It's A Lego Advent - Day 24

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 23

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 22

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 21

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 20

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 19

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 18

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 17

 

SMH

 This is why the other half is NOT allowed to go shopping on his own:

Admittedly The Boy and I have both been looking at these in the local Tesco and not yet picked one up but we have been looking and it was only a matter of time.  But to get the 6 had in stock in one fell swoop - the man is mad...lol

It's A Lego Advent - Day 16

 

Lego International Space Station 21321

 I've been on a Space kick of late and this one has been catching my eye for a while.  I am glad I took the plunge and purchased the kit as it was a lot of fun to build.  This starts with the instruction book that has a plethora of information on the I.S.S. which was interesting to read through before I started the build.  One downside is the blue background of the instruction manual, I found it distracted from the build experience and made some of the diagrams hard to see - some are in a white background fly out and much clearer.

One good thing about it is there are no stickers, everything is prepinted.  With the number of tiles needed to create the solar panel fins this is a very, very good thing.

As a completed figure it is enormous and much bigger than I expected.  Looks really good on display and it is really east to adjust the fins for the solar panels and also the white stabilisers.

Very happy with the finished look and the sturdiness of it.  Despite having a few issues when constructing it because I am ham fisted it was nicely rigid when carrying it upstairs to my display area.

Number Of Pieces: 864

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.08

Build Time: 2 Hours

 

Lego NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander 10266

 This was an incredible build, I was completely absorbed by the techniques used and the way it all came together to make this iconic piece of Space History.  Normally having to construct the base plate is a frustrating experience but this was detailed enough to make it a good experience and it really does give a great looking moon surface for the Lunar Lander to be displayed on.

A fair number of stickers with this one and, as we know by now, I am not the greatest at attaching them.  Even worse some of the most important ones (ie. those on the outside of the model) have metallic finishes.  The metallic stickers REALLY show if you need to peel off and re-add so I was worried.  However, I was advised to use the end of the brick seperator that you would normally use for lifting flat tiles and it was a game changer.  So, my sticker fu improved exponentially on this kit.

On display it looks really eye catching and stands out on my overcrowded shelving.  The instruction manual has a lot of interesting information about the actual Lunar Lander used back in 1969 and also a really detailed blueprint of it.  The only issue I had was the blueprint was kind of small so you can't see all the fine detail but that is me being picky.

Number of Bricks: 1087

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.08

Build Time: 3 Hours

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 15

 

Lego Saturn V 92176

 I was thrilled when The Lego Group decided to reissue this set as I was really disappointed that I had come back to Lego too late to get it.  It had been on my "want list" for a while and in the end I decided just to take the plunge and get it.  I hadn't realised that it was not just the Saturn V rocket model but also included a small Lunar Landing Craft and the Landing Capsule which are nice little builds in their own right.

The rocket itself uses some build techniques that were new to me and highly effective.  I was worried in the early stages as it does look as though the exterior is made from tall curved pieces but these are merely internal structure and the outside uses tiling to create the heat panel effect.  ALL of the detailing is via pre-printed bricks so NO stickers which is definitely a bonus.

Build Time on this was extended because I got over confident and did not read the instructions properly so had issues connecting Stage Two in to Stage One and it took me a while to realise I had a 1x4 out of place which was why they would not connect.  The connections are really secure and yet allow you to break the rocket apart easily should you wish to display it in stages rather than one huge rocket.  When I say huge, I mean HUGE.  Yes, the decription tells you it is just under 39.5 inches tall but somehow until you have built it the true size just doesn't compute.  There are 3 "braces" included in the build so you can display it on it's side - good job too as that is pretty my only option at the moment.

As a final touch can we just talk about the piece count? 1969 - just how cool a detail is that!

Number Of Pieces: 1969

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.06

Build Time: 5.5 Hours

 

Bestial by Harold Schechter

 Despite my interest in True Crime this was a series of crimes that I had never heard of before.  This does surprise me as there is such a litany of atrocities committed that you would have thought it would be a far more publicised case - especially when you compare it to the rumours of what H H Holmes did in Chicago which have far less proof.

The research was undoubtedly thorough and is well documented in the book so should you wish to fact check the author it is easy to do.  I always appreciate a full Bibliography and Mr Shechter is always meticulous in logging even the smallest source.  Unfortunately there is just something about his writing style that overrides the information being given and takes centre stage instead of the story that does put me off when reading.  There are also a lot of personal conclusions drawn and voiced rather than just a retelling of the actual histrocial events and it is for this reason alone I have given it 3 Stars.

What is undoubtedly interesting is the background of Nelson and the steady escalation of his assaults which eventually morph in to rape and finally murder.  I was surprised how Nelson seemed to have an innate sense that he needed to keep moving from state to state and even crossing Country borders to keep consistantly ahead of the police.  He also had no real type, he had a method he employed but each crime seemed to have been one of opportunity and the age ranges of his victims would baffle law enforcement today.  Perceived wisdom being that a murderer always has a type and Nelson certainly didn't.

If you can get past the author's voice this is a very interesting read for anyone interested in True Crime.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 8th and 13th August so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Lego Brick Headz: Scarecrow 40352

 I have an unreasonable onsession with the Brick Headz range.  I have been trying my best to resist buying more but every time I looked at this figure I wanted him more and more.  I am really glad I went ahead with the purchase as he looks so great built.  Even the other half was impressed with how great he looks when built and how much better than the pack photos he is.

The big thing for me with the Brick Headz is the build technique used.  I love how innovative it is and how you can't really see more than an amorphouse brick blog and then suddenly it is a recognisable figure.  Very clever and very fun to build.

As an added bonus he is set in to a little scene which makes him really pop on my display shelf.  The bright yellows chosen for his straw hair help that look as well.  Incredibly happy with this build.

Number Of Pieces: 177

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.06

Build Time: 25 Minutes

 

Bette Davis by Grace May Carter

 I had heard of Bette Davis, to be honest what sentient human hasn't?  However, I knew little about her and having watched Feud and Susan Sarandon's epic portrayal of her I was intrigued to find out more about the woman separate from her roles.  I was not expecting to find such a tumultuous life or such a dedication to creating the best films she could.  I was particularly interested in all the background fighting Bette had to do with the studio system to be in control of her own career, absolutely illuminating.

There is no doubt that she could be a "difficult woman" but how much of that is just simply because of the times is hard to judge.  Certainly I can't help but think if she was working now that she would be seen simply as a strong role model for women around the world.  I am sure that a lot of her troubles stemmed simply from the censorship of the Studio System and her desire to just simply act in varied roles and not be typecast in to this one type of role that the Studio seemed to think she was only good for.

Grace May Carter is clearly sympathetic to Bette but she doesn't gloss over her flaws and faults and lets the reader make their own opinion of the woman behind the star.  I couldn't help but feel that there was a lot more to some of the events that were not covered in the book but it certainly gives you a good start in learning about both the actress and the way that Hollywood functioned (to be honest I suspect it likely still has a lot of this going on but in a less open and more insidious way).

Definitely well worth a read if you have any interest in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 7th and 8th August 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Lego The Child 75318

 I've been backwards and forwards with this build as I couldn't decide whether or not to get The Child and build him.  However, I really enjoyed the Yoda figure build and knew that the pack art didn't do him justice so I decided that just for the sake of balancing my display shelf out I would get him.

BEST DECISION I HAVE MADE.

I really enjoy the construction aspect of these figures.  The central Technic tower and then creating the exoskeleton flat and then attaching it to the frame.  It seems like it would be really flimsy but honestly these are very sturdy when built and the techniques used are fun to learn and execute

Even better The Child looks so great when built.  It does help that his ears are completely poseable so I have found myself changing their position on an almost daily basis to change his look.  The eyes are much better on this than on Yoda too, nowehere near as spooky looking.

Number Of Pieces: 1075

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.07

Build Time: 2.75 Hours

 

So Lucky by Dawn O'Porter

 4.5 Stars

Thinking back on this book there are only a few things I can remember about it and I am left wondering why I rated it so highly in my notebook.  However, as that is filled in directly after finsihing a book I have to figure there is a reason for it.  I can still remember so much about my previous Dawn O'Porter read, The Cows, which I completed in September 2018 that it concerns me how little of this one I remember.  Certainly the characters haven't stayed with me at all.

All I can remember is one of the characters is an Instagram Influencer and I did like her storyline as it does give an insight in to just how manufactured the whole thing is.  Like we don't know that already but whatever, I'll go with it.  Then we have a Wedding Planner who has a new baby and a useless husband.  I could kind of empathise with this character but found myself getting frustrated with her and the way she flip flops in her relationship and certainly her actions with a random stranger made me so angry.  Yes, I appreciate that this is how some women react but that doesn't make it a viable or sensible choice.  The third, and I would argue main character, has an extreme case of a condition that I personally suffer from.  The thing that really annoys me about this is that her "condition" must be somehow taboo as it more or less takes until the end of the book before we find out what is wrong with her.  When it is revealed I was shocked as none of it tallies with my personal experience and the experiences of other people who suffer with this condition that I have had dialogues with.

What I do remember is that more or less everything is taken to the nth degree.  So a lot of hyperbole and over reacting goes on.  I must have enjoyed all the drama though because I gave it a slightly higher rating than The Cows.  Yet, thinking back I preferred that book to this one.  Who knew what I was thinking - it is 2020 after all!

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 3rd and 7th August 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

It's A Lego Advent - Day 14

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 13

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 12

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 11

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 10

 

Whoopsie

 So, I only went online on Saturday morning to get The Boy the December 2020 Minecraft sets and I think things got a little out of hand:

It's A Lego Advent - Day 9

 

Finally

 So, not only did we go shopping on Saturday I got slightly carried away online.  My excuse is Christmas is coming, even though we don't really bother with it much these days it is the best I could do excuse wise.  Goodness knows my Credit Card isn't happy and neither will I be when I get the statement later this month.

What the hey, just need to juggle the budget a little bit.  To be honest my hope is that I will rack up so much debt on my CC that I finally give up smoking.  Anyhoo, that aside I had a little Amazon shop which was all supposed to be delivered on Sunday.  Got part of it just fine but the Saturn V was shipped via Hermes and we know what that means don't we - yup, late delivery.  Only 1 day but it still frustrates me.  Why I'm moaning when my Lego.com order isn't even shipped yet I don't honestly know but there we go.

So, what did I splurge on:

It's A Lego Advent - Day 8

 

It's A Lego Advent - Day 7

 

Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman

 I was looking forward to this book as the Hasidic Community fascinates me.  I have seen a couple of documentaries online about male members of this ultra-strict sect leaving but nothing about women trying to break free has been committed to film.  I suspect this is because they are in hiding and fear repercussions from their family and the wider community.  The only information on women leaving have been text based with names changed.  So, based on that Ms Feldman is to be congratulated for coming forward to tell her story so boldly and honestly.

However, it did all get a bit Groundhog Day.  The same set pieces would be revisited again and again and I did find that this became a distraction from the story.  Whilst I am interested in the day to day life of a Hasidic Community the telling is necessarily biased and we will sadly never see an account of daily life from someone that is happy with their life within the community.  Instead the book focuses entirely on the negative emotions of the author towards the community, particularly after her marriage.

The book left me feeling conflicted but not with any additional information about Hasidic Judaism and that is something I was hoping for.  Certainly the information given tallies with other accounts I have read or seen but it did not bring anything new or unknown to the table.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 30th July and 3rd August 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Fred & Rose by Howard Sounes

 3.5 Stars

Whilst there is a lot of investigative work gone in to this book it still felt, in my opinion, that it was going for shock value in several sections.  Particularly in the description of exactly what happened to the victims of Fred and Rosemary West.  The problem I have with this is that a lot of it is merely supposition and is an extrapolation of the limited information that could be gleaned from the post mortem examination of the skeletonised remains.  Much of what is described as having happened would have left extensive soft tissue damage but no bone markings.  Neither Fred or Rose ever admitted to what exactly happened so rather than being entirely factual it does take a leap of imagination in places and a very dark imagination it is too.

Where this left me was wondering what happened in the intervening years when no murders are thought to have been carried out purely because no remains from this period were found.  In my opinion they had run out of grave sites at Cromwell Road but had not stopped their activities so how many more murdered women and girls are there and where did they end up?  Psychological research in to serial murderers has shown that they don't stop unless they are caught so why are there 10 years+ unaccounted for where they seem to have just stopped.  Very disconcerting thought but one that is never touched on by this book.  Yes, it would be mere supposition but the consensus seems to be they only committed the murders that bodies were found for which does seem vaguely ridiculous if you stop and think about it.

The details of the early lives of Fred and Rose are well researched and it does give you an idea of why their moral compasses just did not exist.  Rose in particular seems to have been born with severe brain damage and whilst Fred was relatively normal the brain injury received in his crash seems to have removed any last vestige of restraint he may have had.  So brain injury seems to be a connecting theme, throw in childhood abuse both physical and mental and you can begin to see how a murderer can be "created" by circumstances.  Put two such people together and it is going to be a recipe for disaster and this is definitely what happened here.  

It really interested me that Rose was the dominant partner, not something I had ever considered before but Fred certainly seems to have been in thrall to her.

Overall this is an interesting book and well worth picking up if you want ot know more about the background of The Wests.

This review has been a long time coming.  I actually read this book between the 27th and 30th July 2020 so my memory is a bit foggy about all the plot lines.  Fortunately, I have a notebook where I jot some initial thoughts on the book and an overall ranking so between the book blurb and that I did have a reasonable handle on what I thought at the time of reading.

Lego Fire Fang 70674

 First off can we talk about the mini figures in this set.  I am absolutely overjoyed with the snake men that are included, they genuinely made this kit so much, much better for me.  The Boy was strangely impressed with the moulded detail on the spinner which I get but the Snake Men are where this kit is at.

Some great build techniques for Fire Fang his/her self.  The construction of the main figure was a great deal of fun and I really enjoyed myself.  I liked the amalgamation of a rattlesnake with a cobra and the building of the rattler tail made me grin and it even works to rattle.  The articulation method means that as you move the snake the whole tail gently waves back and forward in an almost hypnotic way which is strangely satisfying.

To be honest it does feel more like a display piece than a play piece but that could just be my age showing.

Number Of Pieces: 463

Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.09

Build Time: 1.5 Hours