Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

annieb64

I'll be intetested in your TBR list, Dusty. Did you say you were reading Patricia Wentworth?I have a complete set of the Miss Silver novels in paperback. They took me several years to collect.

dustydigger

Never heard of Rice-a-Roni!Glard you squeaked through.

IN 2019 myself,GD1 and DD! went to the US,to Virginia to visit my stepson,who is a doctor,in Roanoke VA. I nearly turned back right at the start. at Newcastle airport First of all I set off all the machines. Darn it,the metal knee replacement were making their presencefelt. I was sent off to a side place to be scanned. Then sorting my hand luggage,wow,the nasty looks I got for actually having my makeup in a makeup bag,instead of see through plastic. They finally brought me a plastic bag, and that was sorted. Then 3rd and last,and worst was the peanut butter.

 Mr Dusty had just come back from Africa,and brought home made peanut butter. Roasted peanuts put in a big wooden morter,and then pounded for at least an hour till it was totally blended. There is no resemblance in appearance or taste to the commercial stuff. My step daughters in Africa knew I was going to see my stepson,so they made him a lovely big jar full. I put it in one of my favourite containers,locked it down and then wow! At the airport you'd think I was importing some horrible plant disease to the states. They confiscated it on the spot. I truly had to bite my tongue not to ask for my fave container back. Could you see them letting me scape out the jar and go off to wash it? Thought not.

DD1 and GD! were in fits of laughter beyond the area,having sailed through without problems.

Whenever I hear ''Newcastle Airport'' I start being grumpy. Darn it ,I loved that container. And poor SS never got to taste his favourite! 

dustydigger

annieb64 said:

I'll be interested in your TBR list, Dusty. Did you say you were reading Patricia Wentworth?I have a complete set of the Miss Silver novels in paperback. They took me several years to collect.

I think my next Wentworth is #7,The Clock Strikes Twelve. I am reading them online on the fadedpage.com website,a favourite site of mine for old books.They have a special collection of Wentworths books,50 titles in all!

Havent read one of her books for a couple of years,since I have been focused on completing some SF lists. I've read all the Hugos,and all but one of the Nebula award winners. Am reading that last title this month.,then maybe I'll get back to Miss Silver.

dustydigger

What have I done today? Wow,I hung the washing out and the sun was burning my head! Glad its improved,yesterday.evening was cold and wet and miserable.Washing already dry.

Not sure if any of the tribe are coming today,or calling in on the way to the festivities in town. Am making chicken curry for supper.

Got 2 of the kitchen windows cleaned,but nothing else done!

Hope to get some reading in,though Mr Dusty has the TV on ,and I cant concentrate. Will pick something light and easy :)Maybe an old Nora Roberts,comfort reading at its best

dustydigger

So what am I reading this month. Every month I have some categories of books to read.Such as working my way throughSF award lists. I am up to date with all the Hugo winners and today started the final nebula award winner,Sarah Pinsker's ''Song for a New Day''

I also spend time reading the next book of a series. At the moment I am ready to read book 4 in the Inspector Gamache series,''A Rule Against Murder''

I am also reading vintage science fiction,this month including 2 Poul Anderson books from the 60s.

I am methodically reading books from the 1930s chronologically. I am aiming to read one or two books from 1934,but probably next month,too much on hand for this month since my eye problem.One eye is really useless,I am relying on one myopic eye,and have to read online,to increase the font size,and I get eyestrain after a while and have to stop.Really has impacted my reading,as have all my varied illnesses. You can pretty much gauge my state of health by how many books I've read each month!

Jan - 24 books,Feb - 20, Mar - 12,April - 17, May - 12 (and 3 of those were short stories!)

I attempt to read a few famous SFshort stories each month. A year ago I was totally ignorant of short stories,I always prefer nove,or at least novella length. But I have had some great reads and am continuing with 2 or 3 a month.

You can become too overly focused on one genre,so in my Librarything group we do monthly challenges.One challenge is ''Pick a Friend''.At the start of the year we make a list of 12 books we want to read. Last year my theme was weird fiction.This year it children's classics. I am working my way through a  long list of good kids books - 1001 Books You Should Have Read Before You Grew Up. Needless to say I have onlt read a small proportion,339 of them,but I read as and when I locate them and its a fun project. This month it is Beatrix Potter,''The Tailor of Gloucester''

The other I will make a new post for. AS ever this one is getting long!

dustydigger

Not too good this morning. Today's pains of the day are lower back pain,tender left foot(neuropathy),and rare for me ,a blinding headache.Diabetic team offer paracetemol,but I might as well eat tic-tacs(at least they taste better) for all the good they do. So will take my ibuprofen They work for me,and they are anti-inflammatory,so its all good!

dustydigger

Hmm,swore I wouldnt be too grumpy (ha! when am I not grumpy) so I need to rake around and find 3 gratitudes.

+ DD1 is taking us out for lunch,first time since last year.

+ my hand is hand-like,not talon-like,so able to type  at little easier,with a lot less mistakes

+ MSE forums,so inspiring -  and amusing.I love the thread Old Style Ways and Poor Health,some of the dialogues between Pollyanna and Ming Vase were hilarious.. People with really serious,painful illnesses who meet their trials with humour and bravery. I am going to do a first post I think,just to bump it up a bit,so perhaps more people will look in.So many threads come out almost every minute,its easy to lose track if you forget to bookmark

dustydigger

Okay,good job I got the gratitudes done because I am so so grumpy now.

On 31st the nurse told me she was sending a message immediately to the hospital to arrange an appointment about my CA-19-9 results,on special fast track,apptmt within 2 weeks

Today I got a letter,so thought it would be said appointment.Here it is,what do you think?

Dated the 1st June. Arrived 11am today,the 4th

Your referral is being reviewed

Your surgery has referred you to the Referral Triage service.

You do not need to do anything at this stage.

You will be contacted by either;

The Triage service at the hospital - if you need to be seen

or

Your surgery if the clinic sends any other advice.

What to do if you have not been contacted.

Please wait till the 3rd June.

If you have not been contacted by this date call the Triage Service on 0191 5410015

Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5pm

Huh? On the 4th I am told to wait till the 3rd and contact an office only open Mon-Fri?

I know I regularly suffer brain fog,could be that,or perhaps I am under the influence?(nope 54 days alcohol free) .

No idea what is going on,but no call from hospital ,so I'll see what happens on Monday.

Good old Royal Mail delayedthe letter........ surprise surprise ..........

dustydigger

FINALLY I fulfil my promise to show my group's reading challenge for June. WE have been doing a sort of tour of Canada,one state or area each month.,and do a challenge to read s,omewhat loosely connected ith the area or topics mentioned in the description .

I warn you,this is a long post!

Salute to Canada Challenge: This June We Say ‘Bonjour, Quebec!’





In June, we take our tour to French Canada, and the province of Quebec. It is the largest Canadian province by area, and the second largest by population. It borders Ontario to the west, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to the east, and the U. S. states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York to the South.

Between 1534 and 1764, it was called Canada, and was the most develop colony of New France. After the Seven Years’ War, in 1763, it became a British colony, the Province of Quebec, aka Lower Canada or Canada East. It became part of the Dominion of Canada at Confederation in 1867. Despite these changes, it has largely maintained its French culture, and the official language of the province is exclusively French. Politics in Quebec, especially since the 1960s, tends to split along Nationalist vs Federalist lines (i.e., Quebec becoming an independent nation vs. remaining part of Canada) rather than liberal vs. conservative lines. The electoral slogan of the Liberal party in 1962 was “Maîtres chez nous”, which translates to “Masters in our own house”.


Quebec has a population of over 8 million, and accounts for a little under 23% of the Canadian population. The most populated cities in Quebec are Montreal (1,762,976) and Quebec City (538,738).

Religion has long occupied a central and integral place in Quebec society. The 2001 census showed the population to be 90.3% Christian (in contrast to 77% for the whole country) with 83.4% Catholic; 4.7% Protestant Christian; 1.4% Orthodox Christian; and 0.8% other Christian; as well as 1.5% Muslim; 1.3% Jewish; 0.6% Buddhist; 0.3% Hindu; and 0.1% Sikh. An additional 5.8% said they had no religious affiliation. The oldest parish church in North America is the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec. Its construction began in 1647, and it was finished in 1664. The most frequented place of worship in Quebec is the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, which is purported to be a sight of miraculous healings. The Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral, which was erected between 1800 and 1804, is the first Anglican cathedral built outside the British Isles.

The economy of Quebec is mainly supported by its large service sector and varied industrial sector. For exports, it leans aeronautics, hydroelectricity, mining, pharmaceuticals, aluminum, wood, and paper. Quebec is well known for producing maple syrup, for its comedy, and for making hockey one of the most popular sports in Canada. The Montreal Canadiens (the “Habs”) have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, more than any other team in the NHL. Quebec is also renowned for its culture; the province produces literature, music, films, TV shows, festivals, folklore, and more.


Quebec City is not only one of the oldest cities in Canada, but it is also the only remaining walled city in North America north of Mexico. The city walls extend 4.6 kilometers (2.9 miles), with the southern portions of the ramparts forming a part of the Citadelle of Quebec. The Citadelle is a National Historic Site of Canada and forms part of the Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site of Canada.


Quebec City is home to the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. It was developed by the Canadian Railways in the late 1800s. It is considered to be the world’s most photographed hotel, overlooking the St. Lawrence River and Old Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Montreal was host to the 1976 Summer Olympics, one of three times Olympics were hosted by Canada, and the only Summer Olympics held in Canada. The other two were Winter Olympics held in 1988 (Calgary, Alberta), and 2010 (Vancouver/Whistler, British Columbia).


The Montreal Jazz Fest is the world’s largest jazz festival (as per the 2004 Guinness World Record). Every year it features roughly 3,000 artists from 30-odd countries, more than 650 concerts (including 450 free outdoor performances) and welcomes over 2 million visitors. The festival takes place at 20 different stages, which include free outdoor stages and indoor concert halls. A major part of the city's downtown core is closed to traffic for ten days, as free outdoor shows are open to the public and held on many stages at the same time, from noon until midnight.


Poutine was invented in Quebec. Poutine is a Canadian dish, made of French Fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. It is believed to have originated in the province of Quebec, in rural areas in the 1950s when a trucker named Fernand Lachance invented ‘poutine’. The word, “Poutine” is Quebec slang for “a mess.” Today, you can order poutine anywhere across Canada. And the most expensive poutine can be found in Montreal at Au Pied de Cochon.


The snowy owl became the official bird of Quebec in 1987. It is seen as a symbol of Quebec’s support of wildlife protection. The snowy owl, unlike other owls, can hunt both during the night and during the day.


The Quebec Challenge:

1. Read a book set in Quebec OR Read a book set in any French speaking place OR Read a book with a word in the title starting with “Q”.

2. Read a book with a church or a wall on the cover OR Read a book that has a character who is an athlete OR Read a book whose author’s last initial can be found in “POUTINE”.

3. Read a book set at least partially in a hotel, inn or other public lodging OR Read a book featuring a musician OR Read a book that includes a word referring to birds of some sort in the title

====================================================

This was my choice;

Dusty goes to Quebec
1. Read a book set in Quebec : Louise Penny - A Rule Against Murder

2. Read a book with a church on the cover : David Blake - St Benets✔

3. Read a book set at least partially in a hotel, inn or other public lodging : Nora Roberts - Born in Ice

Already finished one book. Unusual. I am often still scrambling through the ast book around 28th!

annieb64

I've read the first two but must look out for the Nora Roberts or find another book set in a hotel.

Have you read any of Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak books? They are set in Alaska and some are free on Kindle Unlimited.