Friday post 09/01/26: With a returning Librain!

Posted on 09/01/2026 by The Librain

Well, strictly speaking I returned on Wednesday, but this is the first “proper” post of the year! I am attempting to pick up this blog again after quite a long break for mental health reasons. Everything became too much for me towards the end of last year and I couldn’t find the head space for writing. I couldn’t even enjoy reading! Anyway, let’s see how this goes.

I do hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year. We celebrated our first Christmas in our new home and it was so lovely to see Younger Son for a few days. He helped to create a wonderful dinner and Elder Son contributed some delicious treats for a buffet style meal on Boxing Day. I had bought some new table decorations for the holiday and it all looked really nice and festive.

Since then, Lovely Husband and I have been continuing to find homes for the remaining bits and pieces from our old house. I have a very long To-Do list, but I try to cross something off every day, no matter how small, and that helps to lift my mood. If you read my last post, you will have seen that I have also found my reading mojo, so that is good progress!

We are now just a week away from completion on our old house. For those of you who are not in England, that means that at 14.00 on Friday the 16th of January we will no longer own the house! Please keep your fingers crossed for us!

My New Year’s Resolution is to wear my scarves more often!!! I have so many and the colder months mean that I can really enjoy using them to keep warm. Well, no-one needs an excuse to wear scarves, do they? Anyway, here are a few quick photos. Please excuse my awful hair. I had a terribly bad reaction to the COVID vaccination back in November and had to cancel the appointment with my hairdresser.

Oops! I forgot to take my glasses off for the last photo! Those of you with sharp eyes might spot a new purchase – more about that next week.

I also indulged myself with a couple of clothing items: a teal cashmere jumper from John Lewis and a fine wool throwover from One Hundred Stars. Now, the throwover is listed as grey, but in fact the background colour is a dark green. That isn’t really one of my usual wardrobe colours, but as I have green eyes I think it will probably work for me. I will wear it soon and take some modelling shots when I do.

Teal cashmere jumper by John Lewis
Chrysanthemum grey throwover by One Hundred Stars

I think that is enough rambling on for now…

Happy Weekend!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Posted in Clothes, House sale, Lifestyle, Scarves, Shopping, Special days, Wardrobe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading roundup 07/01/26

Posted on 07/01/2026 by The Librain

Well, I’m back! Seriously, welcome to my blog dear friends and visitors. I took a long break at the end of last year because my health issues had become overwhelming and I couldn’t face writing on top of everything else. On Friday, I will attempt to update the blog with my thoughts about the recent holidays and also our house move, but as it’s Wednesday I am going to post about my reading in 2025.

I had set myself a target of 50 books for the year, but struggled to find the right books which could engage my attention. I turned to old favourites for comfort and didn’t log them all on Goodreads. In November, I came across an author, R K Lander, that I hadn’t found before and immersed myself in her books about her character, The Silvan, reading her entire works over the rest of the year. Then, at the end of December, I found a series called The Winterlands Quartet by one of my favourite authors from my younger days, Barbara Hambly, and have also finished that! I think that my reading mojo may have returned.

Anyway, these are the images that Goodreads sends at the end of the year…

Once again I have set myself a target of 50 books for the year. It doesn’t matter at all if I don’t reach that number as my aim is to enjoy reading again and find my ability to lose myself in other worlds and forget my worries.

Here’s to another year of happy reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

Posted in Reading | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Wednesday post 19/11/25: Taking a break

Posted on 19/11/2025 by The Librain

Dear friends and visitors,

Those of you who know me in person or who regularly read this blog will be aware that I am really struggling with my mental health. To be honest, I am in a deep and dark place. I am getting professional support and hope that this leads, eventually, to a healthier outcome. At the moment, I am clinging on with the help of my family and close friends.

At a time when I am finding it difficult to even read my books (always my first love since I was three years old), writing blog posts is beyond me. So I am going to take a break from the blog until I feel a lot better.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕📚💗📚💖📚💗📚💕

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Saturday post 15/11/25: With some pretty things!

Posted on 15/11/2025 by The Librain

So, it looks as if Fridays are out at the moment in terms of blog posts! A few things seem to be happening on that day. Nothing amazing, just stuff like health appointments and the like. I have decided to write today and may eventually switch to Saturdays. Well, I haven’t fully decided yet!

Nothing much seems to be happening in the house selling saga. The prospective buyers are having a visit there today and their survey is due next week. These are nerve racking times for us, but there is nothing we can do but wait and trust the skills of our estate agent.

I am struggling terribly with my mental health and the extra stress of all of this is not helping. I had an appointment with my psychiatrist this week and he has ordered some extra blood tests to see if some of my long term physical health issues could be making my mental health worse. I must admit that I felt a little better after talking to him. I hope that the tests show that something can be done to help me.

Yesterday, Lovely Husband, Elder Son & I braved the torrents of rain to go to the health centre for our flu vaccinations. While we were there, I spoke to the receptionist about our difficulties in getting on to their online system. She gave me the required instructions and I am hoping that I can work it out from those. Mind you, LH refuses to use his mobile phone so I will probably have to use his to book his repeat prescriptions and other matters!

I had a real disappointment this week with two purchases. I won’t give the exact details, but just tell you that some Christmas decorations arrived smashed to bits and a velvet jacket came with dreadfully poor stitching. So, I now have to sort these two returns out.

On a more positive note, it was my birthday last Saturday and ES gave me a really pretty amethyst “tree” ornament for our purple bedroom. I am also expecting the delivery of the framed photo of purple heather on the Derbyshire moors that I showed you some weeks ago. I will take a photo of it when we have hung it on our bedroom wall.

Here is the amethyst “tree”…

Amethyst “tree”

I have also worn a few pretty scarves lately…

Can you spot the Hermès scarf? You can see that I am trying to cheer myself up by wearing some of my collection.

Anyway, I think that is all for now. I hope you are all having a great weekend.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Posted in Health, House sale, Lifestyle, Scarves, Wardrobe | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading roundup 12/11/25

Posted on 12/11/2025 by The Librain

Wednesday is Reading Roundup Day! Welcome to my blog, fellow readers. I am still struggling to find my reading mojo, due to illness and stress. So, I am sticking with the series that I wrote about last week: R K Lander’s The Silvan. I have finished the second book in time to write this post and am also half way through the next book.

Road of a Warrior by R K Lander

Here is the blurb…

“A light in the forest, a king returned, a past to claim.

Fel’annár is an immortal half-blood warrior from the Deep Forest, an orphan whose questions were never answered. With a dream of becoming a Silvan captain in an army ruled by the Alpine elves, he is sent to protect a prince of the realm on a journey to Tar’eastór, land of the mighty Alpine elves and of Fel’annár’s own father – whoever he was.

His nascent powers continue to evolve while his shrouded past finally surfaces. The truth he never thought to hear will thrust him onto a path strewn with political intrigue, discrimination, self-discovery – and danger.

Meanwhile, a failing king will rise from the depths and reclaim his place as leader of the Great Forest. Warriors will battle the enemy on the borders, while at court, councillors will clash over the racial divide that is tearing them apart.

They say that civil war is coming, but one elf can avoid it – if he can embrace his past, control his powers and accept the role he is destined to play. From warrior to master and beyond, Fel’annár is The Silvan who can restore peace in the Great Forest, or cast it into eternal chaos.”

And this was my response on Goodreads…

Road of a Warrior (The Silvan, #2)Road of a Warrior by R.K. Lander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable episode in this fantasy series. The characters continued to develop with new challenges awaiting them. The plot moved forward at a fast pace, keeping the reader’s interest. I just wish there were more female characters, although I can see that this might be improved in later books. I hope so. After all, can any society survive without its female members? Even fantastical elvish societies? I don’t think so!

View all my reviews

I am not sure how long I will stay with this series. There appear to be six books in this one, plus  more sets of spinoffs. I may decide to take a break, but this level of reading seems to be working for me at the moment: not too taxing or too dark. So I will probably keep going until I become bored or the writing goes adrift as happened with the Green Rider series!

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

Posted in Reading | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Friday post 07/11/25: With more apologies!

Posted on 07/11/2025 by The Librain

Yet again my mental health issues mean that I cannot concentrate enough to write a proper post today. I am really struggling at the moment and my medication isn’t very effective. It’s my birthday tomorrow, so I hope that I can enjoy the day!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Posted in Health | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Reading roundup 05/11/25

Posted on 05/11/2025 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s post. Regular followers will be aware that I have been struggling to find a book, never mind a series, that really entertains me. Due to my mental health issues impacting on my concentration levels, I have been starting books then putting them aside after only a few chapters and I found this really upsetting.

Anyway, I found this series recommended in a Facebook group and gave the first book a try. Here it is…

Path of a Novice by R K Lander

Path of a Novice is #01 in R K Lander’s The Silvan series. This is the blurb…

“His face would kindle love, garner hatred, inspire loyalty – bring persecution.

An immortal half-blood becomes a novice warrior and joins the ranks of the Silvans as they battle Sand Lords and Deviants. He only ever had one dream; to become a Silvan captain in an army commanded by the dominant Alpine elves, colonizers of the Great Forest. There had once been another dream though – to know who his father was, but years of unanswered questions later, he told himself it didn’t matter anymore.

Meanwhile, the powerful Alpine lords weave a story of racial superiority, relegating the native Silvans to second-class subjects. Village leaders, Spirit Warriors and Foresters are starting to rebel.

Fel’annár learns the true meaning of warrior hood when he travels as the only novice warrior in a multi-racial patrol into the Deep Forest. As he battles the enemy for the first time, a power unfolds, one he cannot control – does not want. While friendships are forged, a destiny begins to unravel, one that is tied to a past he knows nothing about. For others though, it is only a matter of time before the truth is revealed and the danger becomes real.

Can Fel’annár overcome his fears, become the warrior he always wanted to be, or will his dreams be stunted by his own shrouded past? By one elf’s lust for absolute power?”

This was my response on Goodreads…

Path of a Novice (The Silvan, #1)Path of a Novice by R.K. Lander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, with only a couple of issues. The plot moves swiftly and engages the reader, the character development was also well done and the setting imaginative. My main niggle is with the lack of female characters. Would it be too much to ask that some of the warriors could be female elves? There are a couple of females mentioned but they are not really central to the story. I hope this is rectified in later books in the series.

The other issue is really an irritation. I think this has been mentioned by other readers: the gratuitous use of apostrophes in the eleven names! How on earth does the reader make sense of the names, or should I write n’ame’s???

View all my reviews

Well, I must have enjoyed the book because I am going to read the second book in the series as soon as I finish this post!

Happy reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

Posted in Reading | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Saturday post 01/11/25: Selling our house #07

Posted on 01/11/2025 by The Librain

Well, here we are on the first day of a new month and it’s Saturday! Yes, yet again I was too tired to post yesterday because I managed to leave the house to run some errands.

The first task was to go into town, with the help of Elder Son, to pick up my new glasses. Then we went to a café for a drink and some scrumptious chocolate cake (bribery usually works with ES). After that, we took an Uber over to our old house to do the weekly checks and also for me to attempt to put the central heating on. As we are now coming into the season of cold temperatures, we need to make sure that the pipes do not freeze and then burst. It is years since I last did this job (Lovely Husband usually dealt with things like the heating), so I was quite worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it. Anyway, at least LH had found the boiler instructions and I hope that I switched on the correct times and temperatures.

Apart from that, there is very little news about the selling process. There is some to-ing and fro-ing from our buyers and the respective solicitors about building and repair work we had done over the years, but we just have to work through this. Also, we are waiting for the buyers to organise a survey of the house and are keeping our fingers crossed that they are happy with the results of that!

All in all, these are rather nerve wracking times for us and my mental health is suffering at the moment.

On a lighter note, a lovely silk scarf from Clarissa Hulse arrived recently and I wore it yesterday for the first time. The scarf has gorgeous shades of teal, turquoise, green and yellow and will work beautifully with my teal and turquoise clothing and jewellery. Here is the scarf…

Cloud Forest Silk Scarf by Clarissa Hulse
Cloud Forest Silk Scarf by Clarissa Hulse

And this is how I wore it! With a cashmere jumper in turquoise and navy accessories. My enamel and gold bangle is by Halcyon Days and the blue topaz earrings by Blue Nile.

Outfit of the day 31/10/25 with Cloud Forest Silk Scarf by Clarissa Hulse
Turquoise enamel and gold bangle by Halcyon Days
Earrings by Blue Nile

Aren’t the colours lovely? She also has the same design in other colourways as well as many other beautiful scarves and products for the home. We have some of her bedlinen in our new bedroom and I would love some more if she decides to create some with a purple theme.

Well, I think that is all for now, so I will wish you all a very happy weekend!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Posted in House sale, Lifestyle, Outfit of the day, Scarves, Wardrobe | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reading roundup 29/10/25

Posted on 29/10/2025 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s reading post. To be quite honest, it has been a very strange week in my reading journey. Yesterday I gave up on yet another book and looked through my “Currently Reading” list on Goodreads and marked even more as “Couldn’t Finish”. Yes, I am still struggling to find books that I enjoy!

Regular visitors to these weekly posts may remember that I was immersed in the Green Rider series by Kristen Britain.  The first four books were great and I was really looking forward to the fifth: Mirror Sight. However, the plot took a very unexpected turn which I didn’t like and so I decided to stop reading the series at that point. On investigating other readers’ reactions to the later books, I think that I made the right decision for me.

So, then I picked up a couple of other books. I managed to finish one because it was quite short but, to be honest, it was poorly written and doesn’t really merit the writing of a response. After that I tried another book and also became really bored with that one! This has never happened to me before!

This took me to some more books that I had started and logged on Goodreads. My current difficulties with severe depression meant that these books also went into the DNF pile!

So, what on earth should I try next? I am stumped, I must say. I really have no idea what to do. I could try the new book by my favourite author, Guy Gavriel Kay, but his work has a seam of melancholy running through it that I don’t think would be the best for me at the present time.

Reading has been such an important part of my life since childhood and I now feel quite upset that my mental issues are taking this source of solace away. If you have any suggestions as to what I should do I would be very grateful if you could share them with me.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

📚📕📚📕📚

Posted in Lifestyle | Leave a comment

Friday post 24/10/25: With apologies

Posted on 24/10/2025 by The Librain

Apologies. I can’t post today because I am struggling dreadfully with my mental health. I was supposed to go out today to get my new glasses and visit our old house, but I can’t get out of bed.

I hope that my normal pattern of posting can be resumed soon.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

💕💗💖💗💕

Posted in Lifestyle | 4 Comments