Cette Semaine...

Hey Ho :)

xXx

So this week has been a productive one- the best kind! My mum came back from the library the other day with, as usual, a whole pile of deliciously interesting books. One of which stood out to me above all the rest, however:

 Sophie Cornish and Holly Tucker's Build A Business From Your Kitchen Table is the story of how they set up their business, notonthehighstreet.com, plus advice for others wishing to do the same.

Well, this was like gold dust to me; an authentic, accessible and down-to-earth handbook on the very project I'm dreaming of throwing myself into at some point!

Thank you ladies for inspiring me to keep dreaming and one day make it happen :)

Aswell as swatting-up on my business acumen, time this week was well spent with my Beloved at singing class, staying-in a few candle-lit evenings, strolls at twilight and even having a go baking our own pizza, dough and all. It actually came out quite well although, personally, I'd blind-bake the base first a little, or stetch it thinner next time, as I found it a little to stodgey, but Jamie loved it- my we were full afterwards though! You can find the recipe on the Guardian website. 

The recipe did invole beer though, so you know, it's bound to be a hit with our men-folk ;P

{said pizza}

 

 As well as all the reading I've been doing (I'm still enjoying the wonderful Phantoms In The Brain I mentioned recently) Russian study finally came back into the limelight. I've been neglecting it for a while now and it feels so good getting back to it. It's a flattering photograph, I know, but it raised a titter with James and I like that I tried so I thought I'd include it ;)

Meanwhile the garden is flourishing. (More on the veg soon!) And the sun returned for an extra blast of summer yesterday- well we can only make the best of it whilst we have it, here's to the next installment!

xXx

Right, got to gear myself up for performing tonight now!

Look, Some Books!

 Hey :)

xXx

Today I bought a book. 

I just nipped to look at the first few stall of our local market, on my way down to the shops this morning, and ended up coming away with something I've been hankering after for a while. Well, to be straight, it was more that I have been after seeing a certain film (Kes) for a good time now- Dad has been recommending it to me for years- and today I came across the book that inspired said film. (I admit I wasn't even entirely aware that it was a book until today- the more you know!) Anyway here it is: Barry Hines' A Kestrel For A Knave, and,  as you can see, a bargain it was too :)

{What a find: 50p from the local market.}

Also, as I'm currently on books, I thought I would take this opportunity to tie-up a couple of loose ends that have been pestering me.

Firstly, I had begun to post a series of book review videos on my Youtube channel, documenting my progress though the last book I read (read *devoured*) Anne Bronte's The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall, but unfortunately, the sunshine decided to come out, life (too much enjoying myself outdoors) got in the way and in doing so a couple of things fell by the wayside. So, apologies for this and to update those who were interested, I have finished it now and enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps it's as well I didn't tell you the whole story and ending, so that it hasn't been spoiled for you, because I certainly recommend you giving it a go :) 

{keeping me company by my bedside, a good book is like a companion.} 

Another book that I did almost exactly the same thing with was Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry.

I was lent the French translation by the mother of a French friend of mine and got part of the way through.

Life happened again but this time I never got back to finishing the book, even in English. This is a huge shame because I was enjoying the story very much. I still plan to find a copy and go back to it one day, and would definitely recommend it.

{Long-winded: The French title translates as The Letter That Is Going To Change The Destiny Of Harold Fry Will Arrive On Tuesday !}

Image courtesy of Google

The next book Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, I bought at a car-boot sale the other week. I've not yet tucked into it yet but on perusing my purchase I noticed a sticker pasted into the cover. It's for a website called bookcrossing.com where readers can track the journeys their books have made before they came to rest on their laps. I've heard of people writing in books before passing them on to others, in fact, I myself have do a few times whilst travelling, so I was excited to hear someone had mad the effort to create a website where all these people can convene :)

{Sharing the love of books with others} 

And so to my current read. A non fiction work on neurology. Very different for me, but my Beloved read it for Psychology, and told me I should give it a go. So I did, and to my surprise, I'm really enjoying it!

It's primarily concerned with the phenomenon of so called 'phantom limbs'- a condition where some amputees and even a few people born without limbs, feel as though they do have those missing body parts- even to the extent that they feel pain in them or are able to 'wave' them voluntarily and 'grasp' at things. 

it's incredibly intriguing and so accessibly written (even humorous at times) that it's a real page-turner.

{Unlikely choice for me}

What are you reading at the moment? Anything to recommend?

Have a great weekend, let's hope the sun shines on!

xXx

Reading Again

Hey Ho :)

xXx

It's been a while since I had my nose in a good book. Recently I went to a car boot sale (it's got to be one of the best things about Saturdays and Bank Holidays!) and having successfully avoided buying more dresses- I reckon I'm now at that stage where I can legitimately claim to have 'too many' lucky me!- I came across a box full of classic literature and decided that a few volumes would be 

a much more worthwhile investment.

(I stand corrected- my memory failed me terribly!
Jane Eyre is by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights is by Emily Bronte
tut, tut Heidi!)