Another Good Book, a Nice Surprise, and a bit of Advent catch Up.

So this week I read the third of the four books I had loaded up on my reading devices when we went to France - the fourth still languishes, half read, as it has been for ages. But this one I raced through. 

It was The Wanderer by Michael Ridpath. I hadn't come across him before which seems odd as I like crime fiction and I have a soft spot for a  lot of ( but by no means all) crime fiction set in the Nordic countries, so I'm surprised a series  about a half Icelandic detective set mainly in Iceland has passed me by really. No matter, I have 'found' him now. The Wanderer is quite  a long way through the series but the fact that I hadn't read the previous books didn't detract from the experience of reading this. The plot driver is the making of a TV series about some of the Icelanders who, according to the Sagas, sailed to America, and back, and there's an interesting mix of credible characters in there; historians, archaeologists, tv people and of course police personnel. The action moves between Iceland and Greenland, there's just enough description of the environment to inform and delight, without it becoming like a travel book,  and the resolution of the plot is very satisfying. I will be on the lookout for more Ridpath, that's for sure. 

I haven't blogged much recently, mainly because I have been busy but with non-blogworthy stuff - I can't come on here for several days in a row and say 'we managed to put up a few more decorations, I wrapped a few presents and the OH is a bit better than he was yesterday'. Well I could, but it wouldn't be particularly interesting. However, one of the things I have been doing is having pre-Christmas coffee with friends and exchanging cards and presents, and yesterday the friend I was meeting brought us a delicious 'extra' 

Mozart Kugeln. They're lovely and I was delighted to get them. I think I brought a small bag back from Prague in 2021, but I certainly haven't had any since then. 

I am totally confused with where the advent reporting is; I knew that would happen if I didn't keep up on a daily basis, but anyway here is Skein and the Stitch's week3 which got opened on Monday. I love it. I had expected something more vibrant, if not positively neon, from the inspiration card pictures, since this is Mad Hatter week, but it's much more subtle than anticipated. and I love the stitch marker in the shape of a cup of tea. 

Today's advents were as follows

cinnamon sticks and guava. We sampled the guava with our morning toast, because I was keen to taste it. I remember Prue Leith saying on the Bake Off one time that guava was delicious 'even the tinned ones'. Sadly the Kirkwall Tesco does not run to tinned guava so guava jam is as close as I am likely to get for some time. Possibly it doesn't give a very accurate reflection of the flavour, as it tasted mainly of sugar. 

And here is the Yarn Artist mini for today 

I haven't managed to keep up with the lap blanket project using this advent  because I was on a mission this last week to knit something else for a Christmas gift, a bit of a last minute decision really, but I finished that yesterday - photo tomorrow I expect - and so I now have time to catch up a bit. Currently on Day 17. 

Back tomorrow - I hope!