Day Off Week 40 2024

More like the usual day off pattern on Tuesday, although early on I had to be at the doctor's for a blood test. When I came back I went to my study in the chapel and threw away another pile of sermons. This time it was handwritten ones and that was hard. During the day I read, had a coffee and looked at today's Times (as it had an obituary for Kris Kristofferson). I also tried to make prgress on this project I have to complete in the month or two. In the evening we watched the first episode of Ludwig with David Mitchell and enjoyed it mostly. Then the itv news and sleep.

Unruly by David Mtchell

As noted, this is another birthday book and I finished it today. It works through the monarchs of England from the beginning as far as Elizabeth I. The style is jocular but presumably accurate. The swearing and crudity is meant to be funny but I'm not sure it is and reminded me of the way some of my undergraduate lecturers would add a swear word to be in with the kids. It never worked. An enjoyable read and worth his doing I guess. His approach to the providence of God is interesting. He is very dismissive of those who see God's hand in events but offers no real alternative approach. The book filled me in on the bits of history I've missed over the years.

Day Off Week 27 2024

I managed to have a traditional day off this week. That is to say I did some reading (a small paperback - a biography of Leslie Land by Ian Shaw and a large hardback - Unruly by David Mitchell). I also went out for a coffee. There was also time to further one or two projects I am working on. I enjoyed the day.

Birthday Books

One of the joys of a birthday is that kind people buy you books. Above is my haul for this year. Mostly history as you see. I tipped off my wife about the first one and the second is from my first son who has cornered the market in Nazi themes (one of my favourite subjects). I first saw the book on Africa in Kenya and have bought with money kindly given by family.