Book Blogger Hop - 30th November - 6th December

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop!

Hashtag: #BookBloggerHop

Book Blogger Hop is the creation of Jen from Crazy for Books. Since October, the weekly hop has been hosted by a variety of book bloggers all across the globe and for the next two weeks, the hop is visiting Anglers Rest!

So, without further ado....

Question - Apart from being readers, many of us collect books on a specific subject or by a particular author. What books or which author do you collect?

My Answer - I have a pretty substantial collection of genealogical type books. I also collect books about Italian communities in the United Kingdom. One of my favourite author's is Jennifer Chiaverini, known for the series of quilting books set in the fictional quilting retreat known as Elm Creek. I have a complete set of Elm Creek books.

Link back YOUR Friday Book Blogger post and then try to visit at least 3 other sites and comment - hops are a great opportunity to meet new bloggers! (Once you submit your link, you'll need to refresh the page to see your link added to the list).

Postcard Friendship Friday - High Street, Guildford

Submitted as part of Postcard Friendship Friday hosted by The Best Hearts are Crunchy 

Advent.......

Well, tomorrow is the 1st December. Where did 2012 go? I am not sure why I am surprised, it comes the same time of year, every year!

So, to help me get back into the blogging mood and to prepare for Christmas I am taking part in just two blogging advent events this year.

You can find the prompts HERE.

The Advent Calender hosted by Geneabloggers

 You can sign up and read about the tour HERE.

The Advent Tour hosted by Marg at Intrepid Reader and  Kelly. I requested to post on two dates, 18th and 21st December.

Library Loot - 28th Nov - 4 Dec

I have not taken part in a library loot for ages, but I have still been reading and using the library!

I attended the local book group this week, as I was a bit early, I had a wander around the shelves and alas picked up another 3 books!




I also came home with the next book group read which is



As we each collected our copy there seemed to be mixed reactions to the book. As I have not read the book previously or seen the film, I will reserve judgement, but I would be interested in other reader's comments.

Taking part in Library Loot and you can read the details HERE

Remote Control Candle Set (3 pack)

I recently had the opportunity to try and review a rather nifty set of candles!

The remote control set of candles is a rather simple idea and I think positively brilliant! They arrived in a well protected box with the remote control (obviously!)

As you can see from the picture of the box, there are 3 candles, all of a reasonable size.

The candles take AAA batteries, (which are not included) and once these are inserted they give off a lovely subtle glow.

We elected to have these in our bedroom, on a four hour timer, so after 4 hours they simply go out. 

They are ideal night lights for little ones and having tried these I am planning to purchase a set to live on the display unit on the landing between one of our spare rooms and the shower room, as due to the strange electrical wiring this house has, you can not turn the landing light on and off from outside this spare room. The joys of a Victorian house!

Overall impression, is these are a nice and safe alternative to candles. They have a authentic feel to them and because there is no wiring or actual flame they can be safely used indoors and outdoors.

The candles can be purchased from ParamountZone.

Disclaimer - I was provided with a set free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

In Remembrance of William James West (1898 - 1918)

In Remembrance of William James West

William James West was born in Aldershot Hampshire in 1898, the son of William Arthur West, a military man and, Emma Jane Ellis (Harris).

I had always known that my Grandfather's first cousin had died in the First World War, and then I was presented with a photograph of William, such a handsome young man! The moment I saw that photograph I wanted to know all I could about William.

Private William James West served with the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment. He is Commemorated at: Ligny-Sur-Canche British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He died of wounds on 5th September 1918, aged just 20 years.

He is commemorated on the War Memorial at Stony Stratford Buckinghamshire, where his parents, William Arthur and Emma Jane West lived & ran their newsagents business at 63 High Street.

I submitted the details for William James to the First World War Digital Archive whilst material could be submitted. As I wanted to further preserve the details of William.

William James had two army numbers and was Private T4/212898 William James West, Army Service Corps, and later was 51275, 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment. His T4 Army Service Corps prefix indicates he once served in transport.

As I said I submitted his details to the Digital Archive and they further spotted a detail I had not known about the photograph, as he is rather oddly, pictured above wearing a 'lamb and flag' cap badge, relevant to neither unit he was known to have served in, (unless he served for a time in the small Army Service Corps Armoured Car Companies, recruited from transport personnel. Their 'Light Armoured Motor Batteries', operative in Palestine, wore a similar badge unofficially).

Bombing during the Second World War destroyed some of the records from the First World War.

I was lucky, in that William James's record survived and is a total of 24 pages detailing when he enlisted, his service and which regiment he was attached to and then, finally his gun shot wound to the chest leading to his death in 1918, just months before the war ended.

I have downloaded a copy of his Service Record and have just noticed a mention of the Devonshire Regiment that I had been unaware of.

His medal card, confirms what medals his family were entitled to claim after his death and this corresponds with the Service Record.

May he rest in peace and know that even though he paid the ultimate sacrifice he is still firmly in the heart of his family.

Weekend Cooking - Devil Delight's Pancakes

As some of you may know we spent 5 weeks recently in Australia. What a wonderful time we had, with family and friends and visiting new places and revisiting some others.

We had the chance to spend a few days in Sydney before returning home and stumbled across a restaurant in Darling Harbour called Pancakes on the Rocks where we consumed the most enormous and delicious chocolate pancake served with strawberries and both ice cream and cream, known on the menu as Devil's Delight. 

A very fitting name for something so delicious!

Taking part in Weekend Cooking hosted by BethFishReads

100 Word Challenge - Week 65

Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following prompt. Total word allowance - 100 

Copyright - Julia's Place

She walked through the dense forest, glancing over her shoulder every now and again hoping that she was not going to be spooked by someone. She glanced down at her notes and the instructions, which advised her to follow the orange dots to the secret rendezvous.

So far she had counted 9 orange dots and there didn’t seem to be any let up soon. Goodness knows how far she had walked. She hoped there would be opportunity for a sit down and a coffee at the rendezvous, but only time would tell. Of course what was the point of the secrecy?

Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #65