Samir Puri, The Great Imperial Hangover: How Empires Have Shaped The World

 Not quite what I thought it would be, but a nice lens through which the current geopolitical situation is viewed, rather than a narrative describing the decline of the great empires. Work is very quiet at the moment as it is August and Italy and Germany seem to shut, so I can get lots done. We had a 'Spirit Day' last week, when we should each spend time on personal development. I missed the first two as they clashed with leave, so this was my first. I wandered into the Vodafone store in Woking a few weeks ago and asked them if I could come in for the day to see how they work and the challenges they face in retail and they very kindly let me hang round observing. One thing they told me about was the 'mystery shopper' - they get two of these a month who are assessing them for being on brand, greeting customers within 20 seconds with an open questions, asking customers about broadband, etc etc. Of course, despite astronomical odds the mystery shopper came in on the day I was working when all members of staff were busy and came up to me. I tried my best and said it was my first day and I would go and get someone who knows what they are doing to talk to her, which was ok but hardly on brand. Luckily they passed the mystery test and I took some chocolates in yesterday to say thank you, but they may not be pleased to see me back again. 

John Le Carre, The Looking Glass War

 You know what you're getting, but still so very enjoyable. A world weary, cynical environment and an intelligence operation beset by interdepartmental rivalries and needless deaths and betrayals.  Have just started a book called 'The Great Imperial Hangover' which might work as a title for any of Le Carre's work. It's still incredible hot, I'm still having to sleep downstairs. Libby has been ill for the last few days but has perked up now, and brilliantly William is getting more and more confident on his bike. He has been riding to and from holiday club and getting better each day. At the start of the week he wouldn't do downhill or use brakes, and has now overcome both. He's still not at all safe anywhere near traffic, but he's getting there. Hopefully he'll be willing to cycle to school each day now he is the only one in primary school. . . 

Rosemary Tonks, The Bloater, Travis Elborough, Atlas of Improbable Places: A Journey to the World's most Unusual Corners

 'I only read 'The Bloater' as it was recommended by Stewart Lee, who wrote the introduction. It completely passed me by, didn't get the humour or care about the characters. The Atlas of Improbable Places was a good idea lazily executed - it could have been cribbed from websites about these undeniably interesting places, but no personal touch, no insights. My current crotchety demeanour may owe something to all the noise around at the moment. The neighbours at the back have had the chainsaws out chopping up trees and  the neighbours to the right at the Shaw Centre are in the middle of rebuilding and drilling through concrete. All this has set off the dog in the house to the left. . .  

Bob Mortimer, And Away: The Autobiography

 That was lovely. Not as laugh out loud funny as I thought it would be, perhaps because I've heard all the stories before and also because Bob Mortimer is a much better performer than writer. What was really great about the book though was his honesty about depression, chronic shyness and feelings of inadequacy. Confessionals are very common, but this was the story of a really nice, considerate guy who despite being immensely successful and talented in his field still feels like he is a sidekick at best.  It's made me want to revisit Catterick, one of the few things he's done that I haven't loved, and that he considers his best work. School holidays have started, and we are on countdown to holiday in Pembrokeshire in less than 3 weeks, hurrah

John Steinbeck. The Pastures of Heaven

 An early collection of short stories, but the roots of later writing are there - the location in the Salinas Valley, the struggle of individuals with their own nature and with nature itself, the thwarted ambitions and plans, and the ironic, wry narration. I'm turning into a bit of a Steinbeck completist. Today is Libby's last day of primary school. I'm hoping to finish early and go and join them all at a party on St John's Lye. It's been very emotional for Libby as some of her closest friends are going to other schools, and it's the end of an era. I don't know if it has fully hit her yet, although she is definitely excited about Secondary School. She's not quite as tall as Helen yet, but will be there very soon

Oliver Eagleton, The Starmer Project: A Journey to the Right

 A depressing read which didn't tell me anything I didn't know already about Starmer and the takeover of the Labour Party by an economically liberal, socially conservative pro-establishment clique that see the biggest threat to the UK coming from the left rather than the right. It's so demoralising that these ghouls with no motivation to change society for the better are in chare of the workers' party with no way to dislodge them. There is no chance of anyone even vaguely left wing getting on the leadership ballot paper soon or the NEC returning to the left with the current rules. Every day I wonder why I continue to give my membership fees to a party that are just scamming workers. if the sum total of their offer is 'we are Tories, but more competent', then ugh. 

Hilary Mantel, Beyond Black

 A re-read of a book I remember being very dark and scary. It still is, but on a very dull note the thing I found most interesting was that in my mind the house where the protagonists lived was on the east side of Knaphill when I read it the first time, somewhere around Strathcona Gardens near our Kev, but on the 2nd read they were nearer to Sainsbury's, Percheron Drive. I had to Google map those names. We are in the middle of a heatwave at the moment, and are expecting record breaking temperatures in the UK of 40 later. it's 10 in the morning and 31 already here, and the heat in the house is unbearable. Downstairs is a lot better, but i can't be bothered to move all my stuff down there to work. I'm sleeping downstairs and it is quite pleasant at night, but there was a fire in Woking last night so everything now smells of smoke.