Photo diary: week 36, project 365

 Yesterday's 20th anniversary of 9/11 brought back lots of memories. We lived in New Haven, CT, at the time, I was pregnant with our first son. That morning my husband called me from the office and asked if I've seen the news. I switched on the TV, and watched with horror the tragic events. Just a few weeks before we strolled in New York, and went to the cinema. We used to take a train to NYC from New Haven every few weeks to visit the museums, galleries, cinema. On that day we didn't know how the world would change.

I was looking at the photos from our life in the States, and found some pics from the time when my brother and his wife stayed with us for a short visit in 2000. There is a picture of two of them, smiling happily. You turn the photo, and it says World Trade Center. 

This week I've been reading a WWI romance The Warring Heart by Ros Rendle. The plot centres around the marriage of convenience, and the emotional journey the main character goes through. I didn't warm up to the heroine, finding her rather shallow and immature. 

There are vivid descriptions of the Great War, but none too graphic. There are some amorous scenes too, but overall this book is what the Americans describe as a clean romance.

On Monday Sasha woke up early, very excited to go to college. My impression is that he expected to go to his old school, because he arrived back home looking disappointed. Hope as time goes, he will realise that he has to accept the fact that he won't be going back to his much-loved old school.

I had a quick coffee at Costa, and without kids it definitely felt like a treat. Their lemon muffins are to die for, so tasty, with the lemony zing.

Another grocery delivery from Ocado, and another couple of Ritter Sport chocolate bars, this time a Buenos Dias White Mango Passion Fruit and Cashew. Both way too sweet. I had high hopes for the Cashew flavour as it promised salted cashews, but the nuts are not salty enough, while the milk chocolate tastes of nothing but sugar. Won't be buying any of these flavours again.

While Sasha was in college for a three-hours' session, and Eddie at school, I ventured into the local book shop. I spotted this display of books, inspired by the Greek myths and legends. And while I love the Greek myths, I think this trend for re-told/re-imagined stories, with a modern, often feminist twist, is becoming a bit unimaginative.

It's as if authors cannot come up with new independent ideas of their own. When the Harry Potter series was published, so many copycats about schools for magicians have sprouted overnight.

Or Cressida Cowell's HTTYD series "inspired" zillions of books about dragons.

What other book themes/trends did you notice appearing again and again?

I was having a chat to Sarah (Mum of 3) on Twitter, having seen her stash of books bought in Sainsbury's and told her that I was on a self-imposed ban of buying more books until I clear out at least some of my already bought paperbacks. Lo and behold, my feet took me to The Works, and I couldn't resist getting three paperbacks for a fiver, plus one of the books I ordered online has arrived. So much for the ban. 

A very wet and rainy Friday... I grabbed a phone to snap a few webs covered with droplets in the garden. They were sparkling like gems. 

One more of my American pictures from 2000: my sister-in-law Masha and me, enjoying a day in NYC. These were the days before we both had children. Next year we moved to Williamstown, MA, and then back to the UK in 2002. I've never been back to the States for over 19 years.

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