thank you for your kind words Frances. I am very pleased to hear you have been reading Peter Lovesey and there are quite a lot of the Diamond books to enjoy. I find jigsaws very theraputic and relaxing as when you concentrate on them time goes by and you become totally absorbed. I started with 500 pieces and am now doing 1000 piece puzzles. There are larger ones but I am not sure I can cope with 2 or 3,000!

The pics vanished not sure why so I have reposted them and hope they stay this time. When I wake up and worry I am not sleeping I think why are you worrying? You can do what you like!! I have just read the latest Vera book by Anne Cleve and really enjoyed it unlike her last one with a new gay detective which was so woke it was plain boring. Winter settling in now and oh dear we have to get through it and I shall be glad to see the back of this year X

Hello Pam and so happy that my blog helps. A friend of mine fell and broke her knee cap a few months ago and it is slow and frustrating so I do wish you better. You talk bout the comedy of your government, ours is similar but not so bad as Trump. I always think that British governments just bumble along with cock ups all the way. I read Tinker Tailor first and only discovered more Smiley books later. I am not sure it matters which order you read them in, they are complete as they are. Very dense and need concentration but very good indeed. I have just finished watching the old BBC series and was totally engrossed in it. Scenes with lots of talk and peeling away of the layers of treachery and no music during those scenes. Superbly acted. Over 40 years old but still wonderful

I am so glad you enjoy my posts Caroline. Encourages me to keep going. I have good nights and bad nights and now if I wake early I just make a cup of tea and sit in bed and read. I tend to keel over in the afternoon. Winter now co! ming on apace and I am rather dreading it but I have plenty of books and jigsaws and access to Netflix etc so plenty to keep me going. I also have my family close by and go and see them - we are five so no rule breaking It is all rather dispiriting but there is nothing we can do but keep going.... All best X

I found the books written as Barbara Vine quite chilling and brilliantly written. Not quite so keen on the Wexford ones. I am so enjoyig my re-read

I am taking my time with them and just savouring her wonderful writing

I have tried wearing them but simply cannot. I cannot breathe, my chest tightens up, I then hyper ventilate, sweat pours off me and I then panic. After this happened in Tesco I gave up. I will not be going anywhere where I have to wear them so I won’t be going into town or shopping any time soon.

I find visiting in the autumn a good idea. It was just horrid yesterday. Yes the queue at the other shop was manageable and socially distanced too but we just decided in the end to come home.

Both these books are really good and well written and have a twist or twists at the end which I, for one, did not see coming. Do try and let me know what you think

The McDermid books which feature Carol an Tony as mentioned above do have certain aspects which can be a bit unpleasant but on the whole her books are find. The Karen Pirie series is her best, in my opinion anyway. Some of her stand alone books also very good. Try A Place of Execution which I recently read and thought was excellent. I gave up on Patricia Cornwall for the forensic details she gave which left me feeling slightly nauseouos

I think we are all a bit fed up at the moment with things in general. We just have to keep going. I enjoy the McDermid books and the Karen Pirie series are my favourites. So well written as always and I read it through in one sitting

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Albert had not died when he did. Would Victoria have finally rebelled against his stifling of her personality or would she have continued to be so supportive and uncritical of him? I have my doubts

Make the first one the Julia Baird. It is wonderful

I have plans for more!

There is a new one up on Queen Vic. I have done four so far. I love doing them and yes a chat about the Green Viragos is a wonderful idea!

I love being superior to. Childish but nice. Enchanted April was the first EVA I read and I still love it

I discovered DE Stevenson some years ago and love them and natch EVA. Not madly keen on Sharp and only came across E H Young some ten years ago. One book I simply love and seems to be relatively unknown is Deerbrook by Harriet Martineau (friend of Charlotte Bronte) which is worth reading. A bit like Middlemarch though not so good. I have an old Virago edition. I can still feel superior about this one!!