Wednesday 30 May 2012

Wishing on Wednesday


Hello Fellow Bloggers!

This post is a little late due to technical-mummy-couldn't-get-to-the-computer-until-now difficulties, but here in the UK, it's still Wednesday, so I reckon I can get away with it as it is the first one...

I thought I would try this new idea: a weekly meme around wishing... Each Wednesday I will take a wish theme and we share what we would wish about it... hmmm.. that sounded soooooooo much better in my head but we shall run with it and see if it takes off...

The twist with this meme is that I would like others to put forward a wish theme for next week (I will too!) I will then put up a poll to see which one people would be most interested in doing. All you have to do is post your comment (or link to your post) along with your suggestion.

I'm going to kick-of this Wednesday's wish theme with:

Garden Wishes

I don't know about you, but I love my garden... and I love plants. This is my favourite:


A beautiful African Violet. I don't know why it's my fave. It's just that this pretty little flower makes me smile as I am stood doing the washing up! It was given to me by my hubby's auntie and somehow, I have managed to look after it for two years...

My garden wish would be: I wish I had more success when it came to growing plants! I'm telling you, I am hopeless. My mother in-law gives us plants but I forget to water them or something and they inevitably die! My lovely neighbour has just given me six tomato plant cuttings... I tried to warn her about my track record but she just laughed and simply said she has more if I need them...

So what what's your garden wish? Is there a feature you would particularly like in your garden? How would you like it to look etc. And what would you wish for next weeks theme?!

This would be mine: Is there an author you would wish to meet?




Tuesday 29 May 2012

Tell Me Something Tuesday #2



Hello! Tuesday is upon us once more; so it's time for another TMST!
Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert where she thinks of Q and then we all link up on her blog to share our answers.

This weeks question:
"Summer is approaching! Tell us a few of the things you are excited to do"

Another great Q!

I might be the only one, but summer is not my favourite season. I don't cope with the heat very well... I love the long, cooler evenings though.

We haven't got much cash since the bambinos came along. So we will probably look forward to taking a few day trips to the beach, woods and out on the hills. If the pennies stretch far enough maybe we will take them to a few attractions such as the zoo or the aquarium.

We also have family gatherings to look forward to with BBQs, family trips and my birthday *ahem*... it means a cake at least! Hehehe!

I want to make the most of this summer as my maternity finishes and I am back to work (joy), so it's about enjoying every minute with my boys... As well as cramming as much writing and reading into the summer as possible!

So what exciting things are you getting up to this summer? Whatever it is; I hope you have a fabulous one!

Happy Tuesday everyone!


Tools Of Divination

Some people fear the tarot...

You can mention the word 'tarot' and get quite a mixed reaction:
Some people freak out, some are intrigued, others disregard it completely and others take the mick. What is a apparent, is that it is a topic with varying opinion..
I like to think of myself as "open-minded" when it comes to walking a spiritual path. I am fascinated by spiritual ideas and have found myself trying to make sense of the ideas and concepts that I have come across. Amongst them, angels, the after life, reincarnation, spirit guides, power (totem) animals and the art of divination.

It's the last one I thought I would bring to debate with this post.

What is your first thought when you read the word "divination"? Crystal balls and fortune tellers? Mediums and tarot? Or yikes; don't wanna go there?!

For me, I guess, I just like the thought that there is something there looking out for us and guiding us through our lives. It's very comforting.

But that doesn't mean I'm completely convinced. I have a sceptical streak which keeps me grounded.

I will be the first to admit that there have been some strange, unexplainable occurrences that have happened to me. Nothing impressive... The thinking of someone and they ring, whilst driving I've listened to a gut feeling and I've avoided which could have been a nasty incident etc; I have also visited mediums, participated in meditation circles and have been on ghost hunts (cue ghost buster theme tune) but I guess what I am really doing, is trying to piece together a truth that I can accept and understand.

For me divination is fascinating and I practise with a range of tools. I'm not brilliant; but close friends and family ask me for a reading and I'm usually quite spot on. But then you could argue that I know these people, so of course, I have some background knowledge that will influence a reading... But that wouldn't explain the other accurate readings with people who I had only just met in a meditation circle... wow-zers, I was just as surprised as them!

*Note*
I'm not proclaiming to be a psychic or a medium etc; I'm just sharing my own experiences of using tools for divination...

I use a divination tool in day-to-day life, just as a guide. Cards and other tools won't give you a "yes" or "no" to a question but they can help you chose/think about your choices.

This is one of my favourite tools:



I was browsing in one of my favourite esoteric book shops in Glastonbury, and tucked away was: STONE PEOPLE MEDICINE - A NATIVE AMERICAN ORACLE. (A book and card set)
I looked at it and read the back. I put it down down and continued browsing. But still I kept coming back to the set. It was £5... I bought it...

I like this set of cards for three reasons:

  1. The author has built the system around Native American ideas (it is a system designed by the author Manny Twofeathers; though belief and experiences)
  2. There are only ten cards to learn unlike traditional tarot! (phew)
  3. This set works for me....
The last point is very important. You wouldn't buy any other product that you couldn't get on with, like a book you wouldn't read or a movie you wouldn't watch; so it's the same with these tools.

In a nutshell:
In my humble opinion, there is a place for divination tools in everyday life. The stigmas attached are just that, and used correctly, they can be very useful... and entertaining for that matter!

Where do you stand on the subject? A load of old cobblers? Something that interests you? Not thought about etc? Do you use a divination tool? Or do you have any questions about my post? I will happily answer them.

Thanks for reading!





Sunday 27 May 2012

5 Questions I Seem To Keep Asking As A Parent...

I have been a mummy for nearly two and half years now; (Wow! For real?!) and it has probably been the most fulfilling thing that I have done with my life to date. As a parent I continually ask questions. A lot of questions! But there are some that I seem to ask more regularly than others. I have picked my top five...





  1. Where did the time go?! We ask this one on a regular basis. Whether it's a general comment about the day, or be it a comment about how fast our boys are growing up. I don't think we were quite prepared for the effect raising children would have on time itself. It now seems to go at warp speed and there is never enough of it!
  2. How can someone so small... this question has a variety of endings such as: be so loud? (I'm sure my son's scream can be heard in the next street) get so mucky? (Have you ever noticed that even if you were to put your child in a sealed vault, dirt can still locate your child within a matter of seconds?) Fill their nappy like that?! (Cor blimey! Change times are epic! Pass me the peg...)
  3. What on earth is that?! I am of course, talking about children's T.V. Some of the stuff is crazy but my children seem to love it. I'm talking about things like Waybuloo, and Cloud Babies... I kid you not!
    Waybuloo
  4. How did he find that? My son is an expert at finding things he shouldn't...
  5. WHAT DID WE DO?! This is what we ask ourselves when our son is running rings around us, having one of his wild temper tantrums, pulled all the loo roll off of the roll, tipped all his food/drink onto his high chair tray, etc... *sigh*
Of course the last one is all ion good fun. It's more like:

Wow, look what we did...

What questions do you find yourself asking on a regular basis? (You don't have to answer this as a parent; for example, a question I ask myself frequently is: Why is there always a massive queue when I am a hurry?!)

Happy weekend everyone!






Wednesday 23 May 2012

Following On From : Tell Me Something Tuesday


Thank you to all who responded to my post "Tell Me Something Tuesday". From you response, it became apparent that the Discworld has not been discovered by some...

*SHOCK*

So help is on hand people, I will share my favourite Discworld novel in hopes to make finding a beginning easier.

You really need to start here:


The 1st Discword Novel



The Blurb:

"...On a world supported on the back of a giant turtle (sex unknown), a gleeful, explosive, wickedly eccentric expedition sets out. There's an avaricious but inept wizard, a naive tourist whose luggage moves on hundreds of dear little legs, dragons who can only exist if you believe in them, and of course THE EDGE of the planet..."

I was handed this by a friend when I was in secondary school. At the time I was a Point Horror fan; so when a fantasy novel was shoved under my nose I took it out of politeness and it stayed on my shelf for a while. *Shame on me*

I looked at the cover and thought:

"I really don't think I'm gonna get this..."

Then I read that the world was a disc on the back of four elephants on the back of a giant turtle drifting through space  and again I thought:

"I really don't think I'm gonna get this..."

But when curiosity finally got the better of me, and I started reading... I. Was. Hooked. I couldn't put it down and of course its lead to reading more of the series. (And many re-readings of The Colour Of Magic)
Terry Pratchett, to put it simply, is a story-telling genius. What I love about his work, is that it's so well done that you can visualise all the places and the characters who inhabit it. This makes dipping in and out of the novels easy.He takes everyday  things and gives it a Discworld twits. One example that just pops up in the mind, is a camera... Well on the Discworld it's a box with an imp inside who can paint pictures at speed...

The story-telling genius


Two of my other favourites titles in the series are:

and

If you like these, you might want to try:
 
 ... (even more Discworld fun about a clan of Nac MacFeegles... enough said!)


If you do get a chance to read The Colour of Magic, please let me know if you enjoyed it. Even if it wasn't your thing, I would still be very interested.

Happy Reading!



Tuesday 22 May 2012

Tell Me Something Tuesday #1





Tell me something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert over at www.cambriahebert.com ... Go check it out because she has an awesome blog!

This is also an exciting post for me because this will be my very first time at participating in a meme! (I know, I know... where have I been?! And yes, I learn so very slowly...) So without further ado; this weeks question is:


*drum roll*

If you could spend a day with a book character who would it be and what would you do?


My Answer:

This is such a fab question. It's taken me a while to consider this...
There are many characters that pop up in the fuzz that is my brain but I keep coming back to one.

I think I would have to spend it with Death...

That is; Death and the Death of  Rats from Terry Pratchett's Discworld.

Crazy choice I know; but he makes me laugh so much with his innocence and misunderstandings about what it means to be human. He tries so hard to be 'human' but it never goes quite right for him.

If I was to end up spending the day with Death; I would hope to get a ride on Binky his horse and meet his poor old butler Albert.

I just think chilling out with this character would be lots of fun... Probably hard work too, what with his job and everything. He's a very busy... person? Skeleton? Erm... Character?!

Who would you pick and why?
Happy blog hopping!

An Extra-Ordinary Weekend

*WARNING* May be a rather long ramble, prepare by arming with favourite beverage!

Have you ever had one of those weekends where nothing amazing happens but it just feels so fantastic anyway?! One of those times when you feel so grateful that you have what you do have...


Well, on Friday it started out with a bit of false hope. I had entered a writing competition. I sent a short children's story to win a place at Swanwick in August. It's a writer's dream... Or so the reviews say. A whole week is spent going to relevant workshops and lectures of your choice.
It would be amazing to get a place on this writer's haven!
So naturally, when the phone went and the lady on the other end said she was from the competition department... (you can imagine can't you?!) My heart went into over-drive and I don't think I took a breath... until she said she had only called to tell me that my submission had been received two weeks (!) after the submission deadline... and did I want her to shred it or send it back?!!  I felt like I had sunk right into my boots. I tried to tell her that I had actually sent the submission two weeks before the deadline; but how could I argue my point with her and not come across as a sore loser?!? Rules are rules, and do acts of God count? I was absolutely defeated and felt miserable as a result.
It wasn't that I believed that I would actually win this comp; oh no, I didn't even think I would have come close, but I had worked so hard on the submission. I had stayed up to unholy hours just to get it sent off early... just in case...

Some things just aren't meant to be...

So, back to point...

THINGS GOT BETTER!
YAY!!!


Friday
So after all that, and after I told myself "Pull yourself together girl, it was a writing competition." I took my little 'uns for a walk down by the canal. I used to walk there all the time with my family. It was one of my favourite places. I used to love dad telling me what he had learnt about it; like how to spot a moorhen, or how he reckoned huge pike swam in there...
We took some bread and looked for some willing, hungry ducks. My lad was starting to get impatient as the ducks must have been chilling out somewhere else; the baby couldn't care less as he was snoozing in the pram. But just as I had given up hope and was trying to coax my son into the idea of leaving without any ducky sightings, we found...

Swans! And much to my sons delight she had her babies with her!
What was so special about this day, was that I took a walk with my children down memory lane and also made new memories a long the way.
My children's fascination, excitement and curiosity is infectious and brightens my day.

Saturday
Boring, boring, boring... Until we went out to the supermarket and decided we had time to have a break in the cafe!
All normal stuff granted, but again, it was my son's experience of the experience that made the whole thing so exciting.
He was so good mind you. He wanted to walk (ooooh, the independence) and he proved to us that he could follow all the provisos we put in place. He had to hold my hand, not touch anything and not kick and scream when it was time to go... That's high expectations of a two year old, but with gentle reassurance (and a few reminders that failure to comply meant riding in the trolley, or even worse, back to the car with no cafe experience... Mummy plays hardball...) he managed to stick to it.
I was so very proud of him. He sat beautifully whilst drinking his milk through a straw and watching the world with his big, blue eyes.

Sunday
My son was a TIGER!
Oh yeah people, we know how to spend our Sunday mornings!

The best tiger's tail

It started with my son pulling off daddy's belt from his dressing gown; which was hanging on the back of the bedroom door. He was running around and saying RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGH with it trailing behind him. So, I tied the belt around his waist and told him it was the perfect tigers tail and why didn't he give it a swish? To which he swung his bottom to and fro as best as he could. It had me in absolute stitches!

We also had fun in the park where he son discovered the tyre swing!

Children remind us how to be children and play! It's fabulous!




I also had a baking triumph.... Check it out:


Blueberry muffins! *SCOFF!*


So there you have it, my extra-ORDINARY weekend!
Hope you had a great one too; please do share your best moment of the weekend!

Sunday 20 May 2012

Brief News Post:The Olympic Flame Arrives at Land's End

Ben Ainslie
Sailing champion Ben Ainslie, who learned to sail in Cornwall,
carried the Olympic torch on the first leg of its relay across the UK

BBC Video - Arrival Of The Flame

There has been a buzz in the UK today as the Olympic Flame arrived by helicopter to Land's End, Cornwall. It begins it's 70 day tour of the UK before finally arriving in London for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic games.
Each of the 8,000 torchbearers runs for about 300 metres before lighting the next person's torch in a "kiss".


Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby; torch designers
The Torch
The London 2012 Olympics torch was lit by the sun's rays in ancient Olympia on Thursday (17th), and will conclude with the lighting of the Olympic stadium's cauldron during the opening ceremony on July 27th.
Dubbed the "cheesegrater", it is perforated with 8,000 holes that represent each person who will carry it on the British leg of the torch relay
Its triangular shape symbolises the three times that London has been awarded the Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012...


I am not much of a sports fan, but there is some feeling of pride that our country is hosting the Olympics.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Distracting Distractions


That's it.
NO MORE ANGRY BIRDS
I think I have really come off track in the last couple of days.

The idea is that I put the kids to bed and then I work on my blog and/or my writing projects. Typing letters to agents/publishers, writing up drafts, developing story ideas etc.

So I switch on the computer and what happens?

I open a tab or two and find myself being sucked in by the other glittery distractions of the net.

Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, the general blogshere... and...(I'm ashamed to say) my newest time wasting activity: Angry Birds.

Distracted

Just lately things have suffered. Everywhere I look there are projects unfinished, such as my current read is left unread (I really want to get through this one as The Hunger Games is next on the list!), half finished picture book ideas, a writing competition deadline looming and no typed version etc... The list goes on.

I start off meaning well. For example, I might have an idea for a post and I start writing. But then I decide that a link or picture would benefit the piece so then I go look-sies on google. Somehow this innocent little thought turns into "I'll just check this...Ooh I wonder if... I'll see if such-and-such has a new post on their blog, and: I'm soooooooo gonna smash my best score..."

It's a horrible feeling when I finally give up in the early hours of the morning, only to discover that I've made very little progress in anything.
If you have slogged for hours, you wanna see a result right?!


Getting Focused

Of course, we all get distracted from time to time. Everyone needs to kick back/take a break once in awhile, but this latest cycle of time wasting has been happening for over a week.. Or more... I think??  Like I said; I've lost track!

Writing means developing good writing habits; such as a writing schedule that is stuck to as much as possible: discipline and focus are also required. Sounds more like martial arts...


Time for this writer to shape up and get focused
So tonight, I'm taking a stand. After I post this, I am shutting down and getting some kip. (Well, actually I am getting a hot chocolate with extra marshmallows then I will be getting some kip but that's just details!)

Tomorrow, when I boot up the old faithful here, I will not switch on the Internet and I will get the most current project up and running. May be then, just maybe, I won't be tempted too sneak off and see what else is going on out here!


mug full of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and spoon
you can never have too many marshmallows

What distractions throw you off track and how do you get back on it?!

Sunday 13 May 2012

A Phobia And A Message?

I'm absolutely terrified of these critters
Some people are frightened of mice, others of creepy crawlies, snakes, spiders, ... someone I know is frightened of buttons. (Apparently they make this person feel very ill... I promise this is true.)

For me it's wasps.

I am absolutely terrified. I feel so ridiculous, but if I clock one buzzing about, I freeze. I feel like I can barely breath and then I feel like crying.
According to the Fear of Stuff website:

"The fear of wasps is known by the Latin name, Spheksophobia. People who develop this phobia may feel upset and frightened when confronted with wasps and their nests."

Even just writing about it here is starting to make me feel nervous. As you can imagine the summer is not a great time for me. The fear of these insects spoil a lot of social experiences, such as picnics or being at an outdoor event...
This fear is also embarrassing for me, especially when people ask me why I am so frightened. I guess they expect me to say that I have been stung before, but I haven't. It's what these things are capable of and that they have the potential to repeatedly sting if they are feeling more bad tempered than usual.

Anyhoo, why am I posting about this phobia? Well it's the fact that two got into the house today on separate occasions. One getting in? Rare. Two on the same day? You've got to be kidding me?!

When I am confronted with this kind of situation I wish I could just evacuate... Jump into a pod like thingy, and press a blow-the-house-to-smithereens button... *This house will self-destruct in 5.. 4 .. 3.. 2... 1...
KABLAMOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Seeing as I have nothing like this, I had to rely on my back-up strategy: Get into a room where the wasp is not, seal myself in and allow hubby to take care of it...

Once the situation was dealt with, and I felt calm, I started to think about why.

 I am very intrigued by spiritual ideas. I've been exploring theories and ideas to figure out what I believe/what makes sense to me. It feels to me that there is something "higher" acting around us. Whether you call this God, energy, spirit etc is down to individual belief but whatever it is, it's very comforting. I also lean towards the idea that higher things communicate through messages or signs. So I decided to look up the various traditions or beliefs about the wasp.

The following is taken from Animal Spirit Guides by Steven D. Farmer, PH.D.
If wasp shows up it means:
Whatever task is before you, jump in and go for it with enthusiasm and determination.
For the next few weeks, focus on fulfilling your responsibilities and personal obligations.
Break out of routine.
Lead with your heart not your mind.
Whatever you've dreamed of doing, put some plans into action that will help you realise them
   Hmmm... it doesn't sound very wasp-like to me. I was expecting it to say something like; watch out for danger, you may get "stung" if you are not careful etc.    
But then again, I much prefer Farmer's interpretation...

Maybe today was a message that things are going to get more exciting? Maybe it means I will start to see some results from the hard work and effort I've been putting into my dreams of writing?!

Or maybe, it's simply that two wasps got in and that's the end of it.

What phobia makes you quiver and what do you think about the visit from the wasps?

Thanks for reading today's ramble!!!

 



Saturday 12 May 2012

10 Reasons Why I Love Being A Mummy...

Not this kind....
I decided to list ten things I love about being a mummy because just lately I feel that I have been focusing too much on the negative things.

It's been a bit stressful so I hope that by thinking/posting about all the positives, it will help me change my attitude... therefore returning harmony to our little household!

So without further ado:

10 Reasons Why I Love Being A Mummy...


  1. Sharing all the "first-times". First time they open their little peepers to the world, first time they cry, first time they hold your finger, first tooth, first time they try a new action... you get the idea.
  2. I have a guaranteed supply of cuddles and kisses a day.
  3. Life makes sense since my babies came along.
  4. I laugh more. Today for example: after considering the fact that milk and cheese are the products from cows, my two year old asked if we could get one... Smart thinking kid!
  5. I can be proud of how I "grew" and nurtured two, healthy human beings...
  6. I can watch kids cartoons (It's called research people! I have to be up to date and know my kids favourite characters don't I?!)
  7. I love how my children accept me as I am. It doesn't seem to matter how I dress/wear my hair/ that I have bags under my eyes/haven't noticed that baby dribble on my shoulder...
  8. They bring out my best qualities and I feel I can conquer anything. (Mummies are fearless)
  9. WE MAKE A MESS AND HAVE OODLES OF FUN! (Making play dough, sticking, painting etc)
  10. I love that the world is a new and exciting place to these little guys, and it makes you see things for the first time. Just looking at a rainbow after a heavy down-pour or finding a lady-bug out in the garden is fascinating...
What about you? Why do you love being a parent?
If you're not a parent, what makes you happy about being you?!


Thanks for reading.

If you look closely; it's a double rainbow! Isn't that supposed to be lucky?
Photo taken from our window after a heavy down-pour










Thursday 10 May 2012

Cycling For Breast Cancer Care

Hello fellow bloggers!

I tend to blog about things inspire me or spark my interest, so I would like to share what happened today:


I had to make an appointment for my little lad at the doctors and I couldn't get my usual one. (We never seem to be able to... but that is a rant left well alone!

So, I was in the waiting room of my local surgery. I was feeling pretty anxious as the appointment was with a doctor that I haven't met before.  I was looking for things to occupy my mind as babes was asleep in his pram. In my haste to make the appointment on time I had left behind my book. (Blast it all!)

With no magazines on offer (What?! NO reading material at all! *SHOCK*) I ended up reading the messages on the electronic board.

In amongst the usual messages about the procedures of the surgery (when to ring, what to do, complimentary therapies, blah, blah, blah) One message in a particular caught my eye...

It was about the Doctor I was booked in to see, detailing a bike ride he was planning. Riding from London to Paris all for Breast Cancer Care.

If you are reading this, please visit Cycling for Breast Cancer Care to check out their story. Even if you can't donate, you can help by spreading the word/sharing the link.

Thank you for reading!


Saturday 5 May 2012

There's A Monster In Our Sand Pit

Hey there!

The following is a  simple picture book story that just happened to pop into my head (as they often do)...

The idea behind this story is to promote positive behaviour by encouraging children to think about why the 'monster's' behaviour is unacceptable.

If you have time, please skim through and think about the following: If you have have young children, would you read this to them? What did you like about it? What didn't like about it?

There's A Monster In Our Sand Pit!

There’s a monster in our sandpit.

He doesn’t know how to play.

He roars and shrieks so loud that…

He scares all the children away!


There’s a monster in our sandpit.


He’s really rather mean.

He stamps on all the sandcastles, tips all the toys out of their box and …

Pink Socks Clip ArtHe's buried little Molly’s socks!


There’s a monster in our sandpit.


He really is a horror.

He flicks and throws the sand everywhere and…

He's put it down Nathan’s trousers!


There’s a monster in our sandpit.


He really is unkind.

He snatches all the sand trucks, the digging tools and…


He’s making all the children cry!


But all the noise brings the teacher running. There’s far too much fuss and din.

She takes the monster by the hand and far from the sand pit she leads him.


Down on one knee the teacher leans in; so she is face to face.

She’s not scared of any monsters; she’ll put that monster in his place!


She tells that monster firmly:


“You need to share”

(Monster shrinks)

“You need to be fair”

(Monster shrinks)

“You must not be unkind”

(Monster shrinks)

“You must take care of all your friends”

(Monster shrinks)

“So Johnny?”

(Little boy looking up at teacher)

“Please play NICE!”



Thank you for reading!
All comments are very welcome.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Kobo E-Reader : A Brief Review

I am one of those people who appreciate new technology but it does take me awhile... I am not the type of person to want the latest piece of techno-gadget-on-the-market... I prefer to stand back, well back and observe before I decide...
With music going all digital on us and the saddening disappearance of our quirky, smaller CD shops; when the Kindle/Kobo were first released, I was stunned. What was going on? Were they now trying to replace our gorgeous paperback books? I love browsing and selecting books, I love how they feel when I am reading etc. So to think of not turning pages or being able to look over the front/back cover of a book seemed... I don't know... techno-gone-crazy. It was a step too far. I was adamant there and then that I wouldn't desire/require one of these devices for reading.
The Kobo E-Reader....
That was until my husband arranged for me to borrow a Kobo E-Reader.
He just brought it home the other day and left it on the side, occasionally  reminding me that it was there.
I turned it on just to show gratitude for the thought.
*Sigh*

I looked through the list of titles and saw they had some classics on there.
I am ashamed to admit that somehow my love of reading has seen me by-pass the classics so I had resolved to do something about it... I saw "A Christmas Carol" listed and started reading. I read it in a day...

The following Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable to hold
  • Clear screen - looks like the page of a book
  • Tracking progress of a book
  • Pick up where you left off - no more falling bookmarks
  • A dictionary function (I was delighted with this function as I like to try and look up words I don't know but tend to forget or loose the piece of paper that I've written the word on...)
  • The fact that nosey people can't tell what you are reading!
  • You can carry a whole library on these things!
And the following Cons:

  • No back-light. I like to read whilst I am in bed, but my son is sleeping in his cot and I can't put the bedside lamp on. A back-light option would be useful...
  • I found it slow to load up each page
  • I kept trying to use it as a touch screen... which is weird considering I don't have anything touch screen...

Hmm...

After giving it a go, my choice would still be a book but I will now have to admit that this piece of nifty technology has it's place.

And after a conversation with my hubby about the latest e-readers out there, the new edition Kindle makes it onto the wish-list...




P.S....
Have you got a favourite classic and why would you recommend it for me to read?!