First, a post-apocalyptic novel “The Day of the Triffids” by John Wyndham. I read this first as a teenager, but I enjoyed it more this time round.

Another re-read, Muriel Spark’s “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” – I could hear Dame Maggie Smith’s voice loud and clear. A great book with complex characters displaying a host of human imperfections.

Talking of hearing voices, I could not help but enjoy the wonderfully warm tribute to F1 commentator Murray Walker in “Incredible” by Maurice Hamilton  and… finally, “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole – a cult classic, the story of a modern day Don Quixote, Ignatius J. Reilly, written in the first person as if autobiographical – good fun!

We are organising a trip to Peterborough to see the Longest Yarn, an 80 metre long knitted and crocheted artwork made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944.  It is a free exhibition.

We thought it would round off the trip to have a meal at Cote restaurant which is near the Cathedral Precinct.

Depending on numbers, we could car share.

If interested, please let Debra Thatcher know.

Walk off those mince pies! A short walk has been organised for December 9th.

And another walk has been organised for January 1st.

Both start at 10:00 from the church porch.

Please let Debra Thatcher know if you will attend.

I would recommend all three of these books this month.

First, a well-crafted novel, powerful and gripping exploration of human nature –  “Unravelling Oliver”; secondly, “Me Before You” – you may have seen the film.  Does anyone have the sequel I may borrow?  Thirdly, a memoir “The Last Mazurka” recording the downfall of a once powerful Polish family, mirroring the fate of the Polish nation.