Lathany

lathany @ 2026-04-13T18:05:00

2026-04-13T17:06:32Z

Today I ate my lunch in the kitchen area at work with my manager who had brought food from one of the local places.

He commented that he was sick of ready meals at home because he was having his kitchen re-done. He said that the work was taking rather longer than expected and some of the trouble arose from them wanting to replace the water stopcock because it wasn't working. Except... it had been replaced two years before for the same reason. And, after the replacement, it still wasn't working. Various investigations were carried out, eventually resulting in investigating and dismantling a wall.

After which my manager had to go round to his neighbours and explain that his upstairs bathroom was connected to their water supply, had been ever since he moved in twelve years ago, and for some unknown number of years before that.

Dom - glad we didn't have that one with our kitchen.

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Biohackers

2026-04-12T15:22:29Z

Dom and I watched the first season of Biohackers over the last fortnight. It's a German thriller on Netflix about an undergraduate at a university involving genetic advances. It's interesting, a little weird, has some good characters (her flatmates in particular) and is fairly fast moving as it's only six episodes. Recommended.

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Wildflowers

2026-03-29T13:42:44Z

With an approaching birthday, I celebrated with a meal at Wildflowers with Dom.

The menu (and wines) were:
First course:
Cantabrian anchovy, Manchego & honey
Red prawn crudo, stracciatella, pistachio & blood orange
Moules farcies, garlic & parsley butter
125ml Colet Navazos Reserva Brut Nature, Equipo Navazos 2020 Penedès, Spain
This had the best wine, this was a lovely sparkling white.

Second course:
Cornish red mullet, capers, golden raisins & pine nuts, grilled sardine sauce Choron
125ml ‘Louro Do Bolo’ Godello, Rafael Palacios 2023 Galicia, Spain

Third course:
Cuttlefish ‘Arroz al Horno’, crisp pork jowl, glazed cheek, morcilla, quince allioli
Italian bitter leaf salad & moscatel vinaigrette
125ml ‘Vi d'Altura` Priorat, Mas La Mola 2022 Cataluña, Spain
I liked this course, possibly the best.

Palate cleanser: Italian citrus sorbetto

Dessert:
Brown sugar creme caramel & whipped crème fraîche
50ml Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina Selvapiana 2022 Tuscany, Italy
The dessert wine was a beautiful colour.

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The Fall Guy

2026-03-28T16:28:25Z

Last night, Dom and I watched The Fall Guy, a film, very loosely based on the old 80s TV series. It's fun, the stunts are good, I like both leads (Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt) and it doesn't take itself too seriously. Recommended if that appeals.

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lathany @ 2026-03-19T22:28:00

2026-03-21T22:29:12Z

Had dinner with TheHattedOne and Liz on Thursday.

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Mobius

2026-03-21T22:26:48Z

For the last few weeks, Dom and I have been watching Mobius - a Chinese time loop TV series. It's really very good. I enjoyed the characters, the time loops are interesting and the plot - and antagonist - make sense. It's not quite perfect: the first episode is rather different to what follows, and the sequel hook wasn't particularly attractive (there may be a second season, the first season only came out last autumn). However, it's definitely one of the best things I've seen recently and recommended for anyone liking time loops.

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The Book of Doors

2026-03-01T13:00:49Z

I'll follow up yesterday's post with a more positive one. After finishing the bookclub offering I moved on to a book that I'd picked up for 99p but hadn't know much about it other than liking the title and blurb. And I was very pleasantly surprised.

The Book of Doors was unexpectedly good and interesting. Magic, portals and decent characters. It wasn't perfect as the answers were a bit pat and I wanted a different outcome for the main antagonist, but the ending was decent. It probably helped that I had no expectations (it's a debut novel), but I'll be looking out for the author's second book.

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The Ghost Cat

2026-02-28T12:50:26Z

The next bookclub book is The Ghost Cat. I really liked the idea of reading ghost stories about a cat but it turns out this isn't the focus of the book. Instead it was simply a set of short pieces about imagined scenes of famous people in Edinburgh in the last 120 years.

I found it very disappointing. About the only mitigating points are the second chapter (or whatever it was called) and that the actual cat was a satisfying, large ginger one. Not recommended for anyone interested in either the ghost bit or the cat bit.

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Valentine Day = Pancake Day?

2026-02-14T11:47:49Z

Reeve is sixteen today.

I speculated yesterday about how often pancake day and Valentine's Day were the same. Then I looked it up. It seems that, whilst very feasible, it hasn't actually happened in my lifetime. The last year it occurred was 1961. However, it should next happen in 2040 and then 2051. So, hopefully, I will see it happen.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

2026-02-11T11:50:29Z

GameFAQs have published my review of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Beautiful, interesting story, sad and very FFVI - FFVIII.

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Rose/House

2026-02-08T11:32:44Z

I really loved A Memory Called Empire, and its sequel A Desolation Called Peace, when I read it five years ago and it was my favourite book that year. So when Arkady Martine's novella Rose/House finally arrived in a format I could buy (English and Kindle or paperback) I got it.

"There is a dead person in Rose House. The house says so. It is not Basit Deniau [its deceased creator], and it is not Dr. Gisil [the only person allowed in]. It is someone else. Rose House, having completed its duty of care and informed Detective Maritza Smith of the China Lake police precinct that there is in fact a dead person inside it, dead of unnatural causes—has shut up."

And... it's fine, but a little disappointing. It's a bit shorter than I hoped and is much more concept than story. Plus I wanted a better ending. I liked Maritza, quite liked her police partner Torres and was OK about Dr Gisil but it felt unfinished and as though there should be more of it. An interesting take on an AI building but only a sketch rather than a whole picture.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52263339-rose-house

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Seven Dials

2026-02-01T11:21:36Z

When I went off to sixth form, decades ago, I found an Agatha Christie in the library (Cards On The Table). I read it, enjoyed it and then made my way through all her other books. Including The Seven Dials Mystery.

I really, really, loved The Seven Dials Mystery. It wobbles in a large number of places, but Bundle - the protagonist - really won me over to the rest of the book. Particularly her scene in the club.

So, on Friday we watched the three-part Seven Dials series on Netflix. And, it's good, but not amazing. Bundle is still awesome, they have amended her main questionable issue (her partner choice) and they have mainly kept the more memorable scenes. But they have changed the ending, almost entirely.

I'd still recommend for anyone else who is #teambundle. But don't expect it to follow the book.

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Pantheon

2026-01-24T10:52:05Z

We finished watching Pantheon last night. It's animated sci-fi and is two seasons long (16 episodes in total). It is very nicely done, the plot is interesting and the computer science plausible. I liked the first season better than the second, but both are very watchable. Would recommend.

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lathany @ 2026-01-08T22:15:00

2026-01-08T22:15:52Z

I met Liz W for dinner in Tas near Waterloo. It was good to catch-up (and drip-dry).

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Cambridge

2026-01-01T14:25:46Z

Just back from three nights in Cambridge.

We got to meet Myrtle, the new cat / kitten.

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Christmas at Kew

2025-12-06T21:46:23Z

We did Christmas at Kew again this year. I had a rather excellent boozy, loaded hot chocolate and steak teryaki.

And the lights were wonderful.

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lathany @ 2025-12-01T18:19:00

2025-12-01T18:19:49Z

The first day of advent and the lower floor tree was at Waterloo Station.

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Hampton Court Palace

2025-11-29T11:44:54Z

For Bea's birthday the two of us went to see Hampton Court Palace as neither of us had been before.

It was very good, although also a little chilly.

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Lord's

2025-11-25T20:47:02Z

Today's Awayday was at Lord's. There were a lot of queues (lunch was the worst) and also it was on the chilly side. However, it was somewhere I've never been to before and the sessions were good. Plus I got to see a lot of people in person from UK offices other than London.

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Costa Xmas range

2025-11-16T12:33:07Z

We had a family trip to Costa today to try out their Xmas range. Dom had the Caramel Nutcracker Latte, Bea went for the Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate whilst Ryan and I had Gingerbread Lattes. The others all went for savoury options to eat but I chose the Festive Spice Muffin. I thoroughly enjoyed both my drink and muffin and I'm rather sorry that they aren't available all year round.

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Life entry

2025-11-09T21:49:01Z

With Christmas trees popping up in shops even before Remembrance Sunday, it feels as though the charge to Christmas has begun. However, we're not even half way through November and winter weather seems a long way off. So far autumn has been mild, pretty but with a few train issues.

Work has become rather more challenging as I have picked up an area of work considered the worst in the team which has generally resulted in postholders moving on rapidly. However, my boss knows this and I have instructions not to work more than my hours. So, we'll see. As it is, there are various bits and pieces between here and the end of the year that should make it interesting including a team day and a full directorate day before the end of the month. Neither of my usual Xmas work events are in December this year, one is in the last week of this month and the other at the end of January – which will be something to look forward to as it often feels rather flat after the Christmas decorations come down.

As for the work bookclub; late summer we read Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis which I had read before and involves space travel. It's interesting, particularly compared to now when films like The Martian and plans to make the trip exist. A couple of weeks ago it was The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune which was definitely a gentle “cosy” read about a government official who monitored the housing arrangements for mutant children – I liked it and felt it was something I would want after a particularly unpleasant day. Next up, I think, will be Butter.

I have a prominent scratch near my eye which Reeve managed to do whilst purring and being happy when he woke me up this morning. Which, I suppose, is better than being in a rage. It's still a little sore though. Reeve definitely thinks the winter is approaching – he's inside much more and asleep for most of the time.

The twins have their birthday at the end of the month so the usual shopping, lists and questions about cake are in progress. We're on track with present season, I think. There's been a few mild illnesses in the household, plus something bigger that knocked Ryan out for a week. He usually sails through illness, but when he does go down it's quite hard.

Computer game-wise I've picked up Secret World again and have been playing the Halloween events. I'm also still on Dune Awakening and Strange Antiquities was as good as promised. All continue to be very satisfying.

I guess onwards to the festive season (proper).

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Parody of the Rings

2025-10-19T11:03:35Z

I took Dom to see Parody of the Rings. It was funny and worth while (based on the films, rather than the books). Best bit for me was Merry and Pippin portrayed by a couple of hand-puppet muppets.

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Hollingbourne

2025-09-20T11:13:06Z

Our home for the week had lots of high ceilings and wood beams. Outside it was all very green and featured moorhens and a very industrious squirrel.

The local church had a footpath next to it that took us to the rest of the village: the footpath itself was a rare use of a solid path and high fields of corn.

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Tiny Bookshop

2025-09-19T14:20:18Z

I've finished (well, seen the credits, played some more and finished the achievements I was after) Tiny Bookshop. It's been a great year for games and I really loved this one after a recommendation from Katrina.

You spend each day selling books in a seaside town, chatting with the locals and completing little – or larger – side quests. It is very astutely crafted from a simple premise with enough additional elements to make a very addictive game. One of the main mechanics is that customers will sometimes ask you to recommend a book and will say a bit about what they want. This is the part I personally really like, not least because I've heard of – or read – many of the books that are in the game as they are generally well-known ones.

An indication of how much I liked it is that I racked up a lot of hours in my game – 39 hours in total. Overall, an interesting, upbeat, low-pressure game particularly for book-lovers.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/contribute/contrib_view?cid=400825&itemtype=3

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lathany @ 2025-08-19T10:22:00

2025-08-19T09:23:02Z

Bea and I have just had a weekend on our own. Ryan was away with his girlfriend and her parents and Dom was crewing for a LARP in East London. We watched The Cat Returns, which I really loved (excellent Studio Ghibli), and ate macaroni cheese.

The weather has been decent and mostly not too hot, although I've avoided commuting when it gets too warm. Reeve spends much of the days outside.

There's been a bunch of small outings. We celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary at Trinity. Dom led the GMing team for Sulphur and Quicksilver (loosely based on Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood) which including Bea, Tricia, Elle and myself. I've been to Kew a couple of times including going up the Pagoda.

Multiplayer computer gaming is mainly Dune Awakening. Solo is Tiny Bookshop (you run a mobile bookshop and recommend books – excellent!) and was previously Song of Farca (hacking). It's been a good year for computer gaming with Strange Antiquities (running an Antiques shop) coming out next month.

As ever, the household is busy and crowded; but, with some pussly exceptions, fairly harmonious. We still have plenty of house projects to do (dining room floor, bathroom floor, garden, etc) though we're currently taking a post-kitchen break.

Work itself is busy (as always) – August is rather heavy on trying to cover things for other people who are on holiday.

Work bookclub has been The Husbands (my pick) and The Ministry of Time. The latter was very slow moving, the described future was bleak and I wasn't a massive fan of the main character, but was OK overall (I just had higher expectations than it warranted). In non-bookclub reading, I'm re-reading the Witches of Lychford as the next one is out next month.

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