poppyshake

Thanks Deborah I do like fiddling around with that sort of thing .. wouldn't suit everyone .. you can never find the book you want for a start Though until this recent re-shuffle I was pretty good at knowing. Someone tried to test me on it and I passed Will have to study them again now though

Your house is not drab and boring at all .. I can't tell you how excited I get when I see your Billy's My sister bought me the house for birds .. it used to live somewhere else but it's got a new home now

Here is the new bookshelf .. you will notice it's not full .. that will be remedied but I will leave room for other stuff because .. I like it that way I tried not to be too anal about the spines .. just light colours and pastels in the main .. red and black looked wrong because the bedroom is sort of pastel shades .. or French shades anyway (duck egg and all that Laura Ashley style nonsense ) I've got to repair the other shelves now .. the ones in the attic bedroom are practically stripped bare This is all good news .. I have room for more books therefore I should really buy some I will hit the charity shops soon and see what I can unearth. Yes because my TBR really could do with being added to Once sorted I think I will take pics of all my bookshelves and put them here It might aid me in finding a book .. should I forget where it is

Nothing worse than having to do this in front of your in-laws in my experience .. they don't understand you as well as your own family. In a previous life I had to open presents .. one at a time .. with my in-laws .. you open yours and then you go and fetch one from under the tree and give it to the person it's meant for etc etc. Everyone loved it ... bar me It took ages as well .. and it was random .. so the misery of it was heightened. Honestly, I sound like such an ungrateful article I know the object of it all was to have a nice time .. I didn't that's all I always want to say .. please can I take my presents to my room .. or preferably .. home .. thank you .. Merry Christmas! .. and run away

Oh I do .. and anyway I want to make you happy .. and I know reading it will (plus I was enjoying it .. so it will be a pleasure ) Alan helped me collect books from other places in the house .. though he was under strict instructions NOT TO TOUCH THE COLOURED SHELF!!! I've taken a pic .. I'll put it up in a min. It's not a full length bookcase .. just a little set of shelves. I don't have room for any floor to ceiling ones .. it's one of my biggest disappointments in life. Though I do have a cabinet which could be changed out for one .. Alan will need some persuading The thing is .. and I know they mean well .. it takes me a lot of time to whack up the ginger ( .. great PG Wodehouse expression) to get up on the dance floor in the first place. There needs to be a fair few people already on it for a start .. and I know it's all done in the name of fun and that but just let me do things my way please .. and then I'll feel comfy. People just don't get it .. some people I mean .. and they take shyness for grumpiness etc. Yes .. they see us as party poopers when .. from our pov .. they're pooping on our party experience Big hugs Kylie parties can actually be no fun at all

Awww It's very difficult when that happens .. I'm sure they all understood though the reasons for it. I know what it feels like .. on the one hand you're being spoilt .. on the other you're being tortured

I should say Roll on February!!

I thought about it

Ha yes so it does. It also stands for 'No More Jam Sandwiches' .. which is another January .. tightening your belt sort of thing

YES!! .. LET'S HAVE ONE!!

Happy Reading Ian Hope you enjoy Treasure Island .. it's on my shelves .. I really should get around to it. Perhaps your review will encourage me .. no pressure though We're also suffering from NMJS ... bloomin' Christmas!!

Short books are always good for getting you back on track .. hope you find something that takes your fancy

Lovely book swap Janet .. I loved The Bell Jar .. hope you do too It's very sad though .. make sure you're feeling top of the shop when you read it .. or sandwich it between two light hearted ones.

I feel a lot more normal now Prezzies through the post are the very best sort!

Ha ha .. no .. me either I like that about her though .. or it makes me laugh so much in the context of the stories. The trouble she went to with those chocolates .. and then she wasn't in the least bit concerned .. whereas I the reader was completely on edge about it. The minx! Oh bless you. It's not that for me .. it's just the whole spotlight thing .. and perhaps the saying and the doing the right thing. For someone who can be quite loud and noisy I'm also someone who likes to be just background. We went to a party just before Christmas and got up and danced a couple of times with friends and family, but then someone thought it would be good to call names out .. and then you had to do a solo spot .. only for a few secs but I just couldn't. Most people were happy to .. but my feet were welded to the spot and I wanted to immediately sit down. You feel like such a killjoy then. I have never ever karaoked either .. that's the stuff of nightmares! Alan says I have an over active cringe gland!

Bless you for being understanding I'm sure she really appreciated it. It's a lovely thing to do if you enjoy it but pretty horrendous if you don't.

Ooh .. well done .. you've spotted these gems already. Think you will enjoy them .. I think it's a definite that you'll enjoy Invitation to the Waltz .. I can't think who wouldn't .. well maybe men wouldn't .. men that like splatty things I mean. There's a lack of that in it I have to admit I'm okay if it's fairly low key .. and usually okay if it's just Alan or me .. or if it's just one or two people. If it's a big get together and everyone's looking then it makes me want to curl up and die! Having said that I can get odd about it at Christmas when it's just Alan and me .. he just laughs at me and fetches the Bucks Fizz Flustered is my default setting.

I am hoping to abandon books this year and therefore not do too much damage to your wishlist. I have a cunning plan (more later!) You too my love *hugs* Sorry Sari it was a bit random. I was referring to Spike Milligan .. British comedian and author .. gone from us now but still remembered for the absolute loon he was. I have a couple of his books on my TBR. He suffered terribly with his mental health .. I saw a documentary about him last year .. he always signed his letters 'love, light and peace'. I'm sure I shall. I always think Fingersmith will make me blush I didn't see the adaptation but I heard it was racy .. or am I thinking of Tipping the Velvet? Anyway, it doesn't take much .. I'm listening to her new book The Paying Guests and its already making my cheeks hot Lord .. I've led such a sheltered life Yes .. and I did start it two years ago but then was ill and it was hard to pick it up again because it threw me back into remembering but I am over that now. The thing is .. I got quite a way into it but feel I should go back to the start as it's so involved .. I need to get into the swing of it again .. very clever wordplay etc. I owe it to Kylie to give it my undivided Well .. it's not as easy as that .. for one thing I wanted it painted (I'm such a pain in the ****) and for the other .. no .. it's not even half full and that's mainly because I'm being fussy about the spines again I'm not colour co-ordinating them or grading them but I only want pale colours because it's in our bedroom and swathes of red will look all wrong. Consequently I've pillaged a lot of my other bookcases and everything is in a real state and all over the place. I don't mind having gaps though and I do quite like having other things on bookcases too (or junk as some people would have it !) I will take a pic .. in daylight probably tomorrow. Alan was a bit disappointed that I couldn't fill it up but as I said .. you need room .. it's no good filling up all your bookcases .. where would you put any new acquisitions. I need to look for new acquisitions now (I'm not daft ) You will love the little hen I'm sure Again, I think you'll like it

Awww .. thanks Janet and thanks again for getting it for me .. how clever you are Thanks Kylie Ha ha yes .. she was looking forward to it in some ways but she was a bit too anxious to really enjoy it plus things didn't go exactly to plan .. but then she thought they wouldn't .. poor Olivia. Thanks Andrea *takes a little bow* I do hope you enjoy it .. happy to send it to you if you'd like .. just pm address

Ooh .. Jeff played Cedric Diggory's Dad didn't he in Goblet of Fire?

Modernised as in both I'm afraid. I read that there was a slapping incident that's been changed into a shaking incident .. even though it was made clear that slapping isn't the answer I hope they haven't modernised the things they ate at their midnight feasts .. wouldn't be right if they were all now eating Monster Munch or something Think it will be interesting if we do read different .. or slightly different .. versions for the mini readathon .. give us lots to discuss (except .. it might hold us up if we were to do a word by word comparison ) It'll definitely give you food lust .. but you have great resolve I know. They might be eating healthy snacks now anyway .. hummus and some crudites possibly I think they'd only have the modern version .. but if all else fails I will check. I definitely want to join in *waves hand in the air* .. please, please, let me join in

Mr Clunes goes from zero to hero Love your new avvie pic

Wishing you a very happy reading year Alex .. hope it's a good one for you

Can't go wrong with Bob

You will .. I'm sure Hope you do anyway xx