Author: Alison
Me, just me. Mum to two lovely frustrating wonderful teenagers. Living in deepest darkest Oxfordshire. Ex Londoner and proud of it - though I don't miss the traffic. Chelsea fan, motorsports fan, avid reader. Love my food, wine and family!
Review: Naomi’s Room
Naomi’s Room by Jonathan Aycliffe My rating: 4 of 5 stars Genuinely creepy ghost story that made me want to hide under the duvet a couple of times! Written from the perspective of a Cambridge do... Read More
Updates on my 101 things list
Well I haven't crossed anything else off the list yet but I have made headway in a couple of things. #56 Cook a soufflé, a fondant and beef Wellington. Two out of three can be crossed off, just t... Read More
Review: The Lewis Man
The Lewis Man by Peter May My rating: 4 of 5 stars A murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands. When a body is pulled from a peat bog it’s assumed it’s an ancient find but the discovery... Read More
Thing #101: Change my name IN PROGRESS
Neale is my married name, but having been divorced now for near four years (and separated for five) I've decided it really is time I changed it, hence including it on my list. I don't feel I d... Read More
Thing #33 completed: Paint a picture and hang it on the wall
On my last list one of the things was to paint a picture and I crossed it off after I attended an art journaling workshop and completed a canvas, of which I was very proud. But the more I thought abou... Read More
Thing #14: 26 books by authors A-Z and new to me.
When I did my first 101 things in 1001 days challenge one of my favourite things was reading books by 26 authors who were new to me, one for every letter of the alphabet. It introduced me to new autho... Read More
A trip to Southend-on-Sea (Thing #2)
Throughout my childhood, “the seaside” meant Cromer – one of my favourite places in the world – or occasional day trips to Barry Island, Ogmore or Penarth while staying with my... Read More
Gypsy Rodney Smith and his memorial stone in Epping Forest (Thing #6)
I’ve always known about my gypsy ancestry; my nanna’s father was a full Romany and I’m proud to be one eighth Romany myself, even when it led to the odd cry of “gyppo” ... Read More
Review: This thirtysomething life: A Diary
This thirtysomething life: A Diary by Jon Rance My rating: 3 of 5 stars Chick lit in style but written by a man … Similar to a Mike Gayle novel I guess. Interesting diary-style novel about a man... Read More
Thing #82 completed – invest money in someone via Kiva
I first heard about Kiva last year and decided I'd like to get involved – but it took adding it to my lit and seeing someone on Facebook loaning money to prompt me to get on with it. Kiva is... Read More
Snow White drifted
Did some art journalling today, but it didn’t really turn out how it was in my head. The idea was based around snow – that snow covers everything with a blanket of purity, but then as it m... Read More
Book Review: The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared
The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson My rating: 3 of 5 stars I started reading this after my partner Steve recommended it but for about a third of the book... Read More
Review: The 5:2 Diet Book
The 5:2 Diet Book by Kate Harrison My rating: 3 of 5 stars Bought this on a whim because it sounded intriguing, and read it in one sitting. I haven't seen the Horizon programme that prompted Kate ... Read More