Books to Read 2024 & the Garden

Gosh we are almost at the end of January already, and my idea to do a blog post at the beginning of the month just didn't happen.  

On January 2nd I got the news that my dear Mum had died after suffering with Alzheimer's for at least 16 years.  Absolutely heartbreaking.  The last time I saw her was in 2019.  

We then had almost 10 days with our son, daughter in law and little grand daughter which was absolutely lovely and a good tonic.  

I've started reading properly again.  I always used to read a lot and have recorded the books I have read for a number of years on my blog, but the last couple of years I haven't read much at all.  I have a nice book journal that my son set up for me, and I will also record the books on here. I will have to include photos of my book journal in another post, as I just have photos of the books I have read, and planning to read at the moment.

The first three books I read were Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm series. 

Nice easy reads, humorous in parts, but also irritating in other parts.

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The next was:

I've been meaning to read this for years, and after the slow start, it became quite enjoyable.

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After that was a goodie, a children's story:  Shadow the Sheepdog

Having had rough collies I enjoyed this very much. 

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In the next group, I have  so far read Meadowland, and really enjoyed.  My father will too, so I have ordered it to have it sent to him.

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Of the two below, I am currently reading 1984 and am about 2/3rds the way through.  It is hard reading as the print is very small, so I need good light.

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Following on from these two are the latest Daniel Silva books that I didn't realise had come out.  I have a vague recollection of perhaps being slightly disappointed with the book that was published in 2020, and that might be why I hadn't bought these, I hope that is not the case as I have always enjoyed this author.

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The three books below I picked up in The Works.  Peter May is an author I have read before, the others I don't know, so they should hopefully be interesting reads.

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The books below I picked up during 2020 and although I have read bits of them, I want to sit down and read through them properly.

These might be the books I read after finishing 1984.

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This book is a favourite of mine and I have read it before.  An absolutely charming story about the life of a Dunnock.  I will enjoy reading it again, probably inbetween one of the 'heavier' books.

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To finish off three photos of the garden just after we got home.

The dreaded badgers got in again while we were away and made a mess of the garden again.

Snowdrops flowering (actually I don't think these are strictly snowdrops, but a look alike)

My wondering NZ Hebe, that I have had since moving to the UK. We have moved it with us, although his is a cutting from it as it is still in Hertfordshire where my son is now living, and it has taken really well and looking lovely.