Hobbies and Crafts

Have got well and truly into this book so thought I would
give you a wee snippet of what its about :-) :-)

The Brow of The Gallowgate by Doris Davidson

is where Albert Ogilvie buys his property in 1890-the shop he has dreamed of
for years, and above it, a house with nine rooms to accommodate the large family
he and his beloved wife Bathie, desire. As their babies are born- there will be eight
in all- Albert employs three sisters, one after another, as nursemaids. Bathie finds
Mary and Jeannie Wyness more than satisfactory, but Bella, the youngest, is
troublesome and sly, and creates a set of distressing circumstances resulting in
her dismissal. The years go by, with their joys and sorrows, and war splits up the
close-knit Ogilvies, some of whom eventually emigrate to New Zealand. And it is
there that Bella Wyness, her resentment of the family grown to black hatred, will
wreak her terrible revenge..........

Hi Karen welcome to the bookworm club...now are you a booktart or a kindle tart...or abit of both :-) ;-)

Hiyaaaaa Girlies lovely to see you all posting and Mau as always <3 :-D

Im reading Longbourn by Jo Baker



In the servants' quarters we meet our main heroine, the housemaid Sarah, an attractive and determined young woman, similar in age to the older Bennet girls, but obviously leading a very different life. Then there is the cook/housekeeper, Mrs Hill (who has a painful secret she has had to keep hidden for years), her husband, Mr Hill, the butler (a man with secrets of his own) and lastly, twelve-year-old Polly, the kitchen maid. Into their busy, but quiet and uneventful lives arrives a new footman, James Smith, a dark, attractive man with a rather mysterious past, who finds himself falling for Sarah. However, Sarah, although initially attracted to James, feels a little rebuffed by his reluctance to discuss his past life, and consequently she finds herself becoming rather interested in the very good-looking Mulatto manservant, Ptolemy, who works for the Bingleys at Netherfield Park. But what is it that James is trying to hide from Sarah and should Sarah really be considering Ptolemy in a romantic light? (No spoilers, we learn most of this early on in the novel and there is a lot more for prospective readers to discover and enjoy).

Only 20% left to read La Lacuna. I'm enjoying it and find it an unusual story.

I am not one of his fans although have read some of his books. However that one sounds a bit different so may give it a go.

Just finished La's Orchestra by Alexander McCall Smith.

La, short for Lavender, moves from London to Suffolk when her marriage fails. War is declared (WW2) and she does her bit for the war effort by assisting a local farmer who has arthritis. She also starts an orchestra with local people and men from a nearby air base. Felikx, a Polish airman, helps on the farm and plays in the orchestra and much of the book revolves around their relationship. Is he all he seems? Does she love him? Does he love her?

A very gentle read. I found it a good book, although I thought the ending a bit too pat.

Just finished Under a Cloud Soft Sky by Elizabetg Gill. Set in Durham in 19th century. Bad boy makes good, rags to riches, a good book I thought. :-D

Nice bit of poetry there, Mau. :-D Lovely to see you and OH again, here's to the next time <3

:-D :-D~~~~~~~~~Mau <3

Lol Mau, glad you got out ok. And lovely to meet up with BC.... One day!!! :-)

Lol Mau, glad you got out ok. And lovely to meet up with BC.... One day!!! :-)

Oh what a shock :-0
Oh what a calamity
Mau at the coast
Got locked in the lavat'ry :-(

We were tired
So I made a cup of tea
But then of course
I'd to go and have a wee

If I had known
The door would stick and lock- it
A mobile phone
Would've gone into my pocket:-D


Yes I was rescued by the friendly receptionist :-D:-D

~~~~ and thanks to BC. Emma and Ann :-D <3 we had a smashing trip and also enjoyed a celebration with wonderful BC <3 <3

It is not a heavy read Karen but I enjoyed it so hope you do too. I seem to remember that Mersey read it and recommended it to me :-)

Operation Kingfisher sounds like the sort of book I would enjoy, thanks :-) I think I'll go for that one!

Hurrah at last I am now reading Brow of the Gallowgate,
thought I'd never finish the Emily Purdy book.

Emma :-)

Read two kindle books in the last couple of days. Operation Kingfisher recommended by Mersey, a story based on the French Maquise in the war, and when you walked back into my life by Hilary Boyd. Both a good read.

Just finished the Solomon Northup 12 Years A Slave. A true account of his 12 years as a slave with endless beatings and brutality and living in daily fear for his own life. Compelling reading. A story of real courage and bravery but disturbing to read though.
Would not chose to see the film on cinema screen.

:-D :-D :-D :-D Mau, what are you like. Hope you are out by now.

Just finished The Invisible Woman, a very interesting read. :-)

If only BC can't wait either :-D

LOL and ~~~~~~~~~~to Mau...Happy Anniversary

OhDear what can the matter be
Two old ladies locked in the lavatory
They were there from Monday to Saturday
Nobody knew they were there :-D :-D :-D <3

‘ Saints of the Shadow Bible’ by Ian Rankin is the most recent in the Rebus series.

Set mainly in Edinburgh it merges the ‘bad’ days of policing when evidence was lost, planted or altered to ensure that that the villains were taken off the streets (in some cases forever) with repercussions when an enquiry is launched in light of the ‘double jeopardy’ Bill. Topically the imminent Independence Referendum is incorporated when one of the leading ‘No’ campaigners is murdered. As usual, two story lines are running concurrently.

Rebus still goes his own way, but is mellower than in the earlier novels. He still drinks, he still smokes but much less than he used to. We learn more about his first posting as a DC at Summerhill police station and the corruption that went on.

This book ties together the characters of Malcolm Fox from The Complaints’ and Rebus’ old colleague Siobham Clarke who is now his boss.

This is a much better read than the majority of my downloads, possibly as Rebus is ‘an old friend’.

Emma, we shall just have to be patient and wait for Hilary Mantel to give us the last of the Thomas Cromwell trilogy! *shivers with anticipation! :-D <3

Well, having enjoyed Mr Lynch's Holiday I quickly downloaded Catherine O'Flynn's 'The News Where You Are' and was curiously disengaged as there where chunks and chunks of comments on urban buildings, architecture and the changing face of cities, and not nearly enough characterization. I was a bit bored and disappointed.

My neighbour has raved about William Boyd's 'Any Human Heart'...anyone read it?
... so I have downloaded this for my next read.

Happy Reading everyone <3

BC Kindletartlet

And a big ~~~~~ to Mauonthecoast who has managed to lock herself in the lavatory of her hotel where she is celebrating her anniversary. Happy Abniversay (when you get out! :-D) xxxxxx <3