All was calm this morning.

Childhood memories of Crab Island where my cousin caught crabs & even the occasional lobster. Then home via garlicky steps. A slow climb, wanted to find out whether I could do this after a wet winter & not much exercise.

This book by ⁦David Nicholls⁩ is simply beautiful. The characters are so real you care about them as if they’re friends. It’s funny - humour at times disguising feelings - & tender & wise. Bereft to have finished it.

The hall blind is being remade & every time I pass the blindless expanse of window, the creamy-yellow flowers on the monster plant outside make me think the sun is out. If only…

Just beat the rain after a breezy cliff top walk.

This book⁩ is stunning. Enjoyed Water but this is even better. There’s no better storyteller than ⁦John Boyne⁩ so you’re immediately involved & pacing is perfect. But what sets Earth apart is empathy which it has in droves. Cried into my coffee but loved it.

A grey & chilly morning - perfect for those of us still clinging to winter

Got it! The book I’ve been waiting for. Lots of fab books about to be published over the next month or so & it was great to see so many people in ⁦Cover to Cover⁩. Brilliant selection there - lots of wantable books.

Low tide & sunshine

Have made a concerted effort to do some weeding so now it’s reward time. Another Irish book, Earth by ⁦JohnBoyneBooks⁩, following on from Water which was superb. Really looking forward to this.

Having missed the opening finally got to the fabulous 100 years of Glenys Cour Exhibition with ⁦Sarah Samuel⁩. Glenys is an inspiration. Still painting at 100 & home & well after breaking her hip recently. Here’s to colour, so necessary to her she could eat it, she says.

I’m clinging to winter & all the lovely things that go with it: lighting the fire, drawing the curtains, turning on the lamps & opening a book. I know it’s spring but it’s cold & at least I can have the fire & the book.

A lovely morning catching up with a friend in Pennard.

Making a half-hearted attempt at weeding today, and finding a few pretty things surviving the dandelions & other nameless encroachers.

I was so tempted by this book by ⁦Liz Nugent⁩ in hardback but delighted I resisted as it’s now in paperback & I’ve just started it. All the enjoyment still to come.

A total eclipse turned London dark at midday in 1999. I worked in Wardour Street & we all clambered onto the roof with special glasses to watch, but also to wave at all the other people on all the other roofs nearby. Book, magazine & film people mostly, then we went to the pub.

Been obsessed by Ripley over past few days. Beautifully shot in b/w it ‘s stylish & sinister with wonderful facial expressions. Not entirely convinced by the lack of a photo of Dickie earlier in the story but it didn’t matter, it was such fun to get caught up in the atmosphere.

Perfect descriptive title for a great book by ⁦Lisa Jewell⁩. Amazing twists but for me the high point is when the protagonist picks herself up from her lowest ebb, polishes her podcasts & gets a Netflix deal. Fab details in the acknowledgments too, about writing the book.

I’ve always liked rainy Sundays, an excuse to be totally self-indulgent.

Well, that blew away some cobwebs.