poppyshake

Yes I watched it again the other day and, like you, enjoyed it but it wasn't anything like as magical. I quite like The Bear which was done a few years ago by them .. again not as magical but it has more of the flavour of the original Snowman than The Snowman and the Snowdog.

So sluggish with my reading .. have stared at the same pages for days now It's not a mojo problem .. it's a time and attention problem. Too many distractions and things on my mind plus .. I'm sure all this stuffing with mince pies is bad for the brain .. my head is full of cotton wool (but I feel like I've got a bug too .. as in flu bug .. not as in flea bug .. so that might be making me feel more stupid than usual.) I have an audible credit but I don't want to spend it before Christmas as might get a book someone has got for me etc etc .. I want to wait and see (but .. how many sleeps are there again!? ) Thinking of picking up an Agatha Christie .. has anyone read Peril at End House?

I went to Jersey as a child and thought it was magical .. I believe Guernsey is even more magical and less commercial. I really want to go back someday soon and visit all of the Channel Islands .. you never know 2014 might be the year I also recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Julie .. brilliant book

Interesting .. so possibly, if there'd been no dance-off in place, Abbey may have gone back then .. amazing turn around if so though it's possible that the voters thought her safe that week. That must have been the case for Alesha .. I didn't realise she was ever bottom two I think this is the first year that I was genuinely surprised by the announcement .. though I wasn't sure who would win out of Tom and Rachel.

I haven't said Happy Birthday! I definitely did on facebook and that was what made me think I had said it here too Glad to hear you had a good smiling at people day .. brilliant .. everyone should do that .. it's obviously infectious. Great book haul ... you will love A Fraction of the Whole (at least .. I think so ) .. amazingly brilliant book. Hope you're having a lovely family time Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta! .. with bells on

Yay!!! It's brilliant isn't it? ... glad you enjoyed it Gaia x

It's beautiful and I never get tired of seeing it either .. always feel just as emotional at the end

Hi Paul (Charles) I don't know how come I haven't bumped into you before .. where's Kate been hiding you? Glad you're getting on with Henry James .. I couldn't and we're not friends but I can see how other people might ... he doesn't write for dimwits which unfortunately puts me at a disadvantage That said I've only read two so it's a bit early to be giving up on him but he did fairly wrestle me to the ground with The Ambassadors and I've still got the bruises so until they fade I'm avoiding him

Claire! You will know this Is this the first winner to have previously been in a dance-off?

I've watched all of the dances again and showed Alan some of them this morning .. thanks Claire Yes .. brilliant that they had an ITT after the final .. I personally think they should have a whole hour long episode on Monday but this is at least a step in the right direction .. it always seems too final that the final is ... ermm .. final .. it's good to get reactions etc (though not sure my ears have recovered yet from Abbey ) As always it seems a bit flat now I don't like the Xmas special much but will be watching it for sure

Very happy for Abbey and Aljaz .. she was the most improved imo and I thought he was an excellent choreographer .. he knew what suited her. Natalie couldn't quite shake off her Corrie image but what an absolutely beautiful dancer. Thought Susanna would win so really surprised.

Didn't enjoy the paso so much on second viewing ... I don't know why .. too much posturing I think. Aljaz messed up though I do love that dance .. Natalie is just a beautiful dancer. For the dancing I would give it to Natalie .. for everything else Abbey. I've split my few votes between them

I thought Sophie's showdance was horrible ... Brendan hasn't learnt since last time. The only thing was it was good to see Sophie enjoying it and looking more relaxed .. her technique wasn't good though and too many lifts. Out of the others Natalie's was just wow .. I hoped it would be and it was Very happy for her that she got through because the best dancer should be there at the end.

I agree with Steve in that I thought this one was one of the best show dances .. played to all his strengths and was tremendous fun I think the male celeb show dances have been better .. they don't usually go as mad with the lifts (doesn't bode well for this evening ) .. but then again I've just remembered Colin Jackson's .. I can't find it on YouTube .. Erin has probably burnt all the footage I'm worried about both Sophie's and Abbey's .. just going on the music alone they have disaster potential Could well be brilliant though if performed well. Fingers crossed that the winner is whoever is best on the night May well throw a few votes in

I think Natalie will do the best showdance or it will be good anyway. I don't want to see anything like this .. or this .. (sorry Claire )

No worries Julie .. it was definitely what made me pick up the book and I'm glad I did .. brilliant read

Oops ... thanks Willoyd I think I stuck it on out of habit

She is, as you say, one of a kind frankie. With her it is all about the music .. she hates promoting it and that's why we've seen so little of her (and you would have had to be very quick of the mark .. and ancient .. to have seen her in concert ... I was one but sadly not the other ) I listen to her all the time .. some of her songs are the weirdest ever .. with donkey bv's etc but still .. very inspirational. I love her Christmas song .. it doesn't get played like the others but it's magical .. it has an Oscar Wilde reference too plus only Kate would sing so beautifully about the snow coming 'to cover the muck up'

I think it's based on Idina Sackville West (and written by her great grand-daughter) but there was a character in The Pursuit of Love who was nicknamed 'The Bolter' .. I'm not sure if she was based on Idina or not but she's definitely a similar character. Great books Julie I love all those you've mentioned (as I'm sure I've already said .. once or twice before ) The biog is called The Mitford Girls but there is also The Mitford's: Letters between Six Sisters .. whichever one you've got it's brilliant

Thanks Gaia I don't often like hardbacks unless they're beautiful like this one. I've got a special little cabinet for putting all of them in. Talking of hardbacks .. those mysterious Christmas presents have actually been placed under the tree now and I've had a little squidge and they are definitely hardbacks The only thing that comes to mind when I think of six books is Jane Austen but I have a little hardback collection of those already so I doubt it will be that. Very intriguing. I've been doing so well this year with keeping up with reviews but December has gone and spoiled it Far too busy making spotty cakes and trying to wrap a football to use my brain for anything else. Can't imagine that I'll have a day before Christmas where I'm at a loose end or not trying to rugby tackle someone to get to the last turkey but possibly will have a few days between Christmas and New Year.Whether by then I will have any recollections of having read a book let alone these specific ones is debatable but I will definitely try Reading is going slowly ... was still trying to get chocolate gloop off of the work surfaces at midnight yesterday so haven't really felt relaxed enough to read It's always the same every year despite my best efforts to 'get ahead' and take the stress out of Christmas (however .. I could write a brilliant book with tips on how to 'get behind' and wring as much anxiety out of it as you can ) Really looking forward (in a don't count your chickens way ) to relaxing after Christmas with all my new books. While I'm about it and before this thread sinks without trace, I just wanted to thank all of you for being such a support to me this year I really appreciate all your kind messages xx I was so relieved and encouraged to be able to visit again and see what you were all up to .. much more important than catching up with Downton. Book readers really are the best

I was a bit so-so about it .. it didn't quite live up to my expectations but because it's about a librarian and books I thought you might find it interesting and it's a nice easy read anyway. I think I liked it up to a point and then it got a bit silly .. hope you're still enjoying it Claire

Sadly I didn't like many, if any, of the new additions (particularly Tauriel and Legolas) .. but it's all horses for courses. I'm glad your daughters enjoyed it

I agree with everything you've said Tim .. it's such a shame and a wasted opportunity

Interesting week .. watched it at Mum's. I was a bit disappointed that Natalie was in the d/o (though I don't vote so can't moan ... but you know .. why let that stop you ) but not half as disappointed as my little niece Rosie as Natalie is her favourite. I thought her two dances were practically faultless and I enjoy her energy. Like you Steve .. I really enjoy Abbey's dancing. If I did vote (and I may well in the final .. more fool me ) I would vote for her. What I love is her attitude to it and how much she enjoys it and this transfers to her dancing (and I think she's improved tremendously too and has good chemistry with Aljaz.) To see her singing along every week makes me smile. Susanna is not improving .. the cracks are showing a bit and though I do love ole Kevin (he does overdo it a bit though ) .. I'm not bowled over by her performances (she also enjoys them like Abbey but in her case it transfers into something slightly messy.) Or Sophie's for that matter ... it all looks too stiff (or strangely too floppy) and a bit too polite and therefore unexciting (to me.) I honestly think it will come down to either Sophie or Susanna (so common sense tells me to save my money) which is disappointing from a dance point of view but this is a popularity contest and it's a given that those two are very popular as they've not been in the d/o despite some very precarious positions on the leaderboard. Nat and Abbey have both been in the d/o and one of them will exit the final early I think. Perhaps Abbey is gaining ground with the public but it's the final so they'll all be brushing off their good dances (so surely out will come the Charleston for Sophie and the Paso for Susanna) .. hopefully Nat and Abbey won't get stitched up by the judges and given their dance off dances to reprise (yeah .. still annoyed about that ) Let's hope for a good final and good showdances .. less of the acrobatics please .. it's not a circus