Author: Lila

Raise your hand if you are a bonafide bookworm!

I spent the last month checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them! So far I have read the Courtney Series; this next series focuses on the Ballantyne Family from the 1860s-1980s.

1. A Falcon Flies
→Set in the 1860s, this novel is about Fuller Ballantyne who goes missing in the African wilderness. His two children embark on a quest to find him although their secondary motivations are opposed; the daughter wishes to spread Christianity and fight the slave trade where as the son wishes to strike it rich from Africa’s resources. While on the journey from England to Africa, Fuller’s daughter catches the attention of two men –one a slaver and the other, British Captain Codrington. Meanwhile, Fuller’s son fulfills the prophecy of desolation for the African people by removing a stone falcon from a cave during one of his expeditions.

2. Men of Men
→Set between 1870-1890s, this novel is about Zouga Ballantyne and his sons Ralph and Jordan. The family hopes to strike it rich with diamond mining at a time when Cecil Rhodes and his contemporaries control parts of South Africa. The family is caught up in the negotiations with and betrayal of the Matabele people.

3. The Angels Weep 1890s &1970s
→Set in the 1890s and the 1970s, this novel details the passionate fight of Black Africans for self-determination and freedom from the oppression of the white settlers. The Ballantyne’s suffer personal losses; this turns Ralph against his former allies among the Matabele. The novel fast-forwards to the continued struggle for independence; however, the Ballantyne Scouts led by Ralph’s great-grandson, Roland.

4. The Leopard Hunts in Darkness
→Set in the 1980s, Rhodesia has become Zimbabwe; Craig Mellow the cousin of Roland Ballantyne, has left the country –like many white settlers at the time. Nostalgia gets the better of Craig and he decides to return to Africa to buy the family farm. The conflict for independence and the aftermath of it has turned tribe against tribe, upon his return, Craig gets caught up in it; ivory poaching, espionage and a governmental overthrow.

*Triumph of the Sun →I read this as part of the 3 Series of the Courtney Novels; however, it didn’t come out until 2005

*King of Kings 1880s
→This novel is a sequel to Triumph of the Sun; and was published in 2019
Penrod Ballantyne and his fiancee, Amber Benbrook are on the verge of living happily ever after following the hardship they encountered a few years earlier. BUT, Lady Agatha has other plans. She tries to break them up by sullying Penrod’s reputation. Amber returned to the company of her sister and brother-in-law in Abyssinia. A distraught Penrod finds solace in opium dens but an old friend in the Italian army comes to his rescue. With the invasion of Abyssinia as a backdrop, Penrod and Amber find their way back to each other.

Sadly, Family Day once again will be affected by COVID! However, we aren’t about to let it ruin our day. Here are a few of my favourite ways to celebrate Family Day!

1. PUT THE PHONES AWAY –spend the day disconnected!
2. Watch a movie –complete with epic snacks
3. Paint Night –I recommend putting on an episode of Bob Ross and following along
4. Make cookies and decorate them
5. Do a puzzle
6. Make some relaxation or fidget toys –there are tons of DIY tutorials on YouTube
7. Play boardgames
8. Do a workout together –the Nike Training Club app has lots of options
9. At home spa treatments –you can make your own face mask with household ingredients, or you can order some really good quality (yet inexpensive) ones from Sephora
10. Colouring
11. Go for a walk
12. Ice skating
13. Build a snowman –which could end with an impromptu snowball fight
14. Go through closets, toy boxes and the pantry and select items that can be donated to charity/foodbank
15. Have family storytime –you are never to old to have someone read you a story; perfect way to cuddle up
16. Build a Lego kit
17. Have a family video game tournament
18. Cook a meal together
19. Karaoke / Dance Party
20. Build a bird feeder –there are a ton of patterns and kits online