Listen, do you want to know a secret?

Just finished The House at Riverton ready for Reading Group on Friday night. A delicious family saga which opens up like a Terry's chocolate orange at the end. Some of the 'secrets' contained in the plot are not so subtle, more like lumbering great elephants hurtling towards you over the hill, but that is OK, it helps the poor reader to think, "oh I saw that one coming." Reading the opening 30 or 40 pages I thought I had picked up Atonement again...set in a large country house, with a lake, in the early 20th century, a group of children rehearsing a play, a visitor who becomes pivotal to the story...heigh ho, the story soon picked up pace and overall was a pleasure to read.

Chocolate for the mind

Work is just crazy at the moment, as fast as I cross something off my 'to do' list, something else is added on to the bottom. That being the case I need a little bit of the chocolate for the mind. Something straightforward and soothing. The first of my little comfort books was strangely a murder mystery, the first in the Rebus series. 'Knots and Crosses' by Ian Rankin. I love murder mysterys especially TV ones, though I had never watched many Rebus. This was fairly straightforward and really picked up pace as the book went on. Rankin has made Rebus a complex enough character for there to be plenty of threads to unravel in later books.

The second book I've picked up is an Agatha Raisin. I'm so glad I found this series. They are just ripping good yarns that take a couple of hours to read. The heroine Agatha Raisin is acerbic but flawed and therefore likeable. Love 'em.

Suite Francais

Haven't blogged for so long, have been wondering where blooging fits in with the whole facebook idea. Facebook doesn't seem to cover any of the bases very well and can sometimes frankly be a little annoying!

I thought this space might be a good place to keep a reading journal. As part of The Crossing Reading Group I've enjoyed, tolerated and struggled over some wonderful books over the last year. The current book is Suite Francais by Irene Nemirovski. The book is set in 1942 as the Germans occupy Northern France. The book is written in three parts. The first, which I've now completed follows the lives of a number of characters as Paris is occupied. The characters are derived from across the spectrum of class, each approaching their flight in a different way. The second, which I am currently reading focuses on a small village and the way in which the Germans infiltrate the lives of it's inhabitants.

It started out as a challenging read, so many characters with what seem like very similar names to an unFrancophile, however, I seem to have turned the corner and the book is becoming more enjoyable. As a woman two generations removed from any direct war experience it has certainly created what seems a very lifelike presentation of the day to day challenges the Frence especially faced. The final portion of the book is a record of Nemirovsky's notes as she prepared to write the book. Sadly, she was removed to Auschwitz before she could complete it.

OFSTED are off the premises!

Had the dreaded phone call last Wednesday morning. Felt my stomach slip down to the pits where it stayed until this Wednesday morning. The news sends everyone into a dizzy spin. Didn't have much of a weekend stressing over lesson plans, none of which were observed in the end, and titivating my classroom displays.

Fortunately, the Ofsted team were real human beings and put us at our ease, as much as that is ever going to happen. Our reward to be 'good with many outstanding features'.

Living in a box

Had an inspirational weekend with Paul Field who shared some of his musical 'Cargo' with us. His intention is to highlight not only the abolition of the slave trade 200 years ago today, but also the plight of those involved in slavery today. The trade in people is the third largest trade in the world today. Next week around 18 of us are heading over to Hull for the opening night.

It has already been a busy time for theatre outings. Last Saturday saw the Importance of Being Earnest, Thursday was 'Humble Boy' ,Friday my DD2 was in her Theatre Group variety show called 'Soup'. Top quality production and DH and I very proud.

And it's good morning from me...

My favourite programme of the week is Saturday Kitchen, when I get the chance to watch it uninterrupted, which is seldom. Well, I have been left speechless by the guests over the last two weeks (and I mean that in a good way).
I often talk about my dinner party in heaven and who is on my guest list. Well in the last two weeks they have had two of my guests ( and they are fairly obscure).

1. Adriana Trigiani - my absolutely favourite author. A wonderful, sassy, Italian American. I am even more surprised because her books are not that well known over here.
2. Ronnie Corbett - (I know what you're thinking, but I just love the chap. I smile before he even opens his mouth. I used to love those stories he did sitting in the chair.

As DH pointed out, what if these folks don't make it to heaven? My reply, that's for the Big Guy to sort out! (but it's a real case for universalism)

Out with the old

Where did December go?

Well, I guess I know where it went. The school nativity play was at The Crossing this year. The children were fantastic. The year 3/4 classes sand a Spanish version of Silent Night. Not a dry eye in the place! The parents seemed to enjoy sitting on a comfy seat as well. My stresses about the Church Nativity play were not over until Christmas Eve, but all went as smoothly as Nativity plays do, the Grumpy Innkeeper just could have been a little grumpier!

It was just we 4 at home over Christmas and so we had a quiet Christmas day, with a trip to see Man City beat Sheffield Utd on Boxing Day.

The following day we travelled to Devon for a blustery but fun time, catching up with close family. Mark had to be back to preach on New Year's Eve so only a quick trip this time. Mark's Mum and Dad joined us on New Year's Day when we got out the family jigsaw. Just finished it. Only 4 pieces missing, does Denver know anything about that I wonder?

The celbrations finsihed yesterday when Grace turned 14, can't believe it. She is having s Salsa party next week, so yesterday after she had finished her cafe stint we went for tea at Frankie and Benny's and watched Deja Vu and watched Deja Vu (geddit)

New arrival

We now have a family of 5. Denver a nine week old Scottie arrived home with us today.

I can't believe it!

I can't believe it - that after 3 years and one month this project is finally over. It will be a while before I start anything so large again I think. Looking forward now to doing some small Christmas projects.
Had a lovely weekend with Jonathan visiting from Devon. Went to see the new Bond film last night. Was never a big fan, but Daniel Craig may have converted me.
Going to the theatre on Thursday and reading group on Friday, so a busy week for me. We're reading Michael J Fox autobiography Lucky Man. Very moving and thought provoking.

A curious incident...

Last Friday we had the second meeting of The Crossing Reading Group. We talked about 'The Cuirous Incident of the Dog in the Night time' by Mark Haddon. The central character is a boy with Aspberger's Syndrome and the book helps the reader to see the world through Christopher's eyes. His life is both simple and incredibly complicated, and he struggles to find his own way of dealing with it all.

Half term musings

Have been making considerable progress on the Angel Proclamation over the half term. Am busy backstitching the final angel, then I only have the lettering and motifs at the bottom.
Have had my nearest and dearest visiting from Devon, here we are having a lovely family tea! Visited Lincoln Cathedral this morning and off for the finest Worksop fayre, an Indian, this evening.

Long term project

I started this stitching project almost three years ago, around the same time I got my first teaching post. The picture is Mirabilia's Angel Proclamation. Due to pressures of time I have only just started the fifth and final angel. I managed to get quite a bit done over the summer but am back at school now. I'd love to think that the project was completed by Christmas, especially as I am one of those sad stitchers who can only deal with one project at a time, but we'll see. Although I am stitching the final angel there is still quite a lot of beading and backstitching to be done. It'll be worth it in the end I hope.
Sorry about the photo - 9pm is not the best time to take quality pics.

Hooray,Hooray It's a holi, holi-day

In the words of Boney M there was 'lots of fun for everyone, holi, holi-day'.

We were very fortunate this year to have enjoyed three breaks over the summer holidays this year. The last few months had been very tiring having got through the completion of 'The Crossing' and it's opening and so we have very much enjoyed the break.
First up, after dd's had spent a week with grandparents was a week spent in Wales. This really was a treat as we didn't even have to pay! Our friend MK was 40 and wanted to spend it with her friends and so spent her hard earned cash on hiring a luxury...and I mean luxury house in Wales complete with indoor swimming pool. A wonderful time of catching up with old friends and making new ones, a little eatin, a little drinkin', a little chillin'.
Next upa week in Kefalonia. We enjoyed our holiday there so much last year that we decided to go for exactly the same thing again including the hotel. Another wonderful holiday, the island is truly beautiful with just the right amount of attention paid to tourists without letting tourism dominate. Our trips from Argostoli to Lixouri on the ferry were highlights, nothing rushed just happening in GMT (greek maybe time!).
Within 13 hours of getting home from Greece we were on the road to Cheltenham for our trip to Greenbelt, a Christian arts and music festival. No baths or flushing toilets for 5 days (aaagh!) but, a chance to feel like a grungy student again and be challenged by people's faith. Highlights were...Daniel Bedingfield, Norman Kember and worship on Sunday morning. There is nothing quite like sharing communion sitting on the grass with a few thousand other Christians. Some Christians may feel that Greenbelt wears its Christian ethos rather too covertly but it has struck me this year that although there are no altar calls there are inspiring Christians who challenge others to put themselves on the line for their faith. Norman Kember was 74 when he was held hostage for 119 days in Iraq. To have a Christian faith can only have any meaning if it has a direct impact on your life and how you live it. When you see something is wrong as a Christian you should be compelled to do something about it. Cos, in the words of John Mellencamp, 'You gotta stand for something, or you're gonna fall for anything'.

The Farm Richard Benson

Just finished reading The Farm by Richard Benson. A quick and sometimes disjointed read but nonetheless it stirred deep memories of my early married life. My dearly beloved was farming in Devon, and it was in the early 1990's when we married, that his Dad could see the writing on the wall and sold up. Richard Benson talks about his struggle to reconcile his rural upbringing and his career as a penpusher and this too echoed our own sense of confusion about leading (and enjoying) the townie lifestyle we now have and our loyalty to our roots.

One small step

One small step for woman.....one giant leap into the unknown for a devon maid.