Books, books and more books.

I've read the Elly Griffiths, Ruth Galloway books, all bar the latest one and I've read one  of her Harbinder Kaur series.

I've bought and just started to read the first William Monk book by Anne Parry. 

I will gradually work my way through your other suggestions.

I can't see well enough to read real books so I depend on my kindle and enlarge the font.

I am a voracious reader and always have been, I had to serve a detention when I was in school as I was caught reading the Carpetbaggers by Harold Robbins. I was about 13 years old, the school phoned my mother to complain but as it was her book I had borrowed I don't think she was bothered. 

When my children were small and before my eyesight started to deteriorate, I read in the the bath and when washing up I always had a book resting against the taps.

Now I have very little to do apart from walking Beano and some housework, Steve tries to restrict my socialising so I read for hours, I read as many freebie books as I can, otherwise all my pension would be spent on books.

I am relatively indiscriminate about the sort of books I read, I enjoy sci-fi, murder mysteries, thrillers etc. I do not read romances, I have never really enjoyed them.

I have an online friend called Lyssa Medana who writes about vampires and golems, I love her books. I've read all of Sir Terry Pratchetts books despite one of my neighbours telling me that Sir Terry didn't write for people like me!!

BBQ in the garden.

Steve's in the garden, manning the BBQ, I did go over but the only seats left were in  the sun and it's 30 degrees. It's far too hot for Beano so we've come home again.

I shall take Beano out again about 10 o'clock, hopefully it will be cooler then.

I've read all the Midsomer Murders books I bought for my kindle and a Marlow Murder book. I need to find some more to read.

It would be easier if I could sit glued to the TV but that's not an option. More than an hour and I'm going cross eyed.

I bought myself some new bras, a pack of three, unfortunately one of them was a size 34. I've given it to a neighbour who will take it to a charity shop. It's unworn, as it is a pull on design it went no further than my elbows.

Yes I know I should have returned it but the thought of trying to catch two buses to the nearest Post Office and then two buses home put me off. I really miss driving.

And repeat.

We are meeting Steve's friend Bob for lunch today he's bringing his wife so I'm included in the invitation.

But firstly the supermarket delivery is due today and we've been advised that it could be 30 minutes late.

So Steve is having a full blown panic attack, I've offered to stay home and take the delivery in if we are still waiting when we should be leaving. 

We aren't due at the pub until 1 o'clock and the delivery is due at 11:30. I can't see a problem but Steve does and is panicking accordingly.

Lunch out.

Today is our 24th wedding anniversary so we went out for lunch. It wasn't an unmitigated success though all went well until it was time for dessert.

I'm not sure why Steve decided we needed to go out usually if we celebrate it's with a takeaway, still I'm not one to turn down a meal out.

We went to a nearby pub, we were given a lift there and back which was good as it been very hot here.

We ate in the garden as there was a nice breeze, I'd taken Beano's water bottle and his cool mat for him to lay on so he was comfortable.

Steve had three courses, mushrooms as a starter, chicken skewer with chips for his main course and ice cream.

I only had a main course, a chicken skewer with hummus and flatbread. Between the main course and the ice cream I took Beano for a wander around the garden as he's been so good sat on his cool mat.

When we got back to the table Steve has ordered ice cream to share, there was a choice of vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or a sorbet. Steve had ordered four scoops of chocolate ice cream, whilst this was a kind thought, I don't like chocolate ice cream but I ate some to avoid the lurking strop. It's the same when he makes coffee in the morning, he never puts sugar in mine as he's convinced I don't take sugar. I only like half a spoonful as does Steve so why he cannot remember this after 24 years I do not know.

I was glad to get home as Steve's mood was deteriorating, we got home in time for me to go across to the summer house for a while. Steve stomped around in the garden, knocking back the lager until he cheered up.

I can't

 Swim, ride a bike or dance.

My mother suffered with her nerves, she visited the Dr who suggested she get pregnant. This seems to have been a common suggestion in the 1950's

My mother complied but unfortunately once I was born she realised this was not the panacea she had hoped for. So she got a job and I went to a childminder. I don't remember the child minder but I do remember going to work with my mother on a regular basis.

I'm not sure that having me was the hoped for cure-all and she continued to suffer. For this reason I was not allowed to learn swim. Mother reasoned that if learned to swim I'd go into water and drown. I was not allowed to ride a bike either, because if I learned to ride of go out with other children and get run over.

The only children I was allowed to mix with were a brother and sister who lived a few doors away. This wasn't an ideal situation as I was regularly sexually assaulted by the father of these children!

As for dancing, I have two left feet and can no more dance than I can fly.

I do have some skills, I can cook, with or without a recipe, I can sew, knit and crochet but not very well now as I can't see properly.

Hayfever.

JacquieB, I bought my trolley when we were living on the boat, it's strong and sturdy and has three wheels either side. This meant it was very good at managing lumpy, bumpy tow paths. 

My hayfever is bad this year, I'm not sure if it's me or if it's a bad year for it. I'm sniffing and snuffling, wheezing and sneezing and I'm driving Steve mad because it's made my deafness worse which means he's having to repeat himself. I shall be glad when I recover.

Too hot for Beano.

Beano doesn't like the hot weather, it makes him itch so I try to walk him early in the morning when it's cooler.

On Friday's I try to walk him before Steve gets up , this way we avoid the pacing and panicking that Steve does whilst awaiting the supermarket delivery.

I've never had a delivery that hasn't turned up and only once has a delivery been really late. The supermarket let us know and it wasn't a problem as we weren't going anywhere.

When we were living on the boat I was approached by a delivery driver as I was walking Beano. He was parked on the canal bridge and could see the boats moored below but didn't know how to access them. As the delivery was for us I was able to show him where we were moored.

If I was shopping for myself wouldn't use a delivery service, we have two supermarkets at the top of the road and I have a wally trolly so I'd shop there. But Steve orders six trays of Fosters every week which is too much to carry.