A Good Read

The reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

Mukesh lives a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing. After losing his beloved wife Naina he is living more or less on automatic pilot. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and spends his evenings watching David Attenborough documentaries. His daughters regularly keep in touch and visit but he is lonely, and he worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading. Whilst sorting through some of Naina’s belongings Mukesh finds an overdue library book and decides to return it. There he meets Aleisha, a reluctant library assistant working at the library for the summer.

Aleisha has found a reading list, a scrappy piece of paper with the titles of nine books that she’s never heard of, but, bored with her job and intrigued by the list, she decides to read every book. One by one they help transport her away from the painful realities she’s facing at home.  

Mukesh is desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, so Aleisha hands him the reading list, hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again.

This is a lovely story. It does have some sadness but overall a lot of joy. Thoroughly recommend it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

to all us wonderful, loving, caring Mums.

My daughter and I are being taken out to lunch

by my son-in-law and grandson.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
“Welcome to the family,” says Nina Winchester as Millie shakes the elegant, manicured hand held out to her. Millie smiles politely as she gazes around the marble hallway. After leaving prison, losing her job and being evicted, and now living in her car, this live-in maid job is Millie’s last chance to start afresh. Every day she will be happy to clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house from top to bottom, to collect their daughter from school, and cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to her tiny attic room which only locks from the outside.
It’s hard to ignore how Nina deliberately makes a mess just to watch Millie clean it up, how she tells lies about her daughter, or how she wrongly accuses Millie of forgetting things. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. As Millie looks into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.
Millie soon learns that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than hers, but reassures herself that the Winchesters don’t know who she really is, and what she is capable of…

This psychological thriller had me glued to the pages. The end is very satisfying.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

International Women's Day

Celebrating all us wonderful women, 

past and present, everything we've done and achieved, 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

World Book Day

I love a good read, book shops and libraries

 📚 Happy World Book Day 📚

Polly x

A Good Read

Lula Dean’s Little LIbrary of Banned Books

by Kirsten Miller
Lula Dean has always lived in the shadow of her arch-rival Beverly Underwood, but now she has finally hit celebrity status thanks to her latest campaign of ridding the local library of inappropriate books. They're not pornographic or nasty, but Lula wants to set the right example and provide the townspeople with quality reading material so she sets up a Free Library outside her home and fills it with “wholesome” books that she’s sure the townspeople need.
Unknown to Lula, Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneakily replaces Lula’s books with the banned books but retains the original “wholesome” dust jackets. As the neighbours borrow books from Lula’s library, they realise that the content isn’t exactly what the cover promises - ‘The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution’ is wrapped in the cover of ‘The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette’. A jacket that belongs to ‘Our Confederate Heroes’ ends up on ‘Beloved’. One by one they see how the right book can change their thinking, and their lives. A secret revolution is brewing, and Lula doesn’t even know that she has caused it.

The novel is set as interconnected stories from various townspeople, with each chapter coming from one specific character. It is satire at its best - thought-provoking, provocative and humorous, and at the same time rooted in reality. I liked how the book tackled serious topics in a sensible and fun manner.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Shotley

Shotley is a small village in Suffolk. It gives its name to the Shotley peninsula between the Rivers Stour and Orwell.

My friend and I had a lovely day out on Tuesday.

The tide was out when we arrived, we strolled around for a bit 

before having a delicious lunch at the pub

We then had a walk around the marina area 

before heading for Suffolk Food Hall

River Orwell 

Orwell Bridge

 I like food halls and farm shops but don't buy much because they are usually quite pricey.

We ended our day with tea and coffee in the cafe overlooking the river.

Most of the day warm with sunshine and cloud 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont

by Laura Pearson

Mabel Beaumont’s husband Arthur loved lists. He’d leave them for her everywhere: ‘Remember: eggs, butter, sugar.

'I love you: today, tomorrow, always’.
But now Arthur is gone. He died, softly, gently, not making a fuss. And he left Mabel a list with just one item on it: ‘Find D’.
Mabel feels sure she knows what it means. She must track down her best friend Dot who she hasn’t seen since the fateful day she left more than sixty years ago.
It seems impossible. She doesn’t even know if Dot is still alive. Also, every person Mabel talks to seems to need help first, with missing husbands, daughters, parents. Mabel finds her list is just getting longer, and she’s still no closer to finding Dot.
What she doesn’t know though is that her list isn’t just about finding her old friend, and that if she can admit the secrets of the past, maybe she could even find happiness again.

A lovely heartbreaking, uplifting story, guaranteed to make you cry and smile.

I enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Random Acts of Kindness

Kindness, described as 'the voluntary, intentional act of being friendly, generous, and considerate towards others without expecting reward. It involves empathy, compassion, and action—such as helping or supporting someone in need—which builds relationships, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of belonging'.

I like kind.

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. It's a global observance dedicated to encouraging individuals to perform acts of kindness for others. The day serves as a reminder that gestures of goodwill, whether big or small, can have a significant positive impact on someone’s day.

A few examples:

Buy coffee for the person behind you: My friend M is also a volunteer at the hospital and one day whilst she was in the queue to buy a coffee the lady in front of her asked what she wanted and bought it for her. This is a lovely gesture but I suspect there could be problems in high street coffee shops. A lot of coffee places have a scheme whereby customers can purchase an extra drink or food item in advance for someone in need, and then that amount goes into a kitty until needed.

Compliment someone: I often compliment people on maybe a nice outfit, hair, makeup, shoes, and more than once at the hospital men who might be dressed a little quirky, wearing a kilt, a nice bow tie or cravat.

Someone left a few Christmas decorated stones around the village which made me smile.

If someone in customer service has been especially kind or helpful take an extra five minutes to tell their manager.

Try to make sure every person in a group conversation feels included. This is very important. We have a lovely 94 year old, highly intelligent lady in my WI group and sometimes she gets overlooked because she has a very quiet voice and we don't always hear her, so we try to ensure that she is included in all the conversations.

Smile at five strangers. 

Everyone is important. I always smile and say "Good morning" to the bus driver, and then "Thank you" when I leave.

Thank a retail store worker. They work all year round for us. I often say "How are you, I hope people are being nice to you"

 

Write a gratitude list in the morning and again in the evening. I do often say a quiet thank you to myself for everything I have.

Let someone out into the traffic. I often do this.

Buy a plant. Write positive words that describe a friend on the pot. Give it to that friend! I like this.

   
Leave a kind server the biggest tip you can afford.

   
If you know a friend is going through a difficult time cut out a few paper hearts and on each one write something that is special about that friend. Put them in a box, give them the box and tell them to pull out a heart anytime they need encouragement.

    

Donate dog or cat food to an animal shelter.

Practice self-kindness and spend time doing something you love. I think it's important to remember ourselves as well.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day, celebrated annually on February 14th, is a widely recognised day for expressing love and affection through gifts, cards, and romantic gestures. While rooted in ancient Roman fertility festivals and Christian traditions, it has evolved into a global, modern celebration of romance and companionship. It's also a huge money spinner for Hallmark cards and red rose sellers! 

A Morrisons heart shaped crumpet was delicious with fruit, yoghurt, orange curd and a sprinkling of chopped hazlenuts.

And yesterday there was a heart shaped crisp in my cheese and onion packet! 

💘

I read this below online somewhere which I thought was lovely, and if I had a significant other half I would love to do this for them:

Make or buy some paper hearts. On each one write something that is special about your partner. Put them in a nice box and present it to your loved one on Valentine's day. Tell them to pull out a heart anytime they need reminding just how special they are.

💘 Happy Valentine's Day 💘 

A Good Read

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

The Fairway Players are in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward and his wife Helen. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. When they hear that a very expensive experimental treatment is available their castmates rally to raise the money to fund it. But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy, or of the good intentions of those involved.

As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal, and the next day, a dead body is found, and soon after an arrest is made.

In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material - emails, messages, letters - with a growing suspicion that the real killer may be hiding in plain sight. The evidence is all there, between the lines, waiting to be uncovered.

The format of this won't be for everyone's liking - the plot is told through the emails, texts, letters, and essays that the lawyers are sifting through and the narrative often shifts voices and perspectives. When I started the book I didn’t think I could continue with it but I did and I enjoyed it.

I regularly had to refer to the extensive list of characters given at the beginning of the book, and make notes. The characters are well crafted and it’s a good plot. I did pick up a couple of clues but not who the murderer was!

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

The Garden

I don't often venture into the garden at this time of year because I know it's such a dismal sight. After weeks of frost and rain everywhere is dank. But a couple of days ago the sun was shining, it was quite mild so I had a look round. 

Hellebores can be relied on to bring a bit of cheer.

Every year I tell myself to get more of different colours, then I forget!

The pyracantha

with the pretty winter clematis climbing through it has been lovely.

And a young winter clematis is looking good

The same cannot be said for the buddleia, it's feral. Grown from bird droppings or wind blown it has loads of straggly branches with feeble flowers at the end of them. Every year I hack it right back and every year it just keeps growing.

This year I'm going to ask my son-in-law to chop it right down.

The viburnum has been loaded with blooms but it will need a good prune.

Miss Hawaii, Mr Otto and Duke enjoying a bit of sunshine.

My daughter bought me these, they are my favourites.

Mr Happy is still looking good, Mr Bashful is ok

Mr Jolly is looking decidedly anything but and has given up! 

I can't remember the one on the right.

I think they will both be replaced this year.

I don't know what has happened to Mr Pink.

Elsewhere there are lovely welcome signs of spring

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Boring Read

Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs. Oscar Wilde by Franny Moyle tells the story of Constance in the aftermath of Oscar Wilde’s trials and imprisonment.

Constance had held a privileged position in society, one half of a gilded couple. She was a popular children’s author, a fashion icon, and a leading campaigner for women’s rights. A founding member of the magical society The Golden Dawn, her pioneering and questioning spirit encouraged her to sample some of the more controversial aspects of life. Constance was ahead of the times, a remarkable woman in her own right.

This was a book club choice. I’m sure there are some very interesting books about her life but this isn’t one of them, this is an encyclopaedia of facts, so many facts, oh it was boring. I skipped a lot of it and eventually gave up.

Polly x

A Round Up of 2025

 

Burns Night                Happy Birthday               Brisbane Art Gallery

Arlo & Lenny               Wallingford                Open For Business

A Midsummer Night's Dream        Morris Dancers        A (Fairly) Nice Day Out

Rayleigh                Poppies on the Pier                Christmas Tree Festival

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Time

Here we are at the start of a new year and once again I'm asking myself how does time pass so quickly? but at the same time when I think back and remember my childhood Christmases - the simplicity and magic, believing in Father Christmas, being happy with just one or two simple gifts, chicken for dinner was a once a year treat then, and, when my mother took the decorations down I was so upset because the next Christmas was so very far away, time crawled along. So how can time be passing so quickly now when it crawled along then? I think that is a question that even the great philosophers would struggle with.

My take on it is getting older and new inventions and technology speeding up time.

One think I know for certain is that however time passes, pass it does, so I'm going to continue doing as much as I can, my mantra is "While I can do it, I will do it" . 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

Barrie by Seán Laidlaw
This true story became a viral news sensation. Former Royal Engineer Sean Laidlaw was working as a bomb disposal expert in Syria when he heard whimpering from the rubble of a school that had collapsed. At first he thought it was a child but further inspection revealed a tiny, abandoned puppy, surrounded by her four dead siblings. The terrified puppy initially rejected Sean's advances but he refused to give up. He made sure she was safe and brought her food and drink, and cordoned off the area to ensure it was safe from explosives. After a few days Barrie grew to trust Sean and eventually the two became inseparable. When Sean returned to the UK he had to leave Barrie behind but when his contract wasn't renewed he knew he had to go back for her and after a long and difficult battle he was able to bring her to the UK. The two created an unbreakable bond and they were reunited in emotional scenes that made headlines all over the world. Sean credits Barrie with helping him with his PTSD and their story is a powerful reminder of the incredible bond that dogs and humans have, and how both can help save the other.

It's a lovely heartwarming read.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Dear reader, I wish you a happy and healthy 2026

✶ Polly ✶

A Good Read

Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

Benny is a big girl with a big heart. She and elfin Eve have been best friends for ever, growing up in sleepy Knockglen. Their one goal is to get to Dublin, to university and to freedom.

On their first day at University College Dublin they meet fellow students - Nan, beautiful but selfish, and handsome Jack. Before long trouble is brewing for the circle of friends, in the form of passion, tragedy, and the independence they yearn for.

It’s a good story with interesting characters.

I enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Christmas

Seasons Greetings

Happy Holidays

Dear reader, however you spend the festive season I hope it will be full of cheer.

🎄 Be warm and well 🎄 

Polly x

My Great Mince Pie Survey

Oh my word, how time flies, it's tasting time again.

 I've done this so many times now it has earned the label of traditions!

Tesco Rum & Raisin

very nice but not a huge taste of rum! 

Morrisons 

All butter pastry, mincemeat infused with brandy and cider and warming spices. Very nice but I couldn't detect the brandy or cider, but I liked it enough to have a second one!

Aldi shortcrust pastry, mincemeat and a light dusting of sugar.

Very tasty but the pastry is a little bit stodgy

Waitrose Brandy Buttercream Mince Pies

absolutely scrumptious. Four in the pack, I didn't share them!

Waitrose Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac, always my favourite

and extra delicious warm with a dollop of cream (mulled wine optional) 😊

I did share these.

Co-op Irresistible all butter fruit and apple mincemeat

with brandy and port - delicious

Aldi All Butter Mince Pies Infused with Cognac,

Ruby Port and Dry Cider - very delicious

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x