Summer Reading Challenge: Sharon's Task - Read a fiction or non-fiction book that takes place in the capital city of your country or state

For this I read Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf though I can't say I enjoyed it. This is a stream of consciousness novel meaning that not much happens in it, what you read is the thoughts of the main characters. Mrs Dalloway is preparing for a party to be held at her London residence that evening. Several interconnecting threads are followed to the conclusion at the party.



Points so far: 165

Three Things...

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:



(in order of usage)
1. Kristina
2. Tina
3. Kriss

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:



1. My green eyes
2. Being tall (5'10")
3. Being smart

THREE THINGS YOU HATE ABOUT YOURSELF:



1. I'm pear-shaped
2. I never got my teeth straightened when I was younger (I would still get them done now if I could afford it)
3. My skin could be better

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:



1. Irish
2. Scots
3. English

THREE THINGS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND:



1. Quantum Physics
2. The 10th Dimension & String Theory
3. Teenagers

THREE THINGS THAT ANNOY YOU:



1. People who are late habitually
2. Mess
3. Completing lists like this

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:



1. Spiders
2. Centipedes
3. The dark

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:



1. Hugs
2. Laughter
3. Learning something new every day

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:



1. Pinstripe Trousers
2. Linen top
3. Lingerie

THREE THINGS ON YOUR DESK:



1. Post-Its
2. Pencils with cute toppers
3. Desk fan

THREE THINGS YOU SAY THE MOST:



1. Seriously?
2. What the Hell?
3. Ohmigod!

THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T DO:



1. Drive a car
2. Play chess
3. Crochet

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:



1. Reading
2. Cross Stitch
3. Knitting

THREE THINGS YOU WANT REALLY BAD RIGHT NOW:



1. A holiday
2. Peace and quiet
3. Driving lessons

THREE CAREERS YOU’VE CONSIDERED:



1. Lawyer
2. Teacher
3. Nurse

THREE PLACES YOU WOULD GO ON VACATION:



1. China
2. India
3. Japan

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:



1. Climb Mount Hua
2. Read the 1001 books
3. Sky dive

Summer Reading Challenge: Amy MA's Task - Read a book where pearl, ruby or peridot is named in the title or is part of the author's name

Not my normal choice of reading but it was on my bookshelves (bought for my daughter at some point) and it fitted the task. A thoroughly enjoyable book, better than I expected for a Young Adult read. Some scenes quite violent so only suited to the slightly older YA reader.


Points so far: 140

Summer Reading Challenge: Ashley ID's task - read a dystopian novel

Perhaps an obvious choice for this task but I read Animal Farm at school and have never read this one. Everyone should read it.


Points so far: 115

Summer Reading Challenge: BJ Rose’s Task - Read A Biography (Not An Autobiography) of a U.S. President who was either born Or who died during summer

John Quincy Adams (11 July 1767 - 23 February 1848) - More information can be found here


This book was fascinating in places, particularly in it's discussion of early American foreign and economic policy (isolationist and protectionist), but the language is of the time it was written which makes it hard to read. I'm sure there are much better books available on John Quincy Adams than this one which also seems biased very much in his favour.

Points so far: 90

Nuthanger Farm & Nuthanger Copse

Another literary inspired wander around Hampshire countryside. This time an attempt to find Nuthanger Farm, the place where the rabbits of Sandford free some domestic rabbits in an attempt to find some does for their new warren on Watership Down.

We started out at the Royal Oak public house in Ecchinswell (a post about pub names and signs might be a coming in the future - The Royal Oak was a tree in Boscobel in Shropshire in which Charles II hid himself during flight after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and it's quite a common name for pubs in England)


Just outside Ecchinswell we came across a field of sheep with a black one, curiously enough the black ewe seemed to have a pair of creamy white ewes. Being an odd person I had to take a picture of the odd one out!

Around a corner, a curious rooster and chicken that had forgotten it was a chicken for a while and then it remembered and ran away! Also hiding in these bushes were two ducks including a punk duck with a tuft of feathers on it's head!

Onto a track and up quite a steep hill, the path was almost blocked by this huge fallen tree, it was about hobbit height!

A little further up the hill and there was a lovely view down towards Ecchinswell.

At the top of the hill this charming brick and flint barn/outbuilding

Those who have been paying attention will spot Watership Down in this picture

And this is Nuthanger Farm

Some kind of outbuilding that's almost been reclaimed by nature. It must have been built some time ago as the evidence of joints using wooden pegs and not nails could be seen.

Just past Nuthanger Farm, a gorgeous panoramic view of the whole of Watership Down and the Gallops looking south from Nuthanger Farm

The view from beside Nuthanger Copse looking North East

Looking North to a farmhouse?

A Charlie's eye view of the walk!! Needless to say there were plenty of fabulous things to explore in this long grass!

I suggested someone would be able to do a fabulous impression of a scarecrow in the middle of this field of barley, the idea didn't need to be suggested twice!!

Stopped for a picnic beside a stream, Charlie took a dip to cool off.

Downstream...

This low-lying branch made the perfect picnic seat

We played Pooh Sticks here, unsuccessfully (neither of our sticks reappeared on the other side of this bridge!)

The tree ate it! Nature showing who is the boss

The War Memorial in Ecchinswell commemorating both WWI and WWII

Though is was wondering if this is a history lesson that I missed because I thought the armistice was signed on 11/11/1918


And there is a definitely a story here on this bench next to the War Memorial.

Back in Ecchinswell looking away from the Royal Oak Pub.

Back to the car - and off for a jaunt to Kingsclere - a larger village close to Ecchinswell

St. Mary's Church complete with unique weathervane, possibly depicting a bed bug found by King John during a stay at a local inn

The church is Norman in origin, and a church has stood here for over 1000 years. This is a Norman arched doorway that has been filled in. The picture above shows later pointed Gothic style arched windows.

The path is lined with old headstones