Bottom on Chair Sunday, Nov 2 2008 

Uncategorized livingnow92 7:56 pm

It has been some time since I updated the blog, and so spent a couple of hours adding to the Books category because all that time I was not updating this blog, I was reading. Since about May 2008 I think I will just give a quick overview of life and vow to keep updating to a regular basis.

Weather: It has remained wet, which is to be expected because soccer and wet weather go together. Spent the soccer season out every saturday morning standing in wind and rain, and tending to the odd real and imagined injury with the magic spray (a can of spray cold ice type stuff – harmless placebo).  Then dashed home to warm up and deal with the housework. Thank the Lord for whoever invented the clothes dryer.  Thought numerous times whether we needed a second water tank in case the great drought of 07/08 returns, but that is all we did – thought and talked. Having watched the watertank overflow several times this winter (case in point just last night and we are entering summer in a couple of months) we think we are safe.

DVD watching has been high on the list after soccer support, horse support, housework and napping on a Sunday afternoon. Greatest so far is “Jane Austen’s Book Club”. Also “Run fat boy, Run” another English goodie which I actually saw twice. And thats all I can remember for now.

Gym membership still going but I have been terrible at keeping attendance. New year’s resolution if I were the type to make these and stick to them, would be to go to the gym more often. Have been very tired of late, havent really picked up since the flu in May for heavens sake, but could also be a bit of old age. 

Garden: Disasterous, have not really kept on top of things as much as we would like, but cant plant out too many vegies because we are off to Europe for a couple of months and dont want any new plants dying if there is a drought (good excuse, which I will stick to).

Have come across lots of wonderful blogs, good reading, especially ones about books and reading. Will list a few later when time permits.

 

My Equine Grandson, Hensen Sunday, Nov 2 2008 

Horsing Around livingnow92 7:39 pm

Having reviewed some wonderful blogs I noticed that many include photo’s of family, friends, pets etc so I thought I would post a picture of my daughter’s horse, Hensen.  We should really have named him ‘Masport’ after the well known motor mower, because Hensen seems to mow through a lot of our family’s hard earned cash! While he may not be special to many others, he is treated like royalty by his rider.  He has a dentist, a massage therapist, a vet, and a farrier – we are yet to engage a feng shui advisor for his grazing area, but Im of no doubt that this may not be totally ruled out. A lot of time has been invested in this nag horse, during wind, rain, hail and scorching heat, tending to his every need.  Not to mention the trips to various saddlery shops to buy all the trimmings, magazines etc that go hand in hand with equine interests – all this and he is not an Olympic contender!! But he is the love of my daughter’slife and as such is special to us. As I type, his dressage saddle blanket is going through the washing machine, and I spent the best part of our Sunday afternoon watching him run through a couple of dressage tests for later this week. Husband is going to give his time on Thursday night behind a barbque doing sausages (not horse meat) etc for the riders doing twilight practices for the next month – having spent the last month learning his new skill of ‘calling’ for dressage competitions which I must say he is brave doing, because I have seen a few ‘callers’ chopped down by the rider because they either called too early, too late, or the wrong test – or they were just their so the rider took out their frustration on them. Not an activity for the faint hearted.

 

The Various Haunts of Men/The Risk of Darkness – Susan Hill Sunday, Nov 2 2008 

Books Fiction , livingnow92 6:42 pm

The Various Haunts of Men is a damn good warning to us all to be wary of alternative therapies.  I will not go into detail here, suffice to say we should do our homework first and discuss any ailments minor or otherwise, with a General Practioner first. Great writing as usual, and my all time test for a good book is fast page turning, and Ms Hill had me doing this. To read a book and feel a chill down the spine at the same time as a character is really good writing. Also set in England, in a cathedral town, with very ‘real’ characters who are easy to adopt.  What shocked me was that one of the good characters gets killed, I was absolutely gobb-smacked and wondered if I need continue reading (and this is from a person who always reads to the bitter end) so “nice” author had a sting in the tale! 

Such as the sting was though, I got over it and decided lightening only strikes once – and read The Risk of Darkness.  Another great read, suspense, tension, good characters, pace etc etc and this one involves children so for those readers who get a bit sqirmish – be warned. But once I got past the whole ‘missing child’ thing, I had placed my faith in DCI Simon Serrailler and was on my way.  Lightening does strike more than once, another character from the previous book was written off. How Ms Hill has the heart to take out these people I do not know – will I read another Hill book involving Serrailler knowing she could chop another down like the others, – Yep. I couldnt help but read on, and Serrailler and his sister are not just run of the mill characters Hill uses like puppets to tell a story – I just hope she doesnt go for ‘Cat’ next, Simon’s sister?? 

I rate both these books 5 stars out of 5.

 

River of Darkness (Rennie Airth) Sunday, Nov 2 2008 

Books Fiction , livingnow92 6:17 pm

The story is set in the 1920’s and what makes it interesting is that it is post WW1 so the reader is given glimpses of post war living in England, as well as the impact of post traumatic syndrome (which would not have been heard of back then but from this far in the future easy to recognise). The story follows an investigation into the brutal deaths of a wealthy rural family, led by Inspector John Madden, a WW1 veteran. The crime scene, community, and characters were all well written and believable.  It was a good whodunnit story.  My only misgiving was the romance which although was written well, tended to become a bit tedious for me because I just wanted to get on with the story, so I thought a lot of the relationship details between Madden and one of the other key characters took over the story too much. 

Immediately following this book, I read ‘The Blood Dimmed Tide’, also by Rennie Airth.  Set in the 1930’s John Madden has since married his lover from the first book and retired from the Police Force. A bit chilling this story because it involves the death of a child, and Im not keen on these type of stories but I persevered. Madden is asked to assist the murder investigation because of his local knowledge and with his usual strong quiet personality, we are taken again for a tour of history in terms of pre WW2 and its impact on the rural community. 

Another good story, it had me turn the pages all the way to the end of the book. However, I have to get off my chest one irritation and that is Madden’s wife.  She seems to constantly treating this tough guy that has been through WW1 and a police officer for ever, like he is a child and it drove me to distraction.  Throughout the book there is dialogue between the wife and police, some of whom are Madden’s excolleagues, to be gentle with him, to leave him alone, back off or else they will have her deal with, and it was totally contradictory to the character of Madden who is supposed to be a man’s man, and has faced every atrocity on this earth. I know we are supposed to suspend judgment/belief etc when reading fiction but there is a child missing, dead etc and possibility of others if the perp is not caught, what person would say “stop, I dont want you involved” if you knew they were more than capable & intelligent to hunt the criminal down. And what police would (even back in the 1930’s) put up with a female like her when there is a murder to solve or murderer to catch? So again, I felt this darn female kept popping her oar in things distracting me from the crime and making Madden out to be a right wet pratt.  If this character could take a back seat, maybe have her remain in the kitchen or wrapping a wound, then the story would for me be marvellous, but shes a distracting front seater so I was stuck with her.  Good writing, ditch the broad.

I would rate these books 2 out of 5.

 

Carnage on the Committee (Ruth Dudley Edwards) Sunday, Nov 2 2008 

Books Fiction , , livingnow92 5:38 pm

I have read so much since May 2008 but have not updated my blog. However, standing out in my memory are the books written by Ruth Dudley Edwards.  ‘Carnage on the Committee’ and ‘Matricide at St Martha’s’ are great reads during any period in your life when you are sick to the back teeth of political correctness and political games – of which I am sure even the most saintly character suffers from. While these are light crime/mystery reads in that the reader will not be traumatised or squint with revulsion from detailed descriptions of blood splatters, macabre lacerated cadavers and such, there is still a couple of murders to puzzle through.  These two books are set in England, and Ms Dudley Edwards does herself proud with the creation of her character ‘Jack’ who appears in both these books. Jack is actually a very formidable personality who with military precision gets things rolling while flying in the face of all the political correct madness.  While the author introduces the reader to the hallowed halls of academia, she also has a wonderful subtle way of touching on some of the ‘state of the nation’ issues that most western countries have been enduring – of which the vast amount of members of parliament are yet to realise that we have all had a skin full of their games and only look to them for entertainment rather than leadership –  If you like political satire, a whodunnit, with humour, and some intelligent discourse then Ms Dudley Edwards will deliver.

I rate both these books 5 out of 5.