A shot of colour

That's it, I've had enough. I need some colour. I'm rounding up a few images from last year to bring in the sunshine. To be fair, we did have a few rays this morning, but I couldn't take any photos because I am trying to catch up on work, and my son has taken up residence at the kitchen table to revise for his uni exams. He is going back on Saturday, so I hadn't the heart to dislodge him from his perch. 

Spring flowers 2013.

Dreaming of spring, and cake...and marmalade.

That feels better. If you are stuck at home for any reason, illness, caring for someone, looking after children, I hope these injected a bit of brightness into your day. While I've been unwell, I've done lots of reading and I have some great recommendations. They are:

* Longbourn by Jo Baker. This is Pride and Prejudice told from the perspectives of the servants below stairs. Their intrigues, their lives and the gruelling household tasks that had to be performed every day in a Regency household. I haven't finished it yet, but I am gripped. 

* The Silent Wife by ASA Harrison. A thriller, light and pacey, it will keep you turning the pages. 

* All Change by Elizabeth Jane Howard. The last in the series of the Cazalet Chronicles, a must-read if you haven't already. The author died last week, and she will be greatly missed. I love the light touch of her writing, the way she conjours up pre and post Second World War society.

* Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge. I found this in a second hand shop just before Christmas and it's a magical tale (written for children). If you like The Little White Horse, which I've blogged about before) you will love this.

* Autobiography by Morrissey. Well, I am not really sure if I recommend this or not. I love The Smiths and although I don't really enjoy pop star autobiographies as a rule, I was intrigued by his background. But he is a very difficult man to like: if I had travelled to the places he had, met the people he has and had half of his experiences, I really hope I wouldn't have turned out quite so difficult, paranoid and petty. I concluded that fame makes even the best people very weird....