#WBOYC January

 Joining in with my namesake in Australia over at Deb's World for the first What's Been On Your Calendar post of the year.

I'm trying out a new way of recording things which may, or may not, continue!  A change is as good as a rest eh?

Watching and reading

It's the time of year when I tend to hibernate and stay home more than go out so I have been able to watch a few series on TV.  I really enjoyed Playing Nice which made me feel so anxious and very cross at times.  Imagine being told that your toddler son is not your child - that you brought the wrong baby home from hospital and now his birth parents want him back.  Oh boy.  I've also been enjoying Patience.  She is a self taught detective working in the police records department.  Her autistic mind means that she sees patterns and characteristics in cases that everyone else has overlooked.  It really is a lovely programme.  I've already documented the books I read this month in this blog post here.

Eating

Our son and daughter in law have arranged for us to have a monthly delivery of spices and recipe cards to experiment a bit with Indian cookery.  Our first attempt was really delicious and something I would never have tried before.  We haven't been out to eat this month, but do have friends coming over this evening for a take away meal.  You see, I really do hibernate in the winter!

Self care

There's been a hair cut and a manicure this month which always make you feel nice.  I'm still going to my Zumba class, it really makes you feel good to dance for an hour! I also started attending a Fitness Pilates class which has made me realise that there are a lot of muscles that I have been neglecting.  It is difficult at times but my balance is definitely improving even if my flexibility isn't!  Still, it's only three weeks in so hopefully things will get better.  

I do have a health worry though which is ironic as I had been congratulating myself on feeling really well with my new exercise regime.  Following my annual blood test they decided I needed to start statins.  A follow up blood test after a couple of months showed elevated results in two of the liver function tests.  A third test showed even higher levels despite everything else being absolutely normal.  So I am off the statins to see if they have totally disrupted things and now booked in for a liver scan.  This is not good for someone who is naturally anxious.  However, my cholesterol level has gone nicely low so they did their job there!

Days Out

No days out - the weather really hasn't been suitable for that, but we have booked a long weekend away in May.  We are taking Coco and going to an Airbnb in a village called Wells-next-the-sea in Norfolk. 

Here is the month, 1 Second Everyday

Be sure to pop over to Deb to see how an Australian January turns out.

It's been a while!

 I seem to have got out the habit of Me on Monday -it seems like once you break a routine it's hard to get back into it.

I'm blaming it on the exercise class I signed up for.  I now go to a Fitness Pilates class on a Monday morning and I need to get in a 'write in advance and schedule a post'.  So after everyone raving about how good Pilates is for your posture and core strength I convinced my slightly reluctant friend to join me in a trial class.  After we had both realised that we were less fit than we thought we were, we signed up for a term.  I spend the first third of the class enjoying the stretches, a third thinking that I probably won't be signing up for another term and the last portion enjoying the cool down stretches.  So basically it seems I like stretching ;-) It's harder work than I thought it was and I have less core strength than I mislead myself to believe.  Onwards and upwards!

I'm returning to the car salesroom on Thursday to make a final decision on my new car, I think the electric version is just too much out of my price range even without the cost of installing a charger - plus I still have my reservations about it so as I'm not 100% convinced I will stick with the petrol version.

We haven't really been anywhere or done anything as the weather has been 'stay at home and keep warm and dry'.  We haven't had the horrendous storms that the North and West have had but it really hasn't been conducive to going out unless you have to.

Talking of going out into the rain and wind - it's time to go to Pilates!

Have a good week.

My book list in January

 I started the year with the book that was runner up in the online book club run by Leslie.  

I have read a few of Rosamunde Pilcher's books and knew that I was likely to enjoy this one.  I wasn't able to get hold of the book that claimed first position in the book club voting but I was happy to download The Winter Solstice in its place.

Our introduction to the characters in the book start with Elfrida, who has recently moved to a small village in Hampshire following the death of her partner.  She soon finds friendship, particularly with the Blundell family where she grows particularly close to Oscar and his daughter.  She decides to visit a 'long lost' family member who has moved to the depths of Cornwall, starting his new family far away from his first wife.  She spends a wonderful few weeks there, relishing in the comfort of their welcoming family but on her return to home she discovers that there has been a tragic accident and the whole rhythm of her days and social life has been torn apart.  

In an effort to comfort and support Oscar in his time of grief, she accompanies him to Scotland, to a house which he had inherited many years before but which had been rented out so Oscar had never actually lived in it.

We then start to be introduced to various other characters and you wonder how on earth these people could possibly be linked.  That is the talent of Rosamunde Pilcher; she draws you into people's lives and then suddenly things fall into place and you imagine how it is possibly going to pan out.

This book was perfect for reading over the Christmas/New Year period as that is exactly the time of year that is the setting for the story.  I was transported to the wintery wilds of Scotland and could easily imagine myself living in such a lovely place, close to the sea yet within easy walking distance of a quaint village with a real sense of community.

I really enjoyed this book, loved every character (except for Lucy's mother and grandmother!) and was very happy with how things turned out in the end.

                                                        📚📚📚

I was able to easily find January's Online Book Club winner this month and I knew that even if it didn't win the vote, it was something I wanted to read anyway!

Every year, on her daughter's birthday, Sally buys a new book to add to a special selection and writes a dedication on the front page.  But Ella is unaware of this, having been living in Australia for most of her adult life with little contact with her mum.  

One day Ella receives a call from a concerned neighbour in England telling her that her mother has had an serious accident and will be unable to live unaccompanied until her injuries have healed.  It is obvious that Ella will have to return home to care for Sally and she begrudgingly packs to return to the home she left on bad terms many years before.

After she collects Sally from hospital she sets about investigating which repairs need to be made to the house after the major flood which caused the accident.  The worst affected room is unlike any of the rooms she remembered from her childhood there.  It had been beautifully decorated with tasteful furniture and what was once a well stocked book case.  But the damage to all these precious books has been awful with all the heartfelt messages written by Sally washed away in the flood.

As the days pass Ella realises that the opinion she had of her mother is not correct, as she left home while still a teenager her opinions are that of a moody, emotional girl and she has to reevaluate her feelings as she learns the truth about what happened before she emigrated to Australia.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

My next book was a Christmas present.  I'd seen it reviewed on the tv show Between the Covers where it received good reviews and thought it sounded good.

Edward in a man living between the world he actually lives in and the one in which he would like to inhabit.  In an effort to befriend a 'better class' of person he ingratiates his way into their world by doing their more menial tasks.  He is in love with Stanza who he feels is well out of his league and is distraught when he discovers that she is in a relationship with another of his 'friends', Robert.  

This makes him more determined not to lose the life he dreams of and things take a darker turn when Robert asks him to help him get rid of a problem which could ruin his prosperous life.  This book has been likened to Patricia Highsmith's Talented Mr Ripley and it is easy to see why!

There was a point about half way through the book when I was seriously considering not finishing it. In fact I did actually miss a whole chapter when things became very sinister.  But as it had received such good reviews I stuck with it and after that the pace picked up and I became involved in the storyline again.

One of my most favourite books and films is The Talented Mr Ripley and although it is easy to see why this book is said to be comparable it does not, in my opinion, match the very high bar set by Patricia Highsmith.  Overall I think is this a 3* rating from me and I'm not sure it's a book I would really recommend.

That's it for this month!

Me on Monday

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post and we've had a whole Christmas and the start of a new year in that time.  The decorations came down last Thursday, it's never as much fun dismantling the tree as it is making it pretty but it is nice to have a proper clean around and get things back to normal.  The hallway looked so drab without the decorations I had on the table so a nice vase of daffodils were needed to cheer the house up a little.

The temperatures have dropped since I last blogged.  In fact we woke on Sunday to find a light layer of snow. 

We got off very lightly compared to the north of the UK! Whilst temperatures are probably about where they should be at this time of year, it was so mild in December that it's been a bit of a shock to the system.   Which will make it harder to do what I plan to do this morning.  I mean who wants to take most of their clothes off in a hall when it's almost freezing outside?  I have booked myself onto a fitness pilates class at our local community centre and have also convinced a reluctant friend that she would enjoy it too!  I think I need to physically move myself out of reach of the chocolate tin to keep to my intention not to keep snacking when I am not hungry.

This week sees our routines returning to normal, and I really do need to stay focussed on what day of the week it is - over the Christmas and New Year period each day ran into the next and I had to really think about what day it was, it felt like one very long weekend.  It is my turn to host the Knit and Natter get together this week.  There will be lots of news to catch up on since our last gathering.  It is hard to believe that this time last year I wasn't involved in that at all!  

I also have a decision to make regarding my car.  The contract will be up in a few months and I need to decide whether to trade it in against a new one the same as I have now or to go for an electric version.  Big decision, and any help with making it will be gratefully received!  

I hope the weather isn't impacting on anyone's plans for the week - keep warm and keep safe! 

#WBOYC in December

 

The last WBOYC of 2024 - this year has gone by in a flash and whereas I was super busy in November, December was more relaxed.  So let's see what's been happening -

Decorating the tree

Traditionally done on the weekend closest to Paul's birthday and a sign that the countdown to Christmas has begun.

Eating out with friends.  Would you believe it - once again the waiter brought out a 'happy birthday' dessert for me, this was at a different restaurant to the last one and this time he believed me that it was not for me and it was quickly diverted to the table next to us!

Craft afternoon at school was fun.  My daughter and son in law were both in London that day so I was nominated as the family member to get involved with making decorations with Leo and Rosie.  We made a snowy owl out of a pine cone and cotton wool with Rosie (I was covered in bits of cotton wool stuck to my fingers by the end of it) Then onto Leo's class where we made a picture to be added to a calendar.  It was a tree divided into quarters and we had to paint a different season in each quarter.  Messy, but fun!

Enjoying the excitement of the grandchildren when Santa went past our house on his sleigh

He started his tour of our part of town at 4.30 and Leo tracked him on the Santa app for two hours before he went past the house.  Oh if only we could bottle that excitement!  I think ours was probably the noisiest house.

Masquerade masks for our Zumba party

We had a fun time and there were some very elaborate masks being worn.  There is a different theme each year and this was a good one.

Batten down the hatches!  A couple of storms blew through this area. Luckily no storm damage here but other places were not so fortunate.

Exhibition of Paul's artwork at a local venue

This was the first time he had actually entered some pictures into an exhibition and he received some nice feedback about his entries.

Relishing the thought of someone else cooking Christmas dinner

It was a fabulous day, we are so very lucky to have such a close, loving family.

So let’s see the month progress, 1 Second Every day. Then pop over to my namesake over in Australia via this link! 

What I've been reading in December

 This is a book that I was lent by a friend.

We had both read, and enjoyed, an earlier book (The Miniaturist) by this author so it was interesting to see how that story continued. 

The book is set in Amsterdam in 1705 and the main character, Thea Brant, has just turned eighteen.  The Brandt family are in financial trouble and Thea's Aunt is positive that the only way out of their problems is for Thea to marry a wealthy man.  Thea's mother died in childbirth and has had a sheltered upbringing but she discovers a love of the theatre and also falls in love with a stagehand who works there.  How can she tell her family that she has no intention of marrying anyone other than Walter?

Her Aunt Nella has her sights set on a suitable gentleman and cannot understand why Thea is refusing to marry him when he has such good prospects and the family's future prosperity relies on a good marriage.  

Then out of the blue Thea receives two anonymous gifts.  The first a miniature figure with a remarkable resemblance to her secret lover and the second a tiny house, intricately made.  (This echoes the storyline of the previous book) These are then followed by a blackmail note saying that the writer knows of her affair and requires payment to avoid disclosure which would bring shame to her family. 

Upon discovery of who is the blackmailer Thea is struck by a strange illness which drives her family to despair but it appears to be a symptom of the grief she is feeling. When she starts to feel better she feels that she has no alternative but to marry Nella's choice of husband in order to bring stability to her family.

But things do not go according to plan and at the end of the book we find that sometimes you have to return to the place you tried to escape from in order to make a new beginning.

All in all a good book.  Probably best if you have read the previous book but not essential and the ending definitely leaves scope for a third book in the series.

The next book is The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

I was drawn to this book as it is set in England in the scorchingly hot summer of 1976.  I have such strong and happy memories of that summer.  I was 18, I'd just left school and the weather was absolutely glorious.  The author of this book has captured the atmosphere of that time perfectly.  The tiniest details are exactly as I remembered them, right down to the little china animals, Whimsies, that the girls collect. The feeling of the unexpected heatwave right down to the smells of the tarmac in the heat.

The book revolves around the disappearance of Mrs Creasey, one of the residents of The Avenue, a cul de sac of eight houses where everyone knows everyone else.  As her absence lengthens the neighbours become increasingly concerned not only for her well being but because she was the one person they all confided their secrets to.  

Grace and Tilly are two young friends who find the disappearance intriguing.  Has she been murdered or simply decided to go away?  After a discussion with the vicar they decide that they need to find if God can be found anywhere in the Avenue and will ask around for evidence.  

Meanwhile, the adults are speculating about the possible involvement of Walter Bishop, an eccentric lonely man who lives alone and was once accused of taking a child from their home and abandoning her in the park.  His behaviour does nothing to allay their suspicions.  We have all read of such people being wrongly accused of crimes and it is easy to see why Walter is the target of their beliefs.  Grace and Tilly see a different side of him when they go to question him on the subject of whether God is living in The Avenue.

This isn't a particularly dynamic book and I felt the ending left a few questions unanswered.  But I did enjoy it and it was nice to be transported back to those hot and endless days of the summer of 1976.

Me on Monday

 Well it would seem that time is flying by so fast that I completely missed last Monday! So here I am on this Monday recovering from yesterday. It is a family tradition that we have a pre-Christmas family lunch on the weekend closest to Paul’s birthday so we had everyone here yesterday. It was also the Sunday that our local Round Table group drive around with Santa’s sleigh and he is scheduled to go past our house about 6pm. Let’s just say that excitement levels were running very high! It seemed that 6pm was never going to come and then we heard the music playing in Santa’s sleigh

The children were so excited - oh if only you could hold onto that magic.  The squeals of delight must have been heard throughout our road, except for Olive who suddenly felt a bit unsure and sought refuge in her daddy's arms.

We had quite a lot of socialising last week, an art exhibition for Paul's paintings, a dinner with my Zumba ladies, lunch with my knit and natter group, a viewing of Rosie's nativity show and it was also Paul's birthday so I am grateful for some spare time just to settle and enjoy some quiet time this week.  

I am booked in to help in Leo and Rosie's classes on Tuesday with some craft activities so that will be like stepping back in time.  For 10 years back in the 1990s I was a classroom assistant, little did I know I'd be back again (just for an afternoon) 35 years later!

Have a good week x