Team The Reader Feeder Diner

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Team The Reader Feeder Diner




Team members

❅ Camilla
❅ Melissa
❅ Heather
❅ Alicia
❅ Keely

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Team Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Status Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Melissa]

Hello team!
What do we want our name to be?

[Keely]

Yay! Our thread it up!
For a team name, I have suggested The Lovely Scones (a play on The Lovely Bones books in case any of you haven't heard of it before). But I am happy to go with whatever name everyone else likes.

I have a bit of news. I am moving on the 31st (actually in the process of moving stuff now, but we have to be out on the 31st). I sorted out the internet and everything the other day, but they said they can't come and connect everything until the 14th September. So I will be without internet for the first two weeks of the challenge. That said, I do have mobile data so I will probably check the app through my phone at least once a day, but it is unlikely I will be able to help with specific things during that time and I don't think I'll be able to update the spreadsheet.

I'm in the process of downloading as many audiobooks as my Ipad will allow and I have so many ebooks downloaded already so I will be reading during that time. There is a lot of work to do on the house so I will be busy most of the time, but I should have the evenings to relax and read.

We only got the final moving date early last week and it was sooner than we were hoping so this past week has been hectic and I suspect this coming week will be much the same, if not more hectic. So I thought I would throw this information out there while I have a bit of time to actually sit down.

I am excited about this challenge though, even if I'm still a bit unsure about all the details. I'm sure it will all make sense once we start.

[Karen ♐]

Hi, everyone. I am horrible at coming up with names but I will try to think of something...

[Melissa]

Hello :) I was thinking of "The Reader Feeder Diner."

[Melissa]

Keely wrote: "Yay! Our thread it up!
For a team name, I have suggested The Lovely Scones (a play on The Lovely Bones books in case any of you haven't heard of it before). But I am happy to go with whatever name..."

Congratulations on your move! And your new place!

[Keely]

Thank you, it's not really mine, it's my parents' but I currently live with them so I have no choice but to move too :p

[Karen ♐]

Keely wrote: "Yay! Our thread it up!
For a team name, I have suggested The Lovely Scones (a play on The Lovely Bones books in case any of you haven't heard of it before). But I am happy to go with whatever name..."

I hate moving so I hope it's goes smoothly for you.

[Heather]

Keely wrote: "Yay! Our thread it up!
For a team name, I have suggested The Lovely Scones (a play on The Lovely Bones books in case any of you haven't heard of it before). But I am happy to go with whatever name..."

Hope your move goes well.

[Keely]

Thank you both. The new house is currently empty. A builder is in doing some work and we've been able to take a lot of stuff there already. So hopefully the final bit won't be too bad. The worst bit is going to be living without things we are used to now, like internet, for a bit.

[Heather]

Hi everybody, I am looking forward to participating and reading many books in September. I am not sure I have a team name to suggest but I like Melisa's suggestion.

[Heather]

Keely wrote: "Thank you both. The new house is currently empty. A builder is in doing some work and we've been able to take a lot of stuff there already. So hopefully the final bit won't be too bad. The worst bi..."

That is fair, I was lucky when I last moved as I didn't have to worry about that because my partner already was living in our house. But I didn't have any of my stuff as it was all shipped about a month before I actually moved.

Fingers crossed you get things set up quickly.

[Karen ♐]

Melissa wrote: "Hello :) I was thinking of "The Reader Feeder Diner.""

I like your name choice.

[Melissa]

Okay! Let's go with "The Reader Feeder Diner." Anyone have a strategy for getting books with good food items?

[Heather]

I haven't got a strategy as such, I couldn't sleep so I thought I would have a quick look through a few of my tbr books to see how easy/ hard finding food was. I was surprised to be honest. A lot food words were mentioned and I saw tea come up a lot, maybe that is why I drink so many cups of tea haha.

Have you got a strategy?

[Heather]

I have requested access to the spreadsheet, I do think we need another sheet though one where we can list the food words or letters and justification. I have only had a quick look at it though once I havel access and I am on a computer I can have a better look at it.

[Keely]

I don't really have a strategy, especially since my first few weeks of the challenge will just be reading whatever I have access too. I'm just hoping people like to eat in the books I'll be reading. I can try and help with more specific things after my internet blackout.

And I agree that another spreadsheet might be useful, but like Heather I haven't had a really good look at the main spreadsheet yet.

[Karen ♐]

I don't have a strategy either. Most of the time, in my books, there is some type of food eaten.

[Keely]

I'm not sure how much you guys participate in BOMs, but during team challenges I do my best to participate (and I'm trying to get better at taking part in them outside of challenges). I just looked up the September ones and both are available on my local library app, so I will definitely get those read.

[Melissa]

Hmmm... I don't remember having a strategy last time - but like you all have said, characters eat food, and I was surprised at how easy it was to find. I think 500 pages gets you more food, but I'm not sure that longer books are always a good strategy.

When in a pinch, people in cozy mysteries seem to be eating when not crime fighting :)

There is a good page on the spreadsheet that explains the different categories. I'm good either sticking with just one spreadsheet, or using another one too.

I'm giving myself time to read these last couple of books before the challenge without stress, but then I'll be full in reading in every spare moment :)

[Melissa]

Keely wrote: "I'm not sure how much you guys participate in BOMs, but during team challenges I do my best to participate (and I'm trying to get better at taking part in them outside of challenges). I just looked..."

This is a good idea. I don't always read the BOMs, but when I do, I'm rarely disappointed.

Do we get extra credit for this challenge if we read a BOM?

[Keely]

From what I understand, each person gets 2 opportunities to change out a customer per BOM. So it could be useful if we end up with some that are more difficult for us.

In regards to the length of books, some of the ones I have ready are over 500 pages, but I will be trying to do a good mixture of lengths of books.

[Karen ♐]

I put both books on hold at the library. Hopefully I'll get at least one of them in time.

[Heather]

Keely wrote: "I don't really have a strategy, especially since my first few weeks of the challenge will just be reading whatever I have access too. I'm just hoping people like to eat in the books I'll be reading..."

I looked at it again last night, between the books read and the kitchen meals sheet I think we are okay. The only thing I think we might consider adding is another two columns in books read for food/spelling options. But it is not absolutely necessary as the kitchen one has you list them all individually anyway.

[Heather]

Keely wrote: "I'm not sure how much you guys participate in BOMs, but during team challenges I do my best to participate (and I'm trying to get better at taking part in them outside of challenges). I just looked..."

I participate in them when I have the book or really want to read them. I am planning to read at least one for this challenge as I actually bought it the other day for a book club I am in.

[Keely]

Hello all, just a quick update on my moving situation. I may not be as off the grid as I thought next week. The builder is nowhere near as done with the house as we thought. There is currently no shower/bath and the only toilet is an old one that doesn't work the best. He was meant to have the kitchen and the downstairs bathroom ready when for when we are moving in on Tuesday. As Monday is a public holiday here it is doubtful he will be working and we can't see him finishing everything he needs to on Tuesday.

To cut a long story short. My grandparents own a hoilday lodge which is about an hours drive from the new house. We are thinking of staying there until next weekend to give the builder more time to finish what he needs to. The upside to this, other than being more comfortable, is that I would have access to wifi. It's not the best wifi, but it should be enough for me to update any books I've finished and keep up to date without using my mobile data.

The downside to the lodge is that I have to drive my cat 2 and a half hours from the old house and then when she is just getting settled we'll have to move her again. She has never liked the car and at 19 (it's her birthday today!) I'm a bit worried about stressing her out too much.

[Keely]

I just put my first book in the spreadsheet. I wanted to test adding something to it. I hope I've done it correctly. It was easy as the word "water" is in the title. I keep wanting to pick up the book and read it, but I have to remind myself to wait. Not long now though.

[Melissa]

Keely wrote: "Hello all, just a quick update on my moving situation. I may not be as off the grid as I thought next week. The builder is nowhere near as done with the house as we thought. There is currently no s..."
Happy birthday to your 19 year old cat! I hope she takes the move alright. Mine is sitting here with me while I type :)

[Melissa]

Keely wrote: "I just put my first book in the spreadsheet. I wanted to test adding something to it. I hope I've done it correctly. It was easy as the word "water" is in the title. I keep wanting to pick up the b..."

I think this looks fine. If I remember right, there is a balance we have to maintain with all of our foods / drinks. Water seems like a good start!

[Keely]

From what I can tell, there will be a lobster at some point in the book and I'm sure fish will be mentioned so we don't have to use water, but as it was staring me in the face, it seemed silly not to put it in there for now.

[Melissa]

I'm gearing up too. I have a couple of books - one will have to be a spell out. I can't remember what the advantage of a spell out is ... On another note, Karen can not continue the challenge this year :( She has a family situation to attend to.

[Alicia]

Woohoo

[Camilla]

Hi everybody!
I'm really, really sorry to havebeen MIA for a couple of weeks. I don't think my life has ever been so hectic. Our younger daughter moved to Helsinki to start her studies, so we needed to help her move. Actually we've only taken some of her clothes and cosmetics, as she's staying in a temporary apartment until she gets her more permanent living place in October, so I'll need to sort out the moving of all her furniture etc. later. I also decided to change jobs, had my last day in my old job last Friday and will start in the new one tomorrow.

I'm glad to see that everybody has found their way here. Unfortunately, Karen just messaged me that she has to withdraw due to family issues, so we're one player short. I'll check the looking for a team thread and see whether there's anybody still available, or if you ladies have anybody in mind, please feel free to ask them.
ETA: I see Melissa has already asked, thanks Melissa!

[Keely]

I made it to my grandparents lodge. My cat too. She meowed most of the way but seemed to enjoy exploring the lodge when we got here.
There is wifi here but they've changed it so you have to pay to use it (before they had a free option). We might pay for a couple of days but I will see what my parents think when they get here. Either way, I'll still check this thread at least one a day.

On the book front, I finished the audiobooks I was listening to last night. I won't start any until the challenge starts now. I still have some ebooks still on the go and some very short ones if I get bored, but I am ready to begin this challenge!

[Heather]

I finished the main book I was reading, going to read one of the books I haven't finished yet and leave the other books that I want to read until tomorrow. I am super excited to start this challenge.

[Alicia]

So I only just now got on my computer as opposed to my iPad and I only have View Only access on the spreadsheet. So everyone else might want to check

[Heather]

Alicia wrote: "So I only just now got on my computer as opposed to my iPad and I only have View Only access on the spreadsheet. So everyone else might want to check"

If you send me your email in a message I am pretty sure I can add you to edit it

[Heather]

or alternatively, you can request access on the document, that is what I did .

[Alicia]

Yes, I did that, they fixed it already, but thought I'd let everyone know to check.. thank you

I am still trying to remember everything from last year also...but if you choose Tea, you have to have 2 items, water and maybe sugar. I chose pasta and tried to spell cream, haha, but it has to be 7 letters...right Melissa?

[Melissa]

Okay, I'm going to do a deep dive into this mid morning.

[Heather]

Alicia wrote: "Yes, I did that, they fixed it already, but thought I'd let everyone know to check.. thank you

I am still trying to remember everything from last year also...but if you choose Tea, you have to hav..."

That is fine :)

We can make up the whole item as a group though? For example, I could have tea and someone else can have water and sugar.

[Melissa]

We can make a meal as a whole team. Last time we listed our scavenger items on the kitchen team tab, and then when we were ready to make meals we picked ingredients from the kitchen tab. We could list ingredients on this thread too I think if we have a lot of items. Everything is editable until the customers come at the end of the month.

[Melissa]

Alicia wrote: "Yes, I did that, they fixed it already, but thought I'd let everyone know to check.. thank you

I am still trying to remember everything from last year also...but if you choose Tea, you have to hav..."

Yes, it looks like you need at least tea and water.

[Keely]

I finished The Water Babies last night. I found quite a lot of items we can use. Is there somewhere we are going to list our items or just make a post with them. I'm planning to go somewhere with some free wifi and my laptop tomorrow so I'll list what I found then. I've also began Vanity Fair which is a longer book and in the first 6 or so chapters have found quite a few food/drink stuff too.

[Heather]

I have just added my options to the kitchen meals round 1, but I also added an options column to the books read if you want to list words or letters. It might be easier if we aren't using all our foods/ letter options at once.

I finished a short story ebook, and my only options were tea, coffee and water. But I should finish Outlander in the next couple of days and it's over 500 pages so 12 scavenger words to look forward to picking.

How is everyone else reading going?

[Heather]

Keely wrote: "I finished The Water Babies last night. I found quite a lot of items we can use. Is there somewhere we are going to list our items or just make a post with them. I'm planning to go somewhere with s..."

Oh, I have wanted to read Vanity Fair for a while now, let me know what you think of it. I might pick it up also during this challenge. I often like reading Victorian classics.