'Tis The Season To Get Reading....

Christmas is not just a time to devour turkey, chocolate, and pretty much everything- I love the time it gives you to get stuck into a book. Recently, I've rediscovered my love of reading- but have been too lax in my reviewing. In no particular order, here are my 4 top reads for the festive season...

AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED- KHALED HOSSEINI

Following up two brilliant books like 'The Kite Runner' and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' was always going to be a challenge- but Hosseini has certainly managed it with this touching novel. A love story of multiple dimensions- a servant with his master's wife, a master with an unexpected love interest- and between a brother and his long-lost sister, you'll find yourself yearning for reunions of all sorts. Hosseini really does have a beautiful story-telling manner- the way the stories all subtly intertwine brings a gratifying unity to the novel. One that you will slowly fall in love with!

THE DIVERGENT TRILOGY- VERONICA ROTH

I'm counting these all as one because- trust me- you'll have to read one after the other. If you loved Hunger Games, you won't be able to resist these; Tris, the female protagonist of these novels is just as inspirational, strong and likable as Katniss. The worlds that these two girls inhabit are very different indeed.

In the Divergent novels, a world exists where everybody is born into a 'Faction'. These factions each champion a favourable quality in society- bravery, selflessness, truth, kindness and knowledge. When the faction members turn sixteen, they have to decide whether to stay in the faction they were born into- or to move to one more suitable, and risk losing touch with their family forever. Tris is one such teenager- and the decision she makes does not only impact her life, but ultimately the whole system. I can't say anymore without spoiling anything- just read these books, become emotionally invested in Tris and the world around her, and you will be unable to forget these books in a hurry.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS- JOHN GREEN

When I worked at Waterstones, everybody was raving about this teenage book- so typically, in my stubborn fashion, I left it well alone until a year later. I read this book straight after the Divergent series; in hindsight, nothing was ever going to compare to that. Sixteen-year-old Hazel was certainly a great narrator, providing a fresh outlook on teenage cancer. Gus, Hazel's love interest from the cancer support group she attends, is a fanciable hunk with a difference- handsome, sporty, yet with an atypically quirky wit.

Comedy interspersed with tragedy is always an especially poignant combination; though a few conversations within the novel felt a little forced, on the whole the characters interacted with each other very naturally. Green may not have a particularly distinctive writing style, but he does come up with some beauties of lines, like when Hazel describes how she "fell in love the way [she] fell asleep- slowly, then all at once." With such linguistic gems, and a conclusion that you will not see coming, this book is definitely worth a read.

THE UNIVERSE VERSUS ALEX WOODS- GAVIN EXTENCE

I always love discovering debut novels- it's great reading something from a completely fresh perspective. With this novel, that certainly applies to the author himself, and his protagonist- the quirky, smart, socially awkward Alex Woods. We meet Alex as he is about to drive back into the UK after a trip to Europe...and just happens to have a heap of a marijuana in the glove compartment. Oh, and an urn on the passenger seat. The reader, and of course the police, are quick to make assumptions about this strange boy who seems too cool and calm, and certainly not having an 'epileptic seisure' like he claims. In an attempt to explain himself, Alex starts telling his own story, from the pinnacle moment his life took a strange turn. I won't spoil the surprise; all I will say is that it is, quite literally, out of this world...

This story is by no means just about Alex- the wonderfully cranky Mr. Peterson will endear himself to you, whether you start off liking him or not. His and Alex's unlikely friendship is one that brings out the best in them both, and takes them both to places neither of them imagined. Alex's mother is also a kooky delight, as is edgy Ellie.

Outer space, a moody pensioner, an underdog becoming the hero of his own story, and ultimately a serious moral question; Extence's writing hits all sorts of notes, together making a harmony of a novel.

A Little Adventure Up North...

Since Patrick has graced these British shores, we haven't had a chance to explore much of my home country. So, on a whim last weekend, we decided to go up North, all the way to a little country pub near Newcastle. A quick shameful fact- also happens to be the furthest North that this little southern lass has ever been in the UK!

Stepping out at Newcastle station, we quickly hopped onto the train to Riding Mill; within minutes, we were out of the industrial city and into lush green countryside. Being the city dwellers that we are, we were naive enough to assume that taxis would be at the other end- but luckily, the cosy 'Wellington' pub came to the rescue and called us a cab to the village of Newton.

As soon as we walked into the Duke of Wellington (that Duke must have really made an impression around here), we were made to feel right at home. Stone walls, countryside views, and rooms just above the pub- just what we had been looking for. Our room felt very homey, with soft-mattresses beds and wooden beams (that would later have white smears- more on that in a sec)...

We didn't stay in our room for long, as we happened to have arrived on one of the most exciting nights  on the Welly's calendar- race night! The very friendly Dave soon rushed up to us and explained the drill (in a strong Geordie accent, so we took from it what we could)- they would play around 8 races, and we could bet/buy horses in each race. Getting into the spirit of things, we did both...and lost the first two races. Only lost £2, but still...it hurt. 

Before we were tempted to lose any more money, we headed back upstairs to chill out and plan our country walk the next day. As I lay back on my bed, I felt truly at one with the countryside around me; the birds were chirping so loudly, it was as though they were in the room. I closed my eyes to bask in the sounds, as the chirping was getting louder and louder...I looked up at the wooden beams, and- you guessed it- a little birdie was staring back at us. He was literally pooping himself with fear as we tried for at least half an hour to get him out. That little birdie wasn't the only one flapping about all over th place by the end of it...

By pure coincidence, we had chosen a pub slap bang in the middle of Hadrian's Wall country. Here's a quick history lesson- Hadrian's Wall was built 2000 years ago by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and in its glory days, stretched from coast to coast. Today, only a few sections remain. It is NOT the wall that separates England and Scotland, as I have assumed for around 20 years. I blame the movie Braveheart...did it feature in Braveheart? Not sure, but I'm blaming it anyway.

So, moving on...we fancied a bit of a country walk on Saturday, so decided to see some wall remnants at the aptly named Heddon-on-the-Wall. Google told us it would take 3 hours- Google told us wrong. After four hours of following the lovely (if muddy) Hadrian's Wall path, we finally found ourselves in Heddon...with no sign of the wall, as yet. There was a sign of two pubs, though, so we headed to the Swan for a quick pint and sandwich, as you do. We did eventually see the wall (in a random place behind someone's house!) and, luckily, it was actually a pretty impressive stretch. So, after half an hour of walking up and down and pretending we were Roman emperors, we started the long walk back. Ha, only kidding- we got a taxi, like the lazy sods that we are.

I loved the style of Geordie taxi drivers- always 5 minutes early, efficient, not stingy (telling us to only pay £10 when our fare was £11.50), and not hugely chatty (as miserable as that makes me sound!) Saying that, when we caught a cab to Corbridge the next morning, we were given some sound advice by the local sights.

'This is the nearest pub, then down there is another good one, and you'll find another just around the corner to the right'.

We obviously have that look about us.

So, we followed local advice, and Patrick found his perfect pub- a real, roaring fire, mahogany walls, and armchairs straight out of a 19th century smoking parlour. As well as a fair few country pubs buzzing with merry locals, Corbridge also had some Roman ruins of its own- the remnants of a fort where, back in the day, they kept all the tools used for building the wall. As Patrick mentioned on the day, our own ancestors could have been there 2000 years ago- who knows?

Before I move onto the pictures, a swift mention of the delicious food at the Duke of Wellington; over the weekend, we had ham hock terrine (Patrick's favourite), pan fried pheasant breast, slow cooked lamb, smoked haddock risotto, and a black pudding scotch egg. All washed down by some local Northern ales. That's before I even mentioned the included breakfast- now, I'm a big fan of breakfasts on the best of days, but even the Welli's Northumberland breakfast beat me!

So, a lovely little jaunt up North- lovely food, living history, cosy pubs, tasty ales and peaceful countryside. Essentially, a taste of the best of Britain (yes, even the food).

Enjoy the pics!

 

A Very Nice Weekend...

...OK, OK, you're probably sick of the Nice puns by now- it's not very Nice of me to keep on about it.

Ever keen to gate-crash holidays whenever we can, we jumped at the chance to go and visit Colleen Bob, Reid, Lori, Sean and Trish in Nice, at the end of their fantastic European jaunt.

With the evenings drawing in back home, we could not have asked for more beautiful weather. I thought we wouldn't be lying on a beach now until next summer, but we sunned ourselves alongside the beautiful (albeit over-sunned) people of Nice. Mojitos, the occasional dip in the extra-salty Mediterranean (after negotiating the painfully pebbly beach)...a pretty awesome way to spend a Saturday. We saw a very different side to the beach on Sunday, when we got to witness triathletes bravely diving into the sea.

Just behind the hotel, the streets were mainly composed of estate agents offering properties for a cool 1 million Euros, fashion shops for dogs (for those who want to see their pup with sunglasses and Tuxedo, like a doggy James Bond), and a fair few pizzerias. When we wandered down the street a little, and you soon hit the elusive "old town". Every European city seems to have one of these tucked away somewhere; however, down one of the main narrow lanes, we found something very unique to Nice- a newsagent/bar crossbreed. There's nothing like watching the world go bar while sipping a local tipple...and trying your luck with a local scratchcard (and failing miserably).

A very short, sweet, much-needed weekend away. Thanks again to all the crew for welcoming us with open arms to your gorgeous villa, and your holiday in general- you certainly showed us how to party!

View from the villa.

The 'tabac' bar

Watching the world go by at the 'tabac' bar

Apologies, I've Been Blogging Elsewhere...

Sorry for the lack of posting here- usual excuses apply. I hadn't given up writing altogether in the last month- I've actually been given the opportunity to write for the Round the World Experts blog. See the links below! Hopefully this will be a regular thing...although there's no way I'm going to abandon good ol' 'The World Is A Book'. Too many memories stored in here...

Five Reasons to Visit Western Australia

Awesome Alternative Adventures in New Zealand

Stay tuned for some very Nice adventures...

 

Long Bike Rides And Summer Nights in Scandinavia

So my friends, it's been a while since I've spilled my thoughts, dreams and adventures into this blog...adjusting to office life has drained me more than I though. Poor excuses as usual- let me just get on with detailing our latest jaunt to the far Scandinavian North. Half pilgrimage to the hometown of Patrick's ancestors, half curiosity about a different kind of Europe, this trip was always going to be rich with experiences. If only we had been rich with money...
    Yes, we always knew Norway and Sweden were always going to be a little pricier than other destinations- but it somehow still came as a shock to pay £10 for a pint. Luckily, living in London had prepared us a little for extortionate prices- so we quickly adjusted, and just drank those beers a little slower than usual.

    Oslo was first up on our little itinerary, where we got to sample one of Norway's culinary delights- massive baskets of peel-and-eat shrimp by the seafront. Sadly, we didn't get to try the squeezy caviar...but the grilled elk was pretty tasty at the Grand Cafe, once a favourite haunt of the playwright Henrik Ibsen. Serene, simple, subtle, yet proud of its artistic ancestors such as Munch and Ibsen himself, Oslo was a great starting point to a busy week.

   Next, the scenic train ride from Oslo to Bergen, with fantastic views...even better with a glass of wine in the buffet car, away from the shouting tourists in our carriage. Beautiful mountains, acres of pine forests, rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls passed us all the way to Bergen- the gateway to Norway's famous fjords.

   Then it was time for....drumroll please...Jen's Next Biking Saga! Well, it's time I got a little better at this biking thing- the last two times in China and Laos were a little shaky, to say the least! What better way to refine my skills than with a 25km bike ride along Hardanger-fjord? A little tougher than we thought- the hills at the beginning and end made us feel particularly out of shape! I'm not going to lie- at one point towards the end, I was seriously doubting my ability to make it. My fear of riding downhill and speeding up too much did little to help my speed of completion, to say the least. But the ride inbetween, with the lovely fjord views, quaint red houses, with very few souls on the roads- glorious. Not to mention the cherry orchards, with little cherry huts outside to pick biking snacks from- guarded only by a box, a price and a whole lot of trust.

   Bergen itself was a great little city- even if the weather was a little wet. We treated ourselves to yet more shrimps at the 100-year-old fish market, and even a little king crab too. The night was finished off nicely with a visit to the fantastic old Bryggen area- even better, we managed to shelter from the rain in a cosy dark-wooden pub, where we got to here not one, but two of Bergen's finest singing talents. The one girl may have looked about 14, but she had a voice like butter- greatly enjoyed by all, especially by the random Swedish man who came in from the street just to sway his arms in appreciation.

   Next, we headed by plane to the town of Patrick's anestors- lovely Lulea, way up in the North East of Sweden. We wanted to toast our arrival here with aquavit- a traditional Scandinavian spirit made with carraway seeds-  but unfortunately had to give it up at security. As soon as we landed in Lulea, with its population of 46,000, Operation 'Search for Bergmans' began.

We began by wandering the city, looking for doppelgangers...this did not prove fruitful. Next, we used our knowledge that Patrick's great-uncle was president of Lulea's rotary club; we discovered that this same club regularly met in the hotel next to ours! When we went to inquire, we'd sadly just missed the club members having lunch, so we reverted to Plan B- a trip to the charming village of Gammalstad. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Gammalstad is the best preserved church village in Sweden- who knows, maybe some Bergmans once walked in our footsteps? Magarita's restaurant served some pretty good char and reindeer too- and some impressive (though eternally creepy) elk taxidermy upstairs. Gammelstad is still a functioning village, and we got to experience modern village life with an old car show held outside the church. History of all sorts here to take in!

   The fun didn't stop there in Lulea. After a venture into our hotel's English pub (which had more alcohol choice than many pubs in England), we saw that a boat that had looked sleepy by day, docked in the harbour, was now pumping by night- a Wednesday night at that. Wanted to see what the fuss was all about, we sneeked a peek- and got our first glimpse into the Swedish party scene. What made this 'club' unique was the mini casinos in every corner, surrounded by tipsy party-goers wanting to take their chances. It was only in Stockholm that we realised this was a regular Swedish club feature- but more on that later...



   Back to Lulea. During our whole time there, we probably saw half an hour of dark- if you can call it that. When we came out of the boat club at 1.30am, it was the darkest the night was going to get- the equivalent to the first twinges of twilight. One hour later, it was light again- as in mid-morning light, not sun-rise light. A very surreal experience- I now understand why those Lulea residents were keen to party on a summertime weekday. I can't imagine what it is like here at night-time- a wintertime visit is definitely in order, I think, just to appreciate the beauty of this long summer.


   After a nasty shock where we got to Lulea's train station and discovered we were actually getting a bus (logical after booking on a train website?!), we ended up in Sundsvall. Just a brief stop here, to soak up the atmosphere of Patrick's other ancestral town. This little coastal town once suffered from one of Sweden's largest fires (loving the superlatives right now- obviously inspired by Attenborough on 'Frozen Planet', our chosen holiday-transit-watching). Anyway, after all the characteristic wooden buildings were destroyed, stone buildings were built in their place; it was lovely to walk through here in the sunshine, with the strong sparkling walls sparkling 'hej hej' (prounced 'hey hey!', hello) at us.

   And so, last but by no means least, we have the capital of Scandinavia...Stockholm. I had no idea Stockholm was surrounded by so much water- peeking down the narrow labyrinth of lanes in Gamma Stan (Old Town), there was always a tease of the harbour in the distance. Here, I decided to try 'herrings' Swedish style- in mustard, in horseradish sauce, picked, just with a sprig of dill- I get the impression there is no limit to the number of ways the Swedish eat their treasured strömming. On a more colourful note, we got to see the vibrant blue of the Royal Guard's uniform outside the Royal Palace, as well as experiencing the rainbow of colours in Stockholm's very own Gay Pride Parade- Patrick's second of the year!

   We had to party Swedish style while visiting its capital, so we decided to dance with Stockholm's finest in one of the city's shiny clubs. Of course, we stuck out like a sore thumb- but it was fun to observe how the Swedes groove- and obviously show them how Brits and Canadians strut their stuff...

   Wanting to make the most of our short trip, on our last day we decided to venture out to Fjordgarden, one of Stockholm's 24,000 surrounding islands, and apparently the 'royal family's playground'. No royal-spotting here, just plain ol' chilling- oh, and a quick dip in the freezing sea. Where there's a body of water, there's gotta be a bit of swimming (shark and croc infested waters excepted). 

   Norway, Sweden...you may have bled me dry financially, but your seafood, unique daylight hours, and your charming cities made every krona worth it. I'll take away a curiosity of herrings, a fondness for saying 'hej hej!' cheerily as you Swedes do, and ever so slightly improved biking skills. Takk!

(Excuse the random assortment of photos- these are from my phone and camera, and I quite like them all scattered like this in a random order!)

Grilled elk at the Grand Cafe

Waiting for the Oslo to Bergen train...

Norway's meatballs with lingonberry jam!

Helmet mark- reckon it was a bit tight...

The village of 'Herand', where we finished our bike ride...

Sunsvall...

Sunsvall in the sunhine...

'Saluhall'- Stockholm's own food market

A cherry hut on the road.

Seafood at Bergen's fish market...

He shoots...

...he scores!

Lulea at 2am...

...without flash!

A beer/cider/sour apple thing...that was delicious! (I'm selling it well...)

Bit nippy!