List – my 2011 reads

My completed book list for 2011.

1. Race of a Lifetime -Mark Halperin and John Heilemann
2. Sister – Rosamund Lupton
3. One Day – David Nichols
4. A Florentine Death – Michele Giuttari
5. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald (book group pick)
6. Room – Emma Donaghue (book group pick)
7. The Other Hand – Chris Cleave
8. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – Helen Simonson
9. The Help – Kathryn Stockett
10. The First Rumpole Omnibus – John Mortimer
11. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Muriel Spark
12. The Lacuna – Barbara Kingsolver
13. When God Was A Rabbit – Sarah Winram (ended up being a book group pick too)
14. Hungry Ghosts – Debbie Taylor
15. The Pleasure Seekers – Tishani Doshi
16. American Gods – Neil Gaiman
17. How to be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
18. America Unchained – Dave Gorman
19. Black and Blue – Anna Quinlan
20. The Quilter’s Apprentice – Jennifer Chiaverini
21. Round Robin – Jennifer Chiaverini
22. Plugged – Eoin Colfer
23. The Cross-Country Quilters – Jennifer Chiaverini
24. The Villa in Italy – Elizabeth Edmondson
25. Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson
26. Death Comes to Pemberley – PD James

My favourite book – and this surprised me – was the Steve Jobs biography I don’t usually read factual books although find I do enjoy them when I do. Plan to add more factual books for 2012.

Very pleased to have reached 26 books this year and will aim for something similar for 2012. Not so pleased to have read only four from my original list – will improve for this year!

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Farewell from my Dad

Many of you will know from reading my blog and particularly my wedding post that my father has been very ill.

On Tuesday 13 December 2011, he died, peacefully in his sleep.  He was an avid poet, posting many poems from his bed when he was poorly. On his laptop we found a document labelled Farewell which was his last poem, for all to read so I thought I would post on my blog as well as his.

Post Mortem

This poet is not pinin’!
‘E’s passed on!
This poet is no more!
He has ceased to be!
‘E’s expired and gone
to mock ‘is maker!
‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life,
‘e rests in peace!
If you hadn’t nailed ‘im
to the page
‘e’d be pushing up the daisies!
‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory!
‘E’s fallen off the twig!
‘E’s kicked the bucket,
‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil,
run down the curtain !!
THIS IS AN EX-POET!!

Of course we are very sad to have lost my dad, but are so grateful his death was peaceful and without pain.

Thanks to all my lovely friends for their love and support.

sl

xx

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List – books so far – November 2011

I’m so close to the end of the year but can’t resist posting a wee update on my book reading so far this year.

The good news is, I’ve made my aim of 24 books.  The bad news – I’ve not really dented my wishlist! Oh well.

Below is my list so far this year. Let me know what you think – or if you want an opinion on any drop me a line.

sl

1. Race of a Lifetime -Mark Halperin and John Heilemann
2. Sister – Rosamund Lupton
3. One Day – David Nichols
4. A Florentine Death – Michele Giuttari
5. The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald (book group pick)
6. Room – Emma Donaghue (book group pick)
7. The Other Hand – Chris Cleave
8. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – Helen Simonson
9. The Help – Kathryn Stockett
10. The First Rumpole Omnibus – John Mortimer
11. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Muriel Spark
12. The Lacuna – Barbara Kingsolver
13. When God Was A Rabbit – Sarah Winram (ended up being a book group pick too)
14. Hungry Ghosts – Debbie Taylor
15. The Pleasure Seekers – Tishani Doshi
16. American Gods – Neil Gaiman
17. How to be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
18. America Unchained – Dave Gorman
19. Black and Blue – Anna Quinlan
20. The Quilter’s Apprentice – Jennifer Chiaverini
21. Round Robin – Jennifer Chiaverini
22. Plugged – Eoin Colfer
23. The Cross-Country Quilters – Jennifer Chiaverini
24. The Villa in Italy – Elizabeth Edmondson

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Link – today’s Dilbert, a little close to the bone!

Dilbert.com

Today’s Dilbert is very close to everyday life for me. I am forever checking my phone for tweets/ facebook / emails while talking to people – how rude of me!

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