Amy

This post is coming from the OSH, where Mum and I are enjoying some tennis from Queen's Club, whilst I catch up on a little bit of blogging.

I had the second half of the week off from work, turning up to KIMS on Thursday morning for my cardioversion. All went well - just one go with the paddles (125J?) and I was back to a rock steady beat. Apparently I was snoring rather loudly when I was returned to the ward, and then in no particular hurry to wake up. I proceeded to be fairly lazy for the rest of the day, but was awake to hear Jake's news when he got back from his first 'on road' driving lesson. He gave a pretty enthusiastic report of driving almost to Bluewater and back, including overtaking lorries on the A2.

Friday was a trip to the seaside at Herne Bay, where we did all of the necessary things - the penny arcades, a walk on the pier, sausage and chips, and a Mr Whippy ice cream. We also found this statue of Amy Johnson.


A little bit of research reveals that the statue has been there since last September, and that sadly, 75 years earlier in 1941 somewhere off the coast in the Thames Estuary, Amy's plane went down, and her body was never recovered. After all of the amazing feats of aviation that she'd achieved and all of the records she'd set, Amy had been doing her bit for the war effort, but had simply gone off course during a routine flight.

Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day, and Jake and I went for a game of golf together (well pitch and putt actually), and a nice time we had too. He bought me a new wallet and some chocolate to mark the day, and we had a barbecue in the garden, after which I fell asleep in the hammock!

Here's a few photos of me and him over the last ten years, with a couple of other Dads thrown in for good measure.

The week

A week has rather rushed by with a distinct lack of blogging. However, that's not to say that the week has gone by without several stops at the trusty bookshops of TW. In fact I have done rather well this week, and the final tally is twenty-two, as follows:

• Two of the later (in fact books 39 and 40) Discworld books in first edition, neither of which I own at all;
• Michael Palin's autobiography volume 'Halfway to Hollywood' in first edition, covering most of the 80's, and which will go well with my signed first edition of 'Travelling to Work' which picks up where this one leaves off;
• a first edition of Matthew Thomas's 'We Are Not Ourselves' which I remember getting a fair amount of coverage when it was published and which was shortlisted for some awards (and admittedly I may have noticed it more as it was on the shelves in the bookshops near to Scarlett Thomas's books);
• a first edition of 'The Art of Fielding' - fantastic book and worth having in first edition;
• a signed first edition of one of Charlie Higson's 'The Enemy' series. I remember talking to John Gilbert a while ago and he thought that these books might end up being more collectable than his Bond books;
• a set of Trudi Canavan's second fantasy trilogy in first edition. I already have her first trilogy in paperback and her third in first edition;
• a comprehensive guide to all of the Inspector Morse books and TV shows, which I obviously can't ready until I've finally steeled myself for 'The Remorseful Day';
• the second and third 'Itch' books by Simon Mayo - I already have a signed copy of the first one;
• a good condition Jack Reacher paperback, bringing my total to ten, about half way there;
• three more of the Ben Aaronovitch books (books 2, 4 and 5) - I already have and am currently reading book one, 'Rivers of London' that Nicky bought for me in Blackwell's in our last but one trip to Oxford;
• another Charlie Higson, this time a Young Bond (albeit Jake has already got them all!);
• Bret Easton Ellis's first two novels - currently the only book I have of his is the one you might expect;
• a non-Rhyme Deaver book, and unusually one that I don't already have;
• Tad Williams' War of the Flowers - worth having on the basis that it is a stand alone book rather than part of a series, but very unlikely to get a look in before his new Osten Ard book comes out soon;
• On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulks - I do have a first edition already, but this was a bargain and may make for a better reading copy.

So, not a bad week at all. And as always, at bargain prices. Total spend was £40!

Aktinson

Late last year, Bec suggested that I might enjoy Kate Aktinson's books, and in particular recommended 'Started Early, Took my Dog' which I duly read, and she was right that I did indeed enjoy it. It turned out to be the last of four Jackson Brodie books, so I have since read the other three, and now have them in first edition (two of which are signed).

I wasn't entirely sure about some of the short stories in 'Not the End of the World' but still have several others to look forward to. Perhaps I will try out 'Life After Life' and 'A God in Ruins' some time soon.

Camino

The latest Grisham came out this week, and so of course I was straight off to the shops for my copy. The one in Waterstones - which I presume was the standard edition - had red-edged pages, which I thought was a bit of a gimmick below Grisham, so I went for the 'special edition' from WH Smith, which had more of a purple colour scheme to the dust jacket, plus plain page edges (plus they were doing it for half price).

Only just started it, but it appears to be a book about stealing some books, and not a legal thriller. Will be interesting to see what happens.

Pooter

A trip to London today for a meeting held at the hall of one of the City's Worshipful Companies. As always, one of the fringe benefits of a trip to London is a little bit of additional reading time, and so I finished off 'The Diary of a Nobody'. This was one of the books on the 'list of betterment' in 'The Year of Reading Dangerously' (as I said at the start of the week - definitely more about that at some point soon). Whilst I was in Blackwell's in Oxford last week, I discovered that there is a (newish?) series of Oxford Classics, and they were going a BOGOF deal, so I picked up Diary of a Nobody as well as the short stories of Oscar Wilde.

Having read Pooter's diary, I would say that:

• it reads to me now more as an insight into another time than as a comedy;
• I'm not sure if we are supposed to find Pooter a sympathetic character as well as have fun at his expense, but again, maybe that was clearer at the time;
• the end of the book felt a little contrived, was this meant to be some form of moral message about rewards to the hard-working, or an opportunity to show the limitation of Pooter's ambition?;
• I seems fairly clear where Sue Townsend got some of her ideas, but Mole seems a much more appealing character than Pooter; and
• perhaps I should tread carefully in commenting on Pooter, especially in a blog - the modern form of a diary - for fear of the comparison.

Bond

An interesting day for a number of reasons. We're just back from church, albeit temporarily converted to a polling station. Polling closes in a little while, and then we will be in to the fun and games of exit polls, early declarations, and swing-o-meters. Mind you, I have no intention of staying up all night to watch all the results come in.

The news from the US continues to be compelling, once again showing us that the Trump is some or all of a moron, gangster, incompetent, or maniac. James Comey seems to have realised pretty early on that he was dealing with a dangerous liar, and so wisely started to keep some detailed notes. Also from the President who gave us 'covfefe' we now have the President's lawyer giving us 'Predisent'.

Finally from the news round up, a UK Anglican church (Scottish Episcopal) has voted to allow gay marriage. Well done them!

Anyway, as it may have been clear from the last few days, the plan for the blog at the moment is that is has a book theme. With that in mind, whilst I was in Tonbridge on Tuesday finalising my car order, I look the opportunity to take a quick look in the second hand stores, and came away with a Bond six-in-one compilation. Checking my Gilbert (the amazing bibliography that Mum bought for me a few months ago - directly from the author, who signed it for me), the compilations are in section E, and this one is in fact E5a(1).

Then yesterday, having a wander around a couple of the TW stores, I found a US first edition of Carte Blanche. It goes with my UK first which I bought on its release in 2011 - in fact I remember buying it in the IOW when Jake and I were there on our half term holiday there.

Birthday

A certain young man had a birthday today. One of his presents was what we are calling for now a 'spare car key' (pending arrival of my new car - order finalised today after visit to the garage yesterday - should be delivered at start of September) and some 'L' plates, so we have been out for a little drive together this evening.

Another part of the birthday gift is a first batch of driving lessons, albeit he's had a head start with some off road driving sessions earlier this year.

Also for opening today was a book that Nicky scoured Waterstones in Canterbury for on Saturday (whilst Jake was sitting some more SATs). Jake had seen it in Blackwell's when we were in Oxford last week. I'd bought him a copy of Ed Thorp's biography (him of the legendary 'Beat the Dealer'). Apparently the Waterstones staff took quite a while to find it, having decided that it belonged in the True Crime section rather than in Economics.

Folio

When I was little, Folio Society books were extremely dull. They were mysterious things by authors I'd never heard of, covering subjects that meant nothing to me. These days, the balance is definitely shifting, and they do some interesting things.

Of course, there is another interpretation. It could be me that's changed.

Anyway, Mum is doing a great job of gradually buying me Folio books. She'd already bought me Fleming's Casino Royale and Live and Let Die, and a review of the latest catalogue at the weekend revealed that the Society have added another title to their Bond range, which Mum kindly ordered.

It arrived today.

Hitchhiker

Once again the TW charity shops come through with some amazing bargains. By coincidence I was reading 'The Year of Reading Dangerously' last week (more about that another time - another purchase from TW charity) and the author mentioned his enjoyment of Hitchhiker, and the times in his life when he'd met Douglas Adams. Well today I spotted a rather fine boxed set of the 'trilogy of five', and ignoring the fact that I already own them all (albeit in a set of four plus one rather than a set of five) I decided that they should come home with me. After all, at £3, it would be rude to refuse.