I woke up early today after not being able to get to sleep last night. I think that's what they call being 'over tired'.
The doctor was fine, my iron and calcium levels are normal. I don't have an infection or parasites or anything and my coeliac's screen came back negative because I've been on a no-gluten diet. She gave me some anti-spasm pills called buscopan which I can use if I feel aches coming on.
I spent the weekend away in Waitarere with my Lee and some delightful friends. It was lovely, really warm and sunny and I managed to swim in the sea two times. I even caught some pipis! It was an interesting experience, the waves can move me around quite a lot, so once I'd found a pipi with my foot it was a trial to keep my foot there while buffeted by waves. Then the bending down to grab them with my hand frequently involved eating the waves. Bluegh.
Unfortunately we had so much food over the weekend we didn't actually eat said pipis. At least we didn't take many from the sea, so I don't think it's too bad ecologically speaking.
Much chocolate was eaten this weekend. I enjoy Easter because it is (for me) a four day weekend in which you celebrate chocolate. We had lots of brilliant food this weekend actually, special mention has to go to Margie's gourmet gluten-free pizzas. Mouth wateringly delish!
Books read recently:
Babymouse graphic novels I bought the first three of these at the Children's Bookshop last week, and I just really like them. They're gentle, cute and funny stories about a mouse teenager trying to solve problems in her life.
Queen of the World is about fitting in with the cool kids, and appreciating what you've got.
Our Hero is about trying to survive dodgeball,
Beach Babe is about a family vacation.
The stories are made more complex by Babymouse's rich fantasy life. Like Calvin in Calvin and Hobbes she is always imagining herself in fantastic situations. It's neat. The art is simple line drawings in black, white and pink. Very elegant and endearing.
The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb.
It's a little like Jonathan Strange for kids, but not as good as that makes it sound. Horatio Lyle is a special constable in Victorian London, he has a special interest in physics, especially magnetism and chemicals that explode. He is asked to investigate a crime and manages to pick up two apprentices along the way; a pickpocket called Tess and a young Gentleman called Thomas.
The narrative took a while to pick up speed, and I had ongoing problems with the characterisation of Horatio (i.e. he didn't seem to have a personality) but about half way through the story gained speed, the jokes started being really funny and the investigation became fraught with exciting danger.
Little House in Brookfield is the first in the Little House books about Caroline, Laura's mother as a little girl. It's a bit of a departure from the other series' because Charlotte (whom I loved so much in the last series I read) is a widow, so Caroline and her brothers and sisters have very little money. It's pretty sad because they all miss their father and their mother is a bit depressed.
I am now reading River Secrets by Shannon Hale, which is the third in the Goose Girl series. It took me a while to warm up to the main character being the feckless Razo, but I like it a lot now that I'm properly in the story.
Happy first day of the short week everyone!
My Easter-break mini scrapbook is nearly done! Huzzah for Real Time Scrapbooking!
PoF: pre-shower
CO: work