a good read

For the last couple of years I have been in a book-club but I have let things slip and I haven't been to a single meeting since our Christmas 'do' in December.  I was going to try to turn over a new leaf and make an effort to go to each meeting this year but it's already the end of April and I've not been to any.  I do find it harder to go out in the evenings during the winter months, once I'm home after the school run I get all cosy and warm and find it such an effort to go back out again (maybe I'm just lazy).  Now that the spring weather is with us and my get-up-and-go has returned (or my laziness has lapsed) I will still not be able to go out to the meetings because I am moving away.

I always have a book on the go.  I always read before I go to sleep as I find it the best way to rewind at the end of the day.  I love it when a story grips you and you really feel for the characters.  The 'girls' in the book-club opened my eyes to reading books that I wouldn't normally have chosen myself and I did enjoy most of them.

My recent reads include...



The lady in my local card shop was so engrossed in this book that she didn't notice me standing at the counter ready to pay for my cards.  She said it was a great read.  The blurb said that it is 'an adorable book', 'the funniest, quirkiest romance of the year' and 'brilliant'.  I'm afraid I don't agree.  Quirky, yes.  Brilliant, no.



I saw this one on a blog (sorry, I can't remember which one) and then on the shelves at Asda. I bought it without reading the blurb and maybe I wouldn't have bought it if I had.  It's about a group of terminally ill teenagers.  I enjoyed this one - in a sad kind of way and was shocked and saddened by the twist.  MissG thought it was 'cool' that I was reading it because it is written by one of her favourite You Tubers.  I enjoyed it enough to check out his other books.



I'm reading this one at the moment.  It's about a man with Asperger's Syndrome who sets himself the task of finding himself a girlfriend.  I heard the author being interviewed by Simon Mayo on Radio2 and was intrigued.  I think it is also going to be made into a film.



My sister gave me this book.  She said that she couldn't put it down.  I think this will be my next read. 


Do you have any recommendations?  I'm always on the look out for my next good read.

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (17/52) ♥

Feeling stressed, stressed, stressed.

Here are my 'four happy moments' of the week...

1.  MrG could see my stress levels rising so came home with these gorgeous roses.  Aren't they lovely? Isn't he lovely?

2.  MrG took the whole weekend off to help with the packing.

3.  MrG brought me breakfast in bed.

4.  MrG bought me a 'grown-up' chocolate fix.  If you're like me and you lurve chocolate then you must try these...mmm.

♥ 3 cheers for MrG ♥

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (16/52) ♥

Very, very busy but much to smile about this week.  

The children started back at school on Monday and had a full-on week.  You can tell that the exams are pending.  Project deadlines, revising etc. it's all go, go, go.  This also involved me doing the school run three times a day as Guy stayed late putting the finishing touches to his chair for his 'design & technology' project.  I've also been sourcing and supplying polar white fleece for said chair and 20 gauge silver wire for MissG's art project!

We have also had a check-up at the dentist (all OK), Guy's had a driving lesson (now out on the open road) and MissG and I went to visit a school in the catchment area of our new house with a view to starting 6th form in September. 

Our 'house-moving' plans are progressing too.  MrG and I have had a meeting with the Building Society and lengthy phone calls with our solicitor and the estate agent.  We have had the surveyor here to do a Home Buyers Report for our house (all OK).  As I say it's all go here at the moment.

My little 'happy moments' amid the mayhem...

1. The sun shone, the birds tweeted, and the first daisies popped up through the grass.

2.  I popped out of the office to get some stationery supplies and found this little cross-stitch.  Just the printed cross-stitch, no threads but a bargain at £1.99.  The colours look quite garish here but I'm sure it will look lovely framed and hanging in my new cottage!

3.  MrG didn't go into the office on Saturday - he stayed home to clear the shed!  We've got so much 'stuff' to pack.  A shed, a craft room and two lofts (one in the house and one in the garage) and the rest of the contents of our three bed semi.  We did manage to spend some time relaxing on the patio though.  It was so lovely and sunny and warm that we sat outside to have both our breakfast and lunch.  This was my first ever taste of gnocchi - MissG wanted to try some as she loves Italian food.  

and finally...

a coconut marshmallow... just because!

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (15/52) ♥

Well, what a turnaround.  I've had a much happier week this week, thanks goodness.  Last week was just a little blip!

As I'm now 15 weeks into the '52 weeks of happy' I thought I should link back to Jen at Little Birdie where the idea originated - the idea to record four things per week that have made you happy. I started 15 weeks ago at the beginning of January but you can join in anytime.

the happiest people don't have the best of everything 

- they just make the best of everything

1.  This week we had some brilliant news about our house.  I'm a bit of a pessimist (I wish I wasn't, but I am) and so although I want to tell the world about the good news I almost don't want to mention it just in case in all goes belly-up.  You know when people say 'if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is' well that's kind of how I feel.  I'll whisper it to you then maybe I won't tempt fate (I know I sound like a complete wuss).

Whisper - Our house went up for sale on 6th April and by the 10th we had an offer from a cash buyer.  The next day we received an offer of the full asking price from a lady with nothing to sell and keen to move in as soon as possible.  Oh my goodness me!

And if that wasn't enough to throw me into a flap of nervous energy then listen to this...

Whisper - We went for a second viewing to a house that I so, so want to live in.  I shed a little tear (privately) at the first viewing because it's just so 'me' and I can imagine us living there.  Anyway we had a second viewing (no tears this time because I had my practical head on) and the next day our offer was accepted.  Oh my goodness me!  Deep breaths and count to ten.

After the initial excitement on Saturday I am now feeling anxious.  It's now all in the hands of estate agents, surveyors and solicitors so we're just playing the waiting game.

A quiet moment of contemplation.  Tea and a lemon & poppy seed muffin (helps settle the nerves).

2.  It was my Papa's 79th birthday this week so my sister and I took him out for the day. 

3.  My sis came to stay overnight and we went out to the cinema to see Identity Thief - it was such a laugh.  MissG and her friend were there too (not sitting with us as they're far to cool) and she glanced over just as I was dancing to the closing track - she was so embarrassed!  Sis and I laughed so much.

4.  A colourful cupcake - a treat from my niece, Robyn.

a trip down memory lane

My Dad celebrated his 79th birthday this week - he thought he was 80 so it was a nice surprise to find out that he's a year younger!

Anyway, my sis and I took him out for a drive.  It was so grey, cold and windy that we though that was a better option than a trip outdoors.  The heater in my new car is brilliant so we were lovely and cosy.

We took a drive down memory lane.  

When my sis and I were little girls (many moons ago) we spent our summers at our static caravan near Silloth, on the West Cumbrian coast.  The photo's below look quite bleak but we remember having wonderful holidays there.  Sunny summers full of sand and sea, swings and slides, ice-cream, candy- floss, coke floats, milk-shakes and penny arcades.

I'm sure this little machine was in the penny arcade 40 years ago - I remember that little boat would sail round with your prize and drop it into the treasure box and down the chute. 

Of course being beside the seaside we had fish 'n' chips for lunch followed by ice-cream.   

Then homeward bound for a cup of tea and slice of birthday cake.

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (14/52) ♥

I'm going to be totally honest with you.

I know it's probably hard to believe but I've had no 'happy moments' this week.  None, nil, nada.  Absolutely zilch.

I've had a c * * p week and yes, I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself.

I've not been anywhere, I've not taken any photo's, I've not done anything interesting.

I've spent the week on my own decorating the house and now I'm tired and fed up!  

Roll on week 15 . . .