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Continue reading →: I Gave You Eyes And You Looked To The Darkness by Irene Solà
Translated from the Catalan by Mara Faye Lethem In the upstairs bedroom of a remote house in the mountains of Catalonia an old woman named Bernadette, lies dying. Years before, an ancestor traded her soul for ‘an heir with a patch of land and roof over his head’. Bernadette hoped…
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Continue reading →: Van Refurbishment
The Lodge closed as a Guest House for six weeks at the end of last week. Throughout the school summer holiday the whole house is booked by groups, which eases the work load to change over days, and means I can have a break. I scheduled the van in for…
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Continue reading →: Movie Catch-up
Here’s a very brief few words on a few decent films I’ve seen in the last few weeks. The Ballad of Wallis Island – thanks to Sue for the recommendation. An easy to watch, refreshing, uplifting and dryly humorous piece about an eccentric lottery winner living alone on a remote…
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Continue reading →: The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien
This is an outstanding achievement of writing by Madeleine Thien, one that challenges the reader though attention is richly rewarded, a wonderful piece of story-telling.It’s an adventurous piece of work also, defying categorisation into genre. In a haven for those displaced from their homelands called the Sea, a girl cares…
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Continue reading →: Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen
Pedersen is the currently the Makar of Edinburgh, the city’s literary ambassador, with a specific role to write poetry about the city. This is his debut novel, a boldly experimental piece set on a remote island and involving just three characters. Muckle Flugga is a few kilometres north west of…
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Continue reading →: Is A River Alive by Robert MacFarlane
Books concerning environmental ethics tend to be depressing; what they tell us is almost all bad news. MacFarlane’s latest therefore, is a breath of fresh air in that he unearths characters that are truly inspirational in their endeavours and their passion for their rivers. Macfarlane travels to, and explores three…
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Continue reading →: An Update From ShapIt’s good fun being back at work again, and in a stressless role. There’s a line in the first season of The Bear when an older experienced front of house at a very smart restaurant explains to Richie (in training) how he made the adjustment from healthcare to working in…
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Continue reading →: Sinners
USA / Canada / Australia 2025 Long may the recent lean towards genre-blending in films continue. Following Emilia Pérez comes this hybrid western / musical / fantasy / horror / drama / comedy piece. Even the music is of stark contrast, from the blues the setting of 1930s Jim Crow…
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Continue reading →: Good One
USA drama 2024 I was foolish enough to say to a friend on Friday that it had been a pretty average year for films so far. The following two nights I watched two films that are the best I’ve seen so far this year, and turn that statement on its…
To live more widely
supera superiora sequi
SafeReturnDoubtful is my alias. Rua is my fox red labrador pup, born 14 Feb 2026 and learning fast..
Where is Rua?
I was so much older then…
Quote of the Week
Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, ‘What road do I take?’ The cat asked, ‘Where do you want to go?’ ‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered. ‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it really doesn’t matter, does it?’
Lewis Carroll
Safe Return Doubtful 