Hello July

I have joined a book group and discovered a renewed love of reading. It was organised by my dear friend Abigail and there are six of us, scattered across the country, and so we meet via Zoom. It's not quite the same as all being in the same room but I don't think it particularly impacts on the conversation or amount of wine drunk. We chose two books each which have been randomly allotted to different months, and our first title was Our House by Louise Candlish. It's a pretty good thriller, well plotted and with an excellent twist, although I did think it could have done with being one hundred pages shorter. But good. Our next title was my choice: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which I'm half way through and absolutely loving. It is one of the best books I have read in years, one to keep and read again, one which is enjoyable but you learn so much from. I'll admit I'm relieved...imagine if I had recommended a dud? The book after that is Behind The Scenes At The Museum by Kate Atkinson. I remember when this was published and I must've read it soon after, as it was more than twenty years ago. I also remember feeling underwhelmed and like I'd missed something, so I'm quite keen to read it again and see if I like it more on a second reading. Not for book group, but I also just bought Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo which I'm really excited to read. Have you read any of these? Do you belong to a book group?

Reading aside, it's been a so-so week. We had a mini, mid-week heatwave, two days of gloriously hot weather when I was at work, which was swiftly followed by a weekend of wind and rain and a feeling of restlessness and frustration that wouldn't go away. I am still finding this strange nearly-normal much harder than the initial lockdown, but I have to be patient and count my blessings and, as always, when I stop and think about it and look back at the photos I've taken, there have been so many good things, including:

:: an afternoon at the beach and my first sea swim of the year

:: brightly painted beach huts

:: swim suits and sandals drip drying on the line

:: balmy summer evenings where I walk barefoot around the garden watering the plants

:: my first sweet pea (thank you for the tips)

:: chatty dog walks with this one

:: and a rare photo of a natural smile

:: An afternoon in Chichester with Bella. It was quiet and we wandered around a couple of shops including my favourite Winter's Moon and Waterstones, got a take away drink (coffee for me, milkshake for her) and tried to pretend it was a little bit normal.

 :: I bought a few bits and bobs - small, practical, well made things that I will use over and over again, like a little window sill watering can, simple candle holder, woven bowl to hold the detritus that gathers on the hall table, and a wooden coffee scoop.

:: my crochet top is coming on nicely and I think it may be finished in time to wear in the right season! (It's this one.)

And now it's July and there are only three more weeks left at school before the six week summer holiday starts. 

Making the Most of the Weather

When the sun shines over the August bank holiday weekend in the UK, you just have to give in to it and enjoy it. John had to work all three days unfortunately, but each evening we made the most of it, drinking cold beers in the sun, lighting the barbecue and sitting outside until it got dark. One night we had chicken and turkey sausages (from Lidl - very nice) with a warm roasted vegetable and bulgar wheat salad, another time veggie burgers with curly fries and corn on the cob. Dessert was ice cream or marshmallows toasted and squashed between two chocolate digestives. 

During the day the kids and I stayed home a lot. Apart from swimming lessons, the odd trip to the shop and seeing family, we hung around the garden pretty much the whole time, deliberately avoiding the beach and the inevitable traffic queues. I always love the way the garden becomes another room when the weather is warm for an extended period of time. The kitchen door always open, the paddling pool filled, the parasol up, the table covered in books, towels, drinks.

It was hot and dog walks needed to be done early, then Ziggy spent the rest of the day moving from grass to bed to an old duvet that Bella put outside for him. 

John was home on Tuesday so we made that our bank holiday. We went down to the beach late afternoon and spent a lazy few hours there. The sea was warm and clear and there was virtually no wind, it was absolutely lovely (and no traffic!).

I was conscious that this might be our last chance to swim in the sea this year and I really didn't want to miss out. Once we go back to work and school it's so much harder to find the time, the weather is cooler, and before you know it, it's autumn. 

 We finished the evening with the obligatory fish and chips, bought from the fun fair and eaten on the beach. I file these little moments away in my head, to be pulled out and remembered when I'm back at work and it's cold and raining.

At home, work on my blanket progresses slowly during the evenings, when it's too dark to embroider. It's too big for the basket now.

My parents returned from their holiday in France with the most wonderful bag of gifts for us. As well as a crepe pan (a frying pan just for pancakes - I am very excited!) and a tea towel embroidered with a jaunty seagull, there was a fabulous array of edible goodies. Sardines, caramel sauce, local sea salt, dark chocolate and raspberry jaffa cakes....and my absolute favourite, fish soup. Honestly, it was like Christmas! I absolutely love looking around food shops and supermarkets abroad. What people like to cook and eat interests me much more than what they wear, and I have spent many a happy hour or two in Super U on holiday in France.

Harissa paste. My mum said "I thought you'd appreciate the tin" - she was right.

One last thing: I have been nominated for an Amara Interior Blog Award in the Best Creative Skill category. Whoever that was, THANK YOU. It really, really means a lot. Shortlisting is determined by a combination of votes and judge selection, and so if you would like to vote for me you can do so here. Thank you.