Skip Skipping into Wonderful Winter
It is of course, mostly raining and drizzly. Well, I think it is. We didn’t see daylight today having gotten up late with mild hangover and faced away from the window until night fell once more. It has not been the most productive day but I don’t care. We had a little Christmas party in our tiny house last night and it was rather lovely. Boisterous without violence – a lot of alcohol was consumed, as was much cake. Marilyn made Key Lime Pie, Millionaire’s Shortbread and chocolate brownies. They are all wonderful things, plus she made an absurd quantity of the last two and we shall be sugared and fattened all week – hoo hoo!
It was also a chance to celebrate our finally painting our kitchen (it’s taken a mere twelve months to get round to it) and the shelves which have become horizontal after filling a corner for a little while (ahem). It’s particularly nice to have the shelves because we can put the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar there and we used a shelf for displaying the Christmas Lego diorama I’ve been frantically hashing together this week. I’ll post some pics up later in the week. The Skipper Rum I snapped up when it was really cheap in the supermarket proved to be utterly delicious, exactly like drinking thick demerara sugar.
A Wyrd Week Ahead
There’s only one week left to go until Christmas, or at least until I stop working for Christmas, and I’m really quite excited about it. There seems to be going out drinking for most nights this week too. It will be fun, but no doubt a mere foreshadowing of the organ hammering to come.
I’m also going to Colin’s inquest on Wednesday. It’s a formality which has to happen because he died outside England & Wales, so I think it’s mostly just a reading of the report from the procurator fiscal. It should be interesting at the very least, though likely an emotional experience. I hope it will bring a helpful catharsis for the family and another step towards life getting back to normal.
We’re finishing this week by seeing a friend who’s back from New Zealand for a couple of weeks and then getting up the next morning to compere the last Knickerbocker Glorious of the year! Hurray.
Books: Cursor’s Fury by Jim Butcher
I’ve finally accepted that this fantasy series isn’t funny and self-deprecating like the Dresden series. Now that I have, I’m free to properly enjoy them – three books in and I’m invested in the characters, the plots and the wars. This one’s got a number of very good battle chapters. It’s the part of fantasy that sometimes lets books down, but I’m pleased to see strategy, politicking and interesting uses of the Furies themselves. It’s unclear exactly what the Furies are – elemental spirits which can be manipulated by the humans to heal, build, destroy and a hundred other fiendish uses. They are also vulnerable to salt… I’m looking forwards to burrowing further into the series.
http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/alera/cursors
Books: Orcs by Stan Nicholls
I’ve seen this around for ages but never quite considered picking it up and reading it. In the end I’ve reclaimed the omnibus edition I bought for Colin a few years ago. It’s a satisfyingly chunky three-books-in-one and I’m making swift progress hacking through the pages like an orc with a battle axe. I used to love the Space Orks of Warhammer 40,000 and they’re my favourite nameless drones to be cut down in Lord of the Rings so I’m interested to read the story from their perspective. They don’t have any particular voice though and could easily just be a band of humans. I’m not blown away by it, but it’s ticking over nicely. With the broader storyline of rescuing the land and its magic from the humans and escaping servitude just starting to emerge I’m hopeful it will give us a more unique view of the orcs and their culture.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0575074876/knibbnet-21
♥ Last Week’s Scribbles
Lego Blog: Rummaging In The Body Bank – a great deal of fun at the Lego Store making minifigures.
Events and Excitement
Saturday 21st December 2013
Knickerbocker Glorious
A sweet layered stack of free live Entertainment, an abundance of Acoustic Music, a generous measure of Performing Arts. Topped off with a liberal sprinkling of family friendly Comedy. I’m compering!
The Fountain
Derby Market Square
Cathedral Quarter
Derby
11am-3pm – FREE
