Anita (FAMeulstee) goes on wherever the books take her in 2024 (4)

Welcome to my fourth thread in 2024!

I am Anita Meulstee (61), married with Frank (62) since 1984. We live in Lelystad, the Netherlands. We both love modern art, books and walking.

  

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I have been hanging around in this group a few months after finding LibraryThing in March 2008.
I read (almost) everything, from childrens and YA books to more serious literature, mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, and I try not to forget to throw some non-fiction into the mix.

total books read in 2024: 54
15 own / 39 library

total pages read in 2024: 14,342

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currently reading:
e-book: Ideen : vierde bundel by Mutatuli, 469 pages
e-book: Valstrik (The Falls; John Rebus 12) by Ian Rankin, 448 pages

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books read in April 2024: 14 books, 3,629 pages, 4 own / 10 library)
book 41: De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood (The Strangler's Honeymoon) by Håkan Nesser, 564 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 68)
book 42: Het glazen huis (House of Glass) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, 461 pages, TIOLI #9 (msg 69)
book 43: Gesprekken met opa by Raoul de Jong, 88 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 106)
book 44: Revolte is leven : biografie van Theun de Vries by Jos Perry, 416 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 107)
book 45: De allergrootste by Davide Morosinotto, 598 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 108)
book 46: Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit by Jan Guillou, 367 pages (msg 120)
book 47: We moeten je iets vertellen by Marlies Slegers, 268 pages, TIOLI #1 (msg 121)
book 48: Asterix en het 1ste legioen (Asterix the Legionary) by Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages (msg 133)
book 49: Asterix en het ijzeren schild (Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield) by Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages (msg 134)
book 50: Het zondagsbed by Theun de Vries, 153 pages, TIOLI #2 (msg 135)
book 51: Asterix en de olympische spelen (Asterix at the Olympic Games) by Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages (msg 136)
book 52: Chaos in Indonesië by Willem Oltmans, 58 pages, TIOLI #13 (msg 143)
book 53: Waar ik liever niet aan denk (What I'd Rather Not Think About) by Jente Posthuma, 239 pages (msg 144)
book 54: Een tamme gazelle (Some tame gazelle) by Barbara Pym, 273 pages, TIOLI #14 (msg 145)

April 2024 reading plans
I think I'll skip TIOLI this month. Might change my mind ;-) Changed my mind.

TIOLI April 2024
#1: Read a book by an author whose first name and last name ends in the same letter
- We moeten je iets vertellen - Marlies Slegers, 268 pages (GV100, e-library)
#2: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Aries - has a word on the first page from the ram-related list)
- De allergrootste - Davide Morosinotto, 598 pages (GV100, library)
- Revolte is leven : biografie van Theun de Vries - Jos Perry, 416 pages (e-library)
- Het zondagsbed - Theun de Vries, 153 pages (e-library)
#3: Read a book in honour of my dad
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#4: Read a book with a title that makes you think of the spring season
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#5: Titles that have only 1 syllable words in them, but must have more than 1 word
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#6: Read a book in honor of Mom and Dad's 65th wedding anniversary in April
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#7: Read a book about a war that divides a nation, name the war
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#8: Read a book with the word 'family' or 'families' on the cover
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#9: Read a book where there are at least two of the letter “s” in the title
- Het glazen huis (House of Glass) - Pramoedya Ananta Toer, 461 pages (library)
- De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood (The Strangler's Honeymoon) - Håkan Nesser, 564 pages (e-library)
#10: Read a book whose title includes one, and only one, adjective
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#11: Read a book by an author whose first name is a nickname
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#12: Read a book with something suggesting music on the cover
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#13: Read a book with 150 pages or less
- Asterix en het 1ste legioen (Asterix the Legionary) - Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages
- Asterix en het ijzeren schild (Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield) - Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages
- Chaos in Indonesië - Willem Oltmans, 58 pages
- Gesprekken met opa - Raoul de Jong, 88 pages (e-library)
#14: April Fooler: Read a book with magical realism, fantasy, alternate history or humor as a tag
- Asterix en de olympische spelen (Asterix at the Olympic Games) - Goscinny & Uderzo, 48 pages
- Een tamme gazelle (Some Tame Gazelle) - Barbara Pym, 273 pages (library)
#15: Read a book you've owned for more than 10 years or that's been on your TBR list for more than 10 years
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and
Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit - Jan Guillou, 367 pages (library)
Waar ik liever niet aan denk (What I'd Rather Not Think About) - Jente Posthuma, 239 pages (e-library)

Reserved for May 2024 reading plans, if any.

TIOLI May 2024
#1: Read a book whose title, subtitle, or author's full name begins or end in the letter "Y"
- De maagd Marino - Yves Petry, 284 pages (Libris 2011, e-library 19/5)
#2: Read a book where a 4-legged animal is mentioned in the title
- Paarden stelen (Out Stealing Horses) - Per Petterson, 251 pages (e-library 19/5)
#3: Read a book with a girl's name in the title
- Clariël (Clariel) - Garth Nix, 387 pages (library 16/5)
#4: MOTHER rolling challenge
- Het huis aan het einde - Irwan Droog, 224 pages (e-library 19/5)
#5: Read a book that you acquired in 2024
- Gelukkig tegen de wereld - Enrico Galiano, 478 pages (e-library 16/5)
- Razende storm - Arnaldur Indriðason, 285 pages (library 16/5)
- Valstrik (The Falls; John Rebus 12) - Ian Rankin, 448 pages (e-library 5/5)
#6: Read a book that poses a new question or answers a question already posed
- Het Bernini mysterie (Angels & Demons) - Dan Brown, 462 pages (library 24/5)
- Rivieren (Rivers) - Martin Michael Driessen, 139 pages (e-library 22/5)
#7: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Taurus - pending final check)
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#8: Read a book from the list that shows what other LT members have read so far in 2024
- De laatste duivel die sterft (The last devil to die) - Richard Osman, 420 pages (library 24/5)
#9: Read a book whose title suggests something a person would like to achieve
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#10: Read a book with first person narration or a title featuring the word "I", "me" or "my"
? Ik ben niet bang (I'm not scared) - Niccolò Ammaniti, 206 pages (1001, e-library)
#11: Read a book mentioned in one of the Five Books Lists (fivebooks.com)
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#12: Read a collection of religious or spiritual texts
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books read in January 2024
book 1: De wereldwandelaars by Wim Willems
book 2: In het vervloekte hart by Rima Orie
book 3: De mierenmaatschappij (Empire of Ants) by Susanne Foitzik
book 4: Nicolas en de verdwijning van de wereld by Anne Eekhout
book 5: Zolang de citroenbomen bloeien (As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow) by Zoulfa Katouh
book 6: Biljarten om half tien (Billiards at Half Past Nine) by Heinrich Böll
book 7: Wen er maar aan by Maike Meijer
book 8: Het verhaal van een leven (The Story of a Life) by Aharon Appelfeld
book 9: Iets ter grootte van het universum (About the Size of the Universe) by Jón Kalman Stefánsson
book 10: Echte Amerikaanse jeans by Jan Guillou
book 11: Opwaaiende zomerjurken by Oek de Jong
book 12: De kunst van het veldspel (The Art of Fielding) by Chad Harbach
book 13: Madame le Commissaire en de dode non by Pierre Martin
book 14: Lily by Tom De Cock, 396 pages
book 15: In het duister (Set in Darkness; John Rebus 11) by Ian Rankin
book 16: Zeg maar Agaath by Margôt Ros

books read in February 2024
book 17: North woods (North Woods) by Daniel Mason
book 18: Een dramatische liefde (Correspondence: Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan) by Ingeborg Bachmann and Paul Celan
book 19: Spitsroeden (For kicks) by Dick Francis
book 20: De geschiedenis van de liefde (The History of Love) by Nicole Krauss
book 21: De verloren zoon (Brother Cadfael's Penance) by Ellis Peters
book 22: Een soort Engeland by Robert Anker, 280 pages
book 23: Carambole (Hour of the Wolf) by Håkan Nesser
book 24: Voetsporen (Footsteps) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
book 25: De leesclub by Renate Dorrestein
book 26: Ik ben de sterkste by Christian Frascella

books read in March 2024
book 27: 1968 by Jan Guillou
book 28: Asterix en de Gothen (Asterix and the Goths) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 29: Asterix en de gladiatoren (Asterix the Gladiator) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 30: Asterix en de ronde van Gallia (Asterix and the Banquet) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 31: Wildwest in Siberië by Karl May
book 32: Asterix en Cleopatra (Asterix and Cleopatra) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 33: Asterix en de kampioen (Asterix and the Big Fight) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 34: De dode op het strand (The Weeping Girl) by Håkan Nesser
book 35: Asterix en de Britten (Asterix in Britain) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 36: Dodo by Mohana van den Kroonenberg
book 37: Asterix en de Noormannen (Asterix and the Normans) by Goscinny & Uderzo
book 38: De elandparadox (The Moose Paradox) by Antti Tuomainen
book 39: Pieterpad deel II: Vorden-Maastricht by Toos Goorhuis and Bertje Jens
book 40: Mus & kapitein Kwaadbaard en de 5 slangen by Kevin Hassing

Reading plans in 2024
Reading books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die lists
Read some big tomes (1000+ pages)
Read books by Nobel Prize for Literature winners

I join the TIOLI (Take It Or Leave It) challenges each month.

Trying to read an author from every country in the world

Afghanistan: Khaled Hosseini
Albania: Ismail Kadare
Algeria: Kamel Daoud
Angola: José Eduardo Agualusa
Argentina: Alberto Manguel
Armenia: Nairi Zaryan
Aruba: Denis Henriquez
Australia: John Marsden
Austria: Marlen Haushofer
Azerbaijan: Kurban Said
Belarus: Svetlana Alexievich
Belgium: Els Beerten
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Saša Stanišic
Brazil: Malba Tahan
Bulgaria: Elias Canetti
Cameroon: Ferdinand Oyono
Canada: Naomi Klein
Chile: Isabel Allende
China: Cao Xueqin
Colombia: Gabriel García Márquez
Croatia: Slobodan Šnajder
Curaçao: Frank Martinus Arion
Czechia: Pavel Kohout
Danmark: Tove Ditlevsen
Dominican Republic: Junot Díaz
Egypt: Nagieb Mahfoez
Finland: Väinö Linna
France: Annie Ernaux
Georgia: Nino Haratischwili
Germany: Uwe Johnson
Ghana: Yaa Gyasi
Greece: Yanis Varoufakis
Hungary: Miklós Bánffy
Iceland: Hallgrimur Helgason
India: Vikram Seth
Indonesia: Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Iran: Hushang Moradi Kermani
Iraq: Rodaan Al Galidi
Ireland: Paul Murray
Israel: David Grossman
Italy: Elena Ferrante
Japan: Junpei Gomikawa
Lebanon: Hoda Barakat
Lithuania: Romain Gary
Malaysia: Tan Twan Eng
Mexico: Mariano Azuela
Morocco: Fayza Oum'Hamed
Netherlands: Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
New Zealand: Margaret Mahy
Nigeria: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Norway: Marta Breen
Palestine: Sayed Kashua
Peru: Mario Vargas Llosa
Poland: Olga Tokarczuk
Portugal: António Lobo Antunes
Romania: Herta Müller
Russia: Konstantin Paustovski
Senegal: Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
Slovakia: Sándor Márai
South Africa: Trevor Noah
South Korea: An Na
Spain: Almudena Grandes
Suriname: Anton de Kom
Sweden: Henning Mankell
Switzerland: Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz
Syria: Khālid Khalīfah
Tanzania: Abdulrazak Gurnah
Tibet: Tenzin Gyatso
Trinidad and Tobago: V.S. Naipaul
Turkey: Orhan Pamuk
Ukraine: Isaac Babel
Venezuela: Miguel Bonnefoy
United Kingdom: Robert Macfarlane
United States: John Steinbeck
Vietnam: Viet Thanh Nguyen

New map of countries:


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

74 countries done.

Tickers

Totals since 2008:

My reading in previous years
2008: 130 books -   35,224 pages   (96.2 ppd)
2009:   78 books -   21,470 pages   (58.8 ppd)
2010: 121 books -   38,209 pages (104.7 ppd)
2011:   84 books -   30,256 pages   (82.9 ppd)
2012:   53 books -   18,779 pages   (51.3 ppd)
2013:   13 books -     3,692 pages   (10.1 ppd)
2014:   17 books -     3,700 pages   (10.1 ppd)
2015:   29 books -   10,080 pages   (27.6 ppd)
2016: 253 books -   72,547 pages (198.2 ppd)
2017: 453 books - 110,222 pages (302.0 ppd)
2018: 534 books - 111,906 pages (306.6 ppd)
2019: 413 books - 110,873 pages (303.8 ppd)
2020: 226 books -   79,216 pages (216.4 ppd)
2021: 288 books -   94,339 pages (258.5 ppd)
2022: 323 books - 102,275 pages (280.2 ppd)
2023: 278 books -   92,617 pages (253.8 ppd)

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Previous threads in 2024
book 1 - 16: thread 1
book 17 - 26: thread 2
book 27 -40: thread 3

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Monthly statistics
January: 16 books / 5,378 pages
February: 10 books / 3,060 pages
March: 14 books / 2,275 pages

Lists on my WikiThing

The best books I have read, by year first published
My Five star reads
The best 50 books I have read (fiction)
The books by Nobel prize winners I have read
The Booker prize winners I have read
The Pulitzer prize winners (fiction) I have read
The winners of some Dutch literary prizes
Countries I have visited while reading around the world

Series I read, a list to keep track

Alan Banks by Peter Robinson (re-read 4/20)
1 Stille blik; 2 Nachtlicht; 3 Tegenstroom; 4 Zondeval; 5 Schijnbeeld; 6 Woensdagkind; 7 Zwanenzang; 8 Innocent Graves (not translated); 9 Dead Right (not translated); 10 Verdronken verleden; 11 Kil als het graf; 12 Nasleep; 13 Onvoltooide zomer; 14 Vuurspel; 15 Drijfzand; 16 Hartzeer; 17 Duivelsgebroed; 18 Overmacht; 19 Uitschot; 20 Dwaalspoor; 21 Dankbare dood; 22 Slachthuisblues

Ari Thór Arason (Dark Iceland) by Ragnar Jónasson 4/4
1 Sneeuwblind; 2 Inktzwart; 3 Poolnacht; 4 Ademloos

Bernie Gunther by Philip Kerr 8/14
1 Een Berlijnse kwestie; 2 Het handwerk van de beul; 3 Een Duits requiem; 4 De een van de ander; 5 Een stille vlam; 6 Als de doden niet herrijzen; 7 Grijs verleden; 8 Praag fataal; 9 De man zonder adem; 10 De vrouw van Zagreb; 11 De schaduw van de stilte; 12 Pruisisch blauw; 13 Vergeven en vergeten; 14 Metropolis

Broeder Cadfael by Ellis Peters 20/20
1 Het heilige vuur; 2 Het laatste lijk; 3 Het gemene gewas; 4 De kwade knecht; 5 De eenzame bruid; 6 De kille maagd; 7 Het vege lijf; 8 De duivelse droom; 9 De gouden speld; 10 Een wisse dood; 11 Een hard gelag; 12 De ware aard; 13 Een witte roos; 14 Het stille woud; 15 De laatste eer; 16 Het rechte pad; 17 Een zijden haar; 18 Een lieve lust; 19 De heilige dief; 20 De verloren zoon

De Cock by A.C. Baantjer 59/70

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith 6/6
1 Koekoeksjong; 2 Zijderups; 3 Het slechte pad; 4 Witte dood; 5 Kwaad bloed; 6 Inktzwart hart; 7 Stromend graf

George Smiley by John Le Carré 6/9
1 Telefoon voor de dode; 2 Voetsporen in de sneeuw; 3 Spion aan de muur; 4 Spion verspeeld; 5 Edelman, bedelman, schutter, spion; 6 Spion van nobel bloed; 7 Smiley's prooi; 8 De laatste spion; 9 Een erfenis van spionnen

De grote eeuw by Jan Guillou 8/10
1 Bruggenbouwers; 2 Dandy uit het noorden; 3 Tussen rood en zwart; 4 De kop in het zand; 5 Blauwe Ster; 6 Echte Amerikaanse jeans; 7 1968; 8 Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit; 9 De tweede doodzonde; 10 Het einde van het verhaal

Guido Brunetti by Donna Leon 30/31
1 Dood van een maestro; 2 Dood in den vreemde; 3 De dood draagt rode schoenen; 4 Salto mortale; 5 Acqua alta; 6 Een stille dood; 7 Nobiltà; 8 Fatalità; 9 Vriendendienst; 10 Onrustig tij; 11 Bedrieglijke zaken; 12 De stille elite; 13 Verborgen bewijs; 14 Vertrouwelijke zaken; 15 Duister glas; 16 Kinderspel; 17 Droommeisje; 18 Gezichtsverlies; 19 Een kwestie van vertrouwen; 20 Dodelijke conclusies; 21 Beestachtige zaken; 22 Het onbekende kind; 23 Tussen de regels; 24 Ik aanbid je; 25 Eeuwige jeugd; 26 Wat niet verdwijnt; 27 Vergiffenis; 28 De troonopvolger; 29 Duister water; 30 Vluchtig verlangen; 31 Liefdadigheid; 32 So Shall You Reap (not translated)

Gunnar Barbarotti by Håkan Nesser 0/7
1 De man zonder hond; 2 Een heel ander verhaal; 3 Het tweede leven van meneer Roos; 4 De eenzamen; 5 De slager van Klein Birma; 6 Herfst op Gotland; 7 Wie schrijft, verdwijnt

Isabelle Bonnet by Pierre Martin 5/6
1 Madame le Commissaire en de verdwenen Engelsman; 2 Madame le Commissaire en de uitgestelde wraak; 3 Madame le Commissaire en de dood van de politiechef; 4 Madame le Commissaire en het mysterieuze schilderij; 5 Madame le Commissaire en de dode non; 6 Madame le Commissaire en de dode minnaar; 7 Madame le Commissaire und die Frau ohne Gedächtnis (not translated); 8 Madame le Commissaire und die panische Diva (not translated); 9 Madame le Commissaire und die Villa der Frauen (not translated); 10 Madame le Commissaire und die Mauer des Schweigens (not translated)

John Rebus by Ian Rankin 11/20
1 Kat & muis; 2 Blindeman; 3 Hand & Tand; 4 Ontmaskering; 5 Zwartboek; 6 Vuurwerk; 7 Laat maar bloeden; 8 Gerechtigheid; 9 Door het lint; 10 Dode zielen; 11 In het duister; 12 Valstrik; 13 Lazarus; 14 Een kwestie van bloed; 15 De rechtelozen; 16 Gedenk de doden; 17 Laatste ronde; 18 Cold case; 19 Saints of the Shadow Bible (not translated); 20 Even Dogs in the Wild (not translated); 21 Rather Be the Devil (not translated); 22 Een web van leugens; 23 Een lied voor duistere tijden

Konráð by Arnaldur Indriðason 4/5
1 Smeltend ijs; 2 Boven water; 3 Smeulend vuur; 4 Vallende stenen; 5 Razende storm

Konrad Sejer by Karin Fossum 6/14
1 Eva's oog; 2 Kijk niet achterom; 3 Wie de wolf vreest; 4 De duivel draagt het licht; 5 De Indiase bruid; 6 Zwarte seconden; 7 De moord op Harriet Krohn; 8 Een andere voorkeur; 9 Kwade wil; 10 De waarschuwer; 11 Veenbrand; 12 De fluisteraar; 13 De verduistering; 14 Zwanenzang

Martin Servaz by Bernard Minier 5/7
1 Een kille rilling; 2 Huivering; 3 Verduistering; 4 Schemering; 5 Weerzin; 6 Afdaling; 7 Afrekening

Oliver von Bodenstein & Pia Kirchhoff by Nele Neuhaus 10/10
1 Een onbeminde vrouw; 2 Moordvrienden; 3 Diepe wonden; 4 Sneeuwwitje moet sterven; 5 Wie wind zaait; 6 Boze wolf; 7 De levenden en de doden; 8 Het woud; 9 Moederdag; 10 Eeuwige vriendschap

De Rougons-Macquarts (The Rougon-Macquarts) by Émile Zola 4/20
1 Het fortuin der Rougons; 2 De buit; 3 De buik van Parijs; 4 De verovering van Plassans; 5 De misstap van pastoor Mouret; 6 Zijne excellentie Eugène Rougon; 7 De nekslag; 8 Liefde; 9 Nana; 10 In troebel water; 11 In het paradijs voor de vrouw; 12 Levensvreugde; 13 De mijn; 14 Het werk; 15 Het land; 16 De droom; 17 Het beest in de mens; 18 Het geld; 19 De ondergang; 20 Dokter Pascal

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 4/8
1 Een studie in rood; 2 De vallei der verschrikking; 3 De hond van de Baskervilles; 4 Het teken van de vier; 5 Het laatste probleem; 6 Het avontuur van de duivelsklauw; 7 Zijn laatste buiging; 8 De onbekende avonturen van Sherlock Holmes

De tandeloze tijd by A.F.Th. van der Heijden 1/11
0 De slag om de Blauwbrug; 1 Vallende ouders; 2 De gevarendriehoek; 2.1 Weerborstels; 3.1 Het hof van barmhartigheid; 3.2 Onder het plaveisel het moeras; 3.4 Doodverf; 4 Advocaat van de hanen; 5 De helleveeg; 6 Kwaadschiks; 8 Stemvorken

Van Veeteren by Håkan Nesser 9/11
1 Het grofmazige net; 2 Het vierde offer; 3 De terugkeer; 4 De vrouw met de moedervlek; 5 De commissaris en het zwijgen; 6 De zaak van Münster; 7 Carambole; 8 De dode op het strand; 9 De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood; 10 Van Veeteren en de zaak-G; 11 De vereniging van linkshandigen

Books acquired in 2024: 20

February (6)
De zwarte heer Bazetub - Albert Vigoleis Thelen (e-book)
Notities van een theoreticus - Shi Tiesheng
Alkibiades - Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
Persoonsgegevens - Elfriede Jelinek
Pieterpad : Deel 1: Pieterburen-Vorden - Kees Volkers*
Pieterpad : Deel 2: Vorden-Maastricht - Kees Volkers*

* A new edition was published while we were walking

March (7)
Pierre Bourdieu : weerspannigheid als erfenis - Édouard Louis
Om een zin - Carel ter Linden
Eigen meester, niemands knecht - Cees Fasseur
Vanzelfsprekend maar niet normaal - Winfred and Annelies Haasse
Gezinsverpakking- De Chabotten (Bookweek gift)
Ooievaarsblues - Bart Chabot (Bookweek poetry)
Vissenschild - Liesbeth Lagemaat

April (7)
Sint-Petersburg - Theun de Vries (e-book)
Terug uit Irkoetsk - Theun de Vries (e-book)
Het spel van kat en adelaar - Craig Strete
Dagboek van een dader - Armando
De jongen die van de wereld hield - Tjibbe Veldkamp
Schuilplaats voor andere tijden - Georgi Gospodinov
Zabriskie: gedichten - Peter Verhelst

Our last days on the Pieterpad

 
We stayed in a lovely cottage at the Cauberg in Valkenburg (photo #7),

The first day, March 23rd, we walked 8 km (85 meters up and 103 meters down) from Sittard to Schinnen. A lot of rain, so we were happy with our rain suits.
One hill looked way to muddy and steep, we took an alternative way around the hill over a paved road.
Because of the rain I took only one photo (#8), when we were waiting for Guido to pick us up.

The second day, March 24th, we walked 8.2 km (97 meters up and 55 meters down) from Schinnen to Aabeek. Still raining, a lot of mud, no pictures, as my camera doesn't like rain. We walked uphill at a path full of pebbles, half of the path had been washed away by the rain of the last days, a real challenge!

On the third day, March 25th, the weather cleared. We walked 8.7 km (114 meters up and 105 meters down) from Aalbeek to Terblijt. Some paths were still very muddy, like at photo #1.
We walked along the watertower of Schimmert (#9, build in 1927), and saw the top of the churchtower behind a hill (#4). In Groot Haasdal (Big Haredale) a dead tree was turned into a giant hare (#5). And we walked along this old farm/manor (#6).
We paused near small stream (#3). After crossing the river Geul (#2 and #10), we had a long road uphill to get to our destination.

 
Still dry on the fourth day, March 26th. We walked 7.8 km mainly downhill (9 meters up and 82 meters down) from Terblijt to Maastricht. Again a church behind a hill (#5), walking over a sandroad through the fields (#6). And still going through a lot of mud (#7). The cherry trees blossom early (#1), and we see some entrances to old limestone mines (#8).
The first sign of the city Maastricht, the church towers of the Sint Petrus' Banden-church (#2). We follow the road straight to Maastricht train station, where we take the train back to Valkenburg.

Weather is still good when we go for the last part, 5.8 km (111 meters up and 79 meters down), from Maastricht station to the Sint-Pietersberg.
A short walk through the center of Maastricht, where we saw this plaque with an elephant from 1652 (#4), and a statue of a character from a book with his dog (#3).
Going up towards the finish we pass a sheepflock with shepherd and his Border Collies (#9).

 
Almost there (#10), the finish is at the end of a walkaround, so after the finish you have to walk back to the parking place (#5).
Anita and Frank at the end of the Pieterpad (#1, #3, #4, #6, and #9).
Some impression of the way back: and old farm (#8), a small pig in a cherry orchard (#2), and view at the city (#7).

That evening we went out for diner in Valkenburg to celebrate!

As we finished in 5 days, we could spend our last day in Valkenburg. This old city is popular among tourists for over a century.


First we visited the remains of Valkenburg Castle, with two lions at the entrance (#1, #6, #9), and Saint George and the Dragon at the top (#2).
The castle was many times destroyed and build again.
Limestone is soft, through the years many visitors left their mark, I took a photo of this one, a large 1984 (#3), as we got married in that year.


In the city was an exhibition of 'Alltagsmenschen' (Everydaypeople), all over the city concrete, lifelike statues of common people, created by the German artists Christel en Laura Lechner.
It was fun to spot a next one, some at unexpected places, like #1 at a rooftop.


And finally some impressions of old city of Valkenburg, where old town-ports are preserved.

As we stayed at the Cauberg, we walked down to Valkenburg, and had to go up again to get back. This hill is famous in the Amstel Gold race, a yearly bicycle event. It wasn't easy to walk up, and admire the bicyclists going up!

Welcome!

Happy new thread Anita!

I'll have to spend some time tomorrow looking at all the pictures!

>16 quondame: Thank you, Susan!
You are always welcome to come back for the pictures ;-)

Happy New Thread, Anita and many thanks for the wonderful pictures!
Congratulations you on making it and all the best to you and your thyroid troubles.
"Alltagsmenschen" we also found in March in Wenningstedt - we liked them very much.

Happy new thread, Anita. Many thanks for the great photos. It looks great.

>18 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, it is always nice to share some pictures here.
We were proud to make it to the end of the Pieterpad. I hope for some more progress with the thyroid meds next month, after my appointment with the endocrinologist.
So nice you also saw some "Alltagsmenschen"! This exposition in Valkenburg lasts until June.

>19 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara!
We had a good time in the south of Limburg, the only part of our country with some hills. So different from our very flat land here.

>14 FAMeulstee: Happy new thread! What wonderful pictures. Looks like you had a lot to see and take in on your walks.

Happy New Thread, Anita. Love all the pics. I hope you had a good weekend.

Happy new thread, Anita. I love the photos! The statues of the *Everyday People* reminds me in some way of the statues in Oslo's Froggner Park, different but reminiscent. Is that a permanent exhibition in that city where you were? What a wonderful and joyful exhibit!

Happy new thread, and congratulations on completing the Pieterpad!

Happy new thread, Anita.

Happy New Thread!!
What wonderful adventures!! And lovely pictures!!

Wonderful pictures, thank you for sharing them! Happy new thread Anita!

Happy new thread, Anita! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful pictures from your trip. You weren't kidding about the mud, it looks quite wet.

More good wishes from me Anita.
The sculptures reminded me of this one I saw a few years ago by the artist Sean Henry.
https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/destinations/towns-villages/newbiggi...

>28 atozgrl: I also meant to add that I'm impressed with your reading so far this year, even though you say it is slow for you. You finished in January the same number of books it has taken me 3 months to read. And that's including three children's books that I read in one night.

>17 FAMeulstee: I like your little numbered charts! The tree -> rabbit caught my eye and it was fun to have a caption.

Happy new thread, Anita!

>21 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita, it was a nice week away.
There was a lot to see, the landscape is so different from where we live.
The muscles in my legs are happy to be back in the flat land :-)

>22 msf59: Thank you, Mark.
All the laundry was done this weekend, all muddy pants are clean again. And I spend a lot of time processing the pictures :-)

>23 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley!
The 'Everyday People' are in Valkenburg from March until June, and will go on to an other place. It was fun to discover them all through the city. A very nice way to bring art close.

>24 foggidawn: Thank you, Foggi, it felt good to finish the Pieterpad. It took us from the north to the south of our country. And going by foot is a whole different way of exploring.

>25 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul, always good to see you here.
I am slowly catching up with the threads, will come by at yours soon.

>26 hredwards: Thank you, Harold!
We had a good time at the last part of the Pieterpad, glad you liked the pictures.

>27 mdoris: You are very welcome, Mary, and thanks!
The daily distance was a bit less than previous times, still better than I expected.

>28 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene!
Glad to share the pictures here, and indeed we went through a lot of mud this time.

>29 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
Thanks for the link, the same way of portraying ordinary people. Sean Henry gets even closer to lifelike.

>30 atozgrl: Thanks, Irene. The last years I got used to reading way more.
My average went down from over 250 pages a day to less than 75 last month. The number of books is kept high by reading the Asterix comics again ;-)

Happy new thread, Anita! Hopefully I will keep better track of you than I did on the last thread.

>31 quondame: Thanks for coming back, Susan.
Glad you noticed the small charts with the numbers. Using this template to show the pictures, I needed a simple way to refer to them.

>32 drneutron: Thank you, Jim!

>38 alcottacre: Thank you, Stasia!
I try for a new thread each month, and a new chance for you to keep track ;-)

>1 FAMeulstee: Lovely photos of you both.

>13 FAMeulstee: Clapping. I imagine both satisfying to finish, and maybe a little melancholy too Anita. Do you have an inkling of your next challenge yet?

>14 FAMeulstee: Love the statues and photos here too.

New 🧵 orisons, Anita! *smooch*

Happy new thread Anita!

I like the way you've diagrammed your photos. Is that using an app? Like Susan, I will have to come back and have a proper look at them.

>41 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline. My photo was taken just before we went out to diner.
You are right, I felt both at the finish.
We will start the Drenthepad in November. This trail is 340 km through the province Drenthe, in the North-East of our country. We had some other options, and let Guido choose between them. He liked our stay in Drenthe best, so there we will go. We booked a cottage at the same park where we stayed in September 2020.

>42 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear!
*smooch* right back at you :-)

>43 humouress: Thank you, Nina!
First I edit the photos, and make them all the same size, with my good old photo editor Ulead Photo Express. Got it for free with my first scanner, back in 1999, and it still works fine.
After that I use https://www.photocollage.com/ to create the collages.
Depending on the number of photos there are different templates you can use.

Happy new thread, and congratulations on completing your walk! Thanks for sharing the photos with us. I enjoyed looking at them!

Happy new thread, Anita!

>46 cbl_tn: Thank you, Carrie!
It was nice to cross our country by foot, and we were very happy to make it to the end.
Glad you liked my photos.

>47 The_Hibernator: Thank you, Rachel!

Happy new thread Anita. Enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Happy New Thread, Anita. Lovely pictures of your walking holiday. I'm glad you and Frank are enjoying retirement so much as well!

>49 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel. Always nice to take you all to where we have been by pictures.

>50 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah.
Frank is almost retired, the official date of the end of his contract is May 16th. Because of all vacation days and extra hours he could quit working immediately. Of course this feels like he is retired :-)
There will probably be a farewell gathering in April or May, to say goodbye to his collegues and clients.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Anita! Love all the photos!

Happy new thread, Anita. Nice to see all those pictures.
I’ve been to Valkenburg, but the exhibition wasn’t there then of course. Seems like fun.

>52 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary!

>53 curioussquared: Thank you, Natalie.
Sorting them out was a lot of work, I took many photos this time :-)

>54 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella.
It was our first visit to Valkenburg, it is a lovely old city. We only have been in Maastricht before.

Got to admit Anita I am a little bit jealous of your trip. Great pictures. I particularly like the hare tree and the stone lions - especially the one on the right with his itty-bitty smile!

Hi Anita my dear, Happy New Thread my dear friend.

>45 FAMeulstee: Thanks. I took a look at it, and might use it sometime. I use the free version of the pic collage app when I need to do a collage but it does leave a watermark on the image.

>51 FAMeulstee: Ah, so if you get fed up with him underfoot you still have a chance to send him back to work until then ;0)

>56 Fourpawz2: Thank you, Charlotte. Despite the rain and mud, we had a good time.
I also liked that lion best, he has a nicer face.

>57 johnsimpson: Thank you, John.
Give my regards to Karen.

>58 humouress: You are welcome, Nina. I like this one, I don't think this one leaves a watermark, at least not visible.
Don't think I will, as I am glad to have Frank home! :-)

Congratulations to you both for completing your walk of the Pieterpad, Anita! Great to see the photo travelogue. Nice that Frank is retired and home now and you can take care of each other.

>60 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg, we were glad we managed to finish it. Andit has been fun sharing our long walk with all of you.
Thanks, retirement for Frank came unexpected, we are doing well together at home.

Hurray on the finished walk!! And that Frank's retirement is going well for both of you. And happy new thread. : )

>62 Berly: Thank you, Kim, glad we made it. Now on to our next long distance walk, we will start walking the Drenthepad in November.
We have been fulltime home together before, between 1995 and 2007. Back then our marriage survived, and so it will again ;-)

Hi Anita, and happy new thread!

From your last thread, I love the photo of you and Frank at the end of the Pieterpad. Late congratulations.

3333 books read since 2008. Stunning.

>1 FAMeulstee: Wow, your hair is long! And not blue! I’ve been away too long… you both look great.

>3 FAMeulstee: I love it that you thought about skipping TIOLI then didn’t.

>13 FAMeulstee: and >14 FAMeulstee: Thanks for sharing narrative and photos.

Good luck with Frank back home again full time. I’m so glad he gets to retire now.

>63 FAMeulstee: Your survival comment made me laugh, thanks for that.
I came across a specific term that comes (according to the author) from the experience of walking on the flat in the Netherlands in A Flat Place, made me think of you and Frank.

>64 karenmarie: Thank you, Karen, we were happy to reach the end of the Pieterpad.
We had a good week, as the photos show.

I knew you would love 3333 too :-)

Yes, I skipped my hairdresser in March, didn't feel well enough to go. But I did go today, and my hair is about 1.5 inches shorter now.
Blue hair was almost 5 years ago, when we were married for 35 years. Later this year we will get to 40, and I'll want some color in my hair again. Not sure about what color I want yet.

We are both happy Frank was able to retire. I do manage when he is away for short times, like doing the groceries. We haven't tried longer stretches yet.

>65 charl08: You are very welcome, Charlotte. We all need a laugh.
Indeed, walking on flat land is a different experience. With clear weather you can see miles around, gives a very different feel of the landscape.

book 41: De zwaluw, de kat, de roos en de dood by Håkan Nesser
library, e-book, translated from Swdish, English translation The Strangler's Honeymoon, 564 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book where there are at least two of the letter “s” in the title

Van Veeteren book 9
We start inside the killers thoughts. His first murder was long ago, now a next is about to happen.
The Maardam police team has no clue, when a female body is found. Turns out her daughter is also missing. They fear the worst. More murders in the past may be connected.

Dutch title translated: The swallow, the cat, the rose, and the death

book 42: Het glazen huis by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
library, translated from Indonesian, English translation House of Glass, 461 pages
TIOLI Challenge #9: Read a book where there are at least two of the letter “s” in the title

Buru Quartet book 4
I expected the story of Minke continued. We followed him in the first three books of the quartet.
Instead Jacques Pangemanann takes over, a policeman who advises the Dutch government about nationalistic movements and individuals. On his advice Minke was banned. He does admire Minke's courage, but faithfully fulfills his duties.

So at first I was a bit disappointed, but soon I got drawn into the story, and liked it as much as the previous books.

Dutch title translated: The glass house

The initial positive effects of upping my Thyrax in February/March are fading. Sliding slowly back into more anxiety with a touch of sadness, and energy levels declining. My appointment with the endocrinologist is three weeks away tomorrow, so I'll have to endure.

Frank is happy to be home, but his gout is flaring up. This often happens in spring, when his pollen allergy is at its worst. Spring came early this year, and so did the pollen.

So we both are not at our best, still managing being nice to eachother ;-)

>70 FAMeulstee:, sorry to hear this Anita. You and Frank lay low and take care of yourselves.

>71 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel, we both do our best.

I hope the three weeks will fly by for you, Anita.
Best wishes for you and Frank!

>70 FAMeulstee: Sorry to hear it, Anita! {{hugs}}
And for Frank as well. I didn’t know pollen allergy and gout have a relationship.
Best wishes.

>70 FAMeulstee: My sad sympathy for you both. I hope you're going to find the time has zipped by not dragged like chains on a English castle floor.

The walk(s) and the pics are very interesting. I hope you and hubby maintain and improve health-wise. I have been having pain in my big toe (I'm 70) and the Dr. said it's probably gout, although the test shows nothing.

>70 FAMeulstee: So we both are not at our best, still managing being nice to eachother ;-)

Anita, that is the epitome of a successful marriage/relationship. Comfortable coexistence.

>73 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, from both of us.
At least my reading is better than the last two months. So I can get lost in a book for some of the time again.

>74 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella!
Probably no direct relation, but having trouble with his pollen allergy lessens his tolerace for the gout pain.

>75 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear.
The image of chains dragged on a castle floor made me smile :-)
My reading is picking up a bit, that helps to make time fly.

>76 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess, we hopeso too.
With my husband it started the same back in 2012, in his big toes. Now it is mainly troubling his hands.

>77 PaulCranswick: Indeed, Paul, but it took a long time to get there ;-)
Like my father, I have no talent to be nice when I don't feel well. So I had to work hard to get there.
Frank is way more stable, even if he doesn't feel good.

Sending good wishes Anita. Being nice when you are ill should be an Olympic sport.

Finished two more books in the last days:
#43: Gesprekken met opa by Raoul de Jong
#44: Revolte is leven : biografie van Theun de Vries by Jos Perry

>81 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte.
Frank might qualify for that, I would not. Although I do way better now ;-)

>70 FAMeulstee: I'm hoping things improve for both of you.

>78 FAMeulstee: I'm glad your reading is picking up. I can empathise; when I'm under the weather, I'm more grumpy and irritable.

>70 FAMeulstee: I'm sorry to hear that things are worse for you now. I hope that the time will fly by and your appointment will be here before you know it. I also hope the pollen is letting up and Frank feels better. Glad that you can still be nice to each other. I know it's not easy--as others have said, I also get grumpy and irritable when I don't feel well.

Best wishes to you both!

>84 humouress: Thank you, Nina. I hope things will improve for me after my visit to the endocrinoligst.
Frank has to wait until the worst of pollen season is over.
Reading goes up and down now, instead of only down, so that is improvement ;-)
It seems most of us are that way, when under the weater. I am lucky Frank is way more balanced, even when he is not feeling well.

>85 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene.
I did expect it would get a bit worse again. Now I have to wait with increasing my thyroid meds, until my appointment at the hospital. Time goes faster with getting older ;-)
Spring started early this year, and so did pollen season.
As I said above, it seems most of us are grumpy and irritable in those times. I am lucky Frank is not!

>78 FAMeulstee: Oh yes, I can get that. The bucket is full.

I hope that the time before your appointment goes quickly for you and that Frank gets relief from gout and allergies soon, Anita!

>87 EllaTim: Indeed, Ella.

>88 bell7: Thank you, Mary. My reading has picked up, so that helps for me. We had a lot of rain in the last days, that helps to reduce the pollen in the air.

Read, not yet reviewed:
#43: Gesprekken met opa by Raoul de Jong
#44: Revolte is leven : biografie van Theun de Vries by Jos Perry
#45: De allergrootste by Davide Morosinotto

Reading now:
We moeten je iets vertellen by Marlies Slegers
Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit by Jan Guillou

Yesterday Frank went to his workplace for the last time, a farewell gathering. First an hour with his collegues, folllowed by an hour with the clients. With drinks, cake and pizza's, a short speech by his manager, and some gifts.

He got an apron with handprints of some of the clients, a giant card with loveley messages of clients and collegues, and a book gift card. We shared the remains of the cake with our neighbours, it was way to much for the two of us.

Congratulations to Frank!

And that's a decent haul. Are you going to snaffle the book gift card? ;0)

13 What beutiful images. Thanks for sharing them.

Congratulations to Frank on his well-deserved retirement. Now, will you have more time for walking together?

All good wishes to both of you!

>91 FAMeulstee: - How lovely! Congrats again to Frank! (and you! ;-)

>70 FAMeulstee: Oh no! Sorry to hear that you both are not feeling well. Glad you are able to help each other without the crustiness.

>91 FAMeulstee: What a wonderful retirement send off. Hope the cake was good :)

>91 FAMeulstee: That sounds like a wonderful celebration. I'm glad Frank's workplace did that for him.

>92 humouress: Thank you, Nina!
I forgot the sunglasses Frank got. The book gift card is going to be used by us both, as each of us has an eye on a book we want.

>93 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda.
We walk together each day, but since my thyroid meds were lowered to much, I can't keep up with Frank. So we do a 3km walk together, and then he goes on alone to do one more. I hope I can build up my mileage again, when my meds get back at the right dosage.

>94 jessibud2: Thank you, Shelley.
Although Frank is glad to retire early, it was a rather emotional gathering to him. He has worked there for over 16 years, and deeply cared about the clients.

>95 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.
Sorry for only lurking at your thread. Reading threads isn't like usual at the moment. I hope to get back to my usual routine later this year.
It was a good closure, now all he needs to do is to give back his work phone. But that will be at the headquarter, so no emotional connections there. The gathering was a good closere. The cake was very good, a cream cake with a picture of Frank on it, like this one:

>96 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene.
Frank was glad to see everyone one more time, and say goodbye.

--
I thought my reading went better. And it did for two days, as I was really into a story and wanted to finish De allergrootste (nearly 600 pages). And then I read next to nothing for the next two days, as my brain seems occupied processsing what I have read...

Sweet Thursday, Anita. Glad to hear the retirement party went so well. Nice cake. Glad you are both enjoying your time together.

>99 FAMeulstee: That sounds a lot better than the previous problems with just getting something read! Brain-processing of a 600pp book is often the best use of your story muscles.

>91 FAMeulstee: Lovely that they showed Frank how much he was appreciated and how much they will miss him. I hope it left Frank feeling valued. So, what have you decided to buy with the gift card?

*smooch*

>100 msf59: Thank you, Mark, it was the last time Frank went to where he worked, and a good closure of his working life.
Retired life is good!

>101 richardderus: Normally my brain works way faster, Richard dear, and I want my story muscles back to normal ;-)
Yes, he was much appriciated, especially by the clients.
Not decided yet, I might want my own copy of Schuilplaats voor andere tijden (Time Shelter) by Georgi Gospodinov and Frank might want the latest by Tommy Wieringa Nirwana.
*smooch*

Congratulations on Frank's retirement, Anita and Frank!I know you must both be delighted. The cake looks to be lovely! We have another retirement celebration tomorrow evening with dinner out with our sons and our grandchildren, my mom, and sister and a niece of mine, as well as Dave's sister and her husband. I am looking forward to it. We had another dinner get together with family right after his retirement, so this is like a bonus . We both are also doing really well with the retirement thing.

Congratulations on Frank's retirement.
I hope you enjoy this time and wish you all the best for this new chapter in your lives!

>103 vancouverdeb: Thank you, Deborah, it is good all at Frank's work is done now. Next month is his official final work day, we might celebrate it together. June 1st is his first official retirement day. So we have some memorable days to go ;-)
Enjoy the retirement celebration diner with your family!
So glad you both are doing well after Dave's retirement.

>104 SirThomas: Thank you, Thomas, this was the last visit to his workplace.
Frank resigned per May 16th, so he is still employed until then. From May 17th to May 31st he is unemployed, and June 1st his early retirement officially starts.
A lot of significant dates, although his last actual working night was in February!

book 43: Gesprekken met opa by Raoul de Jong
library, e-book, Dutch, no translations, 88 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book with 150 pages or less

After exploring his ancestors from Suriname in Jaguarman, Raoul de Jong now writes about his visits to his 90 year old Dutch grandfather. Their experiences in life are miles apart, but they do find common ground. It turned out to be his grandfathers last year.

Title translated: Talks with grandfather

book 44: Revolte is leven : biografie van Theun de Vries by Jos Perry
library, e-book,non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 416 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Aries - has a word on the first page from the ram-related list)

Biography of Theun de Vries (1907-2005) writer and communist since the 1930s.
He went in hiding in WWII, was arrested by the Germans and was kept in Kamp Amersfort for 10 months. He was freed by the communist resistance. He was a loyal member of the Dutch Communist Party until 1971.
He mainly wrote historical novels, I have read a fair number of them, and will continue to try to read all his works.

Title translated: Revolt is life : biography of Theun de Vries.

book 45: De allergrootste by Davide Morosinotto
library, YA, translated from Italian, no English translation, 598 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Aries - has a word on the first page from the ram-related list)

The story of Yu, a Chinese girl, who lived at the end of the 18th, early 19th century. She became the commander of the largest Chinese pirate fleet ever.
The story is based on the life of Shi Yang ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_Yi_Sao )

A well written adventurous story that I enjoyed very much. Davide Morosinotto is a new author to me, I found this book on last years list of best Dutch children's and YA books. More books are available in Dutch translation, I look forward to read them!

Title translated: The utmost greatest

>106 FAMeulstee: That sounds like a very good read indeed. Too bad it's not translated...I need to get back to studying Dutch.

Happy weekend-ahead's reads.

>98 FAMeulstee: Congrats to Frank on his retirement! And yummy looking cake!

>109 richardderus: I was very pleased with my latest reads, Richard dear. I have a few more on the go without English translations avaiable. Don't know how I managed to read so many in a row.
Happy weekend!

>110 Storeetllr: Thank you, Mary.
Frank took the leftover cake home, and as it was to much for just the two of us, we enjoyed it with our neighbors.

And the next hunt is done, the 2024 TinyCat Birthday Hunt.
I had fun finding them all, only needed three hints ;-)

>112 FAMeulstee: Good job on the hunt! I am flummoxed on #7.

>113 banjo123: If you haven't found #7, Rhonda, the hints in msg 27 & 28 in the talk thread were helpful to me.

If that fails this is a direct link to the answer Melvil Decimal System; Technology > Agriculture & related technologies > Animal husbandry > Cats

>112 FAMeulstee: >113 banjo123: Oddly, I'm stuck on the 9th cat but no-one else has asked for a hint (so I'm a bit embarrassed to ask since it must be really obvious). I'll ask my kids, when I get around to it, since it's a children's book, manga series etc.

>115 humouress: Hi Nina, I think I found that one searching on LT with Talpa "cat clan manga".
Some books found are part of a series, you need the basic series. Be warned, the series has more occurances, chronological, publicating and some others. It is one of them.

>114 FAMeulstee:. Thanks, that helped!

>117 banjo123: You are very wolcome, Rhonda!

Finished two more books:
#46: Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit by Jan Guillou
#47: We moeten je iets vertellen by Marlies Slegers

book 46: Zij die dromen doden slapen nooit by Jan Guillou
library, translated from Swedish, no English translation, 367 pages

De grote eeuw book 8
1972, Eric Letang is working for a lawfirm, and is active in some left wing groups. He still has a long distance relationship with Gertrude in Germany since his stay in Germany in the previous book, they have a son. The situation in Germany is becoming more difficult as more and more left wing friends loose their job under the new Anti-Radical Decree. When they decide Gertude will come to Sweden, the story takes a nasty turn.

Again an engaging read. Only two more books to go in this series.

Title translated: They who kill dreams never sleep

book 47: We moeten je iets vertellen by Marlies Slegers
library, e-book, YA, Dutch, no translations, 268 pages
TIOLI Challenge #1: Read a book by an author whose first name and last name ends in the same letter

Hazel is 14, and expected to go on vacation to Italy, like last year. Now things have changed a lot, her parents are divorcing, and she has to spend the summer with her grandmother. All she can think of is how can she keep her parents together. But there is a lot about them she doesn't know, and when she finds letters to her father hidden at her grandmothers place, she slowly realises why her parents are divorcing.

The author tried to put to much in one book. Hazel was born with a cleft lip, her grandmother with Alzheimer, an old dog on the way to his end, an autistic boy being bullied, and some more. With a bit less drama it would have been a better story.

Title translated: We have something to tell you

Read, not yet reviewed:
#48: Asterix en het 1ste legioen (Asterix the Legionary) by Goscinny & Uderzo
#49: Asterix en het ijzeren schild (Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield) by Goscinny & Uderzo
#50: Het zondagsbed by Theun de Vries
#51: Asterix en de olympische spelen (Asterix at the Olympic Games) by Goscinny & Uderzo

Reading now:
Een tamme gazelle (Some tame gazelle) by Barbara Pym
Chaos in Indonesië by Willem Oltmans

>122 FAMeulstee: ooohhh Barbara Pym! I can't wait to hear if the translation is a good one. So much of her storytelling is in the subtleties of language that I hope you got a good translator.

Weekend-ahead *smooch*

>123 richardderus: I am afraid some of it gets lost, Richard dear, as some of the subtile English is untranslatable. And many of the literary references are unknown to me. So it has been slightly enjoyable at a quarter of the book so far.

Weekend *smooches*

>124 FAMeulstee: I'm sure that's always the issue with any translations, Anita...so much context just does not carry over. For many 21st-century readers, Pym in English practically needs footnotes because her world is just...gone. Sic transit gloria mundi has survived the ages because it's never not true.

Happy Koningsday.

Hi Anita. I haven’t posted in a while. I’m always grateful you post pictures and keep us up to date on your reading and health. It sounds like Frank had a memorable send off from work. May you keep on being “nice” to each other now that you are spending most of your hours together. ;-)

>70 FAMeulstee: I hope you ate feeling better Anita, your appointment must be soon or recently had.

I hope Frank is settling into his retirement. It takes mist oeople time to get their balance on that, and for you too perhaps, having him around a lot more than before. Adjustments on both sides, but happiness ultimately.

Wishing Frank, and you, a happy retirement! What a great looking cake! Lots of adjustments to deal with, and being kind and nice to each other is so important. And also kind of hard sometimes. Hope you’re feeling a bit better!

>125 richardderus: And some words are untranslatable, Richard dear. Some time ago I read a book where the main character has a fascinating list of untranslatable words in other languages. It is difficult to imagine if proper words lack.
There was more cultural difference between English and Dutch in the 1950s compared to today. And in some ways the world is always changing, and in some ways it stays the same.

Thank you, I still prefer to think back to the happy Queens Days from the past.
Way to many Kings these days, sic transit gloria mundi ;-)

>126 Donna828: Thank you, Donna, happy to see a message from you!
Reading is still not where I would like, and I hope my health will improve after my visit to the endocrinologist next Friday.
Most of the time we manage to co-exist peacefully. I still have some "me"-time in the mornings, as Frank needs way more sleep than I do.

>127 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, my appointment is next Friday. Already getting a bit nervous, as I do fear hospitals and doctors in general.

Frank is settling well. Our life hasn't changed that much, as he worked two nights a week, so the most of his working time I was sleeping. The days after his working nights he slept well into the afternoon, and I often used that time to do some household chores. Now I try to do those in the morning, or when he is away doing the groceries.

>128 Copperskye: Thank you, Natalie!
In my present state I am easily startled, and Frank does his best to keep me calm. The last months were not easy for him either, so we have our moments. I hope my issues will be resolved in the next months, so life will get easier for both of us.

book 48: Asterix en het 1ste legioen by Goscinny & Uderzo
own, comic, translated from French, English translation Asterix the Legionary, 48 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book with 150 pages or less

Asterix book 10
Obelix falls in love, Walhalla (Panacea in English) has returned to the village after her study. But it turn out she is engaged. Her fiancee Tragicomix is in Caesar's army to fight in North Africa. Aterix and Obelix join the army to rescue him.

Dutch title translated: Asterix and the 1st legion

book 49: Asterix en het ijzeren schild by Goscinny & Uderzo
own, comic, translated from French, English translation Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield, 48 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book with 150 pages or less

Asterix book 11
When Vercingetorix was defeated he threw his arms at Caesar's feet. Now Caesar needs Vercingetorix' shield for a triumph, but the shield appears to be lost.
Meanwhile Asteris and Obelix accompany their chief Abraracourcix (Vitalstatistix in Engliah) to a health resort, as he has trouble with his liver. There they find out what Caesar is looking for, and decide they will find the shield first.

Dutch title translated: Asterix and the iron shield

book 50: Het zondagsbed by Theun de Vries
library, e-book, Dutch, no English translation, 153 pages
TIOLI Challenge #2: Read a book for the Zodiac challenge (Aries - has a word on the first page from the ram-related list)

After reading the Theun de Vries biography >107 FAMeulstee: , I neede to read more by him. I own many books by him, but needed a shorter read. Found this book in the e-library.

On a wealthy farm, somewhere in a Northern European country (probably Finland, it isn't named) the farmer is a woman. Her husband has disappeared long ago, and ever since she manages the farm with help of three workers. On Sunday one of them stays with her to keep her company in bed. One day the workers find an injured deserter, fled from across the border, and bring him to the farm. The deserter disrupts the balance between the workers. The jealousy of one of them causes disaster for all

Title translated: The Sunday bed

book 51: Asterix en de olympische spelen by Goscinny & Uderzo
own, comic, translated from French, English translation Asterix at the Olympic Games, 48 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: April Fooler: Read a book with magical realism, fantasy, alternate history or humor as a tag

Asterix book 12
When the Gauls find out there will be Olympic Games in Athens, all the men of the village embark to Athens, where Asterix and Obelix will compete.

Dutch title translated: Asterix and the Olympic Games

Glad your doctor appointment is nearly here.

>137 Kristelh: ^^^what she said

Sunday *smooch*

>137 Kristelh: Thank you, Kristel, I hope it works out as I hope.

>138 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, *smooch*

Read, not yet reviewed:
#52: Chaos in Indonesië by Willem Oltmans
#53: Waar ik liever niet aan denk (What I'd Rather Not Think About) by Jente Posthuma

Reading now:
Een tamme gazelle (Some tame gazelle) by Barbara Pym
Valstrik (The Falls; John Rebus 12) by Ian Rankin

I hope retirement and thyroid medicine makes the needed adjustment (s). I just d/l Some Tame Gazelle, but don't know when I'm going to read it. It will be my first Barbara Pym. I'll look for your review.

>141 Tess_W: Thank you, Tess. Retirement is good for both of us, and I'll know more about adjusting the thyroid medicine after my visit to the endocrinologist next Friday.
Some Tame Gazelle was also my first Pym. I had a bit trouble getting into the story, at one third it got better and I ended up really liking it.

book 52: Chaos in Indonesië by Willem Oltmans
own, e-book, non-fiction, Dutch, no translations, 58 pages
TIOLI Challenge #13: Read a book with 150 pages or less

Report of Oltmans stay in Indonesia just before the first elections since the coup in 1965, when Suharto came in power with help of the USA. He also shows how the USA did this many times before and after, when the left got into power in strategic countries.
Oltmans was befriended with Sukarno, who was president since independence. Oltmans shares some fond memories, and hopes Indonesia will have a better future.

Title translated: Chaos in Indonesia

book 53: Waar ik liever niet aan denk by Jente Posthuma
library, e-book, Dutch, English translation What I'd Rather Not Think About, 239 pages

A unnamed woman thinks back about the relation with her late twin brother. They used to be very close, but grew apart. She tried to keep the closeness, but that made her brother more uncomfortable, as she never realised at that time, as she was dealing with her own problems.

Uncomfortable read, the writer brings you very close to the main character.

Dutch and Eglish title are the same

book 54: Een tamme gazelle by Barbara Pym
library, translated fromEnglish, original title Some tame gazelle, 273 pages
TIOLI Challenge #14: April Fooler: Read a book with magical realism, fantasy, alternate history or humor as a tag

Two middle ages sisters, Belinda and Harriet Bede, live in an English village. Belinda has been in love with the archdeacon of their church since college, but he married someone else, so she kept loveing him from afar. Harriet is more confident as her sisiter, in Italian count, who lives in the village, proposes to her once in while, and she gracefully declines. She also pampers the present curate, reverend Edgar Donne.

I had some trouble getting into this story, where daily life in the 1950s meanders through life of the sisters. Once I got engaged, at about one third of the book, it was a fun read. Part of the problem is that Angelican names, like archdeacon have no proper Dutch translation, so the translator used protestant and roman catholic names that confused me at first, as I was raised protestant. In her afterword the translator explains her choices, and it would have been betterif I had read it first.

Dutch title translated: A tame gazelle.

April 2024 in numbers
  (Totals for the year between brackets)

14 books read, 3,629 pages, 121.0 pages a day
  (54 books read, 14,342 pages, 118.6 pages a day)

--
books:

• own books: 4 (15)
• from the library: 10 (39)

• male author: 11 (39)
• female author: 3 (15)

• originally written in Dutch: 6 (18)
• translated into Dutch: 8 (36)

• original language of translated books:
    • English: 1 (8)
    • Finnish: 0 (1)
    • French: 3 (10)
    • German: 0 (5)
    • Hebrew 0 (1)
    • Icelandic: 0 (1)
    • Indonesian: 1 (2)
    • Italian: 1 (2)
    • Swedish 2 (6)

• fiction: 11 (47)
• non-fiction: 3 (7)

• paper books: 8 (28)
• e-books: 6 (26)

• mystery/police procedural: 1 (8)
• comic: 3 (10)
• childrens/YA: 2 (9)
• 1001 books: 0 (3)
    Total 1001 books since 2008: 327

--
pages:

0 - 100 pages: 5 (12)
101 - 200 pages: 1 (4)
201 - 300 pages: 3 (16)
301 - 400 pages: 1 (14)
401 - 500 pages: 2 (5)
501 - 999 pages: 2 (3)
1000+ pages: 0 (0)

• longest book 598 pages (598 pages)
• shortest book 48 pages (48 pages)
• average book 259 pages (266 pages)

--
date first published:
19th century: 1 (1)

20th century
1950s: 1 (2)
1960s: 3 (11)
1970s: 1 (2)
1980s: 1 (3)
1990s: 1 (4)

21st century
2000s: 1 (7)
2010s: 2 (10)
2020s: 4 (14)

--
ratings:

0 (0)
2 (5)
7 (20)
3 (18)
2 (7)
0 (2)
0 (2)

--
best books in April


Het glazen huis (House of Glass) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
De allergrootste by Davide Morosinotto

>142 FAMeulstee: & >145 FAMeulstee: Anita, I think that your observation about Barbara Pym's writing is quite well observed. I read Quartet in Autumn this last month and had a very similar experience to you.
Struggled a lot to get into it but eventually it won me over.

Hi Anita, I've never read anything by Barbara Pym. My library has three books. Have now added the author to the list.

I will start my next thread tomorrow afternoon or the day after.
Today I am getting more and more anxious about the appointment tomorrow at the endocrinologist. I am terrified of hospitals and doctors, and this fear is worse when my thyroid levels are not right. So I will take some diazepam to keep me a bit calm, but that makes me very slow, and thinking straight gets difficult, that not a good state to create a next thread.

I am sure that you and Frank will enjoy your mutual retirements especially when your health stabilizes. xx

>149 FAMeulstee: You will be in my thoughts tomorrow.

>147 PaulCranswick: Thank you, Paul. Pym isn't well known here, Some Tame Gazelle was only recently translated.
I might read more by her, if I can findthematthelibrary.

>148 Ameise1: You are welcome, Barbara, always glad to add books to your list :-)

>150 PaulCranswick: Thank you so much, Paul.
I am still baffled that thyroid tests can give wrong numbers. And while that can be known, this test is used without any warning, throwing me in much trouble.

>152 FAMeulstee: Thyroid is something I don't know too much about, Anita.

Hi Anita. Focus a bit ahead: Tomorrow morning, get up and tell yourself, in a few hours, this will be over and done with. Only a few hours. I always do that when I have something coming up that I am dreading. For me, it makes it feel smaller, if that's the right word. Just a few hours, Frank will be with you, then, on your way home, have a treat! Maybe stop for a coffee or tea or hot chocolate or ice cream (if the weather is right for that! ;-), as a reward for having it behind you!

Looking forward to your next thread.

>149 FAMeulstee: You will prevail, Anita, you always have. This is a terrible situation and unthinkably painful...but it will be over tomorrow. I'm so sorry that you have to endure it again.

I'm sending hugs across the sea.

I'm sending hugs too and thank you so much for sharing your news with us. i'm sure we will ALL be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping the meeting goes very well and you will get your dosage corrected and comfort restored.

>153 PaulCranswick: You could have learned al lot about it, Paul. A regular occurance on my threads since 2011 ;-)

>154 jessibud2: We did some like that, Shelley. We booked a hotel in Almere (next city, where the hospital is) for last night, so I had some distraction, and we would not get stuck in the midst of rush hour this morning.
It worked well being somewhere else last night, and only thelast hour before the appointment I got a bit anxious. If we had stayed at home, I am sure last night would have been a lot more difficult. On our way home we went to the library to reward myself with two library books :-)

>155 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, it all went well :-)
Now it will take a few months before the dose of Thyrax is back at the right level.
Thanks for the hugs, very much appriciated.

>156 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, all hugs are welcome. Today the appointment went as you said :-)
More in my next message.

Happy Friday, Anita. Sorry to hear about your health issues. I hope you get some relief soon, my friend. Get plenty of comfort reading in.

Yesterday we went to Almere, where we booked a hotel for one night. It was located right between the train station and the hospital, both less than half a mile away.
This way I was enough distracted to keep my fear under control, and only this morning after breakfast I needed some diazepam. We were at the hospital well in time, so we had to wait 15 minutes. I had my e-reader with me and was able to spend the waiting time reading.

The endocrinologist was a very nice man, and we had a good talk about all that had happened recently. I had made a list with TSH and free T4 results, and the dosage at the time since 2015 (sadly I didn't have earlier reults).
We concluded I felt best at a dosage between 0,150 and 0,175, and agreed I will adjust by myself from now on, based on how I feel (in between the mentioned dosages). No more drawing blood for testing, unless I think it is needed. He will write a letter to my GP about this all. If ever needed I can make an appointment with him again.

So that is a big relief!
Tomorrow I will start to increase the dosage. It will take some time, as I can't do that at once, only in tiny steps. At least I know now I will feel better again!

>159 msf59: Thank you, Mark, now I am heading into the right direction healthwise.
I think my reading will get back to usual numbers in a few months time. For now I mostly keep it at easy reading.

>160 FAMeulstee: - It sounds like this doctor really listened to you and that is very important. I am so happy to hear this, Anita. Doctors these days seem just too busy. Sounds like your plan, before, during and after, worked out perfectly! Congrats!

>160 FAMeulstee: Knowledge is power, most especially over one's feelings. I am so so happy that your visit with the endocrinologist is the beginning of a much more responsive and responsible medical intervention regime. Hooray!

>162 jessibud2: Indeed, Shelley, he listened and he took his time for it.
I am glad it all went well. We have been to his hospital once before, for Frank. We had a very good experience back then. That was why I went to this hospital, and now I am fairly confident the if I ever need to go to a hospital I will go there again, if possible. No previous negative experiences help a lot to keep my anxiety at a bearable level.
And yes, our plan worked out very well :-)

>163 richardderus: Thank you, Richard dear, I am so relieved!
The last six months have been hard, so I am very happy to look forward for better times now!
*smooch*

Very glad you were listened to Anita. Sounds like there is hope for your future management too.

I'm so pleased to hear that your appointment went well, Anita, and hope that your health will continue to improve - even though it will mean that you rapidly overtake my reading numbers!

Hello Anita, that is such good news that the appointment with the endocrinologist went well and that you can manage now on your own to get to previous functioning medicine levels. Excellent!

>166 charl08: Thank you, Charlotte, I was very happy with the endocrinologist. Especially about the instructions he will send to my GP. Hope to get back to my usual self in a few months time.

>167 CDVicarage: Thank you, Kerry, it was a big relief it went so well.
It will take some time to adjust the dosage, so I might stay just behind you this year ;-)

>168 mdoris: Thank you, Mary, and thanks for all your support these months.
I was very happy when the endocrinologist suggested to manage the dosage myself. This was the outcome I hoped for.

>160 FAMeulstee: This is excellent news! I'm so glad the appointment went well and that you were able to meet with such a good doctor. It's also great to hear that you will be able to manage the dosage yourself. It sounds like it could not have gone better. I'm so happy for you!

>170 FAMeulstee: You are more than welcome Anita, just pleased you are on the right track!

>171 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene! I was so relieved it went so well, and Frank as well of course.
So now there are better times ahead

>172 mdoris: Thanks, Mary, so am I!

>160 FAMeulstee: Oh, I haven't been by your thread for a while (it moves too fast) and I hadn't kept track of your date with the endocrinologist. But I see it went well, which must be a huge weight off your shoulders (and Frank's - hope he wasn't too jealous about your date). It's good that he will write to your GP - hopefully they'll keep the records this time.

And a lovely treat, to stop by the library on the way home :0)

>174 humouress: Thank you, Nina.
Frank went with me on my date with the endocrinologist, I am way to nervous about doctors to go on my own. Of course it was also a big relief for him, I am no easy company in my present state.
Luckely I did keep most of my TSH and free T4 records since 2015 on paper, and made an overview of it for the endocrinologist. My threads here on LT were also helpful to find back exact dates.
I got a copy of the letter he send to my GP in my online records, and printed it to keep with my own records on paper.

I restrained myself at the library, only took two books home (as I had to carry them myself) ;-)