Murder Mystery Parties

I love the classic murder mystery TV shows and films - Agatha Christie, Poirot, I even love a bit of Midsomer Murders!  And have always wanted to go to a murder mystery party on board the Orient Express.  I haven't managed that, yet, but have been to two murder mystery parties.

The first was my Hen Night, many moons ago.  Unfortunately, my best made was studying for her degree in New Zealand, and about to sit exams, so she was unable to come to the party nor the wedding itself.  My sister was doing a sandwich year in Spain/France as part of her degree, so she couldn't attend the hen night, but did return to be a bridesmaid for my wedding.  So, it fell upon my mum to organise the hen night for me.  She asked what I wanted, and I decide upon a murder mystery party.  As everyone invited lived all over the country, and nobody had room to host, we went for the slightly more expensive option of buying a package in a hotel in Reading, that included a 3/4 course meal, twin rooms for everyone attending and actors who would guide the story along.  It cost £100 per person, for 10 of us, which my mum initially paid on her credit card and we paid her back. Everyone who said they were coming were sent an envelope which included the background of the story (a murder on a cruise ship) and who their character was (and they had to dress up).  Fortunately for me, I was a generic posh famous person, whereas other people had to dress like Dolly Parton or characters from British comedy sitcoms!

As the date drew closer, one of my friends still hadn't paid my mum back.  My mum had not long come through a divorce, so it was important to me that she was repaid what she was owed.  My friend was adamant that she was definitely coming, and would bring a cheque on the night of my hen party. Perhaps I was naive to trust her, but she didn't turn up and didn't pay my mum back.  The party itself was good fun, and the food was good.  "Dolly Parton" had some blow-up boobs that were hilarious!  The night continued, and the actors did their best to compensate for there being one less person than expected.  At the end of the night, we had to guess who was the murderer.  I piped up that it would be typical if the missing character was the murderer.  Unfortunately, as that character's description had been posted to her, other than a few lines that were handed out during the night, nobody was able to take over that part, so we had to make the judgement based on the actual attendees.  Of course, she was the murderer.  It put a dampener on what was otherwise a good night.

My second murder mystery party was last night at a friend's birthday party.  She had bought a package from Amazon for a murder mystery party, and I made sure to tell her my previous experience in case someone didn't turn up.  Fortunately, this party box was able to be adjusted for 5-8 players, so it wasn't an issue.  There were 7 of us in total, enjoying an Indian takeaway, whilst trying to discover who had swapped Juliet's stage prop with a real knife, so that she killed herself for real in the final scene of the play...

I'm not going to give away any spoilers, so won't name who I was, nor who the murderer was.  I will say, however, that my character was not the murderer.  As we had to account for ourselves for the times between 5pm and 10pm on the night of the murder, the rules were that we were allowed to omit things, but couldn't lie if asked a direct question (the murderer was allowed to lie).  My character didn't show up at the theatre until 6pm, and had company/an alibi for the whole time duration.  At the very last moment, one of the other attendees asked me directly what I was doing at 5:15 on the night of the murder?  My information didn't say anything before 6pm, but did say I had to show myself in the best possible light.  I was pressed for an answer, so I made something up: I was doing charity work before being called into the theatre early.

Apparently, I am the world's worst actor and can't lie.  Despite not being a suspect throughout the bulk of the game, I was now Suspect Number One!  Even though I knew I wasn't the murderer, I couldn't convince the others.  I tried to explain that I was innocent, and was just smiling because I was enjoying myself, apparently I have "shifty eyes" and "looked away" and a "cheeky smile"!

Despite the murderer getting away with it, the game was a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed themselves.  It also reanimated my desire for more murder mystery parties/weekends. 
It was a good laugh.

Edit: This was an honest review written previously, however as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, and the link has been edited accordingly.

Come, Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp

Our whole church read this Advent Devotional together (albeit separately in our own homes) over

this last Christmas period.  It was a good chance to come to a deeper understanding of the mystery that is Christmas and why Christ was born on earth at all.

The description reads:

This year, don't let Christmas sneak up on you again.
The wonder and awe of the Christmas season can easily get overshadowed by lights, tinsel, bows, and paper—not to mention last-minute trips to the mall and visits to the in-laws. In all the hustle and bustle, we often lose sight of what’s most important. This book of daily readings for the month of December by best-selling author Paul David Tripp will help you slow down, prepare your heart, and focus on what matters most: adoring our Savior, Jesus.

Each chapter is only a few pages long, and at the end it include a section of further reading from the Bible plus a discussion starter for parents with their children.  I have to confess, that I didn't do the latter and read the devotional alone.

What I did like was the continued focus on who God is, His grace and mercy as well as interesting chapter starters like "For once, I was excited to go to Spanish class.", "The birth of Jesus was bad news.", "No, it wasn't a zombie apocalypse." and "I have a confession to make: I love food." amongst the more expected sentences from an Advent devotional.

Read it.  It'll only take a few minutes each day, but will help you appreciate Christmas for what it is and what it is meant to be.

A One Year Trip through the Bible by Stephen Ruth

I finished reading through this book for the second time at New Year's.  It is a Bible and commentary separated out into daily readings based on a 365 day year.  As it does include the author's own thoughts, it does not include the whole Bible itself (eg genealogies) but various quotes from each section; it does, however, give the reference for the whole section so you can follow it up in your own Bible.  Additionally, this book include the Apocrypha.  Despite having been brought up in a Catholic church, I hadn't read the apocrypha before, so I find it really interesting.  One day, I would like to delve into why these books were excluded, as some of them certainly seem like they could be part of the canon (based on the excerpts I've read).


The description on Amazon reads:

Read The Bible With Commentary In A Year By Spending Only a Few Minutes Every Day-- The book aims at readers of any denomination who want the full Bible experience, with daily reflections--Genesis through Malachi in the Old Testament and Matthew through Revelation in the New Testament--in one year. (The Apocrypha is also included.) The theme is a layman's journey through scripture, so the comments are those of a visitor, not an experienced traveler, but expert Bible commentators are always nearby. Each day's reading requires 10-15 minutes, more or less, including scripture and commentary.

All the Great Stories, Prayers, Incidents and Memorable Characters Are Included--Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Joseph and his coat of many colors, Samson and Delilah, David and Goliath (there arereally two Goliath stories, one not involving David at all),  Jezebel and Ahab--and Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Peter and Paul, James and John, Herod, Pilate, Mary Magdalene, centurions, priests and all the heroes, villains and common people of the New Testament. The major character is Jesus, and since he knew the Hebrew Bible very well, there are countless times when he quotes the Psalms, prophets and Torah. several other translations occasionally used.

Easy to use--The book is designed to be simple to use and easy to read. It's possible to find various scripture passages, specific days' readings and even key words, with a click or two.

Inclusion commentators and other experts--The author, a lay person, has studied hundreds of outside resources, scripture experts from Christian, Jewish and other denominations. His role is mostly as a person being whisked along on a year-long tour by expert guides, although sometimes he disagrees with the tour leaders.

Layman's perspective--As a layperson who is still marveling at the immense complexity of the Bible, the author's spin on each day's readings is different from that of an expert. It must be. Yet the essential Bible messages shine through every day.

Frequent geographical updates and maps--There are many comments on the "where" of the scripture. When the Israelites go to the wilderness of Paran, its current location (on the Sinai Peninsula) is described. Abraham lived near Hebron in today's Israel. Jonah's Nineveh is probably today's Mosul, Iraq. The journeys of Paul, which covered about ten thousand miles, and the movements of Jesus are described in contemporary geographical detail with maps and charts.

 Famous quotes are singled out--The best-known stories, sayings, prayers, curses and hymns of the Bible are emphasized. In most cases there are special graphics to call attention to these  memorable lines from the Old and New Testaments.

Enumeration of commandments, feasts, blessings, curses, etc.--Whenever there are important enumerations, bold numbers or brackets set them off. You'll find this in the tribes of Israel, the Ten Commandments, the ten plagues, the three dreams that guided Joseph early in Matthew, etc.

Some examples from the Latin Mass--Just skip these parts if you want. Pilate probably said in Latin"Quod scripsi scripsi" ("what I have written, I have written"--meaning leave the words labeling Jesus "King of the Jews" as they are) in the Passion story. For Catholics of a certain age, many psalms will be quite familiar. Psalm 43, for example, includes "I will go to the altar of God", "Introibo ad altare dei" .That's what the priest said during the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. The altar boy's reply was "Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam" or "to God who is the joy of my youth".

Reference to useful web site--Internet links are provided for further study of Solomon's temple, of Michelangelo's Moses statue and dozens of others.

Other translations included--While the basic Bible source is New Revised Standard Version, some other translations are also included.

So, if you wanted to be guided as you read through the Bible in a year, I would recommend this book.  As I said, it's not the complete Bible, so I tend to alternate years between this and a full Bible in a Year.  (This year, I am doing a Bible Read-though with a friend from church - we aim to try and complete the whole Bible in 6 months, meeting up weekly to discuss passages that caught our eye.)  While I know some Christians may have an issue with this, I particularly like how the commentator doesn't always accept the Bible to be literal, but judges the different styles of writing as they are (whether that be history, prose, metaphor, prophecy, revelation, opinion etc).  I may not always agree with Ruth's comments, but I find his stance to be a refreshing read.  And as I said before, I liked the chance to read the apocrypha.  I think every Christian should read it once, just to be able to make an informed decision about it, and to understand some of the history of the Jews (eg the book of Maccabees) that is not included in the Protestant Old Testament.

Happy New Year!

The Christmas season has passed by very quickly! 

We had a quiet Christmas day at home with just the four of us.  It was really relaxed, good company and good food.  The week after Christmas we visited my family in one part of the country and my husband's family in another.  Then we spent New Year's evening at a friend's house playing games whilst our children played together elsewhere.  And now we're back to reality with a bump. (Not literal - I am certainly not pregnant, now missing several vital parts! lol)

I enjoy getting a calendar every year from the girls for Christmas, and like to spend my NY day copying across new information and schedules.  This seems to be the worst year yet, as after this week, EVERY week is packed.  And my husband has finally badgered me enough to use a shared calendar on our phones, so I've put everything there too - only for him to say there's too much going on and he doesn't know when he needs to be where.  Men!

After chatting with the girls about any resolutions they may have, we have all decided to work together and help each other to achieve them.  My daughters' resolutions are to do with self-care (eg actually brushing their hair daily) and keeping their rooms tidy.

We don't have any pets.  I am allergic to cats and dogs, and other animals, but have said I would consider getting a dog, if... Now, I'm not stupid enough to say "if you look after it" because I'm the adult and I know my children won't immediately be able to switch on that responsibility.  It would be unfair on the dog for it to arrive and for me to not pick up the slack.  So, I went with something else. ...you can prove you're responsible enough to have a pet by keeping your bedrooms tidy for 6 months in a row.  Not perfect.  Not "showhome".  But reasonably tidy and having a clear floor at the end of the day.  My children's bedrooms are not massive, especially given the number of toys they own, but they do have a playroom where all their junk toys can be thrown stored, and I haven't said that room has to be tidy.  Thankfully for me, it's at the top of the house, so I don't have to think about it!

As for me, my resolutions are to do with self-care too.  Namely, being positive in my mind, being positive about how I fuel my body, and being positive about moving my body more.  I am changing my mindset, so there is no such thing as "failure" or "bad days", but instead they are learning opportunities, from which I can grow, learn and do better next time.

2B Mindset has a sale going on some of its products.
And BodyGroove has a 30day challenge for you to join in and move your body!

The Old Man at the End of the World by AK Silversmith

Gerry, an old man, is tending his allotment by planting leeks he had bought from the supermarket when he realizes the Zompocalypse has started.

The blurb says:

The end is nigh.... and Gerald Stockwell-Poulter has had quite enough of it already. Pesky business altogether. All this hiding and running about. Makes Brexit look like a doddle.
After 87 largely well-behaved years as a model citizen, less than four hours into the ‘zompocalypse’ and he has already killed a neighbour, rescued a moody millennial drug dealer and forged an unlikely allegiance with a giant ginger Scotsman. And it isn’t even tea time.
Join Gerald as he and his newfound allies navigate the post-apocalyptic English countryside in their hilarious bid to stay off the menu.

The Old Man at the End of the World is a short comedy, only 68 pages, so took me only an hour to read this morning, but there are chapters if you don’t have the time to dedicate to a book in one sitting. Whilst it wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny, it was very humorous with bizarre situations and Gerry’s stereotypically English response to being chased by flesh eating zombies.

This book is actually the first ‘bite’ of a series, so there is more to read it you wish. I enjoyed the book enough to put the second book on my Amazon Wishlist, but not enough to buy and consume the next one immediately.

Getaway with God by Letitia Suk

Getaway with God is a book aimed at women, to take some time out of our busy schedules and spend it with God. Whether you can carve out only a few hours, a day, a weekend or perhaps a full week, this book will guide you and provide tools to help you get the most out of your retreat.

The book description says:

What if a simple day away could transform your life?

Does spending time with God sound like just one more thing to check off an ever-increasing to-do list? How are you supposed to fit in anything that threatens to be more time-consuming? Too often there's simply no room to experience the intimacy, grace, and peace that God offers us.

Getaway with God does more than invite you to step away from life's pressures to take a personal retreat. It shows you exactly why you must--for your sake and for your family's.

With grace and warmth, Letitia Suk provides step-by-step guidance and the necessary tools to enable any woman on any budget to plan time away, whether it's a quick, half-day break or a weeklong time of restoration. You'll find detailed steps for preparation, including descriptions of different kinds of retreats and how to choose the best one for you, and you'll learn ways to bring the renewal you experience home with you. Practical appendixes identify retreat centers nationwide and provide exercises and prayers to kick-start your getaway with God.

"No matter what your season in life, the time for retreat is now!

Letitia starts by explaining her own journey, from acknowledging the need for a retreat, to actually going on it. She carefully explains the different type of retreats, and emphasises that everybody is different so not to worry if your personal plan is different. There’s also a chapter on the Sabbath, and the benefit of treating the Sabbath as time to spend focussing on God – something I need to remember when I’m running around after the children.

The second section of the book describes in detail a plan for a 5-day retreat, intertwined with remembrances from Letitia’s journal of her experience.

As someone who doesn’t spend as much time in my relationship with God as perhaps I should, this was well-worth the read. It has made me want to go on a retreat with God (which obviously was the point) but also make more of a concerted effort reading the Bible and praying. I do read through the Bible yearly already, but if I’ve got a spare 30min then focussing on a short passage and actually allowing God the time to talk to me is a positive change.

A 2B Christmas

Some people have asked me how to have a 2B Christmas dinner, so I thought I would write this post. The first thing to remember is that 2B really is a mindset and not a set of rules; however we can follow the principles in order to make the festive season happy and positive, rather than bloated and overfull.

As a recap, the first half of the 2 Bunnies are Water First and Veggies Most. These two things alone, will help you control how much you are eating. Drinking plenty of water means you stay hydrated and are less likely to confuse thirst with hunger. Most people do not drink enough water, so when your body is craving H₂O it will not discriminate between food sources. Additionally, by drinking water before you eat, you start to fill your stomach up, so you can feel full and satisfied without having to pig out on a load of carbs. Veggies most makes sense too, because they are nutritionally dense, and we want to fill up on foods that are good for our body. We can eat a good plateful that is appealing to our eyes, whilst not making us feel heavy and tired afterwards.

At this point, I need to remind you of the Plate-It method, so depending on whether you eat your Christmas dinner at lunchtime or teatime, you may want to alter what is on your plate. Roast potatoes, even when cooked in goose fat, are not inherently bad for you, but depending on the time of day will affect how many you choose to eat.

My plan for Christmas dinner is as follows. We always like to have multiple courses with our Christmas dinner, but it will be spread throughout the day, because nobody wants to eat all this in one sitting!

Starter: Prawn Cocktail

King prawns, on a huge bed of mixed salad, covered in homemade thousand island dressing ‘watered’ down with lemon juice and vinegar. My husband will have bread and butter with his, but I don’t need that eating opportunity.

Main: Turkey with all the trimmings

We’ll be having a cook-from-frozen stuffed turkey crown this year, and my husband wants a half leg of lamb too. We’ll have roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding (I’ll have one of each) with pigs in blankets and sausage meat stuffing. I am having a lazy Christmas this year, so many of the items for Christmas dinner will be preprepared, but if you are making your own stuffing (especially if you are actually using it to stuff the turkey), why not use riced cauliflower instead of half (or more) of the breadcrumbs? I have even seen a bag of frozen cranberry and nut stuffing that has cauliflower rice as it’s base – but is only available across the pond, and not in the UK.

I’ll also do a range of vegetables, from sprouts with bacon, roast root veg, carrot and swede mash, cauliflower cheese, peas and sweetcorn. With a spread like this, there is no excuse whatsoever not to achieve Veggies Most.

Pudding: Option of Christmas Pudding or a Mince Pie with Brandy Cream.

It’s Christmas, so I have no intention of watering down any of this, but I only need a taste of each, rather than a pint of each…

Cheese board: Cheese, crackers and chutneys/jellies and grapes/apples.

I love a good cheese board. I love cheese. In reality, though I’ll plan to have it on Christmas day, I feel full just reading everything I’ve got planned, so this will probably move to Boxing Day. I’ll add another salad with it, so we can still have Veggies Most.

And alcohol. In my house, it wouldn’t be Christmas without any alcohol; but by having Water First, and alternating a glass of wine with a glass of water, means we can enjoy the taste without getting drunk or putting on weight from empty calories.

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, enjoying your food and drink xx