Some books that I've enjoyed recently

In this hot weather I'm finding that reading is one of the few activities that I can do comfortably! I've read some really good books lately, so I'm sharing some of them here. I've made a big change to the way that I record my reading - I'm no longer using Goodreads. I wrote about it here - Why I've fallen out of love with Goodreads - and I've started using a physical book tracker and journal. It's working really well for me, and I'll be sharing how I use it at some point, it's really helping me to remember the books that I've read!

A Single Thread - Tracy Chevalier. 

I picked this book up in a charity shop as I remembered enjoying other books by the author (Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Lady and the Unicorn). I really liked it because covers several themes that I found interesting. It's a historical novel with a single timeline, set after WW1 and following Violet, a 'surplus woman' who lost her fiancé and brother during the war and is now expected to remain unmarried and live at home with her mother. Instead she manages to break away and assert her independence.

There were some really interesting topics in the story. My favourite - Violet discovers an embroidery society in Winchester Cathedral, a group of women who are creating kneelers, cushions and other items under the guidance of Lousia Pesel. This is based on a true story, and I enjoyed looking up examples of the actual kneelers and finding out more about the embroidery. For example the use of the fylfot symbol which is a variant of the swastika and also serves as a foreshadowing for the looming WW2.

Violet also befriends a bell ringer, and I enjoyed learning about the different ways that bells are run in churches and cathedrals around the country. It has inspired me to go along to our village church one evening when they are doing their practice ringing!

Photo credit Tanya Barrow via Unsplash

The Housekeeper's Tale - Tessa Boase

I was inspired to buy this non-fiction book after I attended a lecture given by Tessa Boase at a local Arts Society. The lecture was actually on a completely different topic (London's Lost Department Stores) but I spotted that she had also written this book and I'm so glad that I bought it.  

I've always been fascinated by old country houses and how they are run, and very different housekeepers feature prominently in my two favourite books - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. 

This book takes a close look at five housekeepers, from 1832 until 1971, along with an epilogue from a woman who does a similar job today. It's meticulously researched and I was left in awe - some of these women left very few traces behind them and the author has collated these tiny snippets from a variety of sources and fleshed them out into really interesting and very readable stories. 

Photo credit Silas Köhler via Unsplash

David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

I wanted to read this after I loved Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I knew that Demon Copperhead was a modern re-telling of the story, but I didn't realise quite how closely it follows the original - down to names of characters, locations and events. I enjoy reading long books from time to time, and this one did take me several weeks. I didn't find it particularly difficult to read - there is just so much of it!

Although I probably read them in the wrong order, having read Demon Copperhead did help me to follow the plot, and I enjoyed spotting the references. The book was originally published in serialised form so each chapter is quite self-contained and can be read in a single sitting. There are also plenty of places online that you can read a chapter summary just to make sure you are following!

I'm not sure that I would rush to read any more Dickens, as although I enjoy the classics there are other authors that I prefer. But I'm really glad I made the effort to read this one. 

Book Lovers - Emily Henry

This was a quick palate cleanser after my weeks of Dickens! I borrowed it from a friend and quickly realised that I'd read it before, but I knew I had enjoyed it so I read it again! It's an easy romance, slow burn, and a little bit spicy. It's an attempt to subvert the small town romance trope and it works really well, with a satisfying ending that feels realistic.

Things you'd love to know before building your first book nook kit

This is a collaborative post

Photo credit DIY Book Nook Kit

If you've been seeing those magical little illuminated scenes tucked between books on social media and wondering what on earth they are, welcome, you've just discovered book nooks. A book nook is a miniature diorama designed to slot neatly onto a bookshelf between your books, creating the illusion of a tiny world disappearing into the wall. They're wonderfully absorbing to build, deeply satisfying to display, and, once you've finished one, almost impossible to stop at just the one.

Whether you're a seasoned miniaturist or a complete beginner interested in building your first book nook kit, this guide will walk you through everything: what's in the box, how to assemble it confidently, how to fix the inevitable little mishaps, and a few easy ways to make your finished scene feel truly your own.

What's Inside a Book Nook Kit

Most book nook kits, including popular options from brands like Rolife, arrive with a surprisingly complete set of components. Here's what you can typically expect to find:

● Laser-cut wooden sheets with press-out structural pieces (walls, floors, shelving)

● Decorative elements - miniature furniture, tiny books, plants, and ornaments, often in a mix of wood, cardboard, and a small amount of plastic

● Printed paper or cardboard sheets for wallpaper, flooring, and surface details

● Sticker sheets for labels, signage, and decorative finishing touches

● A built-in LED lighting kit, usually battery-powered (two AAA batteries, not always included so it's worth checking before you start)

● A detailed instruction booklet with numbered steps and parts lists

Finished dimensions vary, but most shelf-insert book nooks measure roughly 10–20 cm wide and 20–25 cm tall, slim enough to slot between a row of paperbacks. The small double-sided tape strips included in many kits will get you most of the way, but I'd always recommend having a bottle of craft glue nearby to give more delicate joins a little extra reassurance.

Step-by-Step Assembly Guide

Step 1: Sort and organise your pieces (15–20 minutes) Before you press anything out, lay the wooden sheets flat and read through the instruction booklet from start to finish. Keep pieces in their numbered bags, you'll thank yourself later. A few simple ideas for organising small craft supplies can also help prevent tiny components from disappearing mid-build. Set up a clear, well-lit workspace and use your box lid as a handy tray for completed sections.

Step 2: Build the structural shell (30–45 minutes) Press out and assemble the main walls, back panel, and base. These interlock precisely, so take your time and apply gentle, even pressure. If a joint feels too snug, don't force it - a little light sanding on the tab edge will make it slot together cleanly without risk of splitting.

Step 3: Add wallpaper, flooring, and surface details (20–30 minutes) This is where the scene really begins to feel alive. Cut the printed cardboard or paper panels to fit and stick them in place before adding the structural elements on top. It's much easier to paper the walls before the shelves go in, so don't rush ahead.

Step 4: Assemble and place the decorative elements (45–60 minutes) Miniature furniture, tiny stacked books, potted plants - these small details reward patience and often make the biggest difference. Handle them gently; use tweezers for anything fiddly. A small dot of PVA glue (or clear-drying craft glue) holds them far more securely than tape alone.

Step 5: Install the lighting (10–15 minutes) Thread the LED strip carefully through any pre-drilled channels before closing up the back panel, you won't be able to do it after. Test the light before final assembly. Warm-white LEDs give the cosiest glow and really sell the idea of a lived-in, illuminated book nook scene.

Step 6: Final checks and display (10 minutes) Step back, look at the overall composition, and reposition any loose decorative pieces. Then slot it onto your shelf and enjoy the effect.

Finishing Touches, Repairs, and Easy Mods

Quick fixes and surface finishing

Even with careful assembly, small imperfections can appear, a rough edge here, a visible gap there. These are easy to deal with:

● Rough edges: A quick rub with fine-grit sandpaper (220 grit) smooths any splintered laser-cut edges before painting or staining.

● Visible gaps or misaligned joins: A tiny amount of wood filler or fine-surface polyfilla pressed in with a cocktail stick, left to dry, then sanded flush will make joints almost invisible.

● Broken pieces: If a small wooden piece snaps, PVA glue or superglue (applied sparingly) will bond it cleanly. Hold for 60 seconds and leave to cure fully before moving on.

Three mods to make it your own

Add extra warm lighting. Peel-and-stick LED strip lights in copper or warm amber (available very cheaply online) can be layered behind shelving or cornices to add depth and atmosphere to your book nook lighting, it's especially effective for scene-within-a-scene effects.

Create your own miniature figures. Polymer clay is ideal for sculpting tiny seated readers, cats on windowsills, or stacked mugs. You don't need sculpting experience - simple, impressionistic shapes read brilliantly at miniature scale.

Try a mirror-back infinity effect. Replacing the back panel with a small piece of mirror card (cut to fit) creates an infinity-room illusion when lit from the front, this is endlessly mesmerising and genuinely one of the most impressive effects you can achieve with almost no extra cost.

Whether you're looking for a mindful weekend project or a gift that goes well beyond the ordinary, a book nook kit is one of those genuinely joyful purchases that rewards every hour you put into it. Once it's on the shelf and glowing, you'll understand exactly why people get so completely hooked and why people enjoy sharing pictures of their book nooks.

Review - Rolife Miniature House Kit - Corner Bookstore

I was sent this kit in exchange for a review

I love working on Rolife miniature kits, and when I was given the chance to choose another kit to complete I knew straightaway which one I would like to try. The Corner Bookstore miniature house kit is a tiny bookstore, crammed with books and other knick-knacks along with cosy corners and intriguing little nooks. 

This kit is perfect for book lovers, and just like the Silent Corner Study it's a great model to display on a bookshelf. I really like the muted colours, and I love the piles of books and plants.  

The miniature kit comes with everything that you need for assembly, you just need to add two AAA batteries for the lighting kit. Small strips of double sided tape are provided, but I found that it was helpful to have glue on hand, just to make sure that everything was stuck down firmly enough to withstand slight knocks. 

The Corner Bookstore kit has a difficulty rating of 2 1/2 stars and I assembled it in a few hours over about a week. It's always worth checking the difficulty rating of Rolife kits as they do vary, and this is a medium difficulty kit. There are a lot of tiny wooden and cardboard components to slot together and some gentle force was required to get everything into place, there is also a small amount of measuring and modification of parts.

I felt that this was one of the more open-ended kits that I've worked on - you can move away from the instructions a little and really make it your own by arranging the pieces to suit you. Although there is some plastic in the kit, many of the components are made with more natural materials like wood and paper.

The first step is to lay out all the pieces, but don't remove items from the bags as you will use the bag number to find a piece. If you do this by accident there is a materials list and part guide to identify similar looking pieces.

The instructions are really easy to follow and guide you through the assembly process. Each section has a clearly labelled list of the parts required and step-by-step directions. I found it helpful to set aside an area for components after I had finished them - the box works well for this. I also removed rubbish as I went along to keep my workspace clear.

With these kits I try to make sure that I don't rush, I slow down and enjoy the process of putting them together. It's a very meditative activity, and a wonderful way to switch off as you concentrate on what you are doing.

It's a great moment when you can fix the walls in place and the whole thing begins to take its final shape. I really like the way that this kit fits into a corner, and all the tiny props are really imaginative and full of detail.

As you would expect, even a miniature bookstore is going to be filled with books, and I had a lot of fun making the heaps of tiny books to stock the store. This is just a handful of them! They are made by covering a tiny wooden piece with a printed sticker - these books each measure around 1cm across. There are many familiar titles - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and The Old Man and the Sea - as well as non-fiction books and a variety of interesting and attractive covers. It seems such a shame that when assembled many of the covers are hidden! 

There is a suggested way to arrange the books, but I found it much easier to just work it out for myself, especially making sure that my favourite books had more prominent positions. But one tip for this kit in particular - take care to keep the different sized books separately as they can appear quite similar.

When the assembly is complete, it's lovely to take a step back and have a proper look at what you've just built - sometimes it's difficult to appreciate the whole when you've been concentrating hard on all the tiny details! I loved assembling the Corner Bookstore kit, and it is a wonderful addition to my miniature house kit collection.

You may like to see my other Rolife Miniature Craft Kit reviews:

Super Creator Kits - Fascinating Bookstore, Lovely Pink Bedroom and Sweet Sips Tea

Cathy's Flower House

Silent Corner Study

Elsa's Tailoring

Gingerbread House

Christmas 3D Frames

Double-sided Impossipuzzle - Golf Balls and Tees - Solving tips

Having enjoyed The World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle - Kittens edition so much, I enlisted my Mum to help me search for similar puzzles on our charity shop trawls. 

I was delighted when she recently found this one for me - Impossipuzzle - Golf Balls and Tees!

This jigsaw puzzle has 550 pieces. The pieces are large, so when assembled it is almost the same size as a standard 1000 piece puzzle. It's double-sided with a different image on each side - one side has repeating rows of layered golf balls, the other a scattering of different coloured tees. It seemed pretty obvious to me that the golf balls would be the easiest side, so this is where I started.

It was very easy to sort the pieces and assemble the edges, but this is when I got stuck. I just didn't know where to start! I spent several sessions just sitting and staring at the pieces trying to work out a strategy. I was initially thinking that I was going to have to do the whole puzzle just by piece shape.

But then I realised that you can use the shadows on the balls to work out which way many of the pieces should go. There are also white diamonds in the spaces between balls, and these always the same way up. I also noticed that many of the individual pieces had the same design on them, and I think this is the key thing to notice when it comes to solving jigsaws with a repeating pattern.

I began to group together pieces which looked the same, in particular those that formed the bottoms of the golf balls, using the dark shadow at the bottom to help. I was able to match up centre, left and right side pieces to make blocks of three which formed the base of a ball. These could then be linked to form an entire row across the puzzle.

I used the same strategy to add in a few more rows, sorting the pieces by the height of the black shadow on the piece. Each ball fits neatly across three pieces.

Once I had worked out this strategy I was flying! As you can see from the picture above, every remaining piece will attach to a piece of the puzzle that is already in position. It was pretty quick to solve the puzzle from here, using a mixture of shape sorting the pieces and the knowledge of the puzzle that I'd acquired so far.

There were very few false fits, and these were easily checked by flipping the pieces over and checking that they line up on the other side. Because of course the puzzle has another side, which to my eyes looks much more tricky! 

I flipped the puzzle over to take this picture, but I'm not sure I'll be attempting it from scratch any time soon!

There is a repeating pattern, with clumps of tees that are the same colour. But although the pattern is obvious when you see the completed image, it's much more difficult to see when you are looking at the individual pieces. I'll be hanging on to this jigsaw with the intention of giving it a go at some point in the future!

The most dramatic thing that happened on Mount Everest this 2026 Season

I've mentioned a few times about my somewhat niche and unusual (for someone in my demographic at least!) interest in Mount Everest. I've been reading about it on and off over the years, but this year I've really grown my interest. I've built a collection of new and second-hand books, I've watched documentaries, I've listed to podcasts, and this year I followed along with the 2026 Everest climbing season.

There is a very short window for an Everest summit attempt. The main route (on the South/Nepal side) only opens once a team of local climbers have cleared a path and fixed ropes to the camps and summit. This year it was delayed, with the first Nepali climbers on the rope fixing team only reaching the summit on 13th May. Then the ropes and ladders were removed on the 29th May, meaning that everyone had to be down from the mountain by this date. With frequent periods of bad weather on the mountain, there are only a few days during this already short period when a safe summit can be attempted.

The reason that the mountain closes around this date every year is because this is when the monsoon arrives, and conditions because extremely dangerous. There have been a few risky summits later in the year in September or October time after the monsoon when it is less crowded, but it's not something that is undertaken by many climbers.

I spent a month following along with the season, in particular watching a daily dispatch video from Everest Live, reading articles, and making some notes in my Everest notebook. I enjoyed learning more about the different people attempting the summit this year, and marvelling at the sheer numbers of people that were on the mountain. I love finding out about the logistics of an expedition.

Photo credit Tom Cleary via Unsplash

The 2026 season came to a particularly dramatic end this year with the story of Hillary Dawa Sherpa. A local guide, he was part of a small team attempting a very late summit just before the mountain closed on the 29th May accompanying British climber Chris Thrall and a Polish climber. The information is sketchy, but it looks as though they were descending when they all got into difficulties. Chris Thrall went ahead to help the struggling Polish climber, leaving Dawa Sherpa lying high up on the mountain.

Thrall believed that the sherpa was dead, or very close, and knew that if he attempted to rescue him there was a very high chance that all three would die. They would all have been aware that the chances of a descent would be next to impossible once the mountain closed and the ropes and ladders through the icefall were removed. He had to make an impossible decision, affected of course also by his own deteriorating condition.

Dawa Sherpa was presumed dead and his family had begun funeral rites when he was spotted crawling down the base of the icefall. Miraculously he survived six days on the mountain, much of it in the 'death zone' without sufficient oxygen. He spent two days trapped in a crevasse and was only able to escape after an avalanche brought enough snow down to enable him to climb out. He had very little food, and only ice for water. 

This is a story that I'm definitely going to be following over the next weeks and months as more information is released. As well as the story of his survival there are many questions to be answered, not least why a helicopter rescue wasn't implemented and whether the rescue efforts would have been more efficient for a foreign climber. He was involved with two expedition companies, neither of which seemed prepared to take any responsibility for him when it came to paying for a rescue. 

Disclaimer - I'm in no way an expert on this subject. If you are looking for more detailed information I'd definitely recommend doing some further reading from people that are far more knowledgeable!

Find out more:

BBC News - Watch: Guide stranded on Everest for six days rescued

BBC News - Everest guide survived six-day ordeal by eating chocolate and 'chewing ice'

Everest Live - Hillary Dawa Update (video)

The Tourism Times - Everest survivor Dawa Sherpa stable as HAMS Hospital confirms frostbite, fracture and severe dehydration

Everest Chronicle - Miracle and Shame: The two faces of Everest

From me:

Five excellent long-form Everest documentaries on YouTube

My "Odd Shelf', inspired by Anne Fadiman - my growing collection of Everest themed books

The things that I've been doing instead of blogging

It's been ages since I wrote a proper blog post, so here's a quick look at what has been keeping me busy:

Gardening

I love this time of year, when the garden starts to take off. We had our garden landscaped last year and it was still looking bare at the start of the year. We've added a few new plants, and I'm really enjoying seeing the things that we planted last year come back to life. One area of the garden that we had neglected was at the front where we had removed a large, overgrown hedge. We intended to replant it last year, and then decided that actually we preferred the more open plan look. But the long border that we had left for the hedge was filled with knee high weeds, and it looked terrible.

So I spent a long day giving it a thorough weed, and I cut the grass on the council owned patch at the front. Then I took a trip to the garden centre and stocked up on trays of bedding plants which I've planted all the way along, as well as uncovering some gorgeous poppies which had self-seeded. It looks so much better now, and I'm sure that our neighbours will appreciate having something prettier to look at as it all fills out!

Enjoying being outside

I always try to make the most of good weather, and it was so lovely that this year we were treated to hot sunshine over the Bank Holiday weekend. I stocked up on ice creams for the freezer, then every morning I got the garden ready with our garden furniture. I moved chairs around during the day, starting off in the sun and then moving to the shade mid-morning and afternoon. We had a barbecue every day, and spent the evening around the fire pit with marshmallows.

Following the Everest climbing season

I've written several times about my niche interest in Everest, and this was the first year that I followed along in real time. I found Everest Live on YouTube which produced daily video dispatches throughout the climbing season from around the beginning of May. I sat down every evening to watch the latest dispatch and make notes in my Everest journal. I also enjoyed reading the less frequent but detailed articles from the Alan Arnette Blog like this Everest 2026 Season Summary. 

It was really exciting, the season started later than usual with a few problems but it was a record year for summits, with 274 on a single day! I even found a live Everest webcam, and on one clear evening at the height of the season I was watching rivers of torches make their way up the mountain in the early hours in Nepal. Now the climbing is over for another year, but I have a playlist of long Everest documentaries to work through which always give me something new to research.

Photo credit Rajan Dahal via Unsplash

Hosting tradesmen

For the last couple of months we have been having our ancient bathrooms replaced, and the work is nearly finished. They look amazing! But it's been quite disruptive, and I don't cope well when there are people in the house. Having to park the car down the road, worrying about the neighbours being annoyed, wondering whether I'm offering enough drinks and being constantly available in the house in case I'm needed to check something. I find it difficult to focus on anything too complicated.

Reading

However I have been doing very well lately at working through my to be read list, even the hidden one on my Kindle! I've been going through some of the 'filler' books, which are the ones that I download for free on to my Kindle. They are usually quick reads and not that memorable, although I've found a few that stood out - I recently really enjoyed Follow Her by Anna Stothard. 

I have a long Everest book which I'm finding a bit of a slog - Into the Silence by Wade Davis. It's always named as being one of the best on the subject, but I'm finding it hard going. I bought it as a cheap second hand copy so I think I'm going to do some annotating and sticky labelling to make it more like a reference book that I can dip in and out of.

How to Find Urgent Care Wait Times Before Leaving the House?

This is a collaborative post

Nobody wants to drive across town, drag a sick child through the parking lot, and then sit in a waiting room for two hours. The good news? It's not some secret. Most people just don't know where to look. Wait times at urgent care centers are more accessible now than they've ever been.

This article covers exactly how to find urgent care wait times before you leave home, which tools actually work, and what to do if the numbers aren't posted anywhere.

Where to Check Urgent Care Wait Times Online

Urgent Care hours and locations are a natural starting point when you're planning a visit, since many clinic pages now list current or estimated wait times alongside their address and hours. Here's the thing: you need to know which sources give you real-time data versus rough estimates from a week ago.

The Clinic's Own Website

Most regional and national urgent care groups publish live wait times on their own websites. Look for a "Current Wait" or "Hold My Spot" button near the location finder. If you see a number that updates as you refresh the page, that's a live feed tied to the clinic's check-in system. A flat "typically 15 minutes" message, though? That's static; useful, but not accurate right now.

Symptom Checker Tools That Surface Nearby Clinics

Platforms like Ubie Health let you check your symptoms first, then connect you to nearby care options with availability information. This two-step approach actually saves time. You confirm the right level of care before you commit to a location, so you're not showing up to urgent care for something the ER should handle, or paying urgent care prices for a problem your doctor could handle tomorrow.

Search Engines and Map Apps

A Google search for "urgent care near me" pulls up a local pack that sometimes shows estimated wait times pulled directly from clinic systems. Apple Maps does the same. These figures aren't always current, treat them as a ballpark, but they're fast to check and require no app download.

How to Reserve Your Spot Before You Arrive

Checking wait times is half the battle. The smarter move? Reserve your spot in line while you're still at home.

Online Check-In Systems

Many urgent care groups now run online check-in through their own websites or through third-party scheduling platforms. You pick a time window, enter your information, and the clinic holds a spot in the queue. Your actual wait drops to almost nothing. Look for this feature on the clinic's homepage, usually labeled "Save My Spot" or "Online Check-In."

Phone-Based Queue Options

And don't overlook the phone. Calling the clinic directly takes about 90 seconds and gets you a real wait estimate from staff who can see the current room status. Some clinics will take your name over the phone and add you to the queue before you even get in the car. Low-tech, yes, but it works better than staring at a static webpage.

Timing Your Visit Around Peak Hours

Urgent care centers see the most traffic on Monday mornings, weekend afternoons, and the two hours after most offices close on weekdays (roughly 5 PM to 7 PM). The 2023 industry report from the Urgent Care Association found that midday Tuesday through Thursday consistently shows the shortest wait times nationally. If your situation isn't time-sensitive? A midweek morning visit reduces your wait without any app or reservation.

What to Do When Wait Times Aren't Listed

Not every clinic posts wait data online. Frustrating, yes. But you've still got options.

Call and Ask a Specific Question

Don't ask "how busy are you?" Ask "how many patients are currently ahead of a walk-in?" That specific question gets a more honest, useful answer from whoever picks up the phone. Front desk staff know the room count. They just don't always volunteer it unprompted.

Use a Symptom Checker to Weigh Your Options

If you can't get a read on wait times, use that gap to run a quick symptom check. Ubie Health's free symptom checker takes about three minutes and tells you whether your symptoms point toward urgent care, the ER, or a telehealth visit. That context changes the decision entirely. You might not need urgent care at all.

Consider Telehealth for Lower-Acuity Issues

Telehealth visits have no waiting room. For non-emergency issues like rashes, minor infections, sinus symptoms, or prescription refills, a same-day telehealth appointment is often faster than any in-person option. Most major insurers cover telehealth at the same rate as an in-office visit, so cost usually isn't the barrier people expect.

Conclusion

The fastest way to find urgent care wait times before leaving the house is to check the clinic's website for a live queue; use a symptom checker platform to match your care level to the right location; and call the front desk if nothing is posted online. You'll save yourself from wasted trips and long waits. Reserve your spot online where possible, aim for midweek mornings, and don't rule out telehealth for minor issues; it's often the fastest option of all.