After finishing Normal People last week, I decided that it was time to tackle one of the big books that I had sitting in my Audible account, and so started The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley. This is the fifth book in the Seven Sisters series and comes in at a sizeable 20 hours listening time so it will keep me listening for a while. I have seen people mention that they adjust the speed and listen to audiobooks at say 1.5 times normal speed. Maybe I should try that with this book? Does anyone do that?
Other than that I am still reading The Silk House by Katye Nunn and that's it. I have chosen the next book off my shelf but haven't started it yet. Maybe tomorrow.
I'm watching...
I am very pleased to say that I actually finished some things this week!
I finally watched the last episode of Outlander. I had the last episode sitting there for several weeks but every time I thought about watching it I didn't because I wasn't in the right headspace to watch what I knew was going to be a gruelling episode, and it was. Now, like everyone else, I wait for the net series..
On the opposite end of the scale to gruelling is The Great which was completely over the top, completely bonkers show, but we thoroughly enjoyed it! The performance of Nicholas Hoult was amazing with the range from over-sexed, over privileged king who could do whatever he pleased (Huzzah!) but who had an almost childlike need to be loved. I was curious to see that one of the main forces behind The Great was an Australian screenwriter, and that his wife was playing one of the key characters. What The Great is not is historically accurate in any ways, but it does tell you that in the opening titles where it says "an occasionally true story" so as long as you take it in that vein and don't expect historical accuracy it will be fine.
One of the music artists I have reacquainted myself with during this period of social isolation is Garth Brooks. Back in the early 90s I was a big fan and used to listen to those early albums over and over again, but I felt like I kind of lost track of his music. I have been watching some of the shows he is doing on Facebook and was reminded of how good he was. This weekend I watched the new documentary Garth Brooks: The Road I'm On which was really interesting, and reminded me that part of the reason I lost track was that he retired for so long. Needless to say, I have already told the husband that the next time he comes to Australia we are going to go and see him perform!
In life
I have noticed that there is a notice on Blogger telling us that we have to swap to the new Blogger before the end of the month. Mostly it is okay, although I don't like the way that it deals with placeholder posts. As soon as I had a post that I needed on a specific day I used to change the schedule date and it would sit there as a placeholder in the right date order. I haven't yet figured out how to do that in the new Blogger. It appears as though it saves it in the order of the last time you edited a post which doesn't really work. For now I've had to come up with a Google sheet to save the dates so that I can make sure I don't miss anything. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing. And it turns out adding new labels is a bit challenging too.
The big news for this weekend for us (other than it being my birthday) was that it was bathroom reno weekend. It was a long weekend here so we took Friday off to make it a four day weekend. On Friday my husband started ripping out the old bathroom, and then slowly did everything to start putting it all back together again. It can't be finished yet because a couple of items that you wouldn't normally have to special order weren't in stock at the hardware store so once those things come in it will be finished off, but I am happy with how it looks right now. Here is the before and the final progress photo. Note the beautiful green bench top that is now a thing of the past. Once it is totally finished I will share another picture.
In life
I have noticed that there is a notice on Blogger telling us that we have to swap to the new Blogger before the end of the month. Mostly it is okay, although I don't like the way that it deals with placeholder posts. As soon as I had a post that I needed on a specific day I used to change the schedule date and it would sit there as a placeholder in the right date order. I haven't yet figured out how to do that in the new Blogger. It appears as though it saves it in the order of the last time you edited a post which doesn't really work. For now I've had to come up with a Google sheet to save the dates so that I can make sure I don't miss anything. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing. And it turns out adding new labels is a bit challenging too.
The big news for this weekend for us (other than it being my birthday) was that it was bathroom reno weekend. It was a long weekend here so we took Friday off to make it a four day weekend. On Friday my husband started ripping out the old bathroom, and then slowly did everything to start putting it all back together again. It can't be finished yet because a couple of items that you wouldn't normally have to special order weren't in stock at the hardware store so once those things come in it will be finished off, but I am happy with how it looks right now. Here is the before and the final progress photo. Note the beautiful green bench top that is now a thing of the past. Once it is totally finished I will share another picture.
Six Degrees of Separation
I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date
I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date
What? You didn't like the lime green countertop???? I hate that we'll have to wait so long for the next Outlander.
ReplyDeleteCan't say I loved the lime green counter BFR. I did put up with it for nearly 15 years so it was just time.
DeleteMy problem with the new Blogger is that I can't figure out how to create a new post. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThat I can do Kathy. Down the bottom right hand corner there is a big orange plus sign (+) which you press to create a new post.
DeleteI love seeing photos of reorganizing and remodeling events. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI have never been able to manage audiobooks. I get too easily distracted, and I also seem to need the visual images provided by reading in print.
Oh, well...
Enjoy your books and your week, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
Remodelling is fun but it is a lot of work! My poor husband is feeling it a little bit today.
DeleteHappy birthday, what day is it? Mine was June 2. We are Gemini's :-)
ReplyDeleteI read all the Outlander series books and am awaiting that last wrap up book. I tried to watch the series but only Claire rang true to me, she is a perfect physical embodiment of Claire. Jamie is not what I pictured. I have only seen season one.
I have not seen a notice about the new blogger. Did you get an email? If I only have until the end of the month I need a heads up!!
I think you will be waiting a while for the last Outlander book. I don't think the next book is the last one yet.
DeleteMy birthday was on June 7.
The blogger notice is on the top of the screen where you go in to create a new post and the Try New Blogger button is on the bottom left hand side.
Uh oh...I'm so out of it that I did nothing with the new Blogger. I thought I would get some kind of email about it. I better check it out.
ReplyDeleteI love Outlander. Sometimes I have to be in the right frame of mind to watch it though with all that goes on. I'm looking forward to next season.
I will definitely be ready for new Outlander once the series does come back Yvonne.
DeleteI always listen at 1.4-1.5 for audiobooks. If you haven’t listened speeded up, try it gradually. Start at 1.25 and the increase. Also, if you start at 1.5 and it may be too fast, then 1.25 wont seem so bad. I’ve been known to 1.75 depending on the narrator!
ReplyDeleteI started at 1.3 this morning Raidergirl but went back to 1.1. I guess I will build up the speed a little.
DeleteHappy belated birthday! I hope you had a nice celebration.
ReplyDeleteYour bathroom is going to be beautiful! How nice that your husband is able to do that kind of work.
If you run into trouble with Blogger, you do have the option to go back to the "legacy" interface. I tried the new platform and don't care for it, so until they make it mandatory, I'll stick with what I know!
Thanks Les! I think the thing is that they are telling us that it is going to be mandatory soon! In the mean time, I am flicking back and forward between the two.
DeleteHappy belated birthday! Your bathroom renovation looks great so far! I too have been wondering about audiobook speed . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura! I am trying 1.1 speed to see how it goes!
DeleteHappy birthday! I hope you were able to find some fun things to do to celebrate :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really hoping we don't HAVE to switch to the new Blogger interface since I really, really don't like it. Someone else mentioned that you can choose to stick with the old format. I'm hoping that remains true!
And, yes, I listen to audiobooks at 1.5 speed. It's faster than normal, but not so fast that the narrator is hard to understand.
1.5 sounds fast to me Susan! I am going to increase the speed gradually I think.!
DeleteHappy birthday -- I hope it was fun! That is a big project your husband is doing! I hope it all goes well!! Also that's really interesting abt the writer behind Th Great -- I had no idea at all they were Australian!
ReplyDeleteThanks Verushka! That same writer was also behind the movie The Favourite
Delete