December 2024

Happy New Year to my readers!

This month was a bit quiet, with some events and a couple of trips to the Christmas market. It started in turmoil, as the Romanian elections were cancelled. Voting will take place again, most likely in March next year. There was significant russian interference and that was the right call. I did go and vote.

A cat, Bernoulli, visited us for a couple of weeks. Just before Christmas she stopped coming into the conservatory to sleep. I saw her outside, so I know that she is fine. We left the door ajar for her, in case she decides she wants to sleep again in the conservatory.

Besides that I read a lot and finished my reading challenge. Before Christmas I switched to fiction and went through a lot of books. The list of books is at the end of the post.

This is where the elections took place in Liverpool. The situation with the election is still unclear.

We’ve been to a Christmas concert in a newly refurbished library and it was so lovely. We’ve had a wonderful time and the money raised with the tickets were given to the library, for charity. I think that’s amazing. I will go to their cafe more often, as it is such a lovely place. I’ve also blogged about an event, with sand animation, it was such an interesting and unusual event. I enjoyed it very much.

We’ve also been to Ukrainian events, the pictures above and below are from 2 events. One was a workshop with carols singing, mulled wine, and some stalls selling crafts. I got some candles from there, just stunning, and a bauble.

We’ve had desserts or lunch/dinner a couple of times this month and it was nice.

I wanted a cocktail set and after the masterclass earlier this month, I got one. I like using it and I know more about making cocktails. It’s such a fun activity.

1. Voted for the Romanian Parliamentary elections. 2. Oxford alumni meet-up. 3. Liverpool Hope University Festival of Futures – Focus on Ukraine workshop. 4. Feline visitor. 5. Door. 6. Shared the details for my trip to Ukraine, in January. 7. My new glasses. 8. Christmas concert. 9. Pizza night. 10. Bonsai in the bathroom. 11. Liverpool. 12. My first Oriel College Record, it’s the annual magazine for alumni. 13. Insect food for “our” stray cat. 14. Roasted marshmallows. 15. Sand animation. 16. Christmas tree in Metquarter, after having a meeting there. 17. Ukrainian Christmas event in Liverpool. 18. Cocktail masterclass. 19. Bought a cocktail making set. 20. Vegan treats. 21. Christmas concert. 22. An unsuccessful attempt at a 3 layer cocktails to mark the 35th anniversary of Romanian freedom. 23. 2 fun and unique puzzles. 24. Flowers. 25. Christmas. 26. A wine bottle from Georgia, one of the best Christmas gifts I received. 27. Houmous plate. 28. Cube soap. 29. Fun puzzle, with a murder mystery. 30. Remembering a hero on the day he was killed (a russian war crime, one of many). 31. Happy New Year!

From this month, I highly recommend all the books with 5 stars, and Liz Cheney’s memoir, which I awarded only 4 stars because it is in the American style of political memoirs that I find a bit bland.
I also read a collection of poetry by an amazing author from Lviv and that was amazing too.

Books in December:
Russia’s War by Jade McGlynn – 5 stars
Blood of Others by Rory Finnin – 5 stars
Death at La Fenice Donna Leon – 4 stars
Intent to Destroy by Eugene Finkel – 5 stars
Russian Colonialism 101 by Maksym Eristavi – 5 stars
The Language of War by Oleksandr Mykhed – 5 stars
Still Life by Louise Penny – 4 stars
Still City by Oksana Maksymchuk – 5 stars
Oath and honor by Liz Cheney – 4 stars
The Christmas secret by Karen Swan – 4 stars
Christmas on the little Cornish Isles by Phillipa Ashley – 4 stars
Remember love by Mary Balogh – 5 stars
Remember me by Mary Balogh – 5 stars
Always remember by Mary Balogh – 5 stars
Bats in the Belfry by E.C.R. Lorac – 4 stars
A Venetian Reckoning by Donna Leon – 3 stars
Simply Love by Mary Balogh – 5 stars (re-read)