The year in books :: July

Yes, I finally finished The Apologist. I actually really enjoyed it. The premise being that Mark, the lead character feel he needs to atone for all the bad things he's done in his life (from giving a restaurant a bad review to how badly he treated his first girlfriend) and his apologies are so heartfelt he's recruited by the United Nations as their chief apologist....

This month I also starting reading the next in the Tana French series of books "Broken Harbour". Although that'll be extended into July it's looking good so far. I really enjoy her characterisations and I'm intrigued to know whodunit!!

I decided I'd save the new Kate Atkinson until we (hopefully) go on holiday and also have another Rachel Abbott "Stranger Child" and a set of three short stories by Simon Kernick to keep me quiet this month....obviously this is subject to change on my whim!!! I migth also get the last Tan French book too. Need to have plenty of reading matter to choose form on holidays.

Last month, I also said I'd be talking about other things I have been reading. Well, for work I've been working my way through "Transformative dimensions of adult learning" and "Learning as Transformation" both by Jack Mezirow. It's as accessible as it sounds, although the concepts are interesting I'm finding the book itself tough going!
More to my taste is my bedtime leafing through Tender vol I (Nigel Slater) and Hugh FW's Everyday Veg. The cauliflower and chickpea curry looks very good (and doesn't involve the oven on these hot days!).

An aside - (whilst browsing for new books on my kindle the other day I was delighted to see the new Robert Galbraith book is out in October. It'll be here in no time!! That's October sorted then!)

Ten things :: June

Here we are at the end of the month. I'm counting down to our (hopeful) holiday, the end of the school year and the end of the medication for LittleR. Hopefully normal life and nursery can resume soon. I need to be more positive I think.

:: It's exhausting trying to work in the evenings when you've managed a 2 year old's flighty temperament particularly when the work you're trying to do is as riveting as mine. Actually, the work is really interesting but I've reached the end of the line and need a break. I'm hoping to get one solid publication done before our holiday. That's the aim anyway.

:: The British Summer is here. I think it actually might be too hot. Well, we're experiencing 2 days of 28-30C in Leeds then, I expect it'll rain and normal service will be resumed.

:: I cannot believe it's nearly the end of the school year. We have sought and obtained a green T shirt (more difficult than it sounds) for BigRs class sports day tomorrow afternoon. It seems they position the parents in the direct sun. For hours on end whilst small people 'throw long pointy sticks' ("what's that called again Mummy?"..."Javelin?") I'll look forward to that then!

:: To make sure we make the most of the weather, we had another BBQ yesterday. In the last 3-4 years we've had maybe 3 BBQs but decided earlier this year to invest in a gas BBQ. Now there's no stopping us. I think this is the 4th BBQ in 2 months! I made some burgers and bought some sausages - standard BBQ fare.The ABO has plans for doing a whole fish now!

:: The garden is looking pretty good even if I say so myself. It could do with a bit more planning rather than chucking it in and seeing what happens (aka hoping for the best!) but most of it is looking pretty good so far. Let's hope it can continue into the later summer.

:: Somewhat disappointing is this year's strawberry haul. I'm not sure what's happened but lots of the strawberries have turned white and hard rather than ripening. We shared the only one suitable for human consumption yesterday. Fingers crossed for a few more. Still our peas and runner beans are looking good. And then there's a late show for the sunflowers, no buds yet but I'm still hopeful!! And of course we still have some apples on the tree.

:: One major success (for me at least) was the fact I grew a radish! Yes just the one but it was peppery and delicious. There are potentially some others on the way - possibly even enough for a salad!  I've tried radishes for the last 2 years and finally appear to have gotten somewhere.

:: There have been a few sweet treats. My parents visited and brought treats from Betty's.
I have made a cherry cake and rocky road (how easy is rocky road? -I'd assumed it was a dark art!). Now I'm planning my birthday cake. Hmmm...what to make?

:: I treated myself to some supermarket peonies. Finally, I found some on offer. I love how they take ages to open and unfurl and then are suitable blousy and frilly.

:: We took the girls to Abbey House Museum one Saturday afternoon. It's a great place to look round, particularly if the weather's bad and the cafe's open. They have one area set up as a Victorian street then the rest of the museum is devoted to toys and games from throughout the ages. Of course the girls' favourite part is where they can make pretend tea parties...of course they can't do this at home because they don't own any cups/plates/jugs/coffee pots or play food.

In my head

There are lots of things in my head at the moment. Some of which are easily shared, some not so. It's still hard living with a background of worry. I'm working on papers and research plans in the evenings to make up time for not being in the office work. But...

:: The sun has been shining which has improved my mood (and the girls too) no end. We go outside to play at least twice a day. I attempt to stop the smallest girl picking every flower in the garden and mostly act as umpire (well football season is finished...) over who wants what toy...

:: The garden has taken shape nicely, quite by chance one bed is full of only purple, and blue and white flowers. Anyone would think I'd planned it that way - it's just a fluke. I'm usually of the mindset of shove it in and see if it grows!! I'm loving this allium - wonder what it'll look like when it's fully open?

:: I'm wondering why on earth a Nobel prize winner would be such a fool and say what he did and then pass his gaff off as a 'joke'. There's plenty of people not laughing. Sexism is alive and well and in a lab near you. It's nearly 20 years since I started my PhD - you'd have thought things might have changed but I know that the 'leaky pipeline' is alive and well and no thanks in 2015 to a man who  makes comments like that. I could go on but I may spontaneously combust.

:: I've been baking. Tonight there's a cherry cake in the oven. Earlier this week I made scones. I think I may have found a super scone recipe (better than Mary Berry's) here. I think it's the use of strong flour that makes the difference. Very yummy even though I didn't have any clotted cream.

:: I'm struggling to think that in a month it'll be the school holidays an BigR will have completed her first year at school! How did that happen? We're having to plan her birthday party now as she's 6 the week everyone returns to school and the invitations need to go out! Eek.

:: I went for a lovely day out with a friend, her new baby and LittleR to Harlow Carr. We had a delicious (birthday) cake in the Betty's cafe there and a super walk and put the world to rights. The alliums were beautiful...

I love the meconopsis - fancy this in my garden next year...

:: One of the clematis I've been growing has suddenly turned brown and crispy. I'm very sad. I've plants with the name of both my children in the garden and neither are up to much this year. Maybe I'll just buy a new one!!

:: I joined the bandwagon and got the Orla Kiely jars. Not used them yet but they're there...ready...

::  I'm planning the ABO's birthday. It's a significant one that ends in a zero. He did so well with mine a couple of years ago I've got to get it right. It doesn't help we'll (hopefully -small child depending) actually be on holiday for it so some of the gifts need to be light enough to tarvel with. Maybe I should make a list?!
 

The year in books :: June

Once again (here come the excuses) I've not actually finished a 'reading' book. I'm halfway through Jay Rayner's 'The Apologist' and good though it is, it's not been completed. I've been busily reading cookery and other food books in search of some inspiration to go beyond our usual dishes and also gaining inspiration form craft books at all the thinks I could make in my free time (hahahahaha).

This got me thinking about what I consider reading. In fact, I have, actually read a lot this month...but just not what I consider a proper 'reading' book.

In June I aim to
:: finish The Apologist
:: Read A God In Ruins
:: Write down all the other books/magazines I read to see what else I get up to!

Joining in with Laura.

Coasting

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Where is the time going? Life here seems to be coasting, drifting if you will along a current of appointments and treatments for our youngest. There's been practical changes to our work arrangements (well mainly mine as being an academic is fairly flexible) as she can't go to nursery at the moment. We've become experts in her condition, in giving her medication, in undertaking daily tests, in knowing and understanding and negotiating the subtleties of the health service. It's hard advocating for your child, making decisions on her treatment which could affect her future, it's very hard. If I had a penny for everyone who has said to me "Ooh you'd never think she was ill would you" I'd be very, very, very rich. I know (for the most part) they mean well but it doesn't really help much. Of course, it is incongruous, a very ill child who's running round and doing forward rolls.  

Not wanting to be left out it's looking likely that our eldest has a nut allergy. Pistachios for certain. Other nuts? Who knows but she's not having nuts anymore. More referrals. More appointments. More tests. Even with 'insider' knowledge on navigating the health system it's exhausting.

But amidst this there is joy. 

I've laughed myself silly at Peter Kay's new comedy about a car share. i think it might be one of those that you keep coming back to. We've watched some more films - 24 Hour Party People (again), Alan Partridge - Alpha Papa (again), Silver Linings Playbook (which I loved as a book and the film was pretty good) and with the girls, Despicable Me. They are now officially minions crazy.

Another upside of being home more is more time in the garden. The girls love playing in the garden , although my plants and I aren't that happy with an enthusiastic 2 year old pulling and trampling on them.

I've been growing alliums again this year and finally, finally had success. I'm very pleased with myself!

My trusty azalea has burst into flower again, It's hot pink blooms really cheer a corner of the garden. I believe the old wive's tale too (that they like being moved) and took it on its annual walk round the garden (it is in a pot, I've not lost my mind that much) before it flowered.

I'm looking forward to a bounty of blueberries this year. LittleR ate the best part of a punnet today!

I've made a lot of new cakes but taken no pictures of them. Cherry cake, chocolate marble cake, (the offensive) pistachio cake.  I thank you Mary Berry and Fay Ripley.

I've been reading numerous cookery books and making a huge list of new things to try.

I still haven't gotten round to buying that mug. Although I did spot an interim replacement in Asda the other day. I love a puffin.

I'm reading your blogs but doing it from my phone means commenting is more challenging. I hope normal service can be resumed...eventually.

New routines and rituals

You know how it is. Those activities you just have to do before you can settle to something else. Like tidying up before revising for an exam. Or finishing the ironing/cleaning the loo/scooping out plugholes before you make yet another visit to the hospital. Or just having a quick coffee before you get on with anything. I've been thinking about routines and rituals. I've written about it before and seen others writing about it recently. How the ebb and flow of life subtly changes and you develop new routines and habits.

:: I'm still a slave to a coffee. I love our bean to cup machine. It gets used multiple times a day and make the most delicious coffee. I have to have a very specific mug. My favoured Orla Kiely mug met an untimely demise at the hands of LittleR, so I'm currently on the look out for a new one. I'm liking the look of this one.

:: Since the onset of "the illness" my hands have never been more sore and cracked. Actually, that's not true. My hands were just as dry when both girls were born and I was hand washing multiple times a day. So my newest ritual is remembering to apply hand cream. You would think this would be easy...sore hands, oh yes apply cream. But no. I have to be very mindful to do this. I have some lovely cream and some prescribed cream neither of which are near me when I think ooh apply cream. Maybe I should string it round my neck?

:: Our latest (unwanted) routine is Early Rising. The littlest has taken to whining very early in the morning (somewhere between 5.15 and 5.40). I have no idea what's waking her. She doesn't want to get up but doesn't want to stay in bed. I have to go in and pat her, where after she might consider being quiet for another 15 or so minutes. Or not. It's very boring when you're sleeping badly enough as it is. Hard going on the ABO when he's been on lates too. We're thinking about a gro clock (although that had limited success with BigR!) and thicker curtains (to cover the blackout blind!).

:: My favourite new ritual is watering the plants.  I'm expecting we'll be spending a lot of time at home this summer with plenty of it in the garden. So we've bought some new garden furniture and are making plans to grow 'stuff'. I'm working on the flower beds now. I sowed some cornflower seeds last week and they're just starting to sprout...I'm very excited. We've planted some peas (now proper plants!), beans (just poking through) and strawberries (bought with flowers on for best possible chance of success!) and I'm hoping to get a tub of carrots and radishes going. Never had much luck in previous years with carrots of radishes but you can try again can't you? The biggest thing is getting outside to water them but it's easier now as the girls are both a little more independent in playing in the garden, I can tend to the plants - before havoc ensues! And if the plants survive balls, hula hoops and enthusiasm from the smallest!

:: A ritual I'm hoping to get back is making. I don't feel I've been very creative the last few weeks. I've been seeing others' efforts and feeling the need again. So I've dusted off my sewing machine and ordered some new bobbins and needles. The skirts (I've mentioned before) for the girls are top of the list. I've been looking through my recipe books (getting excited to see Nigel Slater is writing a 3rd volume of  Kitchen Diaries) and want to make some new things to eat. Just recently I made a (very delicious) pistachio cake adapted from a Fay Ripley recipe and some coleslaw. I was amazed how much tastier it was without the raw onion. I'm also keen to make an embroidery for my friend's baby girl. So, I have plans  - now I just need some motivation to get started!

The year in books :: May

Well it was a little better this month on the reading front. I managed to two novels. The first was 'girl on a Train' by Paula Hawkins, such an excellent premise to the story of a girl imagining the life of people she observes in their gardens and houses on her commute. Of course, it gets a little more complicated than this as it transpires she used to live on the street she observes and imagines and then one of the women she sees goes missing...
I was gripped. It was 'light' enough to keep my (sleep deprived) attention but gripping enough to draw me into the story.

The second novel was the new one by Mark Billingham. I really enjoy his Tom Thorne novels and again this was no exception.The last couple of novels have taken Thorne away from his job in the met but still 'fighting crime'. This one appealed to my more gruesome side! I'm hoping they'll make some more of them for TV - David Morrissey, in my mind is a super Tom Thorne.

So not bad for April.
In May I'm hoping to read Jay Rayner's novel The Apologist and Kate Atkinson's new book (when it's published...very excited!!).

Joining in with Laura.