Hello and welcome to a new week on this blog. If you haven’t visited before, I try to post three times each week:
Monday is for Updates: random musings, bits of news, shopping and anything that catches my eye.
Wednesday is for Reading Roundups: my weekly post about the books I have read with links to my Goodreads activity.
Friday is for Outfits of the Week: showing any outfits I have worn, with an emphasis on scarves.
There are quite a lot of other areas of the blog, particularly my “Scarf of the Moment” scarf profile posts. These are usually about my growing Hermès scarf collection, plus a few from Liberty of London. You will find a list of these posts in the right-hand sidebar. At the top of the blog, as well as the sidebar, you can also see links to other parts of the blog.
Please let me know if you ever find broken links or any other issues with the blog. I also really love and appreciate feedback, but please be aware that it might take me a while to answer. My poor health means that I cannot always stay on top of things!
I have had quite a nasty coughing fit already today, so will leave you with this lovely quote from Carl Sagan, illustrated by Chris Riddell:
This week’s post is going to show you more of the two dresses from Marks and Spencer that I wrote about on Monday. If you remember, I am trying to find Summer dresses that will be comfortable and also skim over my lumps and bumps (weight gain due to some of my meds plus lack of physical activity). I also hoped to get something reasonably attractive to cheer myself up!
Here are the two dresses again…
Summer dresses by Marks and Spencer
Taking the pink one first. It is such a bright and cheerful colour! The fabric is quite a substantial cotton jersey and the length is to mid-calf on me. Perhaps I could have chosen the shorter length as I am only 5ft 4in. Anyway, I decided to try it with an Hermès scarf (Cosmographia Universalis), which has a lovely range of blues and a gorgeous bright pink.
Here it is…
H003365S 05
I thought that the dress would bring out the touches of pink in the scarf. In addition, I wore some lapis lazuli earrings by Bill Skinner Studio (link in the sidebar).
This is the outfit…
Outfit of the day 10/06/22 with Marks and Spencer pink dress
I think that this works quite well?
The second dress is a simple animal print midi dress with a v-neck in blue and white. This time, I decided to wear a necklace (a birthday present from my sister) and crystal earrings (a present from Elder Son). Marks and Spencer call this a “beach dress”, but I am happy to wear it just about anywhere!
Outfit of the day 10/06/22 with Marks and Spencer blue and white dress
I am really happy with this dress too! OK, I am not going to show you full length photos because I am so unhappy about my shape, so I will just say that these outfits make me feel reasonably positive about myself.
In addition, I have other nice necklaces that I could wear with either dress. The first picture is of both dresses with the scarf and the second shows some of my necklaces…
Dresses, scarf and necklaces
Well, I think that is all for now and I hope that you all have a great weekend.
I have enjoyed two very different books in the past week. The first was a book of science fiction short stories, the second an absorbing dystopia that mirrors our own situation.
Federations ed by John Joseph Adams
The short story collection is called Federations, edited by John Joseph Adams. Here is the blurb:
“From STAR TREK to STAR WARS, from DUNE to FOUNDATION, science fiction has a rich history of exploring the idea of vast intergalactic societies, and the challenges facing those living in or trying to manage such societies.
The stories in FEDERATIONS will continue that tradition, and herein you will find a mix of all-new, original fiction, alongside selected reprints from authors whose work exemplifies what interstellar SF is capable of, including Lois McMaster Bujold, Anne McCaffrey, George R.R. Martin, Catherynne M. Valente, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Alastair Reynolds, Robert J. Sawyer, Robert Silverberg, Harry Turtledove, and many more.”
This is quite a large collection and it took me a while to finish. This is my short response as written on Goodreads:
Generally an enjoyable read with some good stories by some of my favourite authors: McCaffrey and Bujold. Others were poor or mildly irritating! Worth a try if you like science fiction.
Apologies for such a short review. Unfortunately I was unable to write something longer and more detailed. I can recommend having a look at some of the responses on Goodreads as many members have written detailed story by story reviews.
My second book was completely different…
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
This was another completely random selection from the Library’s ebook service and what a choice! The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird was a gripping read. Here is the blurb:
“Set in a world where a virus stalks our male population, The End of Men is an electrifying and unforgettable debut from a remarkable new talent that asks: what would our world truly look like without men?
Only men are affected by the virus; only women have the power to save us all.
The year is 2025, and a mysterious virus has broken out in Scotland–a lethal illness that seems to affect only men. When Dr. Amanda MacLean reports this phenomenon, she is dismissed as hysterical. By the time her warning is heeded, it is too late. The virus becomes a global pandemic–and a political one. The victims are all men. The world becomes alien–a women’s world.
What follows is the immersive account of the women who have been left to deal with the virus’s consequences, told through first-person narratives. Dr. MacLean; Catherine, a social historian determined to document the human stories behind the “male plague;” intelligence analyst Dawn, tasked with helping the government forge a new society; and Elizabeth, one of many scientists desperately working to develop a vaccine. Through these women and others, we see the uncountable ways the absence of men has changed society, from the personal–the loss of husbands and sons–to the political–the changes in the workforce, fertility and the meaning of family.”
I must have read this book in record time as I was so absorbed in the story. This is my review:
Well, I am glad that I read this in 2022 and not in the earlier years of our own, real, pandemic! I think I would have frozen in fear. Anyway, I thought the book was excellent and very well thought out. As I have a husband and two sons, I found the whole idea of a man-killing plague terrifying. As a feminist, I found the whole idea of a world run by women really interesting and intriguing.
Yes, there are some faults in the book – pointed out by some of the reviewers on here who are more expert in medical issues. But as a work of fiction, I enjoyed the structure, the progress of the story and the final ending. I wonder what the author can come up with next!
Yes, once again the book has mixed reviews on Goodreads. Most are very positive, but a minority have strong criticisms and some of the negativity rings true. I do think that this book is well worth reading. After all, we can all come to our own conclusions!
I am presently totally lost in another book, which I will write about in next week’s Reading Roundup post. So, in the meantime…
Welcome to a new week on the blog! I hope that you enjoyed the weekend of Jubilee frolics, if you are into that kind of thing. In the end, I read and watched a few bits and pieces and it all looked like fun, although rather too expensive in the current climate.
Anyway, talking of expenditure, I get my “allowance” at the beginning of the month and I had a bit of a spree on the Marks and Spencer website. Most of the items were staples – underwear and nightwear – but I did order two dresses. They haven’t arrived yet, so I will just show you the website images and post about them again on Friday, when I can model them. Mind you, that’s only if they look OK!
Here are the two dresses…
Summer dresses by Marks and Spencer
For some reason, the M & S website cuts off the bottom of images. These dresses are both cotton jersey and midi length. To be honest, I am such an awful shape these days that nothing will really fit. I am just hoping that these two items will be comfortable in warm weather and will not look too dreadful. Despite this, I don’t wish to fade into the background and the bright pink dress will at least ensure that doesn’t happen!
I suppose I should be writing something about the Platinum Jubilee in today’s post! To be honest, it is not really my thing. I avoid writing anything political on this blog, so I won’t bore you with my views. Let’s just say that buying my colourway of Hermès’ Regina was enough for me. Here is a modelling photo of Regina with a pink twinset from April, followed by an image of the full scarf:
Outfit of the day 13/04/22 with Hermès’ Regina scarf
Regina – Hermès
One scarf I have worn this week was Hermès’ Parures de Samouraïs. Well, by “worn” I mean tried on, then took off again. We had planned a shopping trip for me to stock up on some staples in the Sainsburys’ sale, but I felt too unwell and nervous to leave the house. Anyway, this was the photo of the outfit and a reminder (again) of the scarf:
Outfit of the day 02/06/22 with Hermès’ Parures de Samouraïs scarf
Parures de Samouraïs – Hermès
Whatever you may be doing today and over the weekend I hope you are well and happy!
Welcome to the first Reading Roundup post of the new month! I finished one book and am part-way through another (which I will write about next week).
A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist
My book of the week was A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist, #04 The Riftwar Saga. Here is the blurb:
“A Darkness at Sethanon is the stunning climax to Raymond E. Feist’s brilliant epic fantasy trilogy, the Riftwar Saga.
Here be dragons and sorcery, swordplay, quests, pursuits, intrigues, stratagems, journeys to the darkest realms of the dead and titanic battles between the forces of good and darkest evil.
Here is the final dramatic confrontation between Arutha and Murmandamus – and the perilous quest of Pug the magician and Tomas the warrior for Macros the Black. A Darkness at Sethanon is heroic fantasy of the highest excitement and on the grandest scale, a magnificent conclusion to one of the great fantasy sagas of our time.”
At this point, I usually post some clever html generated by the Goodreads site for displaying members’ book reviews and ratings. For some reason, this isn’t working and so I will have to use a screenshot instead…
The book I am currently reading is a collection of science fiction short stories. I shall enjoy returning to it when I have finished this post.
Hello and welcome to a new week on the blog! I spend most of my time in bed these days and amuse myself (in addition to reading ebooks, writing blog posts, following Twitter and watching TV) by wandering around the web. I find all kinds of stuff and end up going off at tangents tracking things that interest me.
I follow a range of accounts on Twitter, although I rarely post these days and try to stay anonymous. Some of the accounts are about archaeological finds, others show art, and I have come across a few which specialise in vintage costumes. This gorgeous dress caught my eye a few weeks ago. Of course it did – look at the colours!
Dress by Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff-Gordon
I had the pictures from Twitter but knew nothing about them, so I did a reverse image search on Google and found out some incredible background information. The woman who designed the dress, Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff-Gordon, was a survivor of the Titanic disaster. Not only that, but she narrowly escaped sailing on the Lusitania’s final voyage!
Anyway, if any of you are interested in this remarkable woman, here is the Wikipedia article and more information from the Encyclopedia Titanica. She is well worth some follow up reading!
Now, back to my book. Reading Roundup on Wednesday as usual!
Welcome to my final post of the week. Unfortunately, I have been too ill to get dressed properly and have stayed in my nightwear through the day. On good days, I have only been able to get up for about two hours over lunchtime, before going back to bed again. Actually planning an outfit and dressing myself in it has been far beyond me.
I recently bought some nice nighties from Lands’ End to wear during warmer weather. They are a bit “old lady” but the cotton fabric is substantial and very silky-smooth, so they are comfortable to wear. Here are the ones I bought…
Women’s Supima Nightdresses – Lands’ End
From my pile of orange boxes, I have retrieved the scarf that I am planning to wear next. Looking through my photos, I can see that I have only worn it with the same couple of jumpers/twinsets over the years and I am wondering whether it would look good with other items in my wardrobe.
This is Parures de Samouraïs:
Parures de Samouraïs – Hermès
Anyway, I will have a think and, hopefully, I can show you the final choice of outfit next week.
Until then, Happy Weekend to you all!
Love and best wishes,
Anne
💕💗💖💗💕
P.S. If you are interested in this wonderful scarf, please have a look at my Scarf of the Moment post about Parures de Samouraïs.
Welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post. I finished two books and am part way through a very enjoyable third! This is the first one:
Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky
My first book was Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky, #02 The Final Architecture. Here is the blurb:
“The Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Children of Time brings us the second novel in an extraordinary space opera trilogy about humanity on the brink of extinction, and how one man’s discovery will save or destroy us all.
After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, a group of enhanced human soldiers. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared. But after discovering an ancient alien artifact the Architects may be back. And they’re still angry.”
It took me quite a while to read this complex book. This is the review that I wrote on Goodreads:
First, let me say that I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and inventive; the cast of characters also. I did have some issues with it all. Some of the “sciency” stuff left me cold. Now, that is probably my fault as my science knowledge is pretty thin. So I have no idea which bits were pure imagination and which were real or possible. Well, maybe I can work out that some parts were amazingly imaginative!
I am glad that there were some descriptions of the characters, because I could only vaguely remember them from book #01. There was a huge cast of very colourful aliens, but their attributes were quite sketchy for me.
Anyway, I will look out for the next (final?) book in the series as I am sure it will be well worth reading. I can’t resist the women warriors of the Parthenon!
Apparently, Adrian Tchaikovsky has also written some Fantasy series, so I may investigate those while I wait for book three!
One for Sorrow by Helen Fields
I was really looking forward to reading this next book, One for Sorrow by Helen Fields, as I have worked my way through the DI Callanach series and this is #07! First, the blurb:
“One for sorrow, two for joy Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known. A lone bomber is targeting victims across the city and no one is safe.
Three for a girl, four for a boy DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach face death every day – and not just the deaths of the people being taken hostage by the killer.
Five for silver, six for gold When it becomes clear that with every tip-off they are walking into a trap designed to kill them too, Ava and Luc know that finding the truth could mean paying the ultimate price.
Seven for a secret never to be told… But with the threat – and body count – rising daily, and no clue as to who’s behind it, neither Ava nor Luc know whether they will live long enough to tell the tale…“
Normally, I have given the books in this series a high number of stars. The plots and writing have been excellent and have kept me enthralled. There is no doubt that Helen Fields is an excellent crime novelist. But this book was a huge let down!
It is difficult to explain why I am so disappointed and, yes, annoyed with the book without giving too much away. Everyone who reads it will come to their own conclusions and many “Goodreaders” have awarded One for Sorrow the full five stars. I just can’t do that for three reasons. First of all, the body count was so huge that it felt gratuitous and over the top. Secondly, the eventual reveal of the killer did not work for me. Last of all, the finale and cliffhanger were simply horrible.
I am left wondering whether I will read the next book in the series!
To compensate, I am now reading a book from a tried and trusted author. Well, I hope he doesn’t decide to have an unexpected mass slaughter! I will let you know next week.
Hello, everyone, and welcome to a new week on the blog. My life is rather dull at the moment, which may be a good thing in some ways. At least I can keep myself amused with my iPad, although I don’t know what I would do if it stopped working. Probably rush to the laptop and order a new one!
There have been some funny posts on my Facebook with old adverts from the 50s, 60s and 70s. They make me cringe when I remember the times! Here is one that I saved…
Funny advert!
What were the designers/manufacturers/models/photographers thinking!?!?
To counter that image, here is something amazingly beautiful that I saw on Twitter…
Roman blue glass cup
Isn’t that gorgeous? The colour is wonderful and I would love to see it in real life.
During my daily wandering around the web, I come across all kinds of marvels. This really set me thinking…
Ancient shark
I wonder what that incredible creature thinks about as they wander the oceans?
Well, I thought that the shark was going to be my final image, but I have just been on Twitter, found this and rushed to edit the post…
Former professional school librarian, now retired through chronic illness. Trying to keep cheerful by reading, drinking lots of tea, blogging my new life, and my love of bling!
The Librain
The Librain......retired 
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