My parents' dog had to be put down today. She was the third dog I remember my parents having (not counting yet another two - it's complicated). They got her at New Years many years ago, and she was very quickly a member of the family - though for the first few years she always got nervous at Christmas time - we believe her previous owners abandoned her at that time, and she obviously feared it might happen again. Eventually, of course, that fear faded, and she became resigned to wearing the festive tinsel.
Bonnie had become very old, and almost entirely deaf, but she refused to act her age - she would rush to greet whoever had arrived with a friendly bark, and inevitably want to play with the tug rope, at great length. She always won, usually by simple attrition. And that persisted until close to the end, but alas the last few months saw her becoming increasingly unwell as cancer ravaged her. There was no hope of recovery, so it was just a case of waiting until the inevitable day when she was actively suffering and the end had to come. Today was that day.
She lived a very long and very happy life, with suffering only towards the very end of it. That's as much as any of us can hope. Somehow, that doesn't make it hurt any less.
She was a good dog. She is missed, and will continue to be missed.
#34: "Canal Dreams", by Iain Banks
#35: "Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes", by Wizards of the Coast
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Friday, July 27, 2018
Options
Many years ago, before my conversion to support in independence, I noted that in the event of a vote for independence I might find myself having to move to England for work - I expected to see the industry in Scotland be decimated, such that I would have to go elsewhere. Of course, that didn't happen - and, indeed, I concluded that actually it wouldn't happen, even in the event of independence, due mostly to a significant improvement in the health of that industry in Scotland (which, incidentally, continues to boom).
Alas...
This week, the government started talking seriously about preparations for a "no deal" Brexit, including efforts to start stockpiling to ensure that we had "adequate food" - the expectation is that a "no deal" Brexit will cause the ports to come to a shuddering halt, and given that we import 50% of the food that we eat, that's a bit of a problem.
There are three problems with this that I can immediately see. Firstly, "adequate food" is just enough to get by, not enough to be comfortable. Secondly, simply having "adequate food" doesn't mean anything unless you also have means to ensure that it is effectively and fairly distributed - we have massive inequality in this country, so while we may have "adequate food" on average, somehow I expect that to mean that the very rich continue to feast while thousands starve. But the third problem is the real clincher: they can't stockpile that food - they don't have the warehousing, they don't have spare capacity in the lorries doing the importing, they don't have time to get either of those things, and anyway much of the food in question is perishable and so can't be stockpiled anyway.
(Meanwhile, the government's preferred deal has just been killed dead by the EU, while the ERG are pushing hard for a "no deal" anyway, since they and their backers personally stand to make a lot of money, and we have a government and an opposition playing "chicken" on the subject - neither of them wants to deal with the fallout that would result from Brexit being abandoned. Basically, a "no deal" Brexit looks more likely with every passing day. And neither a second referendum nor a General Election would actually do anything to help, since the country as a whole doesn't actually know what it wants, beyond being generally pissed off at the status quo.)
The upshot is that I am deeply, deeply worried about what the next year holds for the UK. Unless the Powers That Be come to their senses and call off Brexit completely, or the EU takes pity on us and break their own fundamental rules to give us a deal the "no deal" fanatics can agree to (yes, I know), we're screwed.
In the "no deal" scenario, given our ability to produce food and the likely level of our stockpiles, our best case outcome will likely be the return of rationing in full force. For several years, until we can strike trade agreements with the EU and the US.
Given that our government can't organise a piss-up in a brewery, and given that rationing would now be a vastly more complex process than it was when it ended, I'm inclined to think that that's a forlorn hope. It's going to get very bad indeed.
Which brings me back to what I was talking about at the start of this post - moving for work. The blunt truth is that while Freedom of Movement within the EU will end with a "no deal" Brexit (or, indeed, any deal that we'll actually sign up to), the practical reality is that skilled workers always have greater options - and a software architect and a teacher of English are in a pretty good position.
And so, for the first time in a long time, I'm seriously starting to consider the possibility that we might have to quit this country and go elsewhere. My first and immediate thought was the US... but they have their own problems, so that's out. Which means that the EU probably remains our best bet, even despite everything that's happening. Specifically, Copenhagen - I hear it's nice there.
(There is one other escape clause, which is that while the UK will be leaving the EU, it's not absolutely certain that Scotland and/or Northern Ireland will do so - in both cases, there is at least the theoretical option of leaving the UK in order to remain. However, I discount the possibility of an independent Scotland for two reasons: (1) I don't think there's enough time - even if we voted for independence tomorrow, it would still take years to achieve it, which means enduring Brexit in the interim; and (2) the polls have failed to move noticeably, which suggests that even in that worst case Scotland would still vote to remain a region.)
Alas...
This week, the government started talking seriously about preparations for a "no deal" Brexit, including efforts to start stockpiling to ensure that we had "adequate food" - the expectation is that a "no deal" Brexit will cause the ports to come to a shuddering halt, and given that we import 50% of the food that we eat, that's a bit of a problem.
There are three problems with this that I can immediately see. Firstly, "adequate food" is just enough to get by, not enough to be comfortable. Secondly, simply having "adequate food" doesn't mean anything unless you also have means to ensure that it is effectively and fairly distributed - we have massive inequality in this country, so while we may have "adequate food" on average, somehow I expect that to mean that the very rich continue to feast while thousands starve. But the third problem is the real clincher: they can't stockpile that food - they don't have the warehousing, they don't have spare capacity in the lorries doing the importing, they don't have time to get either of those things, and anyway much of the food in question is perishable and so can't be stockpiled anyway.
(Meanwhile, the government's preferred deal has just been killed dead by the EU, while the ERG are pushing hard for a "no deal" anyway, since they and their backers personally stand to make a lot of money, and we have a government and an opposition playing "chicken" on the subject - neither of them wants to deal with the fallout that would result from Brexit being abandoned. Basically, a "no deal" Brexit looks more likely with every passing day. And neither a second referendum nor a General Election would actually do anything to help, since the country as a whole doesn't actually know what it wants, beyond being generally pissed off at the status quo.)
The upshot is that I am deeply, deeply worried about what the next year holds for the UK. Unless the Powers That Be come to their senses and call off Brexit completely, or the EU takes pity on us and break their own fundamental rules to give us a deal the "no deal" fanatics can agree to (yes, I know), we're screwed.
In the "no deal" scenario, given our ability to produce food and the likely level of our stockpiles, our best case outcome will likely be the return of rationing in full force. For several years, until we can strike trade agreements with the EU and the US.
Given that our government can't organise a piss-up in a brewery, and given that rationing would now be a vastly more complex process than it was when it ended, I'm inclined to think that that's a forlorn hope. It's going to get very bad indeed.
Which brings me back to what I was talking about at the start of this post - moving for work. The blunt truth is that while Freedom of Movement within the EU will end with a "no deal" Brexit (or, indeed, any deal that we'll actually sign up to), the practical reality is that skilled workers always have greater options - and a software architect and a teacher of English are in a pretty good position.
And so, for the first time in a long time, I'm seriously starting to consider the possibility that we might have to quit this country and go elsewhere. My first and immediate thought was the US... but they have their own problems, so that's out. Which means that the EU probably remains our best bet, even despite everything that's happening. Specifically, Copenhagen - I hear it's nice there.
(There is one other escape clause, which is that while the UK will be leaving the EU, it's not absolutely certain that Scotland and/or Northern Ireland will do so - in both cases, there is at least the theoretical option of leaving the UK in order to remain. However, I discount the possibility of an independent Scotland for two reasons: (1) I don't think there's enough time - even if we voted for independence tomorrow, it would still take years to achieve it, which means enduring Brexit in the interim; and (2) the polls have failed to move noticeably, which suggests that even in that worst case Scotland would still vote to remain a region.)
Experimental Cookery 2018 (Outsourced!): Goat Goulash
Our second foray into the use of goat while cooking was actually put together by LC. However, as I adapted the recipe for the slow cooker, I've decided to claim enough of the credit to justify a blog entry. Which is a bit of a cheek, but there it is...
I got the recipe originally from The Scottish Goat Meat Company. However, later investigations revealed that is was suspiciously similar to a beef goulash recipe from the Hairy Dieter's "Eat For Life" book (the one with the yellow cover) - that is, it was identical in every respect except for the substitution of 1kg of goat meat for the 1kg of beef in the recipe.
In truth, adapting it for the slow cooker was easy: I reduced the water from 600ml to 200ml, and then instead of putting it in the oven it should be put in the slow cooker for 8 hours. So it was a fairly straightforward recipe with some fairly simple modifications...
Anyway, the resulting meal was rather enjoyable. Certainly, the goat was nice, though I did feel that the goulash could be a bit more, well, goulash-y. If that makes sense. But it was certainly enjoyable enough - fortunate, as we have four portions left in the freezer!
My two conclusions from this meal are: (1) I need more things to do with goat (and I have one or two ideas), and (2) we really do need to use the slow cooker more.
I got the recipe originally from The Scottish Goat Meat Company. However, later investigations revealed that is was suspiciously similar to a beef goulash recipe from the Hairy Dieter's "Eat For Life" book (the one with the yellow cover) - that is, it was identical in every respect except for the substitution of 1kg of goat meat for the 1kg of beef in the recipe.
In truth, adapting it for the slow cooker was easy: I reduced the water from 600ml to 200ml, and then instead of putting it in the oven it should be put in the slow cooker for 8 hours. So it was a fairly straightforward recipe with some fairly simple modifications...
Anyway, the resulting meal was rather enjoyable. Certainly, the goat was nice, though I did feel that the goulash could be a bit more, well, goulash-y. If that makes sense. But it was certainly enjoyable enough - fortunate, as we have four portions left in the freezer!
My two conclusions from this meal are: (1) I need more things to do with goat (and I have one or two ideas), and (2) we really do need to use the slow cooker more.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Goodbye
Today at dinner time I was forced to say goodbye to an old friend:
Yes, today was the day that my stockpile finally ran out - some eight months after the end was announced, and some six months after it became difficult to find any of the original recipe. I'd been rationing it, and then cut the ration about a month ago, but the end finally came.
Fortunately, I had exactly the glass to drink it from:
Unfortunately, today also marks the point at which I'm giving up hope that Barr's will rethink their decision to remove the old formula for sale. I've held out as long as I can, but the time has come to give up. Alas.
(All that said, I do still have one more ultra-secret supply hidden away for a special occasion or two, and I also do have a line on a very small amount elsewhere... But, as of today Irn Bru will no longer be a regular fixture in my life.)
Yes, today was the day that my stockpile finally ran out - some eight months after the end was announced, and some six months after it became difficult to find any of the original recipe. I'd been rationing it, and then cut the ration about a month ago, but the end finally came.
Fortunately, I had exactly the glass to drink it from:
Unfortunately, today also marks the point at which I'm giving up hope that Barr's will rethink their decision to remove the old formula for sale. I've held out as long as I can, but the time has come to give up. Alas.
(All that said, I do still have one more ultra-secret supply hidden away for a special occasion or two, and I also do have a line on a very small amount elsewhere... But, as of today Irn Bru will no longer be a regular fixture in my life.)
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Day 200: Update on... Stuff
Day 200, so time for another update...
Books: By day 200, I 'should' be at 32.87 books read. I'm pretty much right on target for that one.
In terms of the actual goal I set, I've read two of the four volumes in "The Faraway Tree Collection", and am close to the end of the third. I should finish that up some time next month. The reality is now that I won't complete this goal by the end of the year, though I shouldn't be too far from it - there were just slightly more books than I'd bargained for.
Band: Gala day season is now more or less done, and was mostly successful. I have a couple of other events coming up - one this weekend and one next month, after which I'm done. But it's good not to have every weekend in the summer dominated by competitions, and it's good not to have the level of stress that that entails!
Gaming: No change.
Weight: Nothing to report.
Blogging: I'm still behind, both here and at the Imaginarium. There is now no prospect of catching up in the latter blog - I'm just not gaming enough to maintain the interest in updating that one. I do hope to have caught up on this blog by the end of this month.
(One other thing that may be worth noting - I've been gradually importing posts from an old RPG blog into the Imaginarium. That task is proceeding apace, so hopefully should be done some time in the next month. Unless it gets derailed again...)
And that's everything. Next time, I'll probably omit mention of either band or gaming, unless there is something to report.
Books: By day 200, I 'should' be at 32.87 books read. I'm pretty much right on target for that one.
In terms of the actual goal I set, I've read two of the four volumes in "The Faraway Tree Collection", and am close to the end of the third. I should finish that up some time next month. The reality is now that I won't complete this goal by the end of the year, though I shouldn't be too far from it - there were just slightly more books than I'd bargained for.
Band: Gala day season is now more or less done, and was mostly successful. I have a couple of other events coming up - one this weekend and one next month, after which I'm done. But it's good not to have every weekend in the summer dominated by competitions, and it's good not to have the level of stress that that entails!
Gaming: No change.
Weight: Nothing to report.
Blogging: I'm still behind, both here and at the Imaginarium. There is now no prospect of catching up in the latter blog - I'm just not gaming enough to maintain the interest in updating that one. I do hope to have caught up on this blog by the end of this month.
(One other thing that may be worth noting - I've been gradually importing posts from an old RPG blog into the Imaginarium. That task is proceeding apace, so hopefully should be done some time in the next month. Unless it gets derailed again...)
And that's everything. Next time, I'll probably omit mention of either band or gaming, unless there is something to report.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Hammock Time
For the past couple of weeks I have been finding the afternoons, and especially the couple of hours just after lunch, to be especially wearing. I'm starting to think I may need to start taking a siesta in that time.
The only problem with that is that it would then delay my being able to leave in the evening, which would be a disappointment. Well, that and that I already don't have enough time to get through everything.
I wonder if my employers can be persuaded to invest in some quality hammocks for staff? Or is that an idea worthy of Homer Simpson?
The only problem with that is that it would then delay my being able to leave in the evening, which would be a disappointment. Well, that and that I already don't have enough time to get through everything.
I wonder if my employers can be persuaded to invest in some quality hammocks for staff? Or is that an idea worthy of Homer Simpson?
Monday, July 16, 2018
The Incredibles 2
By my reckoning, "The Incredibles" is Pixar's best film, which is a pretty high bar to clear. So it's fair to say that I was rather looking forward to the sequel - after ten years away, what could they have cooked up for us?
Well, it turns out that "The Incredibles 2" is good, but not great. And the more I reflect on it, the weaker it seems in hindsight. All the same elements are there, but the whole just doesn't live up to the hopes.
Warning: there are major spoilers from here on. So if you don't want to know, skip down to the end of the post, where I update the list of books I've read recently.
And the reason why it doesn't quite work? All the same elements are there, doing pretty much exactly the same thing (only this time it's Elastigirl who is off doing superhero stuff while Mr Incredible stays with the kids) - the secret superhero missions, the family drama, the tension between Supers wanting to use their powers while that is illegal.
And a villain who is not themselves super-powered but who makes use of high technology to match up against the Supers, having become embittered by a past experience. Oh, and that character initially presents as a benign figure, indeed employing our hero for her secret superhero missions.
So it's basically the same film, albeit with Mr Incredible and Elastigirl having their roles (and an oh-so-hilarious venture into "aren't men just useless?" territory to boot).
Basically, it's fine, good even, but I'm finding it increasingly hard to think of a reason to recommend seeing "Incredibles 2" rather than just watching to original again. Which is a shame.
But the music is great, so there's that!
#31: "The Jesus Storybook Bible", by Sally Lloyd-Jones (a book for Funsize)
#32: "Pathfinder: City in the Lion's Eye", by Mikko Kallio
Well, it turns out that "The Incredibles 2" is good, but not great. And the more I reflect on it, the weaker it seems in hindsight. All the same elements are there, but the whole just doesn't live up to the hopes.
Warning: there are major spoilers from here on. So if you don't want to know, skip down to the end of the post, where I update the list of books I've read recently.
And the reason why it doesn't quite work? All the same elements are there, doing pretty much exactly the same thing (only this time it's Elastigirl who is off doing superhero stuff while Mr Incredible stays with the kids) - the secret superhero missions, the family drama, the tension between Supers wanting to use their powers while that is illegal.
And a villain who is not themselves super-powered but who makes use of high technology to match up against the Supers, having become embittered by a past experience. Oh, and that character initially presents as a benign figure, indeed employing our hero for her secret superhero missions.
So it's basically the same film, albeit with Mr Incredible and Elastigirl having their roles (and an oh-so-hilarious venture into "aren't men just useless?" territory to boot).
Basically, it's fine, good even, but I'm finding it increasingly hard to think of a reason to recommend seeing "Incredibles 2" rather than just watching to original again. Which is a shame.
But the music is great, so there's that!
#31: "The Jesus Storybook Bible", by Sally Lloyd-Jones (a book for Funsize)
#32: "Pathfinder: City in the Lion's Eye", by Mikko Kallio
Thursday, July 12, 2018
To Strive, To Seek, To Find...
Grandad died yesterday.
I don't really have a great deal to say that hasn't been said - it had been a long time coming, he'd clearly been suffering and so it's good that that has come to an end; but it still hurts. Thank God I did indeed drop everything to rush down there to say goodbye on Monday.
When thinking on death in cases like this, I'm very much inclined to the view that death isn't really the enemy. Yes, it hurts, but it's really the culmination of a life lived long and well. Two weeks short of ninety-three years is a good innings; and although he faced his challenges, and although the last decade or so were faced in increasingly poor health, they were mostly good years. When I read my grandad's life story a few years ago, it was quite apparent that that was not a life filled with regret.
It also helps to know that his passing was as peaceful as could be hoped - my Grandma and my cousin Jo were with him, and from her account it seems that he was asleep, his breathing changed, and that was the end. It could have been a lot worse.
So while this is a time for grief, it's not a time for despair. And a time, again, for me to reflect on the blessings I've been given before the three bereavements I've faced.
I don't, as yet, know any of the details for the funeral. I expect that there is a well-laid plan in place - with plenty of time to prepare, and knowing the people involved, I can hardly imagine anything else. Hopefully, it will be a send off fitting for the life, and for the manner of the death.
I don't really have a great deal to say that hasn't been said - it had been a long time coming, he'd clearly been suffering and so it's good that that has come to an end; but it still hurts. Thank God I did indeed drop everything to rush down there to say goodbye on Monday.
When thinking on death in cases like this, I'm very much inclined to the view that death isn't really the enemy. Yes, it hurts, but it's really the culmination of a life lived long and well. Two weeks short of ninety-three years is a good innings; and although he faced his challenges, and although the last decade or so were faced in increasingly poor health, they were mostly good years. When I read my grandad's life story a few years ago, it was quite apparent that that was not a life filled with regret.
It also helps to know that his passing was as peaceful as could be hoped - my Grandma and my cousin Jo were with him, and from her account it seems that he was asleep, his breathing changed, and that was the end. It could have been a lot worse.
So while this is a time for grief, it's not a time for despair. And a time, again, for me to reflect on the blessings I've been given before the three bereavements I've faced.
I don't, as yet, know any of the details for the funeral. I expect that there is a well-laid plan in place - with plenty of time to prepare, and knowing the people involved, I can hardly imagine anything else. Hopefully, it will be a send off fitting for the life, and for the manner of the death.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
The Highs and the Lows
I thought I was going to die last night, and that wasn't one of the lows to which I refer...
On Saturday, LC and I (and Funsize) attended our third wedding of the year. This was for one of my colleagues, and I was once again called on to play the pipes. It was a lovely day - hot and sunny, with a small but intimate party present, in wonderful surroundings.
Unfortunately, Sunday was less successful. When we returned home, it was to a text message from Captain Ric to the effect that he'd just been to see Grandad and that if we wanted to see him again then it would be wise to drop everything and go and do that.
So on Sunday I sent an email to work indicating that I wouldn't be in, and made preparations for a long drive. (I'm extremely lucky in that I have an employer who is very reasonable about such things. It's likely that I'll have to come to work on Saturday to make up the hours, but otherwise it's fine.) After some consideration, G decided to join us, thus ensuring that all five of the siblings had the chance to go.
Yesterday was therefore a day dominated by long drives. Fortunately, FS took it all in her stride, remaining asleep most of the time and fairly content most of the rest. Of course, we had to make additional stops to ensure she had a chance to get some air/stretch out/feed/change, which meant that the normal three-and-a-half hours each way was considerably longer.
It wasn't a comfortable visit. The sad reality is that the person we said goodbye to wasn't the man I knew.
But, crucially, that visit did allow us to say our goodbyes, and did provide closure. (Indeed, as I mentioned briefly before, I felt that my last visit had been deeply unsatisfying, precisely because I felt it didn't give that closure. So it's a massive relief to have made that one last trip.) So, while it was horrible and painful, it was still to the good.
As for nearly dying... (I should note that you might well not want to read this...)
Getting home late last night, we proceeded to order too much food from Dominos, which we then scoffed. A couple of hours later we went to bed, still feeling rather uncomfortably full (or, at least, I was).
About three o'clock, I woke up feeling very distressed. This was shortly followed by the mini-sick, but with a very nasty twist... See, with my mouth being so dry, I suddenly found that I wasn't able to swallow properly, which meant I suddenly found that there was a blockage.
Cue several anxious seconds of gagging and choking until I finally worked it free and was able to actually breathe again.
It's fair to say that it has been an eventful few days...
On Saturday, LC and I (and Funsize) attended our third wedding of the year. This was for one of my colleagues, and I was once again called on to play the pipes. It was a lovely day - hot and sunny, with a small but intimate party present, in wonderful surroundings.
Unfortunately, Sunday was less successful. When we returned home, it was to a text message from Captain Ric to the effect that he'd just been to see Grandad and that if we wanted to see him again then it would be wise to drop everything and go and do that.
So on Sunday I sent an email to work indicating that I wouldn't be in, and made preparations for a long drive. (I'm extremely lucky in that I have an employer who is very reasonable about such things. It's likely that I'll have to come to work on Saturday to make up the hours, but otherwise it's fine.) After some consideration, G decided to join us, thus ensuring that all five of the siblings had the chance to go.
Yesterday was therefore a day dominated by long drives. Fortunately, FS took it all in her stride, remaining asleep most of the time and fairly content most of the rest. Of course, we had to make additional stops to ensure she had a chance to get some air/stretch out/feed/change, which meant that the normal three-and-a-half hours each way was considerably longer.
It wasn't a comfortable visit. The sad reality is that the person we said goodbye to wasn't the man I knew.
But, crucially, that visit did allow us to say our goodbyes, and did provide closure. (Indeed, as I mentioned briefly before, I felt that my last visit had been deeply unsatisfying, precisely because I felt it didn't give that closure. So it's a massive relief to have made that one last trip.) So, while it was horrible and painful, it was still to the good.
As for nearly dying... (I should note that you might well not want to read this...)
Getting home late last night, we proceeded to order too much food from Dominos, which we then scoffed. A couple of hours later we went to bed, still feeling rather uncomfortably full (or, at least, I was).
About three o'clock, I woke up feeling very distressed. This was shortly followed by the mini-sick, but with a very nasty twist... See, with my mouth being so dry, I suddenly found that I wasn't able to swallow properly, which meant I suddenly found that there was a blockage.
Cue several anxious seconds of gagging and choking until I finally worked it free and was able to actually breathe again.
It's fair to say that it has been an eventful few days...
Wednesday, July 04, 2018
What if England Win It?
In my previous post, I said that we wouldn't get any real indication as to England's prospects until their match against Colombia. Well, we did, and the answer is... complicated.
There are clearly some weaknesses in England's play, especially in the loss of that last-minute goal and several minutes of fragility in the first period of extra time. On the other hand, they came through that and managed to finally win a penalty shoot-out in the World Cup.
From what I've seen, France are the favourites for the tournament, with their performance against Argentina being the best I've seen from anyone in the World Cup so far. On the other hand, France were really quite poor in their group games.
And England have been playing about as well as anyone, and they've been very fortunate with the draw, and especially with Spain being knocked out. So it's certainly not unreasonable to think they could reach the final... and in a one-off game anyone can have their day.
Oh dear.
There are clearly some weaknesses in England's play, especially in the loss of that last-minute goal and several minutes of fragility in the first period of extra time. On the other hand, they came through that and managed to finally win a penalty shoot-out in the World Cup.
From what I've seen, France are the favourites for the tournament, with their performance against Argentina being the best I've seen from anyone in the World Cup so far. On the other hand, France were really quite poor in their group games.
And England have been playing about as well as anyone, and they've been very fortunate with the draw, and especially with Spain being knocked out. So it's certainly not unreasonable to think they could reach the final... and in a one-off game anyone can have their day.
Oh dear.
Tuesday, July 03, 2018
Running Out of Books
A few years ago, back when I was reading the Jack Aubrey books, I hit on the idea of splitting my 60 books for the year into five sub-lists. This had the advantage of giving me a variety of reading material in each month, while also allowing me to make progress in several series at once.
However, it looks like that approach may be coming to an end. Indeed, it looks like I might be running out of books to read entirely.
My sub-lists for this year are as follows: the monthly Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes from Paizo, books from The List, novels by Iain (M) Banks, the last few Shannara novels (now done), and 'Other'. As noted, the Shannara novels are now done - by the start of this year there were only two remaining, with a third published (in paperback) in February.
Next year, at the current rate of progress, I expect to read the last of Iain Banks' novels in March. Meanwhile, Pathfinder is moving on to its second edition and I have decided not to follow it. For that reason, I will be discontinuing my subscription to the Adventure Path then, bringing that sub-list to a halt.
The upshot is that I'll be left with two sub-lists: books from The List (which should last until about 2021) and 'Other'.
The other factor is that in the last couple of years, when faced with a need to find a new series, I've been able to fall back on some I'd read in part years ago but had fallen behind on: Feist's Riftwar saga and the aforementioned Shannara novels. However, there's now only one such series out there (Salvatore's Drizzt novels), but I made a very conscious decision to give up on those after "The Ghost King", which did not impress - I'm not really inclined to pick them back up again. Otherwise, I'm up to date on all the writers I follow, who each produce a book a year (if I'm very lucky).
The upshot is that I have plenty of books for this year, and probably have enough to bulk out next year as well. But come 2020, it may be tricky to find books I actually want to read!
(Funnily enough, I was talking about this issue with my mother at the weekend, who is in much the same position - she has various series she follows, but has reached a point where she's up-to-date on all of these and is now waiting for new books to be published, and is finding it hard to find reading material in the interim.)
#30: "The Bridge", by Iain Banks
However, it looks like that approach may be coming to an end. Indeed, it looks like I might be running out of books to read entirely.
My sub-lists for this year are as follows: the monthly Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes from Paizo, books from The List, novels by Iain (M) Banks, the last few Shannara novels (now done), and 'Other'. As noted, the Shannara novels are now done - by the start of this year there were only two remaining, with a third published (in paperback) in February.
Next year, at the current rate of progress, I expect to read the last of Iain Banks' novels in March. Meanwhile, Pathfinder is moving on to its second edition and I have decided not to follow it. For that reason, I will be discontinuing my subscription to the Adventure Path then, bringing that sub-list to a halt.
The upshot is that I'll be left with two sub-lists: books from The List (which should last until about 2021) and 'Other'.
The other factor is that in the last couple of years, when faced with a need to find a new series, I've been able to fall back on some I'd read in part years ago but had fallen behind on: Feist's Riftwar saga and the aforementioned Shannara novels. However, there's now only one such series out there (Salvatore's Drizzt novels), but I made a very conscious decision to give up on those after "The Ghost King", which did not impress - I'm not really inclined to pick them back up again. Otherwise, I'm up to date on all the writers I follow, who each produce a book a year (if I'm very lucky).
The upshot is that I have plenty of books for this year, and probably have enough to bulk out next year as well. But come 2020, it may be tricky to find books I actually want to read!
(Funnily enough, I was talking about this issue with my mother at the weekend, who is in much the same position - she has various series she follows, but has reached a point where she's up-to-date on all of these and is now waiting for new books to be published, and is finding it hard to find reading material in the interim.)
#30: "The Bridge", by Iain Banks
Monday, July 02, 2018
Experimental Cookery 2018: Chorizo & Squid Greek-style Couscous Salad
This was another one from Jamie's "15 Minute Meals". It took rather longer than the stated time!
This was also the first time I cooked with squid, and it met with mixed results - the tubes cooked up really well, but the legs were distinctly unappealing. I know where I went wrong with those, however, so should be able to do better next time.
The meal as a whole was really nice, with the combination of the various flavours working well. And, despite taking well over the stated 15 minutes, it was quick and easy to produce. So we'll most certainly have this again at some point.
This was also the first time I cooked with squid, and it met with mixed results - the tubes cooked up really well, but the legs were distinctly unappealing. I know where I went wrong with those, however, so should be able to do better next time.
The meal as a whole was really nice, with the combination of the various flavours working well. And, despite taking well over the stated 15 minutes, it was quick and easy to produce. So we'll most certainly have this again at some point.
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