Friday post 23/01/26: With a sneaky reveal!

Posted on 23/01/2026 by The Librain

So it’s Friday once again! Those of you with sharp eyes may have already spotted the new scarf that I am revealing today. I managed to purchase it just before the annual price increase hit, which was great for me. Anyway, here is the reveal…

That classic Hermès box!

Ooh! Those are pretty colours and the design is somewhat familiar!

First we have one half of the scarf.

Then the other half. Let’s look at the entire scarf now…

Sous le Charme d’Orphée detail 45cm by Hermès

Isn’t it pretty? Here we have my third version of this lovely design by the talented Alice Shirley. I already own the 90cm silk twill double face scarf and the 140cm cashmere/silk shawl. If I had been able to find the twilly version I would probably have added that to my collection too!

Anyay, here are the images from the Hermès website…

Sous le Charme d’Orphée detail scarf by Alice Shirley for Hermès

The colours are Ciel/Blue Jean/Bouton D’or and the purchase code is H894358S 03. I am currently in the process of updating the Scarf of the Moment post about this design. It is now quite long and detailed, so I hope that some of you will find it useful. Please let me know if you find any errors.

I have already worn the scarf a few times and it looks great with my navy or grey clothing. Here is one quick snap…

Outfit of the day 04/01/26 with Sous le Charme d’Orphée detail gavroche

Well, I think that is all for this week! I hope that you have a great weekend.

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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Reading roundup 21/01/26

Posted on 21/01/2026 by The Librain

Welcome to this week’s post about my reading. I have finished one book, which I enjoyed and had two false starts before settling on a third book, which seems to be going well so far.

Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia A McKillip

My read of the week was a standalone book by Patricia A McKillip called Alphabet of Thorn. Here is the blurb…

”Deep inside a palace on the edge of the world, the orphan Nepenthe pores over books in the royal library, translating their languages and learning their secrets. At sixteen, she knows little of the outside world. But when a young mage gives Nepenthe a book that has defied translation – a book written in a language of thorns – it speaks to Nepenthe’s soul, and becomes her secret obsession. As the words escape the brambles they reveal themselves – and begin to reveal Nepenthe’s destiny…”

And this was my response on Goodreads…

Alphabet of ThornAlphabet of Thorn by Patricia A. McKillip
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had a slow start but built up into a very interesting and enjoyable read. It was great to have a book that was able to develop a story and characters on its own without 1000s of pages and numerous sequels. And, of course, how could I put down a book with librarians at the centre? Although the main character is more of a translater than a librarian really.

View all my reviews

When I had finished this book I tried to read two others. The first was The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I managed to read about a hundred pages, but the plot was so bleak that it began to affect my mood, bringing it right down into the depths. So I put that aside. Next I began The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake. To be honest, I have started this book three times already! So many people seem to have rated it very highly, but I just couldn’t get into it at all. That has also been crossed off my list.

After all of this, I posted on a Facebook Fantasy and Science Fiction book group asking for recommendations that would suit my present circumstances. Hundreds of really kind people answered and I have compiled a list of books to try. I am currently reading another recommendation from the group, so we will see how that goes. Next week’s post will reveal the book!

Anyway, I think that is all for now. I hope that you are having great success with your own book choices.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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Friday post 16/01/26: Hooray! It’s all over!

Posted on 16/01/2026 by The Librain
Sold Sign and House by Guy Kilroy on Flickr

Welcome to my blog, friends and visitors. Today we have had the excellent news that our house has finally been sold!

It is just short of a year from when Elder Son and I first saw the bungalow where we are now living. We were very fortunate to be able to purchase that outright and move in before putting our old home on the market. Everything has now gone through and we are relieved! I still feel a little nostalgic about our old house because we moved into it in 2001 with two little boys at primary school. They grew up into large men there and we had many happy times as well as more difficult ones.

Our estate agent has been fabulous. She has regularly come to our home with updates and advice and really has worked beyond expectations. Today, she arrived with flowers, chocolates and a card! We are so pleased that she was recommended to us by a neighbour.

Anyway, I think that is all I can manage to write today. I’m feeling quite overwhelmed and a bit giddy! Normal service will be resumed next week, I hope.

Happy weekend to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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Image credits

Sold Sign and House by Guy Kilroy on Flickr

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Reading roundup 14/01/26

Posted on 14/01/2026 by The Librain

Welcome to my weekly post about the books I am reading. Since New Year’s Day I have finished three books so I think my ability to lose myself when I am reading may have returned. That having been said, I did start one this week but then put it aside after about 100 pages. The main theme was very dark which is difficult for me at the moment.

Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr

My most recent book was Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr, #01 Deverry Cycle. Here is the blurb…

”The first volume of the celebrated Deverry series, an epic fantasy rooted in Celtic mythology that intricately interweaves human and elven history over several hundred years.

In a world outside reality, the flickering spirit of a young girl hovers between incarnations, knowing neither her past nor her future. But in the temporal world there is one who knows and waits: Nevyn, the wandering sorcerer.

On a bloody day long ago he relinquished the maiden’s hand in marriage – and so forged a terrible bond of destiny between three souls that would last through three generations.

Now Nevyn is doomed to follow them across the plains of time, never resting until he atones for the tragic wrong of his youth…”

And this is my short response on Goodreads…

Daggerspell (Deverry, #1)Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting tale with excellent world building and characters based in a kind of Celtic world with added magic and elves! There some well drawn female characters too, which was great. I enjoyed reading this but don’t think I will try the rest of the series. Perhaps I will in the future.

View all my reviews

When I had finished this book, I struggled to find another that would suit my present condition: a gripping plot with strong characters, but not too dark. I tried one book by Brandon Sanderson, but the plot was so very grim that it didn’t really help my poor depressed brain! So, I have put that aside for now and have started another. I will let you know how that has gone in next week’s post.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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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

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Posted in Clothes, House sale, Lifestyle, Scarves, Shopping, Special days, Wardrobe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Posted in Health | Tagged , , | 3 Comments