This and That Thursday

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a lovely day out today but I must admit I am rather tired now. Anyway, here is what I have been up to recently that isn’t book related.

Shugborough Estate

We do love our National Trust property visits and this is one we have visited in the past but is such a beautiful property we are always happy to visit it again. I also love the library at this property.

Spa Day and Afternoon Tea

This week I also met up with my best friends and we treated ourselves to a spa day at The Elms which included afternoon tea. This was a belated birthday celebration for my best friend and it was so good to spend time together after not seeing each other for a while.

Burwarton Show

I spent all day today at Burwarton Show and absolutely loved it. My feet are rather sore now from all the walking but it was worth it. Very cute animals, good food, good drink, vintage tractors and much more. All my favourite things.

The rest of my time has been the usual work, reading, walking with a little bit of housework.

I hope everyone is having a good week.

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Friday Poetry: Anon

Happy Friday!

My chosen poem for today is by an anonymous author but one that I think is rather amusing.

Bookworm

A worm ate words. I thought that wonderfully 
Strange - a miracle - when they told me a crawling
Insect had swallowed noble songs,
I night-time thief had stolen writing
So famous, so weighty. But the bug was foolish
Still, though its belly was full of thought. 

Anon

Happy Reading

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Mid Week Quote: Lao Tze

Hello!

I found this quote and I really think it is words to live by and so I thought I would share it with you all.

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
Lao Tze

Happy Reading.

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Hello!

Today is the blog’s 2nd birthday. I can’t quite believe I have been blogging about books for two whole years. I love blogging and reading people’s blogs and I am so grateful for all my followers.

I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring in the blogging world.

Happy Reading!

The Weekly Brief

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all have a good week planned ahead. So here is what my week has been like in the blogging world.

Posts this Week

Books I am Currently Reading

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Books I have Acquired

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First Lines Friday: 17/07/2020

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

Hello!

I haven’t done one of these for a few weeks so I thought I would have a go this evening.

Remember, the answer is below the cats. Good luck!

“You’ve got to say this for desperation: it makes you much more open-minded. I really can see some positives in this flat. The technicolour mould on the kitchen wall will scrub off, at least in the short term. The filthy mattress can be replaced fairly cheaply. And you could definitely make the argument that the mushrooms growing behind the toilet are introducing a fresh, outdoorsy feel to the place.”

And the answer is…

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

How did you do? I hope to read this book very soon.

Happy Reading

Mid Week Quote: Thomas Beecham

Hello!

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a good week so far.

This week my chosen quote is by Thomas Beecham (1879-1961) who was an English conductor and best known for when he conducted the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras.

“Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty.”

Thomas Beecham (1879-1961)

NetGalley

Hello!

After a bit of thought I have decided to dust off my NetGalley account again. I didn’t really use it last year because I had so many books in the house to read, but just recently I have missed my NetGalley account.

When I was using NetGalley regularly I discovered some wonderful books and authors that I have come to love and have read more of their work. The problem I had was that I became overwhelmed with the amount of books I had to review on NetGalley and I just gave up and left it alone.

So now I have decided to start using NetGalley again I have given myself strict rules. The rule is mainly to only request one book at a time and not request another one till I know whether I have been granted a copy to read or not. I will also not request any more books till I have read the one that I have been granted. Hopefully by following these rules I don’t become too overwhelmed.

I have requested my first book The Queen’s Rival by Anne O’Brien and I’m really excited about it as I have met the author in the past and I love her work. Fingers crossed I get it but I fully expect to be refused as I have been quiet for so long on NetGalley.

Hope to be posting some NetGalley reviews soon.

Mid Week Quote: Dana

Hello everyone!

Well this week I am back to teaching and half term already seems like it was ages ago. Due to this I have gone for an education quote for this week’s quote. This quote I completely agree with and try to always be improving my own skills and learning new things.

“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.”

John Cotton Dana (1912)

Happy reading

Christmas Reading List

Hello everyone!

I have started to think of my Christmas reading list. I usually begin my Christmas reading on the 1st December but this year I am very tempted to begin earlier because usually I am so busy during the month of December. Also I just want to get into the Christmas spirit!

The first on the list is a book recommended to me by my best friend, who sent me a very excited text yesterday telling me I just had to read it.

The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller

The second book will be a new copy of The Nutcracker which as you know I read every year and every year I get a new edition, the prettier the better.

So let the planning and Christmas book buying commence. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Happy reading.