I've been slowly moving forward with the Christmas preparations throughout November. There's just three and a half weeks now until the big day and I've still got plenty to do, but it's been nice to ease into the festivities during this past month.
There's nothing like snow to make you feel christmassy. We got our first taste of the white stuff on the 18th of this month, it seems very early this year. It started snowing at about 8pm and it was forecast heavy snow all night so we were actually expecting to wake up to more than we did, not that I'm complaining, I could well do without snow in my life, though I have to concede that it does look pretty.
We visited our small town's lights switch on event. It's always very well attended and it's nice to bump into people who we haven't seen from one year to the next. This time we saw the parents of one of Eleanor's primary school friends so we stopped to have a chat with them. The small independent businesses always put on a good show too, I like to see how they decorate their windows. The above is one of the barbers shops.
Some of our outings this month have been abandoned or postponed due to the weather but we still managed a trip out to Wentworth Castle Gardens as well as Harewood House and Castleton Christmas Tree Festival which I wrote previous posts about.
I've read four books this month.
"Solving murders. It's a family business.
Steve Wheeler likes retired life. He still does some investigation work, but he prefers his familiar habits: the pub quiz, a favourite bench, his cat waiting for him at home. His days of adventure are over. Adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy's job now.
Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. She's currently on a remote island protecting infamous author Rosie D'Antonio. until a dead body and a bag of money mean trouble in paradise...
As a thrilling race around the world begins, can Amy and Steve outrun and outsmart a killer?"
I've been looking forward to Richard Osman's new crime series and my name finally reached the top of the list at the library. Although it's not part of The Thursday Murder Club series, it's still written in that same familiar way which I enjoy.
Some great characters, I especially like Steve, and the story was good, though I did unravel it before the end. I think this is a good first book of a new series, though I must admit that I missed Elizabeth, Joyce and the boys from his first series. Time will tell if I get to like this series just as much.
"Hannah and Celeste have been best friends since they were eighteen, when they made a pact to spend every New Year's Eve together.
From Dublin to London, the two are inseparable: that is, until tragedy strikes.
When Celeste discovers a list of Hannah's New Year's Resolutions, she is determined to complete them. Little does she know that doing so will reunite her with someone from her past...
Through Hannah's last wishes Celeste begins to rediscover life again, one adventure at a time.
But could the biggest adventure of all be falling in Love?"
This book was given to me as part of my Christmas present last year from my pen pal, Pauline. I was pleasantly surprised by the story, I thought it was going to have more romance in it than it did but it was more about a mix of different relationships, grief and loss. I really enjoyed it.
"Cumbria, 1944: as Christmas comes to Mary Vale, mothers and midwives alike seek a miracle...
Newly trained midwife Libby is just starting work in the neighbouring villages as well as the Mother and Baby Home. She's inexperienced, but so many new mums are desperate for her help.
Meanwhile, Margaret arrives at Mary Vale heartbroken after losing her man and facing having a child alone.
Yet it isn't long before Libby and Margaret discover someone with bigger problems. Beth, along with her young children and desperately ill husband, faces eviction from her home just before Christmas.
Can Libby and Margaret save Beth and her family with a quick-witted plan and festive magic?
After all, it's Christmas...and a time for miracles."
This is another book I received from my pen pal, Pauline, last Christmas. I enjoy reading festive books at this time of the year. They help me get in the Christmas spirit.
This is the fifth book in a series, I haven't read any of the other books but that didn't matter, it can definitely be read as a standalone book. The title had me expecting Christmas to feature in the story more than it did but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Some good characters to get to know and a solid story. I expect the rest of the series is just as enjoyable.
"The gift of a handsomely decorated, enigmatic nutcracker sets the stage for a Christmas like no other: there will be legends of ancient curses, battles with the dreaded Mouse King, and a visit to the wonderful Kingdom of Dolls. The inspiration for the classic ballet, E.T.A. Hoffmann's irresistible tale of magic and mystery continues to be the perfect encapsulation of a child's wonder at Christmas."
I thought this would be the perfect story to get me in the Christmas spirit, after all, I love the ballet, but I have to say it's quite a dark and chilling tale. It's a short story which I was glad about otherwise I'm not sure I'd have finished it, but then fantasy isn't really my genre. I think I'll stick with the ballet.
We had another family get together this month as Jasmine celebrated her birthday. They were out with friends on the day itself so we had our customary take away and games night a couple of days later.
I finished the socks I was knitting for Mick as part of the Strictly Sockalong knitalong. I used Yarnsmiths Merino Sock Prints in the Rainy Days colourway and knit them plain without a pattern. I wasn't trying at all to match the colours, I snipped the yarn at the end of sock one, started sock two without winding off any yarn, and they actually match perfectly. These sock blockers are a little small for Mick's socks, but I think you can see the colour matching well enough. They'll keep Mick's feet nice and cosy though the winter months.
Wolf Hall is back for it's second series and it's just as good as the first. Following the story of Thomas Cromwell's rise to power and fall from grace during Henry VIII's reign, series 2 has picked up where series 1 left off, following Anne Boleyn's execution. We're three episodes in and three to go. No spoilers, although we know what happens!
I'm expecting the month ahead to be a busy one but I'm hoping that the weather allows for some nice days out in between all the Christmas preparations. Fingers crossed.
No comments:
Post a Comment