Book rec
Mar. 10th, 2026 01:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melaganI've recced this series before, but I think it's appropriate to rec it again for International Women's Day.
Hell's Library Trilogy
I borrowed this series from my local library and liked it so much that I bought the series. I think it's time for a reread. :)
Hell's Library Trilogy
I borrowed this series from my local library and liked it so much that I bought the series. I think it's time for a reread. :)
Seven Days - Seven Covers: 2026 - Day One
Mar. 8th, 2026 05:39 pmsmallhobbitstonepicnicking_okapi reminded me about this, so I thought if I was going to take part this month, I needed to get on with it. So, seven books I own, no caption, no comment. Happy to answer questions in the comments.
Daylight Saving Time
Mar. 8th, 2026 12:53 pmmelagan
I can usually shake off the Spring time change without any trouble, but today all I want to do is nappppp.
My second option is drinking a LOT of coffee. Thank god, I'm an expert at it.
Busy days
Mar. 7th, 2026 11:34 ammelaganI've been busy over at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
romancingmcshep and getting a last-minute story finished and posted for it.
You can check out this year's entries Here
I've also been working on my5soulmate prompts. I finished the ones for touching your soulmate feels good and touching your soulmate lets them feel what you're feeling.
In both cases, I thought I was working on you can only touch your soulmate and by the time I was finished, realized they fit the other prompts better. Oh well. Progress at least.
Thefandomtrumpshate auction caught my attention this year, too.
And just a few minutes ago,sga_saturday posted the prompts for this month. History and/or Reading.
I'm waiting to see the story where Rodney is reading Atlantis slash fanfic aloud to John. Oh, I know there are stories out there like that, but whose to say we can't have more?
(and if anyone has the links to those stories, please share.)
I almost forgot to add Shore Leave! A big thanks tosgatazmy for posting about it on her journal. I've made plans to go with goddess47 as my partner in crime. I am so EXCITED!
romancingmcshep and getting a last-minute story finished and posted for it. You can check out this year's entries Here
I've also been working on my
5soulmate prompts. I finished the ones for touching your soulmate feels good and touching your soulmate lets them feel what you're feeling. In both cases, I thought I was working on you can only touch your soulmate and by the time I was finished, realized they fit the other prompts better. Oh well. Progress at least.
The
fandomtrumpshate auction caught my attention this year, too. And just a few minutes ago,
sga_saturday posted the prompts for this month. History and/or Reading. I'm waiting to see the story where Rodney is reading Atlantis slash fanfic aloud to John. Oh, I know there are stories out there like that, but whose to say we can't have more?
(and if anyone has the links to those stories, please share.)
I almost forgot to add Shore Leave! A big thanks to
sgatazmy for posting about it on her journal. I've made plans to go with goddess47 as my partner in crime. I am so EXCITED!The Red Shoes
Mar. 7th, 2026 10:47 amsmallhobbitRegularly readers of this blog will know that I am a fan of Sir Matthew Bourne's New Adventures productions. Their current production is The Red Shoes, based on the 1948 film. Originally, we had planned to see it back in January at Sadler's Wells, in London, but the weather that week was dodgy, which would have upset the trains (GWR trains are very temperamental), so we got a credit for our theatre tickets and booked to see it in Cardiff instead.
We went on Thursday, with a much shorter train journey, arriving in time for lunch and a quick walk around part of Cardiff Bay before heading to the matinée performance. The Cardiff Millennium Centre is a great venue for productions, and one I'd happily return to.
The production was everything we'd hoped for. I last saw it in December 2019, so remembered most of the story, but with different dancers the performance was always going to be new. The dancing was excellent - I don't think I can pick out anyone in particular, although I was delighted Victoria Page was danced by Cordelia Braithwaite, who I really like. The staging, music and lighting all helped to enhance it, and I was so pleased we had seen it.
It continues to tour for another couple of months, and then next year, it will be Cinderella. I'm already thinking of booking tickets.
We went on Thursday, with a much shorter train journey, arriving in time for lunch and a quick walk around part of Cardiff Bay before heading to the matinée performance. The Cardiff Millennium Centre is a great venue for productions, and one I'd happily return to.
The production was everything we'd hoped for. I last saw it in December 2019, so remembered most of the story, but with different dancers the performance was always going to be new. The dancing was excellent - I don't think I can pick out anyone in particular, although I was delighted Victoria Page was danced by Cordelia Braithwaite, who I really like. The staging, music and lighting all helped to enhance it, and I was so pleased we had seen it.
It continues to tour for another couple of months, and then next year, it will be Cinderella. I'm already thinking of booking tickets.
Audiobooks - January and February 2026
Mar. 4th, 2026 02:14 pmsmallhobbitI started the year with only 11 books on my TBL list, plus 2 pre-orders, which has now grown to 13 books and 3 pre-orders, but I should clear most, if not all, by the end of the year.
I've had 2 DNFs, and here are the first 5 I've heard:
Parsley Sidings a BBC radio series, full cast
Typical radio comedy from the early 1970s which still made me laugh. I listened on and off for a few months, and enjoyed the nostalgia of my early teens.
A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett, read by Samantha Bond
The second in the series where Queen Elizabeth II solves crimes around the palace. I'm a republican (Small R!) but find the series entertaining and relaxing. I have the next two in the series which I shall be listening to later in the year.
The Happiness List by Annie Lyons, read by Jaimi Barbakoff
I enjoy books by Annie Lyons, again easy listening and the people seem very real, even if the Happy Ever After is not entirely realistic - but then, why not have a happy ending for characters we care about? The Happiness List is about three women who each have their own, very different problems, and are challenged to make a list of things which make them happy over a ten week course. The items which they include in their individual lists are very relatable.
Dishonour and Obey by Graham Brack, read by Alex Wyndham
The next Master Mercurius title, where Mercurius joins a diplomatic mission to England to arrange the marriage of Princess Mary, the daughter of James, Duke of York, to Stadhouder William of Orange. There's murder, espionage and general skulduggery. I shall be adding the next book to my list soon.
Death and Boules by Ian Moore, read by Ian Moore
The latest Follet Valley mystery. As bizarre as ever, this time involving, amongst other things, a pétanque tournament. I hope there are more, I really enjoyed listening to this one.
I've had 2 DNFs, and here are the first 5 I've heard:
Parsley Sidings a BBC radio series, full cast
Typical radio comedy from the early 1970s which still made me laugh. I listened on and off for a few months, and enjoyed the nostalgia of my early teens.
A Three Dog Problem by S J Bennett, read by Samantha Bond
The second in the series where Queen Elizabeth II solves crimes around the palace. I'm a republican (Small R!) but find the series entertaining and relaxing. I have the next two in the series which I shall be listening to later in the year.
The Happiness List by Annie Lyons, read by Jaimi Barbakoff
I enjoy books by Annie Lyons, again easy listening and the people seem very real, even if the Happy Ever After is not entirely realistic - but then, why not have a happy ending for characters we care about? The Happiness List is about three women who each have their own, very different problems, and are challenged to make a list of things which make them happy over a ten week course. The items which they include in their individual lists are very relatable.
Dishonour and Obey by Graham Brack, read by Alex Wyndham
The next Master Mercurius title, where Mercurius joins a diplomatic mission to England to arrange the marriage of Princess Mary, the daughter of James, Duke of York, to Stadhouder William of Orange. There's murder, espionage and general skulduggery. I shall be adding the next book to my list soon.
Death and Boules by Ian Moore, read by Ian Moore
The latest Follet Valley mystery. As bizarre as ever, this time involving, amongst other things, a pétanque tournament. I hope there are more, I really enjoyed listening to this one.
The Friday Five: Last Week/Next Week
Mar. 1st, 2026 03:20 pmsmallhobbitThis week's thefridayfive questions:
1. What made you happy this week?
I managed to do all the things I particularly wanted to get done
2. What made you sad?
Some of the frustrations of grant applications, but nothing significant - I was fortunate that way.
3. What made you angry?
I try not to get angry at things I can't do anything about, but there are some people whose heads I would like to bang together very firmly.
4. What are you looking forward to in the next week?
Going to see New Adventures The Red Shoes at Cardiff on Thursday
5. What are you not looking forward to?
It's a busy week, so managing to do all the things I would like to get done.
thefridayfive questions:1. What made you happy this week?
I managed to do all the things I particularly wanted to get done
2. What made you sad?
Some of the frustrations of grant applications, but nothing significant - I was fortunate that way.
3. What made you angry?
I try not to get angry at things I can't do anything about, but there are some people whose heads I would like to bang together very firmly.
4. What are you looking forward to in the next week?
Going to see New Adventures The Red Shoes at Cardiff on Thursday
5. What are you not looking forward to?
It's a busy week, so managing to do all the things I would like to get done.
Bingo - National Crafting Month
Mar. 1st, 2026 02:42 pmsmallhobbitThis month's allbingo theme is National Crafting Month and this is my card
allbingo theme is National Crafting Month and this is my card| Spinning Wheel | Carpentry |
| Sketch Book | Papier-mâche |
FTH
Feb. 28th, 2026 10:59 ammelaganFTH
More info can be found atfandomtrumpshate
Because this is the first time I've signed up for the FTH auction, I've kept it in my wheelhouse.
SGA John/Rodney (try not to be shocked)
And now I can post my auction link
Tuesday, March 3rd, 8am ET: auction bidding opens
Saturday, March 7th, 8pm ET: auction bidding closes
More info can be found at
fandomtrumpshateBecause this is the first time I've signed up for the FTH auction, I've kept it in my wheelhouse.
SGA John/Rodney (try not to be shocked)
And now I can post my auction link
Writing - February 2026
Feb. 28th, 2026 11:43 amsmallhobbitJust over 10.5K words this month, which is still a good number for me, and brings my annual total so far to 25.5K, allowing breathing space later in the year since my goal for this year is 100K.
Forallbingo Valentine's month I wrote A Fortunate Meeting starring Miss Marple, who denies being responsible but was certainly involved.
small_fandoms had their annual drabblethon and this year I wrote a series (29 drabbles because I needed to include everybody) A Year at the Midnight Bell
ushobwri had their annual WiP month, and I finally finished The Last Chapter which is Spooks (MI5) with Lucas faced with more family news. Although as I was writing it, I had an idea for a follow up, so A Family Saga looks like it may still continue. I also used this for my entry to this year's crackthewip
And, although written last month, mycandyheartsex exchange was posted To Brighten Your Life Discworld Sam Vimes/Sybil Ramkin.
For
allbingo Valentine's month I wrote A Fortunate Meeting starring Miss Marple, who denies being responsible but was certainly involved.small_fandoms had their annual drabblethon and this year I wrote a series (29 drabbles because I needed to include everybody) A Year at the Midnight Bellushobwri had their annual WiP month, and I finally finished The Last Chapter which is Spooks (MI5) with Lucas faced with more family news. Although as I was writing it, I had an idea for a follow up, so A Family Saga looks like it may still continue. I also used this for my entry to this year's crackthewip And, although written last month, my
candyheartsex exchange was posted To Brighten Your Life Discworld Sam Vimes/Sybil Ramkin.