The greedy reader

I'd love to know your opinion on this!  In many respects, I am what I term a Greedy-reader.  If I enjoy a book, I MUST read all the other books in the series as soon as possible.  I want to devour them instantly because I enjoy them so much!  Yet, when I finish reading all that there is to offer- there is a void- I feel bereft that there is nothing further for me to read.  I remember when I first read Harry Potter- I read books 1,2,3 and finally 4 (5 wasn't out yet) and I was devastated (I use emotive, strong language here- obviously, I wasn't miserable to the point of no consolation, you know, realising that there are more important things to get passionate and het up over in life, but you get what I mean, maybe, perhaps, please? I was slightly, marginally irked) - especially as it ended on such an unresolved note with Voldemort at large, marauding goodness knows where! It was the same with the Famous Five as a child, with many other Enid Blyton series'. 
So in recent times, I have tried to sort of , prolong the delight or the waiting with books by authors I really want to read.  Take Alexander McCall Smith for example- I utterly adore him.  No, really!  I just delight in his craft!  I was given the latest three 44 Scotland street books for Christmas by J and WOMOTM (one signed by the man, no less!).  I have had the latter 3 Isabel Dalhousie stories on my shelf for a little while.  Obviously, I want to pounce on them like a hungry tiger but I am trying to read books on my shelf that have sat there for a while which I, though interested in, feel less yearning to read. So far it's going well!
However, somehow, after allowing myself to read (and review) La's orchestra saves the world, I have devoured two AMS 44 Scotland street books in one fell swoop!  Eeek, that only leaves Bertie Plays the blues left to read!  I adored both books and here is what I thought on them!

42. Alexander McCall Smith The world according to Bertie

AMS never fails to delight me with his tales.  The great thing about the 44 Scotland street series is that it is a book you can dip in and out of since it comprises of short stories since its first publication was as a daily serial in a Scottish newspaper.  It has a wonderful innocence, a lovely philsophical approach and gentle humour and musings.  Along the way, there are anecdotes and little lessons to learn.  In this book, Bertie, the little 6 year old child prodigy continues to fight against his domineering, pushy mother.  A hilarious and intriguing element of this particular character is his new little brother Ulysses (Even that makes me laugh!) who Bertie has noticed looks remarkably like his child psychologist, Dr Fairbairn, (who Bertie believes belongs in a mental institution!) who once went to a Flotarium with his mother Irene.... Olive, the bossy child in his class manages to inveigle her way into Bertie's house which causes lasting consequences for Miss Harmony, his teacher when she discovers that Olive has taken Bertie's blood unwillingly! Cyril, the dog with gold tooth who winks faces false accusations of biting and the risk of destroying.  Pat, student and Matthew, hopeless romantic wearer of oatmeal jumper and crushed raspberry cords seem to be headed towards either breakup or nuptials until he meets the love of his life!   The funniest element is the vendetta of Anthropologist Domenica, who discovers the apparent theft of her Blue Spode mug! Can be bought from Amazon here.

43.  Alexander McCall Smith The unbearable lightness of scones

The hilarity continues into this second book where it seems Bertie might be free of his psychologist, who has been offered a chair of a university!  The new one seems to lack the screw-loose that Dr Fairbairn has until Bertie makes an innocent comment relating to a wolf!  The blue spode cup saga continues with confusion, hiding in cupboards and recoinassance to rescue it.  Matthew faces a miracle rescue on his honeymoon, that or incarceration in a mental institution.  Big Lou's boyfriend is off to recreate the events of the Skye Boat song with the New Pretender and Lard O'Connor takes a nasty fall!  You just have to read this- it is an utter delight, funny, sweet, thoughtful and full of innocence that I as a grownup miss in grownup books!

Can be bought here from Amazon.

What type of reader would you say you are? What do you think of my policy of waiting to read the books?!

Thanks to www.amazon.co.uk for the images.

Hadleigh Castle and country park

Last Saturday, CBC and I set out towards Leigh-on-Sea with a desire to walk, enjoy the countryside and enjoy freedom!  Serendipitously, as we picked up CBC's car from the repair-place, we passed signs for Hadleigh country-park where the Olympic Mountain Biking was held.  We decided to go for an explore.  We parked by the rangers hut.  I donned my unflattering crocs which were still in CBC's car since camping as I was just wearing a pair of ballet pumps that wouldn't enjoy mudtracks etc.

At first, it felt very 'domesticated' and a bit like Labyrinth with windy paths though there were some very pleasant sights including butterflies and blackberries.

Pretty soon, the bush-flanked paths led to a gate and views over the river Thames as it headed towards the sea at Southend with views across to Canvey island.  The sun started to shine beautifully and it felt less autumnal.

We met a few fellow walkers along the way.

CBC spied a path to the left which led with a very steep slope towards the actual mountain-baking course itself.

It was extremely hard to climb such a steep and bumpy slope in Crocs! We met a mountain-biker- goodness knows how they go down such steep slopes- I'd be terrified!

We received further evidence of the Olympic site...

We climbed over a gate into the Olympic course whcih will be open to the public in February I believe.

The sun shone and we walked down the path which gave us sight of Hadleigh castle.

CBC made us go down a terribly brambly, overgrown path in a bid to get to the castle.  We discovered, as he forced his way through a big bush, that there was a perfectly lovely path the other side of the fence!

Hadleigh castle was getting closer...

Eventually, we reached the entrance to the site for Hadleigh, 1200 ruins.

The castle must have been quite extensive!

Some pigeons had made their home there

There were some curious initials and names carved onto the window arches at quite a high height!

As we left, we walked to the Salvation Army training centre for a very pleasant spot of lunch as recommended by my mother!  I ate a large amount of goats cheese!

Later, we headed into Leigh-on-Sea where I visited the charity shops whilst CBC waited for a hair-cut and we ate in a lovely bakery and then later a Thai restaurant.  A delightfully packed day was completed by a visit to the Palace Theatre in Southend to see Three Men in a boat, which was witty and delightful!

Have any of you visited Hadleigh or indeed were you there for the Olympics?

The checks in the post...

 ...Literally!  Ho ho ho!!!!
Here's one of my new dresses bought in Leigh on Saturday, styled up!  I wore it with an old thrifted purchase (topshop jacket, bought around 7 years ago), and Deichmann boots.
Thank you for all your helpful, kind and thoughtful commments on the previous post- it helps to know I am not alone, as well as wise advice!

Some of the teachers were chatting today about Downton and the weddings and I realised, MY MUM is in it!!!Check out my mum in Downton Abbey- she's one of the wedding guests!!!!! I haven't managed to watch it yet but she's in it somewhere- apparently you catch a glimpse of her- she's also in a later episode!  She's also been in Trollied, on Sky, which I caught totally by accident and I saw her on screen for a good ten seconds as she was eating lettuce in the background behind a main character! It's really lovely for her to have found something fun to do occasionally, being an extra!

Like many bloggers, as I've read today, I had a bit of a rubbish day in some respects- great in others.  I had to deal with yet more irritating admin to do with instrument lessons- it's constant, I have to deal with them and what the parents don't realise is that when they pull out of lessons they have signed up for, that we as a school are liable- it's just so, so frustrating- I do genuinely feel that there is a lack of commitment today  in some respects (not even from a financial point of view which is somewhat understandable) and the lack of tenacity - we need to teach our children to honour something they have committed to.  I am talking about a minority of course, but a minority that cause manifold headaches and admin-labours!!

On a positive front, I have very supportive colleagues who are very caring.  My afternoon was spent really unexpectedly nicely, taking Guided reading sessions with 6 seperate year 3 groups!  I had my first experience of doing Guided reading with Level 1 readers (on a par with year 1 which I have never taken!) - it was an experience!  They were so sweetly excited!!

A good friend from church, M came over for dinner which was really nice for us to have a catch-up and she has such a good pragmatic way of looking at things- I always think clearer after I have been talking to her.  We then headed off to a nearby church for a united choir for the Confirmation service in 2 weeks- there were members from 4 churches combined, singing together.  It was nice to sing with a big big choir and singing in parts though the practice was slightly more well-behaved and sober- our worship practices are rather lively and full of laughter!  As is usual, there was a whole army of sopranos and two of us who elected to be altos! I am actually a soprano (higher singer) but as I can sight-sing and hold a part, I end up singing alto (lower, harmony part) invariably!  I don't mind!  It was an interesting church to visit as they have converted it- they split the church in half and turned the other half into meeting places etc. It looks really nice and heating it is so much cheaper and easier!  I've been away for confirmation for the last 2 years so it will be nice to be there- I luckily said No to playing Hindemith Wind quintets, realising for once that Confirmation was happening!

Anyway, I hope you are well and happy and looking forward to the weekend!
xx

***EDITED:  As I type, a daddy-long legs is plaguing me!  It has somehow got in and is flying in my face!!!! Ahrgh!!!!!!!!!!!

Bethie- I can't leave any comments, my browser doesn't support the Disqus comment method!!! eeek!***

What's in Kezzie's shopping bag and what hopefully wont be.

Hello there,

I am looking and feeling decidedly autumnal today.  I'm not sure I like it- I feel a bit drab! Also feel a bit like I am wearing school uniform with this outfit but for the subversive blue boots and purple tights!  With the exception of Mamgu's necklace and the boots and tights, the whole outfit is past thrifted purchases.  

On the subject of shopping, I have had to have a serious talk to myself.  I didn't allow myself to shop during Lent and then I continued afterwards and really, I cannot go on buying things and wasting money and shopping- even if lots of them are second hand!  It just seems like I never go for very long before buying something new.  I can't think of a time in recent times when it was not the case. I think to a certain extent, that blogging has made me worse than my previous habits.  I have far too many clothes and I don't need them, much as I love love love buying them. I am asking for your help as well- to help me ensure I am not going shopping unnecessarily. That's why I am mentioning it here- if I have actually enunciated it and shared it, I feel more accountable, like I will be better at doing it. It feels to a certain extent like it has become like a hobby and I don't want it to- that just feels wrong, for me!   I am intending that if I spend any money on frivolous items, then there is something I am going to do if I do so, to make me more conscious of spending money.  I always live within my means, I have not been in debt (no credit card since my second year of Uni), I don't drink, smoke, drive, have a yearning for new technology and so I have let it be the thing that I spend money on, but I need to think. I seem to spend my income, much on important things but not been saving much recently.  I'm not going for a full on shopping ban again, I still want to be able to have the option  but I really want to think, question and be more conscious- like only choose ONE item, once in a while, a well chosen one.  I feel like I've been very materialistic in recent times and I don't want to feel that.  I really like my clothes and dressing up in them, feeling like I've put together a nice outfit, I love this aspect of blogging outfits,  and that isn't going to change but I need to restrict that to what I have.  I do not have the space for any more and I like what I have so I don't really want to get rid of anything much so thus I cannot fill space I don't have.  Plus, if I want to do grown-up things in the near distant future which involve needing money for (one lives in hope), then I need to save my money!

So, it may seem a bit converse, but with this post, not usually the type of one I do very often, I am going to share what I have been buying and let it try and be a fullstop on it for the moment! 

 In Leigh-On-Sea on Saturday, I enjoyed visiting the myriad charity shops.  The four items of clothing I came home with were really nice finds for me.  I could have come home with much more but didn't- a floor length brand-new Ghost skirt was almost mine but for thinking.   Top left is this gorgeous brand-new still with £50 pricet-tags Topshop dress for £3.50.  It's a lovely summery frock, but it made me think of Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey and I loved it!

On the right, this purple and green checked dress was just under a fiver and I really like the checks and colours on it- it's Clockhouse and a nice Autumnal piece, I think.

Bottom left, was this Topshop shirt with Peter Pan collar, cute checks again, I thought it was a lovely layering piece for trousers. £3 again.

Finally, this H&M polka-dot blazer- it will go with lots of things I own! £3.50.

I also found these two books.  Having recently been to Paris, I liked the idea of these.  I love whodunnits set in the past, they lack the gore of modern murders and mysteries which I don't like.  Set in the late 1880's, the investigator is a young bookseller!  Sounds my type of thing! £2 each!

I also bought a couple of Orla Keily items from Uniglo on Friday but that must be it for now!

Have you bought anything recently?  Have you been reflecting on your shopping habits?

Linking up to Lakota's Tah Dah Tuesday because I am happy with my purchases!

Tomato Cave

Hello there! I hope you are having a lovely day!  Isn't it funny how the weather just suddenly turns.  Yesterday, it was all sunny and serene and I and CBC wandered amongst 800 year old ruins and BAM, today, all pandemonium doth break lose with deluges of rain at every moment!
I've had SUCH a lovely time this weekend with a Saturday jam-packed outing day with CBC- picking up car from mechanics, walking in Hadleigh country-park, eating lunch in the Salvation Army centre, charity-shopping and cake and tea in Leigh-on-Sea, wandering the Westcliffs sea-front, tofu in a Thai restaurant and then Three men in a boat at the Palace theatre Southend! 

Today's Inspiration Monday with the Two birds is someone called Oliva Munn wearing a rather fancy green satin jacket and horror of horrors, yellow skinny trousers! They look good on her but eeeps, no thanks! I take comfort from the fact that her trousers look almost as unironed as mine!  I decided to go with statement RED instead of statement yellow. My grey jumper is one I love because of its Edwardian lady's neckline- makes me think of the Mum in The Railway Children with Jenny Agutter! CBC calls this my Modern Foreign Languages jacket- I wore this on our first proper date to Cambridge and he said I looked like a language teacher!  What do you think Melanie? Is that so?

 My jacket doesn't have silver hearts on the lapels so I persuaded two common garden birds to sit on either lapel. (Cath Kidston birds)

 Two little dicky-birds sitting on lapels

 One named Peter, one named Pel.

 I also took part in Vivienne at Thrifted Shift's Style imitating art challenge.  The painting of choice was the cave paintings at the Caves of Lascaux in France.  I took inspiration from the browns and earthy colours in this outfit featuring the skirt I wore last Inspiration Monday.  The top has a hood  which made me think of caves and the necklaces, both in shades of brown and golds.  I always think of dried bananas when I wear one of the necklaces as it was my Nan's before she died and it looks like that! The other was a gift from a friend at church. The belt, my Mum's old one I think, is a nod to the terracotta-y patch at the top right of the painting. It's the most interesting link-up challenge I have taken part in!

10 reasons to be thankful

So many moments pass me by in which I am grateful, I think of blessings, things that make me realise how lucky I am.  This weekend has been one of those full of such moments,  a weekend with no fixed plans, with time to wander.  I'd love to know what you are feeling thankful for!

1.  For a warm home.  As it grows cold, I think of how awful it must feel to not have this.  I am so lucky being able to rent my Mum's house.
2.  For CBC- I love him dearly and really enjoy his company.  I love his spontaneity, his imagination, his care and well- HIM!  I count myself lucky to be able to spend time with someone I love!
3.  I never ceased to be amazed and grateful for the power of Music! It says so much, expresses so much.  I love how it speaks where words end or fail.
4.  For the church community- I love my church family dearly- they are such an important part of my life.  I love the fact that we of all ages, can love, share and listen to each other, united in our love of God!
5.  I am grateful that there are things in my life that I don't do or need- I don't need alcohol, cigarettes, or to drive, or need to eat certain things- it is hard to express what I mean here. There are things I do and don't need and I need to work on these aspects (more anon) but I am grateful for those things I can do.
6. I am so grateful that work is enjoyable, I am enjoying school so far- my new timetable is good so far. The demands on a regular teacher are so much, the government has no idea, and I am grateful that music means I need not undertake several of the horrendously arduous endeavours that are heaped upon teachers anew each year - APP in Maths, English and Science for example. I am glad that the take-up for extra-curricular activities is great so far from both boys and girls- I am glad that I have these things to offer and I love doing these things!
7.  For common-loves and interests with my lovely family!  Being able to phone my Mum up and wax lyrical about the cacti like they are small children of whom we are very proud of their growth!
8.  For the beauty of nature- the garden, by the work of my mother's hands is beautiful. The plums are still growing, juicy, delicious, runner beans still coming through.  The beauty of a walk in Hadleigh yesterday.
9.  For the ability to notice things.  Take the sky above.  It was a sight of delight throughout the journey home.
10. For time, for being able to take time to talk, for being able to take time to think, to listen, to care and to just be

What are you grateful for?

Dancing through life in ruby slippers

 I took inspiration from Florrie and her Lolita outfits when I put this outfit together yesterday.  Like Vix, I am really sad to have to put to bed my summer outfits and wear Autumnal wear and I've only worn this dress once this summer since I purchased it brand-new in the charity shop.  I really like the way the Lolita look that Florrie wears layers so many pretty items with each other and they look lovely though I couldn't do that type of outfit- far too much effort for me!  Still, looking at Lolita outfit made me try to pair this French connection pussy-bow blouse with the dress so I could wear it again!  I am wearing a cherry-print shoe-lace in my hair too! One of my colleagues told me I looked like Snow-white!

 I am so pleased with these shoes. They are from Toms and I've been eyeing them up for months now. I bided my time and managed to get them half-price in the sale.  When I first saw them, I thought they were wonderful! They are really comfy so I can click my heels three times at any time! I know Toms are controversial and I get why but I thought these were so cute!


 I had a lovely time at school today.  In the morning, I was with Reception and aside from a nice music lesson, I was supervising the children painting faces and buttons on their gingerbread men!  So funny!  I'm starting to really like that class- there are some real characters in there and they seem to like me! 

In the afternoon, I was teaching my third week of Tudor dance to the year 4's.  I really, really love teaching dance.  I have always learnt dance, from a very young age and I look rubbish doing it, not overly good but by heck I love doing and teaching it!   We were practising Bransle des Chevaulx today (here is the dance we are learning and the music we are using) and I videoed the children and they were beginning to look really good!!!!  We worked hard and I am so proud of them!  It's really good fun.  I'm absolutely longing to get them all dressed up to do a performance of this, Branle des Sabots and Pavan processional which we are learning next week!
I'm thinking of doing some African dance with the year 5's as part of their cyclic drumming unit- so much fun!   I think it's so important to actually give them a breadth of different dance styles to learn so they have a wide pool of experience and steps to draw upon when they come to create their own dance.  And it allows them to find something they really like!

Hurrah for the weekend!  The first POST-MA one! What are you up to?

The devastatingly beautiful Ringmaster's daughter

Sometimes, just sometimes you read an extraordinary book that you feel compelled to share with the World.  You find then, that no one you know has read it and thus, you have no-one to talk about it with.  This book by Jostein Gaarder is one of those.  A book which contains so much brilliance, extraordinary talent and food of thought, that it astounds you and makes you wonder how it could be conceived by the mind of a mere individual.  This author has an astonishing sense of making you look in the world in a different way.  If I find one of his books in a charity shop, a rare occurence, I consider myself fortunate.  The main character in this book is a genius, but one who is morally/socially different.  He has an amazing mind for creating book and film ideas and synopses, which he ends up selling to struggling authors, secretly.  He ends up responsible for the large majority of successful novels.  Known as the Spider, he has built a whole web of deceit which ends up trapping himself with awful consequences. The story tracks his childhood to adulthood in which we wonder at Petter who seems a strange, otherwordly character who can see through the foibles of others, can analyse and know what is going through their mind in an instant, views them with disdain yet with detachment- such an interesting character.  A brilliant part of this book is the inclusion of a series of synopses and short stories which this character wrote which are really imaginative stories, the like of which I hadn't thought about- bizarre, striking, horrendous!  It has an overarching theme of the search by a father for a lost child that adds a real air of tension and real sense of loss and something being missing or not right throughout and this only adds to the beauty of the story.  The denouement is devastating to say the least!!!!  If you buy any book this year, wanting to read something different, I strongly suggest this one- it is utterly brilliant and unique, unlike any book I have read in a while! Even better than Maya, which I reviewed in June/July and Hello, is anyone there? Even better than his most famous book Sophie's world.  I've even pasted the link to Amazon so you can buy it!