chaliepud

I've had A Monster Calls on my wish list for a long while, I really will get around to it sometime soon. I'm not sure if it's something my son would fancy so I don't think I can justify buying it when I still have such a large TBR shelf to get through... I've only managed to read one book these holidays, a new low! But I've just started Pure by Juliana Baggott which I seem to remember you enjoyed? Hopefully the ol' mojo will pick up a little with that.

Have a great time Kylie!! A lot of Brits wouldn't even consider driving one way to Edinburgh, we'd catch a plane! Will you be listening to audio books as you drive?

Have missed the start of this series as we were on holiday, will start watching it this week, the kids love it, it may even inspire us to do some baking.. We're on a healthy drive at the moment so I'm hoping they may do some lower fat recipes!

Hi Julie, just stopping by as got back from our holiday, it was strange not connecting much to the Internet while we were away but they were charging 65 US cents an hour to connect on board so decided not to rack up a large bill... My son made a friend there who logged on and forgot to log off, someone else came on and must have been on there a while as his Dad received an $80 bill, ouchy!!! Sorry to hear your health problems are still dogging you, do you have to be careful now with what you eat and drink to look after your kidneys? Are there any supplements that may help at all? I suppose a sensible low fat diet is in order, how boring! Saying that though I really need to start eating more healthily again, an all you can eat breakfast and lunch buffet and large dining room dinners plus 24 hour snacks and ice cream is not conducive to a slimline figure!! Hope you get some better health news soon Julie..

I enjoyed The Forgotten Garden even more than The House at Riverton which I thoroughly enjoyed... Don't be in a rush to read The Distant Hours though, I was so looking forward to it that I bought the hardback as soon as it was published, but was left very disappointed, the story was good but far too long and over stretched, just my opinion though

Well we're back from our holiday, we had a fantastic time but I only managed one book, The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn, one of my new favourite authors, this is the second book of his that I have thoroughly enjoyed... His descriptions of characters and their feelings and emotions are wonderful.. I really must try and catch up with my reviews sometime soon but the school holidays seems to evaporate any free time I think I have!! In the meantime I'm going to continue with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I didn't take it on holiday as it just didn't "feel" like a holiday book. There were two new books waiting for me when I got home (yes I know I said no more books!) the first is Home Front by Kristin Hannah, I gave her "Night Road" 5/5 last year so I have high hopes for this, it was pre ordered months ago so doesn't count.. . The second book is Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward which is my local book clubs next read so an unavoidable purchase... it has an interesting premise so I'm hoping it lives up to its blurb!

I'm back from my hols, it was our first time on a cruise and it was fantastic, so much to do although I have to admit that we were a bit lazy and probably didn't take as much advantage of the facilities as we could have done but it was lovely being full board and not cooking or cleaning for 9 days! Now it's home to the washing!!

Finished only one book on holiday as we were so busy, The Rescue Man by Anthony Quinn. I liked it even more than his previous offering, Half of the Human Race. I'll try and get back into A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith now...

Was our last morning on our cruise holiday and I can honestly say I never want to see a huge breakfast buffet again! I tried most days to eat just cereal and fruit but it was so hard when there was such a selection of pastries, cakes, continental and English breakfasts.. Back to normal tomorrow morning!!!

Have fun Sofia!! We're off on our cruise first thing tomorrow, need to be up at 3am tomorrow best go to bed I suppose! See you all in 9 days, be good!!

I'd like to ride the motorised derny bike that leads the track cyclists, it reminds me of the bike from Camberwick Green!!!

Sorry to hear that Noll, but with a good surgeon, lots of rest, therapy, weight management (and TLC) she can have a good quality of life, my Obi had 2 major elbow ops when he was 5/6 months old and is still doing fantastically well over 8 years later, hang in there, things will hopefully soon get better for both of you...

Sounds like you're having a great time, long may it continue!

Well done Janet! What would you say the highlights of the challenge have been, what gems did you uncover that you wouldn' have come across otherwise?

Drug cheats.... Gaitlin originally got a lifetime ban, reduced to 8 years, then reduced to 4 years as he "helped" the authorities with information...

They finished school on the 20th July so we've had about 2 weeks already, visiting friends and local theme parks and so on.. They go back to school on the 5th Sept so our hols are definitely shorter than yours, thankfully!! On Thursday we go to Barcelona for a couple of days and then board a weeks cruise around the western Med, can't wait!!

Think I'd have to go for the 100 metres as that was my event in days gone by, I can still run faster than my 13 year old son but my 11 year old daughter has my build as and will be catching me soon... Of course I need to rest 4 times as long as they do after.. It would be amazing though to be a heptathlete or triathlete, how wonderful to be able to compete in all those different events!

Gutted that the men's football team went out - on penalties!!! Especially as it was poor old Studge that missed :(

Glad to hear you're on the up Julie, it's great that you're improving, albeit slowly.. I'm well thank you, school holidays and Steve came home yesterday so busy busy busy, We go on our hols next Thursday so reeeeeaaaaallly looking forward to that..

I'm glad you enjoyed Human Traces Claire, even if not quite as much as I did, I think it did help that I'd not long since been a psychology student when I read it and that I have always been interested in the human mind, I got so absorbed in the story, especially when it spoke of the poor poor people who were incarcerated into the asylums and who had no hope of ever getting proper help until for most of them it was too late... I really should read it again some time and see if it still has the same affect on me.

Yep sounds like a good idea! You are an inspiration Claire, I actually walked past Waterstone's this afternoon :0 ... It'll be your fault though when they go into administration!

That's a great review Julie, I think that one will be hoping on my wish list! How are you doing now?

That's exactly what they just said on Radio 5 Live!

And another one, well done Vicky!! :)

Oh no Noll! I hope she's ok and the news is better than you're expecting, please let us know how she's doing tomorrow x