The bookend to my day yesterday, walking home via the Quayside. Spot Venus πŸͺ

Newcastle Quayside at night. Millennium Bridge lit in purple reflected in the river. Venus shining brightly in the clear sky.

Mad sky this morning on my commute

Sunrise over Newcastle’s Grey Street. Blue sky with strip of pinky-orange clouds.

Carry-On, 2024 - β˜…β˜…

Watched on Saturday January 11, 2025.

Carry-On, 2024 - β˜…β˜…

Watched on Saturday January 11, 2025.

I’m kinda glad I don’t get annual podcast stats, otherwise you’d know how much time I spend thinking about my fantasy premier league team πŸ˜†

Currently reading: Babel by R. F Kuang πŸ“š

I enjoyed the author’s note at the beginning of this, which outlines all her sources for the details of Victorian Oxford and the artistic licences she has taken. The last sentence in particular made me chuckle…

If you find any other inconsistencies, feel free to remind yourself this is a work of fiction.

Finished reading: Report for Murder by V. L. McDermid πŸ“š

Sometimes you just need the comfort of a classic crime procedural and Val McDermid is always a sure bet.

Emily the Criminal, 2022 - β˜…β˜…β˜…

Watched on Monday January 6, 2025.

Emily the Criminal, 2022 - β˜…β˜…β˜…

Watched on Monday January 6, 2025.

Anora, 2024 - β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Quite the rollercoaster. At times uncomfortable to watch, at times laugh out loud funny and then one final moment of gut wrenching despair.

Anora, 2024 - β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Quite the rollercoaster. At times uncomfortable to watch, at times laugh out loud funny and then one final moment of gut wrenching despair.

Finished reading: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver πŸ“š

It took me two goes, but I did it. Skipped a few chapters in the late 30s/early 40s where the story felt it just got stuck. Enjoyed the rest of it.

Frosty mornings

I much prefer the crisp cold morning we had yesterday to today’s slushy snow. We went for a walk along the River Derwent and it was magical.

Year in books for 2024

Here are the books I finished reading in 2024. I didn’t reach my goal, but who cares. I’ve read some outstanding books and abandoned a few that didn’t feel worth my time.

Endpapers The Sentence Tokyo Express The Binding The Bee Sting Salvation of a Saint The Gallows Pole The Red Parts Carrie Soto Is Back An Unkindness of Ghosts Pageboy Sisters How to Kill Your Family Cuddy The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Bessie Smith Small Pleasures The Devotion Of Suspect X Prophet Song Piranesi Parable of the Talents China Lake The Shadow District Parable of the sower Convenience Store Woman Foster Sea of Tranquility

Currently reading: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver πŸ“š

Encouraged by my friend, I’m picking this up again. She said it’s worth getting through the middle slump, so I skipped a few chapters from where I left off and started again. So far, so good.

Perfect Days, 2023 - β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Some films come along at just the right time, and this one I needed today. Now is now.

Perfect Days, 2023 - β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Some films come along at just the right time, and this one I needed today. Now is now.

The Holdovers, 2023 - β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

An actual Christmas film that is actually very good. I enjoyed how it was set up to be one thing then turned into something entirely different. All three main actors were at the top of their game. And Payne’s touch is so subtle I was fully immersed in the story and the unfolding relationships.

The Holdovers, 2023 - β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

An actual Christmas film that is actually very good. I enjoyed how it was set up to be one thing then turned into something entirely different. All three main actors were at the top of their game. And Payne’s touch is so subtle I was fully immersed in the story and the unfolding relationships.

Abandoned reading: Daisy Jones & The Six (TV Tie-in Edition) by Taylor Jenkins Reid πŸ“š

Can’t seem to get through a book at the moment. The interview style, and the lack of any connection developing with the characters, didn’t work for me.