The Novel As An Eight Year Old Kia Picanto

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have an eight, possibly nine year old Kia Picanto. It's white (when I get round to washing it anyway), it's small and no one will ever say that it's look was created by an Italian designer. It goes nought to sixty in a way that will always get beaten by the car in the other lane and my in car entertainment system is a radio (it has a CD but like most of the world now that is never used).

However whilst it's unquestionably basic and unflashy it takes me from a to b in a smooth ride and is reliable. It does what I ask it to do. I don't have great expectations of my car, but it always surpasses them.

There is I realised, whilst reading The Chateau on the Lake by Charlotte Betts, a similarity between a particular type of novel of all genres and my little car. Ms Betts' story is not the best book I've read this year (I'll even guess that it won't be the best book I'll read this month) but I enjoyed the journey it gave me.

I feel it's one of those books whose primary aim is to entertain and there's nothing wrong with that. If you want something that will give you insight on the human condition suspect even Ms Betts will move you along. She's telling you a story.

As regular readers will know I try to give out as little of the plot of the books I chat about as possible as to not spoil it for people who haven't yet opened it. As a genre "historical romance" would probably be the closest way to describe it (and that's certainly the way you'd describe it from the packaging) I also got traces of Jane Eyre and Rebecca but none of that, though true, gives you a correct sense of what you're reading . Oh did I tell you that it set during the time of the French revolution? Well yes but the Scarlet Pimpernel it isn't.

Will not say that I was surprised either. But like an eight year old Kia Picanto that doesn't matter. Familiarity breeds relaxation and enjoyment. When you're confident about your drive you look around you even if it's a route you've taken many times (whilst always keeping an eye on the road of course).

And it's to Ms Betts' credit that I had a good opinion of her novel given that as a fifty three year old man I suspect I'm not her target audience.

So like an eight year old Kia Picanto her novel goes through the basics and will not surprise you....except in surpassing your expectations.

Until the next time.

In Which I'm Losing Connections With My Daughter And Bruce Chatwin Doesn't Help

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

As the title suggests as she is growing older I feel as if I'm losing connections with my daughter (who is nearly fifteen) of course that happens to all parents as their children grow older and assert their independence more. What I didn't realise (and probably should have) is that when you have a girl then it's Dad who this will affect first....specifically because he's Dad.

For as she gets older specific issues and interests arise where I, in my official capacity as Dad, have absolutely no clue what to do. For example...

Hair: As regular readers of this blog know I have enough problems with my own silver thatch to understand the problems of young women. For cutting as well as styling "Ask your mother" is my response.

Make Up: To the majority of men. Makeup is a sort of biological chemistry set for which we barely have an idea what these strange substances and implements are. Another "Ask Your mother" issue.

Fashion: Daughter never likes my comments on what she's wearing. Wife thinks I'm "behind the times". So if I make a comment Daughter's response is to ask her mother.

And fashion leads to.....

Shopping For Clothes: Many years ago. When my wife was choosing a top for what seemed like an eternity I remarked to my daughter that one day she would be exactly like her mother. Well that time has come. And if I'm dragged into this kicking and screaming at what to them is not so much shopping more of an event then my only true companion is whatever book I'm reading.

And of course there's ......

Boys: Where I suspect I'll be the last person to know about a boyfriend until she's in her twenties and there's a ring involved.

As for television. Daughter is a fan of film musicals and dance/song talent shows.....as is the wife ....no interest in anything that involves sport and a ball at all.

Now this is no competition. I now know that even if I intended to make it so I'd lose heavily. I'm a man, and at this age my daughter's interests/needs are best served by her mother.

And I do have responsibilities. Though not "popular" ones. Homework enforcer, unwelcome alarm clock on school days and of course taxi. But it's not the same.

I was mulling on this yesterday as I was waiting outside daughter's school. Then decided instead to finish In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin. So let me confirm what I said on Sunday. I hated this book.

You know it's odd disliking a book not only popular but loved.But there we go. I hated the short chapters. The way he seemed to act superior to the indigenous people. The way history was jammed in and then rammed out. There was nothing smooth about this at all.

Not the worst book I've read this year. But so far unquestionably the most disappointing.

Went to Sully library and took out two books. This was the first:

Charlotte Betts -The Chateau On The Lake

I'm not expecting much here except being hopefully entertained.

The other was:

Alan Baker - The Edge Of Science

No idea what to expect here. We shall see.

As for what to do with my daughter. The answer I reckon is to find new interests where we can connect more. For the moment it turns out to be Ice Hockey. Since we went to the Cardiff Devils match last week I've recorded some more games on TV and amazingly she wants to watch them with her old man.

Father daughter bonding over ice hockey....thank you ice hockey.

Until the next time.