A ripping yarn

I have just read a novel recommended to me by my father. It is the first of over 10 books in the series written by a Georgian "Boris Akunin" - "The Winter Queen".

The story takes place in the latter part of the nineteenth century both in Russia and England.

The story introduces the hero - Erast Fandorin, a junior officer in the Russian police service.

The story has many twists and turns, is well written and so difficult to put down.

I thoroughly recommend it to any one wanting to read something a little different.

Convolvulus Hawkmoth

I must have disturbed this little beauty while mowing the grass, for I saw it in the morning when normally you see these creatures at dusk.

Didn't have my camera to hand so here's one from the web.

Although a frequent visitor to Europe it is quite rare in this country - measuring 5.5cm it is quite distinctive.

Nice to see. Covered it gently with a cardboard box (with an escape route!) so it was protected from the sunlight until it was ready to go on its way.

Step into your shadow...

I have just finished reading the Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko.

This is the first novel in the "watch" series of books, and has proved to be hugely successful both inside Russia and outside.

The Night Watch is a story about someone in the Night Watch - someone with supernatural powers themselves - but on the side of good. They watch the dark side of the supernatural - vampires and such like.

Definately worth a read. Horror is not my normal genre but the book is one of those where you just have to read a few more pages...

Doesn't genius just inspire you?

I have just watched one of my all-time favourite films - Fitzcarraldo.

Fitzcarraldo treads the fine line between genius and madness - with a passion for bringing opera to tha Amazonian jungle. In order to finance this scheme he needs to make a fortune somehow.

He realises that a fortune in rubber is waiting to be claimed, however it lies up river from extreme rapids. His plan is to take an old riverboat across land to the river above the rapids - see image right.

The film contains a terrific scene where the boat is set free by natives and goes careering down the river and through the rapids.

Klaus Kinski is brilliant as the genius Fitzcarraldo - the film is directed by Werner Herzog.

Just a quiet day...

Just a quiet day to day - nothing much happening.

Nice to round the day off with a Single Malt Whisky - I have several different bottles on the go at any moment in time.

This evenings choice was Glenfiddich's 15-year-old Solera Reserve. This is a Highland Single Malt.

The "Solera" refers to the way it is made. It is aged for 15 years in oak casks then transferred into a solera vatting system (similar to how Sherry is made) to mature further. The distillers describe this as "Full and fragrant with delicate honey and vanilla notes, fruit and gentle spice".

The "Spice" is evident in the nose, on the palette and in the finish. Well worth a look if you like Single Malt Whisky.

2008 Olympic opening ceremony

How on earth is London 2012 going to compete with this? It will take more than a few pearly kings and a steel band to follow this:

Man in Oriental Costume

This is one of my favourite paintings of all time.

It was painted by the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) in 1632.

The "Man in Oriental Costume" is also referred to as "The Noble Slav". I saw it in The Metropolitan Museum of Art when I visited New York a few years ago & was spellbound by it.

It is an Oil on canvas measuring 152.7 x 111.1 cm and was gifted to the museum by William K. Vanderbilt in 1920.

The museum is well worth a visit if you are ever in New York.