100 books a year

In addition to my frugal book challenge, my best friend R suggested (And my sister M seconded) a further challenge of trying to read 100 books in a year.

I checked and the book I started on boxing day (the day I decided on the frugality challenge) counts in my 100 books.

I finished it last night.

99 more to go.

The book is "She Wolves" by Helen Castor and is an assessment of the lives and reigns of 4 of the medieval Queens of England.

The Queens in question are Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella and Margaret of Anjou.

It galloped through 200 years of history and there was a lot of referring to the family trees (everyone is related about 4 time over and all had similar names) but I really enjoyed it and would definitely read more by Helen Castor.

VG, Helen Castor, Well Done.

My next book is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

New Years Resolution

More of a challenge really.

I love reading and since I was a child had always dreamed of having floor to celing bookshelves. When I set up my craft room a few years ago, I finally got my wish. However, i managed very quickly to fill the bookshelves with books that I have bought but not read. I love books but it has reached saturation point. So I came to the conclusion that something has to give. And I set myself a challenge. 2012 will be the year that I do not buy myself any books.

THE RULES

1) No purchasing of any books in any format for myself. (Evem if they are in the charity shop and I really want them.

2) No solicitation of books as presents

3) I can borrow books provided I return them to their original owner.

4) No purchasing of magazines specifically to get a freebie book.

I started the challenge on boxing day (I got given 3 books for christmas) and so far have been tempted only once. But it has brought home to me just how often I peruse books in shops.

Currently I am reading "She Wolves" by Helen Castor which I shall review on this blog once I have finished it and let you know how my 2012 challenge is going.

Wish me luck . . ..

Reindeer!

Yesterday I visited White's Nursery near Earl's Barton in Northampton for the first time. I've heard about it before as they sell fresh fruit and veg there but I visited for their Santa's Grotto and Petting Zoo. I went because they have 2 Reindeer called Dancer and Prancer and I love Reindeer.

The Reindeer were a little bit shy but after a while, they let me stroke their noses through the pen. Only for a few seconds but it was worth it.

There were some other animals there as well.
A gorgeous, fluffy donkey called Jethro who was very friendly and let me stroke his ears which felt like cuddly toy ears. he is only 9 months old and very patient.


There was also a rescued Turkey called Terence who was very inquisitive

And some chickens. I didn't take a photo of the chickens because I'm a bit scared of them. I was mugged by a mob of chickens during a picnic at Chatsworth house when I visited it with my friend R. Chickens are evil.

In the same pen as Terence the rescued Turkey were two pygmy goats. One little one who was VERY interested in what the Reindeer were doing.

She climbed the fence a bit later to say hello to me. But moved as I took the picture.

Her mum was also very friendly and came to say hello straight away and licked my hand. I think she thought I had food but she was lovely and liked having her head scratched and stroked.

There were also some bunnies, one of which was called Bun Bun and is possibly the fluffiest thing I have ever seen.

He is ridiculously cute and fluffy. But back to the Reindeer. After a lot of time spent looking and stroking all he animals (except the chickens) I kept going tback to the Reindeer to look at them.

and I took lots of photos. As i have not (yet) made it to Lapland or Siberia to see a herd of Reindeer, I take every chance to see real ones here in Britain. I was very lucky to have them on my doorstep and had a fantastic time at White's who were kind enough to let me blog about them. I've attached a link to their website in case anyone wants to visit.

http://www.whitesnurseries.co.uk/

Very good, Whites Nursery, Well Done (And Thank you).

Christmas Tradition

Last Saturday I visited the Worcester Victorian Market. In the city centre, for four days every winter, Worcester hosts a Victorian market complete wih hot chocolate and baileys, roasted chestnuts, a choir and lots of stalls. It's very christmassy and for me,  it signals the start of Christmas festivities. We visited Tewkesbury in the day and my sister was not happy about how unseasonally mild it was. Luckily, by the time we headed into Worcester it was getting a bit dark and getting much colder. We had the usual bicker about whether I'd be warm enough and she was right, I was glad I borrowed her cardigan. We wandered into the city just as it was getting dark to enjoy the market stalls, the smell of hot chestnuts, the stall holders dressed as Victorians and the funfair all lit up. I love walking through the crisp, winter air, the sky filled with stars and the sound of Victorian revelry all around. Very good, Worcester Victorian Market, Well done.

A Very Productive Weekend

This weekend I had a most productive weekend. On Saturday I managed to get all of my Christmas makes finished and finally made my family's christmas cards. I'd been struggling for inspiration but I finally found some and I am very pleased with the result. I now only have 3 presents to get and my christmas shopping is done!

On Sunday I had brunch with my best friend R and her boyfriend D. R and I went to school together and even though we live miles apart we manage to see each other a lot. When R visits her family here, we try to fit in breakfast or brunch at the Buddies diner near to my house so this weekend it was the perfect opportunity to introduce D to Northampton's best restaurant chain. We were too late for breakfast so instead of having eggs benedict, R had to have Nachos (always delicious), D went for a classic bacon cheeseburger and I had Tennessee Chicken. We drank gallons of tea (D had a Twirl milkshake) and caught up. I won't see either of them now until Christmas so it was lovely to see my favourite couple in the world.
Very good, my weekend and R & D, well done.

A Day in Market Harborough

Today is my mum's 64th birthday so my sister came to visit and we took my mum to Market Harborough. It's a really pretty market town with lots of small boutique type shops that sell all kinds of pretty and unusual things. It also has a LOT of charity shops with hidden treasures inside. We had a nice long loook round, then had lunch in a pub called Square 53. We carried on shopping until it was time to come home. We all managed to get some christmas shopping done, we treated my mum and came back feeling very festive and happy. As always, we laughed a lot, caught up on everyone's news and had a fantastic day all helped along by Market Harborough's nice atmosphere.
Very Good, Market Harborough, Well Done.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!

Blood Brothers

Last night I went to see Blood Brothers at the Derngate Theatre in northampton. I am not a huge fan of musicals but my sister loves it so i thought, "Why not?"

OH. MY. GOD.

It is an amazing production. I was completely blown away. Even though I knew the storyline and the ending, I was devastated and almost cried. There were lots of weepy looking people when the audience left. The acting and singing completely sucked me into the play. If you had offered me the chance, I'd have watched it all again straight away.

If you get the chance to see it, please go. It was a perfect production.

Very good, Willy Russell, cast, crew, Derngate, Well done