NOTT News: Desert Island Discs

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Desert Island Discs

It's a bit like Desert Island Discs - which book to take on an 8 hour bus ride (the discs are no problem thanks to my computer and MP3). I have passed on my airport books bought at Heathrow 4 months ago, including 'The Economic Naturalist'. It is an interesting book that answers questions like - 'Why is milk sold in rectangular containers while soft drinks are sold in cylindrical ones?'. We don't have any space in our suitcases and rucksacks so books are a luxury item, especially when they cost twice the price as in the UK. We are getting used to packing our cases, as this is the ninth time in 18 months, but crossing borders does present certain challenges.

There may be a delay in our next blog, but we will update it as soon as possible after we arrive. P

2 comments:

Steve Tilley said...: I presume the explanation is slightly more complex than, 'It all comes down to money in the end.'; 20 May 2009 at 04:29
Peter and Jane said...: I think it does - milk has to be kept cool all the time and you can put more milk in rectangular containers in a fridge than soft drinks in cylindrical cans, which can be stored at room temperature.; 22 May 2009 at 22:55

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Reading & Watching

'Surprised by Hope' by Tom Wright - this book will surprise and excite all who are interested in the meaning of life, not only after death but before it.
Take this bread by Sara Miles - 'Raised an atheist... one morning she wandered into a church. As she ate a piece of bread and drank a sip of wine, she found herself radically transformed.'
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom (one of my favorite authors) 'As is often the case with faith, I thought I was being asked a fovor. Actually, I was being given one...'
The Enemy - A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child. A stomach-churning, palm-sweating thriller in which Reacher imposes army discipline, even if it''s in his own pragmatic way.
The Two of Us: My life with John Thaw by Sheila Hancock (a double biography and a study of Britain from 1930 - 2004)
The English - Jeremy Paxman. 'Why do the English seem to enjoy feeling so persecuted? What is behind the English obsession with games? How did they acquire their odd attitudes to food?'
An Utterly Impartial History of Britain OR 2,000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge - John O'Farrell. 'Why did the Normans fight the Saxons at a place called Battle? Did they see the road signs and just think that's where they were supposed to go?'
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, quote: 'We need to forget what we think we are, so that we can really become what we are.'
The Economic Naturalist - Why Economics Explains Almost Everything. 'Why is there a light in your refrigerator but not in your freezer? Why are child safety seats required in cars but not in airplanes?'
'For One More Day' by Mitch Albom. “Life goes quickly, doesn't it?”