It was our Reading the World book group today and this month we were exploring South America - I've come away with a long list of recommendations and library reservations so how am I going to find time to read India for next month's discussions?! #BookSky #ReadTheWorld

Oh well two out of three nice days over a bank holiday was a bonus. Even today we just got back to the car in the dry. Missed the cuckoo but saw our first swifts of the summer so all in all not a bad day.

Another day with better than forecast weather and we can see spring marching forward as Ranworth was full of ducklings and goslings, the common terns are back & the ospreys are nesting happily. I also got to play hide and seek with a sedge warbler! 🪶🦉📷

I'm doing another raffle to raise some dosh for 2 schools. Tickets are just £2 each You can win ALL these SIGNED books + £50 to spend on books of your choice. The money raised is going on books for two amazing schools Details HERE. www.biggreenbookshop.com/big-green-ex... PLEASE REPOST.

I'm using a new camera set up as I can no longer easily carry and hold my Canon kit (too heavy & I'm just too unbalanced & unsteady post brain bleed) so I've got a mirrorless Olympus which is over 1kg lighter. Testing it with my solar filter today before August's eclipse. Lots of sunspots visible 📷🔭

Making headway into my current reads so slipped this one in as it’s due back at the library soon. If it hadn’t been on the International @thebookerprizes.com shortlist I’d never have picked it up but despite the horrible happenings it is utterly compelling and I can’t put it down! #ReadTheWorld

At first glance my two current reads appear to have nothing in common but as the time loopers in On The Calculation of Volume IV are discussing how to create a shared language between people from many countries the book is very similar to Hahn’s exploration of #translation in general. 📚💙 #BookSky

It might have been sunny with a clear blue sky when we walked today but the wind was stiff and really bringing the temperature down. Here’s hoping it eases soon and walks are warm and sunny…

A cat demanding that both of his staff worship him of an evening! 🐈‍⬛

A great walk today six butterfly species seen, 4 different warblers heard, plus a bittern booming just the other side of the river. No cuckoos yet however… Can’t believe the weekend is over again. 📷🦋

First pub garden lunch, and first Cromer crab of the season. Then an ice cream on the prom. All after a glorious walk in @nationaltrust.org.uk Sheringham Park. Theatre tonight so a busy weekend!

It is apparently #PuffinDay today and I was torn between posting a photo of a favourite book or a bird… A puffin from a trip to @rspb.bsky.social Bempton Cliffs from 2022 wins! 📷🐦🪶

1sr volunteering session in a month today & I mostly remembered how the cataloging system worked! Spent the afternoon pulling my thoughts together for tomorrow's #ReadTheWorld book group discussing North African books. I think The Ardent Swarm by Manai tr. Vergnand was my top read. 💙📚 #BookSky

I'm not a fan of oilseed rape (it used to trigger my hayfever) but the yellow against the blue sky with the red and white lighthouse was perfect today. Add in the numerous larks singing and the sand martin flocks zooming just above our heads and it was a perfect day at the coast. 📷🌼

I'm so useless today after staying up until silly o'clock watching the #ArtemisII return. Regretting taking our walk before lunch (in an effort to wake up) when it was wet as well as windy because it's really sunny now but you can't win them all. Nice to see the toothwort expansion this year tho! 📷

Ah bugger - a filling just fell out. Luckily it isn’t anywhere painful and just covers a hole that was caused by an inept orthodontist but still…as I had a brain haemorrhage whilst having dental treatment this fills me with dread. Lots of books and nature needed this weekend I feel!

Instead of Easter chocolate I treated myself to a new book from @bookshop.org which arrived this afternoon. It really couldn’t be more ‘me’ as I am fascinated by translation (tho I did flunk out of it as an undergrad) & have a MA in Shakespeare Studies. A book to read slowly! #BookSky 💙📚

Today’s walk lead to our first sparrowhawk sighting in our regular circuit and by careful timing we did it in full sunshine and warmth! Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see a full bluebell haze too.

While the news on waking this morning was better than it could have been it was still great to get out into the sunshine, look up, and just breathe. I never liked the proverb/curse 'may you live in interesting times'

Work this morning and then lunch and a walk with a friend. Then watched the bits of Artemis at the moon that I missed yesterday. Regret leaving that bubble and looking at the news.

Thought that this would amuse/appeal to @kermodeandmayo.bsky.social @simonmayo.bsky.social

Watching NASA tv coverage of the Artemis mission and loved the CAPCOM just quoting Rocky from Project Hail Mary - she really did say Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! (We replayed the section of audio to check!)

Ah yes, of course what I wanted for a sunny bank holiday was a migraine... Getting to test the new medication however - which tastes foul as it trickles down the back of my throat after being taken as a nasal spray. Now to play the game is it the migraine or the medication making me nauseous 🤢

Librarians need to decide what books to offer in their libraries; not the government or a few individuals. "Books are for use." (Ranganathan's 1st law of library science) #BookSky #BookBans

We got caught in an April shower this morning but before it started raining it felt very springlike with lots of greenery and bird song.

My #ReadingTheWorld project is introducing me to some incredible books but so often it is the heavier/serious books that I’m finding. Can people point me in the direction of the equivalent of our pop culture in translation? Glad I have a cat for cuddles as I read about the Khmer Rouge! #BookSky 💙📚

A bit late but my March round up of books and more is on my blog now. Hopefully I'll get the inspiration back soonish to actually review stuff properly 🤷🏻‍♀️ norfolkbookworm.blogspot.com/2026/04/marc... 💙📚 #BookSky

Lots of books read last month but only three new countries (Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia) and one Australian state (Victoria)visited by book so my map doesn’t look very different from last month. #ReadTheWorld 💙📚 #BookSky

Two of the selection that I’ve read and enjoyed made the shortlist and I’ve got two more ready to go very soon. My favourite so far is definitely Taiwan Travelogue #InternationalBooker2026

Testing out my new camera system today. For straight out of the box and just a bit of set up I'm quite impressed 📷

Hurrah the ospreys are back! Here's hoping they have a successful breeding season again. Lots of grebe mirror dancing too but no terns yet. #Norfolk #birds 🪶📷

It's my birthday soon and as my birthday present from the nhs is going to be my MMR vaccine (my records have been lost & while mum swears I had it the documentation just gives a due date in the 1970s) we went out for dinner tonight as a delicious Dim Sum restaurant. Shattered now but yummy food 🥢🥟

Struggling a bit with the third book for my current project so mixing it up with a graphic novel (in translation) from Egypt which will be good for our #ReadtheWorld meeting in April! 💙📚 #booksky

Back to work tomorrow after our travels & then a few days to get over it. My brain coped quite well with the stress caused by the delays, having to find extra hotels, and move our flight back to the UK from Amsterdam but I have crashed somewhat since. Was a great experience though #travel 📷

Fingers crossed we are flying towards home tomorrow and our hotel tonight would have excellent views for potential auroras after the current solar activity. However as it is snowing lots, blowing a scary gale and there's a -20 windchill I don't think we'll be going out... 🔭📷. #Iceland

Well we have a flight out of Iceland tomorrow now, but it will miss the connection in Amsterdam so desperately trying to get hold of Trailfinders to see if they can rebook our leg home

Ah. Stuck in Iceland as a horrific storm has blown up. It must be bad as even Iceland Air have cancelled their flights and this apparently happens really rarely. We don't know when or where we will get flights out too. All the benefits of the Blue Lagoon spa afternoon are vanishing... #travel

Our trip to Iceland is wonderful but I'm glad we've left it until this point in our lives & we can do everything we want - it is not a budget destination that's for sure! Being able to try the local food and drink is a really important part of travel for us and I'd hate to have missed out.

It wasn’t the best display ever but we did see the Northern Lights, even with the naked eye last night

Of course I’ve found the theatre and a bookshop here in Reykjavik. It was lovely to find @louiestowell.bsky.social Loki book translated into Icelandic

A long day travelling including a six hour layover in Amsterdam but we had to allow that much in case there were delays at the new immigration desks - which of course weren't in use today! 2 1/2 books read and all enjoyable but now for 3 days in Iceland! Only feels like -8 at the moment!

Spotted some wood anemone on our walk today which are just right for #whiteflower @wildflowerhour.bsky.social this week

First wood anemones and first chiffchaffs of the year spotted today. It’s now wet and windy so hard to believe we had a warm and sunny walk this morning. 📷

A relaxing day, a walk in the sunshine, lunch, finishing my book (enjoyable but didn’t realise it was the third part of a series although it ultimately didn’t matter) and the rugby. 💙📚

On annual leave for nearly two weeks now - hurrah! A travel adventure next week but hopefully some time for reading and relaxing too. Plus a long overdue catch up with a friend. I really enjoyed putting the out of office on - it feels like ages since I had a block of time off.

Currently looking for books by North African authors to get a head start on book group. Any recommendations for Algeria, Libya and Egypt? I think I’ve got Morocco and Tunisia covered. Also are Western Sahara and Sudan part of North Africa? #ReadTheWorld #BookSky 💙📚

WHAT IF YOU JUST READ A FUCKING BOOK

From a single reserve at Cley Marshes in 1926 to more than 60 sites today. Skylarks, wildflower meadows and restored wetlands are all part of the vision for Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s latest reserve as it marks one century of conservation.

I'm so happy that people have taken to the idea of the #ReadTheWorld book group. Two new members today and great discussions about Japanese books from all genres and eras. So many new books and thoughts to process. Next month we're dipping into North African literature. 💙📚 #BookSky

The face of a cat who got a clean bill of health at the vet today - after all his dental issues last year it was a relief for the emotions and wallet that all was well today! 🐈‍⬛