They’re certainly better than the more usual empty drink cans or bigger plastic bottles that most people seem to use.

The third, A Whispered Name, won the 2009 CWA Gold Dagger.

One of the best cover quotes, by the Spectator, rightly says that William Brodrick’s crime novels have the great and unusual merit of being unlike anyone else’s.  

So far I’ve found them to be intelligent and thoughtful books which I’ve really enjoyed reading so I’m looking forward to this latest one, and the forthcoming, The Discourtesy of Death, which is due to be published towards the end of the year.

Happy reading!

On it she wrote…Hello Mike, On the way down the California coast my brother and I stopped at Carmel-by-the-Sea where Doris Day* has a hotel - The Cypress Inn. I especially wanted to go there for a postcard just for you…

Thanks Glo, how thoughtful and what a lovely surprise!

[*I've long been a Doris Day fan, and mentioned this in a few posts over the years.]

…Flighty xx

The Origami cats that I mentioned the other week came from Southern California and the envelope they were in carried three of the USA 2012 Bonsai stamps - azalea, black pine and sierra juniper. 

I don’t collect stamps but Jim, a long time friend, always has done so I give him nearly all the ones that I get. He keeps some of the more interesting ones and gives the rest to one of the charities that he supports.

Although I’ve always found bonsai a fascinating subject it’s not something I have ever wanted to do.

I’m not sure who to credit for this picture but many thanks it’s superb.

For information on these wonderful creatures have a look at the Snow Leopard Trust.

Couldn’t send you the cats for a visit but thought that you might enjoy their origami versions…you’ve got Sammy and Wimsey coming with little heart Valentine bookmarks.

Sammy has to be the one on the left with the pink nose who has always been my favourite, and I’ve had this desktop picture of her since she was a kitten.

Thanks Nikki they really are quite delightful!

[Click on either picture to see a larger image]

Have a good weekend!

The BBC, in partnership with the Public Catalogue Foundation, have uncovered the nation’s art collection by listing some 212,000 paintings on the truly wonderful website Your Paintings.

It also lists all the artists who painted them, the galleries and collections where many of them can be viewed and lots more.

Happy browsing!

[And don't forget that today is Pancake Day!]

Wellywoman’s husband Wellyman has his own, non gardening, blog titled pianolearner ~ The ramblings of an adult learning the piano.  

I enjoy reading his posts and watching/listening to the video clips that he often includes in them.  A recent one made me smile as it was Rowlf the piano playing dog in the Muppets, along with Fossie the bear, playing English Country Garden!

Happy listening and/or playing!

It tells the story of four British prisoners of war during the Second World War who were birdwatchers. Peter Conder, one of the four, later became director of the RSPB transforming it from a small amateur club into an enduring force for nature conservation.

I shall mention this book again once I’ve hopefully enjoyed reading it, and  you’ll be able to see how I got on with my birdwatch in the next Flighty’s plot post.

Happy reading!