Life has been a bit crazy over here at Coffee Books and Cake Towers and for the very best reasons. I must say a big thank you for the lovely messages we received about Hattie, who is currently sat by my feet as I type after enjoying a walk. We are currently all finding our routines, but Hattie has been a trooper through it all. She is sleeping through the night in her cosy bed, loves lots of cuddles and provided you pop your shoes on in a timely enough manner, loves a walk.

Half of the fun of having Hattie with us is finding out what she likes (balls, sausages and a tickle behind the ears) and what she doesn't (early mornings, other dogs and toys which she is distinctly meh! about). She doesn't mind the car, loves to run and enjoys being in the rain. She makes us laugh every day and each cuddle is wonderful.

I've also signed up for a sewing course in September, which runs on a Friday afternoon, we are getting ready for panto season, I want to do a spring clean on our home as having moved nearly 2 years ago, would like to go through things again. I want to bake, read and write lots of lovely reviews, my mind is buzzing with blog post ideas for autumn and do not get me started on the autumn decorations that I am seeing in the shops

I have a very dear colleague leaving work on Wednesday. I'm sad she is leaving but I know will be wonderful in her new and exciting role. She was one of my first friends when we moved here, and she is the warmest, kindest person with the filthiest sense of humour.

Phew! That is a lot going on isn't it. Sorry for the brain dump there. I've just had my first coffee of the day with a piece of the millionaire's shortbread that usually sells out within seconds at our local shop in the village. It's homemade, has a layer of caramel about 3 foot deep and lashings of chocolate on top. I make no wonder I am spinning!

I'm also thinking of changing my post day to a different day, and am panicking a little bit about #12booksofchristmas. I need to make a vets, groomers, and 2 drs appointments and am having my eyebrows done this afternoon. And now I think I'm done. So in this moment of brain madness, it's time to turn to something comfortable and reassuring. It is of course dear old Agatha....

The Plot

Nick Buckley is suffering from a run of bad luck. First on a treacherous Cornish hillside, the brakes on her car failed. Then on a coastal path, a falling boulder missed her by inches. Later, an oil painting fell and almost crushed her in bed.

Upon discovering a bullet hole in Nick's sun hat, Hercule Poirot decides the girl needs his protection. At the same time, he begins to unravel the mystery of a murder that hasn't been committed...Yet.

My Thoughts

As ever, Agatha Christie keeps thing fresh in the world of Hercule Poirot, by asking him to solve a murder that has not yet been committed. And he is certainly kept busy doing so.

Whilst on holiday at a seaside hotel, Poirot meets Nick, a woman full of joie de vivre, who has had a series of near-death misses. When a shot is fired and a bullet found, Nick begin to believe that someone wishes to murder. Poirot offers to keep her safe, but then a body is discovered.

As ever there are plenty of suspects, a sinister house-keeper, a pair of overly friendly Australians , an best-friend addicted to drugs and her financially-strapped beau.

Poirot is his usual pernickety self and I enjoyed learning more about him; his choice of square loaves, leading to perfectly square slices of toast, his choice of 2 same-sized boiled eggs and his wish for Hastings to part his hair in the middle, and not to one side.

But this crime stumps him! Lists are made, questions drawn up and a sleepless night spent until Poirot reaches his conclusion.

I'm enjoying reading through the Poirot books, each one as fresh as the last. The choice of solving a crime before it has been committed was extremely engaging. Highly enjoyable, full of red-herrings and a set of flawed characters, Christie goes from strength to strength!

I'm off now to tackle a few of the items I mentioned above. I'm also nearly at the end of the Elly Griffiths novel. Deciding what to read next. hmmmm. I do have Persuasion to read for Book group. It could be time to start this.