Footprints in the Sand.

'Footprints in the Sand' by Sarah Challis.

Do you want to explore the depths of Western Africa without leaving your armchair? If the answer is 'yes', this novel is your mode of transport.

Two cousins, Emily and Clemmie are very different in their outlook on life. Emily, a primary school teacher has just parted from her boyfriend and is 'licking' her wounds. Clemmie is fancy free, a drifter not one to worry over life's obstacles, very unlike her cousin. Both girls meet at Great Aunt Maud's funeral and are shaken to the core when the contents of the will are disclosed.

' I appoint my two great neices , Emily and Clementine Kingsley, to be executors of this part of my will. I request that my ashes be transported to Mali, formerely French Sudan, in Western Africa. My final resting place is to be Timadjlalen in the Sahara Desert.'

After this initial shock Clemmie grasps the opportunity of a lifetime whilst Emily needs much persuasion before she commits.The reason for the journey is not disclosed in the will and so the girls probe Beryl Timmins, Aunt Mary's oldest friend.Beryl, a feeble lady is about to retire to a nursing home and hopes she can block out parts of her past life for good, therefore she is most reluctant to answer the girls questions.

On this note the girls embark on their momentous journey, through landscape they could only have dreamt. Their modes of transport ranged from planes to camels and their accommodation was anything but conventional at times but always beautiful ---

'The men had made a nest of blankets behind the row of camel saddles, which acted as an efficient wind break, and were already settling down. Within a few minutes they appeared to be asleep and Clemmie and I lay for a while watching shooting stars travelling across the brilliant night sky as if drawn by a silver fingertip.'

As the story unfolds , the mystery of the Sahara deepens and Great Aunt Mary's sixty year old secret is disclosed.

A wonderful book, I loved it. Each chapter is narrated in turn by Emily, Clemmie and Beryl Timmis and they all explore the mystery from different angles.



I read this book as part of Summer Vacation Reading Challenge.

Friday Funny

Courtesy of this site.

Anne of a Thousand Days

There can only be one 'Anne' that fits this title --- Anne Boleyn.
Over on 'All Things Royal' blogspot there is a Anne /Henry giveaway.It is a booklet containing copies of their letters to each other and two postcards of the couple.
This giveaway ends at midnight on 28th August, so hurry and join in. I shouldn't encourage you though as I WANT TO WIN!!!!! But seriously do take a look at the post and the whole blog it is rightly named.

An Award.

Book fan Mary has very kindly given me this award. Thankyou so much Mary.

I am passing this award onto a lady who writes an interesting and uplifting blog, Her posts are varied , ranging from the antics of her little dog to an airshow(see today's post). So the award goes to
Carol who writes under the title of 'Charli and me'. Well done Carol.

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Here is my teaser,

'Outside, we milled about in the lane while Neil reversed the farm pickup truck in the back of which Great- Aunt Mary was to travel to the crematorium, driven by my father and accompanied by Uncle Peter. I saw that someone had thought to brush out the back of the truck of the usual litter of straw and sheep nuts and had laid a tartan rug over the metal floor on which Great -Aunt Mary now rested, like a giant picnic, in her wicker coffin. This unorthodox ultimate journey had been arranged because she disliked unnecessary expense and had a deep suspicion of funeral directors, whom she considered thieves.'

from page 9, 'Footprints in the Sand' by Sarah Challis.
More teasers can be found here.

Musing Mondays

This week's discussion is the following ---------
Do you prefer to read stand-alone books, or books in series? Do you stick with a series the whole way through or stop after the first instalment? Are there any particular series you enjoy?(question courtesy of Elena)

In the past I have had no preference for standalone books or series , and with many of my Jean Plaidy series I read them in any order. However, I have bought
this book. This is the first in 'The Morland Dynasty' by Cynthia Harrod Eagles and I think I will try , if possible to read them in order. There are 30+ in the series at the last count, so I think it will take me quite a while, lol! Many reviews have praised these books so I am keen to get started, although there are a few challenges to finish before I will pick it up.

More musings can be found here.

The Sunday Salon

This week I have finished
The Plantagenet Prelude , This is August's book in the Jean Plaidy Reading group,details can be found here. For any Plaidy fans this site is a wealth of information not only the reading group but the whole spectrum of her work is discussed in one way or another.
That book was finished yesterday but on Thursday I received a surprise from the postman. My youngest daughter sent me an audio CD ----
'The Woman in White'
So pleased with this as it's a book I have often wanted to read but it always seemed to be bottom of my tbr list. As this is the audio CD version I can listen as I walk or even sew. Looking forward to starting it.
Hope you all have a good week.

The Plantagenet Prelude.

'The Plantagenet Prelude' by Jean Plaidy.

The life of Eleanore of Aquitaine is chronicled in this novel. A forthright, highly spirited, clever and beautiful young woman who at the age of 15years succeeded her father as the Duchess of Aquitaine and Countess of Poitiers. She was keen to show the world that a woman could rule as well as any man. Therefore when the French Prince Louis was mentioned as a possible suitor,although not to her personal liking , she submitted to the marriage as the role of queen was her goal.

This was not a happy marriage , Louis was a weak man, one more suited to a monastery than a court. Consequently Eleonore's eyes wandered to various other men.On meeting Geoffrey Plantagenet, Henry's father the two became lovers. In addition to their personal meanderings Eleonore also found that she could discuss affairs of state with Geoffrey and he valued their critical discussions. However, this relationship soon ended when Eleonore met his son, Henry, a man 12 years her junior.But one with a violent temper who was easily enraged.

'She had seen him lie on the floor and gnaw at the rushes in his fury.There were times when she thought he would go mad, for his eyes would be wild, his nostrils would flare and he would resemble a lion to which people compared him.'


Although mother to two daughters by Louis, she was determined to end their marriage and although unwilling Louis eventually agreed to a divorce.
Her relationship with henry had already produced one child by the time of their marriage in 1152.

Married life in England brought the death of her first son . But more children were born and for a time their lives were happy.
As Eleonore had taken numerous lovers, so Henry's eyes began to wander. A mistress of long standing was given a residence in the castle grounds unknown to his wife and this continued for many years.

Henry's chancellor at this time was Thomas Becket, a man of humble origins but an honest and upright character.The friendship between the King and Thomas flourished . Eventually Thomas was made Archbishop of Canterbury and thereby head of the church in England. Following this were many clashes between state and church and in particular between King and Archbishop as Henry tried to rule both establishments.

''I would remind you, ' he said ,'that when I was chosen to become Archbishop , before my consecration I was delivered over by the King to the Church of Canterbury, free from all secular claims. I place my person and the Church of Canterbury under the protection of God and the Pope.''

During these harsh times Henry's temper knew no bounds and consequently his reign was badly scarred and his life with Eleonore would never be the same. Her children would become her solace and her revenge on her husband.

This is the first book in 'The Plantagenets' group. I have already read it's sequel ' The Revolt of the Eaglets', which I thoroughly enjoyed. However,this particular book I found a little slow at first but once a few pages in the story was as engrossing as all 'Plaidys'.

Friday Funny

Tourist information this way --------

Booking through Thursday

This week's question is -----

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

This is difficult, there are so many that fit this category.
However, I think I'll go with
this book. Although not taking a holiday this year 'A party in San Niccolo' by Christobel Kent transported me to Italy with a brilliant storyline, I loved it.
More 'best ' books can be found here.

Teaser Tuesdays

Here we are with a teaser for another Tuesday -----

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Have done. Have done, 'pleaded Louis but they would not listen to him. In any case it was too late. In that burning church were thirteen hundred innocent people and they were all burned to death.'

page 68 'The Plantagenet Prelude' by Jean Plaidy.

More teasers can be found

here.

A bevy of beauties!!

This photo, taken last night, is a group of my schoolfriends who had gathered to celebrate one girl's silver wedding anniversary. A casual photo you may think, but you have been deceived there was much rearranging of clothes and safety pins were strategically placed to maintain modesty in some cases, before the scene was set.
It was a lovely evening, adding to this good company there was delicious food we all enjoyed.
All but one attended the same school. These were not 'the happiest days of my life'.I never liked school at all, but for these friends it would have been quite intolerable. Thankyou 'girls'.

Friday Funny

Courtesy of this site.

Booking through Thursday

This is the topic of the day -------

What’s the worst book you’ve read recently?
(I figure it’s easier than asking your all-time worst, because, well, it’s recent!)

I've been quite happy with my reading of late , although
'Black Coffee' was a little disappointing.
Over the past year the book which I was most unhappy reading was 'My Heart is my Own' by John Guy. It is a biography of Mary Queen of Scots. This is a lady I have always found fascinating , however, this book did not further that interest.
I'm sure there are many people out there who will extol it's virtues. For me it was hard to read and therefore I didn't complete it. It was not a novel and that is probably where the problem lay. I can't really call it the 'worst' book maybe the most difficult book in the last year.
I'm sure there are many historians who will be appalled at this post!
More 'worst' books can be found here.

Secret Stitching.

I never was good at keeping secrets -------- so here is my stitching for my first grandaughter , due in a couple of weeks. The dress is for 6 months, but I did love the style and the embroidery was my idea trying out my new
Madeira threads. The pattern is an out of print 'Butterick' design . I lined the bodice and skirt in white polycotton as the gingham was very fine.
The bootees' pattern is from an old copy of 'Sewing World' magazine that a friend gave me. They don't look even in the photo but being a 'squashy' design they have a will of their own.I lined them with a brushed cotton 'teddy' print and trimmed with Broderie Anglaise in pink.
Hope you like them.

Teaser Tuesdays

The rule is the same ----
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Since her father's absence Eleonore had been the undisputed mistress of the chateau. During the cold winter's evenings she and her court would range themselves about the great fire in the centre of the hall; there would be singing and music and she would judge the merits of the literary compositions and perhaps sing one of her own.'

page 24, 'The Plantagenet Prelude' by Jean Plaidy.

More teasers can be found
here.

The Sunday Salon

Reading is still a little slow, I like to read between 1-2 books a week, but we are still visiting my father in law in hospital, who is very poorly, please remember him in your prayers, thankyou. So only one book read last week,
'Black Coffee' by Agatha Christie. This book was originally a play, it didn't have the 'wow' factor for me. Perhaps it's because my mind is preoccupied with family.

From 'Agatha' I'm moving back to my old friend Jean Plaidy , as I'm about to start 'The Plantagenet Prelude'.
The blurb from the cover reads 'When William X dies, the duchy of Aquitaine is left to his fifteen year old daughter , Eleanor. But such a position for an unmarried woman puts the whole kingdom at risk...'
Eleanor will become one of history's scandalous queens...
This will be good, I'm sure.
Hope you all have a good week.

Black Coffee.

'Black Coffee' by Agatha Christie.

Originally a screenplay,it is adapted as a novel by Charles Osborne.

A large country house, a family gathering, a missing scientific formula and a dead body. These are the essential ingredients of this novel.
Sir Claud Amory has discovered a scientific formula, a formula for explosives.

'... the force of Amorite, as I call it, is such that where we have hitherto' killed by thousands, we can now kill by hundreds of thousands.'

His cosmopolitan family and friends gather at his house, at his request. Sir Claud is not comfortable with quite a few of them and fearing trouble invites Hercule Poirot to join the gathering and 'exercise his little grey cells'.

However, before Poirot's arrival 'Morphine and Strychnine are all part of the conversation and Sir Claud explains the intricacies of his library, the holding room of the scientific find.

'This place is a rat-trap.'

he explains,

and they await the arrival of 'The Rat- catcher?' ----------
Poirot arrives with his assistant Colonel Hastings. The scene that greets them is not what they expected... and so they must entangle family feuds, delve into the world of international spies and comfort old flames before the mystery is solved.

A short novel, just 188 pages. It was good, but not the best 'Agatha' I have read . I found it a little slow at times. I wonder as it was originally a play, perhaps live action may have enhanced it.

Friday Funny

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

'The White Queen'.

If. like me , you are looking forward to the U.K. release of the new Phillippa Gregory book , 'The White Queen', you might enjoy
this site.

Garden Sunshine

We've had a couple of lovely days this week. The flowers in my pots and garden have blossomed in the sun.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Musing Mondays

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is a library habits meme…

This week we have a library meme courtesy of MizB:

Library Habits meme:
1) If you don't frequent your local library, why not?
It seems as though I live there some weeks.

2) If you do visit the library, how often do you go?
Unless I am very busy, once a week

3) Do you have a favorite section that you always head to first, or do you just randomly peruse the shelves?
Peruse the fiction shelves firstly.

4) How many books are you allowed to check out at one time? Do you take advantage of this?
12 and yes I'm often up to my limit.

5) How long are you allowed to have the books checked out?
3 weeks

6) How many times are you allowed to renew your check-outs, if at all?
Unless there is a waiting list for a book I can renew for up to 6 months.

7) What do you love best about your particular library?
Everything

8) What is one thing you wish your library did differently?
Recently they have rearranged the shelves , putting all hardbacks together and all paperbacks together, I prefered it the 'old' way.

9) Do you request your books via an online catalogue, or through the librarian at your branch?
Both

10) Have you ever chosen a book on impulse (from the online catalogue OR the shelves) and had it turn out to be totally amazing? If so, what book was it, and why did you love it?
Can't remember one at the moment.

More thoughts can be found here.

A Health Unto His Majesty.

'A Health Unto His Majesty' by Jean Plaidy.

This novel is based around the reign of Charles II. England has been subdued under the puritan rule of Oliver Cromwell and his men with many everyday pleasures abolished. When Charles II is restored to the throne in 1660 the English people are ready for change.

'The King was a man whom the English would never cease to love. And at the great Court ball in Whitehall Palace on the last night of the year 1662, all those present rejoiced once more that their King was a merry monarch and that he had come home to rule his kingdom.'

Christmas festivities and May Day parades were reintroduced , and the country was at peace and happy. Happy with their King. A charismatic man, who very readily forgave the murderers of his father, a man ready to tackle life and all it entailed.
Charles was very fond of the ladies , both in and out of court. One of his favourites was Barbara Villiers , she was his mistress for many years and bore him several children. However, when the Royal lineage was considered a Royal Princess from Portugal was chosen. Thereby Catherine of Braganza travelled to England to become England's next Queen.
A shy,Catholic young girl met Charles and fell madly in love. Although not a beauty she possessed a certain charm.
After the first few weeks of marriage Charles' wander lust returned and Catherine was left lonely and forlorn in a foreign country, being confronted with her husband's mistress Barbara Villiers as a lady of her bedchamber did not ease the situation. These two women would be enemies for many years.
Throughout their marriage Catherine tried to tame is roving eye , without much success .

'It was seven years since she had come to England and she was more deeply in love with Charles than she had been during their ecstatic honeymoon. She no longer hoped to have his love exclusively; it would be enough for her if she might share it with all who made demands on it.'

She became pregnant numerous times but each ended in a miscarriage. At these times and throughout illnesses Charles proved that he was capable of great care and attention.
During these years London experienced the plague, the great fire and the Titus Oates Popish plots. Charles proved at these troublesome times to be a monarch of great practical wisdom and sensitivity.

'The King with his brother , the Duke of York, were in the centre of activity. ...
The Citizens saw their King then, not as the careless philanderer, but the man of action.'

Amid many plots to oust their Catholic Queen, Catherine remained at her husband's side and he tried to protect her, and so their lives proceeded.
Catherine died on 31st December 1705 in Portugal and Barbara Villiers,Charles' prominent mistress died of dropsy in four years later.

A passionate story of a marriage. I believe there was love on both sides but for some reason Charles could not remain faithful. The last page of the book is a perfect conclusion-------

'She had wept and had begged that he would forgive her for failing him - for failing to bring him the dowry which he had so desired, for failing to bring him beauty which he had so admired, for failing to give him a son.
She would treasure his answer to the very end.'You beg my pardon? Do not, I pray you, for it is I who should beg yours, and this I do with all my heart.'

'The end was near... at the last there was one who stood beside her - tall and very dark, with a jest on his lips - who took her hand to lead her; and she was smiling, for thus she was not afraid.'

Wonderful!

On the farm in August.

These photos are characteristic of many farms in August. The Combine Harvester can be see working away on arable farms throughout this month. The farther south you travel in the country the earlier the harvest usually begins.
Our land is all hill land consequently it doesn't lend itself to the vast open plains that many arable farmers work. We don't harvest any of their crops but we do buy the straw once the barley or wheat have passed through the machine.
The straw is collected and stored on our farm and used for bedding the sheep pens in lambing time. As seen in the top photo, round straw bales are often seen in fields prior to collection. In a large building this shape can literally be rolled out onto the ground after the tractor has dropped it into the most convenient place, therefore making life a little easier for the farmer.
So once the weather improves and combining begins we will be seen on the highways and byways straw collecting.

On a more personal note this month of August is going to be very special as our first grandchild is due during the fourth week. I will keep you posted!!!! A grandma to be !!!