Top Ten Books

Inspired by Erica at The Sweet Life , I thought maybe a top 10 might be a cosy way to spend an hour or so over Easter (in between sneaking over to the lovely What a Peach! for a guest post and errands that never ever seem to finish).


Books can be amazing companions, always available in a tight and boring spot, they can create adventure when you are stuck in the day-to-say doldrums, they provide never-ending conversation with other bookworms and can change the way you think and view the world.

Our wee beastie loves curling up with a good book. In fact she likes to nibble new ones..

I've usually got a few different books on the go (and haven't quite managed to stifle the habit of using anything lying around as a bookmark - TV remote, socks, receipts. I've got beautiful bookmarks that sit in my pen jar, gorgeous but unloved, they seem to have a habit of shimmying our of sight when there's some real work to be done).

At the moment I'm reading:
- The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
- The Crimson Petal And The White (R18, but the language and writing is sumptuous and some phrases and paragraphs you have to read it twice to really savour them properly)
- The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cakeis  newly started and looks promising

I try to vary what I'm reading, much like flavours of chocolate - your mood suits different treatments and temperings. Also, this way if I get sick of a book or can't find it because it's being used to turn the TV Channel over I can dive into another one. Ahh, a positive side to commuting!

After some lengthy consideration (aka. the most memorable, well paged or most recommended) my top ten, in no particular order, at the moment are:

- The Secret Garden (free on Kindle at time of writing) Beautiful tale of an incredible spoiltchild raised by servants, who discovers a secret garden and goes on a journey of learning to make friends and take joy in simple things. A timeless Children's tale.

- Twilight I know, I'm sorry, but I loved it. Bella is quite a bit spineless, but there is something spellbinding about the story that weaves a blatant suspension of disbelief.

- The Night CircusI simply couldn't put this down. It was fascinating, captivating, mysterious and funny. Two magicians are training apprentices, and have set the circus as a playing field for the apprentices, in a duel that, unknown to the duellists is one to the death. Reviewed here.

- The Longest CrawlWitty, informative and thirst-inducing, this is the authors journey both personal and researched, reflecting an integral part of British Life - the Pub. Reviewed here.

- I Am Ozzy"People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say." I don't think much else needs to be said, bar that hubby & I kept reading bits our to each other they were so insane yet matter of fact.

- The Flavour ThesaurusIt's a mixture of taste pairing information, science, experience and a few recipes accompanied by some lovely memories and restaurant recommendations. You could just read it cover to cover, forget the Foodie side! Reviewed here.

- EmmaClassic, she is quick-witted, beautiful, headstrong and rich and above all has a great name. My copy is well thumbed, and I can probably blame most of my worst traits on Jane Austen, except the rich thing. Must work on that.

- Almost anything by Terry Pratchett. I live for his footnotes. Mort, the book and stage show is reviewed here for your interest, featuring the Grim Reaper taking a working holiday discovering dancing, drinking, his new-found skills as a short-order chef and a love for kittens).

- Belgariad 1: Pawn of ProphecyMy favourite favourite series as a teen - when the horrendous hormones flew about and everyone started to slag each other off, I just retreated into this fantastic made-up world.

- The Little Book of LondonThe ultimate Loo Book - chock full of halarious and downright random facts of London.

When writing the above, it struck me as weird that there is a little bit of self-social pressure to look educated and a bit high-brow. I know I don't, and I'm cool with that.

via Google Plus through +Terry McNeil 

(Please note any links to Amazon are through my Amazon Associates account, which means I make a little money (less than 5%) from any purchases made after clicking through these links and it adds nothing to the price of your book. This helps support my book addiction, so if you are interested in buying the book, please click through the top link)
Any suggestions that you think knock out one or more of the above? What is your most paged through book?

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Meeting a Celeb: A Street Cat called Bob

London is a regular haunt for A-listers. From movie premieres, eating in the latest nouveau restaurants to living their fashionable London pads, they are practically everywhere. With one celeb though, it's not the latest Gucci dress release or miracle skin treatment guaranteed to get rid of wrinkles, that will get him out of bed and prowling the streets for his adoring public.

Isn't he magnificent?

Now, you are either probably rolling your eyes thinking I'm crazy, are already in the know or I've managed to pique your interest.

Please may I introduce Bob, and his owner James Bowen. Now an international print success, Bob is a street cat that adopted a recovering drug addict and helped him turn his life around. James became a Youtube hit, then landed a book deal about this special ginger tom - how he was ill, nursed Bob back to health then followed James into town where he was busking one day. Since then he has become a huge hit, their tale attracting a book deal which (according to Wikipedia) has sold 250,000 copies, been translated into 22 languages and spent over 45 weeks at the top of the Sunday Times’ bestseller list.

He regularly accompanies James into town, and as you can see by the first photo, draws an immense crowd, all hoping to catch this unusual pair. Bob is as bright as a button, performing small tricks for treats, happily soaking up the attention and gratefully accepting the treats he is showered with - food and knitted items alike. James' only thought is for his welfare - keeping Bob from being too crowded, frightened or overfed - he also carefully controls the treats offered to Bab, I suspect to Bob's chagrin.

Bob's stardom doesn't seem to have gone to his head, he was out on a cool Saturday afternoon allowing us to come and say hey - and letting James sign copies of his book on his behalf. I'm told by reliable sources that he still uses his personalised Oyster card to catch the tube to and from home, takes life as it comes and clearly adores James. If Bob doesn't feel like going out, James leaves him at home - shown by a Tweet from James on Sunday

 

 

Not to show off, but I've met a few celebs since living in London, and he was by far the most excited I was to meet - and certainly the least demanding. Cat treats, pats and cat milk is all he is bothered about dahrling.

His book is called "A Street Cat named Bob" and is a lovely read. It's just a sweet story about a bloke, his special cat and hope.

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(Mostly) Wordless Friday

It's funny, we spend most of our weeks wishing for Friday morning, and yet when they do come, it feels as though it's flown by. I'm very, very guilty of this.

I'll say - just look at the below expression. I call it "Ever-so-slightly-deranged cat".

  

 

 

Have a lovely weekend!

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(Mostly) Wordless Fridays

With yesterday one of my favourite days of the month, today seems a little lackluster. That was until I realised it's Friday, and then that it's almost the weekend already! Time for a little Tea with the Ladies and then perhaps Sunday Eggs.

It's only January, and we've already broken the first Easter Egg in the office. Oops!

Life is balance.

GREAT start to a book.

 

Look, no snow! 

I'm definately coming back as a cat! She's so lazy, she only opens one eye to check out me patting her.

 

 

Did I mention we also got a spare door seal for our Washing Machine as the old one kinda exploded? Life on the edge my friends, life on the edge.

 

 Do you prefer hectic weekends, spur of the moment weekends, or to relax in your PJs?

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Mojito, Monopoly and Mushkalica Night

Saturday was a day of good intentions, bad organisation, on the hoof cocktail ingredient making, much laughter and soft warm bread fresh from the bakery.

 

 

I am blessed to have some lovely friends. Ones whom will let me experiment on them, subject them to an evening of board games and then let them cook dinner. This evening came about due to a drunken conversation over homemade pizzas at our friends place, and a determination to enjoy more Rum.

I woke up on Saturday morning to realise that I had forgotten how to make Mojito's, hadn't looked up the ingredient list, didn't know where to buy Mint and if it was in season, no shopping list, chores to do and an urge to stay inside.

 

I threw these aside, and with an on-the-hoof Google search and a backpack, walked to the town centre. I'm never there on a Saturday morning, and the local fruit and vegetable stores blew me away. There were fresh fruit and vegetables as far as the eye could see, and a breadth & depth of varieties that means I will be back soon to check them out properly.

After enquiring after Sugar Syrup, a key cocktail ingredient, in quite a few stores I gave up and turned for home armed with a variety of nibbles, warm French sticks (oh so gorgeous - I'm not sure how they made it home), Rum and bags of Ice.

Thankfully hubby had worked his magic on the house chores whilst I was galavanting, so I set about making a sugar syrup. This is great for cocktails, desserts, adding to hot drinks, possibly using in place of hairspray(!?)... basically where ever you can use sugar, but removes the grainy sugar crystals.





Extreme Jenga. Anything goes.



Sugar Syrup
It's really easy; take white sugar & water, at a ratio of 2:1 (eg. 2 cups of sugar to 1 cup of water). Boil the water then add the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Once dissolved, turn the mixture down to simmer until all the sugar is melted and you don't see any at the bottom of the pan & remove it from the heat.

• If the sugar crystals at the bottom are not going away, turn the heat back up to high and add a tad more water. A couple of tablespoons more water should suffice.

From the research I've been doing, if you store it (once cooled) in a sealed container/bottle in the fridge, it will keep from between 3 and 6 months. I let mine cool naturally for about 10 minutes, then placed the pan in a cold water bath (my sink half filled with cold water) in order to hasten the process, as our guests were due in 20 minutes.

Warning:

• Sugar mixture will burn and harden if it comes in contact with skin; take precautions to avoid being splashed.
• Don't let this sit on the heat for longer than absolutely necessary, or it will burn.

Scrooge McCat, rolling in her winnings...

We settled in for the night to an evening of laughter, board games, drinks, Mushkalica (a Hungarian dish of Paprika & spices infused Pork) and good fun.

I am determined to beat the idea that Januarys have to be grim.

What's your favourite cocktail?

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Adventures of the Benign: Christmas Edition.

I've just had a really depressing thought. This time next year, we will no longer be celebrating Christmas 2012. On the bright side, For a week we get to celebrate family, festivities and probably overindulge.

Stay tuned for my favourite undulgent Christmas Slice - Chocolate, Orange, Coconut...

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

And, I haven't killed my plant yet - it's merrily flowering!

It doesn't feel like Christmas to me, until we've put up the Tree & turned the lights on.

Calm admist the Christmas Crazy...

 

I need your help. What on earth do you think the above are in relation to 'Christmas Moulds'? Gingerbread men?

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Adventures of the Benign: Latest Ramblings

It's been a busy two weeks, and I can't wait for the work bell to ring tonight - then I'll be free and easy. Free, I will be free for more shenanigans! With the nights drawing in, and winter approaching it's getting harder to get bright photos, but it does mean that people are starting to get their festive cheer on. It also means a lot of socialising.

This is my most favourite time of year hands down, with lazy summer days a very close second.

This fortnight has included;

A beautiful sunrise or two...

Some random Christmas lights down Oxford St...

Some tempting fugly Christmas Jumper-age

Some Rotton Egg & Marshmallow flavoured Beans... the dirt ones were surprisingly good!



A few technical problems... (they are the remains of a pancake, or in Kiwi-speak the Pikelets)



Work studying, not really aided by the cat... I actually had to request a few pages be resent to me as they had been eaten by the cat. Forget 'my dog ate my homework'!

 

  

The best kind of snow in London - fake snow;



and a few more Christmas lights being switched on...

 Some good news...

 Some E.T.ish vegetables;

The biggest downside to winter is it gets dark so quickly, so early. It makes photographing harder and after awhile people get a little blue.

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