Rain, rain, go away...
What a grey miserable week, weather-wise, it was, everything is soggy and wet. There is so much work to do in the garden, and it's impossible to do anything in the rain.
The Windrush has turned "burly".
At the same time you can see that nature is awakening, and spring is just round the corner. I have spotted a ladybird on the withered plant, and liked this juxtaposition of the bright red and the moldy grey.
On Wednesday morning I saw this jolly car with the stormtroppers, and they made me smile.
We haven't been able to walk through the fields in weeks, which upsets Sasha as he likes to walk there. I haven't even ventured near there. Eddie was curious enough to come close to take a photo.
In the last week I have been reading To the Hilt by Dick Francis. I haven't enjoyed a book in this genre so much for a long time. While not entirely about the British horse racing, there is still a horse-related plotline along the main mystery.
The main protagonist Alexander Kinloch is an artist who lives in a remote bothy on a Scottish mountain. One morning he is accosted by four rough thugs who beat him up, demanding to know "Where is it?" Alexander is not sure what IT is supposed to be. Then a call from his mother brings him back to England. His stepfather Sir Ivan has had a heart attack after his brewery business is nearly ruined, with millions of pounds embezzled by someone trusted. And Ivan's racing horse Golden Malt is under threat. Al is asked by his stepfather to look into his business while he tries to recuperate. Al agrees to act as his Power of attorney. The cost of being a hero is very high, as he will find out.
I loved the pages where the artist describes the process of priming the canvas, painting techniques and ideas behind his artwork. Top-notch.
Alexander makes a likable character. Some of the sidelines are slightly preposterous, but still great fun.
Enjoyed this book so much that I'm going to plunge straight in another Dick Francis' book, Decider. It's one of my Mum's favourite books.
And I'd welcome any more suggestions of Dick Francis' books that you enjoyed and would recommend.
How many times do I tell my guys not to buy flowers for Valentine's, as they are overpriced and more often than not, of inferior quality, as the vendors try to get rid of all their supply. But no, my husband still comes home with a rose. I put the log stem in an empty champagne bottle.
We had a nice dinner, and started watching A Complete Unknown, about the young Bob Dylan. He is portrayed as very talented but also self-centered and a bit of a jerk. Timothy Chalamet is good, and his singing voice is decent, but it is still like listening to a karaoke in comparison to the real Dylan's performance.
The weather has been awful hasn't it although Saturday was mostly dry and today has been nicer too. The ladybird photo is fantastic, it is nice to see signs of spring but the flooding is really bad with you!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Dick Francis is a blast from the past! My dad used to get one of those books every year for Christmas when I was a kid.
Horrific weather, can't wait to have some more sun. I used to read a lot of Dick Francis books when I was a teen and older - I went through my mum's bookshelves, and we used to live just up the road from his son Felix Francis. But I've not read any for years - I don't think I'd remember which ones I'd not read before. Nice to see the crocus. My FILs have only just started coming purple, but not near blooming yet. Hopefully the weather improves before they do. The daffodils we've got out (not many) are looking bedraggled with the rain and wind.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awful lot of rain! I have been avoiding the fields on my dog walks but they are nowehere near as soggy as the one in your photo.
ReplyDeleteI love your nature photos this week, the ladybird is vibrant compared to the dead plants and make me think it's a symbol of brighter days to come after the grey skies clear.
I have never read an Dick Francis books but that one does sound interesting. It's always a good sign if you want to read the same author straight after finishing.