Beau Peep Notice Board

Diane, I haven't read any of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency books but I hear they're excellent. I DID read one of his other books (It may have been "44 Scotland Street" and I thoroughly enjoyed it).
Steve, I understand where you're coming from regarding books. There are times when I simply don't have the patience, energy or interest to commit myself to the entire story. On the other hand, there are times when I am completely captivated and can't wait to lose myself in the story-telling---the sign of great writing. For me, finding a wonderful book is one of the great joys in life.
I'm a Dundee United supporter. I need escapism.

I don't read books. I can read them...obviously, and used to devour them when I was a kid, but I've only read a handful of books in my entire adult life. My attention span with books is the problem. I get stuck like a scratched record, and end up reading the same paragraph a dozen times before it actually sinks in and I can move on...until the next time. The problem is, unlike the books I loved as a kid, the ‘grown up’ books don’t have pictures.

I'm told, especially considering my own job, I should have the imagination to make up my own pictures. But that is actually the problem - I spend way too long doing just that, and my mind wanders far from where it should be in the book. It was actually a lot easier when you saw pictures of Mrs Pepperpot, or the Famous Five, and you then knew what they looked like. It's fixed…job done – you know what they look like, and there's less visualising work to do. I had a Kindle for a while, and enjoyed reading short stories on it, but anything more than about ten pages was a test of endurance I failed every time.

Of that handful of books that I have managed to finish, two of them I've actually read twice! 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' was one – saw the movie first (brilliant!), then read the book (even better!). And a book called 'Illusions - The Adventures Of A Reluctant Messiah' by Richard Bach (who also wrote Jonathan Livingstone Seagull...which I've not read). It was a book that convinced me I could fly when I first read it several decades ago as a young man (I never succeeded, oddly enough), but was a bit of a disappointment when I reread it a few years back. I think that obviously says more about my encroaching cynicism through advancing years than the author's inspirational skills.

I still hope to fly some day, though I’ll settle for a little levitation.

For the last week or so, my wife and I have been suffering from colds. Common, run-of-the-mill colds. No persistent coughs, no fevers and no loss of smell or taste so no need to panic. Apparently, because of lockdown, the common cold took a break. Now that people are moving around again, it's back and we've been snuffling around, feeling sorry for ourselves. We're now well on the way to recovery. (I know this because we've started insulting each other again. Always a good sign).
One thing that has been a huge plus during these strange times is the number of books I have managed to read. Here's a brief summary...
I re-read all the Adrian Mole books plus a collection of magazine articles by Sue Townshend. She really was a very funny writer.
East of Eden. I finally got into John Steinbeck and I'm ashamed it took me so long. Wonderful book.
Comanche Moon. Just brilliant. Many of you will know that "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry is my favourite book of all time.(I keep banging on about it).This is a prequel and it's stunning. McMurtry is one of THE great American writers.
Empire of the Summer Moon. The biography of a Comanche chief called Quanah. Okay, I know I'm obsessed with all things Native American but this is a fabulous read. Really gripping.
Diary of a Nobody. This is another book that has taken me far too long to open. Written in 1892, it's a lovely satire about life in Victorian England. It stands the test of time and is a beautifully written, tongue-in-cheek account of the times. Great stuff.
Oh, and what else. Some Scandinavian thrillers and a couple of Jack Reacher books. (Don't knock Lee Child---the man writes gripping stories).
That's about it. I've probably missed out at least half-a-dozen other books that I got through in the last six months but those are part of the eclectic bunch I have enjoyed. Let me know if you share my love for any of them.

Sunny Evesham is quiet and calm.  We have been self isolating since 2012 so no difference.  Sorry, that should have been boring stay-at-home anti-social buggers. As we are lucky not to be working but retired, the main problems with the COVID saga is passing us by.  We don’t go out much anyway and certainly not to the not-so-local local.  We did not feel any different during the main isolation stage here.  I still went to the supermarket (Tesco) once a week, and maybe another trip into town for other things.  No problem.  DIY tasks, and some minor hobbies have kept us sane.  We didn’t hoard any loo rolls but had enough to cover the 6 weeks that there were none on the shelves. Money still came in.  The only bad part was not being able to hug the daughter who was working from home and alone (with a GSD and two Siamese).  She stopped off weekly to talk outside the house until ‘bubble time’ arrived.

The wife did not leave the house for over 5 weeks as I did any shopping.  Her first ‘road trip’ was to the recycling tip with me, queuing for an hour to get rid of a load of stuff we had hoarded.

Now that we can do more outside, Ruth has made lots of tech masks for the family to wear (makes a difference to my military respirator).  We have ventured out shopping for essentials and are calmly enjoying life [while fuming at the covidiots massing at pubs, beaches etc]. We have no intention to mix with anyone not essential.

Welcome to the madhouse Outasite.