John Simpson - Tea, Books and Friends in 2023 No 4

Please come along and post a message, become friends and enjoy my books and tea posts.

Hello everyone, this is my Twelfth year being part of this wonderful group. I am John, 60 years old and married to Karen for 39 years and counting. We have two lovely children, Rob and Amy. Rob lives with his Fiancee Louise, daughter Hannah who will be 12 in February. Amy married Andy in 2015 and they now have a cat called Combie and Elliott who was born on Star Wars Day. We also have a mad Cat called Felix and we love him, he is nearly three and a half.

Please come along and leave a message and let's see what fun we have.

I love books and currently have 3,035 books on my shelves, and this doesn't include my Cricket collection which stands at about 450 books. While reading I do enjoy the odd pot or two of tea.

CURRENTLY READING

I just love Big Books, these are my 1000+page reads so far with more to add.

1.Shogun by James Clavell, 1243 pgs
2.Gai-Jin by James Clavell, 1578 pgs
3.Noble House by James Clavell, 1435 pgs
4.War & Remembrance by Herman Wouk, 1171 pgs
5.Whirlwind by James Clavell, 1343 pgs
6.Centennial by James A. Michener 1100 pgs
7.The Covenant by James A. Michener, 1080 pgs
8.Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd, 1344 pgs
9.Homeland by John Jakes, 1138 pgs
10.Russka by Edward Rutherfurd, 1007 pgs
11.A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, 1474 pgs
12.Love and War by John Jakes, 1019 pgs
13.Texas by James A. Michener, 1508 pgs
14.My Life by Bill Clinton, 1000 pgs
15.Child of the Phoenix by Barbara Erskine, 1086 pgs
16.Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, 1059 pgs
17.The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, 1219 pgs
18.Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton, 1144 pgs
19.Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton, 1235 pgs
20.Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, 1185 pgs
21.Wicked by Jilly Cooper, 1007 pgs
22.The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, 1412 pgs
23.London by Edward Rutherfurd, 1299 pgs
24.The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, 1076 pgs
25.A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, 1391 pgs
26.World Without End by Ken Follett, 1111 pgs
27.Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, 1,015 pgs
28.The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, 1,056 pgs
29.An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, 1,065 pgs
30.New York by Edward Rutherfurd, 1017 pgs
31.Hawaii by James A.Michener, 1130 pgs
32.The Company by Robert Littell, 1281 pgs
33.The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F.Hamilton, 1225 pgs
34.Spangle by Gary Jennings, 1276 pgs
35.Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, 1024 pgs
36.Alaska by James A. Michener, 1073 pgs.
37.Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson, 1180 pgs.
38.Chesapeake by James A. Michener, 1132 pgs
39. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster, 1070 pgs.
40. The Wheel of Fortune by Susan Howatch, 1156 pgs.
41. The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton, 1259 pgs.
42. The Naked God by Peter F. Hamilton, 1244 pgs.
43. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy, 1104 pgs.
44. The Source by James A. Michener, 1032 pgs.
45. Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon, 1220 pgs.
46. The Stand by Stephen King, 1325 pgs.
47. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, 1006 pgs.
48. Harlot's Ghost by Norman Mailer, 1401 pgs.
49. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, 1073 pgs.

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN JANUARY

1. Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, PB - 1073 pages.
2. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman, PB - 420 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN JANUARY

1. Appetite by Ed Balls, PB - 320 pages.
2. Murder at the Theatre Royal by Ada Moncrieff, PB - 247 pages.
3. Marple by Various Authors, HB - 272 pages.
4. The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page, PB - 275 pages.
5. The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, PB - 378 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JANUARY

1. Shattered by James Patterson.
2. The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley.
3. Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert.
4. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths.
5. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths.
6. The Vicar Of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
7. Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas
8. The Forty-Five Guardsmen by Alexandre Dumas

BOOKS READ BY JOHN IN FEBRUARY

3. Kate Hannigan's Girl by Catherine Cookson, PB - 350 pages.
4. The Games by James Patterson, PB - 366 pages.
5. A Rose Petal Summer by Katie Fforde, PB - 387 pages.
6. Worth Dying For by Lee Child, PB - 511 pages.
7. A Three Dog Problem by S.J. Bennett, PB - 388 pages.

BOOKS READ BY KAREN IN FEBRUARY

6. 500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan, PB - 396 pages.
7. Death and the Lit Chick by G.M. Malliet, PB - 270 pages.
8. The Country Business by Max Hardcastle, PB - 270 pages.
9. Deadly Desires of Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB - 292 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY

9. Thrown by Sara Cox, PB.
10. Steal by James Patterson, PB.
11. Run Rose, Run by James Patterson, PB.
12. Blue Heaven by C. J. Box, PB.
13. The Foot Soldiers by Gerald Seymour, PB.
14. What am I Bid? My Life Under The Hammer by Philip Serrell, PB

BOOKS READ IN MARCH BY JOHN

8. The Reckoning by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, PB - 486 pages.
9. Festival in Prior's Ford by Evelyn Hood/Houston, PB - 210 pages.
10. Heat Wave by Penelope Lively, PB - 215 pages.
11. 21st Birthday by James Patterson, PB - 401 pages.
12. A Leap of Faith by Trisha Ashley, PB - 322 pages.

BOOKS READ IN MARCH BY KAREN

10. Death of the Alma Mater by G.M. Malliet, PB - 260 pages.
11. Murder at Evensong by Reverend Richard Coles, PB - 358 pages.
12. What am I Bid by Philip Serrell, PB - 240 pages.
13. The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Matsukawa, PB - 217 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN MARCH

15. Murder Before Evensong by The Reverend Richard Coles, PB.
16. Mother's and Daughters by Erica James, PB.
17. Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB.
18. Dangerous Deception at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB.
19. Tidings of Death at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB.
20. Death of a Diva at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB.
21. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser, PB.
22. At the Captain's Table by Gervase Phinn, PB.
23. Star Island by Carl Hiaasen, PB.
24. Visibility by Boris Starling, PB.
25. Groundskeeping by Lee Cole, PB.
26. Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison, PB.
27. Murder in Minature at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison, PB.
28. A Pen Dipped in Poison by J.M. Hall, PB.
29. No Plan B BY Lee Child, PB.

BOOKS READ IN APRIL BY JOHN

13. A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear, PB - 412 pages.
14. Never, Never by James Patterson, PB - 338 pages.
15. Reckless by Andrew Gross, PB - 519 pages.
16. Changes by Danielle Steel, PB - 380 pages.
17. Death of a Poison Pen by M.C. Beaton, PB - 287 pages.

BOOKS READ IN APRIL BY KAREN

14. A Death in the Dales by Frances Brody, PB - 369 pages.
15. At the Captains Table by Gervase Phinn, PB - 381 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN APRIL

30. Blow Back by James Patterson, PB.
31. Vera Wong's Unsolicited advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto, PB.
32. Desert Star by Michael Connelly, PB.
33. Death and Fromage by Ian Moore, PB.
34. Date with Evil by Julia Chapman, PB.

BOOKS READ IN MAY BY JOHN

18. The Spellsong War by L.E. Modesitt jr, PB - 656 pages.
19. Class- Welcome to the Little School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, PB - 262 pages.
20. The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick, PB - 371 pages.

BOOKS READ IN MAY BY KAREN

16. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto, PB - 381 pages.
17. Pianos and Flowers by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 179 pages.
18. The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar, PB - 295 pages.
19. Under a Greek Moon by Carol Kirkwood, PB - 338 pages.
20. High Rising by Angela Thirkell, PB - 276 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN MAY

35. Sharpe's Revenge by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
36. Sharpe's Siege by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
37. Sharpe's Escape by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
38. The Naked and The Dead by Norman Mailer, PB.
39. The Bingo Hall Detectives by Jonathan Whitelaw, PB.
40. The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan, PB.
41. A Home from Home by Veronica Henry, PB.
42. Christmas at the Beach Hut by Veronica Henry, PB.
43. Christmas for Beginners by Carole Matthews, PB.
44. An Endless Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley, PB.
45. The Killing Habit by Mark Billingham, PB.
46. All That Glitters by Danielle Steel, PB.
47. A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle, PB.
48. Murder Most Royal by S.J. Bennett, HB.
49. The Sweet Remnants of Summer by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
50. The No-Show by Beth O'Leary, PB.
51. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman, PB.
52. Original Spin by Vic Marks, PB.
53. The Wisden Book of One Day International Cricket 1971 - 1985 by Bill Frindall & Victor H. Isaacs, HB.
54. Across The Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn, PB.
55. Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn, PB.
56. We Can See You by Simon Kernick, PB.
57. The Greatest Battle: The Fight for Moscow 1941 - 42 by Andrew Nagorski, PB.
58. Something New at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar, PB.
59. One Summer's Night by Kiley Dunbar, PB.
60. Summer at the Highland Coral Beach by Kiley Dunbar, PB.
61. Death in a Desert Island by Andrew Wilson, PB.
62. Echoes in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB.
63. A Terrible Village Poisoning by Hannah Hendy, PB.
64. Dear Little Corpses by Nicola Upson, PB. (Signed Copy)
65. My Shed and How it was Built by Donato Cinicolo, HB.
66. Beryl: In Search of Britain's Greatest Athlete by Jeremy Wilson, PB.
67. First of The Summer Wine by Harry Pearson, PB.
68. Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer, PB.
69. Triple Cross by James Patterson, PB.
70. The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver, PB.

BOOKS READ IN JUNE BY JOHN

21. An Unfortunate Christmas Murder by Hannah Hendy, PB - 305 pages.
22. The Midwife Murders by James Patterson, PB - 309 pages.
23. Coffin Scarcely Used by Colin Watson, PB - 204 pages.
24. Sycamore Row by John Grisham, PB - 516 pages.

BOOKS READ IN JUNE BY KAREN

21. Stealing The Crown by T.P. Fielden, PB - 304 pages.
22. The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley, PB - 416 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JUNE

71. The Exquisite Art of Getting Even by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
72. A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare, PB. (Proof Copy)
73. Listen To Me by Tess Gerritsen, PB.
74. The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith, PB.
75. Promise Me by Jill Mansell, PB.

BOOKS READ IN JULY BY JOHN

25. Ultimatum by Frank Gardner, PB - 440 pages.
26. The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar, PB - 291 pages.
27. The Affair by Lee Child, PB - 526 pages.

BOOKS READ IN JULY BY KAREN

23. Going Dutch by Katie Fforde, PB - 406 pages.
24. A Year in the Life of a Flower Shop by Sally Page, HB.
25. These Names Make Clues by E.C.R. Lorac, PB - 250 pages.
26. The Sweet Remnants of Summer by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 227 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN JULY

76. Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood, PB.
77. Circle of Death by James Patterson, PB.
78. The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham, PB.
79. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, PB.
80. Stroke of Genius by Gideon Haigh, PB.
81. These Names Make Clues by E.R.C Lorac, PB.
82. Death of a Bookseller by Bernard J. Farmer, PB.
83. Wish You Were Here by Catherine Alliott, PB.
84. Sharpe's Battle by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
85. Sharpe's Devil by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
86. Sharpe's Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell, PB.
87. Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell, PB.
88. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell, PB.
89. After the Rain by Lucy Dillon, PB.
90. A Special Delivery by Clare Dowling, PB.
91. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, PB.
92. Legacies by L.E. Modesitt jr, PB.
93. The Web by Jonathan Kellerman, PB.
94. Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, PB.
95. Hush, Hush by James Patterson, PB.
96. The Inn by James Patterson, PB.
97. Blood and Memory by Fiona McIntosh, PB.
98. Ticket of Leave by Georges Simenon, PB.
99. Maigret Mystified by Georges Simenon, PB.
100. Maigret at the Crossroads by Georges Simenon, PB.
101. The Wombles by Elizabeth Beresford, PB.
102. Private Screening by Richard North Patterson, PB.
103. Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen, PB.
104. Death of an Author by E.C.R. Lorac, PB.
105. A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith, PB.
106. The Enigma of Room 622 by Joel Dicker, PB.
107. Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlin, PB.
108. The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed, PB.
109. The Christie Affair by Nina De Gramont, PB.
110. The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths, PB.
111. The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths, PB.
112. The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths, PB.
113. Jan Ullrich, The Best There Never Was by Daniel Friebe, PB.
114. The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani, PB.
115. All The Lonely People by Mike Gayle, PB.
116. Bluebell's Christmas Magic by Marie Laval, PB.
117. Murder on the Caronia by Edward Marston, PB.

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST BY JOHN

28. Exile by Richard North Patterson, PB - 699 pages.
29. A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall, PB - 325 pages.

BOOKS READ IN AUGUST BY KAREN.

27. A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss, PB - 290 pages.
28. A Pen dipped in Poison by J.M. Hall, PB - 384 pages.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN AUGUST

118. The Ghost Way by Tony Hillerman, PB.
119. In The Frame by Dick Francis, PB.
120. Banker by Dick Francis, PB.
121. Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce, PB.
122. Rogue by Trudi Canavan, PB.
123. L'Auberge by Julia Stagg, PB.
124. All The Broken Places by John Boyne, PB.
125. Theodore Boone - The Accomplice by John Grisham, HB.
126. A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss, PB.
127. Murder by Milk Bottle by Lynne Truss, PB.
128. The Man That Got Away by Lynne Truss, HB.
129. Innocent Graves by Peter Robinson, PB.
130. Past Reason Hated by Peter Robinson, PB.
131. The Hanging Valley by Peter Robinson, PB.
132. Careless Love by Peter Robinson, PB.
133. Bad Boy by Peter Robinson, PB.
134. When The Music's Over by Peter Robinson, PB.
135. Mr Bowling buys a Newspaper by Donald Henderson, PB.
136. Private Beijing by James Patterson, PB.
137. Death of Mr Dodsley by John Ferguson, PB.
138. Charity Ends at Home by Colin Watson, PB.
139. Lonely - Heart 4112 by Colin Watson, PB.
140. A Tale of Two Tests by Richie Benaud, HB.
141. Yorkshire County Cricket Yearbook 1996 ed by David Warner, HB.
142. Yorkshire County Cricket Yearbook 2011 ed by David Warner, HB.
143. Yorkshire County Cricket Yearbook 2012 ed by David Warner, HB.
144. The Perfect Assassin by James Patterson, PB.
145. The Pink House by Catherine Alliott, PB.

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER BY JOHN

30. Theodore Boone - The Accomplice by John Grisham, PB - 230 pages.
31. Minerva by M. C. Beaton, PB - 234 pages.
32. Texas Ranger by James Patterson, PB - 337 pages.
33. Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen, PB - 483 pages.
34. The Taming of Annabelle by M.C. Beaton, PB - 250 pages.

BOOKS READ IN SEPTEMBER BY KAREN

29. How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 250 pages.
30. Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper by Donald Henderson, PB - 193 pages.
31. The Exquisite Art of Getting Even by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 208 pages.
32. After the Rain by Lucy Dillon, PB - 412 pages.
33. Death in Cornwall by G.M. Malliet, PB - 228 pages.

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER BY JOHN

35. Texas Outlaw by James Patterson, PB - 435 pages.
36. How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 248 pages.
37. Full Circle by Danielle Steel, PB - 347 pages.
38. A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson, PB - 288 pages.
39. Death and Croissants by Ian Moore, PB - 278 pages.

BOOKS READ IN OCTOBER BY KAREN

34. The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman, PB - 413 pages.
35. Ten to Zen by Owen O'Hare, PB.
36. A Fatal Village Poisoning by Hannah Hendy, PB - 212 pages.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER BY JOHN

40. Making Hay by Veronica Henry, PB - 496 pages.

BOOKS READ IN NOVEMBER BY KAREN

37. Augusta Hawke by G.M. Malliet, PB - 230 pages.
38. Mysteries for Bibliophiles Ed by Martin Edwards, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER

146. A Murder at the Castle by Chris McGeorge, PB.
147. The Vintage Shop by Libby Page, PB.
148. The Immortals of English Cricket by Bill Ricquier, HB.
149. The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear, PB.
150. A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James, PB.
151. Last Day of School by Jack Sheffield, PB.
152. The Bookshop Murder by Merryn Allingham, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN OCTOBER

153. The Washing Away of Wrongs by G.M. Malliet, PB.
154. 23rd Midnight by James Patterson, PB.
155. A Frightfully Fatal Affair by Hannah Hendy, PB.
156. Augusta Hawke by G.M. Malliet, PB.
157. Fell Murder by E.C.R. Lorac, PB.
158. Murder by the Book Ed by Martin Edwards, PB.
159. Betrayal in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, PB.
160. The Village Hall Vendetta by Jonathan Whitelaw, PB.
161. 23.5 Lies by James Patterson, PB.
162. Murder at Maybridge Castle by Ada Moncrieff, PB.
163. The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page, PB.

BOOKS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER

164. The Askham Accusation by Rebecca Tope, PB.
165. A Cast of Falcons by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, PB.
166. A Mischief of Rats by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, PB.
167. Bibliomaniac by Robin Ince, PB.
168. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, PB.
169. One Enchanted Evening by Katie Fforde, PB.
170. Before the Coffee gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, PB.
171. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb, PB.
172. The Man Who Didn't Fly by Margot Bennett, PB.
173. Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham, PB.
174. The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict, PB.
175. Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict, PB.
176. House of Wolves by James Patterson, PB.
177. A Market for Murder by Rebecca Tope, PB.
178. Better off Dead by Lee Child, PB.
179. The Flemish House by Georges Simenon, PB.
180. Lion & Lamb by James Patterson, HB.
181. An Evening with Johnners Ed by Barry Johnston, HB.

JULY'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 3

No of Authors.................... 3

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 2

Female Authors.................. 1

Pages Read....................... 1,257

Daily Avg........................... 40.53

Book Length avg................. 419

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-7-23 - 2,980
Books added in July - 43
Books read in July - 3

Revised book total - 3020

Pages to read at 1-7-23 - 1,219,967
Pages added in July - 16,397
Pages read in June - 1,257

Revised total pages to read - 1,235,107

AUGUST'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 2

No of Authors.................... 2

New Authors...................... 1

Male Authors..................... 2

Female Authors.................. 0

Pages Read....................... 1,024

Daily Avg........................... 33.03

Book Length avg................. 512

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-8-23 - 3020
Books added in August - 25
Books read in August - 2

Revised book total - 3043

Pages to read at 1-8-23 - 1,235,107
Pages added in August - 7,928
Pages read in August - 1,024

Revised total pages to read - 1,242,011

Thread is now OPEN.

Happy new thread, John!
Love to you and Karen.

>29 FAMeulstee:, Welcome Anita my dear, first visitor. Love and hugs to you and Frank my dear friend.

Hi John - I'm still dreaming about Janetta's Ginger and Pecan Ice Cream...

Happy new thread!

It is interesting to see books read by you and by Karen. Such different choices.

Happy weekend reads!

>31 m.belljackson:, It was really nice according to Karen, the seats outside were all full and inside it was packed but not oppressive and quite a queue outside. Luckily it was a really nice day and all seats and walls nearby were full of people with Ice Cream either in cornets or in tubs.

The board behind the counter lists 54 flavours along with hot and cold drinks and they do breakfast pancakes etc. Next time we are in that part of Scotland we will be sure to visit St. Andrews and pay a call for Ice Cream.

>32 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, thanks for stopping by. We do read different books although i probably read around 95 to 98% of the books Karen likes whereas Karen will only read around 10% of the books i read.

Have a lovely weekend my dear.

Happy new thread John!

Well, i can relax now. When i turned 60 i got a present from our NHS, everyone who gets to 60 receives one. It is a test kit for Bowel Cancer, i got mine just before we went to Scotland and so did not use it. I left it on the coffee table and once back i kept forgetting to open it and take it up to the bathroom.

I finally did the test on 15th August and posted it the following morning, i got a letter back on the 19th to say that they had found an anomaly and i would get a telephone consultation on the 24th at 10.40am. I had to ring them back which i did on the 21st to let them know which number to call me on. I duly got a call on the 24th and i was asked what meds i was on and other medical questions and then asked would i like to accept an appointment for a Colonoscopy, i said yes.

I was told that i would be sent out a pack with full details and it would include a pack of Moviprep laxative powder. From the 28th i could not eat certain things and then on the 31st i had to have a light breakfast by 10am and then only to have clear liquid until after the procedure. The procedure was to be at 2.15pm on the 1st September.

Nothing came in the post on the 25th or 26th, the 27th was Sunday and 28th Bank Holiday Monday. Nothing came on the Tuesday so i rang them up to say i had not received anything, i was told that if nothing came in the post on Wednesday 30th August i was to ring them up and the would use an NHS car and driver and deliver my package, this i had to do. As our post has been haphazard for months, lo and behold, my package came on the 31st.

At 7pm i mixed the first of two sets of laxative up in 1 litre of water and had to drink it over the next two hours, i did this and nothing happened. I went to bed in the spare room as i usually do on a Thursday night so as not to disturb Karen. I had taken up the next pack of laxative powder and a litre of water and set my alarm for 6am as instructed.

Karen awoke at 7am and got washed and dressed and went downstairs for her breakfast after checking on me. I was merrily drinking my litre of laxative over a two hour period. Karen let me know that she was leaving as Dave the taxi had arrived, just as i was dashing to the toilet. Needless to say that the laxative had worked and forty minutes later i got washed and dressed and came downstairs and continued drinking water.

I set off to Pontefract hospital for my new appointment time of 1.30pm, i was checked in and then directed to a cubicle to get undressed and put on the very sexy (not) hospital shorts, gown and dressing gown. Once i was done i waited to be collected and then taken to the room where the procedure was to be done. The ladies were wonderful, i had opted for Entonox for pain relief if needed so that i could drive home.

As it happened i only took about six drags of Entonox and the procedure was quite painless, at the end they were pleased to say that nothing untoward had been found. They did take two Sigmoid polyps to be examined but said there was nothing to worry about. I was taken to the recovery suite and a lovely Nurse who i knew but hadn't seen since she was 14, looked after me. She made me a nice mug of tea and two slices of toast, i buttered these and added Jam to one and Marmalade to the other. Once finished i had a card to fill in and once my blood pressure was taken, i was told i could get dressed. I got dressed and left the cubicle, Paula, the Nurse gave me a letter and notes about what MAY happen over the next two days and they will contact me on Monday to see how i am. In 2 to 3 weeks time i will get the results about the Sigmoid Polyps and then that is it for two years before this is done all over again.

Although i was not unduly worried, there is always that small .1 % that nags at the back of the mind that says, What if. I am a happy bunny now and i am resolved to have a good last third of the year with my reading and posting, it has been a strange year for me so far both reading and my lasse fair attitude.

Happy new thread John and thanks for the blow by blow account of your colonoscopy. Who says you have nothing to look forward to at 60?!

Happy new thread! Glad you are well.

>37 PaulCranswick: Joyful times, indeed!

Happy new thread, John!

Happy New 🧵 , John!!

Happy new thread, John.

Happy new thread! Here, our first colonoscopy is recommended at 50, so I had my third last year… 😀

Glad yours went reasonably well.

Happy new thread, John.

Finished book 30 of 2023 on Saturday night, Theodore Boone- The Accomplice by John Grisham, PB - 230 pages.

Woody Lambert is in trouble. He comes from a broken family, suffers bad grades at school and his older brother, Tony, is on probation for a drug offence. When Woody inadvertently gets caught up with Tony and one of his friends, Garth, cruising around Strattenburg in a beaten-up Mustang drinking beer, one thing leads to another and Garth holds up a convenience store with a fake gun.

Though he had no involvement in the crime other than being in Garth's car, Woody is arrested as an accomplice. He's going to need serious legal advice to avoid juvenile prison.

Enter Theodore Boone; after all, Theo has already decided that he will become the best courtroom lawyer in the state. It's just that, at the age of thirteen, Theo is years from being a qualified lawyer - and Woody needs help right now...

>37 PaulCranswick:, I thought the information should be put out, i did leave out the bit about the really cold jelly to ease the passage of the probe, lol. I thought just the same mate, what a lovely 60th birthday present from our beloved NHS.

>38 witchyrichy:, Hi Karen my dear, i am quite well apart from the usual aches and pains although the neck pains are now almost daily and these new shooting pains down one or the other thigh that drop me to the floor are annoying. Now the Bowel Cancer screening is done, i will make an appointment to see my GP to let them know what else is afflicting me from the spinal arthritis as they are all connected, not much they can do meds wise but it should be on my file.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>39 alcottacre:, Thanks for stopping by Stasia my dear.

>40 vancouverdeb:, Thanks for stopping by Deborah my dear.

>41 DianaNL:, Thanks for stopping by Diana my dear.

>42 drneutron:, Hi Jim, thanks for stopping by mate. The Colonoscopy went better than i thought it would, they rang me on Monday to see how i had gone on through the weekend and now i just have to wait for the results of the Sigmoid Polyps biopsy, they are not in the slightest worried about what they will show, nothing.

>43 EllaTim:, Thanks for stopping by Ella my dear.

Since i was last on here, like everyone else, our weather has gone mad. In June we had fantastic weather, sun just about every day and we peaked at 32.2C, then July was a washout as was much of August. Luckily for us, during our two trips away we had a combined two rainy days out of Eleven.

The 1st of September arrives and the weather is scorchio, temperatures gradually rising from 24C to today's 29C here in Yorkshire, they have hit 30C down South and expect that 32.2C in June to be broken sometime over the next few days, September will produce the hottest day of the year. I would imagine that School Children and their parents will be royally P****d off now they are back at school and work having had for the majority of the time, horrible weather.

I picked Elliott up this morning for his usual Wednesday overnight stay and then collected Hannah and Molly up from school this afternoon. Hannah said she would prefer it to be snowing as it was too warm for her, lol.

Good to “ see “ you, John . Good for you for putting it out there about the colonoscopy . A good friend of mine has a doctor who really pushes the importance of colonoscopies, and as a result she had a colonoscopy at around the age of 50 . She expected that they would find nothing, but they found the start of a cancerous lesion. So a couple of weeks later she had surgery to remove that lesion or whatever it was called , and all is well for her. I’ve known a couple of people to pass of colon cancer in their late 40’s, early 50, so early detection is so important. I confess I have been to afraid to go for a colonoscopy. But they do a stool test to detect any blood, unless you are at higher risk , or have symptoms .

Happy new thread, John! I'm glad your colonoscopy was more or less routine. My Jeff also does his with no sedation (VERY unusual in the US, but I gather much more common in Europe) for the same reason as you - so he can drive home... he's never had an issue and loves being able to get on with his day. Happy reading in September! :)

>51 vancouverdeb:, Hi Deb my dear, i just wanted to show that it is quite normal and like you ladies have Breast screening, we should have this and the same with Prostrate. The Bowel Screening program is for everyone and has taken on more importance since Dame Deborah James was part of the Podcast, "Me, You and the big C", Deborah was known as the Bowel Babe but as it was diagnosed as Stage 4, she sadly lost her battle for life after raising £7 million pounds for research.

To be honest, it was blood in the stool sample that was the trigger, i had an idea it was this as it is due to the meds i am taking that cause constipation, not so that i can't go but (pardon my language), it is like shitting a Billiard ball at times and on occasions there is a little streak of blood, i mentioned this to them and they agreed that my meds aren't helping the situation.

As it happens, i took a call in the car on my way home from dropping Elliott off, it was a Nurse from the Bowel Screening dept. she rang to let me know that the two polyps they took were benign and i am all clear. I will get a stool sample test again in two years time.

>52 PlatinumWarlock:, Hi Lavinia my dear, like Jeff i wanted to drive home and so opted for the gas and air (Entonox), as it happened i only took about eight puffs throughout the procedure, it wasn't that bad. The staff on the unit were fantastic and as i was on my way home from dropping Elliott at home, i took a call from a nurse on the department. She rang to let me know that the two polyp samples they took were benign and so i am all clear, i will get a stool sample test kit again in two years time.

>54 johnsimpson: Brilliant news - glad to hear it!

>54 johnsimpson: GOOD NEWS! I am glad all is well. All good wishes for a restful weekend!

I very much like your lists of books you read and books your obtained.

My list of those obtained is larger than those read. I had a reading slump for a few weeks. Now, I'm back on board.

>55 PlatinumWarlock:, Thanks Lavinia my dear.

>56 Whisper1: Hi Linda my dear, thank you for the good wishes, it is going to be a hot weekend for us, unusual weather for early September for us.

I am glad you like my book lists, as i keep saying to people, i wish i could read as fast as i purchase, our books bought will always be far in advance of what is read, lol.

My reading this year has seemed hard for some reason, i seem to have had a laissez faire approach to things this year both reading and general day to day things. September seems to have got off to a good start, it could be that i am more relaxed about how many books i will read this year and i am getting myself geared up for 2024. I think it will be a good year as we have our holiday booked to Madeira to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and i just feel good about it.

Sending love and hugs my dear friend.

Finished book 31 last night, Minerva by M. C. Beaton, PB - 234 pages.

Raven-Haired Minerva, eldest daughter of an impecunious vicar, is dispatched to town under the wing of the disreputable old Lady Godolphin. Her task: to find a rich husband and thereby restore the ailing family fortunes.

When her London debut is marred by her habit of speaking her mind, the highly eligible Lord Sylvester Comfrey decides to give her lessons in the gentle art of attracting the opposite sex. But his expert teachings result in some surprising consequences!

Earlier in the week, i got a message to say that a certain pen was now back in stock, i then proceeded to order said pen. On Wednesday i got an email from the delivery agents to say that i had VAT to pay which i duly did. I later got a message to say that it was on its way.

On Thursday i got a message to say that the pen would be delivered sometime that day, as luck would have it, it arrived before i took Elliott home and surprisingly for me, i decided to open it when i got back home.

Once home, i made us a pot of tea and then began the task of getting into a large box, Karen wondered what i had ordered and how much i had spent. I told her it was around £200, it was in fact nearer £280 with delivery and VAT and that it was my retirement pension present.

I opened the packaging and found a large box with a card wrapper around it, i took the wrapper off and then opened the large box inside to reveal a bottle of Blue Leonardo ink and the lovely Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0, Primary Manipulation 1 in glossy by Jonathan Brooks. It is a gorgeous pen and i have told Karen that this is the last pen for quite a while.

On Friday and Saturday, 15th and 16th September, it is the PBFA Book Fair at York Racecourse, this is the biggest PBFA event of the year and attracts around 225 Antiquarian Booksellers for the two day event. I will be going along with no expectations as my budget will be small and the Wisdens and Yorkshire yearbooks are now on the expensive side as i am looking at books from the 1950's backwards although i have picked two or three up on ebay recently an have a contact who sold me a relatively recent Yorkshire yearbook and i left a message to say could i deal with him direct. He has agreed but is in the prcess of moving house at the moment and so is a little busy, this suits me as i would prefer to wait until October to add to my collection unless i get a good deal at York.

Hi John. Approaching 75 I have had the exams more than once. Not a favorite experience and I always have to make sure they know about my gastric reflux and bring my CPAP. Not that they've ever used it, just they expect me to bring it whenever they do general anesthetic.

>60 johnsimpson: Sounds like a great pen, mate. You came into my mind as Hani and the 'kids' bought me a pen for my birthday recently but it was accompanied by the terror that comes with knowing that I will most likely lose it if I take it out of doors.

I would love to go to York racecourse together with you......maybe next year. Our team is doing reasonably well in the ridiculously organised county championships. Finlay Bean looks a decent prospect.

>61 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, it seems that once we hit a certain age we get invites for all manner of tests that are for our health but are not particularly nice to think about. Oh well, the cycle now begins, lol.

>62 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, it is a lovely pen, i have been coveting Leonardo pens for a while now and this one just spoke to me, lol.

I know the feeling about taking the pens out but i do make sure they are always safe, i generally carry two or three with me and am looking at a nice pen case from Galen Leather in Turkey. They make some lovely products as well as selling some pens and lovely notebooks with Japanese Tomoe River paper and when you order you always get some little extras included in the package. What pen did they get you?

The September book fair is the best although they do have a single day one in January but nowhere near as many attend, it isn't really worth it for a lot especially with travel and accommodation costs. One year we will both go together mate.

Finlay Bean has had a great first full year in the first team and him and Lyth have a good understanding, similar to Lyth and Lees. I think he will go far in the game but needs to be nurtured until he is ready to make the step up. He certainly likes batting as his 441 against Notts 2nds last year attests to.

Today was the last of the heat and tomorrow we will see a big drop before things settle down from Wednesday when we will have more like normal temperatures for this time of year.

>65 johnsimpson:
It is still hot here in Alabama and no end to it in sight. I wish that were not the case, but at least the days are shorter.

Finished book 32 of 2023 last night, Texas Ranger by James Patterson, PB - 337 pages.

Officer Rory Yates is called home to settle deadly scores.

His skill and commitment to the badge have seen him rise through the ranks in the Texas Ranger division, but it came at a cost - his marriage.

When he receives a worrying phone call from his ex-wife, Anne, Rory speeds to what used to be their marital home. He arrives to a horrifying crime scene and a scathing accusation: he is named a suspect in Anne's murder.

Rory's only choice is to find the killer himself. He risks his job, his pride and his reputation to pursue the truth.

Rory follows the Ranger creed - never to surrender.

That code just might bring him out alive.

>66 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, after Monday's heat, it was a complete change on Tuesday with rain all day and the temperature dropped 10C. Wednesday started off cool as i went to collect Elliott but by the time i got back and had my breakfast, the sun was out and it had warmed up significantly and ended up being a warm day. Today has been a mixed day, it was dull and cool until about 12.30pm and then the sun broke through and it was a lovely warm day until early evening.

I hope that you start to get some cooler weather soon my dear.

I'm catching up on threads. I enjoyed reading the conclusion of your trip to Scotland as I'd read all but a couple days earlier. Glad your screening went well. I'm glad you make sure the pens are safe. I have a friend from back home in Mississippi who enjoys making pens. I think his are more modern pens rather than the ones with nibs, but he's made some lovely ones.

Today is Amy's 34th birthday, yesterday, Amy, Andy and Elliott came over for a birthday lunch. They arrived mid-morning and we had a drink before Elliott wanted to go out into the garden and play.

The weather was pretty good, i had put the washing out on the airer before they arrived and so it was nice for Elliott to play. Sunday was the 2nd and final day of the Scarecrow festival in the village, the theme this year was Great Britain's and we saw quite a few on Saturday as i took Karen to work.

As Amy came into the village and our estate, Elliott had spotted one or two and wanted to look at one, luckily there was one at the top of the street and so Karen took him up to have a look.

We had a nice Hydrabaddy Curry with Pilau Rice and Garlic and Coriander Naans for lunch and this was followed later with either Coffee cake or Vanilla Cheesecake, Elliott enjoyed his curry. We sang happy birthday to Amy before the cake was cut.

They left just after 4pm and we had a steady and relaxing evening, we caught up with the opening episode of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 in which the celebrities found out who their professional partners were.

Last Friday i had a busy but enjoyable day, the previous day i took Elliott home and when i was on my way back, the warning light for low tyre pressure flashed up, once home i put some air in the rear passenger side tyre.

We got in the car on Friday morning and i turned the engine on and the low tyre pressure warning flashed up, the previous day it was showing 29 psi when it should have been 36 psi, on Friday morning it was showing 19 psi. I dropped Karen off at work and instead of parking up and going into the store to do the shopping, i made my way to Kwik-Fit to have a new tyre fitted. As it is a Motability lease car, i do not have to pay for tyres as long as it cannot be repaired.

The tyre was quickly changed and i was back at Asda supermarket by 9.20am to dot he shopping. I did the shopping and then made my way home to unpack and out it all away. Once this was done, i made myself a pot of tea and read for a bit before having a quick shave, changed my trainers for shoes and put a jacket on. I made a coffee in the travel mug and set off to York Racecourse and the PBFA bookfair.

I got into the bookfair at 12.15pm, it opened at Noon. I had a wander around the ground floor and looked at Christopher Saunders stand, he is a well known Cricket bookseller but he had nothing in my price range. Earlier in the week i was on Twitter or X as it is now known and left a message on Westwood books of Sedburgh to say i would be going to the bookfair and as they had a stand would pay a call. Westwood books is run by Husband and wife team, Heather and Paul and it is Heather that does the social media and she said come along and introduce yourself.

I found the Westwood stand and had a look and introduced myself to Paul, Heather was getting coffee's for both of them. I saw three Wisden's, 1943, 1944 and 1946, the 1946 was just in my price range, i also saw that they had the 1900 edition of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yearbook, the 8th edition. It was in remarkable condition for its age but at £150 was out of my range.

I continued to have a wander around the stands and found no other Cricket books anywhere and so i made my way back to Westwood's, the 1946 Wisden was still there and so i picked it up to buy it. By this time Heather was back and so as i handed the book to her, i introduced myself to her and we had a good chat. I paid for the book and she wrapped it up for me in a PBFA paperbag and put it in a PBFA carrier bag as they have to do. I told Heather that i would call into Westwood books sometime before year end.

Ileft the Bookfair and made my way back to the car and headed into York as i wanted to go to WH Smiths to pick up this months Cricket Magazine. I got my magazine and then went into Waterstones but came out empty handed and then got my free coffee from Costa Coffee and made my way back to the car and headed for home.

On a light hearted tone, i do not know what they did when they did my Colonoscopy but my rear end is like the affectionate name for Chicago, Windy City or Windy rear end. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so noisy and a bit on the whiffy side, not good when out of the house, lol.

😀 They pump air into your system so they can see what's what. Takes a bit for it to all work out.

>73 drneutron:, Hi Jim, i forgot about the air pumped in mate, what goes in, has to come out and add to this, Karen has bought some Brussel Sprouts for Sunday lunch, this will be a good test, lol.

A wet start to the day and then it was a case of short showers and then brilliant sunshine. I took Karen to work and then after dropping her off, i went over to the recycling area and got rid of a bag of drinks cartons. Once the recycling was done i made my way towards Wakefield and parked up alongside Thornes park so that i could go and collect some Conkers.

I went to the best spot to easily collect Conkers, the stepped area of the sports field is under a row of Horse Chesnut trees and as they drop, the cases containing the Conkers, crack and so it make sit easier to get them and a lot crack open and the conkers are just there waiting to be picked up.

I had a paper bag with me but as everywhere was wet and damp, the bag got wet and spilled out some of the conkers, in the end i filled up both of my large pockets of my winter coat. Once back at the car i transferred the conkers from my pockets into a cloth bag. I made my way home and once home i emptied the cloth bag onto a tea towel and dried them.

After they were dried i filled a bowl with 24 conkers and placed them in threes at the corner of each window, patio windows and the front door, i then filled the bowl up again with 30 conkers for the upstairs windows, this is to deter spiders and since we started doing it in 2017, it has worked. We found out about this whilst on holiday in Abergavenny. We were in a car park that was edged with Horse Chesnut trees and there were lots on the ground and a lady was collecting them and we thought they were for her grandchildren, we asked if that was the reason and then she told us about deterring spiders and told us where to put them, we have done this each September since then.

Hi John! I hope you are doing well now!

Collecting conkers against spiders? I love conkers, can never resist the temptation to polish them until they shine, but I have to try this!

Wishing you and Karen a nice week ahead.

Just checking in on you, my friend. I hope all turns out well from the colonoscopy.

>75 johnsimpson: Conkers! Bonkers more like! Brings back wonderful childhood memories, John, thanks for that.

>76 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, we are both fine apart from the usual aches and pains, lol. I love this time of year, going out to collect Conkers always reminds me of going out with my Dad to get some and also he managed to find some edible Chesnuts which he put on the edge of the fireplace grate to roast them and then tormented me with them as i wasn't keen after trying one.

>77 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, all went well with the Colonoscopy, they took a couple of Polyp samples and everything came back clear. I got a letter today to thank me for attending the clinic and they will send me a sample kit in two years time and i may have to go through it all again, lol.

>78 PaulCranswick:, Hi Paul, mate, the Conker trick does work for us and i got plenty and put the spare ones in a glass dish on the coffee table for Elliott to see and play with, he's a bit young yet for a game, lol.

I can reminisce about collecting Conkers as i get them for Elliott and next year he will be able to come with me to get them.

Finished book 33 on 21st September, Lucky You by Carl Hiaasen, PB - 483 pages.

JoLayne Lucks lives in a town infamous for its suspicious miracles, but she's still elated when her lottery numbers finally pay off big: $28 million to be exact. And she has great plans for her fortune: to save a rare piece of Florida paradise from the bulldozers.

Only one problem: There's another winning Lotto ticket, and the people who've got it just never learned how to share. When the two militia wannabes swipe JoLayne's ticket, she enlists an off-the-rails newspaperman to help her track down the trigger-happy creeps and their bewildered hostage, a Hooters' waitress. Getting rich quick is never easy....

Finished book 34 of 2023 on the 26th September, The Taming of Annabelle by M.C. Beaton, PB - 250 pages.

She wants her sister's fiance and will stop at nothing to get him!

From the moment honey-tressed young Annabelle meets her sister Minerva's intended, Lord Sylvester, she develops a secret passion for him that obsesses her. Now she is determined to take him away from Minerva - no matter what.

But Annabelle hadn't reckoned on Lord Sylvester's best friend, Peter, who falls in love with her and decides to tame her growing passions for the wrong man!

Happy weekend!

That pen you gifted yourself for retirement sounds wonderful and quite special.

Glad the polyp samples came out to be benign.

SEPTEMBER'S READING STATS

Books Read....................... 5

No of Authors.................... 4

New Authors...................... 0

Male Authors..................... 3

Female Authors.................. 1

Pages Read....................... 1,534

Daily Avg........................... 51.13

Book Length avg................. 306.8

Latest reading stats:

Books on shelves at 1-9-23 - 3043
Books added in September - 7
Books read in September - 5

Revised book total - 3045

Pages to read at 1-9-23 - 1,242,011
Pages added in September - 2,284
Pages read in September - 1,534

Revised total pages to read - 1,242,761

It has been a pretty good weekend for us, on Friday night we had Geoff and Linda over for a meal and a catch up. The meal was lovely, we started with Onion Soup made with Onions that i had grown, this was followed with Venison Casserole, Mustard Mash and Yorkshire Pudding. We had a break before dessert was served, this was Vanilla Cheesecake with a Summer Berry Coulis and Cream.

We had a good catchup with Geoff and Linda along with a few drinks, they left just after 11pm and we cleared up, filled the dishwasher and then took a drink up to bed.

On Saturday we awoke with the alarm and i went and made us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed and once finished, we got up washed and dressed before coming downstairs to get everything sorted out. I popped and got my newspaper and once back had my coffee, meds and then my cereal.

Karen normally works 2pm to 10pm but today she was working noon to 8pm, it was so nice to have Karen home early for a change.

We had a steady morning on Sunday, we had breakfast while watching Strictly Come Dancing from Saturday night on the BBC IPlayer. Once it had finished, it was time for us to get changed as we were going to Margaret and Stephen's 40th (Ruby) Wedding Anniversary Afternoon Tea Party at The Lakeside Suite at Waterton Hall Hotel. We had a lovely afternoon helping them celebrate this momentous anniversary. We left just after 5pm and were home within ten minutes and changed back into what we were wearing earlier in the day in another ten minutes.

We had a nice steady evening watching Countryfile, Strictly Come Dancing : The Results and then Antiques Roadshow which was from Roundhay Park in Leeds.

Finished book 35 of 2023 this morning, Texas Outlaw by James Patterson, PB - 435 pages.

Rory Yates of the Texas Rangers doesn't seek out hero status, but it's unavoidable once his girlfriend, country singer Willow Dawes, writes a song about his bravery.

Rory escapes his new-found fame when he's sent to the remote West Texas town of Rio Lobo to investigate the death of a councilwoman. Local detective Ariana Delgado is convinced that this seemingly accidental death is actually a murder.

Rory begins to uncover a tangle of small-town secrets and lies. To get to the truth, he's forced to step outside the law he has dedicated his life to upholding.

Now, while Rory is tracking a killer, the Texas Rangers are tracking him....

Yesterday i was quite busy once i got home after dropping Karen at work, after making myself a pot of tea, i read 30 pages of my book before getting the paper shredder out of the garage and the shredded all out of date receipts and paperwork from the shredding file holder. Once this was done i went upstairs to get the book with the bank statements and i also stripped the bedding off of our bed.

I came downstairs with the bank statements and the bedding, i put the bedding in the washer ready to be washed tomorrow and then got the latest bank statements out of the letter rack. I sorted the statements from the three accounts into number order and then took out the statements matching the latest ones and put them in the shredding pile.

I made myself a coffee and then read another 25 pages before going back into the kitchen to finish off the shredding. All the shredded bits went into an old charity bag and i tied it up and put it into the bin. I had another drink and did some book work before having a tin of soup and the last of the Sourdough bread for my lunch. After i had eaten, i watched the lunchtime news both national and local before doing some more reading until it was time to make a coffee in the travel mug and the Electrolyte drink for Karen.

I picked Karen up from work and then we made our way home and had a nice evening.

Today has been a busy one for me, once we were up, washed and dressed and downstairs, we got everything sorted out and i made us a pot of tea and got our meds out while Karen got breakfast ready. It was still raining when we got up and it wasn't looking good for the washing that Karen had set off.

I took Karen to work and after dropping her off, i made my way home and once home i made myself a coffee and read for a bit. The rain had stopped and it was starting to brighten up, the washing had finished and i thought i would leave it in the washer while i emptied some water out of the water butt. As i was emptying water out of the butt, the sun came out and out of the breeze, it was quite warm.

I finished off emptying water out of the butt and decided to put the washing out, i was hoping to have it out for a good couple of hours to take advantage of the sun and breeze. Once the washing was on the line, i made another drink and finished off my book and then i did some book research.

I watched the lunchtime news, both national and local and then warmed up my lunch in the microwave, it was the last of the Venison casserole, i also had the last slice of the Cheesecake but i left it out undercover as i wanted to get the washing in as it had started to rain and then get on with the upstairs housework. I put the washing on the indoor airer and radiators and then got on with the housework. Once the upstairs housework was done I put my cleaning equipment away and then i made a pot of tea and played freecell on my phone before having the Cheesecake.

I played more Freecell and then made a coffee in the travel mug for me and the electrolyte drink for Karen and then went to pick her up from work. I collected Karen and we made our way home, Karen went to get changed and i made us a pot of tea and after we had finished our tea, Karen made Scrambled Eggs on Toast for tea.

>87 johnsimpson: Nice dinner, John. Nothing beats eating vegetables from one’s own garden. I love onion soup.

A nice weekend to you and Karen!

>91 EllaTim:, Thanks Ella my dear. I hope that you and Marc have had a lovely weekend dear friend.

We welcomed October in last weekend and now we are having a very unseasonal spell of warm weather apart from Scotland who have been suffering from very heavy rainfall causing floods, landslips and other water related problems.

Whilst the warm weather is good for getting washing dry and being able to get jobs done in the garden, it is not right. This warm spell could go on into next week. It is not only here that is experiencing extreme weather, Madeira has marked five consecutive days with temperatures above 33C. We love the Island and are looking forward to our holiday there next July but their publicity states that temperatures normally reach 28C in high season and around 20C in low season. This suits us and we have had the odd days in excess of 28C and because of the mild temperatures during Autumn/ Winter, it attracts people who wants to escape the cold in Europe.

Karen has taken tomorrow off as she feels as though she needs a day to herself to re-charge her batteries. I will be getting the timber and brackets to build the shelves for my Wisdens, Playfairs and Yorkshire yearbooks that Karen has nagged me about for months. My reading is going well but i am well behind on my associated book notes that i keep and don't expect to be back on track with them until the new year.

With Karen taking today off, we woke with the alarm at 7.30am and i went downstairs to make us a pot of tea to enjoy in bed. After we had finished our tea, we got up,washed and dressed and came downstairs to get everything sorted out. Last night when i came downstairs to let Felix back in, i was supposed to put the dishwasher on but i forgot, i remembered when i came down to make our pot of tea and so by the time we had finished breakfast, we could empty the dishwasher and put everything away.

After we had emptied the dishwasher, we got in the car and set off into Wakefield, Karen had a parcel to pick up from Next. I went with Karen and once we had our parcel, i took it back to the car while Karen went to get her treat from Costa Coffee and then she went into the Post Office inside W.H. Smiths to post a parcel and then she popped into Superdrug. While waiting for Karen, i read my book and once Karen was back in the car, we set off to Dunelm at the Cathedral Retail Park. We had a package to pick up for Amy and Karen picked up a storage box.

We put Amy's package and the storage box in the car and then drove the short distance to Wickes, DIY store so that i could get the timber i needed for the shelving along with some small brackets and some screws. We paid for the timber, brackets and screws and went out to the car to re-arrange the seats to accommodate the timber and Karen then had to sit in the back seat and we made our way home. We unloaded the car and then had a pot of tea and relaxed for a while,

We had a pot of Coffee while we watched the news both national and local, Karen also had something to eat, i didn't bother as i was not hungry. Once the news had finished, i went outside and got the lawnmower out and gave the lawn its last cut of the year (I hope). Once i had done the lawn, i cleaned the mower and the put it back in the garage and then went back inside to wash my hands.

I made us a pot of tea and we watched Escape to the Country and then the Repair Shop, When they had finished i made us both a Coffee and then i went back into the garden and got the small steps and using the hand pruners, i cut back larger bits of the Conifers that i could reach. I did this to fill up the garden waste bin which is due for collection on Wednesday and to help Rob out, he is coming to trim the Conifer hedge a week on Thursday. Once i had done what i could, i put the garden bin back in its place and washed my hands and then had a Coffee and read until our tea was ready.

Tomorrow i will make a start on the shelving for my Cricket books, this will free up space on the bookcase at the top of the staircase for Elliott's books.

>80 johnsimpson: I am glad everything went well with this colonoscopy, John!

>82 johnsimpson: Hiassen's humor tends to be hit-or-miss for me, but I will give that one a shot.

>85 johnsimpson: >86 johnsimpson: Love the stats!

>93 johnsimpson: We are having some very welcome cool weather here, John. I think both of our seasons are out of whack.

I haven't had a chance to stop by in a while, so here I am with a hello and good wishes, John! I just finished a chunkster, The Bee Sting and I'd thought I'd mention it as I know you love chunksters. It was 650 pages long. I'm glad life is going well, and that Karen was able to have a day off to recharge her batteries. I need at least one of those each week, so I understand.

>95 alcottacre:, Hi Stasia my dear, thanks for stopping by. Today the weather has certainly gone back to Autumn as it should and apparently we are due a cold spell to come.

>96 vancouverdeb:, Hi Deborah my dear, thanks for stopping by and letting me know of The Bee Sting, a chunkster that i will certainly have a look at. Having Monday off did Karen quite a bit of good.

Finished book 36 of 2023, late on Tuesday night, How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith, PB - 248 pages.

THE ONE WITH CHARLIE'S BIG SECRET

As the temperature rises in Gaborone, Precious Ramotswe wonders whether the heat could be the reason that business is particularly slow. But then a distant cousin comes to the agency with a plea for help. Armed with Mma Ramotswe's circumspection and Mma Makutsi's sharp eye, the ladies decide to pursue the issue together. What, after all, could be more straightforward than a family matter?

Meanwhile, their colleague Charlie is behaving oddly, borrowing Mma Ramotswe's van and returning it in an unusual condition. Digging a little deeper, the explanation is both strange and extraordinary, and takes Charlie, along with Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, on a hair-raising night-time expedition.

On Tuesday i took Karen to work and then went and put some petrol in the car before making my way home. Once home i had a Coffee and read whilst i had it and once i had finished i went upstairs to measure up the sides of the proposed shelving. Once i had the measurements i went out to the garage and cut some timber for the side pieces.

I took the cut lengths of timber back up to the bedroom and got them in position with the spirit level and marked the edge of the bracket and the hole to be drilled. I took the timber back outside and marked on the longest length the shelf positions and marked the drill holes.

By the time i had finished i was ready for a drink and had a pot of tea before i cut some of the conifer hedge where the thick pieces were growing upwards, all this to help Rob when he gives it a good trim next week. When i had done i had another drink and watched the lunchtime news both national and local and then i had my lunch.

After i had finished my lunch, i got on with the upstairs housework and by the time i had done, i had time for a quick drink before making a Coffee for me in the travel mug and the Electrolyte drink for Karen and went to pick her up from work.

Hi John! A very belated happy new thread.

From your last thread, belated Happy 60th Birthday. Yay for the vinyl player – we don’t currently have one yet still have perhaps 400 or so albums upstairs. One of these days… Congrats on paying the mortgage off.

>36 johnsimpson: Ah, the joys of a colonoscopy. I’m amazed that they gave you tea and fed you after – here in the US, at every colonoscopy Bill or I have had, once you’re done with the doctor telling you the preliminary results right then, you’re on your own for food and drink. >53 johnsimpson: And, yay for the polyps being benign. My sister wasn’t as lucky – had stage 3A colon cancer in the summer of 2019 and went through surgery and chemo for it, but was cancer free in February 2020 and has continued cancer free.

>75 johnsimpson: I’ve never heard of using conkers as a prevention against spiders. Learn something new every day, eh? Separate but related – our black walnut and hickory nut trees have been shedding their nuts, both encased in large husks. I drive over black walnuts on the drive into our garage and hear the pistol-shot sound of the hickory nuts as they land on the tin roofs of the barns.

Sending love to you and Karen, and special kitty skritches to Felix from Inara, Zoe, and Wash.

>99 johnsimpson: Aren't the Ladies #1 book fun? We love listening to them in the car when we're on a road trip.

>101 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, thanks for stopping by dear friend, this has been a crazy year for me, my reading has been quite off from previous years and so has the posting on here.

It is so good that we can still learn new things every day, there is so much for us to learn and it is comforting to know that we can find new things out.

Sending love and hugs from both of us and Felix sends kitty skritches.

>102 RebaRelishesReading:, Hi Reba my dear,we just love Mr McCall Smiths books, the No 1 Ladies books are so much fun.

The last few days have been very painful for me, the pain in my neck has continued to cause me problems, predominantly on the right hand side and going into my shoulder. On Monday it started up and by the time i went to collect Karen from work, the pain had radiated down to my back and legs. The damp weather has not helped and Tuesday it meant that i was confined to bed to try and get some ease, the pain in my neck brought on a headache and i couldn't really concentrate on anything.

I was fit enough to collect Elliott yesterday but once home i took things very steady, today the pain level has risen and i just need to rest as much as i can.

Since seeing my GP, she had referred me to the Muskuloskeletal department and i got a call last week to arrange an appointment to have a physio session to determine which if any scans need to be done. It is not something i really want but i hope my current pain levels are still with me when i see them, so that they can see how i am.

>105 johnsimpson: I am sorry to hear about your pain and hope your GP can soon set you on a course to make it better and not come back again.

>106 quondame:, Thanks Susan My dear.

>105 johnsimpson: Hi John. Very sorry to hear you are having such pain. I hope they can help you. Best wishes!

>108 EllaTim:, Hi Ella my dear, thanks for your message my dear. Sadly the weather has started to take its toll as i usually expect but the neck pain is the main concern and it then radiates downwards and puts me out of action.

Hope they find something to help your pain. Hurting is so exhausting!!

>105 johnsimpson: Sorry you are in so much pain, John.
I hope the doctors at the Muskuloskeletal department can find some relief for you.

>110 RebaRelishesReading:, Hi Reba my dear, i hope the end result of the physio session is a referral for a scan. I can deal with some pain, which is normal during the October to early April time but this neck pain is messing with my mind.

>111 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, thanks for your message, i just want them to do a full body scan really to find all the pain areas. They are also supposed to be checking my feet to find out a) why is one either red hot or ice cold and the other normal temperature and B) why i lose feeling in my foot and i stumble, this only lasts a few seconds but enough that if i am not careful, i could fall down the stairs.

>105 johnsimpson: Sorry to hear that you are having ongoing pain issues! Definitely not fun. Hopefully some physio will help and that the pain diminishes soon.

Constant pain is debilitating; mentally and physically. I hope you find some relief with the recommended therapies. And that some good reading (if you are able to concentrate) will take you away for a time.

Hi John - I'm just checking in after a couple of weeks of minimal reading and LT visits. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this pain... as several others have noted, pain like that is so exhausting for both mind and body. I hope you are able to get some relief soon. Sending healing thoughts from Seattle, where autumn has arrived as well!

>114 figsfromthistle:, Hi Anita my dear, i had my appointment at the Physio this afternoon, a lovely chap called Michael went through some questions to get a handle on my pain issues and then did an examination of my neck. He could see that i was in pain and has arranged three sessions of physio to try and get me some relief and find out whereabouts the pain is , deep in the muscles or nerve areas. I am open-minded about this but there was no mention of any scans being done.

>115 benitastrnad:, Hi Benita my dear, the pain in my neck and shoulder area is annoying as well as debilitating, i had my physio appointment and after answering a lot of questions he examined my neck. I am booked in for three sessions of physio starting in two weeks, i can only have three sessions and no mention of any scans being done. I will see how things go and if not satisfied i will go back to my doctor.

>116 PlatinumWarlock:, Hi Lavinia my dear, the neck and shoulder pain is as much annoying as debilitating. I went for my physio appointment today and answered a lot of questions so he could get a handle on my pain issues. He examined my neck and then booked me in for three sessions of physio starting in two weeks time. No mention of any scans being done, if things don't go to plan, i will go back to my doctor.

My reading is not too bad at the moment.

Hi, John! It's been forever since I've been round the threads, so apologies. I really hope your physio sessions will start helping you.

>120 scaifea:, Hi Amber my dear, i hope that i can get some relief from the physio sessions but i really want afresh scan done to ascertain where all the problems are and a change of meds, my current meds are barely taking the edge off the pain. I try not to feel haggard with the pain as it is not a good look at 60. I try to maintain positivity and being on here and reading helps.

Back pain is so debilitating. There's so little one can do when afflicted and everything is done at a much higher drain. I do hope it will ease a bit even before you can get treatment but especially that the treatment will be effective and long lasting.

It has been a long time since I visited. I hope that they are able to give you some relief for your neck and shoulder pain soon. That's the hard part about getting older. That and all the medical stuff you get to go through. The description of your colonoscopy sounds similar to what we have here although we don't have medical shorts.

>70 johnsimpson: Your description of a scarecrow festival was of interest because I came across one when I visited Charlottetown recently. I'd never seen one before. The scarecrows were very imaginative.

>122 quondame:, Hi Susan my dear, i first put my back out when i was Seventeen and with being tall and working in the Coal Mining industry, this was not a good combination. Over the years whenever i felt pain in my back, it was Ralgex cream and Neurofen for two or three days. I had incidences of back pain after leaving the mining industry and then while playing with the kids in 1991, i felt a twang and it has gradually got worse over the intervening years.

I had physio, saw the Orthopaedic consultants, had nine Cortisone injections, had six injections, 3 either side of the spine under surgical conditions. I had two operations to part the nerves from my spine, i saw an Osteopath and spent £600 over 30 consultations and still nothing improved. I have been on Fentanyl patches now for twenty years and six years ago i finally had an MRI Scan and found out what the problem was. They reduced my patches and also put me on Duloxetine to compensate for the loss on the Fentanyl and now i have severe pain in my neck and shoulders as the arthritis in my spine travels up and down. Hopefully another scan will show something and they will look at my meds to see if it worth trying something else.

Thanks for stopping by my dear friend.

>123 Familyhistorian:, Hi Meg my dear, getting older is no fun, that's for sure. I hope that the three physio sessions will help a bit but ultimately i need another Scan doing to see what damage has been done and then hopefully they will re-assess my meds as they are not really touching the pain.

The village Scarecrow festival weekend has been going for six years now and a good number of residents make Scarecrows and a lot of villagers have a good walk around the village following a map to see them. They can vote for their favourite and a winner is announced form each of the four areas of the village at 5pm on the Sunday. There are refreshments and cakes etc at the village hall and Karen has done some baking for them each year as she does for the Village Car Show. It is always lovely to see how many families turn out to support the event as they do other events organised by the ladies and a couple of men of Working for Walton.

The final event of each year is the Christmas lights switch on at the Village Hall, the road is closed and entertainment is provided and then at 6pm the Christmas tree is lit up as is the Village Hall. During the summer, Hanging Baskets are placed on lamp posts around the village, these are sponsored by businesses in the village as well as residents and then in November, small Christmas trees lit by solar power are put up in the Hanging Baskets place. There is also a Christmas Tree outside the Village Pub that is lit up and we have a small Christmas tree at the bottom of the hill from the Pub and this is decorated by villagers with a bauble and a tag to remember loved ones who are no longer with us and this is usually full of baubles.

Thanks for stopping by Meg my dear friend.

Finished book 37 on the 19th October, Full Circle by Danielle Steel, PB - 347 pages.

' A husband, security, a home, children - what's wrong with all that?'

At Eighteen years old, beautiful Tana Roberts found it hard to say. All she knew was that for her, career came before marriage - even if that meant defying convention and going against the wishes of her fussing, over-protective Mother.

Throughout the turbulent Sixties, Tana followed her heart wherever it led her, searching for fulfilment in her work as a highly successful lawyer, in friendships, and in fleeting affairs. Until one day, quite unexpectedly, she discovered a gaping void in her life that only true love could fill...

>124 johnsimpson: While my current acute back issues are mostly aging discs, an auto accident at 26 which broke open my pelvic bone also did a number on the softer but less resilient tendons and ligaments of my lower back and a inadvised lift of a 125lb friend ending in a torsion got my mid back 5 years later, so I always pay attention when the pain gets above 3 and slow down.

>126 johnsimpson:. Hi Susan my dear, you certainly know all about severe back pain and like you i pay attention to my body and rest when i think that doing anything will exacerbate the pain. Occasionally what starts out as a simple job, where i stop periodically to rest becomes more complicated and because i have started, it has to be finished and by the end i am in screaming agony.

Simple jobs like cleaning the kitchen, which i did on Tuesday, caused my neck to ache simply because the units are slightly lower than is normal, the previous occupants were both on the short side. This meant leaning slightly to clean surfaces and bending over to do the cupboard fronts. All this and the weather recently has been cold and wet which never helps me.

Finished book 38 of 2023 on the 25th, A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson, PB - 288 pages.

Near the village of Helmthorpe, Swainsdale, the body of a well-liked local historian is found half-buried under a drystone wall. Harry Steadman has been brutally murdered. But who would want to kill such a thoughtful, dedicated man?

Chief Inspector Alan Banks is called in to investigate and soon discovers that disturbing secrets lie behind the apparently bucolic facade. It is clear that young Sally Lumb, locked in her lover's arms on the night of the murder, knows more than she is letting on. And her knowledge could lead to danger...

>129 johnsimpson: I'm about due for another visit with Banks. I make progress each year, but there are so many to read/listen to!

>128 johnsimpson: That’s so familiar John! Bending over slightly can make my back hurt as well. Having things right for your size is so important!

>129 johnsimpson: Sounds good!

Finished book 39 just before midnight on the 31st October, Death and Croissants by Ian Moore, PB - 278 pages.

The disappearance of a guest is one thing, but you don't mess with a fellow's hens.

Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard and that's the way he likes it.

One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, the only trace a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the enigmatic Valerie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance.

Then things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens.

Checking in on you, John. I do hope that you get some relief from your pain soon!

>132 johnsimpson: That one sounds fun!

Yeah, it does sound fun!

I'm very sorry to read that you are having so much pain, John. I hope you can get some relief soon. I hope you can get your scan soon , and get some help with your meds. Many years ago when I was about 48, I had some terrible pain which I mistook for abdominal pain. I had problems with an ulcer in the past and I thought that was what it was. I visited the ER ( Emergency ) and they thought it might be pancreatitis, and within a day they did CT scan and found nothing. So I suffered along with a quite a lot of pain for several months and used a heating pad every day. Finally I suspected perhaps I had osteoporosis, and went to my family doctor and he ordered an X Ray. It turned out I do have osteoporosis. On the x ray they could see that I had a healed compression fracture in my spine. Anyway , thankfully that pain is long behind me, but I am careful with what I do physically to avoid another fracture in my spine. I can understand to a certain extent how painful and frustrating back pain in. Hugs, John.

>125 johnsimpson: Your village observances sound like fun, John. I hope that you've had your scan and things are looking up for you so you can take part in the celebrations to come.

>132 johnsimpson: Hello, John! Just dropping by after some weeks preoccupied with other things. I hope your pain isn't weighing too much on you this weekend. I loved your description of the Christmas tree that is decorated to remember those no longer with us... what a sweet tradition. My partner is Jewish, so we don't do much with Christmas - and my frustration with the commercialization of it contributes to my relative lack of interest - but hearing stories like yours reminds me of ways in which it can be meaningful. How lovely that your village celebrates that way.

Thanks for the mention, too, of Death and Croissants - honestly, I'd probably read almost anything set in a B&B in the Loire Valley!

Happy weekend to you. 😁

Hello dear friend. Sorry to hear about the back pain and I hope you find some relief soon. Congrats on finishing #39 -- not quite sure how death and croissants go together...! : )

>132 johnsimpson: I got a copy of that one in today and hope to get it read soon.

Thinking of you, John, and hope you and Karen are doing OK.

I'm really behind on threads and trying to catch up some this week. I'm sad to not see more posts here. I hope you and Karen are doing okay and that you found relief from the back pain.

It is the day before Thanksgiving here in the states and, like a few others on this thread, wondering were you are and if you are OK. I miss reading about your daily adventures. I hope things are good with you and Karen. I also wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that this fall you have had time to spend with friends and family as well as get your Christmas cakes baked.

Happy Thanksgiving to the Simpson household.

I am so grateful for this LT community despite being a bit neglectful this fall as things got busier than I imagined. Hope all is well.

John, I hope that you and Karen are ok mate. Please reach out if you need anything and I'll ask Hani to come to you both.

I hope you and Karen are doing okay, John. Big hugs from me to you and your family.

Checking in on you, John. I hope all is well there!

Thank you to my dear friends stopping by since my last post, Stasia, Lavinia, Karen, Jim, Kim, Paul, Deb, Lori, Meg and Benita. Things are rather fraught and hectic for us and i am finding that my time to be on here is limited.

Some of you may remember that i posted in late July 2021 that things had gone a bit pear shaped BUT it wasn't anything to do with Elliott. Just over three weeks ago it was finally resolved and we thought that was the end of things, the calm lasted for four days before (pardon my language) the shit hit the fan.

Just for a bit of background and this does not excuse anything, Andy has autism and ADHD, this was diagnosed in his mid to late forties. When Andy was quite young, social workers met with his parents and offered to take him into care as he was quite a handful, this was the late 1970's when very little was known about autism and ADHD, etc and playgroups and schools did not know what to do with children with these conditions.

In March/April Andy was given a link to an app by a "friend", it turned out that this female "friend" had a thing for Andy, Andy loaded the app and wished he hadn't done, anyway in July the police came mob handed and he was arrested. We got a frantic call from Amy and shot over after Karen's dental appointment. Later that day he was released on bail, i drove over to collect him along with his dad. The conditions of his bail was that he could not sleep at home and so has been staying with his parents.

Slowly move forward 27 months and Andy pleaded guilty at the Magistrates court but had it had to go to the Crown court for sentencing. I along with his Dad attended Court and Andy received a two year suspended sentence. We left Court and until Social Services give the OK, he would continue to stay with his parents.

The sentencing was on the Thursday, the following Tuesday i got back from my first physio session to find Karen on the phone with Andy's sister Helen. I was handed the phone and she informed me that his parents had left him a letter and he had to find alternative accommodation as they could no longer cope. They had gone to his Mum's sisters' and then his eldest sister Julia would be collecting them and taking them to her house in Redcar. I told Helen i would ring her back in five minutes and spoke to Karen, i decided that i would go over to his parents and meet Helen to read the letter before Andy saw it as i wanted to be sure what the contents were. I quickly ate my tea, made a drink in the travel mug and packed an overnight bag. I shot through to Thorpe Willoughby and met Helen and we read the letter. Basically they said that they did not know their Son but hoped that things would eventually sort themselves out but they needed some space.

Helen and I went over to Amy and Andy's and had a chat and then Helen made her way home and i took Andy back to his Mum's and stayed overnight. The following morning i took Andy home and then went through to his Auntie Lesley's to talk to his Mum and Dad. I managed a short chat and got Andy a three day stay in their house before his sister's Julia and Dawn appeared and i was told that i was deluded, it was all in the online York Mix magazine., They would rather believe the online report which had errors than someone who was in court. The upshot was that i had to leave and since then he has been disowned by his parents, two sisters and his brother, they have pestered Helen to change her mind otherwise she would be disowned. Helen has stoodfast with Andy and so has Amy and both Karen and I are standing by him. He has made a major mistake and is paying for it, he has lost some friends and so can no longer do the podcast that was doing well.

All this means that i now pick him up the night before his shift and i now see two 3.50am alarm calls and two 4.50am alarm calls to get him to work for 5am and 6am respectively.

I have struggled to express this as much as i have needed to, to explain my absence from here as you have been kindly asking about me. We are both angry, Karen especially but we have kept quiet so far, waiting for his Mum and Dad to get in touch with us as his Mum intimated to me. His sister Julia told me that Wednesday morning that she had never liked Andy (the feeling is mutual) and that they only came to the wedding because her daughter Emily was a bridesmaid ( if i had known this it would have saved me £240). Amy has sent presents she had bought for them, back and we have all deleted them from social media, both Karen and I have kept his Mum and Dad for the time being.

I hope this explains my absence and future absences, i will set up for 2024 but as of now my reading has suffered and i do miss coming on here. I hope that you do not think badly about both Karen and I, Andy has done wrong but as the Judge said, he had done nothing prior to March 2021 or since April 2021 and has taken steps to make amends. We both believe that he has and is paying for this and we as a family along with his sister Helen and BIL Andrew also believe that he has fallen into a phishing trap and is collateral damage in the giant scheme that the FBI is investigating and has an agent infiltrating the site. I fully understand if you no longer wish to be associated with me because of our decision to stand by our Son-in-law. Thank you.

>146 johnsimpson: You are brave to stand with Andy.
Completely understand this takes a lot of your time, John. I hope all calms down, so you will have more time to read in the future.
Sending hugs and a lot of love for all of you.

Wow - that's really strange - how does a Link to an app end up with criminal charges?

So good that you and Karen are finding the strength to deal with all of your Family.

We are all here to listen!

>147 FAMeulstee:, Hi Anita my dear, it was hard to write through the tears but we have kept things to ourselves apart from a friend that Karen needed with her on the Tuesday night when i went to stay with Andy. I regard you all as good friends who will not judge me (i hope) despite what Andy has done but it was an aberration on his part that he did not really understand but he will pay heavily for. After finding out he was to be disowned he actually said to me that if this is the case, why didn't they take up the offer they were given and put him into care, he has never really been understood but Amy does and knows how to deal with him and he would do anything for Amy and now Elliott. Thank you my dear friend.

>148 m.belljackson:, Hi Marianne my dear, it depends on where the app takes you, we believe he was set up in part but obviously he clicked the links and then went down a very dark hole, unaware of the potential consequences. I am not happy about that but this is not what the Andy of 12 years of knowing, is. Sadly his family want to believe an online rag rather than someone who was in Court to listen.

Thank you my dear for for your comment about being there for me.

Bye for now, it will shortly be time for the first of three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials to start.

John, I'm wishing I could make you a very strong pot of tea, with biscuits. You are clearly trying to do the best as you see it and I think that's all any of us can ever do.

I am sorry for what you all are going through. I'm sorry his parents cannot be more like the Prodigal Son's father.

>146 johnsimpson: I fully understand if you no longer wish to be associated with me because of our decision to stand by our Son-in-law. Thank you.

Sorry, I think I misread that. Why do you think your friends here would think less of you because of that decision? You stand by Andy and we stand by you. As I understand it, that is the way friends and family works.

((Hugs)) to you and Karen, John.

I'm so sorry you have been dealing with all this , John, Karen, Amy, and family. I'm so sorry that Andy's family had disowned him, save for his sister. Of course I think no less of you, John and family. I am proud of for standing by Andy and Amy and your grandson. What family does not have it's very trying times. Many of us, though we may not be brave enough to tell people. It sure sounds to me like Andy got caught up in bad phishing scheme. Love and hugs to all you, my dear friends. Hang in there. Things will come right over time.

>147 FAMeulstee:, >148 m.belljackson:, >152 SandDune:, >153 thornton37814:, >154 alcottacre:, >155 vancouverdeb:, thank you all for your wonderful, supportive comments. It has been hard to finally be able to put it down in words that make sense, finding the time to get on the laptop has been a struggle, getting up early to take him to work and then get back and then take Karen to work, once i've done this i have needed to go to bed for two to three hours and then get on with my household jobs. Once i have picked Karen up from work and we have had our evening meal, i have little time before i am going to pick Andy up and bring him back here, so on those days i am doing 96 miles of driving and then add on the six miles taking Karen to work and back. I have no time to go off anywhere like i used on non-household jobs days. I thought there was only one 3.50 and 4.50 each day, and these were pm not am, lol.

You and Karen are doing the right thing with love and support at the core. Bob and I are sending all the healing energy we can and, of course, lots and lots of hugs.

>157 witchyrichy:, Karen my dear, thank you dear friend, it means a lot.

John, I don't know how you could think that any of us would want to abandon friendship with such a good man. Your story leaves out a little bit but not enough to realize that your supportive choices are admirable and for your SIL possibly life saving.

I am not autistic but I do suffer from depression and the last thing you want under such circumstances is a cold shoulder.

Take care my friend.

I am sorry to hear about your family troubles. Family can be irritating, difficult and complicated. It is a shame that Andy has been disowned by his parents but he is lucky to have you and Karen.

Sending ((hugs)) your way.

We're here for you, John. By supporting Andy, you're supporting Amy and Elliott (who perhaps need it as much as Andy now), and there is nothing but good in that.

>156 johnsimpson: I thought there was only one 3.50 and 4.50 each day, and these were pm not am, lol.

Likewise! So glad to see you can still have your sense of humor through it all!

I am very sorry for all that has happened to you and family. I can only say that everyone could wish for such a loyal and caring father or father-in-law as you are proving yourself to be. Big hugs, John.

>146 johnsimpson: I respect what you are doing and wish you strength with the difficult path you are on. I hope for all of you that things will smooth out. Meanwhile know you are welcome to share and vent here and that your LT family will offer what comfort we can.

The 75ers stick together through thick and thin, John. It is who we are. We may never have met in person, but that does not make a less of a family. We will do what we can for you, to love and support you, just as you are doing for Andy.

>146 johnsimpson: I have been involved some 40 years back with someone caught with probably more guilt than Andy, and know that your choice is valid for you. People are difficult and sometimes even dangerous, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth supporting.

The Atlantic Monthly Magazine now has a feature article on "Six Books to change the way you think about Mental Illness."
It looks like a promising list.

I respect and admire you, and your family, for sticking by Andy - hitting someone while he is down is never a good way to go.

>159 PaulCranswick:, >160 figsfromthistle:, >161 kac522:, >162 EllaTim:, >163 RebaRelishesReading:, >164 alcottacre:, >165 quondame:, >166 m.belljackson:, >167 CDVicarage:, Thank you very dear friends, it has been hard to read these lovely comments through tears, they mean so much to me and Karen.

Once the verdict was through and Andy put a post on the family Whatsapp group, no one considered Amy and what she has gone through especially as Elliott was only two months old when all this started.

Robert and Louise came over on the Sunday after the sentencing, Rob has not long since started a job with West Yorkshire Police taking 101 and 999 emergency calls and had been told not to come into contact with Andy until it was sorted out. He is in his probationary period and we understood his predicament, he said that because they live a distance apart, they do not contact each other much and in a sense they have their own lives. Louise was a bit more forthright, she said Andy was very manipulative (pot and kettle came to mind but i held my tongue) and that Amy should leave him as she has never liked him. I said that i thought that strange as they always chatted about films etc and she loved his impressions, she said this was due to her autism and that she was mirroring with him. I thought that because they have both got Autism, she would understand but needless to say, i disagreed and was glad when they left.

Rob is working on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day and so it will be a less fraught Xmas day as Louise always seemed to have a trauma that spoilt the day slightly. We have put up with a lot from Louise over the years and i think she conveniently forgets this.

Doctor Who last night was very good, the first of the three 60th anniversary specials explained a few things and i will say no more so as not to spoil it for you all.

Amy arrived with Elliott just after 7pm, Elliott was asleep and she dashed upstairs with him and put him to bed. Once Doctor Who finished we chatted and had a drink before i came on here and she did some Cross Stitch that she had brought with her. Andy was going home when he finished work as i had Karen to pick up at 10pm.

This morning we awoke with the alarm and i went downstairs to make Karen a pot of tea and i made myself a coffee in the travel mug. I took Karen her drink and then got dressed before going to do my teeth and wash my face, Elliott came in to see me before he joined his mum and grandma in our bed. I gave Karen a kiss and went to collect Andy.

Once we got back we had breakfast and Elliott then played with his toys while we chatted. We had another drink or two and then while Andy went up to bed as he was not feeling too good, we went up to the Social Club to have a peruse of the village Christmas fair. Karen bought Elliott a handmade Reindeer made of a flannel and also a bracelet, he loves jewellry. I spotted a book stall and came away with six books, once home i checked against my lists and only doubled up on one, it only cost me 50p and so went into the box of books for a charity once Amy has had a good look at what is in there.

We had a drink and then Karen made lunch for all of us, we played with Elliott and his toys before getting well wrapped up to go to the village hall for the village Christmas light up. We walked to the village hall and once there went and got some coffee and hot chocolate before going back outside to listen to the Crofton Silver Band and watch a local dance troupe. There was a parade of schoolchildren from the village Infant and Junior school with their homemade lanterns, some were globes and following this Santa arrived on the back of a pickup truck to the sound of Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade. Elliott was on Andy's shoulders so he could get a good view of what was going on and he loved it.

As we made our way through the crowd, about 1,000 people were in attendance, i bumped into one of the Working for Walton volunteers who was involved in putting the lights up on the village hall and also putting up the tree and decorating it yesterday, and i thanked him and the rest of the volunteers for everything they do throughout the year. He just said that he loves doing it to which i replied that seeing a crowd like this must make them feel proud of what they do for the village. We wished each other a Merry Christmas in case we do not see each other between now and the big day.

Once home, Amy got her and Elliott's things together and went to her car, Andy is staying as i will be taking him to work at 5am tomorrow morning.

Sorry to hear about the family squabbles. I also had a sister who was arrested (falsely as it turned out, but still traumatic for all of us) and an in-law who was arrested and jailed. He was in poor health and ended up in the hospital for the last month of his life. That left his case up-in-the-air and as a result many people believe that he was guilty and they are not afraid to say so, even though he is no longer able to defend himself. (He died in July.) The charges against him were dropped on his death, but that leaves lots of room for gossip and storytelling.

These things are hard, and loyalties are stretched to the maximum in this kind of circumstance. You have to do what you feel is right and that will have its own consequences. You just have to support your daughter and be there for your grandson. Your son-in-law also needs support and guidance at this time. Hang in there.

John, I'm a bit late to reading your news but wanted to add my voice of support. Family controversy is always stressful and your situation would test anyone's limits. Stay strong and continue to do what feels right.

Just visiting after a while and saw your posts about the family. Your decision to stand with Andy is a good one. So sorry that this is happening to your family.

I was wondering what happened when you weren't posting, John. Sorry to see that it has been an emotional and divisive time for your family. Keep your chin up as you all navigate this trying episode.

>170 benitastrnad:, >171 lauralkeet:, >172 drneutron:, >173 Familyhistorian:, Thank you for your kind messages and support, it means a lot to to me.

Another hectic week, Monday was a 4.50am start and proceeded to be a long day, once back i made a pot of tea and quietly perused my phone until i heard Karen get up. I waited five minutes and then made her a pot of tea for when she got down. We had breakfast, a pot of tea and our meds before i took her to work.

I got back and went to bed for a couple of hours before making a pot of tea and reading and then i found that Karen had left me some sandwiches for lunch. Before i knew where i was, it was time to go and pick Karen up from work. Later i managed to get on LT before it was time to go and collect Andy.

On Tuesday morning it was a 3.50am start, i dropped Andy off and once back i went up to the spare bed and managed 90 minutes sleep before the alarm went off and i heard Karen get up. While we were having breakfast, Karen checked her phone and found that Andy had been stood around as the rota had been changed and somehow they had forgotten to notify Andy. Luckily for Andy, his supervisor clocked him off an hour after his supposed finishing time so that he would not lose an hour's pay.

I took Karen to work and then quickly popped into town to do some banking and then made my way home. I made myself a coffee and then got dressed for the funeral of an old friend and workmate who had died whilst on holiday. I got dressed and then left for the Crematorium and the service. There was a big turnout as was the case for his old shift mate Frank, 14 months previous. Once the service was done we made our way the short distance to the King's Croft hotel for the funeral tea. Sadly we seem to be attending more funerals than reunions.

I left after a couple of hours, chatting with old workmates and with Lynn's wife Susan, they had been married for 51 years, Susan was 18 and Lynn was 20 when they married.

I got home and had a pot of tea and then cleaned the bathroom before going to pick Karen up from work. Again i managed to get on here before going to pick Andy up.

On Wednesday morning i went to collect Elliott, we joke that i am doing a hostage swap, Andy for Elliott. Once Elliott was firmly in his seat we went our separate ways, i got home with Elliott and we had breakfast. Karen said that i had no need to go and pick Hannah up from school as she was off, ill, bless her.

After breakfast we went and did our shopping at Aldi, i stayed in the car while Elliott went with Karen, he loves shopping with grandma. Once back we put everything away and then played with Elliott before he wanted to watch Spot on Youtube. We had some lunch and expected Elliott to fall asleep but he wasn't for sleeping. He tired about 5.30pm and we had some tea and then Karen took him for a bath and then his bedtime story. He came down for his milk and gave me a goodnight kiss.

We had a nice evening, it didn't take long for Elliott to fall asleep and again i came on here while Karen watched something on iplayer.

The following morning we awoke at 7.30am and Elliott had not joined us or woken us earlier, he was playing with some toys but joined us while i made our pot of tea. We finished our tea and quickly got washed and dressed and had breakfast before setting off to York to have a look at the Christmas market.

Elliott was an absolute angel, i took him up the escalators in Marks and Spencer's as we needed the toilet and then we went outside while Karen got a couple of bits from the foodhall. We wandered around the market sheds and picked up a couple of bits and Elliott was given a chocolate lolly to try, he loved it. We called into Costa Coffee for a coffee and a pastry and he kept the couple next to us amused, they were surprised that he was only two and a half. Once done we headed out and wandered to a few shops, Karen picked up a few small items and i took Elliott into Waterstones bookshop. He wanted to go upstairs so that is what we did, he was as good as gold. We met back up with Karen and then made our way back to the car and headed to Selby and waited for both Andy and Amy to arrive home.

We had tea with them and some dessert before we left with Andy for home.

Friday morning was a 3.50am start but i got up at 3.45am as i knew the car would need to be defrosted. This time he was starting at 5am, i dropped him off and made my way home and once home made myself a pot of tea and quietly perused my phone until i heard Karen stir, i waited five minutes and then made Karen a pot of tea. Karen had her pot of tea and a bite to eat and then i took her to work. I made my way home and had my breakfast and watched some news before i made my way back to Asda to do our little bit of shopping.

Once done i put the shopping in the car and then made my way into Wakefield to do the banking as Karen had been paid. Once i was all done i got back to the car and headed to Cousin Kate's in Calverley with some of Amy's Polly Pocket sets for her daughter Violet. We have kept a few for Elliott as he is fascinated with them. I dropped them off with Kate's husband, James and then made my way home. On the way i had to call and get some fuel and it was 12.10pm when i got back home. I unpacked and put the shopping away and then emptied the washing machine and put the clothes on the airers. I had my lunch and a pot of tea while watching the lunchtime news, luckily i had finished my pot of tea as the last thing i saw was the news but woke up to Father Brown.

I made a coffee in the travel mug and took Karen's energy drink and went to collect her from work.

>176 johnsimpson:
I love the European Christmas markets. I was lucky enough to go to the one in Belfast back in 2007 and have been to several German Christmas markets. The last one I was at was in Augsburg, Germany. It came complete with a small high school brass band playing Christmas songs on the street. It was beautiful. So was the tea and Gingerbread cake from the local bakery in the afternoons.

Gracious, John, what a lot you and your family have been through lately. I hope things settle down some over the next few weeks.

I enjoyed the first of the Doctor Who specials and have yet to watch the second - I may wait 'til Tuesday night as a treat after work.

It's nice to see you back posting, John but your new routine sounds very tiring.

I add my outreach to you regarding the pain of family squabbles. Sadly, this is prominent and hard to understand. My sister died four months ago. My sister and I tried very hard, to no impact to talk to her over a number of years regarding her alcohol abuse. She drank hard and fast and wasn't a good mother to her three girls.

She died of alcohol abuse at the age of 66.

I hope your family issues will soon be healed. i send love and healing thoughts, for both your emotional feelings, and your physical pain.

Just checking in on you, John! I hope that, despite the circumstances, you and yours have some time for holiday fun, especially where Elliott is concerned.