...Bared to you and Reflected in you (Crossfire I and II) by Sylvia Day...

I recently read these two books (erotica - if you are not into it don't keep reading) and I wanted to share my impressions with you.

Bared to You

A clever story; but totally imaginary. The book is full of tall, thin, fit, beautiful people, with the main protagonists being filthy rich. It does not correspond to everyday life for the average Jo.

Now, coming to the porn (sorry, I meant to say 'erotica'), this is also very average in my opinion.

OK, the erotic 'scenes' are spicy, but not spicy enough for someone who is into S&M. There is a balance of erotic domination and submission in the first book, while the main protagonists are trying to establish their sexual personas.

Oh, and basically no scene of anal penetration.

I think that the book is so soft for S&M lovers, that they would rather read the Bible instead.

The plot is interesting, but nervous wrecking. I was annoyed to read the repetitive descriptions of 'will he leave me?', 'have we broken up or not'?, etc...

But in the end, I also read the 'Reflected in You' book, as I had some time to kill in the Bank Holiday weekend.

Reflected in You

Same drama, some rich people some bitchiness, same repetitive boring story, but fewer sex scenes, and not S&M enough for me. Again, only a vague trace of anal, but now the rich male protagonist is clearly the dominant one; with the young Eva being submissive in the bedroom sector.

Frankly, I lost interest in the book before I reached the middle of it, but I carried or reading.

Towards and in the end of the book, there was a crime (murder) featured, but not much sex. The story of the murder investigation was not that cleverly conceived in my opinion; and of course it did not correspond to reality. I understand that Day's objective was not to write crime fiction but erotica, but frankly, she should have paid more attention to detail.

Conclusion

If you think that the book is totally crap, then think again. Have you read the Fifty Shades of Grey? If yes, then the Crossfire Series is a masterpiece compared to it. Really. The Crossfire series is better written than the Fifty Shades of Grey. No kidding!

But in the end of the day, nahhh, not good enough for me. Bloody hell! I have wasted 3 days of my life!

...Hot patio sizzle chilli peppers...

Do you love your chilli peppers? Now it is time to start your seeds indoors! 
 
I have just bought some seeds of the 'hot patio sizzle chilli' variety (posh Latin name: Capsicum annuum) and I am growing them in pots in the patio. I am planning to give a couple of them away as gifts, in pretty pots.

They are decorative and they are supposed to look like this when they fruit.

 
Yes, I bet mine will look equally great! 

Plus, I can use them in my curry. They are mildly spicy - just about right. Not too hot, not too mild!

I will keep you up-to-date about how this project is progressing. 

Meanwhile, bye for now! 

..Megumi Igarashi...

This is art:

This is art:

This is art:

This is art:

This is art:

This is art:

But this is not art?

Release Megumi Igarashi now!

...Xmas humour...

 Cheesus crust

Cheesus toaster

Cheesus grater

Cheesus cheetos

Full BBC Documentary Films 2014 Hermaphrodites Male and Female Sex In O...

...Childfree women are invisible...

In a society where everything is child-focused (even in the West), becoming a mother is seen as the top achievement for a woman in her life.

Take a pregnancy announcement for example - or the birth of a baby. 
The (future) mother is congratulated - again and again and again. Congratulatory cards and presents are sent to her and the father.

Well, I thought that making one's genitalia procreate is as common as changing one's t-shirt. Procreating is a biological function. So, what's the point of congratulating someone when a baby is born? We are 7 billion people on this planet and we are struggling for natural resources - so why do we congratulate every human being adding into the problem via procreation? 

Some of you may say that giving congratulations when a baby is born is a social obligation. We are entitled to say 'congratulations' to expectant parents, otherwise we will be stigmatised as 'antisocial'. 

Well, I don't! I 'd rather be myself and be called antisocial than say something I don't mean. 

But let us now go back to the points raised on the first paragraph. 

Is having a baby the top achievement in a woman's life? 

In fact, the answer is yes. With so many women out there, many cannot boast for anything else than 'being a mum or a grandma'.

But how about the childfree? We certainly don't tick the boxes that would make us worthy in the eye of the 'normal' beholder - don't we? 

So, how about if a woman - a childfree woman - does really well in education or in her career? 

Take Jennifer Aniston for example. Remarkable and awarded actress. She is often labelled as selfish because she has had no children (here).

Second example: Gertrude B. Elion: Nobel Prize for Physiology/Medicine, 1988 US. She was never married and had no children.

There she is: in the picture. 

MY ROLE MODEL

So, is getting a Nobel Prize less important for a woman than having a baby? It is for the average Jo out there. 

You know what? Sometimes I think that poor Gertrude received very few congratulations cards after winning the Nobel Prize, compared to what she would have received if she announced she gave birth to a baby. 

...The holiday...

Well, I don't celebrate Xmas. What Xmas? I am an atheist. 

I haven't put up any tree or anything. I find it pointless. 

I do however enjoy all the social aspects of social occasions, e.g. nice food, good company, a bit of bubbly. After all, why not? This year I am planning to spend the holidays with my OH. On the 25th, I will be serving a three-course dinner:

• Appetiser: baked mozzarella sticks and stars and greens and beetroot salad.
• Main: turkey wrapped in bacon, otherwise it tastes of nothing. Lots of veg on the side.
• Pudding: 'Xmas' pudding with rum sauce.

I usually have duck with orange sauce for the main, but this time I am going to serve duck on new year's eve instead. 

I am very busy this year, i.e. my free time is going to be limited during the holiday. Well, I will at least try to relax a little bit and spend some time with OH.

I am planning to re-watch a few films: the '12 monkeys' is on the list. 

I have also ordered a new book to read. The left hand of darkness. It's coming all the way from the States, as I ordered it from Amazon.com. Hurry up postman - I am thirsty for a splendid book!