Book Fifty Four, Fifty Five, Fifty Six, Fifty Seven, Fifty Eight and Fifty Nine

( Book Fifty Four - The Contortionist's Handbook by Craig Clevenger )

( Book Fifty Five - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Stories by F Scott Fitzgerald )

( Book Fifty Six - The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin )

( Book Fifty Seven - Election by Tom Perotta )

( Book Fifty Eight - The Cloning of Joanna May by Fay Weldon )

( Book Fifty Nine - Starting Over by Tony Parsons )

I'm currently reading "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell, which is ok. Not as good compared to the film though, I'm finding it a little boring, but it might be better once I get a bit more into it. This is my 60th book of the year, so I'm on track once again...although all the books I've read recently are the "summer reads" ones which have been free with the Times, none over 300 pages, so thats why I've been able to get through so many so quickly! I haven't read any non fiction or historical novels for ages, so I need to get back into them. Every time I look at all my books in my bedroom I get frustrated as there are so many books I want to be able to read but don't have time! I need a holiday so I can read lots of books, hehe.

I'm off work ill at the moment - I am just about to look up on the internet to see if anyone has ever had two appendixes, as thats how my stomach hurts, but on the other side! I do feel slightly guilty though, as I always do when I'm off work ill! Also theres some really good tennis on today, so I'm worried people are going to think that I'm only off because of that! But I'm really not!

My Weekend

My weekend in bullet points:

The elephants were lovely - see http://www.elephantparadelondon.org/, and Click Here for my pictures of them :)

The Kings Road is just disappointing though - just normal shops! I expected a blue plaque at least by the Vivienne Westwood shop, but no!

The Saatchi Gallery is the WORST "art" gallery I have EVER been in!!!! There were only three things in about 10 galleries which were sort of good: 1. a sort of art installation involving 300 stereo speakers, a hoover and a piano, the hoover blew which made the notes play, which came out of the speakers - although it could have been improved it it played a tune rather than just notes!, 2. a scary sculpture which was mannikins dressed up in normal clothes, all staring into the corner of the gallery - it looked like real people so it was really freaky! and 3. a gallery with collages of Auswitcz and Hiroshima done by school children, they were amazing. Otherwise, not recommended!

The Summer Exhibition was mostly good

Tracy Emin makes me soooooo angry!!! A half pink and half white canvas, with a bit of a purple squiggle, is not art! gah!

I hate trying to find dresses to wear to posh occasions in the summer - neither of my staple fabrics (black velvet or black lace) are really appropriate!

I really wanted to go out and see some friends on Saturday evening, but people either weren't doing anything or didn't invite me anywhere - I used to spend so much time inviting people to things that they can't go to / don't want to go to, that I don't do it as much any more....maybe I will have to start bugging people again, just to actually have some kind of social life...

Murray is playing great - an easy win for him, hopefully he'll get to the final as easy as that!

England, however - fail! But at least there won't be all the fuss about the football now!

Its too hot!!!!

Book Sixty! and Film 35

Book Sixty - Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

This book is the true story of Julie Powell, who cooked her way through a cookbook by Julia Child called "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", in a year, and wrote about it in her blog. It is a funny book, which describes how she manages to get all the ingredients for the french dishes in the cookbook, her attempts to make it, and also the impact on her family and friends, and some of the things which are happening in their lives. There are also short sections about Julia Child and how she came to write the book. It was a good book, but I've also seen the film and I think thats far better. It had more about Julia Child, which is the main reason I liked it I think, as Meryl Streep was amazing as her. But this book is quite good, recommended if you like cooking and food I think! :) 6 / 10

Film 35 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

This is the first book in the Harry Potter series, where Harry comes to Hogwarts for the first time, meets Ron and Hermione, gets involved in Quidditch and overcomes a series of obstacles and you-know-who to get the Philosopher's Stone, which makes people live forever. I like books and films set in boarding schools, for some reason, haha, so I would have liked more about the school routine and things, but it is a good film which has a great set of adventures and characters in it. I think it can be enjoyed by adults and children, like the books really. 7.5 / 10

And now I'm going to watch the second Harry Potter now! :)

Writer's Block: No bloody way

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Yes. I think there are more important things to worry about than a few foxes, however controversial that view is. Its not harming anyone, any person I mean, so I don't have that much of a problem about it.

There are some professions / jobs which I wouldn't be able to be friends with someone if they did...but I won't go into that here :)