Monday 2 August 2010
Running
I just feel the need to document that I have started running seriously. I have never been sporty- the last child to be picked for sports at school- and until last week had never run a complete mile. However, I am now feeling driven to run, and my first 'proper' race is a 10k run on 5th September. I highly doubt I will run it all, but I intend to give it a bloody good try!
July 2010 reads
Tipping the Velvet- Sarah Waters (started in June)
1000 songs to change your life (time out)- Various
Thrifty ways for Modern Days- Martin Lewis
The Accidental Marathon- Lucy Hawkins
My Cousin Rachel- Daphne du Maurier
The Three most important lessons you were never taught- Martin Lewis
The Money Diet- Martin Lewis
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit-Judith Kerr
Absolute Beginners Guide to Half Marathon training-Heather Hedrick
1000 songs to change your life (time out)- Various
Thrifty ways for Modern Days- Martin Lewis
The Accidental Marathon- Lucy Hawkins
My Cousin Rachel- Daphne du Maurier
The Three most important lessons you were never taught- Martin Lewis
The Money Diet- Martin Lewis
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit-Judith Kerr
Absolute Beginners Guide to Half Marathon training-Heather Hedrick
Wednesday 23 June 2010
June reads
The End of the Affair- Graham Greene (started it in May)- Enjoyed this, but not so much the female point of view. Thought it was interesting that Greene had been in an affair and based the book on his experience.
Northanger Abbey- Jane Austen (started it in May) Still plodding through this....
The Iron Man- Ted Hughes A kids book, and very short at that,about an iron man who is feared but then becomes the hero. Interesting short read, 6/10
Wife in the North-Judith O'Reilly Entertaining non-fic about a city family moving to Northumberland.
Brideshead Revisited- Evelyn Waugh - not finished this yet, but will by the end of the month
Best of Black Lace women's erotica (!)- various These are saucy short stories that I bought out of curiousity!
Wall and Piece- Banksy I have suddenly become quite interested in Banksy since seeing one of his works when I was in London. This book is very interesting, shows lots of his work and also discusses the value of graffiti and its place in the modern world. (Mainly pictures)
What to Expect when you are Adopting- Reading this as it is something I felt like I needed to look into more. We may not have any more children, but it was interesting to read the process.
Northanger Abbey- Jane Austen (started it in May) Still plodding through this....
The Iron Man- Ted Hughes A kids book, and very short at that,about an iron man who is feared but then becomes the hero. Interesting short read, 6/10
Wife in the North-Judith O'Reilly Entertaining non-fic about a city family moving to Northumberland.
Brideshead Revisited- Evelyn Waugh - not finished this yet, but will by the end of the month
Best of Black Lace women's erotica (!)- various These are saucy short stories that I bought out of curiousity!
Wall and Piece- Banksy I have suddenly become quite interested in Banksy since seeing one of his works when I was in London. This book is very interesting, shows lots of his work and also discusses the value of graffiti and its place in the modern world. (Mainly pictures)
What to Expect when you are Adopting- Reading this as it is something I felt like I needed to look into more. We may not have any more children, but it was interesting to read the process.
Friday 18 June 2010
Atichoo!
I can't bloody well stop sneezing and it is so annoying. I sound like a mixture between a piglet snuffling, a vuvuzela and a hysterical woman. GO AWAY HAYFEVER!
I have been very uncrafty lately, need to start thinking about any Christmas projects that need doing. Hmmmm. And the debate about whether to invest in a sewing machine rages on. I really would like one and the idea of being a domestic goddess is appealing, but the reality is always different isn't it? Would I really use it much?
Reading wise, I will do a seperate post and update about books, book group and that sort of thing. I have also been toying with the idea of trying to write a book recently. A friend has just completed her first one for Mills and Boon and is cracking on with the second, and whilst I am not sure I have enough romance or raunch to do that, I would like to try and write a novel at some point in my life. Surely all the reading I have done would help. Or maybe it would hinder, as I expect anything I wrote would be something I have previously read and buried somewhere in teh depths of my mind.
What else....well, I am getting quite into vintage clothes. The only issue is sizing, and I am no skinny minnie and a lot of the clothes I like are too small, and it isn't like shopping in a mainstream shop where you can just get the next size up! Hopefully tomorrow I can get to one of the vintage shops and find some bargains. Got some cool sunglasses last week for a fiver that I really love. Hubby says I was robbed! But I think they are fabulous.
I have been very uncrafty lately, need to start thinking about any Christmas projects that need doing. Hmmmm. And the debate about whether to invest in a sewing machine rages on. I really would like one and the idea of being a domestic goddess is appealing, but the reality is always different isn't it? Would I really use it much?
Reading wise, I will do a seperate post and update about books, book group and that sort of thing. I have also been toying with the idea of trying to write a book recently. A friend has just completed her first one for Mills and Boon and is cracking on with the second, and whilst I am not sure I have enough romance or raunch to do that, I would like to try and write a novel at some point in my life. Surely all the reading I have done would help. Or maybe it would hinder, as I expect anything I wrote would be something I have previously read and buried somewhere in teh depths of my mind.
What else....well, I am getting quite into vintage clothes. The only issue is sizing, and I am no skinny minnie and a lot of the clothes I like are too small, and it isn't like shopping in a mainstream shop where you can just get the next size up! Hopefully tomorrow I can get to one of the vintage shops and find some bargains. Got some cool sunglasses last week for a fiver that I really love. Hubby says I was robbed! But I think they are fabulous.
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Non book stuff- the boy, Ashes to Ashes, London, Homesickness
Well, firstly it is half term :) I am loving being at home with my little man, but he is such hard work and definitely in a destructive phase. It is exhausting just watching him! He really is a bundle of energy and he needs less sleep than me which is leaving me feeling more and more zombiefied. He does counteract that by being great fun though and some of the things he says has me in stitches. He calls spaghetti 'forgetti'! And he says 'it's too big' about anything that he is unsure about- slides which are bigger than he is used to, Big Ben, giraffes....
We were in London over the weekend which was a lot of fun, but again hard work. We got to see a lot of the tourist sights and also went to some of the Ashes to Ashes locations. St Dunstans in the East (where Alex was shot by Gene in 2.8) is absolutely beautiful. I can imagine it is a bit creepy on your own, as the light is blocked out by lots of high walls, but it really is a stunning place away from the hubbub of the city. I don't think I could live in London, but I would love the anonimity of being there, and how anything goes.
Speaking of living places, I am getting really homesick again...I just feel really alone. I don't really have people that I can just 'hang about' with here, and it is hard.
I have no motivation for anything at the minute.
We were in London over the weekend which was a lot of fun, but again hard work. We got to see a lot of the tourist sights and also went to some of the Ashes to Ashes locations. St Dunstans in the East (where Alex was shot by Gene in 2.8) is absolutely beautiful. I can imagine it is a bit creepy on your own, as the light is blocked out by lots of high walls, but it really is a stunning place away from the hubbub of the city. I don't think I could live in London, but I would love the anonimity of being there, and how anything goes.
Speaking of living places, I am getting really homesick again...I just feel really alone. I don't really have people that I can just 'hang about' with here, and it is hard.
I have no motivation for anything at the minute.
May 2010 books
Georgy Girl- Margaret Forster
I nearly gave up on this one, but it got a bit more interesting so I persevered. Interesting take on what makes a relationship work, and I always enjoy books that are set in or were written in 50s/60s. I see that it has been made in to a film so I might check that out some time.
Ugly Shy Girl-
Very short, modern take on being an outsider. Cried at one part as it was too close to home. The end got a bit ridiculous though.
The Jane Austen Book Club -Karen Joy Fowler
I did enjoy this book, it was about the book club but moreso about the people that were there, and each chapter had a focus on a particular character. Not sure how it worked a a film- anyone seen it? Might check it out if it is on Sky anytime soon.
The Tower Room- Adele Geras
Quite enjoyed this short teen read based on the story of Rapunzel. I liked the three girls in the story, Bella, Megan and Alice and it made me quite nostalgic about my own young friendships. A bit I loved was how you can talk about anything in the dark- made me think of late nights at sleepovers!
I nearly gave up on this one, but it got a bit more interesting so I persevered. Interesting take on what makes a relationship work, and I always enjoy books that are set in or were written in 50s/60s. I see that it has been made in to a film so I might check that out some time.
Ugly Shy Girl-
Very short, modern take on being an outsider. Cried at one part as it was too close to home. The end got a bit ridiculous though.
The Jane Austen Book Club -Karen Joy Fowler
I did enjoy this book, it was about the book club but moreso about the people that were there, and each chapter had a focus on a particular character. Not sure how it worked a a film- anyone seen it? Might check it out if it is on Sky anytime soon.
The Tower Room- Adele Geras
Quite enjoyed this short teen read based on the story of Rapunzel. I liked the three girls in the story, Bella, Megan and Alice and it made me quite nostalgic about my own young friendships. A bit I loved was how you can talk about anything in the dark- made me think of late nights at sleepovers!
Thursday 29 April 2010
April 2010 reads
Anything Goes- John Barrowman
Mum to Mum- Coleen Nolan
Trust Me- I'm a Junior Doctor- Max Pemberton
Dear Teacher- Jack Sheffield
Random Acts of Heroic Love- Danny Scheinmann
I have also given up on A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and will probably give up on Georgy Girl by Margaret Forster.
Mum to Mum- Coleen Nolan
Trust Me- I'm a Junior Doctor- Max Pemberton
Dear Teacher- Jack Sheffield
Random Acts of Heroic Love- Danny Scheinmann
I have also given up on A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and will probably give up on Georgy Girl by Margaret Forster.
Monday 12 April 2010
March reads (and the journey of a book)
Chicken Soup for every Moms Soul- Various
The Baby Diaries- Tess Daly
Noah's Compass- Anne Tyler- unfinished as it had to go back to the library! Will get it out again though as quite liked what I had read.
Rebecca- Daphne du Maurier- my best read of the month!
Rebecca was for my book group, and I absolutely loved it, it is a book that I am going to keep and there aren't many of those these days. I have had this book for a good few years just waiting to be read and one of the things I love about it is its journey. My friend Sarah passed it on to me, and she in turn got it from our friend Mark- so I know at least two other people who read the exact same copy as me-Do you remember where you got it from Sparks?!. At some point it has come from a charity shop, and it has a label on the back with the price. As much as I love new books, I love knowing that I am reading a book that others have read, it feels like it has lived.
The Baby Diaries- Tess Daly
Noah's Compass- Anne Tyler- unfinished as it had to go back to the library! Will get it out again though as quite liked what I had read.
Rebecca- Daphne du Maurier- my best read of the month!
Rebecca was for my book group, and I absolutely loved it, it is a book that I am going to keep and there aren't many of those these days. I have had this book for a good few years just waiting to be read and one of the things I love about it is its journey. My friend Sarah passed it on to me, and she in turn got it from our friend Mark- so I know at least two other people who read the exact same copy as me-Do you remember where you got it from Sparks?!. At some point it has come from a charity shop, and it has a label on the back with the price. As much as I love new books, I love knowing that I am reading a book that others have read, it feels like it has lived.
February Reads
The Lost Symbol- Dan Brown Enjoyed it, and perfect for what I need, nothing heavy. Same formula as all the others of his!
The To Do List- Mike Gayle Good fun book about a guy aiming to complete his 1,277 item long to do list
How I lived a year on just a pound a day- Kath Kelly Not as good as I had hoped re:tips, but it was an interesting read.
Good Times- Justin Lee Collins Quite fancied this as find him quite funny and he is from Bristol, so not far from my neck of teh woods. Not overly impressed though.
The Time of my LIfe- Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi This is really touching, a proper love story. So heartbreaking to think of how awful it must be to lose a partner._________________
The To Do List- Mike Gayle Good fun book about a guy aiming to complete his 1,277 item long to do list
How I lived a year on just a pound a day- Kath Kelly Not as good as I had hoped re:tips, but it was an interesting read.
Good Times- Justin Lee Collins Quite fancied this as find him quite funny and he is from Bristol, so not far from my neck of teh woods. Not overly impressed though.
The Time of my LIfe- Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi This is really touching, a proper love story. So heartbreaking to think of how awful it must be to lose a partner._________________
Saturday 6 February 2010
Things to make and do...
Well, new babies mean 'MAKING!', so I have been busy knitting for my newest niece. There are two nearly completed items, a bright orange cardigan and a pink flecked bolero. I will try and get a pic of them when they are finished. I also made a little taggie blanket/comforter/burp cloth, which turned out well for my first attempt at sewing in a long time! Definitely inspired me to do more craft.
My January Reads
Ooh! What a Lovely Pair- Ant and Dec
The Brightest Star in the Sky- Marian Keyes
Dear Sebastian- Christine Horgan (compiled by)
Chicken Soup for the Parents Soul- Various
The Thrift Book- India Knight
The Wasp Factory- Iain Banks
Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer
No real stand outs there. My book of the month would be ' Dear Sebastian'- a collection of letters from notable Irish people to Sebastian, a little boy who's Dad died. Basically it is advice that they would give.
I am really into reading letters at the moment, maybe because my attention span is short!
The Brightest Star in the Sky- Marian Keyes
Dear Sebastian- Christine Horgan (compiled by)
Chicken Soup for the Parents Soul- Various
The Thrift Book- India Knight
The Wasp Factory- Iain Banks
Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer
No real stand outs there. My book of the month would be ' Dear Sebastian'- a collection of letters from notable Irish people to Sebastian, a little boy who's Dad died. Basically it is advice that they would give.
I am really into reading letters at the moment, maybe because my attention span is short!
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Book Club meeting 2!
Well, book group this month had 5 people there which is better than the 3 we had at the first meeting! We were more organised too and had a bit of discussuin about the book this time! Our book for next time is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurrier which sounds right up my street. I love Jane Eyre and there are apparently lots of parallels. Fingers crossed it will be good :)
I haven't done much reading this last month, I have been trying to be a bit more proactive and less lazy, but we will see if this lasts!
I haven't done much reading this last month, I have been trying to be a bit more proactive and less lazy, but we will see if this lasts!
Friday 22 January 2010
January!
Well, Januray is whizzing by at a breakneck speed and I am not reading a much as I had hoped (or as high brow as I had hoped!), but I think this is partly due to feeling rather low lately. I have felt homesick and lonely, and also getting motivated has been difficult, but I am determined to change this!
I have decided that I am going to get back to being more crafty. Not crafty in a dodgy, skullduggery type way, in a making things and being creative kind of way.
I realised that Christmas is becoming way too comercialised (yes, I am slow on the uptake ;)), and am going to try and make and win Christmas this year. I have entered around 200 competitions so far this year, and have a list of things I hope to make! This includes quite a lot of knitting, making Christmas decorations, baking/jamming more, trying my hand at some basic sewing etc. So, wish me luck!
Back to the books, I suppose I am not doing so badly- I think I am on 7 for this month so far, and that hasn't been a struggle. One of those is a 1001 book (The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, which I am currently reading for my book group) and another is from my list of books to read this year (Breaking Dawn by Stefenie Meyer).
This IS going to be a good year, I just know it! Pick myself up, brush myself down, and swallow a spoonful of motivation and I can make it better.
I have decided that I am going to get back to being more crafty. Not crafty in a dodgy, skullduggery type way, in a making things and being creative kind of way.
I realised that Christmas is becoming way too comercialised (yes, I am slow on the uptake ;)), and am going to try and make and win Christmas this year. I have entered around 200 competitions so far this year, and have a list of things I hope to make! This includes quite a lot of knitting, making Christmas decorations, baking/jamming more, trying my hand at some basic sewing etc. So, wish me luck!
Back to the books, I suppose I am not doing so badly- I think I am on 7 for this month so far, and that hasn't been a struggle. One of those is a 1001 book (The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, which I am currently reading for my book group) and another is from my list of books to read this year (Breaking Dawn by Stefenie Meyer).
This IS going to be a good year, I just know it! Pick myself up, brush myself down, and swallow a spoonful of motivation and I can make it better.
Sunday 3 January 2010
New Year Reading resolutions
Well, I managed to hit my target of 100 books with 15 being 1001 books last year- I read Bonjour, Tristesse by Francoise Sagan and loved it.
My target for this year is 60 books with 15 being 1001 books. This is because I plan to tackle some challenging/long books from the 1001 list!
Books I really want to read this year-
Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
On Beauty- Zadie Smith
Middlesex- Jeffrey Eugenides
The God of Small Things- Arunditi Roy
Atonement-Ian McEwan
Memoirs of a Geisha-Arthur Golden
A SuitableBoy- Vikram Seth
The Wasp Factory- Iain Banks
Rebecca-Daphne Du Maurier
One Hundred Years of Solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
Vanity Fiar- William Makepeace Thackeray
Little Women- Louisa m Alcott
david Copperfield- Dickens
The Woman in White- Wilkie Collins
I also have a few borrowed books that I want to get read-some that I borrowed a very, very long time ago!
I also want to read-
All 7 Harry Potter books (read the first 4 when pregnant but will have to reread)
Breaking Dawn, the 4th book in the Twilight Saga
The Big Stone Gap books by Adriana Trigiani
I am really looking forward to pushing myself with reading this year, and hope there will be some fabulous books in there.
My target for this year is 60 books with 15 being 1001 books. This is because I plan to tackle some challenging/long books from the 1001 list!
Books I really want to read this year-
Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
On Beauty- Zadie Smith
Middlesex- Jeffrey Eugenides
The God of Small Things- Arunditi Roy
Atonement-Ian McEwan
Memoirs of a Geisha-Arthur Golden
A SuitableBoy- Vikram Seth
The Wasp Factory- Iain Banks
Rebecca-Daphne Du Maurier
One Hundred Years of Solitude- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
Vanity Fiar- William Makepeace Thackeray
Little Women- Louisa m Alcott
david Copperfield- Dickens
The Woman in White- Wilkie Collins
I also have a few borrowed books that I want to get read-some that I borrowed a very, very long time ago!
I also want to read-
All 7 Harry Potter books (read the first 4 when pregnant but will have to reread)
Breaking Dawn, the 4th book in the Twilight Saga
The Big Stone Gap books by Adriana Trigiani
I am really looking forward to pushing myself with reading this year, and hope there will be some fabulous books in there.
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