I am full of concern today. I’ve had a traumatic few days. I’ve heard my voice on the Garrett video. I’ve seen my decrepit image on the Trail Camera and to cap it all I was up till two this morning reading a book which wasn’t written for rufty, tufty, hairy arsed old men.
I started reading it just after lunch yesterday. An hour later I put it down and went a walk in the rain to clear my mind. That didn’t work; I came back and read it through in one sitting. Great it was, well written with no jarring grammar or ridiculous use of vocabulary. I laughed and cried. I empathised with the characters. I’m worried I'm turning into one of those. I’ll have to seriously re-appraise the image I have of myself. The cause of this introspection, the catalyst was…….’The Birds, the Bees and Other Secrets’ by Frances Garrood. Years ago I tried reading a girlie book, ‘Message in a Bottle’ by Nicholas Sparks. I was underwhelmed. I never finished it. Thank you Frances not only did I read your book in one and a bit goes, I loved it. You are an authoress and a bit. 
Whilst in Keswick, I’ll sort out all the fungi photos and get myself a proper mans’ jumper in the Norwegian wool shop. I quite fancy a pullover in pink or lilac.
Have fun.
Adrian no estés triste:)) a todos nos pasa lo mismo. cuando nos damos cuenta la vida se nos ha pasado sin enterarnos.Yo tengo 62 y me parece mentira lo deprisa que ha pasado. Pero ahí están los recuerdos unos buenos y otro no tanto.
ReplyDeleteLa foto preciosa se parece a los paisajes por los que estuvimos ayer:))
Un abrazo amigo.
Adrian do not be sad :)) we all do the same. when we realize life has passed without enterarnos.Yo I have 62 and I can not believe how fast it happened. But there are some good memories and some less so.
The lovely photo resembles the landscapes that were yesterday :))
A hug friend.
Adrian do not be sad :)) we all do the same. when we life has passed without enterarnos.Yo I have 62 and I can not believe how fast that happened. But there are some good memories and some less so.
The lovely photo resembles the landscapes that were yesterday :))
A hug friend.
I just saw you in the video, these very well, I like your way of life!!
ReplyDeleteLaura, no estoy triste. Es difícil conseguir viejo, pero he tenido una vida muy ocupada.
DeleteIt is a wonderful way to live.
My late father loved that whole area, and would visit at least once a year (mountain climbing). Go for the lilac; pink is a bit iffy!
ReplyDeleteCro, many thanks, pink is very iffy....People may mistake me for a golfer.
Deletegeweldig maar je hebt er nog niet van gedroomd? de trui ach de kleur doet er niet toe als hij maar lekker warm is maar roze?
ReplyDeleteIk heb besloten pink kan een beetje verwijfd. Ik zal kijken wat ze hebben en post een foto.
DeleteAdrian, funny how how a book and a chang of season effects us all, I have s.a.d and the change is horrible but all that disappears when I go outside and enjoy whatever happens to be around me, to be fair too if I reach your age and I'm travelling around the country like yourself I'd be pretty chuffed, I know people half your age who don't venture further then the pub on the corner.
ReplyDeleteDouglas, I usually enjoy this time of year. I'm least impressed by summer.
DeleteThe book was a cracking though emotional read.
There are days when the pub on the corner seems very attractive.
Another good picture! I like books that stir up my emotions. This one sounds great.
ReplyDeleteYears ago my old art teacher said she bought clothes that were old rose. She didn't particularly like the color but it looked good on her. She liked orchid but said she looked like death in it. I would suggest taking a long look in the mirror while wearing either color before I bought the jacket.
David, it's a good job. Early this morning, whilst wiping a tear from my eye I thought I may have turned. It's okay now....I've just come back from the supermarket and I still picked the checkout with the pretty girl on. I also have a pack of six smoked mackerel. I blame the lady with the wonderful bottom for distracting me.
DeleteI'll watch what I buy Knitted jumpers are a fortune. It will be oiled wool and hopefully see me out.
Adrian, I'm not a fan of non fiction books myself, I much prefer history and natural history, but I can tell this book definitely got you thinking.
ReplyDeleteAnd is this the result, a new image?......In that case you should go for pink, it's your colour! But, you should take into account the emotional effect it might have on those poor dogs before you walk them out in the woods!...[;o)
Trevor, it got me thinking alright...At half two this morning I was considering a sex change. I'm back to normal now. I got an old book out on Lotus pre- crossflow twin cams and for good measure the wonderful single rail ford gearbox.
DeleteI suspect the new woolie will be a dirty shade of grey or green. Saves worrying too much about washing.....Pink is definitely out. Golfers wear pink.
Of course, that should have read....I'm not a fan of fictional books...[;o)
DeleteTrevor, it's okay, I knew what you meant. This book is not a Mills and Boom. It may be as I've never read one. Frances does leave the door wide open for a sequel.....if she has written one or does then I'll read it.....Next week. When I've bought some more Kleenex Man Size. Only joking, I use kitchen roll.
DeleteI need to find time to read a proper book.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to worry a little: reading girlie books, pink cardies, oh dear. You have my number. If it all gets too much, give me a call. Or have some more Bells until these strange urges wear off.
Keith, this is a proper book. I loved every minute of it when I could read it. You need some kitchen roll handy to mop up tears of mirth and tears of sadness.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine, have got a black and white jumper. I'm hoping it will become a uniform grey to match the rest of my wardrobe.
I'll give you a ring as I have a month to kill and fancy seeing Rosemary's ducks again.
I think I could be a literary critical person. I see endless opportunities.
Stay away from all pictures of your self. It's very bad for the health and self image and esteem. I know what i'm talking about.
ReplyDeleteRed, I am lucky to be here still. I just hope I'm not too frightening. It is good to be alive but not so good growing old.
DeleteHi, Adrian. Sitting at the foot of that mountain must be awe-inspiring. Hope it isn't over-awing too. Hills and mists and empty lands can be quite disturbing - though you are used to these sceneries.
ReplyDeleteAbout your comment on my blog, Loose and Leafy- http://looseandleafy.blogspot.co.uk/ . I'm perplexed. There's nothing new or different about it. The post describes, for the sake of new readers, what it has been for several years now - the kinds of posts posted, the kinds of content covered. I'm sorry you don't like it - but that's a bit sudden . . . ? I mean - you've never complained before and you've been commenting there off and on over the last couple of years!
Maybe it's that you like Message in a Milk Bottle better and are confusing the two? - http://messageinamilkbottle.blogspot.co.uk/ (that's the one photograph a day blog - except today I posted two photographs but such a thing hardly ever happens).
Ah well!
Anyway - back from a non-blogging summer so I'm not up with news on your blog. Hope you are ok and all is well.
Lucy
Lucy, I'm so sorry. I spent ages in the spring sorting your different blogs out. I got muddled up again. I'm fine but the dyspepsia is obviously worse than I realised.
DeleteHave fun I'll write something really nice next time.
Adrian, I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. It may seem soft, but knowing that someone has got pleasure from a book means more than anything (and yes.The money is nice, but it's nothing without the readers).
ReplyDeleteFrances, I started the book full of doubts and misgivings. You dispelled them within a chapter. It's a book I'll read again when I feel sorry for myself. It is for all it's pathos uplifting.
DeleteI wish I could write half as well or as honestly. Honestly I do! I popped that bit of punctuation in just because I like !!!! exclamation marks. Your book was a bit lacking in that department.
Kindle must be a godsend to authors. I would have just passed a book on but now folk have to buy their own. Jolly good! Someone has to pay the vets bills.
Adrian, you write a great book review. Frances should contact you if or when she writes that sequel. Next time round I wouldn't mention the subsequent pink or lilac dilemma. I like the look of your "new" mountain.
ReplyDeletePauline, all I can say is thank the Lord I liked it. I didn't review the book but only my reaction to it. I did think I shouldn't like this genre but was surprised. Frances has written lots of books. I have another one called Earnest something. I 'm saving that one till kitchen roll is on offer. Buy six...get twelve. When the tears come they come in bucket fulls whether I'm laughing or crying.
DeleteTotally intimidated by your expertise via photography ... humbly invite you to look at some of my Cuba pics though ... e well, eh? Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteCat....Where can I see them? There are wonderful photo opportunities everywhere but I am interested to see what you made of Cuba.
DeleteYes it's a very good read and an unusual one too. I've read the lot and posted about them and haven't been disappointed. I started because of the first sentence of Dead Ernest. "Nobody expected Ernest to die. Least of all Ernest.".
ReplyDeleteGraham, I enjoyed the way that humour was interwoven with pathos. A great read.
ReplyDelete