Friday, 11 February 2011
That fork in the road...
I'm still here - managed to lose my pic, though. Reviews will continue over here, and crafts-and-randomness has started over there - http://astrojill.blogspot.com .
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
A Fork in the Road...
Normal service to be resumed here shortly - meanwhile, look out for my new blog, all about crafts, how-to's, thoughts and other Random Stuff.
The Northern Quarter
Manchester's Northern Quarter is coming alive. There are so many fantastic arty places there, now), it's practically buzzing. Yeh, still the odd paraffin lamp*, so a biddy like me hasta keep moving.
* Paraffin lamp + tramp.
* Paraffin lamp + tramp.
Changing direction without a compass...
No, not the title of a new book, but the state I'm in at the mo'.
OK... I've been thinking for a while that, whilst I adore reading and writing (not arithmetic, though), book reviews are not the only thing this blog should be good for.
In the past year or so I've been bitten (nay, infested) by the craft bug. I've taken up crochet again after a huge hiatus, and, thanks to the excellent www.ravelry.com I am exploring new techniques and materials. Thrift, recycling and eco-friendly are all making sense, now. This in turn has led to my trawling the charity shops for yarn, beads, buttons and fabric. Ah, fabric... my sewing machine has finally seen the light of day! Abakhan has become one of my favourite shops (I love their 'remainder' bins), and my typing chair is gradually being pushed forward by all the 'stuff' I've been squirrelling away. Is that my age? Ha har - maybe I'm now a material girl.
So, chaps and chapesses, watch this space for more of this metamorphosis.
OK... I've been thinking for a while that, whilst I adore reading and writing (not arithmetic, though), book reviews are not the only thing this blog should be good for.
In the past year or so I've been bitten (nay, infested) by the craft bug. I've taken up crochet again after a huge hiatus, and, thanks to the excellent www.ravelry.com I am exploring new techniques and materials. Thrift, recycling and eco-friendly are all making sense, now. This in turn has led to my trawling the charity shops for yarn, beads, buttons and fabric. Ah, fabric... my sewing machine has finally seen the light of day! Abakhan has become one of my favourite shops (I love their 'remainder' bins), and my typing chair is gradually being pushed forward by all the 'stuff' I've been squirrelling away. Is that my age? Ha har - maybe I'm now a material girl.
So, chaps and chapesses, watch this space for more of this metamorphosis.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Night of the Living Trekkies
Authors Kevin Anderson and Sam Stall
Quirk Fiction
£9.99
ISBN 978-1-59474-463-1
Quirk fiction is mixing genres - who thought that would work? Actually, in this book at least, it does. Night of the Living Trekkies is a brilliant sci-fi concept, bringing fans and zombies together (eek). Ultra-readable, once I was over the first couple of pages I couldn't put it down. So well written it played in my head like a movie - in fact, someone really should make a film of it.
What I particularly liked about this book was that the 'how-and-the-why' of zombies was fully explained - there was a reasoning behind it, instead of the usual 'well, they all turned into zombies somehow and you have to shoot their heads off'.
I would recommend this, and can't wait for the next one - and I'm not usually into zombies, trek, wars or any other sci-fi.
(Severed) footnote: Trekkie/Trekker hubbie read this, and also thought it was brilliant.
Quirk Fiction
£9.99
ISBN 978-1-59474-463-1
Quirk fiction is mixing genres - who thought that would work? Actually, in this book at least, it does. Night of the Living Trekkies is a brilliant sci-fi concept, bringing fans and zombies together (eek). Ultra-readable, once I was over the first couple of pages I couldn't put it down. So well written it played in my head like a movie - in fact, someone really should make a film of it.
What I particularly liked about this book was that the 'how-and-the-why' of zombies was fully explained - there was a reasoning behind it, instead of the usual 'well, they all turned into zombies somehow and you have to shoot their heads off'.
I would recommend this, and can't wait for the next one - and I'm not usually into zombies, trek, wars or any other sci-fi.
(Severed) footnote: Trekkie/Trekker hubbie read this, and also thought it was brilliant.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Travalo Perfume Dispenser
Cost - around a tenner, I think.
Source - Monarch Airlines flight to Barcelona.
Having struggled with a 'pour-to-fill' perfume dispenser in the past, I couldn't resist this one.
It claims to be easy to fill, leak- and squash-proof, as well as lightweight.
I was surprised to find no instructions, but a picture on the box said it all. Just pull the top off your spray perfume, sit the dispenser on the top of it and pump away. It doesn't take long to fill. You can see the perfume going in, and you'll know how much is left 'cos there's a window in the side.
I haven't yet tested it in an aircraft to see whether it leaks, so I can't comment on that claim. I like the product overall, but the spray is a bit erratic and I had to press hard on the button to get it to deliver - and that squirt was more generous than I'd like.
Source - Monarch Airlines flight to Barcelona.
Having struggled with a 'pour-to-fill' perfume dispenser in the past, I couldn't resist this one.
It claims to be easy to fill, leak- and squash-proof, as well as lightweight.
I was surprised to find no instructions, but a picture on the box said it all. Just pull the top off your spray perfume, sit the dispenser on the top of it and pump away. It doesn't take long to fill. You can see the perfume going in, and you'll know how much is left 'cos there's a window in the side.
I haven't yet tested it in an aircraft to see whether it leaks, so I can't comment on that claim. I like the product overall, but the spray is a bit erratic and I had to press hard on the button to get it to deliver - and that squirt was more generous than I'd like.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
The Self-Sufficiency Bible by Simon Dawson
ISBN 979-906787-68-4
I haven't yet come across such a comprehensive book. The author covers just about everything you could think of - and quite a few that you didn't. Yes, keeping livestock, growing your own greens and so on is all in there - but so is dyeing, knitting and sewing your own stuff, even making your own jam, wine, cleaning and health and beauty products - including deodorant! Basic butchery is also in there, as is smoking, tanning, preserving and so on.
The book is an easy read, and the advice simple to understand. Buy it - but not my copy - I'm keeping it!
I haven't yet come across such a comprehensive book. The author covers just about everything you could think of - and quite a few that you didn't. Yes, keeping livestock, growing your own greens and so on is all in there - but so is dyeing, knitting and sewing your own stuff, even making your own jam, wine, cleaning and health and beauty products - including deodorant! Basic butchery is also in there, as is smoking, tanning, preserving and so on.
The book is an easy read, and the advice simple to understand. Buy it - but not my copy - I'm keeping it!
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