One of the interesting things about this series of books is that although it is our main five that are the famous ones, they do actually spend a lot of time being helped out by random children they meet along the way. This time, there’s a shepherd’s daughter who plays a pivotal role in preceedings, as the gang investigate strange goings on underground beneath a farmhouse in Wales.

From hats and scarves, I wanted to move on and try knitting an actual item of clothing, so I started on a jumper from my beginner’s knitting book. However, I realised that summer was quickly approaching and it might be more fun and useful to try something like a tank top or vest. So, I opted for this super easy, but with a few elements I would need to learn, Classic Vest pattern.

It’s so interesting to listen to this in the context of 60s music, that iconic sixties sound is there but this is so much further on than other artists. There are some good classics on here, Ruby Tuesday being a standout, but the whole thing is a comfortable and fun listen. The Rolling Stones versus Beatles battle begins!

I loved Niall’s first solo album but had sort of forgotten about it until this one popped up - so mixed expectations going in, but thankfully, it’s all good! I really enjoyed the album, some nice pop sounds, more mature than the One Direction stuff, but not so middle-of-the-road that you want to switch off. Another one that will get plenty of listens in the future.

On the home stretch of reading through this series of kids books and this time there’s a different theme to the book. Of course the five are having an adventure during the school holidays but at least this time they aren’t in any trouble, they are investigating to try and clear some names. I quite liked this one, it was an interesting mystery and the stakes were quite high, but it all ended neatly.

Another successful two weeks of Roland Garros is complete, with our attention turning swiftly to the grass court season. However, there was plenty to enjoy on the clay courts of Paris, here are just a few notes I made as the fortnight unfolded: As always, loving Radio Roland Garros. They seemed to get a lot of heat about the balance between ball-by-ball commentary and general chatter, but I think they’ve got it right. I did learn why Hawkeye isn’t available at this tournament (the accuracy hasn’t fallen into the acceptable limits due to the constraints of the ’living’ surface) which makes the umpires popping out of their chairs understandable, if no less irritating. I always forget how much the crowd are almost an extra opponent for some of the players. Norrie had to take on the crowds two games in a row, facing popular French players across the net. It was also slightly baffling when good players would get booed - sometimes for not shaking hands, sometimes for arguing with the officials, sometimes even just for having the temerity to win! There seemed to be a lot of upsets on the women’s side, but it was fun to watch Muchova’s progress - her style of play is really engaging and a couple of her matches were really intense and a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately she didn’t quite make it to the big trophy, but what a great tournament. I’ve also loved the return of Svitolina, who seems to have got back into the swing of things really quickly after maternity leave. I was worried the draw was a bit one-sided with Swiatek, Rybakina and Jabeur all in the top half, but it turned out the bottom half of the draw was much more interesting! And so we roll on to the lush green grass courts and it always looks so ‘right’ to see players taking to the grass. It’s a short season, so we have to make the most of it but hands up who can’t wait for Wimbledon?

I haven’t read any Bill Bryson in a long time, and it was fun to dip my toes back in the water. This book follows the adventures of Bill and a friend as they walk some of the Appalachian Trail - a hiking trail in the US that stretches almost 2,200 miles through 14 states on the east side. Naturally the pair are woefully under-prepared and make plenty of mistakes along the way, but I enjoyed how the book is not just about walking but also about various topical things along the way: industry in various places, the point of hiking trails, how leisure time has changed. It’s a good read even if the results of the actual hiking are disappointing.

I’m glad this has been recorded for posterity, I think all musicals should get this honour, but I have to be honest, this performance didn’t fully do it for me. The crowd were more intrusive and annoying, as much as they were just showing their love for the show. And I think some of the people I saw were actually better. Fun seeing Hannah in action though!

There are only two good things about this album - one is that general sixties vibe, I do love that sound. The other is that it was a lot of fun researching the background to this: the TV show, the controversy of the band not playing their own instruments, them trying to wrestle back control and then not doing very well after that. This album though? Not good, even the singing is lacking and that’s the one thing they’re trusted to do!

I loved the previous album so had high expectations for this one. It’s not as good, let’s put that straight out there, but it’s not at all bad. The first half is a bit slow but it picks up and really starts getting good in the second half. And on my second listen through, I was starting to feel like this could be a real grower… so got to listen a few more times, I reckon.

This was a very quick and easy read, the first part in a trilogy of mysteries surrounding Emma Holden. In this one her boyfriend disappears just before their wedding, and she is being stalked by someone but who? It was fast-paced and held my interest but I’m not sure any of the characters particularly grabbed me and I don’t think I’ll pick up the rest of the trilogy.

I’m surprised at the great reviews this film is getting. Sure, it has the great action sequences we know and love from this series, and there are some incredible locations and great lighting so that it is properly delicious to look at. But there’s no substance to it. It’s hugely long, almost three hours, and there’s barely any story in there to justify the length. A lot of the time you’re just waiting for the next fight to come along to move things on. There are barely any women in it, the only awesome one disappeared halfway through and returned only for a cliffhanger post-credits sequence.

My experience of Stephen King novels is that they are either a big hit or a big miss. But when a book grabs you, wow it doesn’t let go. And this one absolutely did, it was SO well written, I just wanted to inhale every word. I love how much character is put into even scenes that don’t really have a big part to play - the intro has so much brilliant detail even though the characters don’t really come into it ever again. This is the start of a trilogy and I’m super keen to get started on the next one.

It’s the Monday of WWDC week which means Apple Keynote day, and it is always a lot of fun to see where they think technology is going next. This time, it’s all about the mixed reality headset, something which has been discussed for a while and leaked more seriously by tech journalists recently. So it wasn’t a surprise when Tim Cook announced the Vision Pro headset, but it was a surprise to see how space age looking their set of goggles were, and also quite shocking to see the price. (Starting at $3,499!)

This was a great book about a group of strangers thrown together in unusual circumstances and just sharing their lives as the wider story unfolds. The fundamental story is a little bit unreal, although stranger things have happened I suppose, but if you go with it, it’s quite an emotional and moving piece. I do wonder if people would be so understanding as they were, particularly towards the end, but equally, people can have much bigger hearts than expected.

I always think at this point I started to lose touch with Backstreet Boys, having been a proper fan-girl for the first few albums. But actually, listening to this now, I did know quite a few of the songs, and really quite liked it. It’s a change in direction for the band, obviously dropping one member for a bit, and moving away from the Max Martin production team. I love Any Other Way and Panic, potentially more than the actual singles, but I do admit it’s not as strong as what has come before.

This album came out of the blue for me, wasn’t expecting it, and was surprised to see its been more than a decade since the last one from the Matchbox. It was good! I really enjoyed diving back into that modern pop rock guitar sound that is pretty iconic to this band. The only downside is that it’s just more of what they do, this could easily be an album they released in their heyday, but on the flip side, to keep that consistency across a lengthy career and gap is impressive.

This was such a lovely read, a book originally written in German and translated into English, it follows the fortunes of three sisters who grow up in the glassblowing capital of Lauscha, only to find themselves orphaned and struggling for a future. It took a little while to get going, but once the sisters started picking themselves up and taking action, in their various different ways, it was absolutely fascinating.

I’ve just wrapped up watching A Small Light, the series that chronicles the life of Miep Gies, the secretary and incredibly brave woman that helped hide Anne Frank and family during the Second World War. The series is incredible, beautifully made and well told, but also difficult to watch - eight episodes that chronicle the build up to the war, the hideous slide into occupation and oppression, and the terrible aftermath.

I feel like it’s been a slow start to the year, vegetable gardening wise. I somehow managed to start things off too soon, before all danger of frost had gone, but then also the things that I did time right have been so slow to start coming through. However, we are starting to see some greenery and things are looking more promising as the sun comes out.

This is such a brilliant film, great fun with a cast of incredible actresses just bumbling their way to the Superbowl. It’s emotional from the start and only gets more and more so as layers are revealed. You wouldn’t expect Tom Brady to be much of an actor, but he gets away with it, and you can tell he means it when he does his little speech.

I love a bit of reggae and this is a good album from the 90s to just enjoy that kind of music. Of course the Elvis cover is a standout and potentially their most famous song, but actually I realised I know and love Higher Ground more… even though I didn’t know I knew it, if that even makes sense. Overall, a good, very listenable album.

I had a realisation while listening to this that Lewis Capaldi is basically a male version of Adele - sweeping songs, huge vocals, a lot of passion and drama and angst and the talent to get it out there and share it with the world. A good album, although by the end I was a bit exhausted by it all!

This is pretty much exactly what you think it’s going to be - bright and colourful and a huge cast of voice actors and their best efforts at bringing to life these well-known characters. It’s not brilliant, but it’s entertaining and there’s enough nostalgia to pull at some emotions, so it gets by.

Doctor Who filmed a lot in Cardiff, so it’s fun to read a story actually set in Wales. This one is about monsters taking form from the nightmares of children, which is so fitting for Doctor Who, I’m surprised it hasn’t been turned into an official episode. Anyway, this one was narrated by Anthony Head, who is, of course, brilliant, so it was a fun experience.

Another emotional read this one, with a family trying to reunite amongst difficult circumstances. It was very well written, really keeping me engaged even though the story itself was quite drawn out. Still the characters were good and I liked the subplots alongside the main event, all in a glorious French setting.

This was a fun one, who’d have thought that taking the troublesome Paddington Bear to France would end up in lots of misadventures? The stories start before the trip, with Paddington trying to figure out what to bring with him on his travels, through getting lost in France and finally somehow ending up taking part in the Tour de France. Because of course!

I listened to the audiobook of this, which had a handful of narrators, when the point of view changed between characters, the narrator did too, but I could have done without that, if I’m honest, the main reader was fine. Regardless, the story took a while to get going and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but somehow it kept me gripped and I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. An emotional one but a good one.

I was expecting good things from this book, and of course it delivered. It’s a memoir of sorts but with Jarvis Cocker, it was never going to be a straightforward story delivered from A to Z. Instead, we’re trawling through a loft and getting stories and insights into a life from the things found there. A fascinating way to find out about someone’s life… and it’s a fascinating life. Great stuff.

I recently finished watching the mini series Daisy Jones & The Six on Amazon Prime and what a journey that was! The show documents the rise and fall of a new band in the 1970s who gain popularity very quickly but find that drugs, rock and roll, and the intricacies of managing relationships on the road can be a downfall just as fast.

This is so much fun but no one could argue it was a good album - even Ant & Dec wouldn’t take that view at this point. Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble is a great bop with terrible lyrics and the rest of the album carries on from there in similar style. I don’t mind the upbeat terrible lyrical rapping, but have to admit the ballads and love songs are really quite cringy. Ant & Dec trying to do that 90s love whispering, ugh. But still, what an amazing time capsule and piece of pop culture history.

Some of the Jonas Brothers previous work has been right up my street and some hasn’t, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. In all honestly, it was utterly forgettable, and not the normal ’this was fun while I was listening but won’t stay with me’. It barely registered while I was listening either. I don’t want to sound harsh, because it’s not bad or offensive in any way, just regular run of the mill easy listening move along next.

The third of this series of illustrated books lives up to the other two (art & science). It follows the same pattern of a one page biography of women through the years that have broken ground or changed the status quo for women and equality. I guess because of the nature of sport, these are more modern biographies, in the last centure or so, but it’s still inspiring and beautifully put together.

I don’t remember picking this book up so didn’t know what to expect from it. It’s a reasonably good thriller, I liked the way it was structured with various diary entries and points of view, but I’m not sure I was totally sold on the underlying mystery. It seemed a bit far-fetched, but then, you just never know with people, do you?

This is a much more serious tone than Chicago, and a much more serious but subtle message. The underlying story of people finding each other and falling in love is great, but it’s those insidious little Nazi moments that really underpin the brooding feeling and that sense of impending doom for everyone. It’s incredibly well done.

I bought this a long time ago and it was one of those purchases that when I looked at it the next day, I couldn’t really remember why. But of course, Mr Caine is a national treasure and reading it now just hammers home that point. This book is part memoir and part advice for living your best life, getting the most out of your career whether you’re an actor or not. Caine’s approach to situations is pretty inspiring and it’s a very comforting read.

Last year, I, along with a lot of other people, watched in joy and awe as Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest, closely followed by the UK with our best performance in a good long time. I’d actually sworn off Eurovision for a bit, despite being a fan since before I can remember. I’ve had, and still have, an issue with the scoring but I won’t get into all that again. Last year’s contest brought me right back into the Eurovision fold and I was excited for this year to roll around.

This album is pretty much exactly what you think it’s going to be - some medium level rock tunes from a band that Wikipedia calls a supergroup as it features members from other bands coming together. To be hoenst, only Since You Been Gone has any staying power, the rest is quite forgettable, but overall it’s not a bad album.

This is such a chill album, you really have to be in the right mood to listen to it because if you’re not careful, it will completely zone you out and leave you snoring. It’s not really my cup of tea, as a whole, but I did sort of enjoy listening to it because it’s not the kind of music I listen to very much. So it won’t be making any of my end of year lists but it was ok!

This is the second of three books of this kind that I have read, with Art already completed and Sport still to go. Just like the others, it’s so beautifully crafted that it’s a joy to read. The only thing about this one is it made me a bit more angry. I suppose slightly more so than the art stories, this one contained so many women doing the work and being overlooked or actively stolen from. But still, there were stories in there that made me want to find out more and that’s all I ask from a great book like this.

I realised I have quite a few Paddington books on my digital bookshelf to be read so dived into the next adventure with everyone’s favourite London-based bear. This time, our bear is put in charge of the household due to absence and sickness, which results in adventures around the laundrette, trying to cook a meal and doing a bit of DIY. Sawing through the table didn’t ring any bells for me at all, honest.

I’ve been looking forward to this documentary since I first heard about it and was determined to watch it on the very day it was released, and I’m so glad I did. It’s wonderful. I knew a lot of the facts and plot points having read Fox’s memoirs, but it’s different seeing these moments on screen.

I’m slightly obsessed with these DK books that keep popping up in Kindle sales, and even though they are mostly aimed at kids, I still love looking through them. This one was aimed at a really young audience but I think because the subject matter is so good - who doesn’t love the ocean and find it fascinating? - it was still really entertaining for me who is, erm, a bit older than the target reader.

My obsession with the UK’s National Trails has taken a bit of a backburner recently, but I decided to go in search of another starting point. This time, I looked for the trail that practically divides two countries - Offa’s Dyke Path. The path is a wobbly straight line hovering around the border between England and Wales, following the 8th century Dyke construction by King Offa. Lots of history.

There were three of these books in the sale focusing in on the great stories and lives of women in Art, Science and Sport. The layout of the book is brilliant, gorgeously illustrated in a fun way with each double page spread focusing in on one woman’s story, gradually going through history to highlight achievements that have most likely been overlooked. It’s a great way of kicking off interest to find out more as well.

This was a brilliant legal thriller, written in great and believable detail - which you would expect from someone who has the experience that Marcia Clark does. The characters are great, dogged and determined, not always doing the right thing but getting to the right answer in the end. It’s the beginnings of a rags to riches story, but I have to admit the twist of who the defendent ended up being was a surprise! Really good and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

I can’t believe I haven’t seen this before, although I know a lot of the cultural references to it, of course. And I knew all but maybe two of the songs, without actually knowing the context of them in the story. It sort of boggled my mind how watching the movie brought everything together!

I was disappointed to realise that the audiobooks I’m listening to are abridged versions, I’d usually avoid abridgements in favour of the full original texts. But then I just got over it because you can’t argue with great readers telling you Doctor Who tales in a reasonable and short time. Hooray! This one was a bit pirate-y but I did like the twist at the end, and the fact that there was a scientific hurdle to the gang managing to get the Tardis away from where they had landed. Pretty good.

There are two parts of this film to review. Firstly, the concept. Who went into the writers room and said ’turns out, Tetris basically brought down the Soviet Union, the Maxwell media empire, and revolutionised the gaming industry… and we can make a film about it with genuine programming and arguing about contracts and some Russian conspiracies.'

Aww, yay for The Corrs, the adorable sibling pop band from Ireland. There are some great tunes on this album, although I have to admit the album version of What Can I Do didn’t really do it for me, compared to the Tin Tin Out remix that was released later. I also feel like it was a great idea to put an instrumental on there, but they could have done a lot more with it. However, overall, a really great album that fits its late 90s genre perfectly.