chesilbeach

I know it will never happen, but I'm sort of hoping this is all a decoy, and that Capaldi will be cast in the series, but not as the Doctor. The press would see him at the set, but won't see the actual filming, and assume that he's working in the role, but they're secretly filming other scenes and when the regeneration happens it'll actually be someone else and a complete surprise for everyone!

I love the strange book titles, Julie! The Bookseller magazine in the UK has a prize every year for the oddest book title of the year. You can have a look at them here -> http://www.thebookseller.com/diagram-prize

You MUST get The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr, and in fact, have a look at all Judith Kerr books - she's wonderful.

I started My Family and Other Animals by Clare Balding today.

Forgot to tot up my times and pages. Over the three days, I read 445 pages in 7 hours 19 minutes and 43 seconds!

Hello Ty

Pilar, Paraguay

Just got drenched - literally soaked to the skin walking the 20m to my car after leaving work. Car park flooded, road drains not coping, and loads of spray on the motorway ... not what you hope for at the beginning of August The only good thing was I managed to avoid the lightning! Had to change all my clothes when I got home and put my stuff on the clothes horse to dry, then tackle the birds nest that my tangled hair had become in order to feel human again.

I agree, another Persephone and another great read. Lady Into Fox was really interesting, and I'm glad I read it in one setting, as it felt like reading a fable or a fairy story. I was surprised how quickly the story got going, it was like you were dropped right into it straight away, and I was quite shocked at the ending, but it did fit with the rest of the story. I'm not sure I'd read it again, but it was unique and very well written, and I'd recommend it to people who enjoy short stories.

My god daughter is about the right age, so I think I'll have a sneaky peak at her bookshelves and see if she's got any of them, and if not, then I think I know what to get her for Christmas, and obviously will have to test read them first to make sure they're suitable!

Day 3 update - part 3, evening: Lady Into Fox by David Garnett 1:34:16 - 73 pages - Finished

Day 3 update - part 2, afternoon: Greenery Street by Denis Mackail 67:06 - 77 pages - Finished Starting Lady Into Fox by David Garnett now.

Another interesting post, Julie! When I was a child, I don't remember seeing any Dr. Seuss books in the library or the bookshops, so I wonder if he wasn't very popular in the UK at the time, and the upshot of that is, that I've never read a Dr. Seuss book. I think the first time I became aware of his books was in the film Home Alone where they show a clip of an animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas on the television in the background. I had no idea there were only 50 words in Green Eggs and Ham either, and I can imagine it must have been quite a challenge to write!

Day 3 update - part 1, morning: I've been a taxi service for OH this morning, so have snatched whatever time I could while sat in the car waiting, so don't have times to put against it, but based on previous pages per minute, I'm guessing about 45 mins. Greenery Street by Denis Mackail approx. 45 minutes - 45 pages All done for today, so should be able to spend most of the afternoon reading, so looking forward to the last session with Greenery Street and starting something new.

Malé, The Maldives

I've currently got a taste for clementines - I like them because they're (supposed to be) seedless, and I actually like the process of peeling and removing all the pith so that you just get a burst of juicy sweetness when you bite in to them. I get through a bag of twelve in about 3-4 days!

Final update for today: Day 2 update - part 3, afternoon/evening: Greenery Street by Denis Mackail 16:48 minutes - 18 pages 32:22 minutes - 30 pages So I'm up to page 250 now. That's fine, I'll take the blame - most things are usually my fault, so why not add this to the list! How are you liking Greenery Street so far? It was a bit of a slow starter for me, but I'm enjoying it immensely now - such a different world from today though!

Black Narcissus is an incredibly good film - I never knew it was a book first. It's a 1946 Powell-Pressburger film starring Deborah Kerr, with amazing cinematography by the legendary Jack Cardiff. If you like the book, I'd highly recommend watching the film at some point.

I'm didn't say I was defending it, but your post was aimed directly at the England supporters, and I just pointed out that it's both sets of fans who have been booing. It's not the first time I've heard booing at test matches both at home and abroad, including some home players being booed by their own supporters, and I doubt it will be the last. From every article I've read about it, all say that in this instance, they think Warner has become the pantomime villain of this series, and that he's relishing being give that role, but that like any player, when he walks out on the pitch, he's focused on the match. I think the commentators all see it as the crowd being involved in the game, and to use the comparison again, they think it's like the audience participation of a pantomime, and that's why they laugh it off. I still believe that cricket is the most gentlemanly of sports, but it also now a professional sport and that's why we see things like Broad not walking when clearly out. There was an outrage about sledging a few years back, but this still happens, and that's hardly sportsmanlike either. Anyway, I'm just saying how I see it, not defending either side, and to be honest, I often watch it with the sound off so that I can read, and just look up to keep an eye on the score, so perhaps I just haven't noticed it as much as you.

I think I've finally kicked the sugar habit! I haven't had sugar in my coffee for three weeks now. I do still occasionally have a flavoured syrup in a iced coffee if I'm in a coffee shop, but day to day drinks are now sugar free zones. Have also been walking a lot more doing my Gromit hunting, as well as picking up my exercise on the Wii, so feeling a bit virtuous at the moment, and had a slice of cake as a treat today.

Thanks! I had to kill sometime waiting for the art gallery to open at 11am, but fortunately their cafe opened at 10am, so coffee, a slice of carrot and walnut cake, and a book certainly helped pass the time. Day 2 update - part 2, lunchtime: Greenery Street by Denis Mackail 17.25 minutes - 26 pages

I can hear Test Match Special coming from the radio in the kitchen, and the Sky Sports television commentary from the living room.

I can genuinely say I've never read a book that I felt has changed the way I feel about the world. I have books that have provoked a strong reaction because they have been so beautifully written or the story has made me emotional, but none that have changed my feelings or views on the world.

But it works both ways, Kylie. I've heard the Australian fans booed Broad when he's come onto the pitch after he didn't walk when the umpire didn't give him out. In fact, they even booed Jimmy Anderson when he came out on to the pitch as night watchman as they thought Broad was coming out instead. They're obviously lower in numbers away from home which probably makes the Warner booing seem more obvious, but I've been watching a lot of this series live on television and I'm sure I've heard it from the Australian fans too.

Day 2 update - in amongst my Gromit hunt this morning, I managed two reading sessions: Greenery Street by Denis Mackail 33:56 minutes - 40 pages 34:52 minutes - 38 pages