Book review

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. I visited Dorset's Jurasic coast earlier this year and visited a fossil shop and bought an amonite. Sadly I didn't get the chance to fossil hunt myself though I have done in the past on the north east coast near Whitby. The novel is about the lives of two very different women in the early 19th Century who are drawn together by fossils in Lyme Regis.

The characterisation of the two women was vivid and believable and the story engaging. What I loved most about this novel was how it evoked a real sense of discovery and excitement in learning experienced by the two women. This desire to learn and understand is tempered by the restraints of the age which prevented women from an equal education and is really sobering.

The two narators and many of the other characters in this novel are real historical figures. I was left with a feeling of extreme gratitude and admiration of theses pioneering women who persisted in their own quiet ways to push the boundaries of what was "acceptable" for a woman to learn about and engage in. They both made sacrifices so that they could continue to study fossils in their own unoffical ways whilst formal study was denied them. The novel also examins class and religious issues which interfered with opportuities to study I feel very privileged to live at a time when I can study on equal terms to anyone else.

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Rookie

Rookie, a set on Flickr.

I've collected together some photos of Rookie and put them on Flickr. Rookie passed away on Monday after being unwell for some time. She was a little cat with a strong personality who loved to tell you exactly what she thought. She was also an incredibly loving cat who always wanted to be made a fuss of.

The house is not the same with out her. She is dearly missed by Jase and me.

Pigs and stargazing

 The last couple of weeks have been quite busy for me as I started a new contract working for Disability Alliance and specifically the work which Skill lead on with education and disabled people. Sadly Skill closed in April but thanks to Disability Alliance and Lord Low, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills has funded the work of Skill to continue managed by my old colleague and friend Andrea Lewis who was working at Skill when they closed in April. Andrea worked tirelessly with Lord Low and others to ensure that Skill's vital work, like their helpline continue.

I'm working on policy stuff and responses to the Government's FE consultation. It's good to be working again after all the time off in the summer.

Yesterday we went over to visit friends who have just moved down form Edinburgh to Cambridge. We went with them and their two little girls to a farm which has a selection of shops and a cafe. The picture above is of some pigs who seemed very happy to be wallowing in mud. Below is a picture of Rupert and Jen's lovely ginger cat. She decided to sleep between Jason and I on the settee with her head on my leg resting on her paw!

We stayed over in Cambridge quite late and Rupert decided to look for the new supernova which has appeared in the pin wheel galaxy just north of the plough. Rupert has a small telescope but we had some difficulty trying to find it. We may have seen it or it may just have been a very bright star. We did certainly get a good view of Jupiter though and 3 of Jupiter's 4 largest moons. I could only see 2 of the 3 but that is certainly more than I've seen before! I can't believe that it was the first time I'd actually looked through a telescope at stars and planets! We didn't get home until mid night but it was a long and enjoyable day.

Today I picked up some lovely begonias from Homebase which I've put at the front of the house as you can see in the picture above.

I have another busy week ahead with probably 2 days working in London, so I'm trying to rest this Sunday.

Bank holiday weekend

Rookie

I was really looking forward to this bank holiday weekend. Mainly because I've actually been working for the last 2 weeks which makes a holiday seem so much more worth while. Whilst I was waiting for my second lot of eye surgery and not working, weekdays and weekends just blurred into one really. How ever much I don't like to admit it, I do really like routine on some levels.

So any way, I was looking forward to the weekend but we had to take Rookie to the vets on Saturday morning. She's not really been well for the past 9 months, she's lost a lot of weight and is sick increasingly often, particularly over night. But until very recently she was happy and as active as a 19 year old cat can be. She's been treated for a thyroid problem for the last 6 months but all other tests have come back normal for her. About 3 weeks ago she was very sick one morning and just looked so weak I made an emergency appointment to see the vet, and really thought that if she didn't get better she would have to be put to sleep. But she had an anti sickness injection and antibiotics and seemed to rally.

Last Friday she was sick again one morning and as she was due another check up we made the appointment for her on Saturday. She was quite dehydrated but not as bad as she had been the time before. The vet however found a lump when he examined her. The vet says it is most likely cancer, I've suspected it for some time now but as she hasn't been in any pain I hoped maybe it was just the thyroid problem making her poorly sometimes.

It's strange how quickly she has gone down hill in the last couple of weeks. She still doesn't seem to be in pain but she has had anti sickness and antibiotic jabs. She just doesn't seem her normal self, its as if she can't settle or get comfy so I'm guessing she must have some discomfort. She is due back at the vets this Friday as long as things stay as they are, any deterioration and she's back as an emergency sooner.

This weekend I've had to come to terms with the fact that we will have to do the kindest thing for her soon. I don't want her to suffer in any way so I know that it won't be long until the vet has to put her to sleep. The thought of it at first horrified me. Just the thought of her not being alive was so upsetting. But I know that it will be the right thing to do if she starts being sick again and gets dehydrated and weak again or if she starts to be in pain.

So this weekend ended up being quite upsetting as I came to terms with having to say good bye to Rookie. She's a very eccentric cat, very demonstrative always letting you know how she feels, and always wanting attention and love. Sometimes she is more like a dog than a cat. Very loyal and always wanting company. In fact that's one of the ways we have been able to tell that she's ill over the last couple of days. She wants to be made a fuss of but seems to not be able to settle. She won't climb on to Jason's tummy like she always used to nor on to my lap. She is spending most of her time sleeping on the rug in the living room.

Rookie is a very affectionate, loving cat who has been through a lot with me since I got her from the cats protection league 7 years ago. We're making the most of the time we have with her right now.

Today we took a short drive out to the garden centre at Willington. I wanted to get some plants to make a autumn/winter hanging basket. I'd forgotten it was time to plant bulbs. So I ended up buying daffs, narcissi, tulips, crocus and snow drop bulbs, as well as basket plants. I spent a couple of hours gardening when we got back. Repotting a few asters that haven't yet flowered - I'm hoping they will now, and planting some of the bulbs in containers. Then at the front of the house under my study window I've planted snow drops and the daffodils and narcissi. I'm hoping they will come up ok in the spring. No doubt I'll be buying a few more bulbs before November!

We also went to Simply Oak for lunch, I had the roast beef and Jase sausage and mash. e both had the plum tart and custard. So my healthy eating was put on hold today. I'm back at the gym tomorrow for a work out and then yoga so hopefully it won't set me back too much.

Garden 20 Aug 2011

Garden 20 Aug 2011, a set on Flickr.

Just some photos of the flowers in our garden at the moment. lots of dahlias and marigolds, the last of the lilies and a surprise return of the fuchsia.

RSPB Sandy Lodge

RSPB Sandy Lodge, a set on Flickr.

Yesterday we took the car out for a spin, and drove to the RSPB reserve at Sandy. We had a lovely walk in the morning sunshine. The reserve has 5 miles of walks but we probably only did half of that.

We saw some interesting sheep with horns lazing under the trees. There were plenty of insects including dragon flies and bees. We even saw and heard a bird of prey. Still not sure what it was, I guess a buzzard. Its cry was very high pitched and a bit like a cat mewing.

The landscape is a mix of woodland and heath which is lovely as you get to walk through shady trees, some of which are very old, as well as walking through open sun drenched heaths. The old heathland was full of beautiful heather.