This and That Thursday

Hello!

I hope all my fellow Book Dragons are well and having a good week so far.

This week I have been organ playing and back to teaching again which has been a bit of a shock to the system after a week off.

So here is what else I have been up to this week.

Studying

The studying is going well and I have now begun planning my two essays for my first assignment. They are very different to anything I have done before and I will be honest I am rather nervous about them. Hopefully I do a good job.

Crochet

The cowl continues! This cowl has been unravelled and restarted several times as I haven’t been happy with it. The husband has threatened to throw it in the bin several times but now I have got the ripples correct and it is going well.

Baking

The Great British Bake Off is having a bad influence on me because it keeps making me want to bake lots of yummy cakes. This time I chose to do some chocolate brownies. Thankfully, they came out of the oven a success with that all important gooey middle.

Hot Chocolate

This week has also included lots of hot chocolate sampling as we work through all the different flavours that Hotel Chocolat does for the Velvetiser. So far my favourite is the mint and dark chocolate.

Cats

To finish here is a cute picture of Lyra who decided she needed to be under the blanket rather than on top.

Happy Reading!

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This and That Thursday

Hello!

Welcome to my week!

Cats’ Instagram

The cats’ instagram is going really well. They have nearly 100 followers and I must admit my husband and myself are enjoying posting pictures and videos of the cats possibly a little too much. The cats are not bothered in the slightest.

Online Cocktail Parties

On Friday it was my best friend’s birthday and we had planned a cocktail party but because of the current situation we had an online one. My bestie’s husband sent us cocktail making kits and we all made the same cocktails during a Facetime call and had some lovely drinks and a good laugh.

Piano Playing

I have two weddings coming up in September to play for so I have been learning some new pieces that have been requested. I have also been looking at other piano pieces for fun and really enjoying playing the piano.

Fish and Chip Picnic

On Saturday we met my family for a fish and chip picnic which was brilliant. It was so good to see my brother and sister and my parents all together after so long. Also we haven’t had fish and chips for ages and my brother had brought ice cream for pudding. It was a brilliant picnic even if it did rain on us.

Baking

I also tried a new recipe this week, chocolate banana loaf. I don’t really like bananas but this loaf is rather yummy as it is so full of chocolate.

The usual bits and pieces that happen during the week have happened but it has been wonderful to catch up with friends and family. All socially distanced of course.

This and That Thursday

Good Evening!

The post is a bit delayed today so apologies. I’m still trying to get my head around the fact it is now July! Here is what I have been up to which is non-book related.

Baking

I tried a new recipe this week which was for ginger oat biscuits. The recipe was rather flawed as the ingredients wouldn’t stick together so I had to add a little bit more golden syrup, but you can never have enough of golden syrup. I then put the mixture as stated in the recipe on the baking tray and they came out of the oven like rock cakes rather than biscuits. Oh well, they are still yummy but could have done with a little less time in the oven.

Walking

We have been doing a lot walking recently and my best friend and myself have set ourselves the challenge of walking at least 2 miles everyday. This has led to us meeting a lovely horse and enjoying some wonderful views on our evening walks. I must admit I have always loved walking in the evening, the peacefulness is just wonderful.

Paint by Numbers

The picture is almost finished! I just have a few numbers left and the bits that are peach to finish. Hopefully next week it will be finished and maybe even hung on the wall. I can’t even begin to calculate how many hours I have put into this painting.

Swimming

We were also very lucky to go for a swim this week. My in-laws have a lovely outdoor pool so with the hot weather we took the opportunity for a nice swim. Hopefully we will be able to have a few more swims this year before it is closed up for the winter.

So that is my week.

Happy Reading!

This and That Thursday: 18/06/2020

Hello!

I can’t believe it is Thursday again! The weeks are just flying by. So here is what I have been up to other than reading.

Exercising

This week I have got back into my exercise and I was quite pleased to move from a 2KG kettlebell to a 4KG Kettlebell. I have also discovered a new type of workout which is called Fit Combat that combines combat moves and cardio to music. It is a super workout that I really enjoyed. I also tried my new Tikiboo shorts and love them so will be saving for another pair.

Baking

Yes, I have been baking again! The husband kept asking for another carrot cake so I spent Monday grating carrots and making the cake.

Paint by Numbers

I’m still plodding along with this and I must admit I do get rather annoyed when I discover I’ve missed a number. I finished number 5 yesterday but also discovered I had missed a load of 2’s!

Studying and Ukulele

I’m still busy studying and I have almost finished my FutureLearn course on The Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World that we were recommended to do before we start year two of our Masters. I’ve also been practising the Ukulele loads and have now decided that I will attempt grade 2 in the Autumn instead of grade 1.

Will admit I am getting quite obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer at the moment. Bringing back good memories of when I watched it when it first came out.

So that is my week. I hope everyone else has had a good week so far. Drop me a comment if you want to chat.

This and That Thursday

Hello

I hope everyone is well and having a good reading week.

This is what I have been up to this week other than reading.

Baking

This week is my mom’s birthday so I put my baking skills to the test and baked a chocolate brownie cake with chocolate fudge icing. My icing skills need work as you can see. I have very shaky hands sadly due to medication so icing was a bit tricky for me. My mom thankfully still enjoyed the cake.

Paint by Numbers

My friend gave myself and another friend a paint by numbers each and whilst my two friends are really getting into their paint by numbers I have been struggling, the shaky hands and the bad eyesight are probably something to do with this. Oh well I persevere and hopefully it will look good by the end.

Studying

This week’s studies have been rather interesting as I have been learning all about Ancient Greek and Roman medicine and hygiene practices. I must admit it has been a bit disgusting at times.

The usual things continue i.e teaching, duet recording, walking and TV series watching. I have been really enjoying reading everyone’s blogs this week and have added quite a few books onto my TBR list from reading people’s reviews.

So that is my week, I hope everyone else has also had a good week.

Happy Reading my fellow Book Dragons!

This and That Thursday

Good morning everyone!

I hope this post finds you all well. I can’t believe it is Thursday already, the weeks are flying by. I am now doing more teaching online which is keeping me busy for some reason it does mean more prep work for each lesson because it is online. So here is what I have been up to during the rest of my time.

Exercise

I am still exercising regularly and have discovered the walking workouts by Leslie Sansone. I have been doing the ones I have found on YouTube and thoroughly enjoying them. I have treated myself to one of her DVDs as well which I am looking forward to having a go at soon. I am still doing my Davina workouts but it is nice to have a change and mix things up a bit.

Baking

I made a chocolate swirly cake this week, sadly it was a little drier than I would have liked but it was my own fault I left it in the AGA too long. Hopefully my next cake will be better.

Studying

The studying continues although I do need to get back into it more as I have fallen behind slightly.

TV and Movies

We have been watching quite a few movies in an evening and have just started watching all the Harry Potter films from the beginning. We have also started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the very beginning which is bringing back memories of watching it when I was a teenager, turns out I missed quite a few episodes.

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Cats

I seem to have spent a great deal of time this week brushing our cats because as soon as I vacuum there is cat fur everywhere straight after. Hopefully my efforts are helping!

That’s about it for now! I had a present off my friend arrive today which is an enormous Paint by Numbers so that will probably feature in next week’s post. Wish me luck I’ve never attempted one before.

This and That Thursday

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is well and having a good week so far. This is what I have been up to other than reading this week…

Ukulele

I have been practising my Ukulele quite a bit in the hope I can take my Grade 1 exam when exams are allowed. This is something I am really enjoying and it is wonderful learning a new skill.

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Blogging

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying blogging and reading everyone’s blogs. I love to see what everyone is up to and what books people are reading.

Exercising

I’m keeping up with my exercise and really enjoying it. I’ve nearly finished season 2 of Criminal Minds whilst using my Elliptical machine. I really enjoy exercising but it has been a struggle in this heat.

Music

I’ve upgraded my teaching and recording set up so I no longer use my laptop speaker and inbuilt mic. This has already created a massive quality improvement in teaching and recording so I am hoping to have some more pieces up on Sound Cloud soon.

Baking

I made a new recipe called Whittingham Buttons, they have proved very yummy and I will be making them again as they were really easy to make.

Studying

This week’s studies have been fascinating as I have been learning all about how the ancient Greeks and Romans dealt with child birth and child bearing, it has been rather gruesome at times. Now I have begun learning about the ancient sewage works.

So that about sums up my week so far. I hope everyone else is also having a good week, please drop me comment with what you have also been up to.

Happy Reading!

This and That Thursday

Hello!

I this post finds everyone well and safe.

This week has been rather busy, so much so that I haven’t managed to get my usual amount of reading in.

Teaching and Recording

I have been doing a bit more teaching online which has been lovely as I have been able to see my students again and to see what they have been up to. Due to teaching online though I can no longer play duets with my students because of the delay, this got me thinking and my solution was each week to email a duet to my students with the parts recorded separately so my students could play along. Getting the hang of recording on GarageBand has taken up quite a bit of my time. I recorded my first duet and put it on soundcloud. If you fancy a listen here is the link.

Jigsaw

I’ve started another jigsaw and I am thoroughly enjoying it because it is all dogs!

Future Learn

I’m still busy completing my course on Future Learn in preparation for my second year of my Masters. I have also spotted some more courses on there that I want to do next.

Baking

No baking really this week but we have made waffles! Waffles and Maple Syrup are the best!

So that is my week so far. I hope everyone else is also having a good week.

This and That Thursday

Hello!

Firstly, a big hello and welcome to my new followers! Thank you for following and I hope you will enjoy reading my blog.

So here is what I have been up to this week…

Exercise

I have been really getting into my exercising over the last few weeks and so I also treated myself to some new leggings. I love bright fun leggings so I went for a Sesame street theme this time, sadly the socks don’t match but they are Pokemon so I think they are ok.

Walking

We are still going on our daily walks and this week we found some lovely stones on our travels.

Baking

I made a Carrot Cake! My first ever Carrot Cake and it was wonderful, probably my best cake since baking in the AGA. Now planning my next baking adventure, suggestions most welcome.

Jigsaws

I finished the Sherlock Holmes jigsaw which was interesting because I had no picture to follow and had to work it all out. I have two jigsaws left to do: a 3000 piece Star Trek jigsaw and a 1000 piece dog jigsaw. The only problem with the 3000 one is that it will take up the whole dinning room table.

TV series and movies

I have now started the second series of Criminal Minds and have discovered that I haven’t actually seen some of the second series so that is proving to be a nice surprise. We are also still enjoying movie nights, we have watched Absolutely Fabulous, The Fantastic Mr Fox, Chalet Girl and The Colony.

Studying continues and ukulele practice.

That is my week so far. I hope everyone else is having a good week.

This and That Thursday

Hello!

This has been another good week of reading and other activities. So here is what I have been up to…

Walk and Pokemon Go playing

We have been going on our daily walks and saying hello to the sheep and I have been playing Pokemon Go.

Jigsaws

I finally finished the one jigsaw and I have started another jigsaw but this one is a mystery as it is a Sherlock Holmes jigsaw so you don’t see the picture and all the items in the jigsaw are attached to the mystery.

Ukulele

The Ukulele is going well and I have started working on Grade One. Hopefully exams will recommence at some point this year.

Baking

I had a go at a chocolate torte this week which is a new recipe for me, sadly it caught on the one side but I am slowly getting used to baking in the AGA. Going to try another new recipe next week.

Movie Night

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We have done our best to recreate the cinema experience and have watched two films with popcorn and chocolates. Emma was a really good adaptation and we did enjoy a good laugh.

I’ve also done loads of reading!

So that is my week. I hope everyone has had a good week.