Talisman

It was gorgeous while I was away - like this (maybe not quite as hot, as Lundy gets the sea breezes) almost every day - I was walking for probably 7 or 8 hours a day, and sitting reading when I wasn't doing that. It's when you have to do a manual job in an already artificially warm environment when I find it difficult to cope with - especially when wearing a uniform made from artificial fibres. If it was cotton that alone would make a big difference. I was proud of myself yesterday though - I thought "sod them, in this sort of heat I have to make sure I am comfortable", and so even though we have had big debate on this, and I have been told I have to wear one, I went and took my bra off. No one said a thing - and that's because you can't see anything - as I said last time, it's all a storm in a B cup !

It was 31 degrees where I work today (so one of the visitors told me) - but a lot hotter than that in the actual building itself - probably at least 3 or 4 degrees more I would say. Every single part of me was sweating by the time I got in, including some places that I didn't even know I had. Although we have air conditioning there it's a waste of time switching it on, as all the units leak and so you spend half your time mopping up the mess. At least I have tomorrow off.

My boss is sadly like a lot of people I have worked for - nice one minute, horrible the next. They like to throw their weight around every so often and remind you of who they are, and like to think that they are in charge. Of course what they haven't yet learnt is that I am ! I don't know what yesterday was about, but I left the form on her desk this morning anyway, and will let her worry about it. The only reason I wanted to book another week off so quickly is because everyone else is doing that anyway, and I want to make sure I get the week I wanted. Stupid woman !

rude bosses who think it's ok to shout at their staff and dictate what underwear they can and can't wear.

Thank you Peacefield - have fun at the cabin ! I was told off by the boss this morning, after committing the heinous crime of requesting a holiday form a mere 30 minutes after I started work, and 3 days after I returned from the last holiday. Apparently I had to do "some work" before I could even think about such a request. The fact that I cleaned three out of the five units in the house on my own yesterday because the Head Housekeeper was stuck in some pointless meeting didn't seem to constitute work. Neither does the fact that this Saturday I will be the only housekeeper on duty, as I am every weekend that I work, and will be expected to clean the whole blooming house - all 55 bedrooms ! It really annoys me that I am always the one to be asked to do extra work like this, when they know that I work an hour less each day than the other housekeepers. I have a spare form here at home anyway, so will make a copy of that (so that I have another spare and don't have to ask her again next time) and bring it in tomorrow. I really do not though expect to be spoken to like that - I have a good mind to tell her just that when I do bring that form back tomorrow. She won't like it, but then again neither did I - and if you can't do the time, you shouldn't do the crime ...

Reasons - Earth Wind and Fire

I have given up with mine - you never know though, some of the books that are on there already might be on offer !

It's a photography competition whereby anyone who has been to the island and has good enough photographs can have them considered for the next years calendar. There are various categories - wildlife, buildings, marine and so on, and the staff act as judges. The winners get a free calendar and their photographs may be used for other forms of publicity for the island.

I did - it's a good job I downloaded as many as I did, as I managed to get through 10 books in total. All were brilliant, but each also very different. Probably the best one was The Rapture by Liz Jensen - real edge of seat stuff. I managed then to get through another four countries in total - The Philippines, Bulgaria, Samoa and Guatemala. I also read another book, which although written by a Barbados born author, was set in Senegal. Since I am doing this by country in which the book is set, this then was for me a book from Senegal, a country that has already been covered, as have Iran, England and Iceland, the other countries that I read. Books read in the last 2 weeks then: The Gift of Rain: Tan Twan Eng (Malaysia) Banana Heart Summer: Merlinda Bobis (Philippines) Mr G - A Novel About Creation: Alan Lightman (England) Zift - A Noir Novel: Vladislaw Todorov (Bulgaria) The Rapture: Liz Jensen (England) Someone to Watch Over Me: Yrsa Sigurdadottir (Iceland) Tree Girl: Ben Mikaelsen (Guatemala) Children of the Jacaranda Tree: Sahar Delijani (Iran) Redemption in Indigo: Karen Lord (Senegal) Sons for the Return Home: Albert Wendt (Samoa)

I will have to have a look at that tomorrow when I have a bit more time.

My dream car is one that I can afford ! I have owned just 2 in my lifetime - my first car was a Renault Clio, which kept breaking down, and my second car is the one I still have - a Nissan Micra which I bought new in September 2002. A lot of things are now starting to go wrong with it sadly, as I do love that car, but a new version is coming out in September. Since there is always a crossover point when both types are being manufactured, at some point the brand new older style cars will really come down in price, and I am hoping I may be able to get a real bargain.

I got back from my summer holiday to Lundy earlier today, having driven all the way back from Bideford today. I was 2 miles from home when a cyclist skidded on the wet road, veered onto my side of the road and came off his bike. Luckily he was okay, but we were both a bit shaken up. Not a nice experience for either of us - especially when I was already tired from all that diving. It wasn't the best nights sleep either, as the couple in the room next me in the hotel last night came back to their room at 1am and decided to put their TV on and start arguing. I went and banged on their door and told them to be quiet, which soon shut them up ! The trouble is though that once you woken up like that, it is very difficult to get back to sleep. The island though was truly spectacular. I had a nice, smooth sea crossing in both directions, and the weather was just amazing. Wall to wall sunshine every single day with just one or two short showers and a touch of sea fog on one day. I was walking for 9 or 10 hours most days, and when I wasn't doing that I was reading - I managed to get through almost 10 books, which is a record for me - and all of them were good ones. My new camera has once again proved its worth with some truly stunning pictures of the wildlife - especially the seals, deer and sea birds - some of them really are stunning. I will definitely be entering the Lundy Calendar competition this year. My cooking tasted pretty good too - I find that it always does when I go there - the limited choice from the shop makes things very experimental I find. The only thing that was missing was the wild mushrooms - it's too early in the year for them - but I shall as always be back !

I am off to Lundy again later on today for my annual 2 week summer holiday - something which is very much needed. I plan to walk, read, sleep and eat, not necessarily in that order ! I have then preloaded my Kindle with no less than 7 different books including ones from several new countries, The Philippines, Bulgaria, Barbados and Guatemala (I am really looking forward to reading this one). I also have books from the US, and Iran and of course Iceland. My partner Coran, who is in the process of writing her own work on perception and her experiences of gender dysphoria has also given me a copy of what she has so far written to look through, which should be interesting.

I have no more work now for 17 whole days, as I am off to Lundy again this weekend. It will be my first 2 week summer holiday there in 4 years, and it will be good to see all my old friends again. I have downloaded 8 books for company.

Finished another country last night - this time Niger - Harmattan by Gavin Weston (author born in Ireland). This was an excellent book, and one that I would definitely recommend - a familiar tale of a young girl sold into an abusive marriage after the death of her mother and older brother.

Finished another country last night - this time Niger - Harmattan by Gavin Weston (author born in Ireland). This was an excellent book, and one that I would definitely recommend - a familiar tale of a young girl sold into an abusive marriage after the death of her mother and older brother.

My reading has a bit slow of late, due to various reasons, but I am now well and truly back on track, having started my 3rd book of the month last night. The two previous ones have been for Greece (The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zaroudi) and Niger (Gavin Weston's Harmattan) respectively. The Greek one was the first in a series of crime fiction novels set featuring a mysterious private investigator, while the book from Niger, which comes highly recommended was a by now familiar tale of a young girl sold into marriage by her selfish and arrogant father. Even though this is now a familiar subject to me, I still find these books very readable, and this one was no exception. The lack of compassion that men show with regard to women in certain parts of the world never ceases to amaze me, and it never hurts to be reminded of that and how lucky we all are in the west.

We are experiencing a real heat wave here at the moment - on Sunday in Surrey where I am, it hit 30 degrees, and today was no better. This sort of weather is fine if you work in an air conditioned office or even a shop that is open to the air, but not if like me you have to work in a care home with radiators in some areas that cannot be switched off, and especially not if you also have to wear long trousers, a polyester top and trainers to do your work. A couple of weeks ago, when it was also very hot, the bosses made a great fuss about me not wearing a bra - the only way they knew about this in the first place was because someone snitched on me, as you definitely cannot see a thing. In temperatures like this though, there is no way I am going to wear one, so in order to keep them happy and still stay at least a bit cooler, today I undid it. I will do the same tomorrow, and every day until it gets cooler, as I reserve the right to be comfortable. It is in their interests really, as the more comfortable I am, the more productive I am likely to be. I only have three more working days until my holiday anyway, and then I won't have to worry it about for 2 1/2 weeks. It is supposed to get a bit cooler by the middle of the week, with the heat set to return by Friday (the day I go), so I should get a good start to my time off. My sun cream and aloe gel will needless to say be going with me - along with a heavily loaded Kindle.

cool

I cannot of course speak for others, as I am sure that everyone has their own reasons for wanting to do challenges (or otherwise), for me though I love reading books about other countries and cultures - it is something to do I am sure with my love of travel. When I found that I was reading more and more of this type of book, and actively seeking them out, it therefore made sense for me to do the Around the World Reading Challenge. I know that this is a big one - there are after all a lot of countries to get through, with more being created all the time, but this is what I love about it, the fact that it throws up so many possibilities and so many interesting books to read. It is not actually all that difficult once you get started, for as soon as I finish a book Amazon is recommending more of them from similar countries or with a similar theme. I also get recommendations of course from others that are undertaking the challenge, and from various other websites such as Fantastic Fiction and Good Reads and so on. It is a long term thing that I expect to take at least another 2 to 3 years, but really it's something that for me at least will never really stop, as even when I have managed to complete it, I will still read and seek out more of this type of book. It is a lifetime commitment.

He did it !!!!!!

Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees

Good job I don't live where you do then ! The temperature in the home where I work must have been at least 90 today (it actually felt cool when I left work today and finally went outside), which is just a little too hot to be working in - especially when you have to wear the sort of uniform I do. Still, it could have been worse - I could have been playing tennis !

It is hot, hot, hot here and set to get even hotter - 30 degrees on Sunday and I have to work. I just hope that it stays this way for the rest of the month, as this time next week I shall probably be in Barnstaple waiting for boat to Lundy.

One of the things I love most about my job is the fact that I can watch Wimbledon while cleaning the residents rooms, as most of them have been watching it this week - or better still, on the big screen in all the lounges. The timing of yesterdays big match was impeccable - it started just as I got home, and what a match it was ! Shame I have to work this weekend - I shall be hovering (and perhaps hoovering as well) around the lounges again ...