A look back on… September

Personal

September arrived with shenanigans over getting my mother’s ashes from the US to the UK. My sister engaged a international shipping company in the US who specialise in this aspect of business in the international market, except… it seems they talk a good talk, but their ability to walk the walk has been quite another matter. There’ve been a number of last minute calls and demands for changes, all of which resulted in both significant disruption and unexpected expense at this end. What was downright annoying disappointing is all the issues were caused by ignorance of international law and shipping processes. While I don’t expect everyone to be an expert in these aspects, I do expect a company who set up their stall as experts to demonstrate at least a modicum of it.

Reading

I’m still a long way from my usual book a week standard, but this is two books more than I managed last month, so I guess it’s progress – if far from enough. There’s a lot good books piling up on my Kindle, let alone my TBR, so I am champing at the bit to figure out this time poverty thing.

The Dangerous Stranger by Simon Mason, fifth in a series about two Detective Inspectors called R Wilkins: Ryan, born to a violent drunk on a caravan park, single parent to a little boy whose mother died of a drug overdose, has no social graces but is intuitively talented; Ray, is an Oxford university educated British Nigerian, handsome, beautifully dressed, cultured and happily married, let alone decorated and on the fast track to promotion. They’re not an obvious partnership, and yet it seems to work, and work well. This series was recommended by Mick Herron (writer of Slow Horses) and is the ideal in-between read to my normal literary fiction. If police procedural is your thing, and you don’t mind them being based in the UK (Oxford), I commend this series to you.

Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry, about her much loved father-in-law. I was surprised by how brutal she is in depicting her own less attractive traits in this tale which she narrates. It’s an unusual book for me to choose, as I’m not overly taken with the subjects Perry tends to choose as a writer – but it kept coming up, so I decided to take heed of the universe and give it a go. While not brilliant, it’s certainly been a good transition out of the deeply introspective time I’ve spent pondering family dynamics during my re-reading of Arundathi Roy’s God of Small Things. I’m also wondering if I felt moved to read it after listening to my sister talk about my mother’s final days and hours. Damn – still too much of that mother-related introspection going on.

I also read another of my favourite in-between reads from author Jodi Taylor called A Family Affair (Smallhope & Pennyroyal). It was an enjoyable light read, forming as it does part of a loose world which includes a series about time-travelling historians, a linked series about a force who police travel in time, and a bounty-hunting couple who specialise in time travelling infractions. All very light-hearted, often silly, and providing the perfect distraction when the brain is a tad frazzled.

Viewing

Slow Horses, season 6. I discovered this season is a blend of books 6 and 7 after watching the trailer and going “huh?” When I said it was going to be more serious than the previous one, it really is (depending on how closely they follow Mick Herron’s excellent storylines). Episode 3 drops tonight (in the UK) and I’m looking forward to it. We plan to stay up “late” (or late for us early birds) for it.

Mayday a recent film vehicle for Ryan Reynolds, also co-starring British acting luvvie, (Sir) Kenneth Brannagh. A US pilot shot down over Russia is found by a Russian man with a craze for Top Gun and all things America. There’s a big budget scene in “Red Square” that was shot in Budapest. It was nearly cancelled at the last minute, until it was saved by Reynolds ringing the mayor, who turned out to be a fan, in an amusing twist of symmetry.

Health

My back has been remarkably robust for some time now – full credit for which has to go to my chiropractor. However, a combination of factors caused a perfect storm and even his talent was unable to keep me from going back many many steps. While used to back recovery needing patience, there are aspects which are putting pressure on my ability recover despite demonstrating patience, and I am struggling to resolve these. It’s possible there may be a bit of an explosion when my legendary patience finally runs out.

At the same time, I’ve had a gastritis flare – the first in 10 years – which has caused me to wonder if the Illness Star (from the Chinese Horoscope) is in the current quadrant for a Fire Rooster like myself. Sigh. Especially as it’s not like all the other physical/health struggles have gone away to make room for these

Rugby

Hurrah – the season has re-started after the summer break. It kicked off rather well with 4 games between the teams currently rated no 1 and no 2 in the world – South Africa’s Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks. The final game was played in Baltimore, and brought the series to an excellent close in a high quality game, with South Africa winning the series 3-1. Sadly, a number of Kiwis (ex players, commentators and coaches) have behaved as if the term “whinging Pom” should really have been “whinging Kiwi” instead. To be fair, they’re not used to losing, having led the way for decades… still, demonstrating grace in defeat is also a skill.

Review

The weather this month has flickered between autumn arriving… and not. But we’ve yet to have the expected El Niño weather event, for which I’ll express gratitude, however grudgingly. I’d describe it as a scratchy month with the odd highlight, but still giving me more than enough to put up with.

I’m really hoping October behaves and gets properly autumnal🎃

© Debs Carey, 2026