Stuff English people should know…


Any questions?

New Music – Skulk by Jim Moray

Jim Moray has a new album out which is available from his website at The best track in my opinion is Seven Long Years, and his cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Big Love is good, but I could live a long, long time without ever wanting to hear Hogeye Man again. Apart from that minor dislike though its definitely worth the money. And there’s a fox on the cover, which is nice. Go on, stop him and buy one.

Most fabulous Christmas present ever!

From my nephew, who has very quickly figured out how to get into his Auntie’s good books. Not that I’ll be using it to do the washing up (heaven forbid!) but it looks great in my kitchen

Crochet for Christmas

I made this blanket for my Mum for Christmas. Its on her bed now so I guess that means she liked it :)

Anchorage – Michelle Shocked

I recently rediscovered this song. I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska. Not sure if the two are connected…

Growing old gracefully

Interesting story about Catherine Deneuve saying that Europe is better than Hollywood for actresses getting interesting roles as they get older. I’m always impressed by how gorgeous Deneuve continues to look as she ages – and by the fact that she can wear an animal print top without looking like a sad old slapper. Must be something to do with being French….

I’m back – and recent reading

After a catastrophic computer malfunction (something to do with the motherboard apparently), purchase of a new computer, a week waiting while a computer engineer retrieved my data (thank you Computer Repairs Bolton) and a week spent sorting through my photos and making sure I had them all filed properly (and yes, everything is now backed up) I am now officially back in business.

So here’s a list of what I’ve read and enjoyed recently – I haven’t scanned the covers like I usually do because the computer and scanner aren’t communicating at the moment:

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami – a megawork from the master. It took ages to read and I’m really glad he wrote the third book which made some sense of it all but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Adobe Lightroom Classroom in a book – “enjoyed” is probably not the right word for the experience of reading this but I learned a lot about using Lightroom so that’s all good.

Mirror to Damascus by Colin Thubron – ideal for anyone curious about Syria and its people

Drawing Crime Noir for comics and graphic novels by Christopher Hart – my drawing still stinks but at least I’m getting pointers in the right direction

Making Jewellery with Gemstone Beads by Barbara Case – just in time for making Christmas presents

Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein – written by a former crime reporter for a Japanese newspaper, this was much more interesting than I expected and very informative

Player One by Douglas Adams – not his best work but readable nonetheless

Tuareg by Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa – probably the most gripping book I’ve read in ages

A Soup for Every Day by the New Covent Garden Soup Company – another cookbook for the shelf in the kitchen but I will definitely cook some of the recipes which mostly look delicious (I’m not sold on the idea of a sweet soup)

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich – reliably entertaining – the latest Stephanie Plum novel. I love the way she keeps having these adventures but never gets older and very little in her life changes – especially her indecision between sexy cop Joe Morelli and the enigmatic Ranger.

So thats it for now – please continue to tune in for further exciting installments including photos from my recent days out with Bolton Digital Photographic Society.

Knitted beach scene

My friend Lisa sent me this postcard when she went to Fibre Fest. Its part of a bigger work called “Above and Below the Waves” which was coordinated by Alison Murray. I think it’s fantastic.

Apartment envy

More pretty things I wish were mine – from Apartment Therapy

Last rose of summer

In my backyard anyway – this is a Whiskey Mac that has bloomed consistently all summer despite (or maybe because of?) being used as a toilet by a neighbourhood cat.

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