My book list for April

 The first book I read this month was our online book club’s choice

Beth lives on a family farm owned by her husband Frank's family. Their lives are pretty settled until one day a dog runs into their field and savagely attacks their sheep.  The dog is out of control and Beth's brother in law, Jimmy, instinctively shoots it to save their flock.  This act will cause unimaginable devastation to the family as the owner of the dog is Gabriel, Beth's first love who has moved back into the area with his young son.  

The chapters are split between the 1950s and 1960s and we become aware that there has been a death and one of the brothers is accused of murdering the other.  

The characters are well written and one can sense the dilemma that Beth finds herself in, loving her kind and honest husband but still feeling the attraction of first love.  She arranges to help look after Gabriel's son, Leo, and feels a deep affinity to him as he reminds her so much of the son she and Frank lost in a tragic farming accident a few years earlier.  While you cannot condone how this storyline unfolds, you can feel how she is torn between the two loves of her life.  Her brother in law Jimmy is unhappy at how much time Beth spends at Gabriel's home and suspects there is more to the relationship than everyone believes.  Although Jimmy comes across as a man on the verge of alcoholism and the unpredictability that it involves, the author invites you to sympathise with him and you can sense his loyalty to the family is behind much of his behaviour.

So, was it murder or just a terrible accident?  Whose finger was on the trigger before the fatal shot?  Can the family survive however the trial ends? 

My second book was The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Harold Fry receives a letter from someone he used to work with, telling him that they were in a hospice and did not have long to live.  Harold immediately writes a reply and sets off to send it, leaving his wife upstairs doing her normal housework.

Somewhere between home and the post box Harold makes a decision to personally deliver the letter and sets off on a walk.  The 'slight' problem is that Harold lives on the south coast of England and the hospice is in Berwick on Tweed, not far from the Scottish border.  Over 500 miles away.  Harold is not wearing any appropriate clothing or footwear for such a huge journey. Nor has he taken his mobile phone.   He has set out on a whim with the belief that if he can keep walking, Queenie will stay alive until he reaches her.

Harold meets many different people along the way, obtaining help in unlikely places, meanwhile his wife is left at home waiting for a call from phone boxes along the way to let her know that he is safe.  Both of them have time to reflect on their family life in ways they would never have done before, stuck in the rut of routine.

Whilst the story is a little unbelievable as I don't think someone in their 60s could suddenly walk that distance with no proper walking shoes or equipment, and at times a little drawn out, I did enjoy reading it and I understand it has now been made into a film.

Me on Monday

 We’ve woken up to glorious sunshine again today and it looks like it’ll stay  for the rest of the week 😊

It was a weekend of flowers and flour for me. We visited some beautiful bluebell woods on Saturday. I love this time of year!

The photo doesn’t really do it justice, it really was a carpet of blue and absolutely gorgeous. Perfect dog walking country.

Then on Sunday I went to a cooking academy for a class in how to make pasta

It was in a lovely location, about half an hour from me, in a courtyard filled with sculptures and individual studios for potters, artists and a bakery.  I have no photos as I was either busy making or eating pasta! Everyone left their phones in a different room and it was great to see everyone totally engrossed in the class with no interruptions. We made a basic dough and turned it into ravioli, spaghetti and tagliatelle. We also made three different sauces, carbonara,arrabiata and Alfredo, then it was lunchtime and we sampled everything we had made. Such a fun day. 

Today is normal routine after the Easter break, with pilates to start with.  My arms are aching from all that kneading of the pasta dough so I'm hoping she will go easy on us!  I'm hoping we will go to Cambridge one day this week as I have a few birthday presents to buy and it's nice to look round some of the little individual shops there.

No other firm plans for the days ahead but as the weather forecast is good I'm planning to just take each day as it comes and do a little bit more work in the garden.  Or maybe sitting in the garden watching Paul do the work 😉

#WBOYC in April

 

This month seems to have been quite a gentle progression into spring.  We've had some lovely weather and the gardens are looking colourful and full of new growth.  So, how did I spend my days?

Watching and reading

The new series of Grace still has as many twists and turns and red herrings to keep your brain challenged.  I still enjoy watching Interior Design Masters, and can usually guess which person will be sent home after an untasteful project. 

Then onto a couple of travel inspired shows. The Pilgrimage is back, with celebrities taking on a pilgrimage route.  It is interesting to see how people of different faiths and opinions gel over a challenging route. This time they are in Austria and the scenery and architecture is absolutely beautiful. The new series of Race Across the World has just started and already you are seeing signs of a little discontent between some of the couples.  To be left without mobile phones or credit cards at the great wall of China and having to find your way to the finish point in India is not something I would be any good at!  

I've just finished watching Feud and had not realised that making an kitchen extension on the back of your house could cause so much trouble (or deaths). 

I'll be sharing my April reading in a post next week.  I've only read a couple of books but they were both good in very different ways.

Eating

We couldn't find a day over the Easter weekend that everyone was free so I ended up cooking family meals two days in a row.  Traditional roast lamb with lots of veggies on Easter Sunday and a pork and cider casserole with Jersey Royal new potatoes and veggies on Easter Monday.  I love it when it is the season for Jersey Royals, I think they just taste so much nicer than any other new potatoes.

We had an Indian takeaway with friends one evening and it was absolutely delicious.  We tried a restaurant that we hadn't used for a while and we will definitely be using them again from now on.  For once we did not over order.  It's so tempting to go through the menu and choose lots of starters and then can't eat the main!  Do you do that?  I could make a meal out of the samosas, onion bhajis, chicken chat, poppadoms and dips!

One of my 'knit and natter' ladies invited us to a party at the local golf club.  It was to celebrate her 70th birthday and it was such a nice evening.  It was a sit down meal; the food was delicious and it was fun to dance the night away.

Self Care

I'm still doing pilates and zumba, although there have been a couple of weeks off due to the Easter break.  I'd like to say that I did some exercising at home to compensate but we all know that isn't true!  First Zumba class back was yesterday and it was so good to get out and dance.

There's also been self care in the form of a haircut and one which I was apprehensive about - a dental check up.  Fortunately I came out of each salon/clinic with a smile on my face!

Can you consider booking a holiday 'self care'?  I think so - and am happy to know that this month we finally decided on a destination and we have a trip to Italy planned for June 😎

Days out

As the weather has been so lovely, we have been taking Coco to different places for her walks and it's been really nice to change the routine of staying close to home.  Even though we have a country park on our doorstep, it's good to go elsewhere sometimes.

I have a day out planned for this Sunday.  For my birthday, my son and daughter bought me a ticket for a pasta making class at a cookery school near to them.  I have never made my own pasta and I think it could get quite messy but I'm looking forward to learning something new!  

So all that is left now is to share 1 Second Everyday for this month and invite you to pop over to Deb's World  to read about her Awesome April in Australia!

Me on Monday

 You won't believe this but we have started today with glorious sunshine again! We have really been spoilt with beautiful spring weather in the last week, the garden has really woken up and it is a joy to see the colour gradually emerging out there.

So I have a tale to tell about a previous Monday.  Remember the Monday where I was looking forward to collecting my new car?  Well, when I went to pick it up, it wasn't the car I had ordered.  It was a three door, not a five door.  Which was a problem, not just because it wasn't the car I wanted, but I couldn't get Olive's car seat in the back!  So I had to drive off in it as the paperwork had all been done to trade in my old car and the new one was registered in my name.  How frustrating!  So now I have to wait for the correct car to be delivered to the dealership and I am pretty sure that the salesman will be counting the doors before he tells me it has arrived!  He was so shocked when I said it was the wrong car, I think he thought I was joking, but then his face fell as he realised the mistake.  

Imagine this, but with 5 doors not 3!  It is lovely to drive but not practical for me while I'm still involved in picking up and dropping off young grandchildren!

We booked a holiday 😎  After many searches through many brochures and websites we have decided to return to Lake Garda in Italy but to a different resort to those we've been to before.  It looks fabulous and I am now counting the days!

Today I am meeting up with a friend for a coffee and a croissant which is always a good way to start the day isn't it?  Then I have a couple of days of full day childcare as it is the start of the school Easter holidays here.  We had a very busy weekend so I am looking forward to just taking it easy today and preparing for the grandchildren being here tomorrow and Wednesday.  

I hope your week is starting off in the sunshine and that you have good things planned for the week ahead!

My book list for March

 Here we go with my reading list for March, three very different books!

Once again Freida McFadden has had me thinking I know which way a storyline is going and then completely taken me by surprise. Before I go any further I need to say that this book is not for the squeamish!

Sydney is looking for a caring, compassionate partner but is having little luck with the men she is meeting via a dating app.  Then she meets someone who seems to tick all the boxes of the qualities she is seeking, he's charming, successful and is a doctor at a local hospital.  

But let's go back in time to a young boy called Tom and his friend 'Slug', both boys are unpopular with the 'cool' kids and both seem to have slightly odd interests.  Tom is obsessed with the girl across the street, Daisy, whose father is a local police officer.  After the disappearance of a girl who Tom was tutoring, Daisy's father says that she should have nothing to do with Tom anymore as he suspects he may not be all he seems.    

Let's return to the present day, where Sydney discovers that her best friend has been brutally murdered.  In a total state of shock she is supported by a mutual friend, Gretchen, and her boyfriend who happens to be the caretaker of the apartments where the girls live.  But Sydney's boyfriend is starting to act suspiciously and she is now wondering if he could be the mystery doctor that her murdered friend was dating before she died.

I smugly thought I knew where this was going.  I confidently believed that I could match up the characters from the past to those in the present.  Reader, I was wrong!

What a twist at the end and what a feeling that things have not been tied up as neatly as it seemed!

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I decided it was time for a different genre of book for my next read, I needed a break from murders!

Emilie de la Martinieres travels to her family home following the death of her mother.  The two had never been close and Emilie feels that she knew little about her. Being an only child, Emilie inherits all her mother's worldly goods, which includes a chateau and vineyard in the South of France.  Here she meets Sebastian, with whom she falls in love and marries before moving to his family home in England while renovations to the chateau are taking place.

In the midsts of checking out the chateau and trying to make decisions for the future she discovers a book of poems written by a previous occupant.  These lead her to search for more information about the author, her aunt Sophie, whose love affair changed the course of the family history.  

The story moves between 1943 and 1998, as Emilie discovers more and more information about her family's connection to the chateau. This part of the story introduces Constance, a young British agent who finds herself involved in the de la Martinieres family. Realising that their lives are in danger at their home in Paris she travels with the daughter of the family (Emilie's aunt Sophie) to their home in the south.  

There is a lot of family connections in this story but it is one that I enjoyed and would recommend.

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For my last book I decided to try something different.

I really enjoy the TV series Gavin and Stacey and wondered if Ruth Jones would be as good an author as she is a scriptwriter.

Us Three follows three girls who are best friends at school and swear an oath on a Curly Wurly sweet wrapper that they will always be there for each other no matter what life holds for them.

After they leave school and before they go to university they plan a fantastic trip but on their return, things take a huge turn and their friendship possibly lies in tatters.  Their innocent childhood promise looks unlikely to be fulfilled.  Sometimes it is hard to be the one in the middle of two friends who fall out and are either unwilling or unable to forgive and forget.

I enjoyed this book, and I changed my opinion of the characters several times before the ending! If you are looking for a nice easy read, this is one to try.

#WBOYC in March

 

So another month has gone past in fast forward mode and suddenly here we are with British Summer Time beginning in a few days. Here's a brief resume of how my month progressed, noting that I ended the month a whole year older than when it started 🎉

Watching and Reading

I managed to read a variety of books this month and you can see my reviews of those in a couple of days time.  On TV we watched the Netflix drama that everyone is talking about, Adolescence.  What a powerful performance from everyone concerned.  It makes me grateful that the online world was not as compulsive when my children were growing up but concerned for my grandchildren.  I think that it should be viewed by all parents of young children and teenagers to forewarn them of the dangers that they may be vulnerable to experience. We are also watching Protection which we are enjoying and we've also just finished The Bay.  I am watching White Lotus (Paul has given up with that one!)

Eating

We are still enjoying experimenting with the recipe spice box that our son arranged for our Christmas present - tonight it is the turn of lamb rogan josh.  We were sent all the herbs and spices needed, we just have to provide any fresh products.  I love Rogan Josh in Indian restaurants so have high hopes for this one!  

We have been to lunch twice at friends' houses and enjoyed a lovely Sicilian lunch out in Cambridge for my birthday.

Self Care

I'm still continuing with my pilates class and think there may be a tiny improvement in my flexibility.  Plus I am managing to hold all the positions a bit longer and don't find them quite so difficult.  But ... there is still a long way to go!  Still enjoying my Zumba Gold classes, you really do feel lighter and more positive after an hour of dancing.

At the end of last month I was awaiting results of my scan and I cannot put into words how relieved I was to receive a call to say that there was nothing sinister detected and they did not want to send me for more tests. 

Days Out

We went to Cambridge on my birthday, it is such a lovely place.  Full of character and atmosphere and always somewhere new to discover.  

We also went to Walton on the Naze when we went to visit friends who live near there.  It's a place of two halves, on one side the seaside resort and pier that was so popular years ago but now looking a little tired, and on the other side a more wild, natural area which is sadly at risk of coastal erosion.  

There’s a bit of a story behind the new car I got this month.  Let’s just say that I am driving a new car, but it’s not the one I ordered 😬 I'll elaborate more after the garage manage to get the car that I wanted in the first place - hopefully not too long to wait!

Here's the month, 1 Second Everyday

Now please do pop over to Deb's World in Australia who co-hosts this fun monthly round up.  Better still, join in the fun and share your month too!

Me on Monday

 Hello to another new week!

This one is starting off with an exciting event, I'm picking up my new car today 😁. It is another mini, let's just say I've found a car I love to drive and see no reason for trying anything else.  I've just cleaned and emptied my existing one and woe betide the grandchild who makes the first muddy footprint in the new one!

We went to visit friends who live close to Frinton on Sea at the weekend.  After a lovely Sunday lunch we decided to pop to the beach which is only a five minute drive away.  However, as we got closer we could see a traffic hold up.  There is only one road in and out of Frinton, and that road has a railway crossing through it. One of those crossings that has white gates that close the through way to traffic before and after the train has passed. When we realised that traffic hadn't moved after the train had gone through we guessed something was wrong.  Our friend got out the car to investigate and it seemed that the barriers had locked in the down position.  So no one could drive into Frinton and even worse, the people wanting to leave were trapped the other side of the barrier!

So a change of plan was hurriedly made and we diverted to the next town along the coast, Walton on the Naze.  We had a lovely walk along the Naze but were shocked to see how much coastal erosion there has been.  It won't be long until that footpath we were using would fall to the sea.

The week ends with the start of British Summer Time which will mean lighter mornings and later sunsets.  It's also Mother's Day here in England so I will be taking some flowers to my Mum's grave and remember how much she meant to me and how she taught me to be the mother I am today.  How grateful I am to have had her as my mum.  My children are now parents themselves so hopefully they will be organising something special for our grandchildren to treat their mums and I will make sure that my Sunday involves a favourite lunch as a treat to me!

Have a good week, I'm just off to Pilates so will no doubt spend a lot of tomorrow wondering why my legs ache so much - I may have to take myself out on a little drive in my new car to take my mind of it 😀