A Book on a Chair….

43 Replies

…and so I decided that I wasn’t going to write another post until I finished the book that I began reading way back HERE. Honestly, I have never taken so long to finish a very good book, but 2020 happened and proved to be something of a distraction.

Middle England

Chapter 26 provides a laugh out loud moment. And there is also a peripheral character with a penchant for calligraphy. But mostly it’s about the past that never was, and the impossible dreams we weave for a future knitted with nostalgia. Oh, and there might be some talk of Brexit. I loved it – Jonathan Coe at his best. I wonder if he’ll write a book about the pandemic? I hope so.
As you can see the chair has moved into the kitchen. Gripping stuff – well, I had to do something during lockdown.

Meanwhile, huge excitement!!! I have some garden pics!!!!! I actually managed to take a pic of the blossom on my cherry tree before it all fell off.

Cherry Blossom

Yes, there is Sid in the background. AND, I found a filter especially designed for estate agents on my iPad…

Estate Agent Filter

…which makes my garden look about ten times bigger than it actually is. Yay! I have extensive grounds!

Finally, I have some pics of flowers to pretty up my blog a little…

Flowers

Flowers

Next time: A dubious sod; a wax effigy; a bad knee; a decision to be made; and the tale of the woebegone soul. And maybe some more flowers.

43 thoughts on “A Book on a Chair….”

    1. Scarlet Post author

      Good afternoon, Cousin Batarde, what’s next? I have Something to Live For by Richard Roper waiting in the wings. I might start it later today and finish it in 2025.
      Sx

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  2. Jon

    Love cherry blossom! We’ve had loads of trees in the vicinity in bloom, then came the winds…
    That’s a fab size garden with or without the “estate agent filter” – I’d never be out of it if we had rolling acres like that. Jx

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  3. Scarlet Post author

    Jon – You make me feel so guilty! Everyone who visits my blog would work magic with a garden like mine – I know it. All I do is keep the grass cut and mostly allow every plant, including the weeds, to do their own thing. On the plus side butterflies and bees seem to love me!
    Erm… this is actually a wraparound garden, but the septic tank and the wood store are fenced off. The bit shown here is really Sid’s play area…. I feel so bad for not making more of it!
    Sx

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    1. Jon

      I believe we’ve come to the conclusion that you and Carole Klein are (fairly) near neighbours – you should give her a ring! Or, at the very least, watch her programmes and take some inspiration… Jx

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      3. Jon

        I always think she sounds like she’s just finished a cigar before going on-air. She is one of our favourites on GW, and we always chuckle at her hosting Chelsea Flower Show – you just know that despite getting all dolled-up and having her hair done she just can’t resist poking around in the plant displays, ending up with compost under her fingernails… Jx

        PS Just realised I added an extraneous “e” to her name. How unseemly.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Scarlet Post author

        Of course! Thank you, Jon! I have seen her on the telly before….oh she is talking about ferns now….yep, I have plenty of those bursting through my bushes!
        Sx

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  4. Inexplicable DeVice

    Oh, thank Christ for that! I expect you’ll be reading a book a night for the next six months to catch up?

    Sorry. Sorry. The moved chair caught me off guard, and I started typing before I’d calmed down and my better judgment kicked in.
    Anyway, smashing flowers, lovely cherry tree, and haven’t you got posh fridge magnets!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      I used to be able to almost read a book a night, Mr Devine! I will catch up at a slower pace.
      Yes, I do have posh fridge magnets – but they are useless for their intended purpose – which means they are very posh indeed.
      Sx

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  5. savannah49

    I have stopped thinking about the books I started but didn’t finish last year! I’m of the that was then, this is now mindset. Your garden is lovely, sweetpea! I love having fresh flowers inside and hopefully, now that we’re fully vaccinated, but still wearing masks when we’re out I’m looking forward to buying flowers when we grocery shop! xoxo

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      I love the fresh flowers too, Savvy! I might start regularly adding them to my grocery list as they cheer the place up no end.
      Losing my reading habit has upset me and it’s something I’m determined to regain; I love being absorbed in a book – it’s the best escape!
      Sx

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  6. dinahmow

    A book! A chair! A cherry tree! Oh this is all too much before I’ve had my first java Jolt.
    Yes, I was going to ask about your dubious decorations…
    I have a huge tome by Simon Winchester;I doubt I’ll get it finished before the library police want it back…

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Dinah – I know, with this post I surprised myself! I must remember to post regularly!
      So many books I want to read – but also so much sleeping I need to do….
      Sx

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  7. melaniereynolds

    My husband has read books by that Author, I think we need to swap. You and mine can lounge in the house and discuss Jonathan Coe books and me and yours will go tra-la-laing up in some hills looking for bugs, plants and whatnot. Oh I do hope we’ll see a fox! Was that the “Fisheye” lens you found? I am an emotional support person for many Real Estate people. I don’t know why they keep adopting me, but I get some very juicy stories and free lunches so I can’t complain.

    I like the letter arrangements, my kind of Scrabble game! All the yard and flower pictures are lovely dear!

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Melanie – I think Mr Blue would appreciate your company! I’m sure he gets tired of my glazed expression, and I would like to have someone to chat with about the books I’ve read. It sounds like a very good idea!
      I play with the letter magnets when I am burning food on the stove.
      Sx

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. Kylie Tai

    I want a real estate filter on my house! my life even!
    I love your cherry tree in manicured lawn and I love the busy doggo in the background

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Scarlet Post author

    Kylie – It’s really not a manicured lawn! It’s very lumpy and awash with dandelions – the birds love it.
    It’s a good filter isn’t it?! I might try it on the rest of my house.
    Sx

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  11. Nick Rogers

    Yes, a great estate agent picture. As well as the gigantic garden, how clever of you to photoshop out the industrial estate and replace it with a rolling green field!

    I also enjoyed Middle England. I’m sure he would be very eye-opening on the pandemic. In fact he said himself last year “Why would you not write a novel set during the pandemic?”

    Our cherry tree is just about to blossom!

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Nick – Once upon a time I lived next to a busy A road – never again, so no photoshop necessary! I’m going to reread The House of Sleep, which is still my favourite Coe book.
      Sx

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Eryl – Apologies for my late reply! Yes – I’m in the middle of nowhere! Try The House of Sleep by Coe – it’s my favourite, and has some laugh out loud moments in the first chapter.
      Sx

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Mitzi – Yep, lots of green for miles and miles – sometimes I get a hankering for a street lamp and a rain soaked pavement. Not often though.
      Sx

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Thank you, Mistress M! I’m about to start re reading my old books unless a new supply turns up – I swerved Amazon, and now my books are somehow stuck in Glasgow.
      Sx

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    1. Scarlet Post author

      Damn it, Mr Mags, I knew I should have moved the cubes! They could mean anything. They could even be telling you that I took the photograph on 13th April.
      Sx

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  17. lisleman

    Next time a tale. Oh that would be good. Fact or fiction a good told tale is welcomed. Hmm, the comment period passed on this post? Well whatever. Just wondering if the book on chair location has something to do with reaching something in the kitchen.

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  18. Scarlet Post author

    Bill – Ha!!! Yes, I do need a chair to stand on in my kitchen to reach things. To be fair I need a helpful chair in every room!
    Sx

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