GreyShuck

I have always read, but it is only in the last decade or so - prompted by the internet, of course - that have thought about counting the books that I do read. Since then, the lowest in a year has been around 6 (an extremely busy year) and the highest around 60. A normal year is probably closer to the latter than the former. I am half way through my 3rd book so far this year.

However, just at the moment I am reading that book - Consider Phlebas - partly as e-book and partly as an audiobook, depending on where I am and what I am doing. Does that count? I am finding myself doing this more often lately.

IMO just as likely that the lush jungle world of Tatooine will be the test site for the planet-killing superweapon du jour.

In my case this would something from the '60s and '70s in the UK then - and I suppose that stop-motion in The Clangers or Bagpuss etc wouldn’t really count, so probably between the gentle, character-based storytelling of Ivor the Engine (and that is a cut-out animation - but I’d think still qualifies) and the surrealism, punning and energy of Roobarb (and Custard).

My SOs homemade pizza this evening with goats cheese, 'nduja and a drizzle of honey.

I read the original Conan tales a looooong while ago. Loved them and the de Camp ones, and the Bjorn Nyborg novel too. There are a lot of other writers that have added Conan tales, and I read a few at the time, but most were pretty mediocre. I’d stick with the early ones overall. This one was recommended on Lemmy a day or so back as having a good Lovecraftian vibe which is what attracted me. I’ll see how it goes.

I did know about the movie, and did start watching it at one point, but didn’t have chance to finish it. Maybe I will.

I celebrate the solstice, but today is just another day off as far as I am concerned. So just the usual stuff: had a lay in, played a bit of Forge of Empires, did a couple of chores, have just been reading (Confessions of a Justifed Sinner, Hyperion and just started Conan: City of the Dead), and will watch a couple of episodes of TV (Wolf Hall, Agatha All Along and Gatiss’ Ghost Story for Christmas Woman of Stone) with my wife this evening. She has been doing much the same, plus some yoga at the moment.

Pretty much the way it has gone with me. I don’t think that I have ever bought a wallet myself, nor requested one as a present, but nonetheless I have never had a shortage of them.

My current one does what I want it to, and has lasted for probably a decade or so so far. Still going strong too.

TV - our ‘regulars’ at the moment are: A Man On The Inside, What We Do In The Shadows, Silo, Lower Decks & Shrinking. The highlight of those this week was definitely the scene in Shrinking s02e06 with Alice & Louis. Extremely well done all round.

Otherwise on TV, we’ve just started the original Wolf Hall, which expects you to sit up and take notice, but rewards that no end (as it should with this cast, and the writing). And then there is Dune: Prophesy - which I am still unsure about, but still willing to see how it goes for another episode or two. Also looking forward to starting Black Doves and The Sticky.

Film - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice last weekend, which was a lot more fun than I expected, even if not outstanding, and then the 2015 Krampus on the 5th - Krampusnacht - which has become a bit of a tradition with us now, and remains enjoyable. Ten minutes after that finished, our power went out - no blizzard though.

• I finally repaired the (probably 175 yr old) latch on the kitchen door. We can stop the draughts in the living room now. I had been putting it off, but it was easy in the end, and very satisfying.
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - not outstanding, but an enjoyable sequel. My wife enjoyed it a lot, so that made me happy.
• Progressively putting up the Brumalia decorations: I’m always happy with sparkly lights.

Evidently there are something like 300 medieval castles that have substantial stonework remaining in the UK. Don’t know about Ireland though. There are over twice that number if you include earthworks only - plus all the rest that are earlier.

I have been to nine listed on this map, and at least 20 others that aren’t.