Music Monday - Ed Sheeran 'Small Bump'

Learning to Breathe - Priscilla Warner

Learning to Breathe - Priscilla Warner (2011)

As I am about to describe this book, I am trying to figure out if I remembered how it all ended, and my middle aged brain is stuck on search, but unable to pull up that particular file.

Priscilla herself is middle aged, and has spent a life time fighting panic attacks.  So, she decides to spend a year trying different methods of relaxing, meditation, yoga and therapy in order to find a cure.

Some of the therapy options/brain scanning was a bit airy fairy for me, but I liked that she did manage to find some methods of reducing her anxiety, and I thought that she was brave writing about her journey.

3/5

Absolutely - Joanna Lumley

Absolutely - Joanna Lumley (2011)

Right from when you open the book, you get the sense of Joanna Lumley talking to you, hearing her voice.  Filled with photos, this is the story of her interesting life.  A career in television and movies, I didn't realise that she had quite the modeling career.

As always the most interesting parts are about her growing up, with her family and her home life.  I saw her on a documentry recently, and she seemed such fun, amusing and clever, and like she would be awesome to share a drink with.

3/5

Most of Me - Robyn Michelle Levy

Most of Me - Robyn Michelle Levy (2012)

So after a surprise diagnosis of Parkinsons disease, Robyn Michelle Levy is just beginning to live with that when she discovers she also has breast cancer.

 With an older husband, a  teenage daughter and older parents dealing with their own health issues, most of us can understand her bewilderment at the changes going on in her life.  I admire her ability to keep her sense of humour throughout, and to be able to laugh when I know that I would have broken down and cried.

A 4/5 from me.

Movie Monday - Bob at work

Here is a wee movie for your Monday.  This is Bob, he has his own book  A Street Cat Named Bob .  Poor wee fella, he has to go out to work busking to buy his fancy feasts.  Apparently it is one of my most looked at posts.

It's interesting to look at your blog stats to see what other people are peering at - most curious. The most popular post looked at is a little post I mad in 2010 of a John Cusack movie martian child. 

Music Sunday - A Thousand Years

In the past couple of months, I haven't really listened to much music as the grey weather has meant nights on the couch or early to bed to read.  Now that we finally have some blue skies, the door open and spring cleaning mean that the stereo has been dusted off, and new tunes are playing.

The ipod too has been pulled out of the backpack and a few new songs added.  I've had this one on  my playlists for some time, but was reading a blog today where the lyrics were written out, and could see just how sweet they were.  I prefer this video of the lyrics, rather that the Twilight tween one.

Happy Spring - Feel the Fear

Tonight is a night on the couch.  It has been a lovely first day of spring with some gardening done, the washing has been almost drying outside and the first NZ strawberries were out at the market.  As I am on call tonight, it has been an evening at home, and the white trash girl inside me has laughed  as I caught ten minutes of fear factor on the tele, imbetween scrubbing out the shower.
Bug coffee - hilarious.

It can't be all classy foreign films, fancy food and international music acts all the time, a girl has to have some other entertainments.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce (2012)

Sometimes books hit you in that sweet spot, the one that makes you secretly smile with enjoyment as you read.  With this one, I found myself cheering the lead character on, urging him to finish his journey.

Harold Fry is retired and in his sixties, when one day, he just decides to leave home, and keep walking.  Walking the length of the UK, he decides to north to see an ex colleague who is sick in the hospice.

So many good books lately, and it makes me happy that this was the last book read during the winter.  Roll on spring!

5/5

Household Linens

Last weekend, I walked past the window of household linens, a local shop, and they had some lovely pink and white bed linen in the weekend.  It felt like a touch of spring.   I have only just bought some new bed linens for my bed, but I would still enjoy a touch of pink to make me smile.

Amy - Mitch Winehouse

Amy - Mitch Winehouse (2012)

Oh Amy, we all thought it would end the way it did, maybe not so soon, and we are sad that you are gone.  I love Back to Black and play it all the time - how truly talented you were.  But I think you were haunted, searching for something or trying to hide away, using all those horrid drugs and too much drink.

This book was written by your dad, and so many of the pages scream of his pain.  His hurt at losing you, and not being able to save you while you were here.  The pain that all parents and families suffer when a child is an addict.

3/5