I could not ensure the dogs were walked
I would not ensure that the birds were fed
and I could not ensure my patient did not drop his pulse rate as much as he did.
I know I am a control freak
Nothing new to learn there.
However, lying in bed right now, after taking the dogs out for their early morning pee, I had a sort of epiphany of sorts. No it was not a sudden wish to let life wash over me and to relinquish control to others...no don't be friggin daft, no it was a more important realisation than than.
I realised that I have not read a book in an absolute AGE!
I used to be a voracious reader.
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| mz Cornwell |
And so this morning as we lay sipping our tea I have decided to buy a pair of reading spectacles and a bedside light and have just informed Chris that instead of watching re runs of "chopper coppers" ( I know it sounds like a gay porn film ( Police reality show), I will be coming to bed a little earlier from now on with a book!
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| my guilty evening pleasure reality cop shows! |
There! Back in control again!
Tonight will be Cornwells first ( and best novel)
Post Mortem!
Right need to get up now!
I will leave Chris and all of the terriers in bed. ( He is watching Antiques Road Trip on his Ipad) they are trying manfully to creep under the duvet
Time to don wellies and anorak yet again
I have just started reading again after months of no books. I too would read a book in a day, if I had the time, but that all stopped.
ReplyDeleteLast week when I was in bed all day I read the latest Dan brown book, I have just finished the latest David Balacci and I am now onto the latest Peter James book.
It's nice to be back
Enjoy your reading. Let me know what you next book will be
Happy New Year
Sue
I finally decided to see what all the hype was about and started reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the beginning of the year. I'd highly recommend it so far.
ReplyDeleteI had stopped reading books for a couple of years when I had a habit of picking up the free papers when I still worked in London, but made a conscious decision not to pick them up any more and return to books. How glad I am. They are so much more fulfilling than disposable media, and most TV.
Hey, the cop you chose is Charlie from "Road Wars"! It's one of my favourite programmes though I still wonder how the police are legally allowed to release such official video material for entertainment. It is so easy to get out of the habit of reading. I need to give good books my full attention - not snatched half hours when I'm exhausted.
ReplyDeletepud
ReplyDeleteCharlie was my pin up before mr cardle
I too have lapsed with my reading of books, I did for while try 'reading' from my iPod when commuting by cattle truck (train) last year but it's not the same. Reading an old Val McDermid, A Place of Execution at the mo.
ReplyDeleteJohn - I too have control issues but think it comes from my NHS manager streak lol
The last (and only) book I have read by Ms Cornwell was an investigation into Jack the Ripper which tried to prove that he was - in fact - the painter Walter Sickert, who is buried just outside Bath. It made ghastly but fascinating reading, and by the time I finished, I was 99% convinced. Oh, and the 'chopper copper' does look like Matt!
ReplyDeleteHi John, while living in Khartoum, North Africa for 15 months, I discovered a full library left by the previous tenant in the back of the pantry cupboard. I got back into the habit of reading and devoured dozens of books while there. I'm still reading here back in South Africa... Greetings from warm and sunny South Africa. (PS we don't have telly in our home)
ReplyDeleteI can't go to sleep without reading first. It's a must.
ReplyDeleteHave a cuppa green tea, cross your legs, relax your sphincter, and enjoy a good book...
ReplyDeleteor just enjoy a good book! :) I fall asleep every night with a book in my hands. Not good, because I often lose my place.
We love real crime shows. We do most of our reading on the internet and in magazines.
ReplyDeleteMy husband doesn't like me to read books, oddly, because they take too much of my attention. So he says.
Enjoy your book!
Reading is a great past time. I used to buy books but now I just go to the library.. It's cheaper. I'm reading a book called Childrens Blizzard.. It's about a snow storm that hit the midwest in the 1800's here in USA and it was very tragic.. It's a true story.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about history and the past.
Have a great time reading.. it takes one into another part of life.
ta ta for now from Iowa
what's a book?
ReplyDeleteAs one control freak to another...reading a good book is the best way to fool yourself into thinking you are totally in control of your life.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the ability to choose when I will engage in my life and when I will totally absent myself.
Have not been without a book since I was 7. It all began with Malory Towers!
I've read all of Cornwell's books, totally agree that Post Mortem was her best.
If you want something intelligently romantic, beautifully written and set in glorious Italy, read the Marlena di Blasi series beginning with A Thousand Days in Venice.
I must read more - I go in stages. Hubby just read the dragon tatto girl set & loved it. Daughter reads all the time. I read Blogs !
ReplyDeleteI am a reader! I enjoy reading very much.
ReplyDeleteControl, I hear ya. Well someone has to be of this nature right...its not all bad :O).
That sounds like a wonderful plan! Even though I'm poor as a churchmouse these days, books are still on my Big 3 priority list: meds, diet dr pepper, books. Food is 4th. (God knows I can go the occasional day without fear of blowing away in the wind.) I fall asleep with a book every evening. I keep a paperback tucked in my purse for those unexpected times of waiting.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend!
Katie in MN
Way to go John! I too am a rabid reader, as you can tell by how often I change my 'What I`m reading' picture on my blog.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like a good book to take us to places far away!
I could not do without my reading. The books, or the good ones, anyway, sweep me away and let me adventure in a world more exciting than mine...and for that time, all my worries fade away.
ReplyDeleteJohn, you are not going to beieve this, but my hubby ( a copper) currently has a film crew filming his shift for "Police Interceptors" (Channell 5)!!! It will be shown in June or July!!
ReplyDeleteSUE: I am with you!
ReplyDeleteNIK: I was slightly dissapointed with the movie..but I think I will give it a go after your praise
C.L.: we old nhs managers should stick together!
TOM: I hated the Sickert novel...Cornwell is a great writer..she just gets a little bogged down with computer jargon sometimes!
JO: NO TELLY.? humm I couldn't cope without this year's dollop of matt cardle!
NAT: LOL
LINDA: You must be doing something right!!!
TIGGER:might just put that one on my list
KATE: Have a good one too!
DIANE: If he knew Charlie Etheridge (pic) I WOULD WET MYSELF!
Like other commenters above, I need to have a constant supply of books. (Though I do love the telly as well.) Like CocinKate, I always carry a paperback in my bag for emergencies.
ReplyDeleteI love crime fiction, agree that Postmortem is Cornwell's best book. Some of her later stuff is unreadable. Have you read Aussie writer Michael Robotham? He is very good indeed. I'm reading Canadian Louise Penny at the mo, she's good too.
It isn't a novel, John.
ReplyDeleteI know! thomas!
ReplyDeletemr perdantic
The problem is, I fear, there is simply not enough time for reading, blogging, reading blogs, walking the dogs, cooking/eating, loving and playing! Life is simply too full!
ReplyDeleteWhat's pedantic about that? And what's computor jargon got to do with it? (just think of me as some irritating terrier)
ReplyDeleteGee, by the time I get through reading all the comments, I nearly forget the subject of the post, in the first place!
ReplyDeleteOh, being in control, I am that way too, but reading is kind of like going into the twilight zone, you lose all control when you read a book - if you read, like I do - a bomb could go off and I would still be sitting there, reading amongst the rubble.
I am also back to reading, I am guessing it's because it's cold and snowy outside and a good time to snuggle up with a good book....
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
Oh God, not you too. My other half can't pass a channel with a reality cop show, even if he's seen it before! Unless it's a border patrol reality show. Don't tell me you love those too!
ReplyDeletenot as much craig...
ReplyDeletemy favourite is something called "road wars" with the aforementioned charlie!
Is it worth pointing out now that Ms Cornwell's ludicrous opinions of Walter Sickert and his life have been completely discredited?
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect idea!! Dont you remember how wonderful it was/is to be so involved in a book that you totally were drawn into the plot and void of where you were while reading? To be pleasantly taken away from chores and lifted to another time and place? Sometimes being the "in charge and responsible one" is not all its cracked up to be. I can relate on many levels of this..
ReplyDelete