Miche in Linkoping

Miche came out to visit this weekend. Arrived late thursday night, and stayed until this morning. We had a lovely time. Just wandered about town - and into the Linkoping Cathedral on friday,


we then went back to the office so she could see where I worked, and meet some of the guys at "friday beers". We stayed for a while, then went with them for food. Miche made friends with another english guy's girlfriend, and got lots of info about things to do, so on saturday we headed off to Gamla Linkoping, the old town, which is an open air museum of a load of buildings salvaged from the town when it was redesigned in the middle of the 20th century.



had a nice meal out on saturday, then on sunday walked round the park which was very snowy and pretty, and found a nice cafe in a little bell tower on a hill.

Finally we went to the cinema in the evening and watched Revolutionary Road, which was veyr interesting, and necessitated a trip to the pub afterwards to discuss.

Miche headed off home this morning, at oh-early-hundred, and made it home safe before midday.


I finished my second C.J.Sansom book, Dark Fire, which was as good, if not better than Dissolution. I really enjoyed it, and love the descriptions of tudor london. It has a cracking plot too. Miche had to bring me out a new supply of books, as I was running out. I'm actually now re-reading a Peter Robinson, the first non-new book I've read this year.

Reading: Piece of my heart - Peter Robinson
Listening: England My Home - Levellers

Flesh House

Raced through Flesh HOuse by Stuart Macbride, like all of his books, its thoroughly readable, and the characters come back like old friends. The humour and character relationships are really what drives this book, as the plot got a little bit fantastical, with the body count being absolutely ridiculous. Found it all getting a little bit out of control, and could probably have done with being edited downa little, but still very entertaining, and an enjoyable read.

Have moved onto another book by C.J.Sansom in the MAtthew Shardlake series. Hoping its as enjoyable as the last one.

cheers,

AG

listening: INXS - Kick
Reading: Dark Fire, by C.J.Sansom

end of another week

So, got through another week. Had a nice night out with the Opera guys last night - one of the guys, David, is also one of the squash players, and was nice to have a bit of time talking to him about improving his game. We did some drills during squash on friday, and it was really good - I got much more out of it than just playing a game, and he was noticeably improving as the session went on. Think we might try and organise some sessions just for the two of us. Will be the best way forward for me, to keep things ticking over.

today's plan is to try and watch the 6 nations. I got a recommendation of one pub which might show it, but I've also been trying to set up stuff to work online too. I think I have BBCs live player working, but I'm not sure if they will broadcast the rugby live, as sometimes they don't do sports. Might need a "dodgy" p2p stream as back up. Fortunately the france game is on first, so I can try that, and try and get everything up and running for when england play.

I'm shortly off to the gym, but its really cold out today ( was -10 last night), so I'm putting it off a bit.

Finished another book, LAst Rituals, by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Its a fairly standard crime thriller, quite well written, but possibly lacking the spark that really makes me go wow. As a debut, its pretty good, and I'll definitely check out any more that she writes, as it was enjoyable, but it didn't leave a lasting impression like Jeff Abbotts run did. Have moved onto the 4th book by Stuart Macbride, Flesh House. I love this series, its based in Aberdeen, and despite being fully gruesome, the series are full of humour, even if some of the characters are a bit charicatured. Will let you know how this one turns out - probably tomorrow, at the rate I'm goign!

have a good weekend, all.

AG

Listening: Supernature by Goldfrapp
Reading: Flesh House by Stuart Macbride

The reviews that the authors read!

Well, if you haven't looked at the comments of my previous blog entry, please go there now. I was shocked but pleased to have a comment from Martin Baker in my previous blog. In hindsight, I'm rather glad I didn't say anything rude about his novel!

Anyway, will get onto my next review later, but for now, a brief update on my doings. Had another lovely weekend at home, slightly less full on than the previous one, but still managed to fit in a few warm up beers in the Packet house on friday, some shopping and getting my car MOT'd on saturday, as well as watching the 6 nations, and a nice meal in with Miche. Sunday was a drive over to wilmslow, a walk around Quarry Bank Mill, and sunday lunch with my rugby bitches ;-)

Talking of MOTs, less than impressed with kwik fit, who phoned me to tell me that my car had failed its MOT - which was fine, until they told me it was because it needed a new cat. I'm normally a fairly mild mannered kind of guy, but given that the self same garage had fitted a new one not 7 months ago, I felt obliged to have a whinge. They fixed it under warranty, but still, the last one lasted 8.5 years, the one KF fitted lasted 7 months. YOu can't get sh***er than a kwik fit fitter.

So to book reviews. On my way back home I finished off Run, by Jeff Abbott, I didn't have particularly high hopes for this, just thought it would be a bog standard run of hte mill type of thriller, and as it started, thats pretty much what I thought I was getting, but like any good runner, it was paced to perfection, accelerating brilliantly towards the end, and with a conclusion that actually sent a shiver down my spine, and left me almost breathless. I love it when books do that to you. Top marks to Jeff Abbott. I'll be looking for more of his to read soon.

anyway, off now for some food, and an early night, my 4.30am start it beginning to catch up with me.

AG

reading: Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
litening: Absolution by Muse

it ' snow joke...

Actually, from here, it is. The swedes have been gleefully sniggering at the Uk's creaking infrastructure this week. Although I think they were a bit shocked by the pictures last night - they thought we'd collapsed under 1 inch of snow like usual. There was a bit more slack given today!

No snow here, but it was about minus 8 with about 10 degrees of windchill last night ( so I stayed in!!). Warmed up to minus 2 today! So I ventured over to the gym for a bit of a session. set me up nicely for some food.

Had a really good weekend, 2 good nights out withthe swedish guys from work - neither of which was "too" messy. its all good.

Finished off my book, The Foreign Correspondent by Alan Furst; it was beautifully written, and had a tense, interesting plot - I was really enjoying it.... then it stopped. I could kind of see why they finished it where they did, but it did feel like it really lacked a decent ending. Books like that frustrate me, I like a bit more of a wow factor at the end. Oh well - onto the next one..its an American thriller called Run... don;t think its going to be short on action.

couple more days before I head back home again, hoping the UK weather doesn't cause any flight disruptions.

cheers,

AG

Reading: Run - Jeff Abbott
LIstening: Replenish - Reef