We’re nearly at the end of the year and I still haven’t mentioned any of the books I got at Christmas. So here goes:
A God and his Gifts by Ivy Compton-Burnett
The Old Bank House by Angela Thirkell
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
All oldies but hopefully goldies.
We don’t really bother much with big Christmas presents for each other but if we buy anything after the October holidays we tend to say to each other ‘just wrap it up for Christmas’ and that way we get what we want and have no nasty surprises. Yes I know it’s not romantic but it is practical. I hate people (Jack) spending money on things that I really don’t want.
I also got some DVDs – Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple in the shape of Margaret Rutherford – and what a shape she was! She’s the Miss Marple of my childhood and they’re real comfort viewing and always have quite a bit of comedy thrown in as well as crime.
Murder Ahoy
Murder Most Foul
Murder at the Gallop and
Murder She Said
I’ve watched two of them already as the TV hasn’t really been worth watching. On that note I must say that I was disappointed with the new version of The Borrowers, not nearly as good as the previous ones. I must admit that I was playing Scrabble whilst watching it so it didn’t have all of my attention but it just didn’t seem to have much ingenuity involved in it.
I also got a set of Cary Grant DVDs
Charade with the beautiful Audrey Hepburn (1963)
Bringing Up Baby with Katharine Hepburn (1938)
That Touch of Mink with Doris Day (1962)
I’m No Angel with Mae West (1933)
So if I get stuck in the house surrounded by snow and ice, like last year, I’ll have something to keep me entertained!
You got some great books and videos. I love Cary Grant, especially Bringing Up Baby. And I love the old Margaret Rutherford Miss Marples. You may be hoping to get snowed in!
I agree with you about presents. I like buying things for people when I see something I think they’d really like. But that never happens at Christmas and I hate the stress of buying them SOMETHING. I’ve asked that my family donate to some of my favorite charities or give me things that are consumable, like food, bath products, candles. The charity thing never goes over well because people seem compelled to present you with a present, wanted or not. And, yes, I know it’s the thought that counts. My Jack, much as he teases me / complains about the books stacked everywhere, gave me an Amazon gift card, which I can use for more books (!) or to download to my Kindle.
Have a very happy and healthy New Year!
Joan,
Yes I love buying presents for people but I only do it when I absolutely know that they will love whatever it is. I take it you are trying to stop accumulating ‘stuff’ too. I thought about a Kindle, mainly because I could then read some books which are out of print but can be downloaded. I’m going to have a shot at reading Laura’s to see if I like it first.
I hope you have a great New Year and everything goes well for you – are you still having problems with your range cooker?
Earlier this week, when I turned on a burner to make tea, the flame shot up about 8″. It did go off when I turned it off, but that was scary. This very expensive gas range apparently has to be pampered and bathed and polished to provide reasonable service. I’ve never had to clean the burners on any other cheaper gas ranges as often as I do this one. I still hate it and feel like a fool for spending so much money on it.
I really like my Kindle. It’s not hard on my eyes because there’s no back lighting; you need a reading light to read in dimness or dark, just like with a real book. I’ve gotten rid of lots of paperbacks and other non-collectable books by downloading them onto my Kindle, mostly older, free books. So, that is helping to keep the book clutter down.
Best of New Year’s to you, too!
Joan,
What a pain, especially if it singes your eyebrows which sounds like a possibility! It’s a bit like our new computerised gas boiler, well it’s three years old now but it’s too sensitive and is much more trouble than the old one, apart from being quieter. It cost £3,500 too – sickening.
As you like your Kindle I’m sure I would too so I’ll get one in the future. I didn’t want to spend so much on something that I might not use much but as you say, it would solve the book pile problem.
Plenty to keep you occupied if the snow falls. I do not think we will have any down here this year. It is just wet and dark and quite frankly still enough to stay in and read and watch old films and tv programmes. Shame I have to go back to work next week!
Jo,
It snowed in Dundee and Perth today, where our boys are living, they’re both about 30 miles from us and I’m glad it isn’t snowing here. In fact it’s going to be quite warmish. Yes there isn’t much you can do when it’s so dark and damp, except read, so when Jack goes back to work that’s what I’ll be doing, if not before.