Book Eight, Films 13 and 14

You know, I never realised I watched so many films! Although maybe now I’m writing about them, I’m making the effort to watch more. I do feel like I watch a lot of TV as well – but its not just random things, its series that I watch every week – currently Being Human (Sundays, 1 hour), Larkrise to Candleford (Sundays, 1 hour), University Challenge (Mondays, 1/2 hour), and QI (Fridays, 1/2 hour). Just recently there has also been a really interesting programme on the British Family, with episodes on Children, Money, Divorce and…well another one that I can’t remember! It was so interesting, all about how things have changed over the years and how families have changed. I love programmes like that. My favourite series at the moment is Being Human – it is just so amazing!! I don’t even usually like things like that (“supernatural” things) – but, as the title suggests, this is a lot more about how they cope with their issues (of being a werewolf, vampire and ghost) and “being human”, so it’s a good mix. The characters are so likeable and believable. I wish they’d hurry up and explain who the scary looking religious man is though, I really want to know!

But anyway, on with the books and films!

( Book Eight – The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker )

That ends the books I have read in January – I read eight in total, which is a good start. I’ve decided I will read one fiction and then one non-fiction book, otherwise I end up getting bogged down in the non-fiction books and not get on well with the fiction books. I have, amazingly, not bought any books from charity shops since October! (although I have donated money to charity instead, to make up for their loss!) This year I am determined to work through the piles of books I have to read in my bedroom – currently I am reading a book that Kt bought me for Christmas, The Cemetary of Secrets, which is a historical crime book, its great! And then next I have The Life of Graham, biography of Graham Chapman, so that should be good 

( Films 13 and 14 )

I think I’m going to have another quiet weekend – it’s the rock night on Friday, but haven’t got anything else planned, so will probably just stay in and read my book. On the Open University website they have short courses which are free for you to print off, so I’m going to work my way through some of them in the next little while – they only take about 4 or 5 hours to do each one. I am definitely thinking of doing an Open University course (probably “Starting with Psychology”) but I’m just a bit worried about if I do it and don’t pass – it would just all be a waste then. Although I definitely need more things on my cv, as its really not that impressive at the moment. I have a degree – but it’s a bad grade, so compared to everyone else who has a degree as well, I need other things to make myself look better. I have found quite a few OU courses that I’d like to do, which is good, I just need to find the courage to go for them and not worry!! I do feel like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment, so I need to get out and *do* something with myself. I really enjoy the weekends when I go out and go and see Katie and things, but I’m not really doing anything during the week, so I need to do something else. Oh, apart from the quiz on Tuesdays – which we did quite well in on last Tuesday. They have started an extra quiz, which all builds up to a grand final in March, and we are joint first in that at the moment, so that’s excellent so far! Hopefully it’ll continue and we can get into the final – the top prize is £500 

Book Nine

Book Nine - The Cemetary of Secrets by David Hewson

Finished another book today. This was bought for me by Kt, for Christmas (I love getting books as presents :D ) Its set in Venice, one chapter in modern times and one set in the 18th century. The story involves a musical composition which has been lost for hundreds of years, and a centuries old violin, stolen from a grave in modern times. The story at the beginning was a little confusing, but it ended up that in modern times they pretended that a visitor to the city, Daniel, had composed it. The 18th century story involved a jewish woman who had written the music, though as a woman and a jew she was not able to tell people that it was her who had written it. I feel quite bad as I can't remember who was who and I only just finished it! But it got quite exciting towards the end, when several people tried to get the composition and the violin, and there were lots of secrets and people running after each other! I dont think I'd read anything else by this author, as it is a bit confusing, but it was still quite good, so I give it 6/10 :)

Just started "The Life of Graham", a biography of Graham Chapman, hopefully it'll be good. I'm also watching the fourth series of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, which is of course very funny :D