31 Comments
User's avatar
Sian's avatar

Very late on this but in my 20s we had a friend who was incredibly [up himself], while also lovely. He’d bought Church’s shoes and was getting them out to show us (in a wine bar, we were drunk). Sleight of hand other friend took one of his old fake Church’s (probably Clark’s) off and switched in the box. Omg the reaction. I still laugh

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CynthiaAsquith's avatar

I live in a flat and have two washing lines on my back balcony. When my partner is being annoying I hang his underwear on the outer line so the neighbours are treated to an eyeful of his grotty boxers. Just call me Petty LaBelle.

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EO's avatar

My friend weed on her cheating boyfriend's carpet in his Camden Road flat. TBF she was only 18.

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Jody KF's avatar

There’s an enjoyable American comedy series called “AP Bio” (available on Netflix I think) which takes petty revenge as its subject matter.

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Sue Madelin's avatar

Petty revenge - someone once parked so close to my battered old hatchback in a carpark that I had to get in the passenger door and climb over into the driver's seat. So once seated I opened my door and slammed it very hard against theirs several times. Made me feel fabulous!

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Sally Reynolds's avatar

Hmm, not really sure that I’m at ALL on board with this being petty in the slightest. I’ve had this happen to me and agree that it leaves you fuming, but wilfully causing potentially many hundreds of pounds of damage in return is not the answer - two wrongs and all that…

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Ros's avatar

Do you get the same cut if we buy yours as an e book, or on audible, or is it better for you if we buy hard cover? Looking forward to reading it xx

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Esther's avatar

O Ros you are very kind to ask. Nightmarishly, for sales to count on Neilson Book Scan (the book sales bible) it has to be a hardback, and then later paperback. I think this is rather outrageous as it's often the most prolific, spendthrift readers who own e-readers. And a book sale is a book sale, no?!? I would never say "buy the bloody hardback" but those are the facts. Don't feel you have to xx

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Ros's avatar

Of course I will. Possibly 3 copies, if Waterstones has a 2 for 3 offer on (!) to gift to daughters x

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Jules's avatar

Just wondering. Is the girl on the cover of your book Kitty? I'm looking forward to reading it.

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Esther's avatar

it isn't! you're not the first person to ask that... much to Kitty's massive irritation

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Sarah Bee's avatar

A book without a journey: Nora Webster - Colm Toibin. Just read and found it highly engaging, although I did keep wondering when something was going to actually going to happen. Maybe only authors such as CT are able to pull this off.

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Esther's avatar

I haven't read Nora Webster but, yes, if anyone was going to be able to make a book work without a plot, it's Colm Toibin

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ede's avatar

Wiill pre-order the book!

Re face tan, Clarins self tan radiance plus for sure.

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Cindy's avatar

I have the Ministry of Time on my Kindle as I heard the author on a podcast and she told the origins of the idea and it sounded funny and unusual. I don’t use Goodreads any more but I did once think of it as a personal reading tracker until I realised it actually meant something then I was a lot more careful with it. If I wouldn’t give someone 2 stars to their face then I won’t do it online (in my defence he did liken breasts to floating blancmanges within the first couple of chapters). I know I’ve sometimes picked something up because someone has left a brief enthusiastic comment on a post so I try and be more intentional now and boost deserving things when I can as it is so hard out there. I love pretty revenge stories too but personally I never extend it beyond a vaguely disparaging nickname behind closed doors.

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Stef Larden's avatar

Just to say I am glad you're still mentioning your upcoming book in your posts because it reminded me to preorder. Can't wait! Also re collagen I have just started taking FreeSoul Creatine and Collagen. I won't say the taste is amazing - it's not. BUT I take it first thing and it makes me feel smug because, really, isn't that part of the game.

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Esther's avatar

and also thank you for the pre-order! I will keep reminding everyone in a way that I hope is subtle and not either annoying or desperate

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Esther's avatar

Oh definitely - I take Symprove and collagen every day and it's mostly so I can say to myself "I'm such a good citizen". I need to apply this to flossing my teeth, too. ultimate good citizen brag

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Emilie Haszlakiewicz's avatar

I found the Ministry of Time so disappointing! The first 2/3rds are absolutely amazing, and then it just descends into complete chaos, and lets down every promise it made to the reader. I had to put it down.

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HannahB's avatar

Agree with all this yes! Great first 2/3 thkugh.

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Sarah Crabtree's avatar

I have given up after the first 2/3 as I started to feel it getting too complex for my postpartum brain - I will persevere til the end!

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Esther's avatar

oh no! I can see how you would think that. it is so hard to tie up plots, especially with such an outlandish premise and I did also think it teetered on madness, but I thought she pulled it off. it's all very subjective

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Emilie Haszlakiewicz's avatar

Agree she set herself a very difficult task! But I think she promised that we wouldn't have to think too hard about the physics of time travel and enjoy a nice love story, and then I had to think very hard about it at the end lol - so my brain broke

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ClaireS's avatar

Yes, I felt that a bit; such a shame, as most of the book was brilliant. It definitely could have done with a stronger edit at the end.

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Honeysuckle's avatar

As I’m in Melbourne, Orstralia..

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Honeysuckle's avatar

Re your book Esther.. it’s on order .. it may be here by next year..

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Busy day dinners…'s avatar

Book orders here are insanely slow!

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Lizzie P's avatar

The Ministry of Time is not the sort of book I would normally choose to read (sci-fi loving husband bought it for his holiday reading) but I was intrigued when I read the premise. I've really only just started reading it but I'm finding it imaginative, clever and funny (there are some great lines!). So glad to hear you enjoyed it too.

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Esther's avatar

normally absolutely a No from me - time-travel? romance? absolutely not. but I loved it

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Lara's avatar

Thank you for reminding me about Ministry of Time, it’s on my kindle TBR so now I’ll bump it to the top. I’m dreadful for adding recommended books to my list then buying them, but then looking at them and wondering “Who was I last year when I added this book to my kindle”. I shall report back

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Esther's avatar

I get this all the time. I am also a Sample maniac. I have tens of samples on my kindle

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