The snow on Monday meant the Grandchildren weren't here after all so instead I got the January Jigsaw out of the cupboard. It's another nostalgia puzzle by House of Puzzles. It has a bit more sky than any I've done recently - if the colours are too much the same and too muted I might give up before hardly starting - just like trying a not-so-good book, no point in persevering with something that doesn't give enjoyment.
I've also sorted out threads to do a small X stitch book-mark/card. So two things are ready to start - but instead I began reading another book - so many left to read, I started on How to Solve Your Own Murder, but it seemed a bit strange so I soon gave up. Then began on The Red Shore by William Shaw which seems very good so far. I'd already abandoned Cacophony of Bones, for the second time - and many others have given up on it too I think as the pages were still very tight in the second half of the book - seems very few had got to the end. I'll be collecting several more books from the mobile library soon......weather permitting of course.
Not as much snow here on Monday as there is in a place that I heard about on a programme on Radio 4. Longyearbyen is the world's most Northerly settlement, way up north on the group of islands - Svalbard - belonging to Norway. The settlement is there for the coal mining but that is coming to an end which will probably mean the town won't continue to exist, with so many weeks of complete darkness in winter not many live there by choice (The programme is in their Illuminated series titled 'The Frozen Light' - on BBC sounds.)
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I wonder what will happen if you-know-who decides he NEEDS another country... New Zealand? The Falklands? Ireland? Spain?
ReplyDeleteGoodness knows where next - it's worrying
DeleteEven Britain, after all we do have marvellous castles, Joking aside it is serious. It looks a good jigsaw but sorting a 1000 pieces - hmmm.
ReplyDeleteThe colours are a bit same-y so not good so far
DeleteDefinitely no welcome here. It is dreadful to watch the complete disrespect for each country’s independence.
ReplyDeleteNew Zealand Nana
Definitely and very worrying
DeleteI've booked a cruise for 2027 and will be going to Longyearbyen. Thanks for the head-up for the radio programme.
ReplyDeleteYou'll need to wrap up warm!!
DeleteThose houses look so pretty in their different colours., please take more pictures when you cruise by won't you FC?
ReplyDeleteLovely colours against the snow - I don't fancy the 24 hours of darkness
DeleteI'm going in summer - twenty four hour days!
DeleteThese little houses look like the ones we made for our Christmas village scene. I know what you mean about jigsaws not appealing-like books, I now give up on them when the don’t hold my interest. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI got cross with the edge pieces, the sky is like the river - ought to be different
DeleteGoodness - 24 hours of darkness would be so depressing. It was weird enough having two nights and only a couple of hours of fading daylight inbetween when I was flying out to NZ.
ReplyDeleteI have decided that 1000 piece jigsaws are Too Big and will stick to 500 pieces in future. . .
I think I might come round to the 500 piece puzzle soon!
DeleteThat is a pretty puzzle. If books or puzzles are not enjoyable, I give up on them too. No point in suffering to the end. Lol. Have a good day, and stay warm. Cali
ReplyDeleteI've got two other puzzles in the cupboard - might try one instead
DeleteYou've got to be mentally strong to live in Svalbard in such gloom, but the houses are cheery-looking.
ReplyDeleteNot somewhere I would want to live for sure
DeleteThere's far too much sky on that jigsaw for me to even attempt. I think I would be doing the edges and that lovely little van and then calling it a day.
ReplyDeleteNot even sure I'll get the edge done
DeleteI have enjoyed free online jigsaw puzzles, I did one a day for an Advent “calendar.” The pieces are the right way up and round with no missing pieces, they fit perfectly, no storage space needed, plenty of choice or you can use your own pictures, colourful or monochrome. I choose 150 pieces, just enough for a break with a mug of tea.
ReplyDeleteThat's something I've never tried
DeleteI can see that the jigsaw could be quite tiresome…not exactly a bunch of colourful spring flowers! 1000 pieces is quite a lot too…but enjoyable if the picture is right. Not sure my head is up to one just at the moment, enjoyed my annual read of Tricia Ashleys’ The Twelve Days of Christmas though!
ReplyDeleteToo many similar greens as well as too much sky
DeleteIf you want a very different perspective of Longyearbyn go to YouTube
ReplyDeleteand search Cecilia Blomdahl. She lives there year round and loves it, Polar Night and all. She posts every Sunday. Take a look. Her love and enthusiasm for the place is wonderful
Thank you
DeleteI love the brightly painted houses, cheering! And I do 500 piece puzzles, because 1000 piece are just too small for me to handle. And I only do pictures I like. Life's too short!
ReplyDeleteI thought I liked the puzzle but not so sure now!
DeleteI love those brightly colored houses. Do you suppose it is anything to do with the long winter and the darkness of that season?
ReplyDeleteAs for the other? I apologize for the chaos this fellow (and his people) have wreaked on the world. I am ashamed of what this country has become.
Weeks and weeks of total darkness wouldn't appeal to me at all
DeleteToday is another icy day as we had rain last night. Everything is slick. Even the sand that I spread on my walkways is encased in ice. New sand has been spread.
ReplyDeleteA puzzle picturing the colorful houses in Norway would be great.
Living anyplace where darkness dominates would not work for me.
As for kidnapping country leaders, it is shocking. At least there was no bloodshed. It was an internal/external maneuver. That said, M is no prize and possibly new leadership will improve life for all those living in V. Lots of unknowns.
News here says 32 killed but goodness knows what's true nowadays
DeleteOh, I read that book How to Solve your Own murder and I enjoyed it. It has good ratings from my library.
ReplyDeleteI finished my advent jigsaw puzzle on Christmas Eve and it really was great fun and turned out so cute. Now I have to put all of the little pieces back into their correct box but luckily each piece has the number on back so I will know which box it goes in! 24 little boxes = 1008 total pieces.
Maybe I didn't try hard enough with the murder book.
DeleteI do love the colorful houses!
ReplyDeleteI am a Scandophile {or whatever one who loves the Scandinavian countries is called} It was an honour and privilege to call Iceland my home for four blissful years.
ReplyDeleteAre you watching Traitors? Tonight was full of "didn't see that coming"
Those houses look like some you can find here in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. I loved the colours of them and these are just as beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Those colorful houses -- WOW! And they really stand out in the snow!
ReplyDelete