Talisman

Come Away with Me - Norah Jones

Finished yet another country yesterday - Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid for Antigua. A nice easy read coming of age novel.

That would do nicely for a book set in Thailand for my Around the World Reading Challenge. I will go and download a sample and see what I think.

I was thinking of trading up to a paperwhite now I have had my Kindle Keyboard for (almost) 2 years. I could do with the 3G and the screen does seem a lot clearer and brighter from what I have seen. I would though miss the keyboard.

I would definitely be interested in this - the date doesn't bother me - I work every other weekend, with a three day weekend on my weekends off (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), so one of my weekends off would be good. I have just had a weekend off, so the next one will be 31st May, 1st and 2nd June. Then its every other weekend after that, so 14th, 15th and 16th June, 28th, 29th and 30th June and then 12th, 13th and 14th July, which is the weekend I go for my 2 week summer holiday. I expect to do A LOT of reading during that time ! As for my partner, she reads almost as much as I do anyway - we call ourselves the Kindle Kids !

After the Love Has Gone - Earth Wind and Fire

Coran and I got back from three days at the Chalice Well in Glastonbury earlier this afternoon. We were lucky with the weather, as most of the time we had brilliant sunshine, and as always we met some great people. It was nice as well to renew acquaintances with the gardens and the Tor, even if it was a bit of a struggle making it to the top.

Completed another country last night - this time United Arab Emirates - Dubai Dreams by Raymond Barrett. This was the best of several similar books that I considered buying, although not the cheapest at £8. It was nevertheless a good introduction to the history and lifestyle of at least one of the emirates, that did not gloss over the bad points, such as the treatment of construction workers. That brings the total now to 89 countries completed out of 231.

vegetable stir fry with brown rice and black bean sauce.

Speak To Me/Breathe - Pink Floyd

unwind

rhythm

I have been to Iceland five times now, and hope to go back again next year. I love everything about the place - the landscape, the people, the history, the books, but most of all, the complete weirdness of all of it. I often think that I must have been Icelandic in a former life, as like them I am very independent with strong views on a lot of things. I also of course love books (they read and write more books per capita then any other nation on earth). We could learn a lot from the Icelanders I think, especially their handling of their own bankers crisis. I first came across Sigur Ros though when I wandered into a Reykjavik record store and asked what Icelandic music they would recommend - the answer was Agaetis Byrjun, which had not long been released. I must admit that I wasn't too sure to begin with, but the more I listened, the more I began to love it, and now I am hooked. I suppose like the country itself, it is the fact that it is so different that makes me love it so much.

Coran and I are looking forward to seeing Icelandic rock group Sigur Ros At Wembley in November. We are both big fans of their music, me especially given my love of all things Icelandic. I know it isn't to everyone's taste, and I guess you would have to have been to Iceland to really understand their music, and what they mean when they say that they play the Icelandic landscape.

Children of the World Unite - Angela Bofill

didgeridoo

Sigur Ros () (their untitled album) - perfect for a warm summer evening. Can't wait for their new one next month.

me neither never ever have I not voted in an election (general or otherwise)

Sorry Drislane - no magic carpet ! Not sure what the temperature is here - it feels warm though - I drove home from Sainsbury's with the car windows open. I too am looking forward to the Bank Holiday weekend. It's unusual for me in that I have three whole days off. I have to work on Monday, but I don't mind that much as the roads will be choc a bloc, and Box Hill packed by the usual cyclists and tourists in flip flops (don't ask me why they think such stupid shoes are suitable for a long walk up what is basically a chalk cliff), so I don't suppose we would have been able to do much, I might as well then be at work earning double time. This afternoon though I plan to go up there (to Box Hill National Trust centre) and sit in sun finishing my rather good book. Tomorrow will be a trip to Guildford for a nice vegetarian lunch and to stock up on Lush goodies. As for Sunday, I shall have to see how we both feel - it will probably be a nice long walk somewhere though.

shredded

Have You Ever Loved Somebody - Freddie Jackson

I managed to get through another 7 books in April, which brings my total for the year to 30 now. They were all very different and nevertheless interesting in their own way. I am now reading a book about a man who is the only living person to have been in a North Korean prison camp and escaped. Fascinating stuff, although for me not altogether unfamiliar.

I am looking forward to a three day weekend, especially given the weather forecast. Tomorrow is food shopping day, followed by reading somewhere suitably warm and sunny, and Saturday will be a trip to Guildford to stock up on Lush goodies. Sunday will no doubt be a nice long walk somewhere else suitably warm and sunny. I don't mind having to work on Monday, as the weather is set to change by then, and I get double time.

I will have to have a look at this one, as it sounds like just the sort of thing I like.

I will pick up small ones, but Coran has to deal with the big, hairy ones with long legs and beady eyes, as I usually scream the place down !