Hooley dooley, life’s a bit frantic at the moment…

I don’t know about you…

But I have about eleventy-seven million things to do

And nowhere near enough time to do them in

And that includes collecting ten pictures this week...which may account for this next one of a toilet, although I do think it's a bit genius!!

And while I told myself this would be a Christmas decorating picture free zone

I couldn’t resist this next one. Subtle. Glamorous.

I’ll show you my Christmas decorating next week….that should only take up about 2.5 seconds of your precious time…and I warn you now...be prepared to be underwhelmed J 

Last top ten for the year is coming up next week...and then I may have a bash at compiling my top ten from the entire year's pickings...that should fill up a few of those non-existent spare hours I have up my sleeve!

Stay calm J 

images, in order, seen on: desire to inspire; 79 ideas; bohemian hunter; bohemian shoebox; design sponge; nomad by sibella court on desire to inspire; 79 ideas; simple everyday glamour; the decorista; the grower's daughter

I tried to read 11 books in the 11^th month...I even got sneaky and deliberately chose small books! But I failed to reach the target...no book reading bonus for me this month J

What with trips to Newcastle to look after mum and dad, and a road trip for work, the start of the silly season and the madness that is the end of the year in a consulting firm where clients leave everything until the last minute bless them, reading has been a bit light on. I still managed nine though:

Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg - fiction

The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway - fiction

The Wah Wah Diaries by Richard E. Grant - memoir

Circle of Three by Patricia Gaffney - fiction

A Year in the Valley by Jackie French - memoir

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes - fiction (this year's Man Booker Prize winner)

What I Wish I Knew When I Was 18 - fluff

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris - memoir

A Widow's Story by Joyce Carol Oates - memoir

Books read so far this year: 72

I've just noticed that I read an equal number of fiction and memoir last month. My choices are rarely deliberate and I'll often pick something up, start it and then realise it's not the right time to read it. Do you think there's a right time to read a certain book? 

My favourite this month was the first one I read ~ Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow. It was such an unusual thriller, with complex relationships that provided real depth; a not particularly likeable heroine, but a fascinating one, and set partly in Greenland and partly in Denmark it took me to places I've never been. The information about snow was also (surprisingly) interesting. I wouldn't say it was an easy read and probably not for everyone...I can imagine people throwing it in the corner in frustration... but I thought it was really worth the time spent with it.

I've only read one book so far this month, so December will also be a bit light on I suspect! I hope you're finding time for some books in between shopping and wrapping :)

You may recall that I was lucky enough to go to New York earlier in the year where I met up with my friend Mary from Canada. It was a side trip following a work visit to Washington.  I took lots of photos, but this one, taken from the top of the Empire State Building is one of my favourites, and I finally got around to having it enlarged and framed. Here it is just propped up in front of the meat safe...

Now I just have to work out where to hang the darn thing, because it's probably going to mean a major rearrangement of what's already in the living room. In fact I'm sure of it! One of the jobs that will keep me occupied and out of mischief once I get to the Christmas break :)

Here are the real creatives...over here. Pop on over if you get a chance.

I'm sorry I've been so remiss 

I should have let you know that mum's operation appears to have been successful...thank you to everyone who's asked.

We'll know more when the surgeon reviews at the six week point, but the pain appears to be significantly reduced, so that's good.

A bit more worrying is the memory loss. 

Confusion after the operation was to be expected of course,

the hallucinations were mildly amusing...not nasty or scary, and we can laugh about them now :)

the nurses put on a christmas pantomine in the ward at 1am, apparently!

The confusion seems to be continuing unfortunately...

not to the extent of singing and dancing nurses thank goodness... 

and you can be forgiven for forgetting a lot when you're 82 of course... 

 but my sister and I are a bit worried. And it's a bugger when we both live so far away. One day at a time I guess.

there you go though...a bonus picture for putting up with my grumbling :)

images seen on: a punch of color; bohemian shoebox; brydie brown; creamy life; desire to inspire; the diversion project; gild and grace; lona de anna; mix and chic; scrapbook; spicer and bank

Jennie aka Posie Patchwork tagged me to tell you what's on my ultimate Christmas wish list.  Since the 100 day don't buy anything you don't really need challenge, I rarely think about buying stuff (I know, who would have guessed the impact of that little experiment would last this long!)...but, if anyone was wondering what to put in my christmas stocking this year and was flush with funds, this would be it...

a rug from loom...one day!

or a painting...

pink rabbit by adrienne gaha - we saw this at the tim olsen gallery last month

a book (well of course!)...either of these would be fine and dandy...

 

some simple jewellery from elk...

and perhaps some bling from tiffany...why the heck not...it's a wish list right!

oh yeah...one last thing...more space in the kitchen :)
or failing that...a cushion!

from here...

I haven't tagged anyone...honestly, and sorry, but I'm just too busy and tired to think at the moment, so if you'd like to play along, please consider this an open invitation and try not to call me a slacker!!

Hi there. Today's the day I'm off to Newcastle again

the weather's not all that great for a road trip

...but tomorrow's really the day

...for mum's operation, rescheduled for the third time

I'm sure we'll be right this time though : )

And...

hopefully I'll be able to grab a coffee with this lovely lady while I'm in Newcastle...

I love meeting blogsters for real!

Thanks for all the well wishes for mum.

They mean a lot.

See you later.

this week's images seen on: wish you were here; scrapbook; a life's design; apartment therapy; the design files; color me carla; effortless style; gild and grace; pia jane bijkerk; white trash beautiful 

The blogging is going to be brief for the next week or so. I'm off to Newcastle on Wednesday for the third attempt at mum getting through the operating theatre doors...fingers crossed that all goes to plan this time. 
I think I'm more than a bit distracted at the moment. I walked straight past John Travolta in the lobby of the hotel I was staying in on Thursday night. Didn't have a clue until the guy who got in the lift with me said he'd just shook his hand. Oh well.
I was doing a bit of blog cruising yesterday, while I was supposed to be burying my head in a work report (and not a book - my usual weekend practice!), when I came across this site...and some very clever ideas that you probably could try at home if you wanted! Half a globe used as a bowl...with the best country front and centre of course...

massed plates on a bathroom wall...

a Christmas centrepiece....I've done this before

lace trim on old tins...either real or stencilled

Now, I just need to find some time!

And I'm sorry, but there's an online shop as well...I have my eye on this...

The top ten is scheduled for Wednesday as usual, but I'm not sure what the week will hold after that. So, I'll see you when I see you. Take care : )
all images found on curious sofa

I'm getting a great deal of pleasure at the moment, heading out to the postage stamp sized veggie patch in my courtyard in the morning, picking some stuff and packing myself a little home-grown salad to take to work for lunch.

Obviously the goat's cheese isn't townhouse grown (there's only room for one goat in this place!), nor are the onions but everything else is...baby spinach, cos, basil, rocket, coriander, parsley.  And once the tomatoes start ripening they'll be in there too.
I don't think the flinging together of a little green salad can be done to the maximum level of perfection without one of these ...

...may I present my current must have, can't live without kitchen gadget... the salad spinner. Don't scoff. That one up there isn't mine...here's mine. Much less flash, and pretty cheap, but still up to the job.

And a touch of this delicious mayonnaise doesn't go astray either. 

Just add some ham or cold chook or smoked salmon or nothing, and throw in a bit of diced avocado...yum. Quick, easy, what more could you want except a fully catered three course gourmet meal delivered by an impeccably dressed serving person, and perhaps a cold refreshing glass of something or other to get the creative juices flowing in the postprandial working hours! That postprandial word was for the word queen Felicity : )
So, what's your personal favourite kitchen gadget this week?