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Radio Dismuke on LoudCity

A swell 1920s/1930s radio station for those so inclined to create a little retro bubble for themselves!

knit in a hurry

a few weeks back

during icy days at work

these were essential

necessity is also the mother of speedy work

I knit these from my erika knight gloves pattern, just left off the tops of the thumb and fingers (though she does include a fingerless mitts pattern with extra ribbing, I ignored this), in some blue rowan I had stashed.

a change of department at work

self-determined list of must-read books to make me better at my job::

part 1:: books I would have loved to read when I was younger

My Naughty Little Sister stories by Dorothy Edwards

The Family From One End Street by Eve Garnet

Further Adventures From the Family at One End Street

Holiday at Dew Drop Inn, both by Eve Garnett

the rest of the Famous Five stories by Enid Blyton

the rest of the '... of adventure' books by Enid Blyton

Powder Monkey by Paul Dowswell

Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

Anne of Green Gables by L Montgomery

The Secret Countess by Eve Ibbotson

Witch Child by Celia Rees

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Rain by Kate Le Vann

list under construction, suggestions welcome

just added:

The Story of the Treasure Seekers

by E Nesbit

books books books - 2009

Happy New Year! I hope you've had a nice holiday season. Though it's been very quiet on the blogging front, I had a busy December working at the bookshop, a fun christmas hosting for the first time, and turned 25 a few days ago. Almost no knitting or sewing though, the only thing I made was a christmas stocking. Alas, I did not fulfil my new year's resolutions from last year, so this year I've realistically decided not to make any.

This is the end of my year-long diary of books I've read, and it's been tremendous fun. I might do a 2010 diary, though offline as I can't imagine that this is of any interest to anyone else. If this post has anything to offer, it is my recommendation of all the books I've read, and an insight into my personality (you are what you read).

Since the last books... post, during November and December, I've read ~

1. Ramage's Diamond by Dudley Pope

2. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

3. The Moorland Cottage and The Cage at Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

4. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs

5. BUtterfield 8 by John O'Hara

6. Sharpe's Battle

pitifully few, especially compared to the first 3 months of 2009.

So, the final statistics for 2009:

Total books read: 53

Total books abandoned: 9

Average books read per month: 4.42

Total authors read 25

Top 5 most-read authors:

1. Bernard Cornwell ~ 12 books

2. Lilian Harry ~ 6 books

3. Diana Gabaldon ~ 5 books

4. Alexander Fullerton ~ 3 books

5. Evelyn Waugh ~ 3 books

Percentage of books that feature WW2 as a setting: 28%

Percentage of books that feature a Ship: 28%

Percentage of books belonging to a series: 58%

Percentage of books set in 19th century: 43%
Percentage of books set in 20th century: 45%

Favourite books of 2009 in no particular order

Ethel & Ernest..........................Raymond Briggs

Rendezvous with Rama..........Arthur C Clarke

Westbound Warbound............Alexander Fullerton

Cross Stitch..............................Diana Gabaldon
Stardust....................................Neil Gaiman
Very Ordinary Seaman..........J P W Mallalieu
The Shell Seekers...................Rosamunde Pilcher

A Town Like Alice...................Nevil Shute
Vile Bodies................................Evelyn Waugh

the Sharpe series.................... Bernard Cornwell

Percentage of books read paid for: 38%
Percentage of books read borrowed/given/free: 62%

Book it took it the longest to get through: BUtterfield 8

Book I read the quickest (8 consecutive hours): A Town Like Alice

how to make Sarah Raven's apple chutney

Chop up apples, onions and dates


blitz in the blender

add sultanas


add cayenne pepper, ginger, brown sugar and a pinch of salt

pour in the white wine vinegar

stir thoroughly

leave for 36 hours

put into nice jars you've been saving up for months

cut circles of paper to put in the top of the jars

add labels and give to friends and relations!

brighton

Ahhh, a week by the sea... even in November it's very relaxing. I had a lovely week with mum, who was very pleased with her scarf, thanks for all your kind comments! Though I did sweeten the gift a little with some Green & Blacks ginger chocolate.

Mum has just moved into a tiny but gorgeous house, a terraced-cottage built in 1810. Despite its mini-proportions it has the biggest bathroom I've ever seen, and is decorated throughout with wood and teal blues. It has hard to leave.

After a walk along the pier and the promenade, with as much salt air as I could possibly want to breathe in, I dived into the Lanes for shopping and gawping with Mr HH. We had the most delicious seafood at English's, and visited the Angel Food Bakery cupcakery. I also fell in love with retro cafe Scoop and Crumb, where I had a Fruit Crumble Sundae, with cinnamon ice-cream, berry ice-cream, strawberry ice-cream, crushed shortbread, fruit coulis and whipped cream, and admired the wallpaper

I saw a whole heap of relations, and parted with Freddie the elephant when I met my 18-month old cousin Freddie. He doesn't talk yet, but has the most adorable laugh.

Just in time

I finished my Mum's birthday present, Haven in Lavender Ice (Rowan Cocoon).


I've folded it in half in the photo above, as it's very long, I used three balls of Cocoon, which as ever is lovely to work with, super soft and squishy.

I'm off to Brighton for a week, to deliver this present, and breathe in some salt air...