Retro Reads discussion

Happy New Year to you!

Happy New Year! Is there no group read for January 2025?

Valerie Book Valkyrie wrote: "Happy New Year! Is there no group read for January 2025?"

I think a lot of members are diving in with book pool reads

Valerie Book Valkyrie wrote: "Happy New Year! Is there no group read for January 2025?"

Hi Valerie
We don't always do monthly reads, although we do them sometimes. Our main focus is the Book Pool & it was the Christmas read as well.

But I do have an idea for a book I would like to do as a group - I'll make a separate post!

& sorry to disappear on y'all for a couple of days - I had a friend staying. :)

Hope you had a lovely visit!

Susan in NC wrote: "Hope you had a lovely visit!"

We did thanks - lots of chatter & coffee. & I took her to my beloved Museum before she left. :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Hope you had a lovely visit!"

We did thanks - lots of chatter & coffee. & I took her to my beloved Museum before she left. :)"

Sounds pretty perfect, actually.

If any of our members are from Los Angeles - I can't even comprehend what I am reading! (massive fires)

Stay safe!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "If any of our members are from Los Angeles - I can't even comprehend what I am reading! (massive fires)

Stay safe!"

Yes, the videos are just crazy, like a war zone. Very sad, 2 dead already. When they tell you to go, GO!

I hope everyone is ok - the LA devastation is so vast.

On to something more cheerful...

The moderator of another group I'm in went to the above play based on an Agatha Christie short story. In London. At this venue.

https://witnesscountyhall.com/the-sho...

I am a very unattractive shade of green right now.

Carol--re: the Christie play. I share your envy!

Re: the fires in and around LA--Words fail me. I watch each new video in stunned silence. I have a dear friend in that part of California, well south of the current fires, but I know* she can smell the smoke and see the glow of the fires in the night sky. Scary times for all in the area.

*We were living in Melbourne during the Ash Wednesday fires of 16 Feb 1983. We were 20 or so miles away from the closest fires, but the smell of smoke and the nighttime orange glow are stamped in my memory.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Carol--re: the Christie play. I share your envy!

Re: the fires in and around LA--Words fail me. I watch each new video in stunned silence. I have a dear friend in that part of California, well so..."
When Australia had those big bush fires we could see the haze from NZ. We have one nearish to me which they thought was contained but the firefighters are back there today.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36054...

Ditto re the fires in LA. Scary, scary stuff happening.

It is the wildlife and animals that I feel so sorry for.

Is there an animal protection society over there by chance.?

I know I donated to WIRES over here when the bushfires went through.

Oh I remember those sad pictures of burnt koalas! 😒

I would like to see more coverage about animals & regular people rather than celebs.

A small time Youtuber I follow has evacuated & is in a hotel. He has been allowed to bring his dogs, which I think is really nice of the management.

Remember people being encouraged to leave out containers of various sizes with water for the animals, birds and kangaroos etc after the fires went through.

& I'll be away a couple of days from tomorrow. Marty is having some malignant cancers cut out. In a weird way I'm looking forward to it. One of them is changing in appearance. 🤯

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& I'll be away a couple of days from tomorrow. Marty is having some malignant cancers cut out. In a weird way I'm looking forward to it. One of them is changing in appearance. 🤯"

All the best to you both, Carol!

I hope it all goes well, Carol.

Jackie wrote: "I hope it all goes well, Carol."

Me too!

We are catching the bus to Auckland & Marty was hoping to catch the train (he loves trains) to our daughters'. Unfortunately they aren't running as they are doing some maintenance.

I'm hoping we will go down to the Viaduct area for lunch. Quite pretty down there now.

To get organized for the new year, I'm tidying up my computer and created an exhaustive list of recommended books on my website, if anyone is interested, including some Retro Reads:
www.elinorflorence.com/blog/reading-r...

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& I'll be away a couple of days from tomorrow. Marty is having some malignant cancers cut out. In a weird way I'm looking forward to it. One of them is changing in appearance. 🤯"

Oh dear! Sending positive, healing energy-can’t blame you, want that stuff gone, I’m sure!

Elinor wrote: "To get organized for the new year, I'm tidying up my computer and created an exhaustive list of recommended books on my website, if anyone is interested, including some Retro Reads:
www.elinorflore..."

Thank you, Elinor!

& back.

We didn't go to the Viaduct as there is a lot of construction/roadworks there atm, but we did have lunch in the city centre.

Marty has had the cancers removed & a couple of biopsies done. Even with painkillers he is still very sore & has been told to rest for a couple of days.

While waiting for him I went to the Art Gallery. Very interest exhibition on Modern Women.

I’m glad he’s doing ok, if sore, sending positive vibes for biopsy results. Glad you got some me time while waiting!

& from the exhibition;



Although I knew that Ngaio Marsh was more than a detective story writer (I may have mentioned before that one of my b-i-l's had a bit part in a play she directed) I didn't know she was such an accomplished artist. This portrait of a friend of hers looked far better in person than it does in my photo.

This portrait of my favourite NZ author, Katherine Mansfield by Anne Estelle Rice, is very accurate. Rice intentionally had her in bright colours, rather than the drab shades Mansfield normally favoured.

The exhibition was a great distraction. The Iced Dirty Chai Latte I had in their cafe was awful though. I love coffee & I love Chai. Turns out I don't like them mixed.

stunning paintings, thanks for sharing, Carol. I don't think I'd like coffee & chai mixed since it doesn't sound good.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& from the exhibition;



Although I knew that Ngaio Marsh was more than a detective story writer (I may have mentioned before that one of my b-i-l's had a bit part in a play she directed) I didn'..."

Agree on those two drinks, but don’t think I’d like them mixed either

I thought it was going to taste like gently spiced coffee but it was just nasty.

Yes, sounds interesting, but the execution, not so much…

& I'm going away for a couple of days.

Those biopsies Marty had done showed another cancer that needs to be cut out & another one that should respond to a cream.

& on Saturday it is our 40th Wedding Anniversary. Hopefully Marty will feel up to going out for brunch before we come home.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "& I'm going away for a couple of days.

Those biopsies Marty had done showed another cancer that needs to be cut out & another one that should respond to a cream.

& on Saturday it is our 40th Wedd..."

Happy Anniversary to you both, and be brave Marty! Thinking of you.

Thank you! Since it is just one being cut out he thinks he can get through the op without a happy pill!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Thank you! Since it is just one being cut out he thinks he can get through the op without a happy pill!"

Nah Marty! Be happy, have the pill. WooHoo!

Carol
Congratulations on 40 years of marriage! Happy Anniversary to you and Marty.
Wishing Marty a smooth op and a speedy recovery.

Make it a champagne brunch! Cheers Carol & Marty!

Congratulations, and best of luck to Marty!

CindySR wrote: "Make it a champagne brunch! Cheers Carol & Marty!"

Ha!

We did go to see the girls play interclub tennis. I haven't seen Chloe play anything remotely competitive in any sport since she was at school so that was fun, but unfortunately one of their opponents struggled with sportswomanship.

Marty's op went well but the forehead is a very painful place to have a cancer removed from. Once the local wore off he was munching painkillers like popcorn, so there was no point trying to do anything, so we came home.

He is still in pain now. I'm hoping he comes right tomorrow.

Sorry to hear about the pain, and hope it's better very soon.

I used to work in rehab and I know that ICE as a pain reliever is seriously underused, for what that's worth. Likely you know, but just in case.

Jackie wrote: "Sorry to hear about the pain, and hope it's better very soon.

I used to work in rehab and I know that ICE as a pain reliever is seriously underused, for what that's worth. Likely you know, but j..."
I don't think he can put ice anywhere near the wound, but he should be allowed to shower later today. I'll suggest it to him.

I certainly hope he’s feeling better soon

& we have had good news!

Don't think I have mentioned it but Marty had an old, healed shoulder wound flare up! We thought it was going to need surgery, but he saw the specialists today & they think it should respond to one (maybe two) cortisone shots & an exercise programme. So pleased for him - it has been so miserable.

So we finally celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary! We went to a beautiful cafe in Hamilton, then went to the Te Aroha Hot Pools for a spa in their mineral pools.

https://www.tearohamineralspas.co.nz/

I was just about floating when i got out of the pool!

Te Aroha is a pretty little town, but is starting to get some chain stores now dammit!

Carol
That's good news about Marty's shoulder. I'm going through physical therapy for a shoulder injury (strained muscle) and it has helped a lot. The program is a combo of massage and exercises. I bet Marty would do well with such a program.
Your 40th anniversary celebration sounds great! Alas, we have no mineral hot springs close by.

glad for the news, Carol, and (belatedly) Happy Anniversary!

Thanks to both of you!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I was just about floating when i got out of the pool!"
That sounds heavenly, and reminds me that I have yet to try the natural hot springs that are in my vicinity.

Best wishes to Marty with his rehab, and Happy Anniversary!

CindySR wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I was just about floating when i got out of the pool!"
That sounds heavenly, and reminds me that I have yet to try the natural hot springs that are in my vicinity."

Report back if you do, please!

One of my sisters sent me an early birthday present!

So me! (I should have straightened the other things before taking the photo!)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "One of my sisters sent me an early birthday present!





So me! (I should have straightened the other things before taking the photo!)"

Delightful!

that is wonderful, thank you for sharing it Carol!