Library Loot – 13th July

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Julie Goucher

Last week when I was having a wonderful time wandering around the local library I noticed a poster advertising that soon we could download library books.

I had planned on visiting the library as the book I reserved has now arrived, but I have not felt like going out and it has been raining, so I thought I would explore the downloaded library books access.

Well I was not disappointed. Once I had managed to log in I could select a maximum of 3 books and then set the access period from 7 -21 days. I opted for 21 days (3rd August) and selected 3 books.

Rosie's War by Rosemary SayThe Boy I Love by Marion HusbandInside the Olympics by Nick Hunter

I didn’t want to access via my laptop and for copyright reasons they can not be downloaded to a Kindle so I opted for viewing on my iPad. I downloaded on my laptop and then sent via email the three files. Opened up my email on my iPad and then opened each attachment. The books are then read in Blue Reader, (which is a free App from the iTunes store). They will simply become inactive in 21 days time or disappear. I wonder if I can renew?

Taking part in Library Loot and you can read the details HERE

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100 Word Challenge – Week 49

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Julie Goucher
Joining the weekly 100 words challenge for Grown ups. This week the prompt is to use the following prompt. Total word allowance – 100 + 10 words of the prompt.

….Murray was just about to serve for the Championship when… 

The only noise on the court was the sound of the ball as it bounced against the tarmac. It has been a tough season, and here he was at the final, he could hardly believe it.

Murray was just about to serve for the Championship when he looked down and spotted a small black mark on his shorts. Suddenly his concentration was gone. Why on earth had no one said? So here he was, about to serve in what would be the highlight of this year’s tennis and he had a mark on his shorts.

Alas, the damage was done as the ball whizzed into the net. Game over.

Taking part in the 100 word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #49
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Memories of Renior, Monet and Piaf

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Julie Goucher

Back in the Summer of 1985 I visited the Hayward Gallery in London to see the Renoir Exhibition. I do still have a selection of postcards and the exhibition guide from that visit 27 years ago.

I phoned the friend last night who came with me to that exhibition and asked if she remembered. She dug deep into her memory pocket and said she did. We had a wander down memory lane and I mentioned that I still had the items I purchased that day. I could not recall what she had purchased and asked if she could remember. She could and tells me that it is on the rear of her bathroom door, and chuckles that I can not recall it. The poster has always lived on the rear of her bathroom door of the various houses she has lived in.

Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette 1876
Just as we were closing our conversation with a promise of speaking next week I was suddenly asked if I remembered going to the Monet Exhibition. For a moment I did not recall then suddenly remembered that we had planned to go somewhere else and stumbled across the event by accident. 
Here is a picture of my favourite Monet.
Water Lilies, 1920–1926
We carried on chatting for a bit and by the way of a parting shot, she mentioned a project we had worked on many years ago about Edith Piaf.
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The Twitter Diaries by Imogen Lloyd Webber & Georgie Thompson

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Julie Goucher
The story follows the new friendship of @TuesdayFields and @StellaCavill who meet at a party on New Years Eve in New York. Over the next 12 months they share a daily communication using Twitter direct messages. Despite the miles and time zones the two women share contemplation, thoughts and secrets and develop their friendship.
Sadly youngsters will not experience the excitement of a letter from foreign climes complete with an interesting stamp on. The whole pen pal hype was not just writing the letter, but the waiting for the postman to arrive and then the reading and re-reading of the letter, enjoyed befor replying.
I loved the concept of the storyline, which given the social media of today was not a particular surprise. The whole concept of Twitter and the Internet has taken pen pals to a different level, one that is sustainable on throw away sentences.
Disclaimer – I was provided with a free copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
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A Murder in Harlem by G.Miki Hayden

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Julie Goucher

A short story of a couple from Ghana who live in Harlem. The husband then sends for a second wife, who the couple pass off as their daughter. Then the man who lives in the flat below them is brutally murdered.

The wife immediately suspects her husband and the co-wife as neither of them were home. They are interviewed by the police and the wife protects the husband and co-wife by informing them they do not speak English.

The storyline develops and the wife manages to cobble together an alibi for the family.

The story was good as a short story and I felt that it could have been developed further, although I have established that this is part of a collection of short stories involving the central characters. I would probably read the rest of the series, but can not say that I would go out of way to do so!

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Weekend Cooking – Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Julie Goucher

Carrying on from last week’s post  I thought that I would share a further recipe from this delightful book.

Despite the fact that it is July and apparently a UK summers day it is miserable, chilly and wet, or at least it is in my part of the UK. So that means comfort food looks good on the menu.

Nids de tartiflette (Cheese and Potato nests) – Page 37

1 tablespoon soft butter
500g waxy potatoes eg Maris Peer or Charlotte
1 onion finely chopped
1 clove of garlic finely chopped
1 bay leaf
200g of cubed bacon
100ml of dry white wine
250g piece of Reblochon Cheese cubed.

  • Preheat the oven to 180 centigrade and brush a muffin tin with soft butter
  • Peel the potatoes and use the Julienne blade on a mandoline to make thin matchsticks
  • Put the onion, garlic, bay leaf and bacon into a non stick frying pan and cook until the bacon is golden
  • Add the wine and reduce until a couple of tablespoons of juice remain
  • Stir in the matchstick potatoes and take off the heat
  • Remove the bay leaf and stir in the cubed cheese
  • Divide the potato mix between the 6 holes of muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

Preparation 30 minutes
Baking time 15-20 minutes

Taking part in Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

Paris in July 1 – 31 July 2012
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Sunday Salon – A week of random reading

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Julie Goucher

What a reading week I have had, probably the most productive in a long while!

First up was Riding the Black Cockatoo by John Danalis, that I read for Indigenous Literature Week. A brilliant book, probably one of my favourites for the year.

Next up was a review that was a little over due. You can read the review of Where the Heart Lies by Michelle Garren Flye HERE

I am also taking part in Paris in July, which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea. So far I have read two books which fit the theme rather nicely  – Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Koo and Strangers in a Strange Land – Belgian Refugees 1914-1918 which is a loose fit for the reading challenge, but I found a reading loop hole!

I have a few more books for the Paris in July theme, so more on those next week.

I also had a rather successful trip to the library last week which you can read about here in Library Loot

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Strangers in a Strange Land Belgian Refugees 1914 – 1918

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Julie Goucher

Written to accompany the exhibition of the same name located in the In Flanders Field Museum in Ieper this book tells the fascinating account of the people of Belgium.

Thousands of Belgians fled their homeland to avoid the occupation of German forces during the First World War. Many fled into the neighbouring countries such as France and The Netherlands who were, in accordance with policy at the time placing Belgians of fighting age into internment camps where they could be joined by their families. It was a matter of time before The Netherlands were simply out of room and France was no longer safe and so many thousands sailed across the Channel to the United Kingdom.

This book tells the story, initially with a series of chapters explaining the historical events and is accompanied by quotes from people who recalled the events. There are also some amazing photographs of not just Belgium, but also of France and the United Kingdom and of course the refugees.

Upon the end of the First World War many Belgians returned home and were ridiculed by fellow Belgians because they had not endured the occupation of the German forces and I was very aware of a similarity with a book I read about those who fled the Channel Islands for the United Kingdom in the Second World War.

A fascinating book, both in terms of written subject matter and photographic substance.

Paris in July  ~ 1 – 31st July

Taking part in War through the Generations and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea

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Weekend Cooking – Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Julie Goucher

I spotted this in the local library and thought it would be the ideal candidate book for both weekend cooking and Paris in July.

The author reveals that she leaves London to undertake a course at a well known cooking school in Paris. From that she learns that food and meals in general are a enjoyed and timely affair and not rushed.

The book reveals the use of local shops, family run grocers, bakers, deli’s and butcher’s. Shops that have almost disappeared from the UK high streets in favour of the large, non de-script supermarket chains we have here. What local stores there are need to be supported especially in a recession!

The recipes contained within the book, might be seen as easy run of the mill cooking, with a bit of a twist and whilst I might not cook any within the Paris in July month, I think I will give a few of them a whirl! I had planned to review this book for this week and then other books or posts for the rest of July, but I think that I am likely to share this book over several weeks of weekend cooking.

Each recipe is shared with a small background to it, with a hint and tip and a colour picture.

Poires Belle Helene (Beautiful Helen Pears) – Page 253

1.5 litres of cold water
1 vanilla pod
150g sugar
4 firm pears (eg William) peel with stalks still attached

  • Pour the water into a large pan and split the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrap out the grains.
  • Add the pod and grains to the water with the sugar and bring to simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
  • Add the pears and place a sheet of baking paper on top to keep them submerged and simmer for 20 minutes checking with a skewer or sharp knife if they are tender.
  • Once cooked leave the pears in the syrup for at least several hours or over night so that they can absorb the vanilla.

Making the chocolate sauce
100g Dark or white chocolate finely chopped
100ml of double cream
3 cardamom pods crushed

  • Put the chocolate into a bowl
  • Bring the cream to the boil with the crushed cardamom pods and pour over the chocolate
  • Leave to stand for a minute until the chocolate has melted
  • Stir the sauce gently until smooth
  • Remove the pears from the syrup standing them upright on individual plates
  • Pour a generous helping of chocolate sauce over and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
  • Preparation time 20 minutes
  • Resting time 2 hours  – overnight
  • Cooking time 30 minutes

Taking part in Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads and Paris in July which is hosted by Karen from BookBath and Tamara from Thyme for Tea.

Paris in July 1 – 31 July 2012

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Where the heart lies by Michelle Garren Flye

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Julie Goucher

I was recently given the opportunity to review this book. I am not a particular romance reader, but every once in a while a synopsis grabs the attention and we all can do with a feel good factor once in a while!

This is a very gentle story of Alicia, a recently widowed young women who has two young children. Her eldest child may just remember their father, but her young baby will not, as her husband was killed in Afghanistan before the baby was born.

Following the funeral, Alicia boxes up her belongings and the flag that had draped across her husband’s coffin and makes the journey with her children to the childhood home of her late husband as was his wish.

Her parents in law have recently moved into a retirement village, leaving their house and bookshop business in the capable hands of their daughter in law. Over a period of time Alicia settles into small town life and is very much aware that she draws attention to herself simply because she is the widow of the town hero and because of his late friendship with a fellow townsman, a man that the townsfolk do not feel shares their values.

Despite this, Alicia is drawn to him, and they develop a friendship and he helps her get her book cataloguing business off the ground by asking her to catalogue his late mother’s library. He is a lecturer at the local college and gradually Alicia learns to trust and love again.

After a bit of a reading slump this was the next book I selected to read and it was the gentle prod that needed. It is a lovely book with some sad, yet feel good moments and is about love, trust and friendship.

As the book drew to a close I felt that I would like to know how their relationship develops and how they might over come the town prejudices.

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