The Child was not well at all in the night, so once I had stripped the bed and sorted her out on the sofa with towels and cuddles I took the opportunity to read and read. I had to stay alert for her so I was able to focus on reading and not my overwhelming desire to sleep (which is still very much there!). I managed to start and finish Firebird by Mercedes Lackey, which was just the ticket to take my mind off everything. A fairytale retelling of The Firebird fairy tale, it is set in Russia and is an interesting interpretation of the original story. I know a lot of people don't rate Lackey but these one off fairy tales are well-written fantasy escapism and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Just one book arrived today:

The Mitford Girls by Mary S. Lovell - 'The Biography of an Extraordinary Family'. The Mitfords certainly are an interesting family and I will probably start it today, if only for the fact that The Child is awfully clingy and I can't face a prolonged search for anything else (and dont want to take the library books anywhere near her at the moment!)

I am still reading Plague Year (handbag), City of Night (bedside table) and Strangers (living room) so I really need to crack on to finishing them before I feel too overwhelmed