After watching the final episode of the excellent Danish Detective Series last Saturday to which, I admit, I had become addicted to the extent that I haven't accepted an invitation out for the last 10 weekends [the length of the series run]I thought my TV selection would revert to searching for a programme actually worth watching.
Just when I thought I could reclaim Saturday nights they announced that a new series of "Spiral" [a French Detective series also on BBC4] would begin in the same slot from this coming Saturday. I discovered this in its first series, watched the second series and I know will be glued to my screen for the forthcoming third! Like "The Killing" this French programme was clever, very well acted, with an intelligent script and devoid of the excess, unrealistic glamourisation of most of our home grown product and with the exception of "The Wire" the US imports.
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Monday, 7 March 2011
The Bookworm
All last week for a half hour TV slot every evening they celebrated National Book Week by inviting two people [I suppose to generalise one could call them celebraties but actually it was a very varied selection of authors, actors, sportsmen/women] to bring in and discuss their favourite books.
It was quite fascinating and made surprisingly good TV as the idea was to select books which were important at various stages of their lives.
It got me thinking which books I would have chosen. For first childhood choice I was drawn back to "What Katy Did" or "Little Women" which I remember reading over and over again when I was at Primary School. I learnt to read very early and always have been a fast reader, my local library couldn't believe how often I came to change my books.
In my teens I read "Exodus" in one very long night because I just couldn't put it down. I have worked my way through most of the classics but the object of the TV programme was to try and pick the really significant reads.
I discovered that to be truthful it wasn't always the prize winning novels [The Booker, Costa etc etc] that made the lasting impression. "Fever Pitch" made me laugh out loud in a crowded tube train, "Perfume" was another through the night read and any of Sharon Penman's historical sagas can find a place in my holiday case.
Last year I read Stieg Larsson's Millennium Triology "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl who Played with Fire" and "The Girl who kicked the Hornet's Nest" one straight after the other. I was hooked from the second chapter in the first book.
At the end of the programme the contributors were asked for a book they considered their "guilty pleasure" - for me that could be a really good thriller, one that kept the reader in the dark too, working out the clues along the way, something by Lee Child or Karen Rose.
This book selection business is tough, I keep thinking of other books I ought to include and I could definitely not pick just one as my favourite so it was lucky I wans't invited on to the programme.
I am signing off now to go to bed and read a few chapters of my current book which is actually a prize winner, "The Finkler Question" - I haven't made my mind up about this book yet. I didn't particularly like Part 1 but have now progressed to Part 2 and it has improved. I am not sure it is as good as the hype.
Any book recommendations always welcome.
It was quite fascinating and made surprisingly good TV as the idea was to select books which were important at various stages of their lives.
It got me thinking which books I would have chosen. For first childhood choice I was drawn back to "What Katy Did" or "Little Women" which I remember reading over and over again when I was at Primary School. I learnt to read very early and always have been a fast reader, my local library couldn't believe how often I came to change my books.
In my teens I read "Exodus" in one very long night because I just couldn't put it down. I have worked my way through most of the classics but the object of the TV programme was to try and pick the really significant reads.
I discovered that to be truthful it wasn't always the prize winning novels [The Booker, Costa etc etc] that made the lasting impression. "Fever Pitch" made me laugh out loud in a crowded tube train, "Perfume" was another through the night read and any of Sharon Penman's historical sagas can find a place in my holiday case.
Last year I read Stieg Larsson's Millennium Triology "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl who Played with Fire" and "The Girl who kicked the Hornet's Nest" one straight after the other. I was hooked from the second chapter in the first book.
At the end of the programme the contributors were asked for a book they considered their "guilty pleasure" - for me that could be a really good thriller, one that kept the reader in the dark too, working out the clues along the way, something by Lee Child or Karen Rose.
This book selection business is tough, I keep thinking of other books I ought to include and I could definitely not pick just one as my favourite so it was lucky I wans't invited on to the programme.
I am signing off now to go to bed and read a few chapters of my current book which is actually a prize winner, "The Finkler Question" - I haven't made my mind up about this book yet. I didn't particularly like Part 1 but have now progressed to Part 2 and it has improved. I am not sure it is as good as the hype.
Any book recommendations always welcome.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Busy Days
The last few days have been rather hectic, it's the grandchildren's half-term so we helped out with an overnighter for the two eldest on Wednesday and they stayed here all day Thursday. We love seeing them but it does mean some late night work to catch up. Gluttons for punishment [not really the right expression] we now have the youngest two here tonight [Saturday] on what they like to refer to as a
"Sleepover". We are taking them to their other Grandparents tomorrow afternoon for a Birthday Tea for their Daddy and then back home they go with The Daughter and the Birthday Boy.
In the middle of all this I have been trying to start a new marketing operation for our property in Spain to try and see if we can interest magazines or film makers in using our estate. We did have a Spanish music video shot on the property which went well and it is something I'd like to pursue. Anyhow it is certainly worth a try. On the holiday rentals side we only have one week still available in August and hopefully some of the other enquiries will firm up into definite bookings. Don't forget if any of you are interested fellow bloggers get special rates!
"Sleepover". We are taking them to their other Grandparents tomorrow afternoon for a Birthday Tea for their Daddy and then back home they go with The Daughter and the Birthday Boy.
In the middle of all this I have been trying to start a new marketing operation for our property in Spain to try and see if we can interest magazines or film makers in using our estate. We did have a Spanish music video shot on the property which went well and it is something I'd like to pursue. Anyhow it is certainly worth a try. On the holiday rentals side we only have one week still available in August and hopefully some of the other enquiries will firm up into definite bookings. Don't forget if any of you are interested fellow bloggers get special rates!
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Online again
Much to my relief I now have my broadband connection sorted! The Man and I decided we could no longer wait for Talk Talk to get their act together and using a dongle [a ridiculous name isn't it?] was just too slow so we have gone Fibre Optic. Virgin Media cabled us up and we can now use the internet at the speed of light apparently.
Seriously it will be great to get online when I need to and keep in touch promptly.
Apologies to anyone who I haven't responded to over the last 6 weeks while all this broadband nonsense has been going on but from now on I have no excuses.
Seriously it will be great to get online when I need to and keep in touch promptly.
Apologies to anyone who I haven't responded to over the last 6 weeks while all this broadband nonsense has been going on but from now on I have no excuses.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Cosmopolitan Viewing
Last night we watched the DVD of the film "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" the original Swedish version with subtitles. I always feel it is the mark of an excellent foreign language film when you forget you are reading subtitles because you are so absorbed in the action. I have read all three books in this trilogy and can heartily recommend them and the film did not disappoint. They had to concentrate on the central story with less side characters involved than in the book which was understandable as it was over two and a half hours long even in this version.
The Man are I are getting very cosmopolitan in our TV and DVD watching lately. Apart from the Wallander series [Swedish version again] and an excellent French detective series called "Spiral", we are totally hooked on a Danish Detective Series called "The Killing" it is on BBC4 on Saturday nights from 9pm - 11pm. There are 20 episodes which they are showing in sets of 2 - I have to admit that I am trying to avoid invitations to go out on Saturday nights for the next few weeks, it is that good.
The Man are I are getting very cosmopolitan in our TV and DVD watching lately. Apart from the Wallander series [Swedish version again] and an excellent French detective series called "Spiral", we are totally hooked on a Danish Detective Series called "The Killing" it is on BBC4 on Saturday nights from 9pm - 11pm. There are 20 episodes which they are showing in sets of 2 - I have to admit that I am trying to avoid invitations to go out on Saturday nights for the next few weeks, it is that good.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Four Hurrahs!
Continuing with my decision to remain optimistic and as the good Old Pythons sang "Look on the bright side of life". This week has started well, yesterday we overcame lengthy delays on the legal side of a project and finally completed, got the keys to the building and commenced the fit-out - hurrah! Today the weather was distinctly milder by December and January standards positively balmy, the sun shone and blue sky was spotted - another hurrah! I had a very successful day helping two of my charity clients purchase some superb secondhand [though you would never guess it] office furniture at very very reasonable cost from one of my secret sources - yet another hurrah! Finally travelling back to the office between 4 and 5pm and miracles it was still daylight [we have got passed the shortest day of the year], so Spring is on the way - a final hurrah!
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
A Jolly Sunday
I have written in the past about my particular love of Afternoon Tea, mostly enjoying the treat in a restaurant or hotel that specialise in the traditional fare. However when The Man and I decided we hadn't seen some family members for a while we decided to throw an Afternoon Tea at home. Numbers were around 13 adults and 4 children - a fair crowd so it had to be buffet table style. As usual we made far too much food, the table was positively groaning. Sandwiches [egg, smoked salmon, tuna, cream cheese and chive] - crusts cut off of course; sun-dried tomato palmiers; scones with jam and clotted cream; apricot palmiers; pavlova and a very naughty chocolate cake. All our guests did their best and were very appreciative but frankly we had to hand out doggy bags and freeze half the chocolate cake.
Still it was a very jolly afternoon, the grandchildren hadn't all been together for a while and do so enjoy seeing each other. Granddaughter No. 1 had helped with the preparation and written the Menu on cards and Grandson No. 2 was on his best behaviour and decided to be the waiter for our elderly relatives bringing them a selection from the table so they wouldn't have to get off their seats. Granddaughter No.2 provided entertainment with renditions of her favourite Disney songs whilst wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress [I think I have mentioned before her current obsession with dressing as a princess] and finally Grandson No. 1 who now at the almost teenage age of 12 has entered the "Kevin" years still managed to eat the largest slice of my chocolate cake and pronounced it as good as his favourite Pizza Express chocolate cake [there is no higher praise].
Still it was a very jolly afternoon, the grandchildren hadn't all been together for a while and do so enjoy seeing each other. Granddaughter No. 1 had helped with the preparation and written the Menu on cards and Grandson No. 2 was on his best behaviour and decided to be the waiter for our elderly relatives bringing them a selection from the table so they wouldn't have to get off their seats. Granddaughter No.2 provided entertainment with renditions of her favourite Disney songs whilst wearing her Sleeping Beauty dress [I think I have mentioned before her current obsession with dressing as a princess] and finally Grandson No. 1 who now at the almost teenage age of 12 has entered the "Kevin" years still managed to eat the largest slice of my chocolate cake and pronounced it as good as his favourite Pizza Express chocolate cake [there is no higher praise].
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