John Simpson - Tea, Books and Friends in 2023

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John Simpson - Tea, Books and Friends in 2023

1johnsimpson
Dez. 26, 2022, 4:51 pm

Here is my first thread for 2023, please come and join me, hear all about my tea drinking, reading and talking to LT friends.

2johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Dez. 31, 2022, 8:59 am

Hello everyone, this is my Eleventh year being part of this wonderful group. I am John, 59 years old and married to Karen for 38 years and counting. We have two lovely children, Rob and Amy. Rob lives with his Fiancee Louise, daughter Hannah who will be 12 in February. Amy married Andy in 2015 and they now have a cat called Combie and Elliott who was born on Star Wars Day. We also have a mad Cat called Felix and we love him, he is nearly three and a half.

Please come along and leave a message and let's see what fun we have.

I love books and currently have 2,931 books on my shelves, and this doesn't include my Cricket collection which stands at about 450 books. While reading I do enjoy the odd pot or two of tea.

3johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Dez. 28, 2022, 4:52 pm







4johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Feb. 21, 2023, 3:58 pm

CURRENTLY READING

5johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Jan. 22, 2023, 4:41 pm

I just love Big Books, these are my 1000+page reads so far with more to add.

1.Shogun by James Clavell, 1243 pgs
2.Gai-Jin by James Clavell, 1578 pgs
3.Noble House by James Clavell, 1435 pgs
4.War & Remembrance by Herman Wouk, 1171 pgs
5.Whirlwind by James Clavell, 1343 pgs
6.Centennial by James A. Michener 1100 pgs
7.The Covenant by James A. Michener, 1080 pgs
8.Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd, 1344 pgs
9.Homeland by John Jakes, 1138 pgs
10.Russka by Edward Rutherfurd, 1007 pgs
11.A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, 1474 pgs
12.Love and War by John Jakes, 1019 pgs
13.Texas by James A. Michener, 1508 pgs
14.My Life by Bill Clinton, 1000 pgs
15.Child of the Phoenix by Barbara Erskine, 1086 pgs
16.Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, 1059 pgs
17.The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, 1219 pgs
18.Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton, 1144 pgs
19.Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton, 1235 pgs
20.Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, 1185 pgs
21.Wicked by Jilly Cooper, 1007 pgs
22.The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, 1412 pgs
23.London by Edward Rutherfurd, 1299 pgs
24.The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, 1076 pgs
25.A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, 1391 pgs
26.World Without End by Ken Follett, 1111 pgs
27.Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, 1,015 pgs
28.The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, 1,056 pgs
29.An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, 1,065 pgs
30.New York by Edward Rutherfurd, 1017 pgs
31.Hawaii by James A.Michener, 1130 pgs
32.The Company by Robert Littell, 1281 pgs
33.The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F.Hamilton, 1225 pgs
34.Spangle by Gary Jennings, 1276 pgs
35.Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, 1024 pgs
36.Alaska by James A. Michener, 1073 pgs.
37.Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson, 1180 pgs.
38.Chesapeake by James A. Michener, 1132 pgs
39. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster, 1070 pgs.
40. The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch, 1156 pgs.
41. The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton, 1259 pgs.
42. The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton, 1244 pgs.
43. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, 1104 pgs.
44. The Source by James A. Michener, 1032 pgs.
45. Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon, 1220 pgs.
46. The Stand by Stephen King, 1325 pgs.
47. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, 1006 pgs.
48. Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer, 1401 pgs.
49. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, 1073 pgs.

6johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Feb. 6, 2023, 3:39 pm

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN JANUARY

1. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, PB - 1073 pages.
2. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, PB - 420 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN JANUARY

1. Appetite by Ed Balls, PB - 320 pages.
2. Murder at the Theatre Royal by Ada Moncrieff, PB - 247 pages.
3. Marple by Various Authors, HB - 272 pages.
4. The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page, PB - 275 pages.
5. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, PB - 378 pages.

7johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Jan. 29, 2023, 4:28 pm

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JANUARY

1. Shattered by James Patterson.
2. The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley.
3. Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert.
4. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths.
5. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths.
6. The Vicar Of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
7. Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas
8. The Forty-Five Guardsmen by Alexandre Dumas

8johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Mrz. 1, 2023, 3:50 pm

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN FEBRUARY

3. Kate Hannigan's Girl by Catherine Cookson, PB - 350 pages.
4. The Games by James Patterson, PB - 366 pages.
5. A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde, PB - 387 pages.
6. Worth Dying For by Lee Child, PB - 511 pages.
7. A Three Dog Problem by S.J. Bennett, PB - 388 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN FEBRUARY

6. 500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan, PB - 396 pages.
7. Death and the Lit Chick by G.M. Malliet, PB - 270 pages.
8. The Country Business by Max Hardcastle, PB - 270 pages.
9. Deadly Desires of Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB - 292 pages.

9johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Feb. 26, 2023, 3:37 pm

BOOKS BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY

9. Thrown by Sara Cox, PB.
10. Steal by James Patterson, PB.
11. Run Rose, Run by James Patterson, PB.
12. Blue Heaven by C. J. Box, PB.
13. The Foot Soldiers by Gerald Seymour, PB.
14. What am I Bid? My Life Under The Hammer by Philip Serrell, PB

10johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Dez. 31, 2022, 4:26 pm

Thread is now OPEN.

11PaulCranswick
Dez. 26, 2022, 6:26 pm



Pleased to be first, John.

I know you and I would struggle in the pictured reading positions!

12Berly
Dez. 27, 2022, 1:02 am

ED!!

Wishing you joyous fun with your tomes, and the shorter ones as well. : )

13johnsimpson
Dez. 27, 2022, 4:33 pm

>11 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul mate, we could give it a go if only to give everyone a laugh, think we should just stick to reading though, lol.

Great to see you here again and looking forward to a great reading year and hopefully a successful Cricketing year for our beloved County.

14johnsimpson
Dez. 27, 2022, 4:34 pm

>12 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, lovely to see you have dropped your star off here, always nice to know that you will be visiting, i will try and read the odd big tome this year but have lots of shorter ones to go at my dear friend.

15drneutron
Dez. 28, 2022, 3:51 pm

Welcome back, John!

16johnsimpson
Dez. 28, 2022, 4:05 pm

>15 drneutron:, Thanks for the message Jim, while ever you keep setting it up mate, i will be in.

17SandDune
Dez. 29, 2022, 3:36 am

Starred you for 2023 John

18Familyhistorian
Dez. 29, 2022, 1:10 pm

I'm looking forward to following your adventures and reading in 2023, John.

19RebaRelishesReading
Dez. 29, 2022, 1:50 pm

I've seen you around the threads for years now and finally decided to drop a star and follow more closely. Happy New Year John!

20johnsimpson
Dez. 29, 2022, 4:42 pm

>17 SandDune:, >18 Familyhistorian:, >19 RebaRelishesReading:, Thanks for stopping by and dropping yours stars off, Rhian, Meg and Reba, thank you dear ladies.

21johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Dez. 31, 2022, 8:20 am

DECEMBER'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 3

No of Authors.................... 3

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 0

Female Authors.................. 3

Pages Read....................... 973

Daily Avg........................... 31.39

Book Length avg................. 324.33

22johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Dez. 31, 2022, 8:22 am

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-12-22 - 2,911
Books added in December - 23
Books read in December - 3

Revised book total - 2931

Pages to read at 1-12-22 - 1,194,023
Pages added in December - 8,677
Pages read in December - 973

Revised total pages to read - 1,201,727

23johnsimpson
Dez. 31, 2022, 8:28 am

2022 Stats

57 books read

21,156 pages read

41 Authors

17 Male Authors

24 Female Authors

9 New Authors

Books on the Shelves 2,931

Pages to be read 1,201,727

OVERALL STATS 1-7-1995 TO 31-12-2022

1,343 BOOKS READ

615,301 PAGES READ

395 AUTHORS

226 MALE AUTHORS

169 FEMALE AUTHORS

AVERAGE BOOK LENGTH 458.15 PAGES.

AVERAGE READING PER DAY 61.25 PAGES.

24CDVicarage
Dez. 31, 2022, 9:03 am

You come up in so many of the other threads I follow that I can't think why I haven't followed you direct before!

25johnsimpson
Dez. 31, 2022, 9:08 am

>24 CDVicarage:, Hi Kerry my dear, nice to see you here. There are so many really nice people on here that it would be a monumental task to follow all that you really like. I hadn't realised that you were UK based, and now i will have to seek out your thread as we seem to have so many books in common.

26lauralkeet
Dez. 31, 2022, 9:37 am

Hi John, like others here I've seen you around but, inexplicably, have not visited your thread until now. Happy New Year!

27witchyrichy
Dez. 31, 2022, 11:02 am

Dropping my star and wishing you and yours a happy 2023!

28alcottacre
Dez. 31, 2022, 2:35 pm

>23 johnsimpson: Wow, those are some great stats, John!

I hope to keep better track of you in 2023!

29johnsimpson
Dez. 31, 2022, 4:57 pm

>26 lauralkeet:, Hi Laura my dear, like i said to Kerry (CD Vicarage), we see so many lovely peoples threads and yet there are only so many we can follow that we just see messages from others on the threads of those we follow. I will be paying you a visit and dropping my start off my dear friend.

30johnsimpson
Dez. 31, 2022, 4:58 pm

>27 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, thanks for dropping your star off again, i look forward to visiting you thread during 2023 my dear friend.

31johnsimpson
Dez. 31, 2022, 4:59 pm

>28 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, i knew you would enjoy my stats and i have dropped my star off for 2023 and look forward to visiting your thread my dear friend.

32johnsimpson
Dez. 31, 2022, 5:36 pm

I said to Karen earlier that as it stands, we can only add 68 books this year to keep it below 3,000 books on the TBR pile, to add more i will need to read all the books that Karen read last year, more of the books that she won't read or bot, lol.

33quondame
Dez. 31, 2022, 9:08 pm

Happy new year John!

34figsfromthistle
Dez. 31, 2022, 9:55 pm

Wishing you and Karen a wonderful new year!

35lauralkeet
Jan. 1, 2023, 8:28 am

>29 johnsimpson: Thanks John, and happy new year to you and Karen!

36thornton37814
Jan. 1, 2023, 8:32 am

Wishing you many happy pots of tea and a year filled with good reads!

37DianaNL
Jan. 1, 2023, 8:39 am

Happy new year to you and Karen, John!

38RebaRelishesReading
Jan. 1, 2023, 11:54 am

Wishing you and yours a happy, book-filled 2023!

39EllaTim
Jan. 1, 2023, 12:10 pm

Wishing you and Karen a happy new year, John!

40Berly
Jan. 1, 2023, 11:06 pm

41johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:11 pm

>33 quondame:, >34 figsfromthistle:, Thank you Susan and Anita, dear ladies.

42johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:12 pm

>35 lauralkeet:, >36 thornton37814:, Thank you Laura and Lori, dear ladies.

43johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:13 pm

>37 DianaNL:, >38 RebaRelishesReading:, >39 EllaTim:, Thank you Diana, Reba and Ella, dear ladies.

44johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:33 pm

On New Year's Eve i picked Elliott up from Amy at our usual pick up point, this was to allow Amy and Andy to have the night to them selves. Once Elliott was secure in his seat,we parted and i made my way to Asda to pick Karen up from work. We were a bit early so we popped into the store to give her a surprise and Karen gave us three hot water bottles, each with a pair of woolly socks. Elliott clung to one set and we went and paid for them and went back to the car to wait for Karen.

Once Karen was in the car we made our way home and had a pot of tea and Elliott had some juice. We fed Elliott and then it was time for his bath and then bedtime story with his bottle.

Once Karen was back downstairs, we had our tea and listened to some music while i was on the laptop on here. We went up to bed at 11.30pm and put the TV on to watch Sam Ryder before they switched to the live camera outside for Big Ben to ring in the New Year and then the firework display from the London Eye, i also had the Funchal webcam on my phone to see their New Year firework display.

45witchyrichy
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:39 pm

>44 johnsimpson: Happy new year! I made it to 10 pm myself. I really wanted to watch the London New Year's Day parade but couldn't figure out how here in the states.

46johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:48 pm

Yesterday morning, Karen got Elliott out of bed at 6.15am as he was unsettled and he joined us in our bed. Just after 7am i went and made us a pot of tea and some juice for Elliott and went back up to bed to enjoy our drinks.

We got up an hour or so later and got washed and dressed and then we came downstairs to have breakfast. Elliott didn't eat too much until Amy and Andy arrived at 10.30am and then he had some toast while we all had a drink. We had a good natter and then Karen, Amy, Andy and Elliott had some lunch, i wasn't hungry. After lunch, Amy helped me put two dining chairs back into the loft and then i passed her the decoration boxes back down ready for us to start taking the decorations down.

After another drink, Amy, Andy an Elliott left for home and we watched a bit of TV before having something to eat before the new series of Call The Midwife started. As usual, CTM always has a story that pulls on the heartstrings. After CTM we watched a programme looking at the songs written by Lamont Dozier before we went up to bed to read and enjoy a pot of tea.

47johnsimpson
Jan. 2, 2023, 4:49 pm

>45 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen, Happy New Year dear friend.

48scaifea
Jan. 3, 2023, 11:58 am

Hi, John!

What a great way to ring in the new year - with Elliott!

49benitastrnad
Bearbeitet: Jan. 3, 2023, 2:06 pm

I spent New Year’s Eve at my Aunt’s. She has an annual New Year’s Eve party that I attend every year. She is 80 this year and her children help her get her house ready for the party. I had a great time and hope to spend several more New Year’s Eve’s with her and all my family and friends from Munden. It isn’t New York or London, but it a good way to spend New Year’s Eve.

50johnsimpson
Jan. 3, 2023, 3:46 pm

>48 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, it was nice to have Elliott with us to see the New Year in and as i type this on Tuesday evening, in just over 11 hours time i will be picking the little fella up for his Wednesday visit and overnight stay.

51johnsimpson
Jan. 3, 2023, 4:17 pm

>49 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, your New Year's Eve party at your Aunt's sounds lovely and i can see why you want to have many more. To be honest it doesn't matter where you are on New Year's Eve, New York, London, Sydney or Munden, as long as you are with the people you want to be with, that's the main thing.

We were in bed watching Big Ben herald the New Year in, followed by the firework display from its base at the London Eye. At the same time i had my phone with me and was on the Funchal Webcam watching their Firework display as we are on the same time zone. Since New Year's Eve there has been quite a bit of criticism of their display, if you go to see it for the first time, it looks spectacular but if you like to be there every year, it is just the same old, same old. Criticism is that it is the same company putting it on and the display does not change. I have been watching the display for quite a number of years now and i would have to agree, there is little colour on show and i personally think that they think that just because they put on a display, the visitors will turn up. The consensus is that the best display in Europe is London's and that they should have a good look at what they do. A few years ago they were in competition with Sydney for the best New Year's Eve firework display, but that has gone now. We want to go just for the atmosphere as well as be there for the Christmas market which looks fabulous. Hopefully by the time we are able to go, the display will have got better, Karen can't have time off from the 14th December until the 7th of January, so we will have to wait until she retires.

52johnsimpson
Jan. 7, 2023, 4:19 pm

On Wednesday morning i went to meet Amy at our usual spot to collect Elliott, after a quick chat and Elliott safely in the car, we parted and went our separate ways. Once home with him, i had breakfast and a pot of tea and Elliott shared some of Karen's toast.
After a nappy change we went into Wakefield to visit Curry's electrical store to look at Televisions. Ours has started playing up when switching on and it has taken ten minutes to get a proper picture along with the crackles and other noises, we managed to coax it through to New Year but thought we should look at a new one.

We had Elliott without reins and once near the TV's, he wanted to get hold of the handsets while we were looking at various TV's. The last two TV's we have had, have both been Samsung's and we have been well suited with them, both lasted 14 years and so we picked another Samsung. When we had our first one, Robert couldn't say Samsung but said Samsnug and that name has stuck all these years. We ordered a 43" QLED TV and were told it should be with us by the 10th if not sooner.

We left the store and Karen took Elliott back to the car while i went into Pets at Home to get some food for Felix. Once done i got back to the car and we made our way to the Aldi at Snowhill. Karen went in the store to get the few bits we needed and once done and the shopping in the car, we made our way home. Once home we unpacked and put the shopping away and then i made us a pot of tea and some juice for Elliott.

A short time later it was lunchtime for Elliott, i wasn't hungry but had a coffee and then went outside to empty some water out of the waterbutt. By the time i was done it was time for me to make a coffee in the travel mug and make my way to Hannah's School to pick her and Molly up. Hannah and Molly got in the car and we dropped Molly off and then parked up at Hannah's and she got changed and then we made our way home.

Hannah and Elliott played together and then it was time for tea to be made, we all ate together and after we had finished and Elliott had played for a short while, it was time for his bathtime and then bedtime. I took his milk up and had a goodnight kiss and then i took Hannah home.

53johnsimpson
Jan. 7, 2023, 5:54 pm

We awoke just before 8 am on Thursday morning and heard no sound from Elliott, i got up, dressing gown and slippers on and went next door to find him quietly playing with my alarm clock. I brought Elliott into our room and placed him on the bed next to Karen and went downstairs to make us a pot of tea and some juice for Elliott.

We finished our drinks and then got up, washed and dressed and then went downstairs to get things sorted out. Once Felix had been done, we got breakfast ready, i got our meds and vitamins out and made us a coffee and we went into the living room to have breakfast. After breakfast, Elliott needed a nappy change and then we played, outside it was raining and looked miserable. Later Karen started the ironing and Elliott wanted to get involved so Karen suggested i took him for a walk. The rain had stopped so we got our coats on and we went for a walk around the estate. Elliott was very good holding my hand but we had to stop everytime we passed a driveway with a car on it or when a car came into the estate.

We were near to home when it started raining again, luckily it was light drizzle and we were hardly wet when we got back in. Karen had finished the ironing and i made us a drink and Elliott got his juice, a short time later Karen made Elliott some lunch. By this time i had received a message from DPD to say that our Television would be delivered between 13.13 pm and 14.13 pm. I told Karen i would wait until 1.30 pm before setting off with Elliott to take him home. At 13.20 pm the DPD van pulled up and the Television was delivered, Karen said to put it in front of the sofa and to set it up on Friday. This was done and ten minutes later i set off with Elliott.

We got to Selby just after 2.15 pm and Andy came out to get Elliott out of the car, he slept all the way to Selby. It was Andy's birthday and i wished him Happy Birthday again and we went inside and Andy made me a drink. We watched music videos as that is what Elliott wanted on the TV. Amy arrived home at 4 pm and i left for home at 4.30 pm.

54johnsimpson
Jan. 7, 2023, 6:05 pm

On Friday we got up with the alarm at 7 am, we got washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort everything out. We had breakfast and soon after it was time to take Karen to work. I dropped Karen off and then parked up nearer to the store entrance and then went into the store to get the few bits that we needed. Once the shopping was done, i made my way home and unpacked and put it away.

After this i went to the front door and took the lights off the Christmas tree in the pot and then went back to get the wreath off the door and took down the wooden Christmas tree that i had made last year. I took the lights off and packed them away and then i took the baubles off the wooden tree and put them away. Once all this was done, i made myself a pot of tea and went into the living room, i read for a bit and then had another pot of tea.

I watched the lunchtime news both national and local and then turned the TV off and took it off the TV unit. I then unpacked the new TV, fitted the feet and then connected the cables up and put it on the TV unit. Now came the set up, following instructions given on screen, everything was going well until i had to put in the wi-fi code. Alternating between lowercase and uppercase letters and numbers caused me some issues as i caught a button and it took me back to the start of putting it in, also pressing the button for uppercase only lasted for one letter, i had four uppercase on the bounce and that caused me to hit a wrong button and it wiped everything out, the language was a tad fruity. Eventually i got everything inputted and set up the channels and then set up iplayer, everything was good, Karen would be pleased.

By the time i had finished, i had time for a drink of tea and a bit of reading before it was time to make Karen a drink in the travel mug and then go and get her from work.

Once home with Karen, she loved the TV and we had a pot of tea before we made our tea.

55scaifea
Jan. 8, 2023, 10:51 am

A new TV - how exciting! New gadgets are always fun, I think.

56PaulCranswick
Jan. 8, 2023, 11:01 am

>54 johnsimpson: she loved the TV and we had a pot of tea before we made our tea.

Made me smile, John, I know what you mean!

57johnsimpson
Jan. 8, 2023, 4:38 pm

>55 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, a new TV that brings us into the Smart TV age as the kids keep telling us, lol. Just got to get used to what we can do and watch with it.

58johnsimpson
Jan. 8, 2023, 4:41 pm

>56 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, isn't the way we English say things, funny. I could go back to the pit days and say we had our pot of tea and then Karen made our snap. Now this would cause some confusion, lol.

59thornton37814
Jan. 8, 2023, 7:05 pm

>56 PaulCranswick: >58 johnsimpson: John is just trying to confuse the Americans!

60Berly
Jan. 8, 2023, 7:24 pm

>58 johnsimpson: Oh snap! I don't get it. What does "Karen made our snap" mean? (Oh snap! is a playful indication of surprise or insult - Urban dictionary) LOL

61SandDune
Jan. 9, 2023, 6:42 am

>58 johnsimpson: Well, I understand what you mean John! Both of my grandfathers worked in the collieries (one was a miner, one a stone mason / builder) and three out of my four great-grandfathers, as well as numerous more distant relatives. I don't know whether they would have used the term 'snap' though. Probably not as I think it's more Northern? Actually, some of them definitely wouldn't have used it as they'd have been speaking Welsh!

62ChelleBearss
Jan. 9, 2023, 10:03 am

Happy 2023, John! Hope this year brings great things to you and your family

63johnsimpson
Jan. 9, 2023, 4:23 pm

>59 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, i wouldn't dream of confusing the Americans, just adding the richness of Yorkshire terms, i can easily confuse myself to be honest, dear friend.

64johnsimpson
Jan. 9, 2023, 4:29 pm

>60 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, during my growing up years and then when i started work at Sharlston Colliery, Snap was the food we took to work. In 1983 we were all given a "Snap Tin" for our snap, it was in the same shape as a slice of bread. Snap is a colloquialism for lunch in the East Midlands and parts of Yorkshire. I hope this explains "Snap".

65johnsimpson
Jan. 9, 2023, 4:31 pm

>61 SandDune:, Hi Rhian my dear, from what i have picked up from you over the last year or two, it doesn't surprise me that you knew what i was on about although you are correct that the Welsh miners would have spoke Welsh, i wonder if they had a Welsh version of Snap.

66johnsimpson
Jan. 9, 2023, 4:33 pm

>62 ChelleBearss:, Hi Chelle my dear, lovely to see you here and i think 2023 will be a good year for the family. One thing to look forward to is that i turn 60 in July and it does not worry me as i don't feel like i am about to reach that number.

I hope that 2023 is a good year for you and the family my dear friend.

67Berly
Jan. 9, 2023, 4:34 pm

>64 johnsimpson: Thanks for the explanation. I had no clue. Hope you liked my play on words. Happy Monday!

68johnsimpson
Jan. 9, 2023, 4:50 pm

>67 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, glad my explanation was useful and i did like your play on words, hope your Monday is being a good one.

69FAMeulstee
Jan. 10, 2023, 3:38 am

Happy reading in 2023, John!

70johnsimpson
Jan. 10, 2023, 4:15 pm

>69 FAMeulstee:, Thanks Anita my dear.

71witchyrichy
Jan. 10, 2023, 4:26 pm

As I read through your posts about food for the miners, I was reminded of my visit to southwest Virginia this past summer, the major coal mining region in my state. I visited the Coal Museum in Big Stone Gap and was hosted by Freddie and Ron, the two volunteers who were part of the mining industry. Here are a few of the pictures from the museum that I thought you might enjoy...brother miners across the pond! I don't have a picture of their lunch pails but they had several parts that could hold different items.

72johnsimpson
Jan. 10, 2023, 4:56 pm

Karen had her Carpal Tunnel op this morning, initially she was told it was today at 12.30 pm at Pontefract Hospital, then on Friday they rang to say could she come in for 7.30 am at Pontefract hospital and then yesterday she got a call to say could she attend Dewsbury hospital at 7.30am. we got up at 6 am, had a pot of tea and then i took her to Dewsbury, after she had checked in, i left for home.

Once home i had a coffee and my meds and then had my breakfast, not long after i got a text from Karen to say that she could come home. I got back to the hospital for 10 am and collected Karen, on the way home we called into the Asda so she could drop off her sick note and then we made our way to the Post Office in Crofton so that i could pay the last payment of the 22/23 Council Tax. Once the Council Tax was paid, we made our way home and once Karen was settled in the armchair, i made us a pot of tea.

73quondame
Jan. 10, 2023, 7:18 pm

>72 johnsimpson: Best wishes to Karen for a speedy and complete recovery.

74RebaRelishesReading
Jan. 10, 2023, 7:28 pm

>72 johnsimpson: Sounds like a busy day. I'm glad they finally figured out where she needed to be and when and hope her recovery is smooth and the results good.

75ChelleBearss
Jan. 11, 2023, 9:33 am

Hoping for a quick recovery for Karen!

76witchyrichy
Jan. 11, 2023, 10:17 am

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

77johnsimpson
Jan. 11, 2023, 4:27 pm

>73 quondame:, Thanks Susan my dear, sadly she is not a good patient, more impatient. She has managed OK today and i have done all the nappy changes for Elliott.

78johnsimpson
Jan. 11, 2023, 4:32 pm

>74 RebaRelishesReading:, Hi Reba my dear, thanks for the message, no idea why they did all the chopping and changing of time and venue but it all worked out well in the end. The surgeon was lovely by all accounts and they even ended up having a singalong as he put on some 70's music.

79johnsimpson
Jan. 11, 2023, 4:32 pm

>75 ChelleBearss:, Thanks Chelle my dear.

>76 witchyrichy:, Thanks Karen my dear.

80FAMeulstee
Jan. 11, 2023, 5:27 pm

>72 johnsimpson: That was a lot of changing appointments for Karen. Glad it did work out.
Wishing Karen a speedy recovery, and to you John, the patience to deal with an impatient patient.

81lauralkeet
Jan. 11, 2023, 6:38 pm

Carpal tunnel surgery doesn't sound fun John, but I'm sure the results will be worth it. I wish Karen a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, you are doing yeoman's work with those nappy's so good on ya.

82johnsimpson
Jan. 12, 2023, 4:25 pm

>80 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, the chopping and changing of venue and time is probably due to all the problems we've got in the Health Service at the moment. To be honest she wasn't expecting to be seen so soon and could have said she wasn't available but decided to just get it over with. As an impatient patient, she is getting a little better and the big bandage will be taken off on Monday and possibly the stitches taken out.

83johnsimpson
Jan. 12, 2023, 4:31 pm

>81 lauralkeet:, Hi Laura my dear, Carpal Tunnel surgery is quite a quick and simple procedure, the only bit that is tough is the injection to numb the hand, it feels as if they are pinning your hand to the surface your hand is resting on, after that you feel nothing and the numbness lasts about 12 hours. I had both of mine done in 2021, six weeks apart and the results are brilliant.

Dealing with the nappies is a doddle, it's not as if i haven't done them before, both of mine had them changed by me and i did a fair share of Hannah's nappies. Out of all the nappies from yesterday morning until lunchtime today, only two were of the smelly variety, but boy do they pong and he just laughs and says "dirty". All done and dusted until Saturday when he will be dropped off while Amy goes to the hairdressers.

84johnsimpson
Jan. 12, 2023, 4:52 pm

I was up with the alarm at 7 am yesterday morning to go and collect him at our meeting point just outside Monk Fryston. Once home i had a pot of tea while Karen gave him some breakfast, i then had my meds and breakfast before playing with him. We got youtube up on the TV and he watched Dua Lipa videos, he loves her and has a little dance to the music. We had a pot or two of tea while playing with him.

Karen gave him lunch and then about an hour later i made a coffee in the travel mug and got the treats for Hannah and Molly and then put Elliott in the car and we went to collect the girls from school. Elliott slept all the way and only woke up just as i was setting off after the girls got in the car. Molly loved him and said she was going to kidnap him and Hannah and me laughed. We dropped Molly off and then got to Hannah's, i took Elliott out of the car and we went inside, Hannah went to get changed and Auntie Louise came downstairs and he was a bit unsure of who she was, he was still a bit sleepy. Hannah came down changed and we all got in the car, i dropped Louise off in Ossett town centre and then we made our way home.

Once home Hannah played with Elliott, we all had a drink and then we got tea on for all of us. A bit more time playing and then it was time for Elliott to have a quick wash and then into bed with Karen reading to him. Hannah and I got goodnight kisses and i took Hannah home.

This morning we awoke at 7.35 am and as Karen made her way to the toilet, she looked in on Elliott and he was awake playing with his soft toys. Karen got him out of bed and he was soaking, the bottom sheet had to come off as well as his pyjama bottoms. Karen changed his nappy while i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea and a bottle of juice for Elliott. Felix shot upstairs as soon as i opened the downstairs doors and quickly rejoined me in the kitchen wanting to go out.

I took the drinks upstairs and Elliott was keeping my side of the bed warm, i moved him to the middle and got into a nice warm bed, bless him. Once drinks were finished, we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs. Karen set a dark load of washing going before making Elliott some toasted muffin and she got our cereal ready, i made us a coffee and we had breakfast.

I had another coffee while Karen put the washing on the airers and a couple of his items in the tumble dryer. When both were done, i changed his nappy and we got ready to get in the car to go into Wakefield. First stop was Matalan so that Karen could pick up a parcel and then onto Sainsbury's supermarket for a couple of bits. Once all was done we made our way home.

I made a coffee in the travel mug and got Elliott's bags together and put them in the car and then changed a very smelly nappy before getting Elliott in the car and we set off for Selby. Due to technical problems at the office, Amy was working from home and we arrived just after 1.30 pm. I had a coffee with them and Andy and then set off for home.

I got back and made us both a pot of tea and we watched Escape to the Country and then The Repair Shop. After that had finished i went outside and emptied some water out of the water butt as more rain is expected.

85johnsimpson
Jan. 14, 2023, 5:22 pm

Yesterday we awoke with the alarm at 7.30 am and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Felix decided that he wanted to go out. We finished our tea and then got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort everything out. I left Karen having breakfast while i went and did the bit of shopping we needed. I was done within an hour from setting off to getting home and once home i unpacked and put it away and then had a pot of tea, my meds and my cereal.

After a short while we popped out to find a bakery in Ackworth, using Karen's phone for satnav, we eventually found it but we could have done with being there a couple of hours earlier as all the bread had sold out. Karen managed to get some fruit teacakes and some Eccles Cakes and then we made our way to Sainsbury's so that i could pick up the items i couldn't get at Asda. Once done, we made our way home and had a coffee.

By the time the lunchtime news came on, Karen wasn't feeling too well and so i sent her up to bed and i got on with the downstairs housework. When i had finished i made us a pot of tea and when Escape to the Country had finished, Karen came back downstairs. We watched a bit of TV until 6 pm and then we made our tea and watched the local news.

We watched TV and after a while i got the laptop out and came on here, i had one eye on what i was typing and one eye on Death In Paradise on the TV.

86thornton37814
Jan. 14, 2023, 6:08 pm

Sounds like Karen might be trying to overdo it a bit after the surgery. Hope she takes it easy while it heals.

87kac522
Jan. 14, 2023, 7:38 pm

>85 johnsimpson: Death in Paradise is my husband's favorite. I'm more of a Shakespeare & Hathaway fan. We both love Father Brown and are enjoying Sister Boniface.

88PaulCranswick
Jan. 15, 2023, 4:52 am

Wishing you and Karen a splendid Sunday, John.

Hani is a bit under the weather today and my brother tells me that simply everyone he knows is coughing and spluttering.

89EllaTim
Jan. 15, 2023, 5:56 am

Wishing Karen a speedy recovery John! Being careful while it heals is good advice. And have a nice Sunday, both of you.

90RebaRelishesReading
Jan. 15, 2023, 11:38 am

Hope Karen feels better soon.

Had to smile about the TV shows mentioned -- we watch all of those regularly and enjoy them. We consider them "crime light".

91figsfromthistle
Jan. 15, 2023, 8:14 pm

Hope Karen is back to her old self in no time!

I quite enjoy watching escape to the country as well. Its a great show.

92johnsimpson
Jan. 16, 2023, 4:12 pm

>86 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, if it had been her left hand that had been done then she would have been fine and able to do most things, but being right handed, she is feeling frustrated. Yesterday i ended up washing her hair and then drying her hair with the hairdryer while she managed to use the brush to style it right. We had a bit of fun with the hand held shower hose, i managed to wet both of us. The main thing was that her hair looked good and she was pleased to have it washed.

93johnsimpson
Jan. 16, 2023, 4:15 pm

>87 kac522:, Hi Kathy my dear, we love Death in Paradise and look forward to each episode, we both like Father Brown but i am normally busy as it it shown on an afternoon, and Karen is at work.

We tend to watch them on catch-up TV along with Escape to the Country and The Repair Shop. Last night Karen wasn't in the mood for Call The Midwife so we watched The Great Pottery Throwdown instead and we were going to watch CTM today but that hasn't happened.

94johnsimpson
Jan. 16, 2023, 4:18 pm

>88 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, we had a good Sunday, nice and relaxing. Sorry to hear Hani is under the weather, your brother is correct, there is so much coughing and spluttering going on with various bugs doing the rounds. From Mid October we had one thing after another and were not fully OK until mid December. We will send special healing love and hugs to Hani.

Have a good week mate.

95johnsimpson
Jan. 16, 2023, 4:21 pm

>89 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, Karen doesn't like being forced to do nothing and it annoys her. I had to wash and dry her hair yesterday and we had fun with that. The main problem is that she is right handed and it is her right hand that has been done. Today she had an appointment at the hand clinic and they took the big bandage off but put fresh padded dressings on, she has more movement but has been told to take things steady, we will see how that goes.

96johnsimpson
Jan. 16, 2023, 4:25 pm

>90 RebaRelishesReading:, Hi Reba my dear, today Karen had an appointment at the hand clinic and they took the big bandage off but replaced it with padded dressings and a tubigrip bandage. She has more movement but has been told to take things steady, we'll see how that goes, lol.

I am glad that you like the programmes i mentioned, they are good to watch and don't tax the brain to follow, with Death in Paradise on at 9 pm, it is just right before we think about going up to bed to read and enjoy a pot of tea.

97johnsimpson
Jan. 16, 2023, 4:29 pm

>91 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, Karen will soon be back to herself, after today's appointment at the hand clinic and having the dressings reduced, she should have the stitches out next Monday. The main problem is that besides what they normally do in Carpal Tunnel surgery, Karen had two muscles in the surgery area as opposed to normally there being just one, he took that away as it has no effect to what she does with her hand. She will be able to do a little bit more as long as he is careful and does not try to do things she shouldn't be doing, i will make sure of that.

98quondame
Jan. 16, 2023, 5:18 pm

I'm glad to hear that Karen is recovering well and hope she's back to full function before she's too tempted to just do the things.

99witchyrichy
Jan. 17, 2023, 11:30 am

>92 johnsimpson: You are a good husband to wash Karen's hair! That was all I wanted a day or so after my hip surgery: clean fresh hair. Bob was kind to help out mostly by propping me up since I did have both my hands to use!

Sending healing thoughts your way.

100johnsimpson
Jan. 17, 2023, 4:22 pm

>98 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, Karen is feeling better by the day and now that she has a bit more use of her hand, she is very pleased. She is taking things steady and not over-exerting her hand and it is only a few days before she has the stitches out.

101johnsimpson
Jan. 17, 2023, 4:30 pm

>99 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, Karen has had to wash me in similar circumstances so it was only right for me to wash and try and dry her hair. Now that she has the big bandage off, she will be able to dry and style her hair but i will have to wash it until she gets the stitches out on Monday.

102johnsimpson
Jan. 17, 2023, 4:36 pm

The last few days have been pretty good, we have both had more time for reading and i have got my household jobs done. Yesterday Karen had an appointment at the hand clinic and they took off the big bandage but put on a small set of dressings and a tubigrip bandage. She has to go back next Monday and then they will take the stitches out.

Today i dropped Karen in Wakefield and she did a little bit of shopping before meeting her friend Sharon for a coffee, lunch and a catch-up and to pick up and pay for the Coconut flavour cigars that Sharon brought back from Madeira for me.

I will be picking Elliott up in the morning for his usual overnight stay.

103Berly
Jan. 21, 2023, 8:31 pm

Hope Karen continues to heal well. Hugs and best wishes to you both!!

104johnsimpson
Jan. 22, 2023, 4:53 pm



Finished my first book of 2023, Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, PB - 1073 pages. This is the 49th 1,000+ page book i have read.

Private Detective Cormoran Strike is visiting his family in Cornwall when he is approached by a woman asking for help finding her mother, Margot Bamborough, who went missing in mysterious circumstances in 1974.

Strike has never tackled a cold case before, but, intrigued, he takes it on, adding to the long list of cases that he and his partner in the agency, Robin Ellacott, are currently investigating. Plus the pair are still battling their feelings for one another, while Robin is also juggling a messy divorce and unwanted male attention.

Strike and Robin soon find themselves up against a fiendishly complex case with leads that include tarot cards, a psycopathic serial killer and witnesses who cannot all be trusted. And they learn that even cases decades old can prove to be deadly....

105EllaTim
Jan. 22, 2023, 5:09 pm

Hi John! Congratulations on finishing your first Big Book of the year. It’s a great series, but 1075 pages is a bit daunting! Are you planning on starting her last book now?
And how is Karen’s hand doing? I hope you all are fine.

106johnsimpson
Jan. 23, 2023, 3:51 pm

>103 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, Karen's hand is progressing nicely, she had the stitches out this morning but they were a bit concerned that there was still a little gap, so they put on three steri-strips for a couple of days. She has to go back next Monday for the all clear.

Sending love and hugs to you and the family from both of us dear friend.

107johnsimpson
Jan. 23, 2023, 3:55 pm

>105 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, it was nice to finish such a big tome and i really enjoyed it, but as you know, i do love a BIG book, lol. I am waiting for the next one to come out in paperback so it will be at least another six months before it comes out i think.

Karen's hand is progressing nicely, she visited the hand clinic this morning and had the stitches out but they were concerned that there was still a small gap so they put on three steri-strips to bind it together for another couple of days. She has to go back next Monday for the all clear but has been told not to lift heavy objects yet.

We are all fine my dear and send love and hugs to you and Marc, dear friend.

108johnsimpson
Jan. 23, 2023, 5:01 pm

Having Wednesday and Thursday with Elliott is wonderful, Wednesday morning was very cold and frosty when i got out to the car and it took me a few minutes to get the windshield cleared but i made time up when on the motorway. I got parked up at 7.58am and usually Amy arrives between 8.10 and 8.15 am. That morning an abnormal load passed me as i sat in the car in the lay-by and so i expected Amy to be delayed. Traffic seemed fine for about ten minutes and then Amy called me. She was delayed at the railway crossing coming out of Selby, not to worry i said and then traffic built up as it passed me by.

Amy called me again about ten minutes later to say traffic was bad and slow, i said it was with me but again not to worry. Eventually she arrived at 8.38 am and apologised but i said these things happen. We had a quick chat, got Elliott in the car and then we set off to the roundabout and from there went our separate ways. Traffic was fine for me on the way home although i had expected delays and rang Karen to let her know what had gone on. Traffic on the M62 motorway looked bad going west as i was going east and then on the radio they said that between junction 21 and 23 going west, two lanes had been shut down due to an accident. As i was travelling nicely west to the Normanton junction, i passed a roadside sign saying that between junction 25 to 21 west there were two hour delays, lucky for me i came off at junction 31.

We had a nice day and i picked Hannah and Molly up from school and once home with Hannah, she played with Elliott.

On Thursday morning we had to do our shopping, we went to Asda and put Elliott in the trolley and he loved it and was as good as gold. Once done in Asda we went across the way to Aldi, i dropped Karen off and took Elliott for a drive to try and get him to have a sleep. He dropped asleep and only woke as Karen got to the car with the bit of shopping from Aldi. Once home he tried to help with putting the shopping away, mostly things for the fridge, bless him. Once done we had a drink of tea and Elliott had juice.

I took Elliott home just after 1.30pm and spent a couple of hours with Elliott and Andy until Amy came home. I had a chat with Amy before i made my way home.

109johnsimpson
Jan. 24, 2023, 4:47 pm

Friday morning was steady away and then in the afternoon i did the downstairs housework. Karen was feeling a little under the weather and so she went up to bed for a few hours, it could have been partly due to the cold weather over the last few days as she does feel the cold. I kept her in hot drinks but a couple she let go cold as she had fallen asleep.

We had some cheese on toast as neither of us felt that hungry and then Karen went back up to bed. We both watched Death in Paradise and it was a good episode.

Saturday morning and we awoke with the alarm and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Felix joined us and stayed on Karen's legs as if he was looking after her. Once we were up and dressed, we came downstairs and while Karen got things sorted out, i went to the Post Office in Crofton and posted a couple of cards to Australia, one good and one bad. On Thursday night Karen got a message from her cousin in Australia to say that her husband had died after a short illness, he was 76 years old. So one card was a sympathy card and the other went to Auntie Pat who will be 100 on the 2nd of February. I also had a small package for Auntie Pat but due to a cyber attack on Royal Mail and so no packages are being sent abroad. Once i had done the posting i picked up and paid for my newspaper and then made my way home.

Once home we had breakfast, meds and a coffee and then we watched James Martin's Saturday Morning and then Karen made a large Cottage Pie. The rest of the day was spent reading, having various drinks, time on our phones and then i put Final Score on to follow the football.

After Football Focus finished, Karen put the Cottage pie in the oven and we had a drink of tea until it was ready. The Cottage Pie was delicious and after a short break we had some cakes. We decided to go onto the BBC iPlayer and watched the first three episodes of The Traitors US, it was so addictive as was the first Traitors series featuring Brits. Once we had watched three episodes we left it and put the radio on and we both had some Toffee Vodka before we went up to bed with a nice pot of tea and we did some reading.

110drneutron
Jan. 25, 2023, 9:01 am

Mmm, cottage pie sounds great! I need to make one soon.

111johnsimpson
Jan. 25, 2023, 3:46 pm

Sunday really was a relaxing day for us, after a nice lie-in with a pot of tea, we got up,washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort everything out and make breakfast. After a breakfast of crumpets and muffins with Raspberry jam and Marmalade, a coffee and our meds, we listened to the radio and read until it was time to set off to the cinema.

We got our tickets and a coffee and went to screen 7 and got settled ready to watch "A Man called Otto", we had both read the book quite a while ago. We really enjoyed the film and shed a tear or two, Tom Hanks played the role of Otto (Ove) well and the rest of the cast were really good. The flashbacks to his youth added to the films enjoyment. Once it had finished, we made our way home and had a nice welcome pot of tea.

After a while Karen went and made our tea and we ate while watching Countryfile and then we changed to Channel Four and watched the 2nd part of Jon Snow's How to Live to One Hundred and then we watched The Great Pottery Throwdown. I got the laptop out and came on here for a couple of hours.

112RebaRelishesReading
Jan. 25, 2023, 4:04 pm

I loved the book (A Man Called Ove) and sounds like I'd like the movie too. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. Otherwise, sounds like you've been having a pleasant, busy-ish time. Hope Karen continues to do better with her wrist.

113johnsimpson
Jan. 25, 2023, 4:04 pm

So far this week we have been up early every morning, no pot of tea in bed for us this week. Monday morning and Karen had an appointment at the Hand clinic at 8.45am, we had time for a pot of tea before we set off and had breakfast and our meds when we got back.

Karen had the stitches out of her hand but they put three steri-strips on as there was a slight gap in the wound area. After breakfast we watched the news programme and then had a sandwich before i took Karen to Dewsbury Hospital to visit an old school friend who has recently had a stroke. I stayed in the cafe and got a coffee and read until Karen came back to me. Before we left the cafe we bought three books from their sale shelf for a total of £1.50 and then we made our way home.

Yesterday we had a lie-in and then got up, washed and dressed and i had a pot of tea as Karen was supposed to be meeting a friend at Blacker Hall Farm Shop Cafe. While i was drinking my pot of tea and getting ready to take Karen to the cafe, she got a message from her friend Mandy, to say that she had tested positive for Covid and didn't want to risk going. Karen rang them to cancel the table reservation and then went and got breakfast ready while i made her a coffee.

After breakfast we watched the news programme before popping out to Asda and Aldi, i dropped Karen at Aldi and went to Asda to get some light bulbs for the kitchen and then i called in at the filling station and put some petrol in the car and then went to collect Karen. We made our way home and had a pot of tea and a sandwich before i got on with the upstairs housework.

Once i was done we had a coffee before we popped down to Linda and Geoff's to drop Linda's birthday card and present off. We had a nice rest of the afternoon and then made tea, Bacon, Eggs and Baked Beans, all cooked in one pan. After our tea we watched a bit of TV, we went onto the iPlayer and watched two more episodes of The Traitors US, it really is addictive, five episodes down and five to go.

I spent some time on the laptop and came on here to update my thread and visit other threads.

114Whisper1
Jan. 25, 2023, 4:05 pm

>21 johnsimpson: Hi John

I very much like the way you set this up!

I like your lists and have fun going through them. Whenever I see a many paged book, I think of you!

Happy New Year of reading.

All good wishes to you and Karen..and your family.

115johnsimpson
Jan. 25, 2023, 5:05 pm

>114 Whisper1:, Hello Linda my dear, i am so glad you like how i set out my stats and you know i do love a many paged book. I am trying to decide which of the many paged books i have on the shelf, to read as my 50th 1,000+ page book.

My reading has got off to a good start , if a little slow at first and both Karen and I send the very best wishes to you and Kayla, my dear friend.

116PaulCranswick
Jan. 25, 2023, 5:31 pm

>21 johnsimpson: & >115 johnsimpson: I agree with Linda, but we are missing your pots of tea stats, John. Daily totals? Quantity in gallons? etc, etc.

(Only kidding mate)!

117johnsimpson
Jan. 26, 2023, 4:35 pm

>116 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, since the year i kept the stats on my tea drinking, i haven't bothered since and this last 18 months i have been drinking quite a bit of coffee as well as tea, although i do prefer a nice pot of tea.

118johnsimpson
Jan. 26, 2023, 4:54 pm

Yesterday i was up with the alarm at 7 am and quickly washed and dressed and downstairs to make a coffee in the travel mug. While waiting for the kettle to boil, i got our meds out. Coffee made, i left the house ,got in the car and set off to the lay-by just outside Monk Fryston to collect Elliott.

No problems with abnormal loads or heavy traffic, Amy arrived at 8.10 am and transferred Elliott from her car to mine. We had a chat and then got in our cars, headed to the roundabout and from there went our separate ways. On the journey home i was telling Elliott all about the big lorries that we were passing or on the other side of the motorway and he kept saying lorries for most of the way home.

Once home, i got him in the house and then went back to the car to get his bag and a couple of soft toys. Karen made him some breakfast and i made myself a pot of tea and had my meds before i had my cereal. I should have mentioned this to Paul long ago, i have three Weetabix for breakfast six days a week and like Jack Russell, i pour my milk on and leave it for at least eight minutes and like JR, i love my pots of tea.

Breakfast done with, we changed Elliott's nappy pants and then took Karen to the Hospital for her appointment at the mouth clinic. We dropped Karen off and then made our way home, once on the drive i got a cloth and cleaned the windscreen and then topped up the water for the nozzells with a mix of water and screen wash. When all was done we made our way back to the hospital to collect Karen. I got parked up and we waited and waited, Karen messaged me to say she was going for some photos and then going to call into the hand clinic about her hand.

We eventually moved as Elliott was getting restless and by the time we had had a drive around and were back on the hospital grounds, i spotted Karen near the main entrance just about to make a call to me, i wound my window down and shouted to her. Once i had her attention, she came to the car, got in, and we headed for home. Once home i made us all a drink and shortly after, Karen made some lunch for Elliott. We had some lunch a bit later while Elliott was playing.

Elliott would not have a nap even though he looked tired, we watched a bit of TV and then i popped out to take our prescriptions to the Doctors. Once back we had a pot of tea and then we watched The Repair Shop before Karen made Elliott something to eat, i also had a pizza while Elliott ate. By this time Elliott was a bit wobbly and indicated to Karen that he wanted to go for his bath. Karen bathed him, dried him and put him into his PJ's and got him into bed and then started to read to him while i for his milk ready.

By the time Karen came down at 7 pm, he was out like a light and Karen made herself something to eat. After Karen had eaten, we caught up with some programmes via the iPlayer and i fired up the laptop to come on here.

119alcottacre
Jan. 26, 2023, 5:26 pm

Well, I am not doing a much better job of keeping up with you this year than I did last. *sigh*

Sounds like you and Karen had a nice visit with Elliott. I hope all is well with her hand.

120witchyrichy
Jan. 26, 2023, 7:39 pm

>109 johnsimpson: The Traitors show is a competition show? I don't watch a lot of current TV but that show has been showing up in my Peacock account. Is it a murder mystery game? If so, I may just have to watch it.

Best wishes to your whole family. I remember not wanting to nap like Elliott...didn't want to miss anything!

121PaulCranswick
Jan. 26, 2023, 8:39 pm

>117 johnsimpson: I was just pulling your leg, mate. I should start keeping stats of my coffee consumption though as I am certainly drinking way too much at the moment.

122Familyhistorian
Jan. 26, 2023, 11:25 pm

It looks like Karen is making steady progress after her surgery, John. I bet she'll be glad to get back to normal. I knew there was some reason I never picked up one of the Robert Galbraith books. Over 1000 pages you say. I prefer faster reads.

123drneutron
Jan. 27, 2023, 8:46 am

>117 johnsimpson:, >121 PaulCranswick: I'd hate to see the data on my coffee consumption! 😀

124scaifea
Jan. 27, 2023, 9:01 am

>123 drneutron: *snork!* Same!!

125PaulCranswick
Jan. 27, 2023, 9:16 am

>123 drneutron: >124 scaifea: I can say that I went through 26 sleeves of Nespresso in the last month, which is 260 coffees and that doesn't count the coffees taken outside the home which is an average of 4 cups per day. Close to 400 coffees per month is not perhaps the healthiest.
'
We had a fairly fractious commercial meeting with the Employer's Project Managers on Thursday afternoon and I had about 20 minutes between meetings. My opposite number in the Client's office (from Hemel Hempstead of all places North of London) and he said to me "Cranny, before we have to start arguing again come let's share a tea and he produced Yorkshire tea (my favourite). We had a truce and a pleasant one, talking about football and gossiping before we had to take adversarial positions again!

126johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 4:21 pm

>119 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, thanks for stopping by, don't worry about visiting as you have so much on your plate at the moment my dear friend.

Having Elliott every Wednesday for a sleepover and until Thursday afternoon is absolutely lovely, even though we see him regularly he still surprises us with how much he does/knows/ has grown. Karen has more flexibility in her fingers but i still taking things easy with her hand, at least until she sees them in the hand clinic nest week.

127johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 4:30 pm

>120 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, The Traitors and Traitors US is set in a Scottish Castle and the grounds. Their is a round table and on the first episode the host, Claudia Winkleman- UK and Alan Cumming - US, makes the contestants put on a blindfold and then wanders around and selects three Traitors by touching their shoulder.

The prize pot was £125,000 and the US is $250,000 and to build up the prize pot they have to do challenges. Each night they go round the round table and vote someone to be banished and then they have to be in bed by midnight and then the Traitors meet up and select someone to be "Murdered". If at the end of the game, in the UK version there were four contestants left, a last game is played and if a Traitor remains they take the prize pot in full. If there is no traitor then the prize pot is shared.

It gets addictive watching it as you see the various machinations going on between contestants, the mind games taking place is so good, well worth watching as we don't really like reality shows.

128johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 4:31 pm

>121 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, mate, i know you were joking buddy but i do like my copious tea consumption although this last 18 months, more coffee has entered my drinking and i really need to get back to drinking more tea.

129johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 4:35 pm

>122 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, Karen is making steady progress since her Op, she was pleased to get the stitches out and feels really good that she has more flexibility in her fingers. She i taking things steady until she goes back to the hand clinic next week.

The first three Galbraith novels were towards the 500 page mark but since then they have got progressively longer which as you know, i love. I can understand why you have given them a swerve on that basis.

130johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 4:48 pm

>123 drneutron:, Hi Jim, mate, sounds like we could be really shocked about how much you coffee you drink. Show us the stats, lol.

131johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 4:49 pm

>124 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, show us the stats dear friend, lol.

132johnsimpson
Jan. 27, 2023, 5:05 pm



Finished my second book of 2023 this afternoon, The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, PB - 420 pages.

FOUR UNLIKELY FRIENDS. A SHOCKING NEW MURDER. AND A BAG FULL OF DIAMONDS....

It's the following Thursday.

Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He is being hunted and he needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster and a very big mistake.

As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a killer. And if they find the diamonds too? Well, wouldn't that be a bonus?

But this time they are up against a ruthless murderer who wouldn't bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can the Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them?

133thornton37814
Jan. 29, 2023, 12:20 pm

I can't believe how behind on threads I am. Congrats on your second book finish. I'm wanting to start the Osman series sometime.

134johnsimpson
Jan. 29, 2023, 3:26 pm

>133 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, The Thursday Murder Club series is well worth a read, dear friend.

135johnsimpson
Jan. 29, 2023, 3:40 pm

Thursday morning and we were up with the alarm at 7am, while i went and made us a pot of tea, Karen went and got Elliott as he was awake and brought him into our bed and gave him his juice bottle. Once we had finished our drinks, we all got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out.

We had breakfast and then it was time to take Karen to the hairdresser's. We dropped Karen off and then Elliott and me made our way home, once home, Elliott helped me strip the bedding off his bed and then he helped me put fresh bedding back on, i use the word helped, loosely.

Once done we came downstairs, i changed his nappy and put youtube on for him so he could watch Dua Lipa videos. I had time for a coffee before it was time to go and collect Karen from the hairdresser's. We collected Karen and made our way home and Karen made Elliott some lunch and we had a pot of tea.

I got everything ready to take Elliott home, i had put his things in the car and just popped to the toilet when i heard Karen cry out. I shouted down to her to find out what had happened and when i left the bathroom and was at the top of the stairs, i could see that the coat rack had come away from the wall. We quickly bundled up the coats and piled them on our bed and then i set off with Elliott to Selby.

With the coat rack falling down, i ought to have expected other surprises and as i was on the A1 i got the next surprise. The junction i normally come off was closed which meant that i had to go all the up to the A64 turn off and head down the A64 to the Tadcaster exit. I knew where i needed to go from there and was moving along nicely and was going to OK until i decided to follow the sign post for Selby and Ryther. This was a bad move, miles and miles of twisting turning roads, through small villages, eventually we got to home. I parked up at 3pm, it had taken me 75 minutes for a normal 35 to 40 minute journey, if i had ignored the sign post and gone where i was going to go, we would probably have been there by 2.30pm.

I had a couple of hours with Andy and Elliott and had a quick chat with Amy when she came home and then i set off for home.

136johnsimpson
Jan. 29, 2023, 3:53 pm

Friday was a busy day for us, we had a lie-in before having a pot of tea in bed, we then got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort everything out. We had breakfast, our meds and a coffee before we got in the car and set off. We made our way into Wakefield and i left Karen in the car while i went and did the banking. I got back to the car and told Karen her wage was wrong.

We made our way to the Asda to do the shopping, i did the shopping while Karen went to find her boss to find out why her wage was wrong. By the time i was done, Karen had foun out that she was missing a weeks and a couple of days sick pay, so we were £250 down. We left Asda and went across to Aldi and Karen went in and did the shopping. Once we were done we made our way home and unpacked and put it away. After this i made us a pot of tea.

After i had finished my tea, i went to the garage and got the sponges and a bucket and set to cleaning the car. After i had finished cleaning the car, i got some screws, Screwdriver and Hammer and put the Coat rack back up. We then sorted which coats were to be hung up and the rest were put away. The rest of the day was nice and relaxed.

137Familyhistorian
Jan. 29, 2023, 4:09 pm

Your latest updates are full of mishaps, John. But I count three including Karen's wage packet so hopefully that's it.

I really enjoy the Thursday Murder Club books. The Man Who Died Twice was a fun one. I now have Major Pettigrew's Last Stand out from the library and I'm starting that read.

138johnsimpson
Jan. 29, 2023, 4:21 pm

>137 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, the mishaps are over i think, thank goodness. I really enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice and hope you enjoy Major Pettigrew's Last Stand we both loved this and were then surprised that her second book took so long to come out but i enjoyed that one as well.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend and we both send love and hugs to you, dear friend.

139ChelleBearss
Jan. 30, 2023, 9:45 am

Happy Monday, John

>132 johnsimpson: I have the first book in that series out right now The Thursday Murder Club. Sounds like you enjoy the series

140johnsimpson
Jan. 30, 2023, 3:46 pm

>139 ChelleBearss:, Hi Chelle my dear, it is one of those series that you just want to read and not put down, i hope that you enjoy it dear friend.

141johnsimpson
Jan. 30, 2023, 4:26 pm

On Saturday we had our first date day out of 2023, we got up with the alarm at 7.30 am and got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out. As soon as the alarm went off, i put my dressing gown on and went downstairs to let Felix out.

Karen did Felix's dishes while i made us a pot of tea and got our meds out, while we had our pots of tea, i boiled the kettle again and filled the two small flasks and made us each a coffee, these flasks keep drinks hot for eight hours. Once we had finished our drinks and had our meds, we got Felix in and then we got everything in the car and set off for Skipton, the gateway to the Dales.

We had a nice journey and got parked up and then made our way to the Dales Cottage Cafe for breakfast. I had the full English breakfast with an extra slice of toast and Karen had poached eggs on toast, all washed down with a pot of Yorkshire tea (what else).

Once we had finished and paid, we made our way onto the high street and the market stalls. We had a steady stroll down one side of the high street, first stop was a bakery and Karen went in and got some bread which i took back to the car. By the time i got back to her, she had bought a woollen hat and was looking at some socks for me, which we bought. We continued strolling down the market stalls and then popped into a charity shop to look at books , they had nothing i fancied so we left and then came across Keogh books, an Antiquarian and Secondhand bookshop. We went in and started to look at the books on the shelves, i spotted some Wisdens and they had three that i need for the collection, the 1959 was in softcover for £18, 1961 in hardcover for £25 and 1962 in hardcover for £60. I was a bit unsure about the condition of the 1959 edition, the 1962 edition i thought was overpriced and the 1961 edition was priced about right but with Karen's wage being short, i decided to leave it on this occasion. I know they may have gone before we get back there but as we are having a few days in Seahouses for my 60th birthday, we will not be far from Barter Books and they usually have a good selection of Wisdens and i may be lucky to get what i want from them.

We left Keogh's and continued our wandering, Karen went into a shop and came out with a couple of small things she wanted and then while i popped into a couple more charity shops, Karen went into the Card Factory shop as she needed to get a couple of cards. She was till perusing when i had done, so i let her know i was going across to a shoe repair shop to see if they had any ferrule's for walking sticks as mine had given up the ghost. The shop owner pointed out where they were and i found one that fit and paid for it. I rejoined Karen and then we crossed the road to the opposite side of the high street.

We continued our perusing and when we got to WH Smiths, i went in to get my usual Saturday copy of the Yorkshire Post newspaper. We left and kept wandering up this side of the high street, looking in shop windows and at the market stalls, we got up to the Oxfam bookshop and we went in. After a good look around i spotted two Alexandre Dumas book, pocket sized and each in a slip cover and Karen spied The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith which we added to the two Dumas books. I continued looking at the bookshelves and as i got to the till, Karen had picked up two books for Elliott, we paid for our books and left.

We walked to the end of the high street and found a Sweet shop and Karen went in for some licqourice, she came out with a couple of bags of licqourice and then we set off back the way we had come. We were feeling a bit thirsty and made our way to Costa Coffee and we had a latte each. When we had finished, Karen was feeling a bit tender in the posterior region and so we made our way back to the car and set off for home.

Once home i made us a nice pot of tea and i put the TV on to watch Final Score to get the football scores as the goals went in. We watched the news before we decide what we wanted for our tea, i had Liver and mashed potatoes and Karen had the Sausage and mash, these were quickly done in the microwave. Once we had eaten, i made us another pot of tea and then we put the TV back on, went onto the iPlayer and watched the last two episode of The Traitors US. We have so enjoyed both this and the UK version, it has been so addictive, not something we normally do, a bit of binge watching. What are we going to do now, when there is nothing on that we want to watch.

We turned the TV off and put a CD on and then put the radio on to listen to Stephen Nolan's show. We had another drink before we decided to go to bed and read with a nice pot of tea. I made the tea and soon we were both engrossed in our reading before lights out.

142RebaRelishesReading
Jan. 31, 2023, 12:20 pm

Whew! Quite a day there!

143johnsimpson
Jan. 31, 2023, 3:58 pm

>142 RebaRelishesReading:, Hi Reba my dear, it was quite a day but we do love going to Skipton and other equally lovely market towns in North Yorkshire.

144johnsimpson
Jan. 31, 2023, 4:10 pm

Sunday was a very relaxing day for us, after a lie-in and pot of tea in bed, we got up,washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out. Karen did Felix's dishes while i got our meds out and then while i made us a coffee, Karen toasted some fruit loaf slices as i had forgotten to get the Fruit teacakes out of the freezer. The fruit loaf slices tasted even better with a good spread of Marmalade on them.

We listened to the radio while we had our breakfast and then Karen set a dark load of washing going. Once the washing had finished, i put a couple of towels in the tumble dryer and Karen hung up the rest of the washing on the airers apart from the other towels. We had a nice pot of tea and we both read for a while.

The first set of towels finished, i got them out and folded them up and put the rest in the tumble dryer. We had a coffee and generally relaxed for the afternoon, putting the radio on at 3pm to listen to the 70's show with stand in presenter "Whispering" Bob Harris. Once this had finished we had homemade Thai Green Curry with a Naan for our late lunch/tea.

The rest of the evening was spent watching a bit of TV, coming to the rescue of our Neighbour Joanne's son by printing off his homework as they had run out of ink. I fired up the laptop to come on here and at 9pm put the radio back on to listen to Stephen Nolan's show.

I wrapped everything up and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed while we read, after Karen had changed my patches.

145johnsimpson
Jan. 31, 2023, 4:14 pm

This month's reading stats will be a bit on the sparse side although i am hoping that February will be the springboard to better things.

This week's edition of the Bookseller magazine came in the post on Saturday and the cover was celebrating Danielle Steel's achievement of One Billion copies sold Worldwide, this is some achievement.

146thornton37814
Jan. 31, 2023, 4:52 pm

>144 johnsimpson: I love Thai Green Curry.

147johnsimpson
Jan. 31, 2023, 4:53 pm

>146 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, it is one of our favourites,

148karenmarie
Feb. 1, 2023, 8:15 am

Hi John. Well. *blinks* Beyond embarrassing. Time for a bit of catch up.

>6 johnsimpson: Yay for Robert Galbraith. I’m getting close to finishing up the audiobook of the 6th – The Ink Black Heart.

>54 johnsimpson: Yay for the new TV. I know – putting wifi codes in is always iffy.

>64 johnsimpson: I have barely had enough coffee to get around a pot of tea before making tea and snap, but I’ve soldiered on and think I’ve got it!

>72 johnsimpson: Yay for carpal tunnel surgery. I had my left hand operated on in 2006 and it was a complete success. Haven’t needed it for my right hand, fortunately.

>77 johnsimpson: Impatient Karen? That actually surprises me.

>83 johnsimpson: When I had mine done, they knocked me out as standard procedure. I’m glad I missed the injection to numb the hand. *shudder*

>97 johnsimpson: Weird – two muscles in the surgery area instead of one. I see that you’re keeping her in line, and I’m sure you’ll continue doing so.

>117 johnsimpson: I do remember the shock I got when I saw you mention coffee, whatever year that was…

>125 PaulCranswick: Cranny? Perks up. Ah, a nickname.

>129 johnsimpson: Rowling did the same thing with the Harry Potter books – they kept getting longer and longer. As a serious and complete fan, that makes me happy for both series.

149witchyrichy
Feb. 1, 2023, 10:09 am

>132 johnsimpson: I have thoroughly enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series. I see there is a 4th one coming out this fall.

Hope all is well!

150johnsimpson
Feb. 1, 2023, 3:51 pm

>148 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, thanks for stopping by. The impatient patient is so much better now that the stitches are out and dressings off and as she gets six weeks sick leave on full pay, she is going to take it. This is causing me a little problem in that my routine is shot and that is partly why my January reading is smaller than i had hoped.

With the Strike books, as you know i love a big book so she can carry on making them bigger, for me, lol. The coffee consumption is mainly for speed of making it and that is making me lazy, Tea is making a comeback though.

151johnsimpson
Feb. 1, 2023, 3:55 pm

>149 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, we are both loving the Thursday Murder Club and Mr Osman has said that he likes a September release date for his books, so No 4 should be out sometime in September.

We are both fine and Karen is finding more movement with her hand by the day, i hope that you and Bob are both fine, dear friend.

152johnsimpson
Feb. 1, 2023, 4:04 pm

We were up with the alarm on Monday as Karen had an appointment at the hand clinic at 9 am. We had a nice pot of tea, our meds and breakfast before setting off, i dropped Karen off and parked up and read while having a coffee in the travel mug. Once Karen was done, she got back to the car and we made our way home.

Once home we had a pot of tea and watched a bit of TV, we had another drink and then got in the car and set off into Wakefield. First stop was the pharmacy to pick up our meds and once done we continued into town. We parked up and then separated as Karen needed to go into Boots and i went to the Post Office. Karen picked up what she needed and i failed in posting the small package to Australia due to Royal Mail being hacked by the Russians and it has not yet been sorted.

We got back in the car and made our way to Asda, again we separated, Karen going down to see her boss and i had to pick up my grand win on the Euromillions, the sizable amount of £2.10, lol. When i was done i went back to the car and read while waiting for Karen to join me. Karen got back to the car and we made our way home and had a nice pot of tea.

The rest of the day was nice and relaxing.

153johnsimpson
Feb. 1, 2023, 4:16 pm

Yesterday, i got up with the alarm and went downstairs to make us a pot of tea and Felix wanted to go out but he doesn't like wind and it was quite windy, eventually the need to go out won over the wind.

Once we had finished our tea, we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort everything out. Karen did Felix's dishes and i got our meds out, Karen got breakfast out and i made us a coffee and then we had our breakfast while watching Morning Live.

After breakfast we went and stripped the bedding off our bed and while Karen got it in the washer and set it off, i put some rubbish from the garage into the car and set off to the recycling centre. After i had got rid of the rubbish, i went into town to do some banking and then on my way home, i called into the doctors to make an appointment to see a doctor about my left foot.

Once home i made us a pot of tea and we watched a bit of TV and a while later we had soup for lunch. After another pot of tea, we went upstairs and put fresh bedding on our bed before coming downstairs, i made us another pot of tea and we watched Escape to the Country and then the Repair Shop. After the Repair Shop finished, Debbie, the nail technician arrived to do Karen's nails. I made us all a pot of tea and while Karen had her nails done, i read.

After Debbie had done and gone, we watched the news with a nice pot of tea and then watched more TV. I fired up the laptop and came on her until bedtime.

154johnsimpson
Feb. 1, 2023, 5:04 pm

What a day i have had. I awoke with the alarm and quickly got dressed and then went into the bathroom for a quick wash before coming downstairs without disturbing Karen. Once down, i made myself a coffee in the travel mug and got our meds out before going out to the car.

I set off to collect Elliott at our meeting place just outside Monk Fryston. Everything was going fine and as i was in the lane for the A1 North or South i noticed that the overhead warning signs showed we had to slow down to 40 MPH. I thought there must be a bit of traffic this morning and continued on my way. The sliproad for the A1 North is a long curve and as i reached about three-quarters of the way round, there was quite a bit of traffic. I slowly inched my way along the sliproad and got onto the main carriageway and then came to a stop. It was three lanes of standstill traffic, now i though there must have been an incident.

As i was stood still in the traffic, i heard sirens and two Police cars shot by followed by an ambulance. Over the next twenty minutes four more ambulances shot by along with ambulance response vehicles, four fire engines shot by, more police cars, fire response cars and another engine and a couple more ambulance response cars. I rang Amy to say i would be a little late and explained what i had seen, she said fine she would wait at home for me to contact her. After another twenty minutes i rang Karen and explained what was happening and then s i finished the call, Amy rang to say that a Tanker heading Southbound had gone through the central reservation and had spilled its contents. The Northbound side had been shut down at 8.10 am and nothing was heading South.

I rang Karen again and said i could be quite a while and would not be able to pick Hannah up at 10.30 am. Luckily i had my coffee but nothing else, i had had no breakfast and my meds were on the kitchen worktop. I eventually finished my coffee and was playing Freecell on my phone to keep me occupied.

Karen rang to say my meds were on the worktop, which i knew, and she proceeded to tell me that in future i should take them with me along with a bottle of water and a chocolate bar, in case something likes this happens again. At 11 am i got a message from both Karen and Amy to say that they had closed the sliproad off well back on the M62 and were starting to get vehicles to reverse and turn around and follow the divertions. I had to use the empty travel mug to have a pee and then through the liquid onto the road. At 11.41 am, after 3hrs and 43 minutes stood stationary, it was my turn to reverse and turn around. I then drove down the empty carriageway, the wrong way, down the sliproad until one of the Highway Traffic patrols waved us to turn onto the Southbound link off the M62 and follow the A1 South.

I did this and drove down to Darrington where a signpost showed Pontefract, i turned off and followed the signs for Pontefract and then it took me onto the old A1 road and from there i just drove until the Brotherton turnoff and then followed the road down to roundabout that we normally separate on and that took me onto the road to Monk Fryston. I let Amy know where i was and would be in touch when i was nearer to them for her to make me a sandwich or some toast and a pot of tea. I eventually got to Amy's at 12.32 pm. A sandwich and drink were awaiting me and a happy Elliott.

I left Amy's with Elliott at 1.30pm and went through Pontefract and Featherstone on my way to pick Hannah up. I finally got home with Elliott and Hannah at 3.40 pm.

155lauralkeet
Feb. 2, 2023, 7:09 am

>154 johnsimpson: that was quite an ordeal, John! Thank goodness for that travel mug, eh? 😂 I have to agree with Karen about bringing meds etc. with you in future although a delay like that is not likely to happen often.

Hope today is better for all of you!

156johnsimpson
Feb. 2, 2023, 4:00 pm

>155 lauralkeet:, Hi Laura my dear, it was a bit of an ordeal but i have to say the Highways Officers did a cracking job of shutting down the lane and sliproad and a lane on the A1 southbound link to allow us to be able to reverse, turn around and get off the A1 Northbound, not an easy task to get organised and that probably amounted to the time we were at a standstill.

Today has been a lot better, not least for having more time with Elliott before we took him home.

Sending love and hugs, Laura.

157PaulCranswick
Feb. 2, 2023, 4:14 pm

>154 johnsimpson: I know the Darrington area very well John as there is a hotel/pub there that I used to go to very regularly back in the day - nice part of the world.
Traffic jams can be awful things and it is always at times like that we realize that we forgot to bring along medication. Mine would be my inhaler.

158johnsimpson
Feb. 2, 2023, 4:33 pm

>157 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, i have been driving for 35 years and this is only the second time i have been caught up in an incident like this where i have been at a standstill for more than an hour. The last time was when Karen and I had been over to the darkside to visit Chorley and as we were heading along the M62 there was an accident Eastbound and as we were heading home, it was still causing issues and we got caught up in it and were at a standstill for 95 minutes.

Apparently the accident happened at 7.40 am, i was on the sliproad in bumper to bumper traffic at 7.48 am, i managed to get onto the A1 proper and came to a halt at 7.58 am and they closed the Northbound lanes at 8.10 am.

I always have my inhaler with me and i always have a coffee in the travel mug with me and it came in use in more ways than one, lol.

I will make sure i have a bar of something with me and in future i will take my meds before i leave the house but these things are not normally regular incidents. I have been doing this run to pick Elliott up for a year now and this is the first time anything like this has happened. As we are apparently due some bad weather soon, with snow involved, i will make sure i have other things like a blanket and my BIG Pit shovel with me.

159johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Feb. 2, 2023, 4:37 pm

JANUARY'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 2

No of Authors.................... 2

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 2

Female Authors.................. 0

Pages Read....................... 1,493

Daily Avg........................... 48.16

Book Length avg................. 746.5

160johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Feb. 2, 2023, 4:39 pm

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-1-23 - 2,931
Books added in January - 8
Books read in January - 2

Revised book total - 2937

Pages to read at 1-1-23 - 1,201,727
Pages added in January - 3,569
Pages read in January - 1,493

Revised total pages to read - 1,203,803

161figsfromthistle
Feb. 2, 2023, 8:36 pm

Always enjoying seeing stats. You read two chunksters this month!

162PaulCranswick
Feb. 3, 2023, 9:54 pm

>160 johnsimpson: I find it quite extraordinary John that you have 1,205,803 pages to go over 2,937 books.
This is an average of 410.56 pages per book!
My own average pages per book in my TBR is 'only' 342 pages. Really shows your preference for chunksters.

163johnsimpson
Feb. 6, 2023, 3:22 pm

>161 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, glad you like the stats but only one Chunkster, it came in at 1,073 pages.

164johnsimpson
Feb. 6, 2023, 3:26 pm

>162 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, i have a hell of a lot of books in the 500 to 800 page range on the TBR pile and so that gives me such a high average pages per book.

As it stands, after 1,346 books read, my average pages per book is 458.50, again due to the 500 to 900 page books and of course, the 49 1,000+ page books i have read, lol.

165johnsimpson
Feb. 6, 2023, 3:30 pm

The last few days have been quite steady, on Friday night we were at Geoff and Linda's for drinks and a meal and a good catch-up. We had a lovely evening with them as always.

The weekend was very steady and relaxing, i also finished my first book of February.

166johnsimpson
Feb. 6, 2023, 3:45 pm



Finished book three of 2023, Kate Hannigan's Girl by Catherine Cookson, PB - 350 pages.

It is the early 1920's and Kate Hannigan is happily married to Dr Rodney Prince. who has willingly accepted her illegitimate daughter Annie as the eldest child of their household. When Annie meets Terence, a poor but Oxford-educated young man, she discovers a love and security that she never thought possible.

But with her mortal enemy Cathleen determined to destroy her happiness, Annie must summon all her strength, not only to keep Terence but to preserve her family and life as well...

167thornton37814
Feb. 6, 2023, 4:42 pm

>166 johnsimpson: I believe I read a number of her books back in the 1970s.

168johnsimpson
Feb. 6, 2023, 5:13 pm

>167 thornton37814:, Hi Lori my dear, this is the second book by her that i have read, the first was a long time ago, A Dinner of Herbs. I try and read 1,000 pages by an author and as the first was 725 pages, this one takes her over the 1,000 page mark. Another one of my statistical quirks, lol.

169johnsimpson
Feb. 7, 2023, 4:43 pm

Yesterday was a very steady day for us, the alarm went off and i went downstairs and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed and i let Felix out. After we finished our tea, we got up, washed and dressed and came down to get everything sorted.

Karen did Felix's dishes while i made us a coffee and then Karen got breakfast out. We had breakfast while watching Morning Live and after we had finished, Karen got he washing out of the washer and put it on the airers and i popped into town to get a statement from the bank covering the first six days of February.

Once home, i made us a pot of tea and Karen checked the statement, she just wanted to check who had paid the £5 deposit for the group meal they are having.

The rest of the day was spent drinking tea, watching a bit of TV and reading.

170johnsimpson
Feb. 7, 2023, 4:53 pm

The alarm went off at 7.30 am and i went and made us a pot of tea and let Felix out, we had our tea in bed and i could have stayed there. We got up,washed and dressed and came down and got things sorted out.

We had a coffee and our meds and then i took Karen to Blacker Hall Farm Shop as she was meeting her friend Mandy for a catch-up and breakfast. I dropped Karen off and then made my way into Wakefield and went to the Antique shop and bought two nice fountain pens, a Parker and a Shaeffer, both really nice and a bargain at £20 for the pair.

Once i had the pens, i made my way home and had my breakfast and a pot of tea and then read for a bit. I got a message from Karen to say that Mandy was dropping her at the Aldi and would i meet her there. I messaged back to say yes and then got my coat on and set off. I was there a few minutes before they arrived and after Karen appeared and got the shopping bags, i stayed in the car and read. Once Karen had done and put the shopping in the car, we made our way home.

Once home, we unpacked and put the bit of shopping away and then i made us a nice pot of tea and we watched the news. After finishing my tea, i got on with the upstairs housework while Karen made some lunch. I finished the housework and came downstairs, put the vacuum cleaner away and my duster and made us a coffee and had my sandwiches. We watched Escape to the Country and The Repair Shop and then we read for a bit.

Karen made our tea and we had that while watching the news and then i made us a pot of tea before firing up the laptop and coming on here.

171EllaTim
Feb. 7, 2023, 7:04 pm

Hi John! Hurray for two new (not so new?) fountain pens.

We also watch The Repair Shop. It’s on Discovery Channel here. I love how they treat the customers, so nice. The stories that come with each antique. And how they manage to make it all look good again.

Have a nice day, and glad to read Karen’s hand has been healing nicely!

172johnsimpson
Feb. 8, 2023, 4:26 pm

>171 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, the pens are lovely and both inked up and been used. The whole of The Repair Shop is brilliant from start to finish and as you say, they treat everyone with the utmost courtesy and their individual skills are fantastic.

We have had a good day with Elliott, albeit tiring as he has a slight cold and Karen has had tummy troubles, something she ate she thinks.

173figsfromthistle
Feb. 11, 2023, 5:07 pm

Dropping in to wish you and Karen a wonderful weekend!

174johnsimpson
Feb. 11, 2023, 5:37 pm

>174 johnsimpson:, Hi Anita my dear, thanks for stopping by dear friend and the weekend wishes.

175johnsimpson
Feb. 12, 2023, 3:08 pm



Finished Book four of 2023 yesterday, The Games by James Patterson, PB - 366 pages.

Two years ago, Jack Morgan was in Rio consulting on security for the World Cup. The tournament went without a hitch. Until a man died in one of the executive hospitality suites during the final, and the autopsy showed the cause to be a rare and deadly virus.

The story was kept from the media to avoid causing panic, but Jack feared that the death was no freak coincidence.

Now the eyes of the world are once again turned towards Rio for the Olympic Games, and Jack is back in Brazil's beautiful capital. It's not long before he uncovers terrifying evidence that someone has set in motion a catastrophic plan.

THE DEATH AT THE WORLD CUP WAS JUST A WARNING. THE OLYMPIC GAMES COULD BE THE SETTING FOR THE WORST ATROCITY THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

176johnsimpson
Feb. 12, 2023, 3:45 pm

On Wednesday morning, on my way to pick Elliott up i had a terrible feeling of deja vu as i was on the slip road off the M62 onto the A1 as there was a traffic build-up. Luckily it was moving steadily and the source of the build-up was that highways agency had coned off a stretch of the fast lane on either carriageway where last weeks accident had occurred. Speed restriction of 50mph were in place until we had passed and then back to motorway speed limit.

Once past the coned area and i motored on as usual and i arrived at the lay-by pick up point at my usual time. I collected Elliott, had a quick chat with Amy and then we got in our respective cars and headed to the roundabout and went our separate ways. I got home with Elliott and Karen made him some breakfast and my pot of tea. I had my meds and then my breakfast and Elliott wanted some more food, this was a pattern for the rest of the day.

After lunch i went to pick up Hannah and Molly from school, i dropped Molly home and then Hannah home so she could get out of her school uniform and then we made our way home. Hannah played with Elliott and then Karen made tea for them and me, she was not hungry as she was feeling a bit sickly.

A short time after we had finished tea, Karen took Elliott up for his bath, Hannah helped Karen and then after we had given Elliott a goodnight kiss, i took Hannah home.

Elliott had us up at 7am and while i went and made us a pot of tea and some juice for Elliott, Karen moved him into our bed. We finished our tea and then got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to sort everything out and get breakfast ready. After breakfast, Karen put Elliott in his puddle suit and he joined me in the garden, he had a good look around, i don't think he was that impressed especially with the ongoing building work on the veg beds.

I tidied up the patio and Elliott helped me out, he bashed my head twice with the broom handle and then wanted his slide getting out. I put the slide on the lawn and he had a good time sliding up and down. Karen called us in, she had made a coffee for us and a hot chocolate for Elliott.

We had lunch and as Karen was not feeling well, i got Elliott's gear in the car, my travel mug of coffee and then got Elliott in his seat and we set off. I wanted to go to the MacArthur Glen outlet to pop into Paperchase for some notebooks as they have gone into administration and everything has to go. I parked up and got Elliott in his buggy and off we went into the centre and made our way to paperchase. I got what i wanted and then we made our way back to the car and set off to Selby. I rang Andy to say we were leaving the outlet and then again once i had parked up. Andy came out to get Elliott while i got his bag out and we went into the house. I had a couple of hours with them and when Amy got home we had a chat and i made a coffee in the travel mug and then set off for home.

177alcottacre
Feb. 14, 2023, 12:11 pm

>132 johnsimpson: I have thoroughly enjoyed that series!

>176 johnsimpson: Well, at least Elliott is young enough that he cannot do any real harm with broom handles yet, right?

178johnsimpson
Feb. 14, 2023, 3:55 pm

Friday morning and the alarm went off at 7.30 am, i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea and Felix wanted to go out. We had our tea and then got up,washed and dressed and went downstairs to get everything sorted out. Karen set a load of washing going and i went to the Asda to do the bit of shopping we needed.

Once i had managed to get out of the store, i put the shopping in the car and made my way home and unpacked and put it all away. I quickly had my meds, coffee and cereal and then took Karen down to the Doctors for her appointment. I stayed in the car and read, Karen messaged me to say that there were seven people in front of her and estimated wait was 30 minutes. When Karen got back to the car she quickly told me what had been said and we moved down the carpark to the pharmacy so that Karen could go in and collect her meds.

Once Karen had her meds, she got back in the car and we made our way to Sainsbury's, again i stayed in the car and read until Karen got back to the car. We left the supermarket and made our way home via Tanya's farm to get some eggs. When we got home, i made us a welcome pot of tea and then we had some lunch. We watched a bit of TV and i decided to leave the downstairs housework until Saturday. We had a drink or two before Karen made our tea which we had while watching the news.

179johnsimpson
Bearbeitet: Feb. 16, 2023, 4:45 pm



Finished Fifth book of 2023 yesterday, A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde, PB - 387 pages.

She'd recognised him the moment he'd entered the room, but he didn't appear to remember her. Of course, it had been nearly pitch dark when they had met, and so long ago. He laughed, and Caro's heart gave a lurch...

He was the one who got away; the young man with whom Caro had spent one magical evening in Greece, and whom she'd never forgotten.

Now, years later, they've met once more in a beautiful old house in Scotland.

Soon Caro is falling for him, all over again.

But will this be the summer he falls in love with her?

Love, second chances, wedding preparations and the promise of happy endings lie at the heart of this story.

180Berly
Feb. 17, 2023, 1:33 am

Hi John! I think I lost you there for a while. But here I am, catching up. And look at you enjoying a romance! : ) I am reading a few of these myself. Currently I am listening to It Ends with Us. Just trying to balance out some of the longer, darker reads I am doing. Wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

181johnsimpson
Feb. 19, 2023, 4:07 pm

>180 Berly:, Hi Kim my dear, i am glad that you stopped by, i do enjoy a romance and have read quite a few with lots more on the shelves. I am mixing my reads both by genre and length although i do like to add a chunkster now and again as you know.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

182johnsimpson
Feb. 19, 2023, 4:20 pm

Last week was quite a steady one for both of us, Karen had a Doctor's appointment as she thought she had a urinary infection but that turned out negative and it could be in part to a new med she has been put on for her arthritis, she is on a low dose of Tramadol, the high strength Co-Codamol were doing nothing for her.

We had Elliott for his usual Wednesday overnight stay, he wasn't very well bless him, a snuffly cold and his molars are coming through and his cheeks were both red and he kept rubbing his jaw and putting his fingers in his mouth. To say he had all this to suffer with, he was pretty good and slept in until 7am on Thursday morning.

Sadly Karen had to attend a funeral on Thursday, an old school friend passed away from a terminal Brain Tumour, his wife was also an old schoolfriend. I met them both a few times and it was so sad, he was only 62. Both Eric and his wife Sue have not had it easy over the years with their daughter being a drug addict and it meant they took her in along with her two daughters to look after them all. The Granddaughters are now both about 20 and doing their thing but their mum and Sue and Eric's daughter is still with them. They had about 15 or 16 years of them with them and then they discover out of the blue that he has a Brain Tumour and it is terminal. Karen said Sue looked a lot older than 62, bless her, Eric was the love of her life from high school days. There was a good attendance of old schoolfriends which was lovely.

The weekend has been quiet, we had intended going off yesterday but when we awoke, Karen wasn't feeling too well so we decided not to bother. Karen is back at work on Tuesday and as she works on a Saturday, this would have been the last chance to go off somewhere on a Saturday.

Today has been steady away, i spent three and a half hours doing some book stats and notes as i had got behind and Karen is out with the girls from work tonight for a meal at our pub, The New Inn, the food is fabulous. I am Billy no mates tonight, even Felix has gone out, lol.

183johnsimpson
Feb. 19, 2023, 4:25 pm

I have to say that my reading has picked up this week and i am now back on track after a poor January, onwards and upwards now.

184johnsimpson
Feb. 20, 2023, 9:54 am

Not a bad start to the week, awake with the alarm and i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, i let Felix out as it was quite nice outside.

We finished our tea and once Karen was done in the bathroom, i went in and had a shower before getting dried and then letting Felix back in via the spare bedroom window. He had been stood on the bathroom windowsill miaowing although i could only see the goldfish movements of his mouth opening and closing. Once he was in, he decided to walk in and out of my legs whilst i was trying to get dried. I moved to our bedroom to get dressed and he again joined me on the bed wanting stroking while i was trying to get dressed.

I joined Karen downstairs and between us we got our coffee made, breakfast out and took our meds, Felix eventually came into the kitchen to have his food. We had breakfast while watching the news of Biden's visit to Kiev and more information on the body found in the River Wyre in Lancashire which presumably is the body of Nicola Bulley who went missing three weeks ago, a post mortem is to be done.

Soon it was time for me to go down to the Doctor's for my 11.30 appointment regarding my left foot. The Doctor examined my foot, i told her the history of my little toe crossing and she was concerned that my foot was very red. The upshot is that she is going to make me an appointment for a blood test to check for Diabetes, she is going to refer me to a Foot specialist and also refer me to the Podiatry clinic for ongoing treatment. I came out very impressed and confident that something positive would be done.

Not a bad morning, onwards for the rest of the day.

185johnsimpson
Feb. 21, 2023, 3:56 pm



Finished Book Six of 2023 last night, Worth Dying For by Lee Child, PB - 511 pages.

THERE'S DEADLY TROUBLE IN THE WILDS OF NEBRASKA

... and Reacher walks right into it. He falls foul of the Duncans, a local clan that has terrified an entire county into submission. But it's the unsolved case of a missing eight-year-old girl, already decades-old, that Reacher can't let go.

Reacher - bruised and battered - should have just kept on going. But for Reacher, that was impossible.

WHAT, IN THIS FEARFUL RURAL COUNTY, WOULD BE WORTH DYING FOR?

186johnsimpson
Feb. 21, 2023, 4:36 pm

The rest of Monday was nice and steady and apart from drinking tea, watching a bit of TV and reading, not much else happened.

187johnsimpson
Feb. 21, 2023, 4:47 pm

The alarm went off at 7.30 am and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed, Felix briefly visited Karen and then came back down to go out. After we had finished our drinks, we got up, washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out.

When i come down to make us a drink to enjoy in bed, i get our meds out while waiting for the kettle to boil. I made us a coffee while Karen sorted Felix's dishes out and then she got breakfast ready. We watched Morning Live while having breakfast and once we had finished, Karen put the pots and dishes in the dishwasher and set it off. We had another drink while listening to the radio and then Karen had a banana and a small pot of tea, i had a standard pot and then it was time for her to get ready for work.

I took Karen to work and dropped her off, i then parked up nearer to the store entrance and went in to take a book back that i had already bought, i just exchanged it for another and then went and got a lottery ticket for tonight before making my way home.

Once home i made a coffee and watched Politics Live before watching the lunchtime news, both national and local. I had the sandwich that Karen had made for me and then i got the vacuum cleaner and duster and went upstairs to do the housework.

After dusting the staircase and the bedrooms, i then got my beard trimmer out and trimmed my rather overgrown beard. Once this was done i then vacuumed the bedrooms and then went into the bathroom and had a shave, i got rid of the stubble on my neck and shaped my beard, i now looked more presentable, lol.

I cleaned the bathroom and then took the vacuum cleaner and duster and my bathroom cloths downstairs. I made myself a coffee and then read until it was time to make a coffee in the travel mug for Karen. I set off to get Karen from work, she was rather tired when she got in the car and we made our way home. She got changed and i made us a nice pot of tea.

Karen made our tea and a short while after finishing it, she made me some pancakes, they were lovely.

188johnsimpson
Feb. 23, 2023, 4:35 pm

Yesterday morning i was up with the alarm at 7am and quickly got washed and dressed and went downstairs to make a coffee in the travel mug and get our meds out. I made my coffee and had the important meds and then got in the car and set off to the lay-by meeting place just outside of Monk Fryston to wait for Amy and Elliott. Amy arrived and Elliott was a bit upset, he had no slept too good and wanted to see Nana (Andy's mum is Nana, Karen is Grandma). Once he was in my car he settled down and i had a quick chat with Amy before we got in our respective cars and headed for the roundabout where we part and go our separate ways.

Once home with Elliott, i got him out of the car and into Grandma's arms and then i got his bag and a couple of cuddly bears out and then went back and got my things out of the car. Karen made Elliott some porridge and i made my pot of tea and had the rest of my meds and vitamins. Later i had my cereal.

While i was having my cereal, Karen got a call from the Doctor's regarding some meds that she was told to ring about. When the call ended and i had finished my breakfast, Karen changed Elliott's nappy and then we got in the car and headed into Wakefield as i needed to go to the bank and pay some money into an account i we were over our authorised overdraft, this was due to Karen having a weeks wage missing when she got paid last month. Once i had sorted it out, i made my way back to the car and Elliott had fallen asleep and we made our way to the Aldi at Sandal.

Once parked up at the Aldi, Karen went into the store to do the shopping we needed and i read while Elliott slept. Once Karen had done and put the shopping in the car, she put the trolley back and then got in the car and we made our way home. We unpacked and put the shopping away, while i was in the garage putting a couple of things in the freezer, Elliott wanted to go out into the garden. I stayed outside and made sure he was OK but it was a bit chilly and eventually Karen persuaded Elliott to come back in and have a hot chocolate while we had a pot of tea.

A bit later Karen made lunch for all of us and i made us another pot of tea and then we watched the news. I made a coffee in the travel mug and then got Elliott in the car and we set off to pick Hannah and Molly up from school. Hannah was pleased that Elliott was with me and Molly wanted to kidnap him, lol. We dropped Molly off and then i parked up so that Hannah could get changed, Hannah didn't take long to get changed and was soon back in the car and we made our way home.

We got home and in the house and Hannah played with Elliott while i made a pot of tea for myself and Karen. A short time later and Karen made tea for Hannah and Elliott and then after they had eaten, i put my pizza in the oven. Karen took Elliott for his bath with Hannah to help while i finished my Pizza off. After his bath, Karen dried him and put him into his pyjamas and i took his milk up, Hannah and I gave Elliott a goodnight kiss and then i took Hannah home. On my way back home i stopped off at the supermarket filling station and put some fuel in the car.

The rest of the evening was nice and relaxing for both of us.

189witchyrichy
Feb. 24, 2023, 2:56 pm

Stopping by to wish you and yours a happy weekend!

190johnsimpson
Feb. 25, 2023, 4:10 pm

>189 witchyrichy:, Thanks for stopping by Karen my dear.

191johnsimpson
Feb. 26, 2023, 4:07 pm

I must say that i am a very happy bunny today as my Football team, Manchester United won this seasons Carabao Cup beating Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley Stadium. This is the clubs first trophy for six years and we could possibly win three more trophies this season.

Being realistic, we will need both Arsenal and Man City to have some slip ups in order for us to win the Premier League title and both the FA Cup and Europa League are down to the luck of the draw. I am hoping that this is the start of a new era of success for the club under Erik Ten Hag, from what i have seen and heard, he has total rule over the team and what goes on, as did Sir Alex Ferguson.

192figsfromthistle
Mrz. 1, 2023, 10:12 am

Happy start to March!

>191 johnsimpson: It's always nice when ones favourite team wins, isn't it?

193johnsimpson
Mrz. 1, 2023, 3:42 pm

>192 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, it makes a change to get some Silverware after a barren six years. I think we have finally got a manager with a similar mindset to Sir Alex and wants to bring the glory days back to the Theatre of Dreams.

Not a bad start to March, Elliott's weekly overnight stay, always lovely to have him over.

194johnsimpson
Mrz. 1, 2023, 4:00 pm



Finished book 7 of 2023 last night, A Three Dog Problem by S.J. Bennett, PB - 388 pages.

If Queen Elizabeth II has a problem, she walks one of the Corgis. When there ia a murder to solve, she'll need all three...

QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS HAVING A ROYAL NIGHTMARE.

A referendum divides the nation, a tumultuous election grips the United States - and the body of a staff member is found dead besides the palace swimming pool.

Is it a tragic accident, as the police think? Or is something more sinister going on?

As Her Majesty looks for answers, her trusted assistant, Rozie, is on the trail of a treasured painting that once hung outside the Queen's bedroom.

But when Rozie receives a threatening anonymous letter, Elizabeth knows dark forces are at work - and far too close to home. After all, though her staff and public may not realise it, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen's eye to see connections where no one else can...

195johnsimpson
Mrz. 1, 2023, 4:01 pm

Time for a new thread, please join me in about 20 minutes to continue the journey.
Dieses Thema wurde unter John Simpson - Tea, Books and Friends in 2023 No 2 weitergeführt.