pixie-led | Chris Elphick

Grabbing a Coffee

I was in such a rush this morning, I forgot to take some oatmilk into work. And so I had to buy a vegan latte from the canteen.

This has got to be my luckiest weekend ever. Not only did I snag x4 large books on David Bowie from a Swansea thrift shop on Friday, I received this great Lego set through the post this morning. What's more, I received it for free!

I had ordered it from Amazon a fair while ago, but immediately cancelled it when I discovered it would take over a month ago. The cancellation was accepted and I was not charged.

Imagine my suprise when I received a mystery parcel in the post yesterday and opening the box saw this:

So, that was the bulk of my Saturday sorted:

I was more than impressed by the finished product, though I decided not to cover the shell with the provided stickers as I like the more natural look of the bare shell:

Looks like I will be making more Lego versions of Guy N Smith book covers 🙂

Bowie Book Bonanza

Thomas Cook Birdie

I am a bit of a fan of Swansea's rather infamous High Street. Walking along its length today, I happened up this rather distinct, colourful art ^

Little Sunflower

This scene caught my eye this morning as we got in the car this morning. Had to hold everyone up as I had to snap it lol:

Spent Poppies

Avalon 51/100

Another much-needed day off work. Spent much of it catching up with my Avalon zine. An end of July completion date is now back on the cards... 🙂

Elizabeth by Jessica Hamilton

Continuing my recent post, here is one of my favourite books - one of the few novels I have read more than once. The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice I also own the latest Valancourt reprint, which is published under the author's real name, Ken Goodhall.

I am still missing the edition I had as a teenager, which I can't find at a decent price anywhere. That was the Sphere title, with the photographic cover of a woman reflected in a framed mirror. One day it will be mine lol...

In the Garden

Neighbour's Cat

Staghorn and Bromeliad

Avalon 49/100

After a 3-day weekend largely spent reading, it is time to catch up on my Avalon zine.

Baxter by Jessica Hamilton

I have been reading a strange little book over this past long and sweltering weekend. It is a curious tale about a dog, which I would wager is a better read than other books of its ilk, such as Stephen King's Cujo and James Herbert's Fluke.

I have always known this book by its original UK title - Baxter, rather than its American name - Hellhound. And I prefer its 'quiet' title. The horror that lies between its covers, I believe, is not served well by its comic, overly dramatic, in-your-face title, which smacks the reader in the face. This story, like the author's earlier work, Elizabeth (which led me to seek out this work), is a more sublte beast.

Whilst on the topic of names, I am not a fan of pen-names. I find them almost dishonest. I can not speak for other readers, but I like to form an idea of the author when I read their work. And when I discover that the author has invented a name, and even lied about their sex with their misnomer, I actually feel manipulated, cheated even.

Such was the case when I read Grady Hendrix' Paperbacks from Hell, and discovered Jessica Hamilton was actually a guy called Ken Greenhall! I remember feeling rather annoyed by the discovery at the time. And, perhaps strangely, when I decided to read Baxter, I sort out an old and rather tatty copy, with the UK title and Jessica Hamilton as the named author over the pristeen current edition of the book published by Valancourt:

Etherieal, Poisonous Beauty

Phew - What a Scorcher!

Sat out in the shade, reading Graham Masterton's Plague, with Monty (doing his best to keep down the dandelions). Had to move from the comfy chair in the garden to hard seat on the patio after a while though as, when I nipped inside to grab a diet coke, our furry girl had nabbed my seat.

The Gardens a-calling

Happy weekend guys. Enjoy the sunshine. The garden is calling me, so I will be spending mine enjoying the plants, listening the birdies chirruping and generally chilling in the shade with a book. Not sure which one yet. Sometimes, though increasingly less often, I quite like being old.

Oh, and, and before I head out, I can see from our kitchen window, that these Asiatic lillies have reclact the top spit of Plant of the Moment. Stunning colours.