Office Stuff

Prompted by brownnicky 's discussion of office space I've managed to take some photos of the space I work in. As mentioned in one of my responses to brownnicky 's own office information mine is not just used for writing, but I run my music agency business from here and it also ends up being the last repository of stuff-wot-don't-fit-anywhere-else.

My challenge to you is that you take a photo of the home-office space you work in and post it. No cheating and tidyng up first. Mine is as is.





Cheerful clutter or unworkable mess?




You decide.

Office Stuff

Prompted by brownnicky 's discussion of office space I've managed to take some photos of the space I work in. As mentioned in one of my responses to brownnicky 's own office information mine is not just used for writing, but I run my music agency business from here and it also ends up being the last repository of stuff-wot-don't-fit-anywhere-else.

My challenge to you is that you take a photo of the home-office space you work in and post it. No cheating and tidyng up first. Mine is as is.





Cheerful clutter or unworkable mess?




You decide.

Book Log 45/2009 - Georgette Heyer – The Reluctant Widow

Georgette Heyer – The Reluctant Widow

I went off to Ireland on 15th July and got caught by the three-for-the-price-of-two offer at WH Smith in Manchester Airport, so I ended up with three historicals – because of course they didn’t have any decent SF/fantasy. This gave me another push to read more Heyer and also the pleasant surprise that there are lots of Elizabeth Chadwicks to read.

So – first to the Reluctant Widow, first published in 1946.

Rather improbably, Elinor Rochdale is on her way to a new position as a governess (her family having been ruined by her father’s gambling and subsequent suicide) when she steps into the wrong coach – assuming it to have been sent by her new employers. After some discussion at cross purposes she finds herself talked into marrying the reprehensible drunken nephew of Lord Ned Carlyon on his deathbed (from a brawl and a terminal knife wound). It’s all Ned’s idea. He doesn’t want the estate and all that it entails, but all the same he feels responsible for Elinor and her new position.

An even more improbable piece of plottery follows during which they discover that Elinor’s newly deceased husband was involved in a plot to steal Wellington’s war plans and deliver them to Bonaparte.

This is about as action packed as Heyer ever gets. An intruder in the house is treated civilly and later shots are fired and Ned’s little brother is injured, but no major action ensues and in the end the matter is settled quietly with most of the gory action (a murder) happening off the page. Right at the end – despite a high level of exasperation and no notion of warm feelings throughout the book – Ned proposes and Elinor accepts.

Not my favourite Heyer so far.

Book Log 45/2009 - Georgette Heyer – The Reluctant Widow

Georgette Heyer – The Reluctant Widow

I went off to Ireland on 15th July and got caught by the three-for-the-price-of-two offer at WH Smith in Manchester Airport, so I ended up with three historicals – because of course they didn’t have any decent SF/fantasy. This gave me another push to read more Heyer and also the pleasant surprise that there are lots of Elizabeth Chadwicks to read.

So – first to the Reluctant Widow, first published in 1946.

Rather improbably, Elinor Rochdale is on her way to a new position as a governess (her family having been ruined by her father’s gambling and subsequent suicide) when she steps into the wrong coach – assuming it to have been sent by her new employers. After some discussion at cross purposes she finds herself talked into marrying the reprehensible drunken nephew of Lord Ned Carlyon on his deathbed (from a brawl and a terminal knife wound). It’s all Ned’s idea. He doesn’t want the estate and all that it entails, but all the same he feels responsible for Elinor and her new position.

An even more improbable piece of plottery follows during which they discover that Elinor’s newly deceased husband was involved in a plot to steal Wellington’s war plans and deliver them to Bonaparte.

This is about as action packed as Heyer ever gets. An intruder in the house is treated civilly and later shots are fired and Ned’s little brother is injured, but no major action ensues and in the end the matter is settled quietly with most of the gory action (a murder) happening off the page. Right at the end – despite a high level of exasperation and no notion of warm feelings throughout the book – Ned proposes and Elinor accepts.

Not my favourite Heyer so far.

Book Log 46/2009 - Elizabeth Chadwick – The Champion

Elizabeth Chadwick – The Champion

Elizabeth Chadwick is another of this year’s discoveries. I haven’t read historicals for years, but this might just lead me back into them again. Her writing is crisp and emotive and her research meticulous.

Alexander de Montroi, dedicated to the church as a child and now grown to a pretty teen, flees a lecherous prior and arrives at his older brother’s encampment on the French tourney circuit, half dead from the privations of the journey.  He’s scrawny and sick, but soon recovers to learn the art and craft of fighting his way to the top of the tourney league. His older brother’s tourney partner has a daughter, Monday, granddaughter of the bitter Thomas FitzParnell.

An unwise moment brings Alexander and Monday together and then rips them apart. Pregnant and alone, Monday finds sanctuary with a lesser baron and his wife where she comes to the notice of Prince John, soon to be King of England. As his mistress she has everything she needs and believes herself to be happy and (relatively) independent until Alexander comes back into her life. Their love blossoms despite John’s vengeful nature and the unwelcome attentions of Monday’s grandfather who has been left with no heir except for his estranged granddaughter.

This is an exciting, if bloody, romp through 12th/13th century France and England with Alexander and Monday’s story woven through accurate historical events of the time. Highly recommended.

Book Log 46/2009 - Elizabeth Chadwick – The Champion

Elizabeth Chadwick – The Champion

Elizabeth Chadwick is another of this year’s discoveries. I haven’t read historicals for years, but this might just lead me back into them again. Her writing is crisp and emotive and her research meticulous.

Alexander de Montroi, dedicated to the church as a child and now grown to a pretty teen, flees a lecherous prior and arrives at his older brother’s encampment on the French tourney circuit, half dead from the privations of the journey.  He’s scrawny and sick, but soon recovers to learn the art and craft of fighting his way to the top of the tourney league. His older brother’s tourney partner has a daughter, Monday, granddaughter of the bitter Thomas FitzParnell.

An unwise moment brings Alexander and Monday together and then rips them apart. Pregnant and alone, Monday finds sanctuary with a lesser baron and his wife where she comes to the notice of Prince John, soon to be King of England. As his mistress she has everything she needs and believes herself to be happy and (relatively) independent until Alexander comes back into her life. Their love blossoms despite John’s vengeful nature and the unwelcome attentions of Monday’s grandfather who has been left with no heir except for his estranged granddaughter.

This is an exciting, if bloody, romp through 12th/13th century France and England with Alexander and Monday’s story woven through accurate historical events of the time. Highly recommended.

Book Log 47/2009

Elizabeth Chadwick – Lords of the White Castle

This follows on from the story of Fulke (LeBrun) Fitzwarin and Hawise as told so well in ‘Shadows and Strongholds’ (number 30/2009 on my booklog). The hero if this book is LeBrun’s son, also Fulke, who carries forward his family’s ambition to regain title to The White Castle at Whittington in the hotly disputed Welsh Borders, arbitrarily taken from the Fitzwarins by Henry II and bestowed on a lord with half a foot in the Norman camp and half in the Welsh.

It’s an ambition that’s going to drive him to despair and almost to the point of destruction since Fulke (the younger) quarrels with the young Prince John. John is never going to forgive and forget, so as king he blocks Fulke’s access to Whittington at every turn – ultimately causing Fulke to turn outlaw. Fulke Fitzwarin – the outlaw – is a matter of historical record, but within the broad sweep of history Chadwick has teased out a very human story.

Fulke’s attraction to Maude, the child bride of his much-loved mentor, Lord Theobald Walter, is an itch he dare not scratch until Walter dies, leaving Maude a young, childless widow under the protection of the Archbishop of Canterbury – lusted after by King John, who considers seducing his Baron’s wives a fair sport. Fulke and Maude are united at last, even though all he can offer her is the life of an outlaw’s wife as he travels the difficult road towards an uneasy peace with John.

Fulke and the spirited Maude spat like cat and dog but she is the light of his life even though things do not always run smoothly. Their story is fraught with danger, as the Welsh dispute the border. If Fulke regains Whittington can he hold it?

Because I'm a sucker for seeing my two main protagonists ride off into the sunsdet hand in hand, I think I would have liked this better if Chadwick had stopped earlier in Fulke’s story, but she takes us right through to the end of the real historical record. It's a huge book, 670 pages, and a great page-turner. Even with that caveat, it's still highly recommended.

Book Log 47/2009

Elizabeth Chadwick – Lords of the White Castle

This follows on from the story of Fulke (LeBrun) Fitzwarin and Hawise as told so well in ‘Shadows and Strongholds’ (number 30/2009 on my booklog). The hero if this book is LeBrun’s son, also Fulke, who carries forward his family’s ambition to regain title to The White Castle at Whittington in the hotly disputed Welsh Borders, arbitrarily taken from the Fitzwarins by Henry II and bestowed on a lord with half a foot in the Norman camp and half in the Welsh.

It’s an ambition that’s going to drive him to despair and almost to the point of destruction since Fulke (the younger) quarrels with the young Prince John. John is never going to forgive and forget, so as king he blocks Fulke’s access to Whittington at every turn – ultimately causing Fulke to turn outlaw. Fulke Fitzwarin – the outlaw – is a matter of historical record, but within the broad sweep of history Chadwick has teased out a very human story.

Fulke’s attraction to Maude, the child bride of his much-loved mentor, Lord Theobald Walter, is an itch he dare not scratch until Walter dies, leaving Maude a young, childless widow under the protection of the Archbishop of Canterbury – lusted after by King John, who considers seducing his Baron’s wives a fair sport. Fulke and Maude are united at last, even though all he can offer her is the life of an outlaw’s wife as he travels the difficult road towards an uneasy peace with John.

Fulke and the spirited Maude spat like cat and dog but she is the light of his life even though things do not always run smoothly. Their story is fraught with danger, as the Welsh dispute the border. If Fulke regains Whittington can he hold it?

Because I'm a sucker for seeing my two main protagonists ride off into the sunsdet hand in hand, I think I would have liked this better if Chadwick had stopped earlier in Fulke’s story, but she takes us right through to the end of the real historical record. It's a huge book, 670 pages, and a great page-turner. Even with that caveat, it's still highly recommended.