Wow! A very lively round-up, Vicki. You have been busy! So long since I saw The Killing of Sister George I can hardly remember it. Will have to rewatch. And I’ll check out your other recommendations. (Raising Hare is already on my TBR pile.)
Thanks so much for the shout out for my festivals piece!
Ha! I was actually feeling like I'd hardly read or watched anything recently but when I looked at my list I realised that wasn't really true! A good argument for recording the little things I guess. I'm always so impressed by your diary entries from back in the day - wish I'd done more of that myself when I was younger...
Raising Hare is *such* a beautiful read. I was slightly disoriented watching The Killing of Sister George as for some reason I had a completely wrong idea of what I thought it was going to be (I knew it had a lesbian plot but presumably from the title, had imagined it to be about nuns and much, much darker than it actually is..! But putting that aside, I think it was definitely worth the watch. There's something about the vivid colours in 60s stuff I really like - we've been watching a lot of old episodes of The Avengers and the original Batman & Robin and they have such a great look to them too.
Miss Marple is a mensch! This was actually the first time I'd encountered her on the page rather than on screen and it was interesting seeing how she was described in the third person by the vicar - equal parts patronising and grudgingly admiring 😄 I'm holding off reading the next book for a bit just to save a little treat for myself!
The pictures of the cave houses were incredible. I could see exactly what you meant about it looking like the inhabitants had just popped out for a moment. I'd never heard of them, nor Kinver but they definitely look well worth a visit.
Yes, everyone's always a bit, "she's just a gentle, twittery old biddy" up until she looks very shrewdly at someone and turns them to stone!
Oh, thank you! It's an amazing place. I don't know of anywhere else like it in the country, but there must have been other cave-dwellers around. Not far from Kinver, so they have the same rock, from the Bewdley bypass, you can see some caves cut into the side of a cliff which look like they're used as garages now.
The uranium book is something I’ll check out but I’ll wait for your review. I think (possibly over optimistically) that I know enough, in general, about uranium, but maybe…
I suspect there'd be nothing new for you in there tbh. I found it a slightly curious book but I'm glad I read it. Still trying to gather my thoughts into some sort of coherent and considered review - watch this space!
My goal this month is to finish all the books I’m currently reading. I managed to NOT buy Raising Hare when I was in the UK in June, despite my hare love. A rare show of self-control I’m now regretting… but I have Braiding Sweetgrass and a book on bumblebees to finish, and a monster pile of novels. And then there’s the pile of DVDs I just picked up at my fave Lifeline charity book shop. 😬 🤣
I feel ya Cat! There were a few Notes doing the rounds on Substack recenlly about a Japanese term for having tons of books you haven't read yet. I wish I could remember what it was. I *definitely* have that. Sounds like you do too. But we wouldn't have it any other way eh!
Wow! A very lively round-up, Vicki. You have been busy! So long since I saw The Killing of Sister George I can hardly remember it. Will have to rewatch. And I’ll check out your other recommendations. (Raising Hare is already on my TBR pile.)
Thanks so much for the shout out for my festivals piece!
Ha! I was actually feeling like I'd hardly read or watched anything recently but when I looked at my list I realised that wasn't really true! A good argument for recording the little things I guess. I'm always so impressed by your diary entries from back in the day - wish I'd done more of that myself when I was younger...
Raising Hare is *such* a beautiful read. I was slightly disoriented watching The Killing of Sister George as for some reason I had a completely wrong idea of what I thought it was going to be (I knew it had a lesbian plot but presumably from the title, had imagined it to be about nuns and much, much darker than it actually is..! But putting that aside, I think it was definitely worth the watch. There's something about the vivid colours in 60s stuff I really like - we've been watching a lot of old episodes of The Avengers and the original Batman & Robin and they have such a great look to them too.
"Murder at the Vicarage" is such a classic. I love that Miss Marple knows what sound a silencer makes!
She's secretly James Bond.
Thanks for mentioning my newsletter about the Kinver cave houses. They're really such a unique place!
Miss Marple is a mensch! This was actually the first time I'd encountered her on the page rather than on screen and it was interesting seeing how she was described in the third person by the vicar - equal parts patronising and grudgingly admiring 😄 I'm holding off reading the next book for a bit just to save a little treat for myself!
The pictures of the cave houses were incredible. I could see exactly what you meant about it looking like the inhabitants had just popped out for a moment. I'd never heard of them, nor Kinver but they definitely look well worth a visit.
Yes, everyone's always a bit, "she's just a gentle, twittery old biddy" up until she looks very shrewdly at someone and turns them to stone!
Oh, thank you! It's an amazing place. I don't know of anywhere else like it in the country, but there must have been other cave-dwellers around. Not far from Kinver, so they have the same rock, from the Bewdley bypass, you can see some caves cut into the side of a cliff which look like they're used as garages now.
This got me to wondering if there might be anything at all similar in the chalk hills down here in Sussex where I am - and look! https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/property/extraordinary-15m-hastings-villa-built-5315021 It's not really on a level with a whole house inside a cave but it's a pretty unusual bathroom that's for sure 😄
The uranium book is something I’ll check out but I’ll wait for your review. I think (possibly over optimistically) that I know enough, in general, about uranium, but maybe…
I suspect there'd be nothing new for you in there tbh. I found it a slightly curious book but I'm glad I read it. Still trying to gather my thoughts into some sort of coherent and considered review - watch this space!
Wowsers, you clearly never sleep!
My goal this month is to finish all the books I’m currently reading. I managed to NOT buy Raising Hare when I was in the UK in June, despite my hare love. A rare show of self-control I’m now regretting… but I have Braiding Sweetgrass and a book on bumblebees to finish, and a monster pile of novels. And then there’s the pile of DVDs I just picked up at my fave Lifeline charity book shop. 😬 🤣
I feel ya Cat! There were a few Notes doing the rounds on Substack recenlly about a Japanese term for having tons of books you haven't read yet. I wish I could remember what it was. I *definitely* have that. Sounds like you do too. But we wouldn't have it any other way eh!
Update: that Japanese word I was thinking of is 'tsundoku' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-44981013 I've got it bad....
I always smell the roses 🌹 such a great perfume.
I love the Killing of Sis George. Just brilliant. Time flies Vicki, I can’t believe we’ve had the longest day!
I know! I still haven't finished doing my annual goals planning for 2025 yet - I'm always running late 🤣
I think roses might just be my favourite flower scent. Though then again, geraniums, lavender... oh what the hell, they're all my favourites!