Talisman

sunbathing (what I would have liked to be doing today).

Congrats on the job Noll, and enjoy Prague Peacefield, it's a city I have always wanted to visit. We have had another beautiful day here, with temperatures in double digits - it's supposed to rain tomorrow though and then turn cold again. Coran and I celebrated our 15th anniversary today - she met me from work which was a nice surprise, and we went out for tea and cake. We will probably go out again for lunch at the weekend.

It was - and don't let the idea that it is non fiction put you off, as well written books of this genre read very much as a story and so often feel like fiction anyway. That's the thing that I love about this challenge - learning about all these different cultures and how people live and experience life in different parts of the world. I have also learnt a lot about the history of these places as well. The weather was so cold on my recent trip to Lundy that I managed to get through 6 books in less than the 2 weeks that I was there, as I was forced to spend more time indoors rather than out and about. I still managed an average of about 5 miles a day though (walking that is) - it will be twice that when I go back in the summer. Anyway - the books I read were as follows: Drown - Junot Diaz (Domincan Republic) Evening is the Whole Day - Preeta Samarasan (Malaysia). This was by far the best book - about a highly dysfunctional Indian family living in Malaysia. Travels in Blood and Honey - Elizabeth Gowing (Kosovo) Black Skies - Arnaldur Indridason (the 8th in a series of Icelandic detective novels) The Good Father - Noah Hawley (United States) Monique and the Mango Rains - Kris Holloway (Mali) - another very good book about a midwife working in Mali, West Africa I had already done Iceland and the US, so that's four more countries complete. I am now reading a book from Chile.

Meditation - in whatever way works for you - as long as it switches off the monkey mind. Meditation comes in many different ways and doesn't have to mean sitting staring at a candle flame (although that works for some). You could try visualisation techniques, breathing techniques, or my favourite - walking meditation, which is basically just going for a long walk in nature. Martial arts like yoga and tai chi are also good. You have to experiment and see what works for you.

I wish I could mine for free - my last pair (varifocals) cost more than £200. I got back from Lundy on Friday (back home on Saturday after spending the night in Taunton - best to acclimatise back to 'civilisation' slowly). The island was great as always, with the usual walks and wildlife. The first few days were beautiful and sunny, like we have had today, but then it turned very cold. The streams around the island all froze, and with the wind chill, it was easily minus 5. I was very grateful then for the expensive winter walking gear that I bought in anticipation. I am home now though and was back to work today. I did a lot of thinking while I was away about my old job and have finally accepted the fact that I had to leave. I always felt that I had been forced out by the Directors behaviour, which made it very difficult when I had so much invested in the place, but I think I have finally let it go. Work today was good - at least 2 of the residents said they had missed me, which I guess means that I must be settling in.

Mostly now on my Kindle, but I have 3 large bookcases for the paper books.

I have just updated the list for February - there have been four books read so far, and I have started the fifth (Black Skies). This is the ninth in a series of Icelandic detective novels, all, of which I have loved - it helps that I have been to Iceland five times myself and so know the country well and many of the places that are written about. This one is only out in hardback at the moment, but I couldn't be bothered to wait for the paperback in June, when no doubt the Kindle price will also come down.

I am off to Lundy for 11 nights later on today (13 nights allowing for an overnight stay at either end of the trip), and have downloaed books from another 4 countries to keep me company - Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Kosovo and Mali - I also have one each from Iceland and the US. By the time I get back I should have hopefully added at least 3 more countries then to the list.

Blue Eyes - Elton John

I am off to Lundy via Barnstaple later on then today. Most of my stuff has been packed, with the usual struggle to keep it within the 10 kg weight limit (thank goodness for my Kindle as otherwise it would have weighed a lot more). I am thankful also that they allow me to take wheat free food in a seperate bag without that having to be weighed, as otherwise it would cost a fortune, not to mention being extremely uncomfortable and smelly ! I have downloaded six books to keep me company, so if the weather does turn bad I won't get bored - with my new Kindle gloves though, if it stays nice I will be able to read outdoors as well.

I have never seen a meteor shower either - the first time I went to Egypt I spent the night in the desert and saw shooting stars which is probably (maybe not) the closest thing. I have bits of meteor at home called moldavite as part of my crystal collection. The main thing I guess, as others have said is that no one was killed.

sandwich

Lost You Somewhere - Chicane

veggie sausage and mash with sprouts and carrots, and of course onion gravy.

We have had lovely warm (for this time of year) weather these past few days, so I am making the most of my day off. I am off to Lundy for 11 nights on Monday (driving down to Barnstaple on Sunday), so hope it lasts. I am just about to log on to Amazon to go book shopping so I have something to read - I have £30 worth of vouchers to make use of, so I should be able to get something with them.

I am reserving judgment until I know more - it's the only thing we can all do.

The Past When did you start to love reading? as soon as I was old enough to read What books did you love as a child (either read to or to read yourself)? mainly Enid Blyton. Childhood memories of reading (if you have them)? Reading by torchlight and hoping my parents wouldn't find out ! Did you read books for school? Yes Favourites Favourite book: Whatever I am reading at the moment Favourite author: I don't have favourite authors, as the message (to me at least) is more important than the messender Favourite genre(s): probably what most people would call literary fiction Your Collection Do you own an ereader? Yes - Kindle keyboard E books or physical books (or both)? E-books every time - they are so much more convenient and easier to store and access. Hardcover or paperback (or both)? Paperback New books or used books (or both)? New, as I like to support both authors and publishers. I am an author myself, and so know how hard it is. Big books or small books (or both)? small What language are most of your books written in? English Favourite book shop(s): Waterstones for physical books, although most of mine now come from Amazon. Do you buy a lot of books? About one a week Do you spend a lot of money on books? Not as much as it could be, as I do online surveys that pay in Amazon vouchers. Amount of owned books: I wouldn't like to guess - must be a couple of hundred though Amount of books read: Again, I wouldn't like to guess. Last year though it was 63. Amount of books My wish list currently has about 60 items Reading How often do you read? Every day Where do you read? At work during my breaks, at home in the evenings and on my days off, on holiday When do you read? Whenever I have the time and the inclination How fast do you read? A read an average of one book every 5 days The Forum When did you join this forum? I think it was about 5 years ago How did you find this forum? via google

Coran and I went out for an early Valentines meal today - I had veggie curry with lemon roulade while she had lentil bake and mixed fruit crumble with cream.

Strangers on the Shore - Acker Bilk

Good luck with the test Lucy. I am cream crackered after another five days at work. Coran and I are going out tomorrow for a pre Valentines meal, as I have to work next weekend, and to go shopping in Guildford. Other than, not much planned.

It sounded weird to me at first, but they are great books. I guess you have to read the first one at least to really understand.

I wouldn't know where to start !

Finished 2 more countries in the last week - Monica Ali's Brick Lane for Bangladesh and for the small country of Togo in West Africa - Do They Hear You When You Cry by Layli Miller Bashir and Fauziya Kassinga. This is an incredible book, and the best that I have read in a long while. The true story of a young Togolese woman who was forced to flee her own country for the US and claim political asylum in order to avoid to forced polygamous marriage and female circumcison. Her case made legal history and set a precedance in the US as the first woman to be granted asylum on these grounds. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story and has a reasonably strong stomach, as some of the descriptions of what they do to these women are pretty graphic.

The new Lauren Oliver (Requiem) is out on March 21st if anyone is interested - Kindle version a week earlier. I have already preordered mine.

For me definately thriller.