Samuel Fisher, Wivenhoe

 Set in an alternative England which has suffered an ecological catastrophe and is being abandoned by the population. Fascinating to read as those remaining in a small Essex town by the sea are not panicking, they have adjusted to life under several feet of snow and are going about life in an orderly way trying to make sense of the surroundings and stick to established social norms - very difficult when there has been a murder. Nice to enjoy a book again. The clocks have just come back and Spring may be here, although the weather has been rotten. I need to get out running more but lack the motivation in the mornings. I've started doing yoga which helps me with my flexibility at least. THFC sacked Conte yesterday and it looks as if the NEC will ban Corbyn standing as a Labour candidate

Malcolm Gaskill, Between Two Worlds: How The English Became Americans

 A social and cultural history of Britain's American colonies in the 17th Century. Very in-depth and copious use of contemporary records, and very good at tying in events to what was happening back home with the civil way and religious conflicts. Still I struggled to concentrate and slogged through it. Work is very busy and stressful as it is the financial year end, but hey. William has been off on his first residential with the school this week and arrives back this afternoon. He's been excited for ages, but got a little worries leading up to it. Hopefully he will have enjoyed it and it will help make him more independent. At home he still has help getting dressed and eating his tea. He can do both, but without chivvying and cajoling it doesn't get done. He's coming to Cubjam in May so needs to get used to looking after himself!

Sara Penny Packer, Pax

 'A children's book about the relationship between a fox and a young boy who finds and adopts him as a cub. I bought this years ago based on very good reviews, and have tried with all our children to read it to them, but they've never been interested, so finally I read it to myself. It could all be tosh, but it appears to be a wonderful insight into the mind of a fox, how they think and react, and also the strong bond between the boy and Pax. It ends with Peter realising that Pax is now with a new family of foxes where he belongs, very sweet. I'm aching a but writing this as I completed the Surrey Half yesterday and every year it gets tougher. I'm a lot heavier than last year and nowhere near my PB, but it was good to get out running again, I need to get back to running most days now it is a bit lighter in the mornings

Paul Lendvai, The Hungarians: A Thousand Years of Victory In Defeat

 Took a long time to get through that, I need to find more time to read! Nice to get lost in the Habsburgs and mitteleuropa again though. While reading it, I met up with old friends from school who are planning on going to Budapest in the autumn and Vegas in the spring for our 50th birthdays. Vegas sounds like hell on earth for me, and while I'd love to go back to Budapest, I'd be there for the architecture, museums and cakes, which I suspect is not the reason the Townmead Jolly Boys are off on their hols together

Dashiell Hammett, Red Harvest

 Aargghh I read that as I was hoping for a light, gripping read as I've been struggling with my reading recently. Unfortunately though I couldn't follow the plot convolutions and who was who at all. My eyes scanned the words, but nothing went in.  Libby went back to the hospital yesterday for a check and they are very happy with the progress. no gymnastics or contact sports for a month, but no need to wear the protective cast anymore. Libby is a bit miffed though as she has had to hand back her 'green card' which got her out of lessons 5 minutes early and meant she missed the queue for lunch. Tonight, Helen, Freddie and I are going to see I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue in Woking, which Fred is not looking forward too at all. I hope he enjoys it