Review of 2018

Dropped out of the habit of blogging even trivial notes this year, but here is the summary of the year.  From previous years we have 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

This blog originally included a lot more about what I did or thought, now it is mainly ‘reviews’ of books read and only really so that I can check if I have already read something.  Enjoy…

Movies watched at Cinema

• June: Screening of Time Trial movie with David Millar
• Nov: Bohemian Rhapsody

Events (anything significant to remember)

• March: an evening with Graeme Obree at the Mitchell
• June: Screening of Time Trial movie with David Millar
• April: Rum Tasting hosted by Plantation Rums in Tiki Bar on Bath Street
• Aug: European Championships Women’s Road Race, Glasgow Green
• Dec: Christmas Market George Square with faimly

Cycling

• 2018 totals:
  268 rides
  142 days active
  136 hours
  1578 miles
  62729 ft gain
• May 5: Drumlanrig Tearfund Challenge
  (poor stewarding and sinage, got lost)
  34miles, 3 hours, 2600ft, 11.6mph average
• May 18: Mallorca Guided Ride
  47.5miles, 3.5 hours, 2500ft, 13.6mph average
• May 24: Mallorca Guided Ride
  41.1miles, 3hours, 2500, 13.4mph average
• Oct 16: Mallorca Guided Ride
  36.9miles, 2.5hours, 1700, 14.7mph average

BOOKS read this year….

• Jan: Lee Child “The Midnight Line”
• Feb: E.V. Seymour “A Deadly Trade (Josh Thane Thriller #1)”
• March: E.V. Seymour “Final Target (Josh Thane Thriller #2)”
• June: Richard Davis “The Saul Marshall Thrillers: Books 1-3”
• Sept: Michael Connelly “The Late Show”
• Nov: Michael Connelly “Dark Sacred Night (Harry Bosch Series Book 21)”
• Nov: Michael Connelly “Angle of Investigation: Three Harry Bosch Short Stories”
• Nov: Blake Banner “Dawn of the Hunter (Omega Series Book 1)”
• Dec: Blake Banner “Double Edged Blade (Omega Series Book 2)”
• Dec: Blake Banner “The Storm (Omega Series Book 3)”
• Dec: “The Bartender’s Guide to Rum”

 

Holidays…

• March: Dalbeattie weekend
• March: Center Parcs
• May: HV Mallorca (2nd time abroad with kids)
• Aug: Stayed in Dalbeattie for a few days, then
• Aug: Stayed in Crail for a couple of nights
• Oct: HV Mallorca (3rd time abroad with kids) flying from Manchester this time
• Oct: Weeked in Inveraray with family

Other Highlights:

• Turned 51
• April: Lewis 5
• May: Chris Froome won the Giro d’Italia
• June: Lewis graduated Nursery
• July: Trip to Isle of Lewis for uncle’s funeral
• July: Geraint Thomas won the Tour de Fance
• Sept: 1st cousins once removed moved into the flat
• Sept: Simon Yates won the Vuelta Espana
• Oct: Lewis started Shinty
• Oct: Made a robot outfit for kids haloween
• Nov: Rachel 2

Youtube uploads:

• April: Easter Egg Hunt
• Sept: Jurassic Kingdom
• Dec: Alice Cooper Hydro Nov 2017
• ..but also started a new channel for Gaelic Nursery Books

Running Totals:

• 2009 – 23 books – 6 Movies – 4 gigs/events
• 2010 – 33 books – 13 Movies – 10 gigs/events – 6 meals – 4 holidays
• 2011 – 18 books – 2 Movies – 3 gigs/events – 1 meals – 3 holidays
• 2012 – 16 books – 7 Movies – 3 gigs/events – 3 meals – 4 holidays
• 2013 – 8 books – 2 Movies – 0 gigs/events – 1 meals – 2 holidays – 1 Son
• 2014 – 1 books – 3 Movies – 2 gigs/events – 4 holidays
• 2015 – 18 books – 2 Movies – 2 gigs/events – 3 holidays – 6 videos
• 2016 – 34 books – 2 Movies – 1 events – 4 holidays – 4 videos – 1416 miles cycled – 1 daughter
• 2017 – 25 books – 2 Movies – 1 event – 7 holidays – 3 videos – 1749 miles cycled
• 2018 – 11 books – 2 Movies – 5 events – 7 holidays – 1 video – 1578 miles

massive catchup before end of the year…

OK so I stopped updating this back in March but need to do my summary of the year so here goes all the notes I can remember…

After the fantastic night with Graeme Obree at the Mitchell,..

Jan:

• Book: Lee Child “The Midnight Line”

Feb

• Book: E.V. Seymour “A Deadly Trade (Josh Thane Thriller #1)”

March:

• Book: E.V. Seymour “Final Target (Josh Thane Thriller #2)”
• Holiday: Dalbeattie weekend
• Holiday: Center Parcs
• Event: an evening with Graeme Obree at the Mitchell

April:

• Lewis turned 5 years old
• Event: Rum Tasting hosted by Plantation Rums in Tiki Bar on Bath Street

May

• Cycling: Drumlanrig Tearfund Challenge cycle ride
  (poor stewarding and sinage, got lost)
  34miles, 3hours, 2600ft, 11.6mph average
• Holiday: HV Mallorca (2nd time abroad with kids)
• Cycling: Guided Ride – 47.5miles, 3.5 hours, 2500ft, 13.6mph average
• Cycling: Guided Ride – 41.1miles, 3hours, 2500, 13.4mph average
• Chris Froome won the Giro d’Italia

June

• Lewis Graduated from Nursery
• Books: The Saul Marshall Thrillers: Books 1-3 Richard Davis
• Movie/Event: Screening of Time Trial movie with David Millar (met David Millar)

July

• Trip to Isle of Lewis for uncle’s funeral
• Geraint Thomas won the Tour de Fance

Aug

• Event: European Championships Women’s Road Race, Glasgow Green
• Holiday: Stayed in Dalbeattie for a few days, then
• Holiday: Stayed in Crail for a couple of nights

Sept

• Simon Yates won the Vuelta Espana
• Book: The Late Show Michael Connelly
• 1st cousins once removed moved into the flat

October

• Holiday: HV Mallorca (3nd time abroad with kids) flying from Manchester this time
• Cycle: Guided Ride – 36.9miles, 2.5hours, 1700, 14.7mph average
• Lewis started Shinty
• Holiday: Weeked in Inveraray with family
• Made a robot outfit for kids haloween

November

• Book: Dark Sacred Night (Harry Bosch Series Book 21) Michael Connelly
• Rachel turned 2 years old
• Book: Angle of Investigation: Three Harry Bosch Short Stories Michael Connelly
• Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody
• Book: Dawn of the Hunter – An Omega Thriller (Omega Series Book 1) Update Available Blake Banner

December

• Book: Double Edged Blade – An Omega Thriller (Omega Series Book 2) Blake Banner
• Event: Christmas Market George Square with faimly
• Book: The Storm – An Omega Thriller (Omega Series Book 3) Blake Banner
• Book: The Bartender’s Guide to Rum

 

Event: Graeme Obree at the Mitchell

Part of the Aye Write Glasgow Book Festival the audience with Graeme Obree was all to short.  I wouldn’t say he is a polished public speaker, more a rambling stream of asides trying to find a narrative.

However it was funny, fascinating and all too short.  It would have been great to have listened to Graeme for much longer and hear more of his achievements and struggles.

Holiday: Center Parcs

Five days at Center Parcs Whinfell forest.  Yes we visited every day in the pool but did plenty of other things as well.  Among them the pottery painting and a ropes course.

Great place and particularly good at the moment when we can go during term time before Lewis starts school.

Holiday: Dalbeattie weekend

A weekend break in Dumfries and Galloway was just what we needed.  To be frank the weather sucked but we were mainly there because two of the best destinations for kids are in the area: Cream ‘o Galloway & the Cocoabean Factory.

 

Book: E.V. Seymour “Final Target (Josh Thane Thriller #2)”

A fantastic follow up to the previous novel “A Deadly Trade” the now ex-assassin Josh Thane has given up his life of murder and gone to ground.  When glamorous MI5 agent, McCallan, needs his help, Josh can’t resist being pulled back into the game.

Soon he realises that he is a target and not just him, but those closest to him. As crime bosses and intelligence officers are picked off one by one, McCallen disappears and Josh is faced with a choice that could make this mission his last: either he walks into the trap set for him, or McCallen dies.

I enjoyed this just as much as the first one and look forward to reading more from this author and with this character.

Book: E.V. Seymour “A Deadly Trade (Josh Thane Thriller #1)”

Fast paced thriller and first appearance of professional assassin Josh Thane. His next target is a British microbiologist breaking into her house, he discovers she is already dead.  As her son stumbles in, he shows weakness for the first time in his professional career and lets him go.  A single mistake that destroys everything he’s worked for and puts him and the boy in immediate danger.  The first twist is the attraction to the MI5 agent who is first on site.  The next is that his target is suspected of creating devastating chemical weapons.

Who ordered the kill?  Who is after Josh Thane now?  How can he get out of this situation and make things right?

A great read if a little over complicated in the end.

book: Lee Child “The Midnight Line”

Jack is back!  Many years ago I lived opposite a coffee shop full of second hand books for sale or swap and a very enthusiastic owner, Lou.  The first time I asked her for advice on what to read next she just walked around the counter and handed me Lee Child’s first novel (Killing Floor).  I worked my way through his back catalogue and get every new book when released.

The movies are good but the books are fantastic.

I am always amazed at how minimalist Lee Child’s writing is – he has the lightest of touch in describing Reacher, the situations he gets in and all those involved.

This story starts when Reacher sees a graduation ring from West Point in a pawn shop.  He buys it and starts to trace the owner knowing that this isn’t something that would be given up easily.

Review of 2017

The annual summary of stuff wot I have blogged about…

(see also 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 )

This blog originally included a lot more about what I did or thought, now it is mainly ‘reviews’ of books read and only really so that I can check if I have already read something.  Enjoy…

Movies watched at Cinema (well this year was two trips to the little cinema at Crieff Hydro, but every little counts)

• March: Dr Strange
• March: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Events (anything significant to remember)

• 12 Nov: Alice Cooper SSE Hydro

Cycling

• 2017 totals:
  331 rides
  169 days active
  153 hours
  1749 miles
  63635 ft gain
• 26th March 2017: Wattbike No Excuses Falkirk Sportive
  : 45 miles : Moving 3h:58 : Total 5h:26
  : Elevation 2416 ft : Av Speed: 11.4 mph : Max Speed: 34.4 mph
• 29th April 2017: Tearfund Drumlanrig Challenge
  : 57 miles : Moving 4h:42 : Total 5h:21
  : Elevation: 3040 ft : Av Speed: 12.2 mph : Max Speed: 30 mph
• 10th Sept 2017: Pedal for Scotland
  : 45 miles : Moving 3h:34 : Total 4h: 03
  : Elevation 2142ft : Av Speed: 12.3mph : Max Speed: 33 mph

BOOKS read this year….

• Jan: Robert Crais “The Sentry”
• Jan: Robert Crais “Taken”
• Feb: Robert Crais “Suspect”
• Feb: Robert Crais “The Promise”
• March: Nelson DeMille “Plumb Island”
• March: Lee Child “Make Me”
• March: David Millar “Racing Through the Dark: The Fall and Rise of David Millar”
• April: Chris Froome “The Climb: The Autobiography”
• May: Nelson DeMille “The Lion’s Game”
• May: Paul Stanley “Face the Music”
• June: Nelson DeMille “Night Fall”
• July: Nelson DeMille “Wild Fire”
• Aug: Nelson DeMille “The Lion”
• Aug: Nelson DeMille “The Panther”
• Aug: Nelson DeMille “Radiant Angel”
• Aug: Michael Connelly “The Wrong Side of Goodbye”
• Aug: James Lee Burke “Lay Down My Sword and Shield”
• Aug: Lawrence Block “Sins of the Father”
• Sep: Lawrence Block “In the Midst of Death” (Matthew Scudder 2)
• Sep: Lawrence Block “Time to Murder and Create” (Matthew Scudder 3)
• Sep: Lawrence Block “A Stab in the Dark” (Matthew Scudder 4)
• Dec: Lawrence Block “Eight Million Ways to Die” (Matthew Scudder 5)
• Dec: Lawrence Block “When the Sacred Ginmill Closes” (Matthew Scudder 6)
• Dec: Michael Connelly “Two Kinds Of Truth”
• Dec: Leslie Charteris “Enter The Saint”

Holidays…

• Feb: Dunoon (50th long weekend)
• March: Crieff Hydro
• June: Craig Tara caravan weekend
• (June: Lewis went camping with Granny and Grandpa)
• July: Lake District
• July: Isle of Lewis
• Sept: Tayview Lodges with Reddicks
• Oct: Sa Coma, Mallorca (First foreign family holiday)

Other Highlights:

• Jan: started YouTube channel for Gaelic Nursery Books
• Feb: new bike – Specialised Diverge A1
• Turned 50!
• April: Lewis 4
• April: Resigned from Vestry and left St Silas after 25 years
• June: New Dishwasher
• Aug: New Washing Machine
• Oct: Sa Coma, Mallorca First foreign family holiday
• Nov: Rachel 1
• Nov: Rachel Dedicated (and we joined) APBC
• Dec: Joined Parent Council at SGG

Youtube uploads:

• April: Easter Egg Hunt
• Sept: Jurassic Kingdom
• Dec: Alice Cooper Hydro Nov 2017
• ..but also started a new channel for Gaelic Nursery Books

Running Totals:

• 2009 – 23 books – 6 Movies – 4 gigs/events
• 2010 – 33 books – 13 Movies – 10 gigs/events – 6 meals – 4 holidays
• 2011 – 18 books – 2 Movies – 3 gigs/events – 1 meals – 3 holidays
• 2012 – 16 books – 7 Movies – 3 gigs/events – 3 meals – 4 holidays
• 2013 – 8 books – 2 Movies – 0 gigs/events – 1 meals – 2 holidays – 1 Son
• 2014 – 1 books – 3 Movies – 2 gigs/events – 4 holidays
• 2015 – 18 books – 2 Movies – 2 gigs/events – 3 holidays – 6 videos
• 2016 – 34 books – 2 Movies – 1 events – 4 holidays – 4 videos – 1416 miles cycled – 1 daughter
• 2017 – 25 books – 2 Movies – 1 event – 7 holidays – 3 videos – 1749 miles cycled

Book: Leslie Charteris “Enter The Saint”

While I remember the Saint TV series I prefer the B-Movies from the 30’s and 40’s however I’ve never tried reading the original stories.

This collection of three novellas was first published in 1930.  Charters second Saint book where Simon Templar starts to get in his stride.  The stories are “The Man Who Was Clever”,  “The Policeman With Wings”  and “The Lawless Lady”.

Disappointingly I found these stories a bit laboured.  I enjoyed the 1930s environment, the slap dash nature of The Saint and a few other things but…  well it was slow, repetitive and a bit boring.