Book 4 from the pile this year is a Xmas gift from 2024. It's been a while since I read something mainstream and I unexpectedly enjoyed the cut of its funny and thought provoking jib. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/l...

In case you're hard of threading, there's more where that previous quote post came from.

Read the ALT text and join us.

This reminds me that one of our great-nieces thinks her dad supports Manchester Benighted. She's only 5. Child genius.

Mostly thanks to the lurgy, I'm doing well on my list of 45 books I want to read this year. Book 3 was engaging and fascinating. I'll think about cherry trees and Japan's 20th century politicisation of them differently after this one. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/c...

The Highway Code rule 112b: LED headlights

Second book of the year comforted me while battling the lurgy. Raising Hare is a beautiful account of the importance of nature to our lives and the need to prioritise mental health and relationships over work. It isn't twee, it's real and precise. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/r...

My first read of the year was a cracker. I've owned Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch for almost 11 years. Its heft and not liking The Little Friend put me off. I decided to read it for my Year of Reading Women and couldn't put it down. It's magnificent. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2026/01/10/t...

I wonder how that person explains Cloud Atlas (Lit Fic Award winner), Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Hugo winner) and Dune (Hugo & Nebula winner). Villager sits alongside these in my enjoyment of complex, rewarding literature. I increasingly think important book world people are idiots.

Well, this feels wholly appropriate for lots of reasons.

My subscription copy arrived today and is the first new book of 2026 to be added to my library.

Allergy revenge = needing to drink Beecham's Hot Lemon to fight the incipient pharyngitis.

This morning at the bus stop. 7.45am looking like midnight. #winterblues

I've installed the latest #archives display at work, part of the celebrations for the first 150 years of Oldham Rugby League Football Club. We've got archives, objects and an AV collection on the sound kiosk. #ORLFC

Some excellent book news. I'm crossing everything that all does go well with the contract.

PSA: When you have a dust allergy, it's not a good idea to reorganise 'under the bed' without wearing a mask. Not even to stop your cat wedging herself into a space in the middle that is technically smaller than her body to evade capture. Your nose, throat and ears will not appreciate the assault.

The tree and the decorations are down. The house is back to ordinary again. I haven't chalked the door, had the house blessed or indulged in merrymaking or apple wassailing. I mean, what is wrong with me? #12thnight

You spend a morning reading in bed, and THIS happens. UGH #ihatesnow

I visited these bins in Saltaire on Sunday, crouched in an alley, uncertain about the future but calmed by a brilliance in the night sky. They told me they awaited the Great Bin Wagon, which would relieve them of their inner heaviness.

Got this for Xmas. It's good because I'm learning about different places, but it's also bad because I'm not great at cryptic. I'm linear and went in gung-ho with a sequential approach. The first moderate gale clues made me want to break things. Now picking off the light breezes instead.

Views from a walk along the Bridgewater Canal today. My sciatica briefly thanked me for this walk by pissing off for a bit. I've sat uncomfortably again since, so it's saying 'Hiya!' again. 👍🏻

I wrote a year end/looking forward thing about books read and to be read, because that's a thing people do and I felt I should, too. I don't know why. You can read it if you like that sort of thing thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2025/12/31/2...

My last read of the year was one of my Christmas presents. Wes Anderson is my favourite director and the catalogue from the current Design Museum exhibition ticked all the boxes for me. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/w... #BookSky

My best friend buys me brilliant presents. This year, I've received a felted tabby brooch and a clowder of paper cats to fold. I made one today that has the same pleading 'feed me' face as Sapphire.

I have been summoned to a meeting and asked to think about what I've done.

Busy morning because I couldn't be bothered making a mincemeat Bakewell tart last night. That'll learn me. (It won't.) The tart will be travelling across the Pennines later and is the fulfilment of a long overdue promise.

Book 35 of the 40 I aimed to read from my backlog this year was Bindlestiff by Wayne Holloway published by @influxpress.bsky.social A satire on Hollywood filmmaking, it centres on a film about a hobo in the speculative dystopia of a post-federal USA. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2025/12/27/b...

Sapphy Claus has been! The best present giver has done well. I've already de-pilled two jumpers, can't wait to drown people out with the noise cancelling headphones, will see Wes Anderson The Archives next year, and who doesn't love tiny Japanese stencils?

PIE Fresh out of the oven. Winter vegetable pie with a parmesan crust from Delia's Vegetarian Collection. I only had a piece of Christmas cake for my dinner. I am ready for my Christmas Eve tea. #wintervegetablepie #deliasmith #PIE

Sure, sweet shortcrust pastry is fine, but rich flan pastry is my favourite. I got my head around this oven actually working correctly, so these are baked to a tee.

Let me tell you, I am now of an age where even two small cocktails wreck my sleep. Consequently, I am not enjoying Christmas Eve morn and its raft of last minute food shopping admin.

Presents all wrapped. Rich flan pastry resting in the fridge for tomorrow's batch of mince pies. And Little My is floating in a cooking pot, enticing me with a margarita spiced with jalapeño.

I have finished work for the year. I have nowhere to be but my house tonight. Let the snowballing begin! Little My says, "Come in! The eggnog's lovely."

I have another #buyastrangerabook day offer to tell you about. @dustystacks.bsky.social is offering to buy one lucky person a copy of Tender by Lauren Du Plessis. I've added the description, so check it out. If you'd like a copy, just get in touch. UK only.

this made me so happy

Out upon the western plains the world turns once again; the ancient stones in magic light revive to banish darkness. Stonehenge in winter from an early linocut of mine from many years ago. #WinterSolstice #Stonehenge #WinterSolstice2025

Last night's giggage was the mighty Doves, who were magnificent. Although, I do miss Jimi on vox. Song highlights for me were House of Mirrors, Kingdom of Rust, Caught by the River, Black and White Town, Cedar Room and Darker.

To be honest, if you're after *any* sort of novel about an antique dealer who lives with a hyper-intelligent semi-aquatic folkloric creature who loves knitting this is probably your best bet.

A perfect book to read at any time, but definitely during the upcoming winter festivities. It's packed full of hope.

First batch of mince pies in the new(ish) oven. It's more efficient than the old one. The pies went 3 minutes over. Ah well. Still edible.

Jack is one of the loveliest people I have ever met. I'm not surprised he became a pigeon ambulance for Belinda. And who knew there was an underground rehabilitation network for pigeons?!

It's #buyastrangerabook day. People buy other people books cos they can and they're ace! @lnr.bsky.social has sent me some dosh to buy someone a book with (£15-£20), so if there's a particular book you're looking for, just ask! UK only

I have another #buyastrangerabook offer to tell you about. @61jab.bsky.social has sent me £20 to spend on kids books to give away. So if there's a particular kids book you'd like to get for a young person, let us know! UK only

More #buyastrangerabook day magic. If there's a kids book you'd like to get someone for Christmas, @thisnorthernboy.bsky.social is offering to buy it for you (up to £20). So, just let us know, if there's a specific book you'd like, and Rob will sort it out. UK only.

I made this tonight. It's mincemeat for the mince pies I'm going to make tomorrow night. Beer, brown sugar, grated Bramley, diced Braeburn, raisins, currants, sultanas, cranberries, prunes, lemon juice and zest, mixed spice, dairy free 'butter', spiced rum. Too right, you want some. #tistheseason

Winter on a Pembrokeshire Farm. Winter is a slow burn for me. I have to remember to light the candles;find the beauty in the bare branches against the grey skies, revel in the giant orange sun sinking early into dusk. It’s nature taking a rest. She needs to, as do we all.

It has taken me until today to notice that there's a correlation between the advent day and the number of people in the picture. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Book 34 of the 40 I planned to read this year was Fire Exit by Morgan Talty, a fascinating tale of poor decisions and the meaning of family partly set on the island reservation of the Penobscot Indian Nation. thinkaboutreading.wordpress.com/2025/12/14/f... #BookSky #YearOfReadingIndependently

Our campaign ends tomorrow night! More than 1,000 new members have joined, and you can join them - and pay what you choose for your first two months. manchestermill.co.uk/lp-1/