New beginning

Epiphany today, and I got to do the 'Visitors from the east' reading at church from Matthew 2 - all the way up to the wise men being warned in a dream, and going back to their own country by another route.

Jake has returned to London today to start term 2 - he has exams tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday (yes, the same young man as the one featured in the picture in this post is at university now - still getting used to that!). However, he'll be back after his exam on Thursday to collect some more of his stuff.

Rummaging around online this evening, I came across a preview on the Guardian website of books due to be published this year. A very interesting and exciting selection, with quite a few things I didn't know about. Of particular note there is going to be a new Jackson Brodie novel by Kate Atkinson coming out in June. Having failed to go to a signing of Transcription, I may have to try harder to track down an opportunity in June.

And the other news of today, I have sold the Cayman. Still here right now, but due to be collected in the next day or two.

Magic

Ah the magic of the FA Cup. Last night went with form, and Spurs gave a footballing lesson to Tranmere, beating them 7-0. Today, however, when the majority of games have been played, the first to be shown on MOTD came from Priestfield Stadium, where Cardiff were visiting Gillingham. Sure enough the Cup magic appeared in full force, and the Gills won 1-0. Love it - will be interesting to see who they get in the 4th round draw on Monday.

Kitchen prep

Maybe the end of the road is now in sight. The cheque from the insurance company arrived today, and that in itself is a major milestone. Nicky has been starting to buy a few nice things for our new kitchen. The electrician was round today, and met with Nicky's approval. The kitchen fitter is coming tomorrow to make sure that a plan is in place for the work coming up. We should be able to order our floor tiles once Nicky has confirmed with the fitter. All heading in the right direction.

Tapas

First day back at work today, and judging by the traffic, I was in the minority. Either that or the schools really do make that much difference. Nicky had a visit at home from one of the car-buying services, and they gave us an offer for the Cayman - for us to ponder for the next few days.

This evening Nicky took Jake and Owen to Bluey so they could go for a meal and to see a film, and so I met her there, and we enjoyed some tapas together. I had a sneaky trip to Waterstones with my book token (Christmas gift from Margaret), and found the latest John Niven at half price in the sale. I'd already been to the T Wells branch at lunchtime and snagged the latest Michael Lewis (The Fifth Risk), also at half price in the sale, and Stephen King's Gwendy's Button Box, not in the sale this time as it came out in 2017, when I somehow managed to miss it, and only became aware of it because there was an excerpt at the end of Elevation. Still £20 left to enjoy on my token.

Saving Christmas

Christmas holidays just about done, and back to work tomorrow, and spot the New Year's resolution! Looking back at last year I see that I managed 14 posts in January before things fell apart, so it'll be interesting to see how I get on this year ...

My last read of 2018 was Matt Haig's 'The Girl Who Saved Christmas', and as always with his books, even if written for a younger audience, in amongst a lovely story, he doesn't shy away from more difficult topics, even the most difficult of all.

Here's Father Christmas talking to the girl who saved Christmas:

"The love of a person never disappears," he said softly. "Even if they might. We have memories, you see, Amelia. Love never dies. We love someone and they love us back and that love is stored and it protects us. It is bigger than life and it doesn't end with life. It stays inside us. They stay inside us. Inside our hearts."

Amelia said nothing. She thought she might burst into tears if she spoke. So she was quiet for a while. And it helped.

Publication

Don't know quite why, but 6 September seems to be a good day for publication of new books. Perhaps it is the firing of the starting pistol for the Autumn publishing season and the lead up to Christmas. Perhaps it's just an opportunity for people to pick up something new to cheer the spirits after the summer holidays are over.

In any case, of the list officially published today, I actually picked up my signed copy of 'Paris Echo' yesterday, and my signed copy of 'Transcription' is waiting for me at Waterstones. The Amazon locker has a paperback copy of 'Going on the turn' also awaiting collection (which feels like it has been a long wait - I read volume 2 four years ago).

Also in the locker is a copy of '21 lessons for the 21st century', which I am looking forward to after reading Sapiens.

As for my lunchtime stroll today, I did pretty well - Alan Bennett's 'Four Stories', and Stephen King's 'Revival', both in first edition for £1 each (I've got and read Revival already in paperback, but couldn't resist a pretty pristine first edition for £1), and one of the few missing Reacher paperbacks for 50p. Not bad.

In any case, probably shan't read anything this evening. Far more important things to do - off for a celebratory meal with the Andersons to mark the soon to be starting university adventures.

Teddy

It's been a week since I finished 'A God in Ruins' and I still find myself thinking a great deal about Teddy Todd and the rest of his family. Having been introduced to Kate Atkinson's books a couple of years ago, I've enjoyed them all, culminating with 'Life after Life' and 'A God in Ruins'. As it says on the cover, this book stands alone, and can be enjoyed without having read 'Life after Life' first, but I appreciated the benefit of feeling a certain familiarity and head start with the characters, of knowing about Hugh and Sylvie and Fox Corner, and about Ursula, Izzie and her creation, Augustus.

Where 'Life after Life' told us about Ursula's war, so 'A God in Ruins' tells us about Teddy's, and his experience of being a bomber pilot. But as well as his war, we get his family too. So, we have Nancy, the girl from next door to Fox Corner, but then the next generations as well, their daughter Viola, and her children Sunny and Bertie. And of course, because Kate Atkinson is so good at this sort of thing, as we get to see their lives unfold, we get to care deeply about all of them.

But most of all, as I was reading I got to caring about Teddy. The book is structured with his in-war story cut in amongst his post-war story, with both leading to their conclusion together. Having read 'Life after Life', I was prepared not to expect time to be a necessarily reliable, before leads to after experience. Plus, in the paperback copy I was reading, there were several reviews at the front of the book that referred to a 'twist' and even the front cover told me the book was 'heartbreaking'. So, I was approaching the end with some trepidation. However, even with the warnings, even with some guessing of what the twist was likely to be ("but surely not, surely, please!") it didn't stop it from being any less gut-wrenching when it finally came.

Excellent book by a great author. Looking forward to reading 'Transcription'.