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Jo Thompson's avatar

Delia saves Christmas every year. My simply setting foot in the kitchen has something of a Paddington effect - her wisdom and words slice gently through the chaos.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

There’s noone people trust like Delia, and I think that’s just been earned by being so reliable over decades

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Debora Robertson 🦀's avatar

I am sad/excited to be making a list of the things I am going to be doing instead of watching the football. I too have the Maggie O'Farrell, and a whole stack of gardening books about dry gardens, Mediterranean gardens, essentially a reading list that would make you feel guilty for drinking a glass of water while reading them. Good luck with Delia. Wish I could be there. X

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Jo Thompson's avatar

Ooh does this mean you’re making a garden.....?

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Debora Robertson 🦀's avatar

It does! It's not huge, but it's promising and there is almost nothing in it, so pretty much a blank slate. Abandoned for 20 years or more. A brand new way of planting for me - very hot summers, mildish winters, by the sea but quite sheltered, very little rain for much of the year. Exciting.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

I wish you were there too. And I do like the sound of those books, though the Devon climate might make them impractical I can still dream x

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Ada Mournian's avatar

Good morning,

I never watch football any more but looked at that clip from 10 years ago - wow! I don't think I'd seen it before. So, now your playlist is providing the background to this morning.

I read fairly quickly, sometimes I have to reread sentences several times to savour them. However I don't make enough time for reading. I've just finished Jasper Forde: The Eyre Affair. Brilliant and hilarious. It's like reading Steam punk, and I had to keep reminding myself it was written before the internet.

Best wishes

Ada

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John and Sally McKenna's avatar

Watching the World Cup asks us to not see so many things that are in front of our noses, so like yourself I shall be taking a pass. Gardening in the rain is much preferable, and of course there is no Barry Davies, so game over.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

I recently read the Maggie O Farrell and it’s amazing of course. Very keen to hear about the George Saunders. I was eyeing it in a bookshop last night but keep trying to NOT buy hardbacks of my faves and to wait for the paperbacks, but keep failing (the MO’F being 25 whole QUID in hardback, gah...)

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Adrian Garside's avatar

A book recommendation? Well, now we are talking.

'Close to the wind' by Pete Goss - amazing story. So good, the 1st time I read it I bought 8 copies and distributed them amongst friends as Christmas presents.

Shantaram - this is a 'true' story about an escaped convict who hid in the indian slums. Gives a real insight into life there - yes, there's life there, as well as community and respect. It was fascinating.

- agree, the world cup this year will pass me by, but that shot by Ibrohimavitch also caused a reaction from me all those years ago. Crazy.

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Adrian Garside's avatar

yes, yes, I am also responsible for 4 sales of Tastes of the Unexpected... :-)

That book inspired me to live a dream life for 5 years

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Nov 19, 2022
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Jo Thompson's avatar

Liking the sound of this list - what’s the book about creativity called?

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Mark Diacono's avatar

You have medlars - who needs football!

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