Small town living

There are days I bemoan the fact that I live in a small town, with its lack of variety and dearth of new and sparkly things to draw my attention.  Then I spend time in a big city and I am reminded that increased options equal increased stress levels, increased traffic and increased hassle.  This week I have been re-discovering the joys of small town living.  Of leaving the house and arriving at work 15 minutes later having dropped the kids to their school holiday programme en route.  Of spending an hour in town after work and getting tons of little jobs crossed off my to do list.  Of being able to nip into the library and the chemist because there were free parking spots out the front.  Of buying something and the store owner saying "next time you're in let me know how you got on with that".  All small things in and of themselves but added together they make me appreciate the up side of small town living.

Smoke and Mirrors

I realised recently that I am turning into the Dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  Not in a balding, middle aged spread way thankfully.  Remember how he used to recommend using Windex to solve any ailment?  Well it turns out that Aveeno is my Windex.  Itchy bite?  Put some Aveeno on it.  Sore leg?  Put some Aveeno on it.  Scratch on your arm?  Put some Aveeno on it. 

Not sure whether it is the curing power of Aveeno or the power of distraction, but either way as long as it keeps working on the kids, I'm going to stick with the Aveeno.

March Book Review

March was a month of books I picked and books that were picked for me.  Never a bad idea to try something new, it can broaden your horizons and give you an insight into your friends that no facebook quiz or personality test ever will.

A man called Ove - Fredrik Backman
A friend recommended this book and I'm glad she did as having not had a great first experience with this author, I probably wouldn't have read it without a push.  Ove is a grumpy old fecker that you can't help but like.  The number of times I agreed with him on something made me wonder if there is a grumpy old fecker deep down inside of me.

Blood Salt Water - Denise Mina
I've read a few of her books.  They always deliver.

The Children Act - Ian McEwan
This was not a very cheery read, covering topics like marital breakup, family court rulings and the right to choose to refuse medical intervention.  That said, I did enjoy it.  The main character wasn't that endearing at times but the description of her was so vivid I could nearly see her.

Miss Treadway and the field of stars - Miranda Emmerson
This was a book club pick.  Doubt I would have read it otherwise, not that there is anything wrong with it, just have lots of other books I would choose to read first.  It is set in London in the sixties and doesn't shy away from the attitudes of the time to women and immigrants.  It makes me very glad that I was born when I was.  It also made me realise how much I take for granted in terms of things like access to contraception, educational expectations and the right to choose a partner based on who I want to live with and not who society expects me to pick.  I found it plodded a bit in the middle and I wasn't that invested in finding out what happened to the missing character.  

All the bright places - Jennifer Niven
This was recommended by a friend, she had read Holding up the Universe first but apparently this is the author's first book so I started with this.  From quite early on I was getting a distinct "The fault in our stars" vibe from it.  I plodded on but half way though I just wasn't feeling it so skipped to the end to find out what happened.  Even then I didn't care much.  Just started Holding up the Universe and enjoying it much more, so far anyway!   

 

Things they don't tell you in the baby books

I have a new baby nephew who is cuteness personified.  Unfortunately I won't get to meet him in person for another 8 months so Skype will have to suffice till then.  It made me think back to when my kids were babies.  When your children are born you think about what you will pass on to them.  Will they have your eyes or your temperament?  What balls will be picked for them in the genetic lottery?  Then there are other more subtle things you pass on.  The phrases your child repeats back to you.  "No Mammy, that's your responsibility".  "I'm hungry like the wolf".  The urge to make lists and bring order to a messy pantry shelf (though sadly this urge does not lead to bedrooms being tidied).

When you have kids there are physical changes too. I'm not just talking about the mummy tummy or the stretch marks.  I'm talking about the inability to eat greasy foods without being stricken down by indigestion.  The emotions, my god the emotions!  I was never much of a one for crying at sad movies before I had kids.  Afterwards?  I was off at the drop of a hat.  I thought it would settle down once the hormones leveled themselves out but no. I've gotten a bit better at holding it together but anything sad to do with kids or those homecoming videos Aer Lingus like to post around Christmas and I'm gone.  Thank goodness for waterproof mascara.

This morning there were optimum conditions for a lie in.  The house was dark, empty and most importantly childless.  The bed was warm, cosy and inviting.  So why in the name of God was I wide awake at 10 to 7 on a weekend morning when most week days I am wrecked and dragging my tired self out of bed?  When you have kids you lose your ability to have a lie in.  Even if you were a deep sleeper before you find yourself sleeping with one ear open, even when they are not in bloody house!  They don't tell you that in the books do they? 

Karma Baby

I am a firm believer in karma.  Be your best self, treat other people as you would like to be treated, it's pretty obvious stuff right?  Today I managed to burn myself twice in one day so I'm wondering what sign the universe is trying to send me.  Pay more attention?  Don't eat so many toasted sandwiches? (burn no. 1 was from the heated tower rail, burn no. 2 was from the toasted sandwich maker).  Here's hoping that whatever I did, I have now paid for it.   

2016 - The year in review

Most people do their review of the previous year in January.  I am not most people*.

Author of the year - I tried to pick a book of the year but it was too hard so I'm going with author of the year instead.  Jonas Jonasson for books that are enjoyable, at times slightly ridiculous but always entertaining.

Food of the year - Bacon.  Nuff said.

Shoes of the year - Croc wedges.  Never having been a fan of the original crocs, I was slow to try their wider range.  Then one day I came across these babies and never looked back.  Comfortable enough to wear every day, smart enough to not look too casual.  I must investigate other options before this pair dies of over use.

Which brings me nicely to...

Nail varnish of the year - Got to be Trophy Wife by Essie both for the colour and the way it makes me smirk when I look at it and think about the name.  Strictly for toes only though.  The search for the perfect neutral colour for my fingers continues.  Any suggestions?

Make up of the year - Anything that comes in crayon form.  Who has time to be faffing around with brushes and blending?  Very sad to hear that my favourite eye crayon from Natio is no more.  Will need to hunt down an alternate sharpish.  Maybe I will splash out on a Clinique chubby stick.  Marian Keyes swears by them. 

Colour of the year - Surprisingly not red.  I wore a lot of green in 2016.  Obviously ahead of the curve as apparently it's the colour of the year for 2017.

Necklace of the year -  A three way tie between a silver Killarney Crystal pendant my friends got me for my 40th, a black sphere of volcanic rock I got in Iceland and a red bubble gum necklace from Cobalt Heights. 

 

 

 

Saying of the year - FFS, usually shortened to f***s sake and muttered under my breath.  Unless I happen to be in the presence of small people when it is replaced with the sanitised "for goodness sake" which is more age appropriate but infinitely less satisfying.

Takeaway of the year - Steamed dumplings with soy sauce, followed swiftly by chips smothered in melted cheese and gravy.  My mouth is watering just thinking about them.  Rotorua Night Market is the place to be on a Thursday evening.

So concludes the random review of the year that was 2016.

*Ok so I did start this in January and then forgot about it but I am a committed member of the better late than never school of thought so here it is at the start of March regardless.

January & February Book Review

Even when life gets in the way (in a good way), the books keep coming.  Here are the books I read in Jan & Feb.  Thankfully I had www.goodreads.com to help me remember.

All the light we cannot see - Anthony Doerr
An enjoyable read.  The story flowed well with the different stories running alongside each other without jarring.  Didn't delve too deeply into the ideology which was good as I preferred the focus on the individual characters.   

Rushing Woman's Syndrome - Dr Libby Weaver
I read this book in stages. Some bits I flew through, others were more of a slog. Despite biology being one of my favourite subjects in school, I found the science parts quite dry so I tended to skim them if I was tired.  It was an interesting read but in hindsight, I should have had a notebook by my side to jot down things I wanted to remember.  Probably one that you would need to keep to refer back to as there is so much information, its impossible to remember it all. 

 

Dear Mr. M - Herman Koch
This was very much a case of disappointing second book (not necessarily the author's second book but the second of his books that I have read). I really enjoyed The Dinner, total page turner, so I was expecting great things but unfortunately this did not deliver. It was very slow moving and the suspense he was trying to build up never really materialised. I struggled to finish it and when I did, I felt like I had wasted my time. Don't waste yours reading this.

 

Hitman Anders and the meaning of it all - Jonas Jonasson
I really like his books.  They are an easy read with a nice pace and enough of a story to counter the at times farcical humour. Only problem is that now I've read all his books. Here's hoping a new one is in the pipeline.

 

The Street - Bernadine Bishop

This was ticking along nicely, not what you would describe as a page turner but not bad enough to discard either.  Then it was as if the author realised she had a deadline to meet so she just flung an ending together and that was it.  I turned the last page and went "what?".  One to avoid unless you like random cobbled together bits stuck in at the last minute.

The Lubetkin Legacy - Marina Lewycka
Another author I am a big fan of.  I started with "A short history of tractors in Ukrainian" which I thoroughly enjoyed and have also read a couple of her other books.  Her books and those of Jonas Jonasson are similar in style so I suppose it stands to reason that I would like them both.