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Hi Rodalind,

Nice to hear from you;

I am always dubious about a penalty being granted to a team at the very last minute, particularly when that team is favourite on paper!

Where is the Goya exhibition? If it wad in my neck of the wood I surely would go ! I am due a visit to Paris sometime in the future and will try and time it when there is an exhibition of interest to me at the Quay D'Orsay Museum.

Sorry but know nothing of Simon Schama series !
and no Hallowe'en visitors here either !

Hi, everyone!
Goodness, where have you all been whilst I've been away?
The PCT has been very quiet - not many people have been "chatting"?

Chris,
Thank you for your enquiries - I'm sorry, I should have said that I would be away for a few weeks.
I've been wanting to talk to you about "Skallagrigg"! I've now finished it. It was upsetting but I did - 'enjoy' is not the word - maybe 'appreciate' (?) reading it.
I found reading about Arthur's plight was far more distressful than that of Esther, as Arthur was trapped in his body with no-one but Frank to understand his mind (or even appreciate that he had any intelligence at all) whereas Esther 's intelligence and potential were relatively soon understood and realised.
And I never saw where it was all leading.... to whom or what "Skallagrigg" was? Did you? I'd appreciate hearing your views?
(I won't be more specific here, in case I spoil the ending for someone else!)
I had to smile when I read in your comments to Rosalind that you didn't like the untidy end, where Martin didn't openly acknowledge that he was Arthur's grandson. Shades of your reaction to "Engleby"? You didn't like the inconclusiveness there either!

Rusty,
It's good to see you back on the Forum!
How are you? I hope all is well with you?
I am bursting to tell you my good news!! I am going to be a grandma again!!!!
Our younger daughter is expecting another baby in March! Gender as yet unknown!
I couldn't tell you before as we were not allowed (on pain of death!) to tell a soul until she had had her 12-week scan! Anyway, the scan showed that all is well! and we can now spread the good news!
Isn't it exciting?
You missed hearing about a very interesting book ("Skallagrigg" by William Horwood) that a few of us have been reading - it IS fiction (yes, I know) but it is about cerebral palsy sufferers and is influenced by the author's relationship with his own daughter Rachel, who has cerebral palsy ( see Wikipedia for further details)
It is well worth a read. I would definitely recommend it!

Rosalind,
I have now finished "The Boy with No Shoes". Very different from "Skallagrigg" but still enthralling.
Any further recommendations? there are so many from which to choose (!) and I think I remember your saying that you hadn't liked them all? or had definite preferences?
I've never been up the Shard - have you been on the London Eye? how does that experience compare?

Pigale,
The Goya exhibition is showing at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. I am trying to decide whether or not to go to see it. My main interest is in Impressionism and Post Impressionism. And I also (to my surprise) like Fauvism. Do you like that?
What genre of Art do you prefer?

Pigale is right. We should do all we can to keep this thread going. It was fun when everyone joined in and chatted together over a 'virtual' cup of coffee!

Hi Elle
I'm glad you enjoyed "Boy With No Shoes"- did you get a lump in your throat?
I have read all the Duncton Wood books , but much prefer the first. A long time ago my (school) biology teacher scrawled "Try to avoid anthropomorphism" on a piece I wrote about bees; I had no idea what the word meant. Having discovered what it is, I agree with her! Even so, I enjoyed William's "Callanish" (inspired by the story of Goldie, the escaped eagle) and "The Stonor Eagles" very much. I can't get beyond chapter one of the first "Wolves of Time" book.

Two novels I enjoyed very much are "The Silver Dark Sea" by Susan Fletcher and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See.

PS My teacher was right- having had no previous biology lessons I had no idea how I should have referred to "the bee's wedding" !! Cringe, cringe.

The Shard was a great experience but I wouldn't want to pay £30 to do it. The Eye was very different but so long ago I can hardly remember. Would love to do either or both at night!

Pigale
Sorry, the Goya is a long way from you.

Hi, Ros,
Yes, I did indeed get a lump in my throat! Though it didn't hit home as much as did "Skalllgrigg".
I'm puzzled somewhat though by William's changing the names of the characters - because having said that it was autobiographical, what was to be gained by that? The 'cast,' as it were, is obviously traceable?
Do you know why he did that?
I shall visit Amazon later and order some more books! my last two 1p ones were very successful buys!
No, I wouldn't pay to go up the Shard either - but not just because of the cost - I'm acrophobic! You wouldn't get me on the Ferris Wheel either!
Foggy here today - waiting for it to lift before going out......

Morning Elle, morning everyone,

I'm afraid Rosalind is right, Goya is just a little too far away ! I find his paintings extremely powerful.
In fact, I like many schools of painting - from the Italian Renaissance right through the French pre-impressionists, impressionists and post-impressionists - but I stop there; Fauvism etc leave me cold, basically because I cannot understand the paintings, can't see what the various artists are trying to represent. (One exception, a painting by Dali showing elephants and their reflection on water - don't even know the name of the painting).

I did not realise Skallagrig was fiction otherwise I would not have ordered it - and this explains why I can't get myself involved in it. Like Rusty, I do not like fiction. I suppose all the books Rosalind just referred to are all fiction ?

Rusty, if you are reading this, what did you make of the Rugby World Cup? (Forget if you like this sport or not) . I know it's not quite finished yet until last match tonight, but the Northern Hemisphere is the great loser !

Brilliang sun and warm temps - Indian Summer here !

PS - Elle, would you be OK at the top of the Eiffel Tower ?

Pigale
Yes the books are all fiction, though usually based on research. I usually only read fiction, though the one book I've written is a biography!

If you read William's entry in Wikipedia, Elle, you'll see that "The Boy With No Shoes" isn't, strictly speaking, autobiography. I don't know why, I should think the answer is complicated.

Going to plant some bulbs

Hello, Elle,
Thank you for the enthusiastic welcome!
Great news about your grandchild-on-the-way!
You can never have enough of them!
That seems an intriguing book you mentioned.
I am hopeless with fiction!
My last two reads have been disappointing.
Both golfing anthologies. One by Bernard Darwin, the other by Henry Longhurst. Both very right-wing!
So, I shall not buy a book for a wee while, and my next Amazon purchase will be a tin of Hammerite paint!

Hello,Pigale,
I hope you are in good nick?
I don't follow rugby, although I watched quite a bit of the final yesterday. I have no idea of the rules but was very impressed by the players attitude to the ref. A refreshing change from foul mouthed footballers! Is it true that the rugby players address the ref as "sir"?
We have a programme here on BBC every year called Sports Personality of the Year. Jess Ennis-Hill is a hot favourite to win.
I thought I would have a wee bet on Lizzie Armitstead to win but she is not quoted in the betting.
World Champion and not in the betting. Dearie me!
Cycling is still a Cinderella sport here!
Fine day here, but chilly!

Hello Rusty,

How nice to hear from you ! I am in good nick I think, thank you, apart from a niggling tooth ache ! My fault for keeping as far away from dentists as I can !

Rugby definitely is more a gentlemen's sport than footballers and yes, players address the ref as Sir - I don't think this has changed. Another thing that is good about the sport is the behaviour of the public - no hooligans in Rugby ! (or ever so little if any)

Certainly I would have thought that Froome would have a mention in your BBC programme !


Rosalind, I think I got somewhat mixed up between Fiction and Science-Fiction - of course I like fiction since I read a lot of novels ! but they have to be realistic novels, and what disturbs me with Skallagrig (without having read the book yet) is precisely this ; what is/who is Skallagrig - the explanation on the inside jacket is of no help whatsoever since it says: ' Skallagrigg is a name, but whether of a thing or a person no one in authority knows or cares' -
Well, I'm afraid just that sentence is enough to put me off ! Might sounds stupid to you but I can't bring myself to forget about it and dive into the book proper.

Pigale, yes, I approve of rugby, if only I could understand it!
Froome is in the running, and Sir Wiggo.
But Jess Ennis is favourite. I like Jess a lot, but I hoped Lizzie would figure, too. She maybe is not concerned as she has her wedding to think about now!
I think I must have an American spell-checker.
It does not approve of "favourite"!!!