Friday Poetry: John Clare

Hello!

Happy Friday Everyone!

My chosen poem this week is by a favourite of mine.

The Instinct of Hope

Is there another world for this frail dust
To warm with life and be itself again?
Something about me daily speaks there must,
And why should instinct nourish hopes in vain?
'Tis nature's prophesy that such will be,
And everything seems struggling to explain
The close sealed volume of its mystery. 
Time wandering onward keeps its usual pace
As seeming anxious of eternity,
To meet that calm and find a resting place. 
E'en the small violet feels a future power
And waits each year renewing blooms to bring,
And surely man is no inferior flower
To die unworthy of a second spring?

John Clare

Happy Reading

Etsy

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March 2025 TBR

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a fab day of reading, walking and relaxing which is just what I wanted after a very busy day and evening yesterday.

My February TBR consisted of 5 books and I managed to read 2 of them but they were both very long books so I was quite pleased with how well I managed.

I am putting some smaller books on my March TBR as February contained mainly big books.

I know a couple of these books are bigger but I am hoping I will manage at least 3 of my planned reads.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

February 2025 Wrap Up

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. My February reading wasn’t quite as good as my January reading but I was still really happy with what I managed as some of the books were quite big. I have fallen behind with my book reviews though!

Statistics

Books

Pages: 455

Format Read: Paperback

Review to follow

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Old Book

Pages: 784

Format Read: Hardback

Review to follow

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Old Book

Pages: 544

Format Read: Hardback

Review to follow

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Old Book

Pages: 336

Format Read: Hardback

Review to follow

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Old Book

Goodreads Challenge: 9/50

Old Books (books bought before 2025): 4

New books: 0

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Goodreads Monday: 3/3/2025

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I have had a full day of teaching and Etsy order making but I have also managed some reading which has been nice.

My chosen book to feature this week is one that has been sat on my TBR pile for quite a long time but has recently surfaced and reminded me I own it and haven’t read it yet.

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King

Once upon a time, in Derry, Maine, four young boys stood together and did a brave thing; something that changed them in ways they hardly understood. 25 years later, at their annual reunion, a stranger stumbles into their camp.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope you are all having a good weekend. I have been thoroughly enjoying the good weather and I hope it continues.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I am currently half way through this reread of Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. This is my third time reading this book and it is so nice to return to the world of Anne Bronte.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 1/3/2025

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.

Hello!

I had another preordered book delivery this week. I will be honest I had completely forgotten just how many books I had preordered last year!

This one is another by a favourite author and the fourth book of a series I really must start reading soon!

I am determined to start The Bone Season this month and get cracking with this series.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: John Osborne

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has some fun plans for the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is by the English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and entrepreneur John Osborn (1929-1994).

There Is Handholding Still

My friend's grandparents married
three weeks after they first met. 

Their third date was a pub Sunday roast,
walking her back home he proposed.

Two eighteen year olds saying
'I've got a good feeling about this.'

I think about them when I need reminding
sometimes we have to take risks. 

John Osborne

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

This and That Thursday

Hello!

I thought it was time for an update which is outside reading. We’ve been quite quiet since Christmas as we have been back at work and trying to do work on the house but we have managed a few little adventures.

Walking

I have really got back into my walking recently and I just love been outside. I do a few sessions a week on the treadmill but mainly I try to get outside as I find a walk outside really helps my mental health and helps me sleep better. My husband and myself are still trying to finish the last Lord of the Rings medal on the Conqueror Challenge but it taking a very long time. I really want to finish it because I have a big list of medals I want to earn next.

Library

The outside of the house is now basically finished so we are really cracking on with the inside now. The room we have planned for the library needs quite a bit of work as we have found a few horrors since stripping the wallpaper off the walls (the problem with old houses). We also had to remove a sink from the room and deal with a large hole in the wall. This week my husband filled in the hole and now I can finish stripping that wall of wallpaper. The next thing we need to sort is the electrics as we need the sockets moving to fit around all the shelving we have planned. I will post pictures when it stops looking like a horror story!

Dinning Out

Last week was half term and I took the week off teaching so we decided to go out for a treat. We had a meal at a lovely restaurant which is quite close to our house and the food was amazing. We will definitely be going back. We’ve also had a few lunches out as well.

So there are our few little adventures. We are really looking forward to the National Trust places opening up fully again but the main thing at the moment is pushing forward with the library so all my lovely books can have a proper home.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Mid Week Quote: Stephen Hawking

Hello!

My chosen quote today is by Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) who was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author.

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.
It matters that you don’t just give up.”

Stephen Hawking

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 26/2/2025

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a lot teaching today but in any gaps I have read my book which has been nice.

What I am Currently Reading

I have almost finished this and I am absolutely loving it. I’m really enjoying reading about the 3 women’s different lives and how they intertwine.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I really enjoyed this and my review will be posted soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

There are so many books I want to read at the moment and I am really craving some classics as well.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you