one summer in paris - sarah morgan (2019)

coming of age women's friendship love lost and found and across the oceans and years betrayal and redemption plus addiction to boot.

rollickin' good story, is what i say.

transportation challeges

 i'm

in a cab

with no suspension

and with chinese radio

at full volume.

help.

in other news, the trusty volvo in the workshop for an unexpectedly prolonged stay. i recall i may have dallied with the idea of going carless to reduce our carbon footprint. i see now that it was a misguided thought.

tech facepalm

in addition to constant battery siphoning, my beloved phone:

• fails to auto-switch off
• butt calls my friend (again)
• blocks my other friend on WA, and
• changes my WA profile photo

this has to be its most frightful performance yet.

rainy cocoon

 when it drizzles then it pours

through the day

and the skies are leaden

and i have warm food

and a good book

and all are home

and the dog has peed and pooped

why it's my kinda day

still life - louise penny (2005)

courteous restrained cerebral and able protagonist. courteous restrained and able team-mates. likable and decent supporting cast of suspects. satisfyingly meaty plot lines that march along and get nicely and unhurriedly wrapped up. unfurling in my favorite murder story setting, the laid back (almost english) village. 

jolly smashing good discovery for the start of the year, if you ask me.

and if i cannot get more of her books from the e-library this might be the year i explore downloading my own books again.

s'patisserie, tràng tiền

one of the best food memories of hanoi must be this one. where the chocolate is real and dark and the liqueur is generously sloshed. looking onto the lake too.

la place

non-smoking floor (yesss). "great view of the cathedral" (true). fried chicken the way i like it: breast, boned, unbattered, fried to within an inch of its life (drool). beats the street food romance any time.