Sunday, 30 November 2025

November reading and storygraph

The colour of magic by Terry Pratchett 
Oh I had forgotten how much I loved this one. Pratchett was a genius and wrote great female characters. Just sublime 5🌟
The secrets of Treasonfield house by JC Briggs
Absolutely brilliant book, sensitively written with great attention to historical detail. 
A great read one small thing I did find it difficult at times to keep up with all the characters and who they were all related top but that was minor 4.5 🌟
Shardlake the complete BBC collection on Audible by CJ Sansom
Brilliant adaptations, they are abridged but still retain the brilliance of the books. Jason Watkins in the first is an excellent Shardlake but Justin Salinger is great as well 5 🌟
Secrets beneath the teacups by Dee Dee Edwards
A very charming cosy mystery set in a quaint town with loveable characters. A few twists and turns to keep you guessing and a satisfying conclusion. Looking forward to reading more with these loveable characters 4 🌟
From tragedy to eternity by Gary Masson
This book has moved me more than any ive read for a long time. The author is a friend of mine but that really hasn't coloured my judgement this is such a raw tale beautifully told. Inspired by real events and characters this story beautifully and passionately recreates their lives spanning from the end of the first world war to the end of the second. Moving emotional and at times funny it grabbed me and wrung my heart out. The depictions of Fraserburgh and it's folks are authentic and raw. 5 🌟
The subversion by Flynn Cooley
I would have DNFd this I only kept reading as it was so short 2.75 🌟
Dig your own grave by Carmen Radtke 
Im really conflicted about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the first third but for me it tailed off in the middle only to pick up again at the end 3.5 🌟
Backstage to murder by Vivian Keyes 
Enjoyable addition to the series 3.75 🌟
Black gala by Parker Vale 
Almost DNFd just dreadfully clichéd 2.5 🌟
Murder by the seaside by Jackie Baldwin 
Just didn't gel DNF
Lord Sommertons Heir by Alison Stuart
I absolutely loved this, so well written, engaging characters gripping plot, romance with a nice mystery in the background. Just perfect, great period atmosphere as well. 4.75 🌟
Taken in the cold by Roger Stelljes
Didn't gel DNF
The magician next door by Rachel Chivers Khoo on Libby 
Utterly charming story, great narrator 4.5 🌟
Our mutual friend by Charles Dickens on BBC Sounds
Brilliant adaptation, fantastic cast 5🌟
Magical murderous cupcakes by Ron Tucker
Really enjoyable addition to this series, nice plot, good character development, nice quick fun read 4 🌟
Ghost conquers the castle by Carmen Radtke
It was 30% in before the murder, all a bit too twee and romanticised Scottishness DNF 
Follow me to Armageddon by Jordan Rivet
Really loved this an excellent addition to the series and we can really feel the shape of the future world coming together. I love seeingvthe characters develop along with the new world, looking forward to the next in the series 4 🌟
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens on BBC Sounds
Fabulous rendition but very heavily abridged 4🌟
The adventures of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters on Audible 
Fantastic adaptation, Philip Madoc is excellent as Cadfael 5 🌟
Purls and potions by Nancy Warren
Great addition to the series. Love the development of the love story between the three main characters.
A great premise for this story, just all round enjoyable 4 🌟
Sleepy head by Mark Billingham 
I did enjoy this and the plot was well paced and well constructed. The characters felt real and very human but I didn't really like any of them which i do feel impacted on my enjoyment 3.75 🌟
Judas the hero by Martin Davey
Just didn't grab me, felt a bit flat DNF
The Graves of Whitechapel by Claire Evans
Just didn't grab me DNF
Death comes but twice by David Field 
Very enjoyable, nice to see the back story developing. Intriguing plot 3.75 🌟
The complete Sherlock Holmes narrated by Stephen Fry on Audible 
Carried over to December 
Darkwater Cove by Dan Padavona 
Formulaic but enjoyable 3.5 🌟
The lost world by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on Audible 
This was fun but it's so heavily abridged and looses so much of the flavour of the book 3.25 🌟

So how was November? Pretty good, fewer books but thats because i dnf'd more. Im on a KU trial so sm taking more risks with what im reading 
Still not too shabby though! Plus im listening to audiobooks instead of podcasts now so not just snippets hour at bedtime 







Nice to get some different sources in, libby and BBC Sounds too. A good month!



November look back


Well! This was an adventure! I went downstairs! We have a new telly and the living room has been redecorated so I wanted to see what it was all like. I managed it fine and it didn't feel too bad at all, GD approves
Chilly challenge continues!
I sewed! Also arsed up winding a bobbin!



Lovely new scarf from Ruth!
Went Xmas shopping!


Advent calendar!
The snow was stunning
Advent calendar for Munro



Just loving getting out on the balcony!
My wee meter square 





A good month, some ups and downs but it all going in the right direction 

November furtle

 Well! There has been some crafting again this month! This is the Satsuma festive SAL half way through the month, im loving this so much, this is about half way through 

I've made patchwork blocks! All for my lovely Siblings bee mates


Why yes im still collecting needle minders 🀣🀣
I moved the hoop for Satsuma street SAL this is what it looks like unfolded
I also picked up my embroidery tracker for my pages read for 2025. I need to catch up! Im at the end of July now
Linking up with Archie the Wonder dog as ever for the monthly furtle!

Thursday, 6 November 2025

November seasons

 So welcome November! This is the far left corner of the garden and neither of us can remember what the tree is 🀦‍♀️ once it's blooming again i can look it up

November has seen the clocks change so now it's dark o'clock at 5! But that's life 😊 it's much much colder here now too, fleecy top time!

January
February 
March
April
May
June
July
August 
September 
October
November 

Saturday, 1 November 2025

Benderloch 15th Wedding anniversary

Well this is a different view! I still can't quite believe it but we've had a holiday! 
This beautiful cottage in Benderloch 
Perfect for our 15th wedding anniversary 

My chum Emma was leaving Benderloch as we arrived so she sent me this! 🀣
I waved back 🀣
Why yes it had a wood burning stove 😊

Gorgeous views, Mark got a couple of hills done

I managed up a fair bit and finished off the 2 felt bears i was making as anniversary presents
hiw cute are these πŸ₯°
Night view from my room 😊
our cards and presents πŸ₯°



My heart ❤️ cooking us a beautiful anniversary dinner 
We do make a lovely couple πŸ₯°