Put A Sock In It!

76. Knit 20 pairs of socks..11/20

I knitted a further 3 pairs of socks bringing my total since beginning this 101 list, to 11 pairs.
Two of the pairs recently knitted were childrens socks for my charity knit group Loving Hands. They were a very quick knit in chunky wool and didn't take too long. They will be sent along with many other knitted garments to the Linda MacDonald Foundation who then in turn takes them over to orphanages in Bulgaria.
The third pair took a bit longer and are a gift so I wont say too much about them here.

X Marks The Spot

97.Vote at a polling station...COMPLETED

Today I voted in the local By-Election. The commmunity centre nearby served as the Polling Station. I have yet to learn if my chosen candidate was successful in gaining his seat in the House Of Commons.

CRIMINAL TRIO

20.Read & list 50 books...IN PROGRESS 21/50













These are 3 recently purchased paperbacks I bought to keep myself going. The first, Ben Elton's 'High Society' cost me just 50p at the hospital bookstall and give him his dues, it was worth every penny! The story consists of 3 main characters whose very different lives come to overlap due to their connections with the world of illegal drugs. I found this written very much in the style of controversial Scottish writer Irvine Welsh but without the Scots dialect.
I would maybe read more of Ben Elton if his books were in the bargain bin but let's just say they aren't on my Christmas list. Enjoyable enough but nothing new.
'Distant Echo' fits into the genre that has become known as 'Tartan Noir'. It's a tale of murder and revenge by prolific Scots crime writer Val Mcdermid. Although I have never read any of her books previously I was familiar with her style through the TV series 'Wire In The Blood' which has been adapted from her 'Tony Hill' novels.
This particular book of hers is set in Fife (my home county as well as McDermids) and sees the reopening of a cold case murder which has remained unsolved for 25 years. The anniverary of the victims death raises emotions for all concerned with the initial inquiry. When witness's and assumed suspects of the time are fatally picked off one by one it seems a race against time for the surviving innocent suspects.
A good read, but still not sure if it's the writing itself or the familiar place names that drew me in. However, I would read more of her work and perhaps more Scottish crime by other authors.

'Forever Odd' by Dean Knootz is a what? A crime novel? a mystery? a thriller? All of these and more. The title character Odd Thomas is an unlikely hero. A troubled, lonely young man who has a gift he never asked for..the ability to communicate with the dead. When a childhood friend disappears Odd applies his unique talents to the task of finding his friend. He encounters evil personified in both the souls of the living and the dead.
Interesting read, although I probably would have never have picked this up if I'd realised the subject matter not being a great fan of paranormal. I did enjoy this and it has left me intrigued by Dean Knootz's other writings.

BOOKS..A TRIPLE DOSE

20.Read & list 50 books...IN PROGRESS 18/50

Okay, I have read more books and these three could not be more different from each other.

The first book 'To The Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf I chose because I have never read any of her work before. I can be quite literary minded when I want to be, I loved English classes at school..reading D.H Lawrence and disecting Shakespeare. This book however, I didn't enjoy at all. Maybe I missed something? I found it a bore.

The second book 'Tears Before Bedtime' is Tom Wilson's story written by ghostwriter Andrew Crofts. Wilson grew up in various children's homes and suffered from sexual abuse at the hands of one of his carers. Affecting his life into adulthood Wilson did not speak up until 40 years later when he realised he was not paedophile David Murphy's only victim.

After the affect and sucess of David Pelzers self penned biography of an abusive childhood Crofts has ghostwritten for many such 'victims' who want to at last share their stories but perhaps do not have the ability to do so alone.

What shook me about Tom Wilson's story above similar books I have read is that Wilson is from Kirkcaldy where I now stay and all the homes he was in were in towns nearby. It makes it all the more real to me and reminds me that you can never be sure of what is going on behind closed doors even in your own neighbourhood.

My third read, 'Fanny Hill' by John Cleland is the tale of the title character's life of vice. An 18th Century Belle De Jour perhaps? This book was banned for nearly 200 years due to its risque content and all that makes it different from todays gratuitous paperbacks is the 1700 writing style and use of language. A well written grubby book, haha.

ART ATTACK

80.Visit 3 art galleries...IN PROGRESS..1/3

Today Gavin and I braved the Fife rain (its omni-present) and made the short journey to the town centre to visit Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery. For a town with so much history that includes ship building, cotton production, coal mining, the manufacture of linoleum, pottery mills, import and export from the harbour (the list goes on) the museum is a poor show. There was no mention of the fact that Kirkcaldy was affected by the Jacobite rebellion invading the town in the 18th century. The Jacobites being a key part of Scots history and a draw to tourists.
The art gallery was equally drab..though housed in a great space, desperately needing bought up to date. The two paintings that in these times are perhaps (my opinion not fact) the biggest draw are by contemporary Fife artist Jack Vettriano. The irony being these were in a small narrow hallway and unable to be viewed at their full potential.
However, the best part of our visit was the lovely homemade lentil soup served in the museum cafe.It might just be enough to lure me back..but only just!

SHOEBOX APPEAL

30.Fill at least 10 boxes for Shoebox Appeal...COMPLETED

Between us Gavin and I filled 10 shoeboxes for Blythswood Care who distribute them to less fortunate people in Eastern Europe countries or beyond around the festive period. Each box is wrapped in Christmas paper and labelled for a specific gender and age. We filled each with basic essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap as well an item to keep out the cold (either a hat or socks).We also added colouring books, crayons and a small toys in the childrens boxes. Every box also got a bag of sweets.

LITTLE STEPS

85.Do recycling trip 20 times ..in progress..2/20