March/April update

It's been February since I last posted here, it's been a busy few months which is my ropey excuse.  This pregnancy lark isn't all it's cracked up to be and fair takes it out of me but I have managed some crafty things so it's not all bad.

My previous to do was :

Knit a baby hat - I had given up on this as I have bought sooooo many baby clothes, including hats. So it's no longer top priority but something I might try when I'm on maternity leave in July.

Knit item from my stash, keen to knit some hearts (pattern in a mag somewhere) using the undyed yarn I have. These could decorate baby's room - Yeah no I haven't done that :-/

Listen to Gone Girl for the book group - Done, and I enjoyed it although it got a bit of a luke warm reception from the rest of the group.  I haven't written a review for it but take my word it was ok.

Read Dolly by Susan Hill - done and I posted a review here.

and Tuesday Yoga, Thursday Davina DVD - between work, super tired and PGP (pelvic girdle pain) I am in no way up for this however I know I need to get fit in the last trimester (to prepare for labour) and the yoga might actually help me.

I also tried sewing a baby hat from an old t shirt which did not work out so was quickly scrapped, but did successfully manage to remove the header tape from old curtains to sew onto the new curtains for the nursery....and they look great!  I also cut up and re-sewed an old bed sheet of ours into 6 flat sheets for the Moses basket/cot bed. Some look better than others but when I am covered in baby fluids at 4am I doubt neither me, Mr C or baby will care.

Most excitingly is an exciting thing I can not talk about or reveal until after Wonderwool as I have a surprise for a friend, you will just need to take my word it's a cool thing and I will be able to reveal all in a few weeks.

So onto Aprils to do (April is busier than March so don't expect much):

Finish surprise cool thing by Wonderwool 27th April

Read 'The Host' by Stephanie Meyer for book group

Read 'Sane new world' by Ruby Wax (I'm going to see her in May at the Hay Festival!)

Read 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' 

This month is full of fun exciting things, a trip to Scotland (including Imax and Edinburgh castle), a wedding in Carmarthen, Wonderwool, and a night in Cardiff to see Derren Brown! Busy little bees we are :)

Book Review: Dolly by Susan Hill

The remoter parts of the English Fens are forlorn, lost and damp even in the height of summer. At Iyot Lock, a large decaying house, two young cousins, Leonora and Edward are parked for the summer with their ageing spinster aunt and her cruel housekeeper. At first the unpleasantness and petty meannesses appear simply spiteful, calculated to destroy Edward's equanimity. But when spoilt Leonora is not given the birthday present of a specific dolly that she wants, affairs inexorably take a much darker turn with terrifying, life destroying, consequences for everyone.
[The above is from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069121-dolly]

I found this to be much scarier than 'The small hand' but not entirely sure I fully understood it. I won't spoil the ending but I came away thinking that what happens to the male character isn't necessary and quite unfair. I think I needed further explanation and I felt that it ended quite abruptly leaving a lot unanswered.

As with all her books Susan Hill has got the atmosphere perfect and I could picture myself in the house, on the fens, in the church yard but always with that sense of unease. I particularly hated Leonara but couldn't help feel sorry for her at the end of the book.

An enjoyable spooky story that will while away a few hours.
 

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

One week left...

...and I still have much to do!

What I have done is listened to 'Gone Girl' (review below) and read 'Dolly' but haven't reviewed it yet.  It's been a very busy month with lots of travel for work (poor excuse I know) but I have managed one Yoga session which is better than none Yoga session.

Last night I started watching the Great British Sewing Bee, I knows 'citing innit, which has made me want to sew something again...so lets add 'sew a something' to the list.  I have several ideas in the mill, 1. Using material from an old tshirt sew a baby hat (as per a pattern I have somewhere) 2. Sew some fabric boxes using fat quarters to keep my make-up and 'stuff' in 3. Sew a drawstring laundry bag for the nursery.  

I've also bought myself a ticket for Wonderwool for the Sunday (can't go the whole weekend because of a friends wedding) which has given me the inspiration I need to knit something but also I refuse to meet up with my knitty friends and when quizzed upon what I have made with last years purchases I'll have to dive and hide in the nearest yarn pile.  So before April I have to knit something from last years Wonderwool buys.  Ideally a pair of pink fingerless mitts the pattern for which a friend gave me and reassures me it couldn't be easier.

This to do list is getting even bigger, time to actually 'to do' I feel!

Book Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet? 

[The above is from http://gillian-flynn.com/gone-girl/]

I don't normally but I thought it worth saying that sensitive readers should proceed with caution. The book does contain coarse language as well as some violence and sexual content.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I have to say now I listened to it as an audiobook rather than read it but thought it worked very well as an audio book.  I thought it was a fantastic thriller, with good pace and well drawn characters.  Their are lots of twists and turns but one major twist is really the main crutch of the story which I wont reveal here as it would be a major spoiler but I will say it is a big twist you really don't see coming.

 

Towards the end I felt I was trying to second guess the main characters, I felt I was getting to know them so well that by the end I was trying to guess what they would do next but the actions of the main characters at the end surprised me.  However when I thought about it more I did think that it was in keeping with the personality of the character and just added to my love of them.

 

I hated, hated, Nick for the first half of the book then I hated, hated, Amy.  I knew at the start I was being set up for something but never guessed what and honestly couldn't see a way past my hatred on Nick until the end of the story when I didn't so much as hate him but disliked him...a lot.  Lot of reviewers have said they hated Nick and Amy moaning about their financial hardship but I thought that added to just how self obsessed and socio/psychopathic the characters are.  Another problem other reviewers had was that towards the end the characters became inconsistent, again I think the point is that at the beginning you're not getting the true them and as the book goes on you're getting more and more into their psyche.  By the end you realise just how screwed up the two of them are.

My favourite scene wasn't actually a scene but the description of the house they had in Brooklyn.  The way Amy describes it in particular makes it sound luxurious and I could picture the skyline as they sat by the fire.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook, I would recommend to fans of thrillers.

January progress and February plans

Well let's have a wee recap shall we, my January plans were:

• Knit a square for the knitted blanket - I actually knitted two, finishing with a cabled square which I thoroughly enjoyed knitting, which makes me half way through the blanket.  Just need to finish off some embellishments, block the squares then sew them together and we have the first half of the blanket done.
• Give away or knit an item from my stash - I gave odd balls and freebies from magazines to the charity shop knowing that I was never really going to use them.  I haven't knitted anything from my stash this month but I did get rid of a bag full of oddments so it's a start.
• Paint a watercolour for January - done and blogged about
• Sew some napkins - again I've blogged already about this, I bought some cheapies from Tesco and was going to sew some embellishments (haven't got around to that yet)
• Read Stephen Kings' 11.22.63; Listen to Kate Atkinson Life After Life - I haven't started11.22.63 yet but I did listen to Life After Life and have blogged my review. I also read our book groups read and blogged about that too so I'm still on my reading track.
• Write book reviews for the above - Kind of done, just need to read Stephen King and review then we're all set.
• Do 4 Yoga sessions, 4 swimming sessions and get out walking (1 walk and 1 swim done) - Well now...

...this involves a whole explanation. You see I couldn't say, but now I can, and that at time of writing this I am 17 weeks pregnant with our first child. We are super excited and already life style changes are taking place! I was going. Swimming every Friday but the past month have been struggling with pelvic girdle pain and Dr Google advised against any activities which opened up my hips more than necessary, this means things like swimming and Yoga. Never minding some days I can barely walk the length of myself. But a few changes has meant things are better but i do need a regular exercise regime and cleaner diet.  

So based on this exciting news, February plans are:

Knit a baby hat. Possibly this could be my learn to knit in the round opportunity!?

Knit item from my stash, keen to knit some hearts (pattern in a mag somewhere) using the undyed yarn I have. These could decorate baby's room :)

Listen to Gone Girl for the book group 

Read Dolly, it's a short book like 'The Small Hand' so won't take too long

Write reviews for above

and Tuesday Yoga, Thursday Davina DVD 

I realise I'm writing this a week in and I haven't done any of the above, apart from start on Dolly, and can see some of these carrying over into March!

Oh and I know I still have some bits and pieces to finish from January (the blanket, the napkins yet another book) but I think I'll leave them to later months.

Until then...:)

Book Review: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born, the third child of a wealthy English banker and his wife. Sadly, she dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in any number of ways. Clearly history (and Kate Atkinson) have plans for her: In Ursula rests nothing less than the fate of civilization. [from Goodreads]

I think reading this rather than listening to an audio book would have been better, especially towards the end when everything gets a lot more mixed up and difficult to keep track of however I still enjoyed the book and was able to keep track (I think) of what was going on.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book, it seemed to begin on a fast changing roll of events then builds slowly throughout ending with a fast paced turn of events towards the end.  Some of the scenarios played out really made it feel like you were getting several novels in one.  I took to the main character Ursula throughout her scenarios and the different ages, she was a strong enough character to hold the entire novel together.

Overall an enjoyable listen.

I also found an excellent review on the Guardian site, check it out here.

Book Review: The Small Hand by Susan Hill

In this short book written by Susan Hill of 'Woman in Black' fame we are told the story of Adam Snow, an antiquarian book dealer, who happens upon an old house and that's when strange ghostly events begin to happen.  Adam is haunted by the ghost of a child and although it begins quite benevolent terrifying events begin to occur.  This book is only 167 pages long so its difficult to give a detailed synopsis without giving too much away.

Even though it was short I thoroughly enjoyed it as a proper spooky ghost story which suited the wintry, stormy weather we've been having recently.  The story although not exactly gripping in my opinion set the scene and atmosphere perfectly and you could quite easily put yourself in Adams' shoes...not that you would want to!  I found it hard to date and it wasn't until towards the end that I mention of the internet helped me place the story in recent times, afterwards I discovered it was published in 2010 but honestly it could have taken place any time between 1850 onwards.  Everything had that feel of dark and enclosed, almost claustrophobic feel, until the very end when doors are open wide and bright lamps are put on.

I found all the characters intriguing in their own way and although we followed the story of Adam I thought that each character played their part well and was believable.

If I had to select a favourite scene it would have to be anywhere at 'White House' where the author goes into great and glorious detail about the state of the house and gardens.  I feel it sets the background for a proper haunting very well without being overly hacked.

Although I enjoyed that the story was short and character backgrounds were kept to a minimum I felt that I came away with a lot of questions that should have been answered, but then a good ghost story should let you make up your own mind I suppose.

Physically I thought the book had a wonderfully ornate cover (shown above), I had the hardback version, and I liked the feel of the paper and the look of the font used throughout.  I liked that the initial in each new chapter was made to reflect the growing of the garden which was at the heart of the story.

If you are looking for a good proper spooky ghost story then this should be your first choice...then read the Woman in Black.