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Blog Tour Review - Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Blog Tour Review - Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky To fix the world they first must break it further. Humanity is a dying breed, utterly reliant on artificial labor and service. When a domesticated robot gets a nasty little idea downloaded into their core programming, they murder their owner. The robot then discovers they can also do something else they never did before: run away. After fleeing the household, they enter a wider world they never knew existed, where the age-old hierarchy of humans at the top is disintegrating, and a robot ecosystem devoted to human wellbeing is finding a new purpose. There is so much to love in Service Model, but one of the things I most love about it is the peculiar blend of charming innocence and insightful cynicism. Uncharles the domestic robot is such a simple soul (though he would state that he has no soul and this is an inaccurate description). He approaches the end of the world with optimism and hope, or whatever equivalent to these emotions h

The Fifth Day of Blogmas - Christmas Tag

Hiya

Rebecca over at www.thisbookyplace.co.uk came up with this Christmas tag for her blog, and I decided to give it a go. I'm currently about half way into the Christmas spirit. All my presents have been bought and wrapped for a few weeks, and I've been doing Christmas baking all week, but I've been putting off the Christmas decorations, so maybe this will help encourage me.



1. What is your favourite Christmas film?

It's a Wonderful Life. It is just the most beautiful film. I go to see it every Christmas at the Tyneside Cinema, weep uncontrollably and then come out feeling much better about myself and life in general.

2. Have you ever had a White Christmas?

I can't remember any, though I do remember years when we had snow straight after Christmas.

3. Where do you usually spend your holiday?

For the past few years it's been at my mum's house, with some combination of immediate family, depending on where in the country my sister is.

4. What is your favourite Christmas song?

Christmas in the Air (Tonight) by Scouting for Girls. I only heard it recently, but it's a lovely song that captures the magical feel of a new love at a magical time of year. I've got the lovely Aimee to thank for introducing me to this Christmas treat.

5. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

No! That would be wrong.

6. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Yes, I can.


7. What holiday traditions are you looking forward to most this year?

Christmas baking. I've always baked more over Christmas, and although this year I've started baking a lot more regularly, I'm really ramping it up for Christmas. I've done my first Christmas cake and my first Christmas pudding, and it'll be mince pies next, with homemade mincemeat.

Christmas carols at church too. My church is full of really lovely people who I've got to know over the last year or two, and it's an especially lovely place at Christmas time.

8. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

Real. I had a fake tree for years when I was married, but for the past few years I've loved getting a real tree.

9. What is your all-time favourite holiday food/sweet treat?

Stollen cake. I absolutely love marzipan, and this is the perfect combination of marzipan and dried fruit. I haven't tried making my own yet, though. Followed by home made mince pies.

10. Be honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?

I love giving gifts. I like to spend time trying to pick out the right presents for people, and then watching them open them.

11. What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received?

My hammock. I got it for Christmas from my mum two years ago, and it's taken me all over the country since then, from the Highlands to East Anglia. It's had a big impact on my life really.

12. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?

I've never wanted to go anywhere else at Christmas. Anywhere south of here would be warmer, and that would just be wrong at Christmas. Anywhere north would be too cold and dark, and I'd rather visit at any other time of year. I've always just wanted to spend Christmas at home.

13. Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably?

I'm really proud of my present wrapping abilities, and have often been complemented on them. I even wrapped a bicycle up one Christmas Eve.

14. Most memorable Holiday moment?

The most memorable ones are the sad ones. My best friend died two days after Christmas in 1996, and we buried my Grandad on Christmas eve in 2000.15. What made you realise the truth about Santa?

I don't think there was one specific moment. I think it was a gradual thing, starting to realise, but not really wanting to. I don't think there was ever a point where I said "Right, that's that then." even when I was the one creeping around the house filling the stockings.

16. Do you make New Years resolutions? Do you stick to them?

I try not to. I do make loads of plans for the year ahead, in the week between Christmas and New Year, and I generally keep some of them. I might make a few resolutions this year though.17. What makes the holidays special for you?

Family. From Christmas day with my parents and my sister and whoever else is there, to whenever I get my kids over Christmas and spend a whole day with them, more presents, more food and games.

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