Gah!

I'm back, and very happy to be so, despite the title of this entry! The 'gah' comes because I've discovered that my Friends Page isn't working. I kept checking it and thinking everyone must be very, very busy, or away, as nobody wrote anything any more. Last entry is generalblossom's one on the Waugh book (Jul. 8th). At some stage I'll have to figure out what's wrong. But that'll be after I catch up on reading all the juicy entries I've missed and commenting and all to that.

Trip was pretty exhausting, partly just because we weren't used to the heat (and humidity) but luckily we'd a few-day cool spell just before the wedding, so didn't roast entirely. Just as well, as we'd chosen clothes assuming an art gallery would be air conditioned and it wasn't, at least for the reception.

On more interesting topics - bought a few books! Surprise, surprise. Not, sadly, an amount I'd consider 'unconscionable' (Deep Secret), but still enough that I'd to post a box home - combined with the kids' purchases. I did find a copy of Island of Ghosts for my very own (yay!) (Dorian, I think you'd probably like it, as soon as I get it again), and another Gillian Bradshaw, The Wrong Reflection, which I liked a lot as well - I still haven't read the last page as I was crying too much on the train and making a show of myself. And - oh yes - got the new Martha Wells! Haven't registered it to link, but I loved it. Didn't seem to me to suffer from middle-book syndrome at all. I was very pleased with myself for seeing the big twist ahead of time (though it'll no doubt turn out to be obvious to everyone!), and it's a good one. Oh, and Martha Wells does gorgeous romantic males when she puts her mind to it! Yummm. Myntti, I'll get around to writing sensibly soon, but I'm off to the P.O. on Monday anyway - you want me to send it to you?

Didn't find any of the books I was looking for (for myself or others) in second-hand bookshops, which was a pain, but not that surprising. Books are still cheaper over there, and now I suppose I've some money left for the new Jasper Fforde.

We got back and were greeted very enthusiastically by Bell, which was nice (though she'd been well looked after, which was nicer!) and found all pretty much ok - though finding the handset to the portable phone in the rubbish bin, along with two weeks' worth of rubbish. It dripped a lot of fermented and mouldy fruit juices when picked up, but hopefully will dry sooner or later. No idea how it ended up there, but at least it was good the bag had been tied up and left in the kitchen rather than taken out for the bin men!

I won't go onto a big political tirade (just atm anyway!), but it all seems pretty depressing. The Democratic Convention was on while we were there and we watched a fair number of the major speakers - caught Teresa Kerry, who did a great job, and I learned how to pronounce Teresa the Portuguese way - though it's gone a little away now! But it's not good at all in general, I don't think.

Those who've read To Say Nothing of the Dog (which is everyone, I think) will understand when I say that I feel time-lagged, rather than jet-lagged! Hope my brain will catch up eventually...