A Good Read

Fatal Isles by Maria Adolfsson
A remote island. A brutal murder. A secret hidden in the past... 
In the middle of the North Sea, between the UK and Denmark, lies the beautiful and rugged island nation of Doggerland. Detective Inspector Karen Eiken Hornby has returned to the main island after many years in London and has worked hard to become one of the few female police officers in Doggerland.

When she wakes up in a hotel room next to her boss, Jounas Smeed, Karen knows she's made a huge mistake. But things are about to get worse: later that day, Jounas's ex-wife is found brutally murdered. And Karen is the only one who can give him an alibi.
The news sends shockwaves through the tight-knit island community, and with no leads and no obvious motive for the murder, Karen struggles to find the killer. Soon she starts to suspect that the truth might lie in Doggerland's history. And the deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that even small islands can hide deadly secrets...
   
I really enjoyed this, it’s a good plot with excellent characters. I enjoyed reading about Karen’s life, and the commune. I worked out some of the plot but not who the killer was.

    

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Lunchtime Concert

Trio Lavolta

Violin, Cello, Piano

I had high hopes for yesterday's concert, sadly it was another one that I just didn't like.

The programme started with a piece by Shostakovich, some of his waltz pieces are beautiful but this wasn't. I endured it (yes that's how it felt) hoping that Beethoven would be better - it wasn't. I left, life is too short to spend time on something that just isn't pleasurable. The programmes aren't always available to view online beforehand.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Good Read

Murder Before Evensong

by Reverend Richard Coles
Canon Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton. He has been there for eight years, living at the Rectory alongside his widowed mother - opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey - and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda.
When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in the church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided. Long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the calm of the village. And then Anthony Bowness - cousin to Bernard de Floures, patron of Champton - is found dead at the back of the church, stabbed in the neck with a pair of secateurs.
As the police move in and bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together... and catch a killer.
   
A delightful, cosy murder mystery with a sharp edge.

   

∼ Happy Reading∼ 
Polly x

Lunchtime Concert

Brentwood School

Big Band

Well what can I say about yesterday's concert in the Cathedral - STUPENDOUS.

Brentwood School Big Band was founded in 1983 and has been steadily establishing its reputation at home and abroad with regular concerts in England and Europe. During a very successful trip to Slovenia they featured on a culture program for a local television channel. Last summer they enjoyed a trip to Barcelona, and in addition trips to Siena to take part in the Summer Music Festival. The band has also released a number of CDs showcasing the talents of the students. Their programme included pieces from Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Sinatra and Fitzgerald. The students are also encouraged to improvise their own ideas.

The Cathedral was packed, standing room only.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Valentine's Day

Designed by macrovector / Freepik 

Valentine's Day originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and now it has become a cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. 

Couples often celebrate by exchanging gifts and going out for a special meal or preparing one at home. If you want to mix it up a bit I found a few ideas online. Depending on time committments you could:

💘 Have breakfast in bed

Start your day with romance, make heart-shaped eggs, toast, bacon, pancakes. Then, depending on circumstances, stay in bed, do a crossword together, binge-watch your favourite shows, reminisce about your wedding day, holidays, family times, or how and why you first fell in love with each other.

💘 Book a staycation.

My daughter and son-in-law don't do Valentine's Day, they treat themselves to regular weekends away in gorgeous hotels. 
You don’t have to go far from home to have a getaway and leave routine behind. Book a night at a nearby hotel. Order room service, watch a film or just enjoy some quality time together.

💘 Go to an arcade.
Life can get busy with responsibilites but it’s important to wind down now and again. Why not release your inner child and head to an amusement arcade. Engage in a friendly shooting or racing game, and grab some drinks and food at the same time.

💘 Plan a photo shoot.
When was the last time you had your photo taken, just the two of you? For a lot of couples, it might only be one or two holiday snaps or even just the wedding photos! Hire a photographer, or, for an inexpensive option, ask a friend to take a few casual snapshots. Then (and this is the most important part), actually print them out and display them in your home. You could make it your Valentine's Day tradition.

💘 Have a cosy meal in, mix up a few cocktails - there are lots of recipes online, and play a board game. Pick a favourite from your collection or ..... try a new saucy one!

💘 Send your partner on a treasure hunt to find little gifts. Put handwritten clues around the house, or leave trails of rose petals.

💘 Happy Valentine's Day 💘 

Happy Birthday

Our church café is one year old.

We had a lovely morning yesterday 

with lots of visitors enjoying drinks, cake, sausage rolls and bacon rolls

and balloons for the children to take away with them.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Lunchtime Concert

Robert Poyser

Organ

Robert Poyser's performance at today's Cathedral concert was excellent. He started with a vigorous rendition of 'Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra', better know as the opening music to 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was swiftly followed by something completely different, 'Blaze Away by Abe Holzmann', a rousing march probably better known as a popular choice for seaside bandstands all around the UK many years ago.

In their heyday there were over 1,500 bandstands in Britain. Situated in public parks, on piers and seaside promenades they attracted crowds of hundreds and even thousands. I don't know how many are still in use today.

The concert continued with pieces ranging from rousing to gentle and tinkly, yes organ music can be tinkly!

My friend M doesn't usually like organ music but she enjoyed this performance.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

February

The sun is still low in the sky but daylight hours are slowly lengthening. Since the loss of Rufus I haven't been out for a walk, he was the incentive I needed to get out on cold miserable mornings. But Sunday was a glorious day so I took myself out. I didn't do any of my favourite routes because it would have made me feel sad so I chose a road route alongside the fields. It was a nice walk in the sunshine. And today I joined a Heart & Sole group for a short walk.

I'm always impressed by Mother nature, she creates these darling little snowdrops, so delicate but they survive harsh winds, frost and snow.

I'm hopping between a few things at the moment, a bit of quilting, a bit of art, but mostly work on my Lake View dolls house which is taking soooo long. My current projects are making a TV and an armchair.

Tonight's tea was a jacket potato with beans and cheese and a dollop of branston pickle, always a favourite because it's quick and easy to prepare, and tasty. Another easy, quick and tasty meal is tomato soup with a Greggs vegan sausage roll, Iceland sell them to cook straight from the freezer. I think I will have that tommorrow.

I've just realised the winter clematis didn't flower, it looks ok but this is the first time it hasn't flowered in quite a few years. Perhaps I didn't prune it properly 😞 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x