On Monday I shoveled paths and steps ..threw grit on the ice and then promptly fell flat on my face... no lasting damage but as my Ma would've said "It came sharp"
It was department of confusion day ..the offspring were coming home on the bus as their Dad had an appointment ..but unbeknownst to us the Buses don't run on Seward's Day. Everything else seemed open and running except possibly the Library ..so I suspect Seward is being used as an excuse for cost saving...ho hum One long wait and a cab later, all was well.
On Tuesday it had snowed a little, just a light dusting that covered the ice on the sidewalks nicely . So of course I fell flat on my back ...you can't claim I don't go in for variety... and I'm sure to any spectator I must've looked like a comic turn .You see we have a lot of snow piled up between path and road ..from knee to chest height it depends on the stretch of road . It was dark still..about 7am and I had been cautiously walking the Collie..I kind of knew where there was solid snow underfoot and where there was ice (Kind of turns out to be a grossly inaccurate phrase) and had almost reached home when a new neighbor drove past and pulled into his drive ..in time (if he had been looking) to see me turn and then promptly disappear from view ...just like that ....magic... that one came sharp too ....a bit sharper in my opinion. The dog was most concerned ...why was his human suddenly spread eagled across the path? Much affectionate face licking ensued ..as no neighborly head appeared over the top of the berm I think my circus trick was missed by the audience and I was able to carefully tiptoe home ..where much tea and aspirin was consumed and I spent a quieter than planned day. ...rather sore but not damaged ..except for a severe dent in the area of my pride....
Wednesday ..nature decided everyone should stay home as we had a "Snow day" 12 inches of fresh wet snow and the collie had to play indoors. Actually looking at the travel reports the schools made a good call as the roads stayed atrocious for most of the day. It carried on snowing and the plows were playing catchup. More adoration of the woodstove and tea (with aspirin).
Thursday ..I was a coward and didn't walk the dog...
Friday ...inspiration.... just walk the dog down the non icy paths ...snow is fine (can you cross fingers and type at the same time yes you can) and back track rather than complete the loop . He doesn't care that much and he still gets a walk and I miss my gymnastics work out... actually I fall rather more like a clown ...dramatically with lots of air time and embarrassing landings.
Between and before these exciting events I did actually complete some reading.....
Michael Gilbert's "The Night of the Twelfth"
People keep mentioning Gilbert (Thank you Mr Edwards) and I realised that a Radio play I had enjoyed called "Smallbone deceased" was based on his story. So I thought I'd give it a try and I like it. Cover to cover straight read, no peaking to the end and no regrets on choice.
The story is set in a Small private boys school in a rural location It concerns a child murder but compared to today's standards is not graphic at all. It's a very English postwar s. tory (even though it was published in 1976 it feels earlier) If it were a film it would be in black and white.
I shall now look out for more Mr Gilbert and see if they work for me as well.
This weeks optional Classic - I listened to Cranford by Mrs Gaskell .
Why Cranford mainly because my Mother had a small nicely bound edition that I remember. It had been given to her by a friend and I always wondered what it was about.
It's a relatively short book and much older than I'd realised. It was published in 1853 It's really a collection of pieces that overlap and link ..vignettes is the term I think ......."vignette--a brief evocative description, account, or episode" so yes vignettes .
It was a pleasant and enjoyable listen ...it coped with interruptions. Wasn't gripping, it was too gentle for that, but there were some interesting phrases and some gentle irony sneaked in and I suspect an in joke re Dicken's work ? Cranford was apparently first published in installments in a magazine he edited.
"A man is so in the way in the house" Cranford.... I wondered where that quote came from ..so now I know.
Other reads .... I've tried some Samples on my Kindle (Samples are a dastardly temptation to buy books....and I'm afraid I'm with Mr Wilde on tempation)
"Berlin Diary" by William Shirer ..So far very readable I've just got to Goring's Wedding ..Mr Shirer received an invite but didn't go. I think I'm going to have to purchase this one.
A Time of Gifts- On foot to Constantinople by Patrick Leigh Fermor ...gosh darn it the sample ended too soon. This is very tempting it's also the first book that I've appreciated reading more on an ereader as I can look up the exact meaning of words that I "kind of think I understand but may not know the exact meaning of " very satisfying now if only I could be sure of remembering what I find out!
Well wishing you all a happy weekend! I'm off for more tea and aspirin.
i didn't have any exciting photos of anything in particular ...I'm sure my acrobatics might have made a good shot but fortunately I was not witnessed (well except by the Collie...both times and I don't think he has a camera) so I shall litter this post with pictures of the cats and the collie ..for no good reason other than I like them.
It was department of confusion day ..the offspring were coming home on the bus as their Dad had an appointment ..but unbeknownst to us the Buses don't run on Seward's Day. Everything else seemed open and running except possibly the Library ..so I suspect Seward is being used as an excuse for cost saving...ho hum One long wait and a cab later, all was well.
On Tuesday it had snowed a little, just a light dusting that covered the ice on the sidewalks nicely . So of course I fell flat on my back ...you can't claim I don't go in for variety... and I'm sure to any spectator I must've looked like a comic turn .You see we have a lot of snow piled up between path and road ..from knee to chest height it depends on the stretch of road . It was dark still..about 7am and I had been cautiously walking the Collie..I kind of knew where there was solid snow underfoot and where there was ice (Kind of turns out to be a grossly inaccurate phrase) and had almost reached home when a new neighbor drove past and pulled into his drive ..in time (if he had been looking) to see me turn and then promptly disappear from view ...just like that ....magic... that one came sharp too ....a bit sharper in my opinion. The dog was most concerned ...why was his human suddenly spread eagled across the path? Much affectionate face licking ensued ..as no neighborly head appeared over the top of the berm I think my circus trick was missed by the audience and I was able to carefully tiptoe home ..where much tea and aspirin was consumed and I spent a quieter than planned day. ...rather sore but not damaged ..except for a severe dent in the area of my pride....
 |
| "Just like this ...I think she just wanted attention" |
Wednesday ..nature decided everyone should stay home as we had a "Snow day" 12 inches of fresh wet snow and the collie had to play indoors. Actually looking at the travel reports the schools made a good call as the roads stayed atrocious for most of the day. It carried on snowing and the plows were playing catchup. More adoration of the woodstove and tea (with aspirin).
Thursday ..I was a coward and didn't walk the dog...
 |
| "A much better idea Dogs do not need walks" |
Between and before these exciting events I did actually complete some reading.....
Michael Gilbert's "The Night of the Twelfth"
People keep mentioning Gilbert (Thank you Mr Edwards) and I realised that a Radio play I had enjoyed called "Smallbone deceased" was based on his story. So I thought I'd give it a try and I like it. Cover to cover straight read, no peaking to the end and no regrets on choice.
The story is set in a Small private boys school in a rural location It concerns a child murder but compared to today's standards is not graphic at all. It's a very English postwar s. tory (even though it was published in 1976 it feels earlier) If it were a film it would be in black and white.
I shall now look out for more Mr Gilbert and see if they work for me as well.
This weeks optional Classic - I listened to Cranford by Mrs Gaskell .
Why Cranford mainly because my Mother had a small nicely bound edition that I remember. It had been given to her by a friend and I always wondered what it was about.
It's a relatively short book and much older than I'd realised. It was published in 1853 It's really a collection of pieces that overlap and link ..vignettes is the term I think ......."vignette--a brief evocative description, account, or episode" so yes vignettes .
It was a pleasant and enjoyable listen ...it coped with interruptions. Wasn't gripping, it was too gentle for that, but there were some interesting phrases and some gentle irony sneaked in and I suspect an in joke re Dicken's work ? Cranford was apparently first published in installments in a magazine he edited.
"A man is so in the way in the house" Cranford.... I wondered where that quote came from ..so now I know.
Other reads .... I've tried some Samples on my Kindle (Samples are a dastardly temptation to buy books....and I'm afraid I'm with Mr Wilde on tempation)
"Berlin Diary" by William Shirer ..So far very readable I've just got to Goring's Wedding ..Mr Shirer received an invite but didn't go. I think I'm going to have to purchase this one.
A Time of Gifts- On foot to Constantinople by Patrick Leigh Fermor ...gosh darn it the sample ended too soon. This is very tempting it's also the first book that I've appreciated reading more on an ereader as I can look up the exact meaning of words that I "kind of think I understand but may not know the exact meaning of " very satisfying now if only I could be sure of remembering what I find out!
Well wishing you all a happy weekend! I'm off for more tea and aspirin.
i didn't have any exciting photos of anything in particular ...I'm sure my acrobatics might have made a good shot but fortunately I was not witnessed (well except by the Collie...both times and I don't think he has a camera) so I shall litter this post with pictures of the cats and the collie ..for no good reason other than I like them.
Crikey, you've had a week of it! Glad nothing was broken, do take care.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look up The Night of the Twelfth as I do quite like books set in schools and they're not all that common.
Time of Gifts I've read. Loved it, particularly the German stretch as he was there just as Nazism was taking hold. I could have done with reading it on my ereader too to be honest. I gather he loved words. :-)
That's why Time of Gifts rang a bell! ..you are a good book finder you know!
DeleteJust checked The Night of the Twelfth on Goodreads and that other famous Alaskan resident, Dana Stabenow, says this:
ReplyDelete'Marvelous novel by a seriously underrated British novelist. See also The Long Journey Home, Fear to Tread, and The Danger Within.'
Just thought that might interest you...
the non famous resident (hahahaha) appreciates those suggestions !
DeleteThanks Cath
I have a nice bound version of Cranford. I wonder if it is the same. I hope you are recovering for your falls. I'm sure the dog won't mind where he is walked. So long as my two can "read the news" and relieve themselves, I don't think they give two hoots.
ReplyDeletehah I don't think he minds the curtailed versions either...much sniffing and leg waving...and we took him a good walk on snowy paths through the woods yesterday. Which he approved of!
Delete