poppyshake

Thanks my lovely .. I am now in possession of it and it works like a charm .. sooooooo relaxing (I actually have to watch I don't nod off ) Some tracks are more soothing than others .. I'm going to make a playlist to repeat them because others sound a bit like my tummy after too much cake

'Don't it always seem to go .. that you don't know what you've got til it's gone' .. Joni had it down all those years ago

I guess even responsible countries are up against it when it comes to packaging. If they were suddenly to ban the use of non-recyclable packaging then the plastics industry in particular would sink taking millions of people with it. Equally they'd be unwilling to adapt most probably .. because it would cost them billions. Such a sobering thought that .. even if we stopped polluting the world with plastic now .. it'd all still be around choking up the oceans etc probably for as long as the earth remains Oh dear! One thing he didn't touch on much was the stuff we chuck down the loo .. the stuff that isn't paper etc Apparently a lot of us chuck ear buds down there and they end up in the ocean poisoning the dolphins etc .. not to mention condoms, tampons, baby wipes etc etc .. disposable nappies too .. though they don't get chucked down the loo they're supposed to be bad news for the planet. Can you imagine the amount of extra waste that's amounted to since the extinction of the terry nappy/diaper? The thing is we're all a bit dim .. a new innovation comes along and we think .. thanks very much Mr Inventor .. you've saved me much time and loads of hassle .. we don't for a minute stop and think of the far reaching consequences. I mean .. some of us do now but I had no idea in the 80's that the lorry-load of hairspray that I got through each week would have any impact on the ozone layer .. I'd never heard of it People are so used to their creature comforts now .. can't see us wanting to alter our ways .. not if it means extra work or inconvenience. We are trying but it's a drop in the ocean isn't it?

Also terrifying was how .. the powers that be concerned with nuclear energy and nuclear waste etc .. sweep it all under the carpet. It's all so hush-hush. Most of us have no idea. I had not an inkling about those salt caves/mines that are used for radioactive waste Also how they turn a lot of ex nuclear sites into wildlife sanctuaries .. and all the animals and birds go there because of course .. no-one has told them!! Mutant offspring and everything .. so distressing! And what about the pylons and the tall towers .. killing all the birds .. plate glass windows too .. terrifying statistics The animals are what really upset me. I wasn't so bothered about the human suffering because .. well .. it's our fault (though it's always the innocent that are most affected) but the animals have to live on this planet with us .. and we're mucking it up bigtime. And there's absolutely no reason for it, no reason at all to supply our milk in plastic containers .. or shrink wrap our apples and juices etc. Often you'll buy something and it's doubly wrapped .. plastic shrink wrap on top of a plastic container. I'm going to buy loose as much as I can. Go to the greengrocers and not buy pre-packaged from the supermarket. It's convenience isn't it? .. most of us have fallen for the convenience of getting everything from one place. I didn't even know that the use of DDT was still legal in some countries Oh my!! .. some people don't care a fig about the planet and what happens to it in the future.

- Did you enjoy the book? On the whole yes, it was more involved than I was expecting and I got lost a bit but it was very thought provoking .. worryingly so. - Did it cover everything you expected? I didn't know what to expect, I came to the book late so didn't know what it was about .. or only had the slightest inkling and wasn't even sure if was fiction or non fiction before I started so had no pre-conceived ideas. It must have been difficult to keep a tight rein on it actually. Even though I thought it did get a bit too deep and involved at times it must have been difficult knowing where to stop with it. The subject matter is so vast. - Were there any chapters or discussions that you enjoyed most? Enjoyed is probably the wrong word Fascinated is probably more like it. Of particular interest was the many, many chapters and pages about the pollution of the seas. We all know about it but the actual facts are quite horrifying. It was fascinating too to read about the animals that have long since died out .. sloths bigger than bears etc .. wondrous stuff. Makes you realise that .. in the history of the earth .. our time here is shorter a blink of an eye. However .. we have managed to do so much damage in that short time - Was there anything you disliked about it? Not really .. I just found some chapters more interesting than others. Also I preferred it when I had a good chance of actually being able to grasp what he was saying .. when he didn't get too technical in his descriptions. Facts about nuclear physics are beyond me .. I have not the slightest chance of clinging on - Does it make you more aware of our impact on the world? Yes .. not sure if it will have a long term effect we forget things all too quickly but I've tried to cut down on buying anything in plastic this week and have eyed everything in the house .. packaging wise especially .. with a suspicious eye. It made me think that .. unless you are lucky enough to have a natural spring in your garden (and sometimes not even then) .. then drinking water is probably as unhealthy as it gets. What comes out of the tap has been treated with chemicals and what comes in a plastic bottle can't be good for you. Absolutely horrified about what happens to nuclear waste I've never really given it serious thought before but there's no way we will survive if we keep on doing the things we're doing. Nearly every 'improvement' we've made has had a negative impact on the planet. - Have you read anything else by the author, and would you be interested in reading any other of his work? I haven't. Not sure I would again .. it would depend on the subject matter. - Would you recommend this book to others. If so, to whom? If not, why not? I might .. only if we had a relevant conversation though.

Can I second I, Claudius and Wolf Hall please Tim ... the latter I've read but it'd be a pleasure to read it again

Really excited and looking forward to it Love the idea of the extra programme .. should be a lot of fun. Thanks for the info Claire I wonder what they have in store for us this year? Will there be the same number of contestants do you know?

Your Grandpa's dog is in a book!! That's better than anything any of us have achieved so far in life It's great usually when you hear bits and pieces about the people that came before .. but you only usually hear it from relatives so to have Grandpa mentioned in a book .. or his dog anyway which is just as good is brilliant .. there he is immortalised in print for all time I wonder if I can get Molly to go further than the bottom of our garden and get into some sort of scrape or the other? .. however even if I did she wouldn't be called by her first name let alone her surname and anyway I don't know if any of my neighbours can write Plus they don't know my surname .. unless they've been nosy when receiving our mail by mistake. Back in the old days .. there was community .. people knew each other. Oh .. I think it's lovely .. I wouldn't want to give the book back Are there any more mentions of your family in the diaries? Have I gone completely mad? I thought you'd read Jonasson's old man story? Possibly I dreamt it Glad you had an amazing time at llosaarirock Happy days

I hope you are able to sit out in the sun Lily It's very hot here but a lot of cloud cover (after last night's storms) .. still the sun is beginning to break through now .. just in time for the mad dogs and Englishmen It's fine for sitting out in anyway regardless of sunshine but very sticky. I left the sun lounger outside yesterday .. I forgot about it really and it got soaked overnight That'll learn me Will get piles or something if I sit on it today so will perch on a chair instead as need to finish my book Glad your having fun moving all your stuff into the bakery Athena .. very exciting times for you

Well done Claire What a relief .. on to something more enjoyable Finished Captain Corelli's Mandolin and moved onto Mrs Ames Am slowly chipping away at the TBR .. and actually reading some of the books that have been shelf sitters for ages. Not made a huge dent in the unread numbers but progress is progress Have actually said 'no' to new books Not sure if this is a sign of determination or illness

Still get excited when I hear this at this time of year

Ah .. of course .. the names would be different .. I didn't think of that

I did try very hard not to spoil ... most of what I said is back story really. Loads more sh*t happens Great book .. one of his best. He is so clever it's scary. Being a genius must have its drawbacks though .. thankfully I'll never find out Poor Harold It's so much better when a book sticks in your head ... less hard work. If it doesn't grab soon move on to something else or it'll kill your mojo

Sounds interesting Kate. I just looked it up at Swindon library and they do have a copy but it's not due back until end of July All the same I have reserved it .. so hopefully I should be able to add my two pennorth at some point I bet it gives me nightmares

Very rude of Pearl Jam to ignore Finland's invitations .. if I were you I'd ignore theirs when they send them out It's going to be awesome isn't it and you'll have a great time. Hope the sun shines on you Very jealous about Portishead .. I love them but have never managed to see them. Is that a relative of yours playing on Saturday? You want to get up there with them .. bang a tambourine or something Have fun my lovely .. soak it all up xx

Yes but the 'hand of God' .. that was blatant Germany have played well throughout too so my support goes to them (as I can never manage to be neutral .. even if I begin with the intention I find I've picked a side as they're jogging onto the pitch .. sometimes it's based on hairstyles ) For the English .. this is probably the worst result .. and as such we should have expected it Hope it's a goal fest and doesn't go to penalties!

:D Mrs Tiggy-winkle is in the Beatrix Potter stories. She's a hedgehog washer woman .. she seems to do the laundry for a lot of Beatrix's characters. She looks like this .. (for Gaia too ) They are very British children's books really and so it's not surprising you haven't read them. I'm not sure I've actually read them .. I just know of them and the characters. You certainly don't need to read that book .. nothing much happens except old Tiggy sorts out the washing In Jasper's books .. she's a Jurisfiction Agent Miss Havisham is far more complex. She's in Dickens' Great Expectations. She got jilted on her wedding day (some thirty or so years before the story starts) and still hasn't changed out of her wedding dress (bit whiffy .. I would think ) .. the room where the reception was going to take place has been kept as it was .. wedding cake and all .. covered in cobwebs and mice scuttling about All the clocks have been stopped at twenty minutes to nine .. which is when she received the letter from her fiance calling off the wedding. In short .. she's bonkers She adopts an orphan child .. Estella .. and is raising her to be a prodigious breaker of boy's/men's hearts, as a revenge on the sex. The main character in Great Expectations ... Pip .. falls in love with Estella more or less as soon as he sets eyes on her In Jasper's books .. Miss Havisham is also a Jurisfiction Agent .. a rather marvellous one actually and quite unlike her Dicken's persona. I'm thinking this is a ploy on Jasper's behalf to get us all reading more It certainly makes you enjoy his books a whole lot more if you are in on the joke. It's not vital though. Hope you enjoy Harold Fry and his unlikely pilgrimage

500 pagers .. they hamper one so I'm reading one at the moment and I keep thinking 'this is not going to help my statistics at all' which of course is not the attitude. I should be so involved that the pages fly by I think I'll also read about 80 this year which is well down on last year but there's no point in stressing .. it is what it is .. enjoying it is more important Good luck anyway Anna

Great review of the new apple crumble Steve I saw it today somewhere and was wondering about it ... and then lo and behold you have already read it Sounds brilliant .. a must read I really loved the First Law trilogy Gaia .. though not sure Steve was that keen??

I wondered that .. is there more to come?

I'm thinking of getting a disc with sounds of the sea on it. I do like some background noise when I read .. to help block out more intrusive noises. I can't listen to anything with words in it though .. I get jumbled and start following the song instead of the story Similarly I can't read with the TV on. I usually listen to classical music if anything but waves lapping the shore would be brilliant. I found it relaxing reading on the beach on holiday .. I especially like the lemonade fizz noise the sea makes after the waves have crashed. I will look into it (I wonder if I put 'lemonade fizz type noise' into Amazon it'll know what I mean? ) Might be good for bedtime too. I usually always listen to something to help stop thoughts

Moby Dick does seem to divide opinion I wouldn't want you to be put off reading for another ten years .. though possibly you'd be rich by then and thank me It is Gaia I like reading about the sea though .. it's very mysterious isn't it and awesome .. it has such power.

Great song frankie

I don't think you need to read the books he refers to. With Jane Eyre it was sort of pivotal but other than that I don't think it matters. It means you don't fully get the meaning sometimes .. I keep thinking 'I must read that .. see what he's on about' but it's not vital. A lot of the time the characters are well known even if you haven't read the book .. Miss Havisham for instance .. and Heathcliff, Hamlet and Mrs Tiggywinkle. Some of the time he's referencing authors and because I haven't read them .. I don't get the joke but then half of what he says whizzes past me anyway The Raven is possibly another book that is worth reading to get the full understanding .. but I haven't yet I'm pretty sure The Toast Marketing Board didn't turn up until later. I've a feeling it was in Lost in a Good Book .. though that might not be correct .. but anyway .. you have nothing to chastise yourself for .. it was a later addition.

No!!!! Have you forgotten 'the hand of God' ??!!?? I haven't .. come on the Netherlands!