Long long ago…. We decended onto the dance floor of the Church of our religion. Chapel of Chaos. Where we worship the Gods of music and hedonism. Feels like a lifetime ago doesn’t it. So much has changed too.

And it’s back, so we are too. Tying it in nicely to a Christmas celebration and birthday celebration (as you do) new hip in tow, hoping it’s more enjoyable than last time (poor hip was so painful)

So dancing shoes on, it’s time to dust off all our woes, and fears and let it all go, for one crazy night, surrounded by friends.

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And what a night it was, sadly Big Worm couldn’t come, so Dj Thumpa was on for 2 hours, but the whole night was class. The doctor really stood out tune wise, atmosphere and dance floor was electric. I’ve missed this. Rascal and Simon Underground did solid enjoyable sets, absolutely loved the night.

Saw old friends we haven’t seen for 15yrs, so lovely to catch up and take a trip down memory lane. And at the same time make new friends, and bond over the love of music.

Downside I had to leave early, because my back and pelvis hurt so much, even though I left for painkillers and used ibuprofen gel. But I managed most of the night. And at 16 weeks post hip, I’m impressed.

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Looks empty but the doors has only just opened. It got nicely full which I loved it.

After a couple of mishaps of Christmas films making me sad. I found more….

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FATHER CHRISTMAS IS BACK centers around four sisters who have re-united for the Christmas Holiday in a Yorkshire mansion. misunderstandings that uncover the long-buried secret that tore their family apart many years ago.

Omg I laughed so much, this is the perfect Christmas film. Families having a nightmare, the pressures of the perfect day, and all the trimmings. Definitely more films needed like this.

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Robin Robin on Netflix In this stop-motion short film, a bird raised by mice begins to question where she belongs and sets off on a daring journey of self-discovery.

It’s a truly cute whimsical film, children or big kids like me will thoroughly enjoy this film, from the makers of Wallace and Gromit.

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Hawkeye technically not a Christmas film or series, but set at Christmas, so I’m counting it. Series based on the Marvel Comics superhero Hawkeye, centering on the adventures of Young Avenger, Kate M. Bishop, who took on the role after the original Avenger, Clint Barton.

I love all things Marvel, so I was always going to be loving this. So I’m completely biased.

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A Cinderella Story A Christmas Wish An aspiring singer is stalled on her path to success by her stepmother and two wicked stepsisters. When she starts working at a job to help her dreams come true, she starts to fall for the handsome new Santa.

Cheesy but lovely, and a good bit of festive cheer. These are the film’s we need. Ones that make us laugh, smile and feel joy.

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To start my Christmas movie session, I found this one. But I will say it made me cry a bit, probably over sensitive, but grief is featured.

Netflix as a wealth of Christmas films, and this Flemish one stood out to me, so this is the first I’m watching

The Claus Family After discovering his grandfather is Santa Claus, Jules has to help him deliver his presents all around the world. But Jules’ hatred for Christmas might make that more difficult than Santa thought.

I really enjoyed it, but the grief the boy felt was all a bit raw for me too, so I did cry a little.

On a streaming site I found a film that I knew I would love. A Boy Called Christmas

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Another one that features grief, so I did find it hugely triggering at times.

In this origin story of Father Christmas, an ordinary boy (with a loyal pet mouse and a reindeer at his side) sets out on an extraordinary adventure to find his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of Elfhelm.

Omg this one really hurt, a beautiful film which I loved watching, but as I’m sensitive to grief it’s hard to watch others go through it, even if it’s fiction.

Next on Disney+ a rebooted classic Home Sweet Home Alone, will 8t be as good as the original?? Surely not, but I am glad I watched it.

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Thankfully one that was totally silly, joyful and I enjoyed it very much.

A married couple tries to steal back a valuable heirloom from a troublesome kid. Battles are raged, understanding is needed, and families realise what’s the most important part of Christmas.

I needed this one so much!! It was daft, it was silly, it was everything I needed for a Christmas film. Perfect

I feel like the season is being kicked off on a good foot. Some make me a bit tearful if I admit, as it’s an emotional time right now. But mostly they have made me smile and enjoy these dark early evenings.

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Elves (Nisser)

Found on Netflix is a horror/christmas series Elves. It’s a Danish series and I’m here for it.

A Christmas vacation turns into a nightmare for a teenager and her family when they discover an ancient menace that stalks their island getaway.

Only watched 3 episodes so far but it’s good, not scary but intriguing, and the baby elves are the cutest. Adult ones are creepy and make you jump.

A twinge here and a twange there, it’s not too bad, but isn’t as painfree as previous times.

The right hand is looking more arthritic and I have a snapping tendon over the CMC joint, so it snaps into place when I extend the thumb. Not painful but still knocks when I try to write with a pen. Main pain is MCP pain.

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I’m using this brace to keep it in place while at rest. But most days I don’t need it.

The left hand is by far a better result strangely, only some swelling at first knuckles of first 2 fingers. But gloves soon help that.

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Gloves seem to help this one without the added need of a brace, well for now it does.

Still awaiting my referral for new braces and to see a second opinion hand surgeon. So while I wait I’m starting to shop around for new splints.

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So many different styles, my beige NHS ones are good but go around wrist, which makes me feel a little claustrophobic. However my neoprene ones (expensive too) give me rashes. So frustrating!!

Could the drop in temperature and increased moisture in the air, made my hands worse? I’m sure it does.

Well Hello December… Can you believe it, this year is near the end. Latter half of the year has been a struggle, but I still have hope we will see improvements, and mentally things will settle down too.

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This week has been a challenge, after missing weeks of physio even at home, I’ve gone all in with the bosu ball.

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Usual step ups and step downs 10reps X 3

I have been stepping up forwards for now with the LTHR leg leading up and down, so it’s taking all the lead. But I do then do the opposite leg to lead too.

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Bridges to fire glutes up 10 reps X 3

The added unbalanced nature of doing bridges on the ball, makes the core work harder.

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Hip trusts I use a band to keep hips aligned. 10 reps X 3

I still get a lot of swelling on the operated hip, the hip flexor is so tender at times and I struggle to lift the leg. But I will keep trying, it will get better eventually.

I think I need to find stretches for the satorious muscle

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#ADGIFTED all thoughts and opinions are my own, I prefer murder mysteries and horror so I always choose to review my preferred genre.

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The Ghostwriter

Never take anything for granted. No matter how great things seem – it can all shatter in an instant.

Matt Gardner has a decent life. He has a good job, a fiancé who adores him and he’s recently found out he’s going to be a father. Everything is perfect and the future looks bright.

But then strange things start happening – someone has got into his social media accounts and is causing havoc with Matt’s family and friends.

What starts off as a minor nuisance escalates into something much more sinister and Matt soon realises that some invisible, malevolent force is hell-bent on destroying him. Some kind of Ghostwriter is dictating the course of his life – composing his autobiography without his input, and he finds himself powerless to stop it.

When an incident with a fifteen-year-old girl attracts the attention of the Police, Matt’s whole life is thrown into the stuff of nightmares and one by one his family and friends start to doubt him. He finds himself alone and only when this Ghostwriter ups his game and hints on what this is all about does Matt realise the true horror of his situation.

All of this has its roots thirty years earlier when Matt was witness to something despicable. It was something he’d put out of his mind, and something he thought was over, but this Ghostwriter somehow knows what really happened and is determined to make Matt remember in the worst possible way.

What readers are saying about Ghostwriter:
An absolute masterpiece of psychological suspense. Its a read that will stay with me for some time. Its My Book of the Year!!! – Carol Stone
Just finished reading and all I can say is wow! Stewart has hidden talents. I read this in one sitting .. couldn’t / wouldn’t put it down for anything. – Linda Strong book reviews
It was a fascinating concept and I ended up reading it in a day. – Maureen
A brilliant stand alone book is all I’m going to say. I loved reading the whole story this author has once again not let me down with this book, readers will love it – Booklover Bev
There are twists and turns and I couldn’t work out who the ghost writer was. A very clever, well thought out premise and one that kept me turning the pages rapidly. – Misfits Farm

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5 – Phobia
Book 1 – Smith
Book 2 – Boomerang
Book 3 – Ladybird
Book 4 – Occam’s Razor
Book 5 – Harlequin
Book 6 – Selene
Book 7 – Horsemen
Book 8 – Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 – Deadeye
Book 13 – Motive
Book 14 – Australia
Book 16 – Wishbone

DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Book 1 – Blood on the Island
Book 2 – Lies on the Island
Book 3 – Fear on the Island
Book 4 – Malice on the Island
Book 5 – Revenge on the Island

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3

DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl
Trilogy: The DS Smith & Harriet Taylor box set

THE MIRANDA TRILOGY (psychological thrillers)
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa

STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide

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Stewart Giles – Author Bio

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brought together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
The Miranda trilogy is something totally different. A psychological thriller trilogy. It is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before.
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow with book 16 recently published. The first 5 books in the Detective Liam O’Reilly series are now available.

Website: www.stewartgiles.com
Twitter: @stewartgiles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

My Review I’m going to start considering myself as a number one fan of Giles. As since I’ve been introduced to him, I don’t think I’ve missed a book yet!! And though some are horror rather than detective, I’ve loved them just as much.

The plot is so relatable, just this week I’ve had friends Facebook’s took over by trolls, and needing to have two step verification on, we put so much of our lives online, it’s easy to become a target to predators.

Being able to identify characters and locations, and plots in real life is what keeps me coming back for more, they feel familiar like old friends, and comforting when they have traits like yourself.

Nothing beats a good thriller by Stewart Giles.