A Good Read

The 6.20 Man by David Baldacci
Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. His journey takes him past the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, and as he gazes out of the train window he dreams about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance.
Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: "She is dead".
Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building - presumably a suicide, prompting the NYPD to come calling. If that wasn’t enough, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the Army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm.
This treacherous role will take Travis from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda.

It's a good plot, I enjoyed it.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Pride & Prejudice

Some friends and I went to see Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) on Saturday. 

It was a triumph in the West End where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy and the Evening Standard Award. It's a unique and very funny retelling of  Jane Austen’s most iconic love story. Men, money and microphones are fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. It's not billed as a musical but it does include a few pop classics including 'Young Hearts Run Free', 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' and the unforgettable classic by Carly Simon 'You’re So Vain'.

It’s the 1800s

It's party time

Let the ruthless matchmaking begin!

It was brilliant

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Good Read

I Remember Paris by Lucy Diamond

Jess Bright, single mum and journalist, feels her life has stalled, so when she is offered a writing job in Paris for the summer, she leaps at the chance to go. She always felt that she left a piece of her heart in the city years before.
Her subject is the iconic artist Adelaide Fox, whose personal life has been steeped in scandal and intrigue. Now approaching eighty, Adelaide is ready to tell her side of the story - and serve up some scalding-hot revenge in the process. Amidst a stormy working relationship, Jess and Adelaide must face up to their pasts. As passionate affairs, terrible betrayals and life-changing secrets surface, there may be more surprises in store than either of them dared imagine.

I thought this would be yet another twee romance but I was wrong. I enjoyed it, reading about Adelaide’s life, and about how Jess turns her life around.

    

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Bonjour Mes Amis

On Friday we held a French themed evening in the village church. 

Myself and lovely friends planned it, set it up, dressed tables, served food and entertained our guests who entered into the spirit of the theme and dressed in all things French, including a Marcel Marceau.

The Brownies made the pretty table decorations. 

Platters of assorted meats, accompaniments and French bread were served, red and white wine were on each table and a bar was available for other drinks

including a delicious mocktail

There were quizzes including French picture bingo, oui or non, téte or derrière, we had singing and roll a euro towards a bottle of brandy, the closest won the brandy. That was very popular.

The evening ended with the raffle.

I was hoping to win the meal for two at our village pub.

Everyone had a great time.

The proceeds will be donated between the village Pre-School and the Brownies.

🇫🇷 Be safe and well 🇫🇷 

Polly x 

A Good Read

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.
The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live her life as it would have been had she done things differently, and to undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out the perfect life.

But life isn't always what she imagined it to be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

I enjoyed this. How many of us have wondered "What if ..... how would life have turned out"? Nora had the chance to experience that.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Weekend

My weekend has been very quiet but productive. I did a bit of tidying in the garden yesterday morning, then, after a sit down I planned to mow the lawn, however as I approached the back door this is what I saw  

two wood pigeons

preening, resting and gleaning

I took the photos from indoors because they would have flown away if I had opened the door. I didn't have the heart to disturb them, they looked so content! so I decided to put lawn mowing on hold and start some quilting. I haven't done any for ages and really enjoyed it.

   

They were there for over an hour then eventually they wandered off but by that time I was well into the quilting and didn't want to stop. I mowed the lawn this morning.

That gnome is my favourite, it's a man and his dog,

my daughter bought it for me.

This afternoon was the last of the summer cream teas on the church lawn, and once again it was well attended and the cakes were delicious. 

   
I had the toffee fudge on the left, it was scrumptious. The lady that baked it makes excellent cakes. I was late taking photos, too busy talking and eating cake!! 

Lovely countryside from a recent walk

I hope you've had a good weekend dear reader

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x