Another gruesome art installation, courtesy of the cat.

…and not one will know of the war, not one Will care at last when it is done. Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn, Would scarcely know that we were gone. -Sarah Teasdale #speirgorm

The road less travelled… a very old right of way that leads to my house, unused for 50 years, now opened again. Haven’t driven it yet but it makes for an idyllic morning walk 😊 #speirgorm #springtime

Revisiting a much loved novel on audible. Can think of worse ways to ring in the New Year. #books #booksky

What an enchanting way to finish the year’s reading. I think I will always love this book. #books #booksky

Bereft to have finished Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell on audio. Everything one could wish for to turn dark winter drives into gothic deliciousness. One of my favourite books this year. Saving Piranesi for Christmas: will fit Banville’s Venetian Vespers in between.

Content to sleep on arm if lap is not on offer 😂

Patrick Kavanagh - well loved poet and writer died #OTD 30 November 1967 #PatrickKavanagh #Advent #speirgorm

In the search for a long and atmospheric audiobook I came upon this. I’m a bit excited for it. #books #audiobooks #booksky

Waking up to Gordon Lightfoot on a dark November morning. Nice. #risingtime #speirgorm

Can’t resist the return of Jimmy Perez. If Cleeves applies the same evocation of place for Orkney as she did for Shetland, I’ll be a happy reader 😊 #books #booksky

An academic from a climate-ravaged 2119 searches for poet Francis Blundy’s lost masterpiece, trawling through century-old emails and social media. What’s not to love? #books #booksky

Well, this was mental. Mental in a good way… sensuous and dark and thrilling, and possibly my favourite of all the Kate Atkinson novels I’ve been devouring over the last couple of months. #books #booksky #KateAtkinson

Wouldn’t usually watch the tv series before reading the books and worry that the books won’t live up to the series, but I think it’s time to risk it. #mickherron #slowhorses #books #booksky

I’m going to miss the Todds, in all their iterations. #kateatkinson #books #booksky

One more sleep… #therosefield #philippullman #books #booksky #bookofdust

Everything hangs by a thread. I loved this novel. Off now to ponder my life choices 😉 #books #booksky #kateatkinson

Really enjoying Yume Kitasei’s Saltcrop… the author is new to me. #booksky #saltcrop

Tempted to move directly to William Boyd’s The Predicament, having just finished Transcription (everything that I love about a spy novel) but think I’d better intersperse with some sci-fi. Going to try Mason Coile’s Exiles, a Guardian recommendation. #booksky

Reasons to love September… apples and quince from my uncle’s garden, sunflowers €5 a bunch in the local garden centre 😊 #speirgorm #harvest

Arrived in the post today from Blackwells, nice surprise! Had forgotten I’d ordered it. #TomCox #Booksky

😊 #sunflowers

Making sloe gin is an annual event, crab apple gin is a new departure 😊 #speirgorm #sloegin

Indulging in a little Jackson Brodie all over again, via audiobook. It’s been ages since I’ve read them. #booksky

Everything changes and everything stays the same…. so elegantly done by Tracy Chevalier, as always. #booksky

Just as well we’re nearly home 😊 #thunderstorm #speirgorm

My summer of William Boyd continues, and this is probably the novel I have loved the most, thus far. But then, I’ve thought that about each one, as I go along. #booksky

I don’t think I’ll ever forget Logan Mountstuart. #booksky

Finding it hard to put this down, as always with a Kim Stanley Robinson novel. #booksky

Listening to this one, took the longer route home this evening… always a sign of a great audiobook. Samuel West narrating. #booksky