Christopher Joyce and Eric Stover ' Witnesses from the Grave '

This is a non-fiction book and gives a very good introduction to forensic anthropology.
It tells the story of Clyde Snow, the world's foremost forensic anthropologist, who seem to have come to this profession almost by 'coincidence'. Now freelance, he is employed by police forces, governments and human rights activists around the world to identify human remains. For every bone leaves a signature, however old or decayed it may be.

Amongst Snow's most celebrated cases have been the Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele, the victims of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, and the thousands in Argentina who 'disappeared' nta. under the brutal military junta. Snow and his team had to come up agains death threats and political intrigue.
I particularly like the story of the young Argentinan Morris Tidball who, while walking to Uni, saw a sign on a door were Snow was holding a talk, he walked into it and became one of his 'sidekicks' in Argentina.

Massive shopping attack today - I now got all of Ruby's birthday presents (her birthday is in 2 weeks):

She knows she's getting the CD player, and I might buy another CD in the supermarket.

And Christmas presents: PS 2 for all 3 of them.

and fishing gear for Danial.

And now I 'only' need Christmas presents for Imran, and Imran's birthday present - his birthday is on 27. December! Do I deserve this!

well, I had to happen, didn't it..... went back to the Sewing Machine centre in Welling today. The repair of my old machine was supposed to be over £50 - so I decided (surprise, surprise) I'd treat myself to a new machine.

Can't really afford it shortly before Christmas and 2 children's birthday's - but that's beside the point, I guess, I had to have a new gadget. Not that I sew very often, infact, I haven't done any in the past 10 years. was fun though trying it all out when we came home. And Ruby, my little darling, left her bag with her mobile phone in Lidl in Welling. I phoned up Lidl's headquarter (apparently, you cannot call the shop directly) and passed my number on to them. and believe it or not, someone had handed the bag in, and we can go tomorrow and pick it up. Admittedly, the phone was a cheap one (£15 I think), but still restored my faith in humanity for the day.

Apart from that, I'm still knitting. Did a scarf, finished one sock (yipee), with the second one on the needles. will show tomorrow. Sorry, I am just too tired after work during the week to make entries here - but promise to try as often as I can. Oh, and I added my name to the waiting list of this new knitting community everyone is on about: Ravelry. Only 11.000 something in front of me before my membership is getting approved. ..

Dirie, Waris ' Desert flower '

A remarkable story of courage, a true rags to riches. This is the true story of Waris Dirie, how grew up living a nomad live in the deserts of Somalia, owing not more than she had on her body. Her biggest wish is to have a pair of shoes, but despite this, for us Westerner's unbelievable poorness, she talks about her country of origin with great passion and love.
When Waris is due to get married to an old man, she flees from her parents and seeks refuge with various relatives in the city, eventually, she ends up as a 'servant' to a Somali family in England. Hardly any wages and working 7 days a week, no holiday, sadly, not at all uncommon in this, our country. But Waris has guts. Her writing style took some getting used to for me she takes very blunt, and often not very 'ladylike' - and I grew to love her. I remember in one passage, when she moved for a short period out of London to the countryside with her 'fake' husband, she thinks is great she can 'wee' again occassionally behind bushes. *smile*

She gets 'discovered' and becomes an international Supermodel. But there is more to Waris.
When Waris was 5 years old, she underwent 'female circumcision', or, as it should be called more accurately 'genitale mutilation'. With her own boldness and honesty, she tells us how it was done and how she suffered afterwards, and how many of her friends / relatives did not survive it. Apart from the initial pain, there are numerous problems in later life: menstruation, childbirth and not to mention just plain old ordinary sex, of course. Waris tells us her story, but what I like about it is that she does not descent into a ranting and raving match about her country, culture and parents, she shows a lot of respect and love.

I wish Waris all the best in her fight to help eradicate this brutal and completely unnecessary practice.

I've got the sock knitting bug again - when I really should do my Christmas stitching. This happens to me ever now and again - I just don't fancy cross stitch but knitting. Ever since I first started to knit socks I loved it. I did a pair for my mum last Christmas, and she actually loved something I did hee hee, and she keeps wearing them around the house. I was surprised how straight forward it was. Usually with knitting, I get myself into a pickle with the sizes, especially with garments like jumpers, cardigans etc. they are always too big or too small or whatever, that really puts me off. But with the socks, its not too difficult. And don't I just love this self-patterning yarn! This one is from Opal.
We went to a bonfire and fireworks display here in Darford. Spend what seems like a fortune on silly things like candy floss and fairground rides for the children. Danial and his friend Matt Ruby and CaseyNow who's the Lord of the Manor!

King, Stephen ' Pet Semetary '

Here goes the master!

I've got many many Stephen King books in my pile, and always try to add more. This one is well known, and I finally got round to reading it, and I was not disappointed. One of King's finest, and I like the idea behind the story! What a story!

Louis Creed moves with his wife, 2 young children and family cat to a small town in Maine (Stephen King country!!). The quickly make friends with the elderly couple who live across the raod, Jud and Norma, it seems a lovely place to live, apart from the big road which runs past the house. And then there is a pet cemetary, to be reached from a path leading from the house, where, as Louis discovered with the help of Jud. But there is more to it, another path leading from the pet cemetary to another strange place. Jud tells him about his dog whom he buried there when he died 'for the first time' .... yes, sometimes they do come back. which leaves of course the question, apart from pets, did anyone bury every a human being there. Soon, tragedy strikes in the house. You gotta read what happens.

I had a lovely surprise in the mail today. My German friend Ilse send me this beautiful book cover. beautifully sewn together, and all in 'my' colours - autumn. I love the season and the colours. Thank you Ilse!

And, I have to admit, it also gives me a little boost of having another go with the sewing machine next weekend.Watch this space.