Review: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

Three interesting books…

I’ve already added this trio to my TBR mountain. Take a look.

Book News — Web Of Lies

Review of Doda Yoga with Naomi Hurst

A warm welcome awaits you at Doda Yoga.

I walked into my first yoga session of a booked block of four as a nervous novice and was soon made to feel at home, by the very experienced yoga teacher and leader, Naomi Hurst. She makes it clear, from the outset, that everybody has their different level of flexibility and ability. In her own words, “It is not a competition. There is no right way and no wrong way.” You are not expected to attempt poses and stretches that are uncomfortable and it is perfectly OK to assume a posture that feels good for you and do nothing for a while.

During the session, she keeps an eye on her entire class, so that she can help any individuals who look as if they may be struggling. She really cares.

Naomi gently guides you through a series of movement, continually offering options that feel better for you. She also makes appropriate connections between mind, body and spirit, often focussing on your inner self. By the end of a session, I guarantee that you will be feeling the benefits.

I have already booked a second block of four sessions, which I see as a good recommendation in itself.

I have also attended one of Naomi’s less frequent Yin Yoga sessions which last for an hour-and-a-half rather than the usual hour. You can read the detail of these sessions on the Doda Yoga website. They are very different from the weekly sessions. I would say that the experience is more relaxing than a good night’s sleep but that you remain fully aware of the feelings in every part of your body and mind. It is sublime!

Many of my followers know of the struggles that I have encountered in recent years. Doda Yoga has helped me to bring a few sparkles of joy into my life. It is certainly helping me along my upward road to recovery.

I am looking forward to many more sessions at Doda Yoga in the coming weeks and to improve, in my own time, in every aspect of my yoga practices. Come along and join me. You won’t regret it.

The Princess and the Pineapple (500-word fiction)

I have really been enjoying my participation in the NYC Midnight Challenges, even though I think that the entry fees are rather expensive. But I believe that they are good value for money.

The challenges are tremendous fun. There are very active forums which consist peer reviews by fellow participants. There is the anticipation of the results of each of three rounds and the chance to progress. As well as peer feedback, you receive valuable feedback from the judges.

Here is my submission for the 500-word challenge. Sadly, it didn’t make it to the second round.

Let me know what you think. Constructive feedback, good or bad, is always welcome.

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The Princess and the Pineapple

Prompts

Genre:   Historical Fiction
Action:  Sleeping in a car
Object:  Pineapple

Her peacefulness as she sleeps belies our perilous situation.

She stirs.

Her eyelids flicker.

She awakes.

She sees me.

Her eyes spring open.

She shrieks.

“Shush, Princess. I won’t hurt you.”

“Y-your Bolshevik friends. They c-came to kill my family.”

“They did. But we escaped. If they find us, they will kill us both. Don’t worry though. I will take you to safety.”

“How can I trust you?”

“I swore to your father that I would guard you with my life. He spared my life when I was a young soldier. Now, my life is yours.”

“Where are we?”

“Deep in the woods, about one-hundred miles west of the palace. When it gets dark, we must abandon your father’s car here and start walking. We have far to go.”

“Where will we go?”

“So many questions Tsarina! Just LISTEN to me for a while.”

“Alright.”

“First, if we show our ranks in society, somebody will recognise us. They will kill us. So, just call me Ivo. And I will call you . . . Stefan.”

“That’s a boy’s name!”

“We must disguise you, Anastasia. I have brought my son’s clothes for you. I must also cut off your hair and you must wear his cap.”

“I understand. I’ll be Stefan. But where will we go?”

“I will take you to the safety of your royal cousins in another realm. First, we must make it to Poland.”

“I’m tired. Can we sleep in Papa’s car until it’s dark?”

“Of course. But you must be hungry, Stefan?”

She giggles at her new name.

“Yes, Ivo. Very.”

“As we fled, I managed to scoop some food off the banqueting table. Here! Have a look in this sack.”

“Ooh! Bread and fruit and cheese and cold meats. This should get us to Poland.”

“I doubt it, but we’ll survive. I’m more worried about my comrades.”

We tear off some bread and tuck into the meat and cheese. I eat a crispy apple.

“What is that strange fruit?”

“It’s a pineapple, Ivo. The imperial fruit.”

“How do you peel it?”

“Give me your knife.”

She expertly cuts off the top and bottom and trims the sides before slicing it.

“It’s delicious! So juicy and sweet. I have never tasted anything like it.”

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“Now that you are properly dressed and the Queen has verified your unique birthmark, we believe you. But you must excuse us for doubting you. When you arrived, you looked like a waif. Now that you are dressed properly, you look more like a princess. Your hair will grow.”

“I am just happy to be accepted into your court, Uncle.”

“I shall reward your rescuer for his valour. What shall it be? A knighthood? Jewels? Gold?”

“Ahem. Begging your pardon, Your Majesty. May I request . . . ?”

“Ask for anything. You are a hero.”

“The only gold I wish for is the golden Imperial fruit, Your Majesty.”

The King is confused.

Anastasia laughs.

“He means a pineapple, Uncle!”

Book Review: The Rise by Ian Rankin

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Rise: A Short Story by Ian Rankin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not up to Ian Rankin’s usual standards

Had this story been written by a debutant author, I would have said that it was rather good. I expected more from Rankin, based on his novels that I’ve read to date.
It seemed to me that he’d scattered a number of prompt cards with characters and scenes written on them around his desk and joined them together with his narrative.
Having said that, it’s a short story that is worth reading. Good, but not up to Ian Rankin’s usual standards.

View all my reviews

A reminder of an awful fishing disaster

I don’t know why but, today, I felt that it was an appropriate time to share this story.

Eyemouth Disaster

Who doesn’t like a free book?

For your chance to win a copy of Esther Chilton‘s first published collection of short stories, head over to her blog and give her challenge a try.

Even if you don’t win, you’ll have some fun!

Book News – A Competition For You To Enter

Book Review: A Walk in the Woods and Other Short Stories by Esther Chilton

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A Walk In The Woods: and other short stories by Esther Chilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed every story of this little collection.
Each story is compact in its writing and, I felt, exactly the right length to convey its own message.

There is always a twist in the tale or a clever punchline. The endings are mostly surprises. That’s good!

Some of the stories are dark. Some are humorous.

I particularly liked the slight, but understandable kinkiness of ‘Book Lovers.’ The ending made me chuckle.

‘Operation Flora’ is a Christmas tale with a difference. There is a tiny niggle of regret but the battered fairy comes out on top.

The signature story, ‘A Walk in the Woods,’ is good, but I preferred ‘A Walk in the Park,’ which was blatantly heading for a predictable reunion, but then there was a beautiful twist at the end.

The most hilarious story, again with a nice twist, is ‘The Secret Diary of Marvin Martin aged 14½’.

Its doesn’t take long to read this book and I guarantee that you will be delighted.

View all my reviews

At last! “SOON” became “TODAY”

For several weeks, as I walk my dog, I have been passing a takeaway outlet near to Andover station, which was being refurbished. I made friends with the proprietor, Jai. Whenever I asked him when he intended to open, he would tell me, “SOON!”

Jai’s place, Jiggaz Grill, will be selling Caribbean food, including goat curry, rice and peas and all sorts of spicy jerk chicken dishes.

I teased Jai about how soon is “Soon!” and eventually wrote a little poem for him.
He’s going to display this image on the wall of his outlet.

Andover Jiggaz will open soon.
I’m stood at the door with my wooden spoon.
We’ll all be pleased
With their rice and peas.
But how soon is “SOON”? The next blue moon?

Finally, the day has come!
He opened this evening and I was treated to ‘Dumpling Mania”.
It was absolutely delicious.
I look forward to trying many more dishes from this intriguing menu.

A Fabulous Fable – The Truth (?)

“You’ll never get away with it,” he said.

“We will. All the smart money is on you, but your speed of foot can’t beat my notorious cunning and Shelley’s ancient wisdom.”

“When you release me and I run to the finish line, all of the other animals will not believe that I fell asleep and let that crusty pie on legs beat me.”

“Hmm. You may be right. It would make a fabulous fable.”

“Yes. Too incredible to be true.”

“There could be a steward’s inquiry. The bookies may not pay out my winnings.”

“The race will be re-run and I won’t let you trap me next time.”

“You’ve convinced me. I’ll just have to kill you and eat you. They’ll never find your bones.”

Headline:
Tortoise wins race. Hare disappears without trace.