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Archive
Behind-The-Books Blog
Chips with everything!
Monday, March 22nd, 2010
About this time last year, when the snow was thick on the streets of London, I walked to work through some eerily quiet streets - pleasant crunching of white underfoot. Until that is, I neared Tottenham Street and my path onward was hampered by tape and a policeman directing me back the other way. Gigs, [...]
First Capital Connect Book Club
Friday, March 19th, 2010
As with many commuters out there, I like nothing better than to have a good moan about the state of the country’s trains. But for once I have something positive to say about First Capital Connect, the train company I rely on to take me to and from work every day. They are, as far [...]
Recommending War Horse
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Last night I went to see War Horse. If you enjoy the theatre and haven’t seen it yet, all I can say is: Go see it. It is so wonderfully original, so very moving, and of course, there are the wonderful horses. These beasts, made of wire, paper and wood, are brought to life on [...]
Eat like the Irish on St Patrick’s Day
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Being the resident foodie at Allison & Busby, it may not suprise you to know that I am on Delicious Magazine’s mailing list. Today, they sent me an email highlighting various Irish recipes with which to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Aptly entitled: Enjoy the tuck of the Irish…
You have to love copywriters and their puns.
So, [...]
Introducing The Reader Organisation
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
A few weeks ago I was chatting to one of our lovely work experience candidates when she mentioned that she’d been working for The Reader Organisation. I’d never heard of it before and what she told me had me so intrigued I had to find out more. So I had a look on their website [...]
A little bit of what you fancy does you good
Monday, March 15th, 2010
Calling all sweet-toothed individuals - have you reached the point in the day (mid-morning or afternoon slump) when you’re not sure you’ll be able to keep your head off your desk without an injection of sugar? Well, I have the answer, having fallen head over heels for Peyton and Burne. Our nearest emporium of sugary [...]
Review of The Changeling
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Recently, thanks to the lovely Lesley, I was given two months’ free subscription to Lovefilm.com, and, a month in, I’m loving it! It comes as a surprise each time I find a new DVD waiting for me – like a little present.
The latest to drop through my letterbox was The Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie and [...]
Vote for the oddest book title!
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Here’s to weird book titles! Time to vote for who you think should win the 2009 Diagram Prize - which awards the book with the oddest title of the year. The shortlist has been selected and the winner will be announced on the 26th March. The shortlist is as follows:
The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel [...]
Too cool for the simple garden gnome?
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
I don’t often read the free London papers, just when I’m stuck without a book usually, but while crammed onto the Central Line the other day, I (really) couldn’t avoid reading over one girl’s shoulder. Apparently the average garden gnome is going to have his work cut out for him this coming year as a [...]
Author Blog Awards - Nominations Open!
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
The Author Blog Awards competition is now officially open! For a brief summary of how the competition works read our previous blog about the awards or visit CompletelyNovel.com. You can now nominate your favourite author blogs or micro-blogs (from now until 2 April) to give them a chance of being shortlisted for the awards. It’s [...]
Discovering Columbia Road Market
Monday, March 8th, 2010
I’m a west Londoner but I have to admit to a real love for the east end of town. This past weekend I visited a friend near Brick Lane who took me to perhaps my favourite part of London, Columbia Road Market. It took me a while to get there, arrived quite late at 1pm, [...]
Drink to get more children reading!
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Who doesn’t enjoy curling up on the couch with a good book and a glass of good wine? The two go together nicely and make for a relaxing evening.
But now I’ve discovered how wine and books can pair up for a much more worthy cause.
The Fledgling initiative aims to produce and sell delicious wine to [...]
Mindfulness and the Big Poster Challenge
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
For some reason, my name seems to have found its way onto an online database under Creative Director. Now that’s a fine title to possess, but sadly I can’t claim to hold such official creative prowess. (Would the A* in my Art IGCSE count?…)
So whilst I have to disappoint the illustrators, photographers and creative agencies [...]
Eric Lampaert steals the show
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Last weekend saw me watching a man screeching and grimacing like an orc from Lord of the Rings.
No, I wasn’t at a Tolkein convention or even an amateur dramatics class - I was at Hertford’s very own comedy club. Cheaper and nearer than Jongleurs - it’s become my comedy venue of choice over the last [...]
The Olympics – now coming to a city near you
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
So the winter Olympics have come to a roaring, cow-bell-clanging end. I watched some heart-breaking moments involving heavy rain and a defective exit gate on the men’s parallel giant slalom on Saturday and was quite gobsmacked that it wasn’t considered necessary to restart the run between Detkov and Bozzetto – am I the only one? [...]
A London Cuppa..
Monday, March 1st, 2010
I’ve recently cut out caffeine and although I never used to drink more than a cup or two a day, I’m really missing my tea! There’s only so much hot water and lemon you can drink and even the fruit teas are beginning to lose their appeal.
So I’m searching for other ways to brighten up [...]
Reading ONE DAY, by David Nicholls
Friday, February 26th, 2010
I was going to merely comment on One Day, by David Nicholls in our Currently we are reading column, but realise I have too much to say about it…
Proof that you should never judge a book by its cover. This one is a garish orange, close-up silhouette of a couple presumably about to kiss. Blegh. [...]
T-shirt joy at JOY!
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Have you ever noticed how once you see one example of something they keep cropping up where ever you go? This week for me it has been t-shirts, ones with funny/naughty slogans, they have been here, there and everywhere, often leaving me staring after people in the street in a confused fashion. And when I [...]
High-flying artist causes a buzz online
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
Now I’ve seen it all.
For centuries people have mounted hunting and fishing trophies on their walls (which always give me the creeps), then in the 1990s we had Damien Hirst’s macabre series of animals preserved in formaldehyde (it makes me shudder just to think of them), and now we have…dead fly cartoons.
OK, admittedly these aren’t [...]
When credit cards just won’t do
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
With the snow showing no sign of letting up, this year is possibly the very best for keen skiers in Europe. However, skiing is a very expensive hobby and there are always those looking to cut corners and save a bit of cash.
Pity this poor guy though who tried to sneak onto a ski lift [...]
Currently we are...
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...reading
Digging to America, by Anne Tyler Lesley: Finished it. I was surprised how the focus of the book shifted away from the little girls who were stars of the show at the beginning towards the grandparents at the end. A really interesting book about belonging.
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