature, but primarily it is for me a distraction.

Everyone has a choice - they just kid themselves that they don't, as that way they don't have to take responsibility - it is too easy to pass the decision making on to someone else, and also because we don't want to face our fears - fears around safety and security. That is why it took me four days to resign, after my discplinary last week - I wanted them to make the decision for me. I am a stronger person because of it as now I know what my rights are and that you can fight back. I have faced my fears and seen in through, and I know that there is nothing worse that can happen to me. Safety does not come from a job I hate, or from giving my power to those in authority, who seek to keep me in chains, it comes from within.

Books - and writing are pretty much my spare time also. Not just writing books (I have only published one, but have ideas for others), but all sorts of things - my blog, and the newsletter that I edit. Apart from that my main hobby really is walking and of course my faith, if you can call that a hobby.

2 of my favourites are mushroom stroganoff and stuffed courgettes: For mushroom stroganoff (serves 2) you will need a carton of chestnut mushrooms, a few white mushrooms, an onion, single (or soya) cream, about half a glass of white wine, half a mug of vegetable stock and chopped dill (fresh or dried). Chop the mushrooms and onion and fry in a little olive oil. Add vegetable stock, cream and wine and simmer for about 20 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken. Then sprinkle liberally with dill. Serve with basmati rice and vegetables of your choice. Stuffed Courgettes (again for 2) You will need 2 large courgettes cherry tomatoes black olives goats cheese Slice ends off courgettes and slice in half lenghtways. Scoop out flesh with a spoon and discard. Stuff with cherry tomatoes, and black olives, top with goats cheese and bake at 200 degrees for about 20 minutes until golden brown. Serve with basmati rice and corn cobs with lots of butter. Bon apettite !

It has been a good year for me too - even though time has been in short supply. Most of my reading has been done during my few short weeks off, since problems at work meant that half the time I didn't get lunch breaks! I have managed to get through 19 books, which is good for me. The ones that stand out the most have been: A New Earth: Eckhart Tolle The Known World: Edward P Jones Call the Midwife: Jennifer Worth A Thousand Splendid Suns: Khaled Hosseini The Shadow of the Wind: Carlos Ruiz Zafon The Kite Runner: Khaled Hosseini Pilgrimage to Heresy: Tracy Saunders (my very good friend, and a very talented writer too - good for you Tracy!)

Nothing surprises me - the store I used to work closed recently (thankfully I got a transfer to a different branch), but we got the same thing. The town blog site said the discount offered was an insult to the people of Dorking, but the people who wrote and said those things were imo the real insult ! I really feel for the Woolworths people going through that though, given my own recent experiences.

I always knew that they weren't a good company to do business with, but this takes the biscuit. The shocking thing is that all of this is perfectly legal ... http://business.timesonline.co.uk:80/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article5337770.ece

veggie burger with chips and fried egg with frozen peas and carrots.

Forever Faithless - also downloaded from Amazon - it cost me

I love Sigur Ros, as they remind so much of Iceland - hope to go back next summer. They always say that they play the Icelandic landscape, and you have to go there to really appreciate this. There are no albums that I specifically want this year, but if we get our bonus I may go and swap my MP3 for a proper I-pod - about time I got one considering how many I sell !

I will have to re read my copy, since I can't remember exactly what he did say - I do remember that I found most of it very interesting.

I like most types of music apart from heavy rock and anything manufactured, which I can't stand. My first love is jazz and soul - not the modern r&b, but the real good old fashioned stuff with real musicians and singers - Stevie Wonder, Bobby Womack, Anita Baker etc.