This week my Word of the Week is: Unexpected!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has had a lot of the unexpected and has been full of little surprises. From the weather changing, to football results, to Ellie making plans for the future and to random flying visitors in the bedroom.

The week started with us going to an agricultural show and it was a fantastic day out (I have a post coming about it). The weather was perfect, although not quite in the way I expected! Throughout the day it was sunny and bright for 10 minutes, then the clouds came in and we had a chance to cool down. When we left the house, it was grey and overcast and I thought it was going to stay like that, so stupidly didn't bother with sun cream. By the time we got home, my shoulders and back were starting to sting a little. I slathered myself in after sun lotion and thankfully, it helped. I peeled a little mid-week but it could have been worse and at least I have a nice tan to show for it, even if it wasn't gained in the most sensible of ways! It's a reminder that you can never fully trust a cloudy day.

Did anyone stay up and watch the England match on Sunday night? I didn't but did catch up the next morning. Everything seemed stacked against England, with Mexico not losing many matches, not losing at their stadium and our boys playing at altitude but they did great and we got the win! We had a day without football on Wednesday and it felt strange after having so many matches over the past three weeks or so. I didn't realise how much I had got used to having a match to look forward to. It became part of my evening routine. Tonight it's the England match and I am part excited and part nervous! All I've seen on my TikTok over the last couple of weeks is Erling Haaland. He is quite the character and it's quite scary how fast he can run! I know a little about football and my thought is Dan Burn needs to start the match to deal with him. I've seen them play against each other in the past and if anyone can stop Norway scoring, it's Big Dan Burn! Football is full of unexpected moments, which is probably why we all love watching it.

At the end of last week, I felt like there was no routine to my life. I like routine. I used to have Tuesdays and Wednesdays by myself when Ellie was at college but now she is home more and I was starting to feel I had no time to do my own thing. I don't think it helped that Stu had a couple of days off work and Becky had the whole week off so everything felt strange. This week was just what I needed. Becky and Stu were back at work and Ellie has been here, there and everywhere this week doing her own thing. She met up with friends, had a visit to college to sort some paperwork out that she should have done before she left college and went shopping for something to wear to a job interview. She hasn't got an interview yet but she wants to be prepared as she has been applying for a lot of full-time jobs. She applied for a dream job during the week: it's local, dealing with one of her favourite things and something sort of to do with engineering but not the typical engineering job. I don't want to say too much yet but it has made me smile how she is following her dreams in a round about way.

I can't have a Word of the Week post without talking about the weather. It has been another warm one. I am sitting here at half past 10 on an evening and it's still 21C (69F). It's going to be fun trying to sleep tonight. Last night I was lying in bed and heard what I thought was rain. I thought surely not, so I got up to look and it wasn't raining. I turned my head back to the bed and could still hear the noise and figured out it was coming from a plastic bag. I was brave, picked the bag up and looked inside and it was a fly which must have crawled in and couldn't find its way out. Somehow, I managed to keep it in there, tied the bag up and threw it downstairs. I swear the bugs are terrorising me! Just the other week I wrote in my Friday Favourites post how a bug had found its way into my laptop and was crawling around behind the screen. It's still there but hasn't moved and I don't notice it any more! Phew!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 28. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a good week. Mine has been a good one. We've had lots of family time, days out and plenty of time to relax. Over the weekend we went to a local country show which was a favourite but I have a whole post coming about that, these are just the little things which I have been loving and I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share.

The Sheep Detectives!

Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realise at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it.

I love movies with talking animals and this was just brilliant! The Sheep Detectives on Amazon Prime was such a fun and easy watch, although there were some moments when I felt myself tearing up. The sheep all have their own funny personalities and I got way more invested in them than I expected. It's a mystery but it's not too serious, so you can enjoy it without having to think too hard and it has Hugh Jackman, which is a bonus!

Fudge!

Of course I got some fudge from the country show that we went to over the weekend and I have been eating it slowly, as I know I won't get any more until next year. I got Turkish Delight, Skittles, Baileys, Eton Mess and Malibu coconut rum flavour!

Project Hail Mary!

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth's sun, and realises that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

I finally watched Project Hail Mary on Amazon Prime. I'm not usually someone who gets excited about films set in space but this one, I enjoyed. It had me laughing, it had me worrying about what was going to happen next and I didn't want it to end. Ryan Gosling was great but Rocky stole the show for me. It wasn't all serious either, there were loads of funny moments mixed in with all the drama.

Horse Art!

Last year, at the show, I held off buying things until the end of the day and a lot of what I wanted was sold out. I ended up buying a little horse thing in a frame made of feathers but really wanted one made from shotgun cartridges. This year I got one to go with the feather one from last year.

England!

We're through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup and I think if we can get past Norway tomorrow night we might get to the final. I didn't stay up and watch the England v Mexico match, the 1am start was too late for me and then it got put back until 2am because of the weather. I did catch up on it when I got up and it was one of the best matches of the tournament and I'm not just saying that because I am from England. I shouldn't laugh after Jordan Henderson was injured but he did something special, getting a yellow card and being stretchered off without even playing a second of football. lol I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Things growing in my garden!

Last week in my Word of the Week I mentioned my garden is doing well and this week it has got even better. The corn silk has started growing on my sweetcorn plants, which means there are ears of corn growing. I noticed my pepper plants have mini peppers on and my tomatoes are growing too! My flowers are blooming and the weeds are not actually taking over. I feel so pleased with my garden this year!

What have you loved over the past week?

What I listened to in June!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. All of my audiobooks come from my local library through the app BorrowBox. I know lots of what I listen to might be considered old but they are all new to me!

This is what I listened to in June:

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella!

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed. OK, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers. But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they? Until her not-so-perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business. Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams or try to get her job back? Does Demeter the woman who has everything actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems. And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?

There’s something about Sophie Kinsella books that make me smile and feel happy. The chaos in this story felt over the top but at the same time believable and I loved every moment of listening. There’s romance running through it but it never takes over the story, it's like a little bonus rather than the main event. There is a lesson to learn from this book. Nobody has it all sorted and everyone’s just winging it in their own way. I really liked how Katie changes and grows into herself throughout the story. She’s not perfect, makes some very questionable choices, overthinks things but I ended up rooting for her anyway because she feels real. I found myself laughing, cringing and nodding along all through this book!

This Bright Life by Karen Campbell!

Gerard is twelve. He hates his name, but loves flying round the streets of Glasgow on his bike, or mucking about with his gang, the Broncos. He's a bright kid, but trouble seems to follow him. No one really knows what it's like at home for Gerard; he's used to carrying a lot on his small shoulders. Gerard doesn't always make good decisions. And on one April morning, in the blink of an eye, he makes a very bad one, one that will upend his whole world. Now, he faces a bewildering stream of concerned adults clutching files, unfamiliar streets to navigate, a strange bed to sleep in, and the very real chance he won't see his wee brother and sister again.

This book is not trying to be flashy or full of shocking twists and that’s exactly what makes it work so well. It's about everyday life and explores the realities of social and foster care. It doesn’t rush through the difficult bits and with each word you feel the emotion. The start was pretty bleak but it does get more hopeful as it goes on. It is a thoughtful story that focusses more on people than big plot twists.

Bad Apple by Alice Hunter!

Becky Lawson’s life has been shattered. When she discovered her husband, John a trusted policeman was a monster, she reported him. But her faith in the system was crushed when it didn't lead to any charges or consequences. Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her young daughter, while Becky battles guilt over missing the obvious signs. Determined for justice, Becky hunts him down. But John wants her silenced at any cost. Becky knows only one of them can survive, and she’ll do anything to make sure it’s her. Becky must tread carefully though, because John isn’t the only bad apple lurking in the shadows.

If you’re looking for an audiobook that grabs you straight away and keeps you guessing right up to the very end, you need to listen to or read this. From the very beginning, its full of suspense and it doesn’t stop. It has so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I spent most of it trying to piece things together only to realise I was wrong again and again. What I really enjoyed was how it made me question everyone and everything. I was so suspicious and was constantly changing my mind about who could be trusted and who couldn’t. There was even a point where I thought maybe the main character was imagining things. This book plays with your head in such a clever way. I felt so much frustration for the main character because of everything she goes through. Then there’s the ending! I didn’t see it coming at all.

Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon!

Kitty thought moving to London would spice up her life. Unfortunately, she ended up on Ashdown Close, where the hottest topic of gossip is a missed bin collection. That was before the arrival of Sian and Rich at number 8. They are cool and glamorous, and Kitty is perfectly willing to be dazzled by their company. But when she spots a mysterious woman furtively leaving their house, she realises they might not be the magnetic couple she thought. Aided and abetted by best friend Grace, Kitty feels she needs to investigate. Do Sian and Richard really have something to hide, or are Kitty and Grace just being nosy neighbours? And if they are, perhaps they are not the only ones. Because on this street’s nobody’s business might just turn out to be everybody’s business.

I went into this expecting a who done it, murder mystery, and it really wasn’t that at all. That threw me at first, but in a good way. It’s more of a funny, messy, nosey neighbour kind of story where everything happens and you don't see it coming! The characters felt like people you could actually bump into on a normal street and I liked most of them too well, apart from one. hehehe It’s light, a bit silly in places and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is probably why it works so well.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke!

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them. Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children, they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

There is a lot of hype about this book but I don't know how I feel about it after listening to it. I thought Natalie the main character would wake up in 1855 and be forced to live the real lifestyle that she tries so hard to show on her social media but that was not the focus of the book. Instead, there were lengthy chapters dedicated to her past. I feel cheated. It is more about mental health issues that get deeper and deeper as the story unwinds. On one hand, I was hooked. Natalie was such a horrible person, I couldn't stop listening as I wanted to know what happened. She was cruel, unlikeable and unkind but on the other hand, I felt annoyed as I felt it was pushing a political view down my throat and trying to make me swallow it. If I had to describe this book in one word, it’s icky.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #63

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What's something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated?

I thought grown-up things were dull, boring when I was younger but now it turns out I love those things and do appreciate them. Sensible shoes, now I am all about comfort over fashion. A quiet night at home in my pyjamas is another one. There was a time when I thought staying in was a bit of a waste of a weekend. Now it feels like a treat! Gardening is something I thought I wouldn’t have the patience for but now I enjoy it. I can’t forget things like matching towels, fresh flowers in the house, and watching documentaries on TV. I enjoy calm, simple things now and younger me would be confused by it all.

2. What was peaceful about today?

I am writing this on Sunday evening after a pretty busy week. Today everything seemed peaceful and like life slowed down a little! There was no alarm clock going off waking me up. I had a long shower and changed into clean PJs for the day, I watched The Sheep Detectives off Amazon Prime, the British Grand Prix, Project Hail Mary and then of course some football. Lots of tea was drunk, I enjoyed some delicious fudge and Stu cooked tea. Everything about today is so calm and relaxed. Nobody really asked anything of me, I didn't have to be anywhere and it was just a lovely day!

3. It's National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate? You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes...which do you choose?

This or that-blueberries or raspberries? blueberries or strawberries?

Nope, I am not celebrating. I have never liked blueberries, no matter how I eat them. I've tried them lots of different ways: fresh by themselves, baked into muffins, in pies, on top of pancakes and mixed into yoghurt and every time I end up thinking no, they're not for me. I will always choose raspberries and strawberries over blueberries but strawberries are my favourite berry. I could eat a whole punnet by myself.

4. Do you need a break? From what?

I don't feel like I need a break from anything at the moment, life is pretty good and quite manageable. A break from all the day-to-day chores would be a bonus. There's always another load of washing to do, pots to wash, meals to cook, cleaning to do and my family to keep on track and then the next day doing it all over again. I can't complain though, if I didn't have all those day-to-day chores I think I would get bored. Those jobs give me a routine in my life.

5. What has surprised you most about getting older?

It’s how fast time starts moving! When I was younger, a year felt like a lifetime, birthdays felt miles apart, school terms dragged and it felt like a week had more hours in it. Now I feel like I blink and 6 months have passed but the best surprise has been how I have just stopped caring about the nonsense. I spent so much of the first 25 years of my life worrying about whether people liked me, what people thought of me, what I was wearing and trying to keep everyone happy. Now I am older, I've realised that those things don't matter. If someone doesn’t like me, so what, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s fine. People are always going to have an opinion of me and that is fine too but sometimes their opinions are wrong. Take my hair, for example. It's bright pink and people assume because of that, I am argumentative, confident and a little bit crazy but that is not true at all. I am probably the opposite of those things. Now I dress for comfort, not approval and I don’t feel the need to impress people and finally, trying to please everyone is exhausting and now I use that energy on things and people that do matter to me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Going back to question 2. I had a lovely lazy day on Sunday and Stu cooked us pies, mashed potato, carrots and peas and it was so good. I love it when other people cook for me. I am not the worst cook but there’s just something about food when you haven’t made it yourself. It always tastes better, every single time! My dad made us bacon sandwiches on Friday for lunch and it was exactly the same bacon we buy, same bread, same kind of pan, nothing fancy or different at all and it tasted miles better than when I make them. I sat there eating it and really enjoying the fact I didn’t have to do anything to have a meal apart from turn up. I enjoy cooking but I like it more when other people cook for me! hehehe