What a story. Jolly good luck to both of them. BBC News - Mum has a double lung transplant after giving birth at 24 weeks - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

And my radioactive zapping is done (hopefully forever). Can't praise the radiography team at Peterborough enough.

Ambulance with blue lights is trying to overtake a lorry. All the traffic on opposite side of the road is pulling over to let it through. Lorry completely oblivious. Why? Driver is too busy playing on his phone. Plank.

Read round the world challenge. As well as the official UK part of the challenge, am splitting by country (I read a lot of UK fiction!) - England author - Great Expectations / Charles Dickens. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this book and read it at a ferocious pace.

From @privateeyenews.bsky.social The Normans must be coming via East Anglia

An unexpected memory of my Mum. We used to have a pair of long eared owls perching on our TV aerial in S Wales. When they shuffled their feet the TV picture would go funny. Mum once apologised to a visitor explaining it was the owls. I think they thought she was mad, but it happened to be true...

Some interesting choices here. Have read 53 along with the odd volume from two of the multi-volume works (Forsyth saga and Lord of the rings) www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti...

So sorry to hear of the death of Mark Tully. I loved his book No full stops in India, his love for the country shone through.

Awww. BBC News - The 3,500-mile love story that started in an online horror game www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Did a back to back at the cinema today. Not planned at all, but the leads in both films were played by actors who had previously appeared in The Crown.

The history of sound - what a beautiful, gentle film.

How could I have forgotten how funny Great Expectations is? Laughing out loud at the Christmas Dinner scene.

Read round the world challenge. UK author - The cautious traveller's guide to the wastelands / Sarah Brooks. Wonderful steam punk fantasy set on a re-imagined Trans-Siberian express. A bit different to my usual reads, but thoroughly enjoyable.

That's the way to keep a promise. Great ending to #Traitors.

Another radiotherapy session, this time in a different machine. This was too much for my brain to take in as I got completely confused entering reception from a different direction. Next time must remember map and compass.

Much amused listening to Cerys Matthews' review of the year to learn that Swiss cheeses were made big and round so that they could easily be rolled down a mountain

Ordered something online a few days ago which I didn't realise was coming from China. It arrived at Heathrow, who have now sent it by air to Glasgow. Presumably it will now travel by road from Glasgow, when I actually live nearer Heathrow...

I always wondered where the stork dropped them off...

Despite the horrendous review in the Guardian, I loved the film Rental Family. So much better than the comedic trailers would lead you to believe. Beautiful shots of Japan too.

Helpful message from Waitrose following the problems the other day. The matter will be dealt with "infernally". I hadn't realised Old Nick was working there... :-D

Read round the world challenge - Japan author. The city and its uncertain walls / Haruki Murakami. My favourite Murakami so far. Just chimed with my mood. Beautiful novel about loss, consolation and the joy of books.

...And I went to a book orphanage and adopted these three thanks to a festive book token.

On the up side popped into Ely cathedral and found these beautiful icons painted onto ammo boxes from the war in Ukraine

In other news. Am starting radiotherapy tomorrow, so today was the ideal day to come home and find an advert for cut price cremations through the letterbox.

Dischuffed with Waitrose. Bought something last week but didn't have my phone on me with Waitrose loyalty card. A helpful staff member (there were complications with the purchase) told me I could scan it next time I was in (makes sense this happens with other loyalty cards). Went in today with...

Glad it's done well. Not my favourite animation ever, but I do have a very soft spot for the Zootropolis franchise. BBC News - Zootropolis 2 becomes Hollywood's biggest animated film ever - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

More goose related news. To be fair Gary isn't a particularly grumpy goose, just, like Greta Garbo, he likes to be alone. BBC News - Cambs house buyers warned of 'resident goose' called Gary - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I now feel even angrier about this. The gall of criticising Arthur Rank while knowing what the decision would mean for patients and staff. BBC News - Risk of corridor deaths discussed over hospice cut in Cambridge - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I have been feeling a lot of anger lately due to our political climate. Dolly made this video today for her 80th birthday to benefit pediatric cancer. We can’t lose hope. youtu.be/McaD2PG8jOE

Headline of the week...BBC News - Chip wreck! Thousands of chips wash ashore on beach www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thoroughly (and unexpectedly) enjoyed Song Sung Blue about a Neil Diamond tribute act. Great performances from Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. A feel good film, but also with some really dark moments in it.

I love the work Mia has done. BBC News - Wisbech embroiderer releases Bayeux Tapestry pattern book - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bullying is never a good look. BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1... Trump tariffs: US president announces plan to hit UK, Denmark and other European countries with tariffs over Greenland - BBC News

BBC News - The mysterious singer with millions of streams - but who (or what) is she? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Discovered that pre-Mendelssohn, Hark the herald, with slightly variant words, was sung to Christ the Lord is risen today, with added hallelujahs. Fun to sing.

Working from home today with almost back to back Zoom and Teams meetings. As soon as I took my headphones off was blasted by the sound of incoming loudly honking swans. Looks as though this corner of the Fens is swan holidaying central.

What a mean thing to do....BBC News - Marholm villagers' shock at theft of sculpted bench - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

And is anyone in Fenland surprised by this? Nope. The roads are truly dreadful. BBC News - Cambridgeshire's road repair backlog bill stands at £800m - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Having a sleepless night, so perhaps looking at the Doomsday clock was not the best idea. Oh for those cheering days post-the fall of the Berlin Wall. thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...

How fascinating. www.msn.com/en-gb/news/n...

Reduced a colleague to giggles this morning as I went mad with a pot of WD40 and threatened to use it next on my knees #TrustMeImAMusicLibrarian #AndOver60

Lovely Gary, our celebrity goose. I sometimes spot him when I'm visiting the library. BBC News - Pin of 'antisocial' March goose to be sold for charity - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Hoorah! BBC News - Red Arrows get first woman leader www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Another Simenon, another Read round the world challenge done, with The watchmaker of Everton set in the United States. Mine had a plain Companion book club cover, this one looks rather more exciting.

Another Simenon for the Read round the world challenge - Red lights. Set in the United States, it's classic noir in which an innocent trip to pick up the kids from summer camp goes horribly wrong. I know I'll read more set in the US later in the year, so have gone for Belgium, Simenon's homeland.

@stevesparshott.bsky.social Sorry I took so long to get back to you on this. The cover designer and illustrator of Something of his art was Ed Kluz. Hope that's the name you were looking for

A few Reading round the world challenges completed today. United Kingdom - J.L. Blackhurst's fun cosy crime Three card murder, and for France, a wonderful Simenon, Maigret and the young girl. Paris comes alive reading him.

That was a little odd. Paid off a credit card, and got a snotty email from them to say that they've reduced my credit. As I now don't owe them anything (and don't intend to again) that's absolutely fine, but a strange reaction to giving them money.

That was a very traditional start to the library year - a reader searching for a pencil sharpener #TrustMeImAMusicLibrarian

Just in case you hadn't realised that the place where I live is slightly nutty... www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/2574912...