2 (37) SOME START TO A YEAR (Pt. 1)

HOME. 

Daughter Roz, still awaiting a left knee replacement, slipped on the new flooring in her kitchen, broke her left elbow and tore the ligaments in her right leg. Arm in a sling. Crutch to walk. Could we look after grandson Ellis for a few days? 

We could. We did. 

On the following Monday my Leader, who does all the driving nowadays, took him the four miles to school and then drove over to see how Roz was coping. At around midday she telephoned me from the local hospital. It seems she was only doing a routine task in Roz's kitchen when she slipped. She had cracked a bone in her left wrist and could not drive home (insurance risk): could I come and drive her? 

I could. I did. 

I'll be so glad when the plaster cast comes off her arm, though. My friendly motorist's language is getting worse by the day. 

The good news is that Roz is driving again now and went back to work yesterday. She is a LSA at a local high school and loves the job.
TELEVISION. 

Various television series have popped in and out (some of them almost unnoticed). Longmire, Luther, Ripper Street, Grimm, The Great British Bake Off and, if you can stand it, All Star Mr. and Mrs. are noticeable examples. Episodes of Father Brown are still appearing (most of them repeats) and you can still see dear old John Nettles in ancient offerings of Midsomer Murders, while his successor, Neil Dudgeon (above), is currently appearing in the latest of that ilk. I mostly give the old 'uns a miss. Always liked Nettles, but have to draw the line at repeat repeats; even Miss Marple can pall when it reaches the fourth time around. Long ago gave up on Jonathan Creek, Frost, Poirot, Wycliffe, Dad's Army and Only Fools and Horses. Crikey, I still have the entire last series of Ripper Street to watch.

 On a brighter note, my Leader and I have enjoyed the early career yarns featuring Montalbano (The Young Montalbano) and Morse (Endeavour). 

We also liked series 3 of the Danish/Swedish TV series The Bridge (which I always think of as the Saga saga). Be a shame if it is discontinued. 

READING.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (Corgi) combines a glorious send-up of the peerage and all things noblesse with a dire warning that robot workers should not be taken for granted. Loved it. 

Quips, quotes and retorts for Oldies (Parragon Books) was one of my Christmas presents as was Authorisms by Paul Dickson (Bloomsbury): both make good reading if you are of that turn of mind. 

I have also started Fleshmarket Close by Ian Rankin. It's Rebus. Think I may have read it way back. I'll know around page 200. 

Which brings me to end of Part 1. Part 2 will be along later today or tomorrow. It is written, but Google can be a bit cranky if I go too mad with the wordage on a single post.

Anyway, if Warner Bros. can divide Deathly Hallows in two, surely I can do the same with a bloody blog post. Back anon.