Sunday 31 December 2006

Winter Wonderland


Winter Wonderland
Originally uploaded by AnglersRest.
A posting to a heritage mailing list that I am on reminded me of the Winter Wonderland that occurs each year at the Model Village at Babbacombe. Despite the rain and horrid wind we decided to vist with Mum. It was well worth the £6.90 to get in and we enjoyed it.

More photos Loaded at Flickr

Not all the models were done in a Christmas theme, but many were and we had a wonder into Santa's groto, Santa of course had fled back to the North Pole! Nevertheless it was a great afternoon, I enjoyed spending sometime with Mum and think we should visit earlier next year - before Christmas.

The Art of Knitting

I saw this Mag & DVD in Dumfries in April. Bought the first issue and set up a subscription & a direct debit. About mid May I received a letter from the publisher saying it was discontinued due to lack of interest. So, imagine my horror and delight to see that it is republished. I'll keep an eye out in Smiths for the rest in the series.

A quick rummage in my very disorganised study and I have located issue one, plus all the wool, needles and the DVD.

Thanks to all my Book Crossing and Live Journal buddies who alerted me to this.

Thursday 28 December 2006

Apple of my Eye by Helene Hanff


I really enjoyed this book, but then I have enjoyed all the Helene Hanff books I've read. An interesting web site about Helene Hanff is Here

In this one, Helene tours New York, and sees places that she has never seen before, despite living in the City. With her she takes a friend, Patsy, who she had lost contact with, but who she had ran into a week or two before, and together, the two of them tour the city and explore their friendship. On page 32 there is a great description of the World Trade Centre, which for those of us who have never seen the building, never will, so the book, in its own way creates a peice of history.

Having read the book, and not knowing New York (although I would love to visit) I've decided to obtain my own copy and read it clutching a New York map. I'm one of these visual people and I want to "see" the areas that Helene and Patsy walk as they prepare for the book.

I especially enjoyed the details about Ellis Island (pg 118-120). Like so many, my husband has relatives that entered the United States through Ellis Island and if you stop and think about it, those who entered into the US through Ellis Island had closed one chapter of their life and were hopefully opening another. An interesting site about Ellis Island with links to search for those entering through into the US is Here

Thanks so much for sharing this book, I loved it!

Wednesday 27 December 2006

Christmas Narcissus - Week One

Planted on Wednesday 20th December. Look how well they are doing after just a week.

NSSFC December 2006

What can I say, I am simply overwhelmed at the genorosity of my NSSFC partner - Rillaith. I consider myself very, very spolt

2 books from my wishlist
2 bars of Lindt chocolate
Several smaller bars of assorted chocolates
Christmasy gold coins
M & S small Christmas cake
a packet of Biscotti with chocolate chips
A book - The writer's block
3 bookmarks
various stickers for scrapbooking
a mini keyring torch
a really useful notepad on a keyring
a Lush christmas pudding
small notebook & coloured pencils
Captain Corelli's Mandolin audio edition
bath/shower gel in a plastic champagne bottle
and a fabulous soft heart radio.

I am simply overwhelmed Sally with your kindness.
Your packages were a delight to open.

Tuesday 26 December 2006

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

I've had a look through the other journal entries and see that there has been a mixed response to this book.

The concept is a clever one, and altough not one of the best books this year, I did enjoy it and found it to be a profound and thought provoking book - who has impacted on our lives and whom have we impacked on. Who would I like to meet again in heaven and who would be there to greet me? Very thought provoking.

Stitch 'n Bitch Handbook by Debbie Stoller


I managed to catch up with my reading this afternoon, and although I had a few others in front of this one, this book had an appeal today.

I really enjoyed reading this one and found that I needed a note book as I was reading to jot down a few web page addresses and some notes. A really useful book and I enjoyed reading it.

Sunday 24 December 2006

Christmas Eve reflections

All the presents are wrapped and under the tree. Stuart keeps having a prod and shake...what a child he is!!!

I finally got chance to ice the cake today, not the best icing I've ever done, but it was tricky with the heating on and the backdoor open to try and keep the kitchen cool, while the oven was on for festive cooking. It didn't help that I had had several glasses of a rather a nice rose from Tesco!



While I was having an icing crisis, Mum was busy making the rum truffles, with the proper stuff, not the cheap essence. Every year, this rather tatty extract from a Woman's Realm Mag appears. I had chance to have a proper glance at it. The receipe is from The Archer's Country Cookbook by Martha Woodford published in 1977.

I can certainly vouch for the truffles!

4oz dark cooking chocolate
4oz icing sugar
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons ground almonds
2 tablespoons double cream
2 tablespoons rum
chocolate vermicelli

Melt the chocolate over a basin of hot water. Beat in the icing sugar,egg yolk,almonds,cream and rum and pound altogether until mixture is smooth, and form into little balls. Roll each truffle in a little vermicelli and coat it.


Saturday 23 December 2006

Happy Christmas


Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2007

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham by M C Beaton


Another delightful read in the life of good old Aggie!, sorry Agatha!! Only a brief glimpse of James, but there is lots of Charles and a rather dodgy, but eventually dead hair dresser, a rather grumpy,rude vicar and a rather iffy episode with a depilatory cream. Need I say more?

Monday 11 December 2006

The Coal Tattoo by Silas House


The storyline was wonderful,with beautifully descriptive scenes and written in such a way that there was a genuine innocence about it. In this third book by Silas House, we effectively complete the cirle of the characters from the author's first two novels, and in finishing it there is a sense of completion, but yet I find myself wanting to know if there is addition to the series.

Wednesday 29 November 2006

S for Silence by Sue Grafton

I felt that S was written in a slightly different style to previous in the series, and I wondered if the author was intentially changing the writing style, to show that we, as readers were heading towards the end, or if perhaps Grafton was running out of steam.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the book, it had a storyline that jumped from 1953 when Violet goes missing into present day, and thus keeping the reader intune with the storyline, rather than simply devouring.

I enjoyed it and I feel no guilt when I add this to my PC, I'm greedy, I want a whole alphabet of Grafton, to enjoy long after the author gets to Z!

Click to view large image of cover in new window...

Monday 20 November 2006

Ohio Town by Helen Hooven Santmyer

What an amazing book,I felt that the book had the feel of a one sided conversation, the sort you might have with an elderly family member, a way of recording the past and bringing it alive. Probably of real interest to those who live in the area, and could identify with the town in reality.....super book

Sunday 19 November 2006

Quilts: a Charm Book by Ljiljana Baird

A super little book of about 120 pictures of quilts; mainly quilts from the US, but other Countries are represented - England,Ireland,Wales,India,New Zealand,Germany to name a few.
Each illustration of the quilt is accompanied by a brief description of the design or patten.
My favourite design is of the Jane Austen Quilt on page 127

Friday 17 November 2006

Trial by Fire by Benjamin Nicholls

"It is approaching the 400th anniversary of the execution of the witch of Little Foxwood. The whole village is excitedly preparing to mark the occasion with a bonfire party in the square. 14-year old Tom Storey, however, is not. He has just begaun a quest for the truth about some of his ancestors and as a result, his world meets the world of the supernatural head on. The legend of the witch and Tom's own research intertwine and lead Tom to discover a terrible secret of injustice and revenge that has haunted his family for centuries."

I saw a review of this in one of the genealogical magazines, or a family history society magazine and bought direct from the author earlier in the year

I'd been itching to read this one since I bought it. I took it with me on my holiday last month, but didn't get chance to read it then, but recently ceased the opportunity. Started last night and finished this evening....a page turner!

Written in a young adult style, it was the gentle story of a teenager who develops the family history bug. In general the genealogical aspects were well researched, with a little poetic license! Well pulled together and a delight to read.

It is the only copy registered on Book Crossing, and does deserve to be read by others, it may well go out on a bookring before joining my permenant collection. If anyone is interested on a small book ring drop me a note!

Full-size cover

Tuesday 14 November 2006

100% English

Liver Journal user LyzzyBee alerted me to the fascinating programme broadcast on Channel 4 yesterday.

The programme synopsis
"Take eight people - all of whom are convinced they are 100% English. Then submit a sample of their DNA to a series of state-of-the-art tests... Lord Tebbit, Garry Bushell and Carol Thatcher are among the participants who have agreed to place their genetic make-up under the microscope."

What was produced was a fascinating and yet controversial programme. What makes us English? If we are born of English parents? That we can trace generations after generation into deep rural England, or perhaps the child of a migrant couple?.....see,all very controversial and definetely verging on being non politically correct.

I was born in England, to an English mother and an Italian father, my older half brother was born in Italy, to Italian mother and father and in the main educated in Italy, but did spend time in England. My younger half brother, born to Italian parents was born in England. His he more or less English than I am?

I guess it depends on your view. I am anglo Italian, and proud of it. The use of DNA is a fascinating one, and as my father comes from Sicily I wonder if there is any Arabic blood in there? given the history of Sicily.

You are only what you feel, and when I am in a mixed group, say at the Italian Procession in Clerkenwell in July, I do feel that I embrace my Italianness!

One point that was raised from several of the 8 people, as they were given their DNA results, they commented if the results indicated a particular comfortableness to a particular country or culture. One was told that there was a chance she had links to the China region and she wondered if this was her interest in Chinese artifcates....an interesting point from the same individual who was horrified her father's off license had become a chinese takeaway and had never had a spring roll!

Much food for thought - thanks LyzzyBee!

Live Journal thread is HERE

Monday 13 November 2006

Snowball!

My Cousin sent this to me, and I thought it was so nice and wintery, I'd share here!

Pardonable Lies: A Maisie Dobbs Mystery by Jacqueline Winspear

I have been really looking forward to catching up with Maisie, so was delighted when postie delivered it this last Friday.I've got an awful cold, and I felt that I needed a book that I could immurse myself in.

Indeed,another great story from Jacqueline Winspear, which has dealt with the complex post war issues with understanding and kindness.

Monday 6 November 2006

Uncatalogued:A Book Lovers Mystery by Julie Kaewert

The sixth (and as far as I know), the last in the series. Alex has finally made it to marrying his beloved Sarah, with her secret life, but will they make it through the honeymoon? Alex Plumtree is invited to sit on a Pepys Library committee,and the foundations of the committee is caught up with the events of locating extra's (are they genuine?) to the famous Pepys diary, added to it is the complexities of the Royal Family, and a trip to Dartmouth College where there is more sinister activities. Typically, Alex and Sarah come through in the end in this action packed book.

Saturday 4 November 2006

Unsigned :A Book Lovers Mystery by Julie Kaewert


The fifth book in the series continues with the action,sinister and mysterical storyline of the previous books. In this one there is the added complication in that Alex's fiancee is still missing after her time spent as a hostage in Iraq. Everyone, except Alix believes Sarah is dead, but then he sees Sarah in the street, or does he. Alex learns of a twist in Sarah's life that he never thought possible.

Friday 3 November 2006

What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Brosnan

mood: thoughtful

Ironically, this book arrived just as I had, had my Performance Review at work. I had been pondering on which way my career should,would & could go in. Having been told that I am ready to go to the next level, I wonder if I really want that, and if I do the impact it will have on my beloved. The one thing that I do know - I don't want to do in totality is go back into pure
pharmacy full time.

The book was an interesting read,one that required me to read chunks then reflect and digest just what I was doing in my life.

Untitled:A Book Lovers Mystery by Julie Kaewert


In the fourth in the series, Alex Plumtree is invited (and accepts)to join the Dibdin Club. Once again, Alex is caught up in the world of under cover book problems going back generations. Another page turner in the series.

Unprintable:A Book Lovers Mystery by Julie Kaewert


In the third book of the series there is more death,corruption and friendship. There is also the rather tenuous romance with Sarah, his dead pals wife.....it all happens at Plumtree Press! Is Alex doomed?

Unbound: A Book Lovers Mystery by Julie Kaewert


More Plumtree adventures in the second book of the series.

Old Uni friend Angela writes a book revealing a series of typographical errors in a previous edition, or is there more to it?

The book is action packed and I am once again plunged into the depth of Plumtree Publishing.....another page turner.

Unsolicited: A Book Lovers Mystery by Julie Kaewert


I really enjoyed this book, first in the series, I decided that I would read back to back and complete the set. I wasn't disappointed with the start of the series.
The cover describes the book as a part mystery/part thriller and a touch of Dick Francis. It is probably an accurate description.
Alex Plumtree inherits the family publishing business and is going to publish a book by a author, who wants to keeps his identity a secret. Alex thinks he knows who the author is, but problems arise when the last five chapers fail to arrive.......

Tuesday 31 October 2006

Not so Secret Halloween 2006


My fabulous present from Sarah, Thanks so much.











A halloween extra! Thanks so much!

Sunday 29 October 2006

Holiday reading

mood: relaxed

We got back from Hay on Wye yesterday. While away I managed to get lots of reading done and finished A breath of Snow & Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, about to head out on a bookring.

Earlier in the year I did a trade with a book crosser who sent me 5 of the 6 books which make up the series of A book lovers Mystery. I love sitting with a set of books and reading them back to back. I read 1-3 while away and finished book 4 this morning. I've just started book 5 and know that I will get book 6 read also this week then I can get back onto my rings.

Book 1 = Unsolicited
Book 2 = Unbound
Book 3 = Unprintable
Book 4 = Untitled
Book 5 = Unsigned
Book 6 = Uncatalogued

I am pondering what to do with the Kaewert series. I am tempted to send them out on a book spiral in the UK. Anyone interested?

Tuesday 17 October 2006

One Day in History - 17th October 2006

17th October 2006 is for me not a typical day. I would usually be working with a mobile phone stuck to my ear most of the day, but this year it is holiday for me, time to spend with my husband, to read, relax and reflect.

As part of the relaxation process I spent some time working on a couple of genealogical lines that were irritating me. The Will I ordered from the Probabe office arrived. Drat it is not the will of my great grandfather, and neither is the death certificate that also arrive from the ONS in Stockport. Ironically the Will and Death certificate are related to the same person, just not to me!

I spent also spent some time looking through a very large pile of book rings that I have received from Book Crossing. This time last week I had 10 of them, this has now dwindled thankfully to two and I have started my latest read, a huge tome the latest by Diana Gabaldon. I've read the whole series this year, that is something like 6,000 pages in addition to the other 75 books already read this year.

I also replied to several emails that were outstanding to friends oversea,one in Canada and another in New Zealand.

We then spent the evening in front of the telly, watching a film. It is almost unheard of for me to sit in front of the telly, let alone remain seated for the duration of the film.

Monday 16 October 2006

A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House

From Amazon.com

"In 1917 rural Kentucky, a young Cherokee woman named Vine, rumored to cast spells on unsuspecting men, falls in love with local Irishman Saul Sullivan, whom she eventually marries. This second novel by Appalachian writer House (Clay's Quilt) tells the story of Vine and Saul's tender relationship and the prejudice they face and eventually overcome. While Vine was not raised according to Cherokee customs, she is still aware of being seen as an outsider when she leaves her Cherokee community to be with her husband. People are drawn to her gentle and generous personality, however, and soon she forms enduring friendships with her hard-working mother-in-law, Esme, and feisty and independent midwife Serena. When World War I erupts and Saul temporarily takes a better-paying job far from home, Vine finds herself trying to ward off the unwanted advances of Saul's restless younger brother, Aaron, who declares his own love for Vine. A deep respect for the natural world and the enduring spirit of the human heart are what make this book worth reading and remembering."

I really enjoyed this book. It was written in such a gentle way that I felt that I really got to know the characters and was walking along side them.

Here is the Journal Entries

Sunday 15 October 2006

One Day in History - 17th October

I spotted the following on the Live Journal belonging to [info]ladymondegreen_

"Make history on 17 October by taking part in the biggest blog in history.

'One Day in History' is a one off opportunity for you to join in a mass blog for the national record. We want as many people as possible to record a 'blog' diary which will be stored by the British Library as a historical record of our national life.

Write your diary reflecting on how history itself impacted on your day - whether it just commuting through an historic environment, discussing family history or watching repeats on TV." http://www.historymatters.org.uk/output/Page96.asp

I'm going to participate.....are you?

Exchange by Paul Magrs

What a delightful book. Written in such a style that it has a gentle innocence about the storyline and characters.

Young Simon is orphaned and he moves in with his grandparents. His grandmother shares his passion for reading and together they explore the neighbouring town and discover the Great Book Exchange.

Through exchanging a book at this wonderful shop (I wonder if such a place exists?) Simon's grandmother comes across a selection of books written by someone she knew from her childhood. We then follow through the memories of Simon's grandmother. Simon makes friends with Kelly, a young girl who works at the Exchange, and they devise a plan whereby the three of them can attend a reading from the author that grandma knows. What follows is a renewing of an old friendship.

This is a wonderful story, containing dealing with the sensitive issues of grief, friendship and understanding.

Thanks so much for sharing; without Book Crossing I probably would not have come across this book. The Journal Entries are HERE

Ex Libris : Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

In part I found this book to be amusing and incrediably accurate about loving the written word. I was deeply amused by the concept that even though the author and her husband had been married for some while, they still hadn't merged their books. When they do merge the books, the author writes"We were really married"

The Journal Entries are HERE

In this house, the books are still pretty much seperate. Hubby's fishing and angling books, which total about 20 or so, there are a few miscellanous books that belong to Stuart, nearly all collected since our marriage. Actually when we got married 12 years ago, Stuart only owned three books!

Saturday 14 October 2006

Small Change: The Secret Life of Penny Burford By J Belinda Yandell


I read this in one sitting, and loved it. It is especially moving once Penny has died and her husband and children are coming across exactly what Penny did with her life outside of her family home. She became her own person and I found that I was sad that Penny could not have shared part of her life with her nearest and dearest.

The Journal Entries are HERE

The Woolworths Virtual Museum

The Woolworths Virtual Museum

Thursday 12 October 2006

Flowers & Birthday!

mood: Mixed Emotions!

Thanks to everyone who sent me virtual or real cards or messages of Happy B day. I have really been overwhelmed.

I was in a meeting, when a lovely bouquet of flowers arrived addressed to me. They were placed in water and when I had chance to nip out I had a look at the card. They were from one of my team, she is leaving and sent me the flowers as a Thank you for being supportive. That is lovely and I was very touched.

It is such a shame that she is leaving, I tried hard to get her to stay, no pressure, but just making aware of opportunities for the future, but everyone needs to follow their own dreams. This is one member of staff that I will gladly re-employee.

Wednesday 11 October 2006

Between Friends by Debbie Macomber

This is the story of essentially two friends and their lives through all the tears,laughs,sad and happy moments. The book is written as a series of letters,postcards,telegrams and emails and spreads across several three families and more than 4 decades. Written in such a warm and caring manner and deals with the regrets and lossed loves ones of both women. A wonderful and gentle read, focusing on the most wonderful gift of all.....friendship.

The Journal Entries are
HERE

Tuesday 10 October 2006

My Birthday RABCK Experiment pressie


My pressie arrived at the weekend, I recognised the sending address, so kept it sealed until the 10th! Thanks for sending RoryG

Monday 9 October 2006

The Crimson Petal & the White by Michel Faber


I tried several times to get into this book, and then decided I would have one more attempt before sending on its way.

The truth is, I enjoyed it. Perhaps it was the way it was written or perhaps that I needed to go down with a really bad cold and have a few days in bed to get me to enjoy it. I found that I had to just keep turning the pages; and I guess that is what makes a good book.

Details of the Journal Entries are HERE

Eat Drink and Be Married by Eve Makis

I was really disappointed to see that this book failed to make it across the Atlantic as part of a book ring. The jiffy bag and the claim form were wrapped in a Royal Mail plastic bag. I rang Royal Mail, I can't make a claim against Royal Mail as this is international post. The claim must be made against the United States postal service. I emailed LyzzyBee and we came to an arangment.

So, I was delighted to receive an email from the author offering me a copy of the book to replace the missing one. Isn't that lovely. I have accepted and once read the book will continue this on a ray.

How many of me?

This is rather nifty, and appeals to the genealogist in me.

HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are:
3
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

This is the results in my married name.

HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere are:
42
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

...and this is the result for my maiden name

Sunday 8 October 2006

Christmas Ornament Exchange 2006

TexasWren has just posted to the BookCrossing LJ about the Christmas Ornament Exchange. What a fabulous idea this is.I sent my parcel off last year to someone in the US and received a fascinating parcel back from someone in Canada. Who enclosed a peice of fruitcake. The cake was the same receipe that an ancestor of her husband's had taken with them to Canada from England. It was delicious and I was cheeky and asked for a copy of the recipe, which was kindly sent to me. I really must try the recipe.

Saturday 7 October 2006

Eye Colour.......

I saw a link to this fascinating web site on someone's LJ.

Basically, you insert the eye colour of yourself, your spouse/partner and both sets of parents. The calculator then predicts what the most likely eye colour any off spring will have.
An interesting site, if the subjects of Gene's interests you.

http://museum.thetech.org/ugenetics/eyeCalc/eyecalculator.html

Thursday 5 October 2006

Will of John Goucher - died 1873, Proved 1875

The will of John Goucher, one of Stuart's great,great,great grandfather's arrived today.

There was something rather sad about it, he was obviously aware that he wasn't leaving anything to most of his Children and only three out of 8 were named, but he mentions that he prays that God will watch over them and help them. I wonder what or who determined which children inherited. John was born 1799, he wrote the will in 1867 and died in 1873. The will was proved in 1875.

Wednesday 4 October 2006

The Secret River by Kate Grenville

Although a work of fiction, the storyline is based on one of the ancestors of the author. The storyline is about William Thornhill, a Londoner who worked on the Thames. He marries his childhood sweetheart and following being caught and tried for theft, is destined to be hung. The sentence is later commuted to transportation to New South Wales, where he and Sal, endure a life of hardship, but remain loving, strong and determined throughout.

A fascinating read for anyone who loves this period of London or Australian history, or perhaps like me has a convict ancestor.

I think that I will open this up as a book ray. Here are the Journal Entries



Tuesday 3 October 2006

What a coincidence.......

Yesterday, one of the genealogical lists I am on received a posting from someone who has been involved in cataloguing a personal book collection. The owner of the collection had died last year and each book title was added to a database along with detail of photographs, notes on index cards found in the books. The chap they belonged was 80 when he died, and this collection probably spanned the best part of 50 years. Many of the books had inscriptions in them, and again these were recorded.

Then the postman delivered a slim bookring, called Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman. A delightful little book that has a certain charm about it. The storyline is amusing in parts - on merging her book collection with her husband's the author comments that they are truely married - in reality they had been married at least 5 years by this point.

As if that wasn't enough,Loopy on the BCUK list this morning posted about the excitment of reading, with these questions "What's it like for you? Do you still experience that total magic? What's the last book you read that you couldn't put down? How long ago was it? Do you still feel you enjoy reading as much as you did as a child?"

These three coincidence have all made me think about books, and actually what they mean.
When I discovered Book Crossing, I hadn't culled my reading material in 20 years. Every book I had ever bought, I still had. I had lost a few books along the way, lent them to people who had not given them back,but in the main 20 years of books sitting in my study, at the top of the house, The poor removal men,when we moved in, had to carry all the boxes of books up at least 32 stairs! Most of the books were from the wonderful,and much missed Thorps Bookshop in Guildford. I spent much of the summer of 2004 going through my books, keep or eBay. Then I discovered BC and a third pile was formed.

I developed my love of reading because of my Mum, who would buy me a book a week. I still have my set of Noddy Books all clutching the price ticket of 12p! and these are much treasured. Now, I view fiction books are Book Crossing material. There are a few that I have enjoyed so much they are part of my permenant collection, but in the main they can be replaced if I really want another copy.

Despite Book Crossing I do collect various books - those about Thyroid and various local history & genealogical books, and a few special cook books.

Yes, I still enjoy reading as much as a child. I can loose myself completely in a book and apparently, If spoken too, I grunt an answer. I recently read A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber and this was one of those books I could not put down, another book that I enjoyed was called the Granger Chronicles which was the story of a man who migrated to the US from Hungary. That particular book is the genealogy of a fellow Book Crosser, and in someway echoed parts of my own ancestry.

These three coincidences have given me much food for thought!

Monday 25 September 2006

A Good Yarn By Debbie Macomber

For me this was a page turner. I had thought that this would last me about a week of bedtime reads, well it lasted two days, or should I say nights! - I finished it in the wee hours of this morning, and then went to work all bleary-eyed, but it was worth it.

These books are, to me pure escapism. There is such sensitivity is the writing, describing the lives and loves of the characters, their hopes, achievements and disappointments. Not to mention their friendships, forged out of meeting complete strangers to pursue a new hobbie, and in someways this echo's the life of a Book Crosser!


Saturday 23 September 2006

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

A really delightful and gentle read. The story a couple and their daughter Jenna,and an important friendship, showing that meaningful friendships can develop quickly from complete strangers. This story in this book will remain with me long after I have sent it off traveling. It is also one of my favourite's for the year.

The story gives us a message. That we should value and treasure things, for when they are gone it is too late.

The Author's web page is HERE

The Journal Entries are HERE

Tuesday 19 September 2006

Will of Thomas Heath 1727 - 1812

I have been in cotact, via Genes Reunited, with someone who descends from the same 5 x great grandfather as Stuart. I was rather lucky to receive four scans of the copy of the will of Thomas Heath 1726 - 1812. How wonderful is that?












Isn't that simply fascinating? Also loaded to Flickr

Sunday 17 September 2006

Linkwithin

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