Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Tuesday Tattle


Aside

It’s so cold I’ve donned an old Arran cricket sweater knitted by my Scottish, dear departed MIL; it reaches almost to my knees and – unusually is made of the same colour wool (creamy white) throughout. It could be a reincarnation – she often unwound garments to re-use the wool – hence the colour variation. It encloses my frame with a loving impermeable warmth and I’m thankful for it.


We were talking about my birthday in March and as there is nothing I need or particularly hanker for, MTL is going to buy me books which I’m happy about. I have a possible three which were mentioned by Blogger friends but I wonder if you have a book which you could recommend. Doesn’t matter if it is fiction or non fiction – I don’t like sci- fi and probably have enough poetry books, so anything else and if you can be bothered to tell me why I should read it I’ll be very grateful. Thank you in anticipation.


Senses of humour are funny things; I’ve never laughed at Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy so I was happy to be laughing out loud at a new sit-com last Saturday. It helps if you like the people involved and with Roger Lloyd Pack (anyone remember his father Charles) of 'Vicar of Dibley' fame, Clive Swift( 'Keeping up Appearances') Jane Asher ( Macca’s first girl friend, actress and cake maker) and Katherine Parkinson, there is no problem – all highly likeable and talented. Briefly its two old blokes – heterosexual – living together and both lusting after their gorgeous neighbour. So refreshing after some of the stuff that’s churned out. ‘The Old Guys’ BBC 1.9.30pm Saturday.

This morning we have snow at last. My camera won’t work. I might cry.

22 comments:

Eryl Shields said...

You have snow hurrah! You'll have to capture it in words if you can't take pictures.

I bet you look incredibly cute in your Arran Cricket sweater.

Kim Ayres said...

Have you read the C.S. Samson series about the lawyer/investigator in the time of Henry VIII? The first 2 are "Dissolution" and "Dark Fire" They are very good. I've still to read the 3rd, which Maggie says is very good, and there's a 4th just ou I think.

Pat said...

Eryl: I realised my batteries had been recently recharged and remember being told they don't last forever, so found two spare, recharged them and got a few before the sun started to melt. Phew!

Kim: thank you. I have made a note - that sounds enough to keep me going, but MTL is the one who reads historical stuff. I don't think I've read any since Baroness Orczy. Maybe its time to give it a whirl.

Kim Ayres said...

While I think about it, you should check out Charlie's blog:
http://thefirstbookoftesticles.blogspot.com/
He's a wonderful writer and reads a great deal. In fact he's currently reviewing a couple of books on his blog.

But check his reading list on his sidebar. He's very amenable to being asked about books he's read

Anonymous said...

I don't knwo if you already read this book, but I can really recommend Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated. It brings quite a difficult topic in a light way without mocking the seriousness of the situation.

Annie Wan said...

i'm reading jphn steinbeck's east of eden at the moment and can report that it's a page turner alright.

Pat said...

Kim: thank you. I'll pop round this afternoon.

Wontletlife: that's new to me and a useful title . Thank you.

Unknown said...

My Dad's a big Robert Ludlum fan, and the Afghan is brilliant!

Anonymous said...

I'd recommend "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young a fiction book. It's a quick read, the author's style of writing captured my interest quickly and yet I was not bogged down with lengthy and unnecessary dialog.

angryparsnip said...

One of the books I enjoyed, "Still Life With Chickens". A small memoir that mirrored what I was going through a few years back. Big exception her ex-husband was nice mine was not. So much was the same and it made me laugh. Plus the Chickens were a Hoot ! The title made me want to buy it...
I am rereading "The Ugly American" and starting "Three Cups Of Tea"

I loved the "Vicar of Dibley"

I am looking up the books that Kim Ayres wrote about.

Unknown said...

Spike Milligan, "Where have all the Bullets gone?" The funniest read ever!!

Kevin Musgrove said...

Excellent loo reading: "Your Case Is Hopeless: bracing advice from The Boy's Own Paper," ISBN13 9780719524721.

It's a compendium of answers from the letters to the editor of BOP in its early days. The fact that you don't get to see any of the questions just adds to the fun!

Pat said...

Mei del; Steinbeck is always good value. I'm fairly sure we have it - thank you.

John.g: that's new to me - will have to look it up - thank you.

Stephen: thank you - that has whetted my appetite.

angryparsnip: that puts me in mind of 'The Egg and I'. I shall look them up. Thank you.

Deb said...

How lovely that you are experiencing snow and temperatures cold enough to be able to snuggle in oversized clothes...when here in Melbourne, we suffered through four days of over 43 degrees celsius! Even now it's in the 30's and we are all melting like ice-creams. There is not a fan to be bought in Melbourne - everywhere has sold out!

savannah said...

possession by a.s. byatt is one of my favorites, actually i love all of her work. also, the namesake and interpreter of maladies by jhumpa lahiri are both good reads. xoxo

happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

... and we made The Old Guys here in Glasgow - it was lovely seeing Jane Asher around - she is wonderful, love her!!

books, hmmm ....
I liked Bel Canto by Anne Patchett. I suppose you would describe as a thriller - what happens when a very exclusive party is held hostage? I have read other books by her that were good but can't recall the titles (!).

Also the last two Kate Atkinson books were good - One Good Turn and When will there be good news? - both Edinburgh set so you might enjoy them for that alone.

I'm hopeless at recalling all the details but George and Arthur was fun - a new perspective on an event that changed British law forever.

belleek

Pat said...

Kevin: I know Pat could be either sex but I'm not a boy:)
BTW when I try to leave a comment I get an e-mail saying it can't be accepted.

Pat said...

Deb: the grass is always greener. I have a picture now of all the ladies in Melbourne gracefully fluttering their fans - like southern belles:)

Savannah: two good offerings. A S Byatt is the sister of Margaret Drabble who has a house near here and oddly - as I have just written about him - used to be married to Clive Swift.

Pat said...

Roseneath : thank you. I'm making a list of all these and although I won't get them all for my birthday I hope to read them all eventually.

Anonymous said...

I was just reading an old Booker winner list and remembered how much I loved Yann Martel's Life of Pi and then that reminded me of one I read last year The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I have just blanked out on the author but it was really a good read.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

You are so right about humor....! It is such an individual thing....I never thoight the Marx Brothers were funny, at all. Chaplin, I appreciated the cleverness of a lot of the things he created---like eating the shoe and sholaces in THE GOLD RUSH.
But I remember going to see "CARRY ON NURSE" and laughing so hard, I almost wet my pants! LOL!

I don't know if this is a book that would "tickle" your funny bone, but Carrie Fishers book---Oh Lord, I cannot remember the name----It came out about 4 months ago...I'll go look it up and come back to tell you. The thing is, it is a very quick read----I mean you could read it in less than two hours....It is great fun!
I'll be right back....!
"WISHFUL DRINKING".....! She is a really wonderful writer....!

Pat said...

Anon: thanks for those. I'll put them on the list.

Naomi: That's one I must read . I love her wit and feel she is usually close to the edge.