What I've been up to lately

This post contains Amazon affiliate links in case you are interested in finding out more about any of the things I mention!

I haven't blogged for ages!

I've been quite busy with some transcription work that I do for a home working company but that's no excuse, I've also found plenty of time for doom scrolling on Twitter. The truth is that it feels as though we haven't done anything very exciting over the last few months and I've lost a bit of my blogging motivation. But I've missed writing here, and so I thought I'd come back with a little post about all the the things that have been keeping my busy and entertained lately.

Watching 

We've enjoyed watching a few of our favourite television series which have returned. We watch The Mandalorian together and it's pretty entertaining even though every episode is basically the same plot. Ram and I binge watched The Crown which we also enjoyed very much although I would have liked to have seen more of the Queen. I love all the domestic scenes where they sit around lunching, drinking tea and playing parlour games. Finally we are all enjoying the latest episodes of His Dark Materials. I'm quite familiar with the books and I'm loving how the writers have added extra material which expands the world and the characters, like when Mrs Coulter sees how her life could have been different in an alternative world.

Reading

I have been reading so much lately! I go to the library once every week or so and return with a bulging bag filled with books. There are too many to list so I'll just share a few that I've given five stars to on Goodreads recently (affiliate links):

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach - I wasn't sure about this one when I picked it up but I really enjoyed it!

Spirited by Julie Cohen

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - came highly recommended by my sister, I must confess that it's a bit of a strange read but it's very compelling!

House of Glass by Susan Fletcher

Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem - last but not least, a non-fiction book about the discoveries that can be made along the shores of the Thames. A fascinating read, also packed with lots of tales of London history.

I've just realised that half of the above books are historical novels about women experiencing mysterious happenings, that must be a genre that particularly appeals to me. Now I've just been to the library and stocked up on a nice new pile of books, including some lovely, festive reading!

Playing

We are all still playing Animal Crossing, and I set aside at least half an hour every day to catch up with my island, harvest my pumpkins (it's a great way to make easy money if you are a player yourself!) and chat to my villager friends.

Out and about

Obviously not much of that lately. But I did have an exciting day this week. Harry's piano exam in Worthing was cancelled at the last minute last month, but we managed to rebook at a centre in Brighton. The two of us went over on the train (our first time on a train since February) and although we didn't stop there for long, as he had to get back to school, it did feel like an exciting outing! He was quite positive about the exam, so fingers crossed we won't have long to wait for the results. 

Crafting

I set myself a challenge this year to complete an unfinished craft project each month, although I came a stop when I realised that I'd completed everything. So last week I pulled out a brand new cross stitch that I've had in my stash for a little while now and have been looking forward to starting. The Olde World Map (affiliate link) is a nice big piece with lots of lovely detail that should keep me busy for a while!

Celebrating

So it's nearly Christmas, and like the rest of the world it's a bit of a different one this year.

 

Last week we had a pre-Christmas meet up with other family members in a local playground. We stood in the rain huddled under umbrellas drinking hot drinks from our Thermos and swapping bags of Christmas presents. We aren't forming a bubble for Christmas so it will just be the four of us together for the three week school holiday. We have booked a few days away, and then we'll be hunkering down with the chocolate biscuits and the gin.