Skip to main content

Wisley

On my previous return from far away, N took me to the Hyde Hall RHS gardens in Essex and, because it was such a warm and sunny day and we enjoyed ourselves so much (and the jetlag cure seemed to be so successful), we signed up for membership on the spot. Determined to extend the benefit, we toddled off to Wisley today, narrowly avoiding a satnav disaster along the way, but making it into an adventure instead.

And, once again, it was glorious. I can see why Mum loved it so much, and I only wish I'd had the chance to enjoy it with her.

We had a great visit, mostly contemplating what we will be doing with the couple of Norfolk acres we don't have yet. They are going to be superb. They already are in our imaginations!

Saturday in the sunshine was topped off with barbecue organised by J whilst we were out.

So, no time for book shopping, so I can but reflect on the charity finds from the week just finished, in amongst which we have a first of V2 to help the Harris firsts collection along (only two to go), and another for the Elly Griffiths shelf.



Popular posts from this blog

Finds

A slow start to 2025 for posting, but certainly not a slow start for reading. More of that later, but this post is a report of Saturday afternoon's excursion along Rochester High Street and some pleasing finds. A separate post will be required for the previous weekend's trip to Hythe and Dymchurch. Along the High Street in the charity shops, in Baggins, and in Shop 104, I was lucky enough to find: The latest Kate Atkinson Jackson Brodie in brand new paperback, in a special independent bookshop edition with sprayed black edges. Yes, I know I was lucky enough to go and get a 'signed' edition (well, stamped due to wrist problems) of the hardback first edition from the author herself, but that's hardly the point. Certain books need to be owned many-times over. Three more Elly Griffiths paperbacks for the collection - two Brighton Mysteries and one Ruth Galloway and, as it turns out, the first Ruth Galloway, which was a bonus. A first printing of Trigger Mortis in paperb...
Read more

Away

Back from three and a half weeks in Indonesia - some work, some holiday. Lots of travel, and plenty of opportunity to get on with some reading. As always with the work section, reading was iPad and library based, but I was able to enjoy a couple of physical books during the holiday section. Books read were: Francis Bourgeois' Trainspotter's Notebook - brimmed full of joy in conveying his passion for what he does, whilst acknowledging the challenge of how his approach has ruffled some feathers within the community. Henry Marsh - And Finally - the doctor becomes the patient. Some honest and moving reflections about the latter stages of life. Maybe I've left it too late to ever clear out the loft? What other burdens might I be leaving to the next generation? Ian McEwan - The Child in Time - the worst nightmare and the havoc it causes. Sara Pascoe - Weirdo - weird book, but strangely compelling. Richard Osman - The Last Devil to Die - and so we will have to manage without them ...
Read more

Cheese

Lazy Sunday including lunch at the Cheese Room for N and me and a general wander along Rochester High Street. Oxfam bookshop came up trumps with ten at £2.49 each, seven of which were old Asimov paperbacks to add to the collection. I have a few box sets in the same format (Foundation trilogy, Early Asimovs) purchased in the early 90s from a second-hand bookshop not far along the road from the station in Oxford. I think I might have paid £10-15 per box set for them, certainly an astronomical amount of money at the time, but I am very glad that I did.
Read more