Chrissy

I read a lot of crime and thriller novels, and some of those can be incredibly graphic in terms of the action taking place and the damage caused. If it doesn't feel too gratuitous and is relevant (ooh, there's a can of worms in itself - relevance!) to the story, then I can cope with it. I am hardened to a certain extent, in that I can and will read them, but I frequently have to gather myself together, or ponder a scene afterward to because I am (happily) not completely desensitised to the effects of the harm that mankind often inflict on each other.

Haven't a clue. I will have to be inspired when I go to the freezer. Tuesday is my big shop day, so Monday nights meal is usually a whatever's-in-there meal. PS Xander is just the cutest cutie in the whole world! Does he know he has hundreds of BCF aunties?

Hello Martine!

A favourite bed time book for my son, many many moons ago, was 'The Monster Bed' by Jeanne Willis. My son will be 24 this year, but I still know most of the story. I wonder if he does! Mmmm Never go down to the Withering Wood The Goblins and ghoulies are up to no good The gnomes are all nasty, the trolls are all hairy And even the pixies and fairies are scary...................................

"But...," he continued, "thanks to you, Eva Delectorskaya," he dipped his head to kiss her lips briefly, "we're all going to the United States of America." (last paragraph in chapter) 'Restless' by William Boyd

Hello Ethan!

Chicken curry (homemade), basmati rice and naan bread.

Hello Karen!

Hello Debs!

You're welcome at our table anytime Inver, although you might want to book in advance - just so I can keep it warm!

I found it frustrating when I first read them that there was an instinctive mistrust of adults with all of them. Why didn't they pass on suspicions to the staff? There's no doubt that Harry's leaping to conclusions, assumptions, meddling and nosiness were used as a plot device to enable situations, but I felt he only reached out for adult help when the adult he wanted wasn't available! I found people such as Neville a lot more appealing, he was solid and brave and had had a painful upbringning himself. He couldn't even mourn his parents as . I'm not a Harry fan, but neither do I hate the moody little oik!

I know the one - with the human clock! Yes, that's a great advert!

I'm in the South East and we have British Bookshops/Sussex Stationers (same shop!). They usually have a good range, with lots on special offer. I feel comfortable browsing there.

From the start I always felt that there was no thought in them of running away. They had a purpose / destiny that they had been literally bred for, and they had that repeatedly instilled in them from the beginning. Kathy's apparent lack of accomodation, and her service as a carer for me felt as though the authorities wanted to keep this entire unseemly but necessary process self contained. The separation from society I think is what is at work here. A perceived prejudice possibly, rather than an actual one. It doesn't stop them from entering the halfway house, nor going on trips to Norfolk, although reference is made to how they would have been treated by the gallery owner there, 'had she known' what they were. That's the part for me that is so unsettling. Tommy from the start is quite an emotional young man, but this is constantly closed down by the Hailsham adults, and by his peers who have been 'brought up' to ridicule emotional outbursts. Would one stop feeling if those emotions were constantly shunned? Or would we just stop consciously acknowledging our emotions?

I read them all when I was young. I can barely remember the stories, but I did enjoy them.

I love the name of it Bethany! Tonight we are having salmon roasted with sliced leeks and drizzled with sweet chilli sauce. I'm going to boil some Jersey Royals and serev with additional veg. Quick, easy and produces delicious aromas when cooking!

I just saw the latest Impulse ad - eyes meet across a busy street, and there's a connection that is shown through some pretty cool CGIs.

Fish 'n' Chips. I know I shouldn't, but I just don't care! So neh! ps In my defence - I haven't made Kell's mug cake ..............................yet.

What I like about the series with regard to Emily and Lorelai's relationship is that you grow to understand why it is the way it is, and why there continues to be tensions between them. They have such a different world view and neither is right all of the time although I think like most of us, I tend to lean toward Lorelai. Regarding Rory's book list - I had never really thought of that! What a terrific idea!

Miss Whitlock SSsssshhh! It's a secret society - all very blokey and hush hush!

With Snape though, I could never understand his rabid animosity toward Neville. He made that lad's life hell. You could possibly get the Harry thing, both from his (Snape's) past and from what he perceived to be Harry's constant 'getting away with it'. But what did Neville ever do to warrant the treatment he got? He tormented the poor lad without mercy. It was this aspect of Snape that made me loathe him as a bullying arrogant poophead!

But the smell counts for me whether I'm standing in a second hand book shop, or it's coming pristine from a parcel! It's that Ahhh, Bisto moment! Buying wise; If it's an author I know, I check the inside sleeve to make sure I haven't 'missed' any other of their books, then I dive straight in. If it's an author unknown to me, I will read all and any blurb and then decide whether to buy or not. Reading; I choose the bookmark I plan on using, I settle in my chair, and dive straight on in.

OK people, I'm going to be a little controversial here about our Harry! He is treated less than kindly (remember the cupboard under the stairs) throughtout his childhood by his only relatives after his parents . He first learns of his heritage when he turns 11, then attends a new school where from the off a malicious teacher carries out a bullying vendetta against him . He has to face life threatening danger as a matter of course, and he has a headmaster who prefers not to inform him of his past or his destiny because . He faces in 1, in 2, Pettigrew etc in 3, The (fixed) in 4, in 5, and the entire in 7. In loses that affect him we have plus other too numerous to list. He is a teenage boy, with pressures beyond anyone elses in the magical world who has to deal with puberty and Yep he is grumpy, stroppy and often self righteous - but give the poor lad a break. He also manages to stay sane, not kill his aunt and uncle, remain loyal to his friends, He fights hard, takes each revelation on the chin, and doesn't shirk from his ultimate responsibility. Phew!

Retiring to the couch, he stretched out to finish his reading in comfort. He was surprised to turn a page and find Mallory's job proposal for placing the boy in a remote scientific community. There, he would not be a solitary freak, but one of many such freaks, and he would cease his ritual attempts to kill himself every Halloween; this had been Mallory's argument for selling an unbalanced job candidate. (Winter House by Carol O'Connell) Mods (and rockers!) no offence taken if you delete if you don't think it's a good idea to resurrect this dead thread!

I try to remind myself that Hedgehogs just LOVE slugs, therefore slugs = Happy Hedgehogs! It's the only thing that keeps the Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww factor at bay!