chesilbeach

*shudders* me neither. Never have I ever dived off a diving board.

This is just incredible, and I'm just in awe of what the advances medical (and veterinary) science has made. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10404251.stm

Nor me. I have never eaten sushi.

Me neither. Never have I ever been married.

The second Uruguay goal from Suarez. ... what a beauty! How weird is it to be watching the World Cup where the weather is cold, wet and miserable, while we're sat here in the UK bathed in summer sunshine? Defies all rules of Sods Law, surely?

(it's too hot for anything more)

Hey Scoop! Hard to believe but there are people with bigger TBR piles than you here

Read another short story in Kazuo Ishiguro's collection Noctures. I'm still not convinced by the short story format for these works, as I've read much better by other writers who understand the refinements of encapsulating a narrative into the short format.

I rarely give up completely on books, but when I do, I try to read at least one third to a half of it to give it a fair chance. If after that I'm still not interested in the characters or what happens to them, then I'll give up. For a non-fiction, I might skim read a couple of chapters to see if it improves, or look ahead to see if there are any sections I'm particularly interested in reading before deciding to give up. Some books I know I want to read, but after having started them I find I'm not in the mood, so I'll put them aside and come back to them, but I rarely do that either, as I find it difficult to go back to a book once I've put it aside.

Shower. Mustard or ketchup?

I might have to watch on iPlayer tomorrow I'm off to see Bombay Bicycle Club in a couple of weeks, can't wait!

We're watching this ... But, I wish I could be watching this ...

I've had the day off, so have indulged in a mammoth reading session, and after finishing one book this morning, I've just finished another, Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead. Not bad, but on the whole I think I preferred her Vampire Academy series. EDIT: Sorry, forgot that I did take a half hour break to walk to the library and collect some books I'd reserved that had been delivered: Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton Narcissus In Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton City of Bones by Cassandra Clare City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Brilliant Trees - David Sylvian

Fantastic fiction is a godsend, but it doesn't give actual dates, just month or perhaps only year, and doesn't always get updated if release dates change. Amazon is usually my best bet for accuracy.

Read Need by Carrie Jones this morning. Not bad, but didn't quite strike the right note somehow.

Excellent choices - you can't go wrong with Roald Dahl, the godfather of childrens books in my opinion.

Rainy day. Building or demolition?

Fairy ...

Out Of My Continental Mind - Claire Martin

I find the best way to find out when a book is being released is to check the online stores (amazon.co.uk for me). As you're in the US, I've just looked at amazon.com, and it shows book 9 is being released on October 5, 2010 (http://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Apprentice-Book-Halts-Peril/dp/039925207X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277448016&sr=1-4). If you want to get hold of a copy from another country if it comes out earlier, then you could either look for an import version on your local amazon or see if amazon has a country specific site for the country where the book is being released earlier and order direct from them (although I don't think they have an Australian site?).

dinnerladies, waiting for Outnumbered (thanks Steph for reminding me it was on - will be watching on +1 )

Of course - winging its way to you now.

Foil ...