A Good Read

Friends of Dorothy by Sandi Toksvig

After much searching, happily married young couple, Amber and Stevie think they have found the perfect spot in Grimaldi Square. Despite the rundown pub across the way, the overgrown garden and a decidedly nosy neighbour, number 4 is the house of their dreams. Stevie, a woman who has never left anything to chance, has planned everything so nothing can spoil their happiness. But... upstairs in their new home, seated on an old red sofa is the woman they bought the place from - eighty-year-old foul-mouthed, straight-talking, wise-cracking Dorothy - who has decided that she's not going anywhere. Dorothy will be the first in a line of life-changing surprises.

There are lots of lovely, quirky, friendly characters in the community.

It’s a lovely, touching, funny novel about a family that is not biological, but logical. Some of it is a bit twee but still a good read.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

See How They've Grown

Not much is happening here at the moment. We've had work done to the house, cleaning patios, general tidying up, and I have done a lot of work in the garden which is looking lovely.

My friend M and I went to Colchester last week. It was a trip organised by the U3a with an optional onward trip to Wivenhoe. We've been to Wivenhoe before so we decided to stay in Colchester, there are some very nice shops and little alleyways and courtyards with individual shops.

On the way home I did my usual stop at the neighbouring village pond to check in on the Canada Geese goslings.

They spotted the food

Their tail and body markings are developing

They will soon be as big as their parents.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games #2

Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even, after all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance, Peeta has turned his back on her completely, and there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour the stakes are higher than ever. For the entertainment of The Capitol during the games (and to aid their survival) Katniss and Peeta pretended to be deeply in love. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that that is still the case, the consequences will be horrifying.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Harrods

My friend M says that Harrods coffee is the best she has tasted so the the plan was to go there for coffee and she could get some makeup, then go to the Victoria & Albert museum. That didn't happen, we ended up staying at Harrods for most of the day! 

The last time I visited was about 1995/6. I took my mother, she had never been to Harrods and was thrilled to finally be going. As we were walking through the food hall I saw a woman who was the image of Princess Diana, when I saw a young Prince Harry with her and two bodyguards behind her I realised that it was Princess Diana. We were both so excited and my mother was beside herself with joy, not only had she got to visit Harrods but had also seen Princess Diana. It was a wonderful experience for her, one she loved relaying to family and friends.

It was the place everyone wanted to visit - it was so posh. Today, oh my word, it is opulent, a beautiful building, sumptious decor, selling gorgeous things! By the time we had wandered around and M had bought her makeup we were in need of refreshments. It was almost midday so we decided to have lunch, after which we did more wandering around looking at things we couldn't afford to buy!

and checked out the Georgian restaurant with a view to treating ourselves to  afternoon tea, which is expensive at £75 per person, but we're worth it, and there are quite a few deals to be had reducing that to £56. I've seen a review on Youtube, and it looks amazing.

By this time it was too late to go to the V&A so we mooched around a bit more and then walked along Brompton Road for a while before returning home.

The only thing I bought was this delicious crème brûlée.

We will probably go to the V&A next time.

And M was right, the coffee was GOOD

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x