On a brighter note - some things I'm pleased about

[wellinghall]

Good new(-ish) science fiction (eg the "Vatta's War" series by Elizabeth Moon)
Good new fantasy (eg "Temeraire" by Naomi Novik)

Crufts on TV - flyball last night, and gundogs tonight
Repeats of old comedies - The Goodies, The Muppets

Goldfinches on the bird feeders

Friends who comment on LJ entries, and who have comment-worthy entries on their own LJs

Helpful, understanding eBay sellers

Proper mechanical, metal, manual cameras
Getting the odd decent shot

Getting to see my new cousins (one two months old, one five months old) next weekend

Getting to see Leicester Tigers v The Barbarians next weekend

Comments

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

It's by Ian McLeod--more sci fi than fantasy, I suppose, but still a bit of both.

As for Temeraire, I can probably just borrow it from the city library, if I ever get up the motivation to go there.