weekend

[electricland]

Weekend of masonry, mostly. After a detour at the World's Biggest Bookstore (because I am weak) I spent Friday evening with monkeycommando and S, eating Thai food (yummy!) and watching Breach. Got to see F, who was in the bath when I arrived and went to bed soon after. When I got home I was informed that there was now one entire course of cement block laid in the Hole -- 15 blocks in total. Hurray!

Saturday morning I read. John and Jen went to Home Depot to rent the cement mixer, and we spent the afternoon in and out of the Hole, taking turns to fetch and carry and lay cement blocks. We're actually getting fairly good at that. Managed 24 blocks on Saturday and a further 21, I think, yesterday -- almost 2/3 done. We're also out of gravel; we put what we had in the middle of the Hole, as footing, and we need more footing and also, obviously, some to mix into the concrete when we do that.

In the evenings life_on_queen came over and we watched -- naturally -- the Tour de France. Which is getting very exciting.

Books read this week: Territory (I liked it a lot, but I think I missed out a bit because I'm not really that familiar with all the myths surrounding Wyatt Earp and the OK Corrall); The Mislaid Magician (delightful, I liked it more than the first sequel); The Secret Countess (aka A Countess Below Stairs, which is a much better title, I'm not sure why they saw fit to change it; anyway, utterly wonderful, she's solved that plotting problem that was especially evident in A Song for Summer, and you always know where you are with her -- the good are good, the villains are villainous, and everyone gets what they deserve in a highly satisfactory fashion); Saffy's Angel (reread); The Star of Kazan (in which the Spanish Riding School plays a minor but important role).

Comments

[rolypolypony.livejournal.com]

I got Mislaid Magician for Christmas and still haven't read it - I keep trying, and failing, which is weird as I devoured the first two.

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

How big is the bookstore? Because I've got bookstore envy, despite how much I love our local place. ;)

Sounds like you're still working hard on the house, I continue to be impressed with your fortitude. *hugs*

[electricland.livejournal.com]

The WBB no longer seems as crazy big as it did in the days back before megabookstores were common, but it's still pretty big (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Biggest_Bookstore). (27 km of shelves according to Frommers (http://www.frommers.com/destinations/toronto/S24463.html). Unfortunately the Google Maps view doesn't show it very well, or I'd give you a picture.)

and thanks for the hugs! they are much appreciated!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Sometimes this happens. It's a bit weird, but then sometimes much later you pick it up and read it in one sitting and think "Why didn't I read this before?" Maybe it's astrological.

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

That is big. And it would be cool if the google maps showed the inside of the store.

Also, hugs are always available. :)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Also? If you haven't you should TOTALLY read Secret Countess/Countess Below Stairs. It is wonderful. Independent tests confirm (life_on_queen adored it, and cousin Jen didn't take it to work yesterday because she knew she wouldn't be able to concentrate and ended up spending an hour and a half in the bookstore reading it standing up).

I'm normally a bit cautious of saying "You must read this!" but seriously.