So apparently I just check in at the end of the month now. Okay. Hi.
It's finally Pancake Day at least - I can't believe I've had to wait the entire month for it, I'm sure it wasn't this late last year.
We had Valentine's Day which was nice. I think I've mentioned this before but the cards Jack gets me always have dinosaurs on them, but he said he couldn't find one that he liked enough, or that he hadn't already got me in the past. So to make up for it, inside the card he did get me were two postcards from Paperchase, one of which has a T-Rex on it (the other has a turtle). Everytime I go into Paperchase I always look through their postcard rack to see if there's any good ones, and if there are I'll pick one up and stick it on my bedroom wall. Before Valentine's Day I had 4, and when I stuck the two new ones up next to them I was dismayed to see that they weren't the same size as the others. And I mean, postcard sizes are standard, right? The four original ones I had are all the same size. But the T-Rex one is slightly wider and slightly longer than the others, and the one with the turtle is slightly thinner and slightly longer. The size discrepancy has aged me prematurely, and I don't know why it annoys me so much but it does.
Jack said: "You could just cut them."
And I said: "That's not the point."
I suppose there are bigger problems in the world. But still.
It's been another fairly good reading month; not as many read as January but I'm still sitting pretty at 11/40 books read so I'm pretty chuffed. I don't have a least favourite this month as I've liked everything, but my favourite was probably History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. It's not all that long but I finished it in one sitting because it was so painful that I wanted to get it out of my system all in one go. I felt like someone was clenching my heart the entire way through and it stayed with me for daaaaaays.
Finally, Spotify does this thing where every week they generate a playlist of 30 songs that they think you'll like based on what you listen to on there, called 'Discover Weekly' and I've found some new songs because of it that I keep playing on repeat:
Drive by Gretta Ray
Say No More by Fickle Friends
Honey by Swim Deep
See you at the end of March! Or sooner! Or never! Who knows? Not me, that's for sure.
Currently reading: I just finished A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab so I'm probably going to start A Conjuring of Light next because there was a cliffhanger and I have questions that need answering.
Song of the Day: Honey Bee by Seahaven (I think that you deserve some form of apology/ So here I am, and here it is, I'm sorry)
A sort of January round-up
So we all thought that 2016 was bad what with Brexit and the American Presidential election and many, many other reasons, but we all hoped that 2017 was going to be better. It's like we all collectively forgot that this was the year that Trump was actually getting sworn in, and thus the worst was yet to come.
So far he's gone after the Affordable Care Act, re-instated a 'global gag order' on abortion that will basically defund organisations like Planned Parenthood (which are so essential), introduced the horrifying travel ban which will undoubtedly lead to more deportations and families being torn apart, he's had climate change pages removed from the Environment Protection Agency website, and that's just to name a few. That's just a drop in the ocean of insanity. Not to mention he's still going on about that bloody wall. Look, you've all seen the headlines, but here's a couple of links if you want a more comprehensible list.
It's been eleven days, and it's terrifying. This is fascism in action. This is what fascism looks like.
I think it's going to be a very long and very uneasy four years.
But anyway, enough about that. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.
Near the beginning of January, someone (or some people) broke into our garden shed and took a garden shredder. A pretty hefty thing, too, I'm surprised they thought it was worth the effort. They got into next door's as well and made off with most of their power tools. Which is just such a scummy thing to do, really.
So I rang the police to report it, and at one point the police-lady asked me if I had ever reported a crime before, and I wanted to say, "Why, am I doing it wrong?" but I managed to refrain. Anyway, a few days later I had a phone-call from a friendly neighbourhood policeman who asked if I wanted to sign up to a crime alert email system for the local area. I thought this seemed like a good way to stay informed so I agreed.
It was, in retrospect, a terrible decision. Every time I get an alert and it tells me about burglaries two streets over or cars being stolen off drives really near to where I live I get really paranoid. There's just so much crime. I mean, sure, these crimes would still be happening if I wasn't getting these alerts, but at least I wouldn't know about them. Ignorance really is bliss.
Last year, I aimed to read 30 books and in the end I managed to read 40. I could have read more, too, but I hit my target in August and then slowed down considerably, and re-read a few books instead of just reading new ones. So this year, my aim is to read 40 books, and then maybe I'll read 50 all in all.
I'm off to a really good start because I finished 6 books this month. According to Goodreads, that puts me at 15% of my goal, 3 books ahead of schedule. Go me.
Favourite book of the month: Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Least favourite book of the month: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
It's February tomorrow. I like February. Pancake Day is in February.
Currently reading: The Sandman Volume 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman
Song of the Day: I Found by Amber Run (And I've moved further than I thought I could/ But I missed you more than I thought I would/ And I'll use you as a warning sign/ That if you talk enough sense then you'll lose your mind)
So far he's gone after the Affordable Care Act, re-instated a 'global gag order' on abortion that will basically defund organisations like Planned Parenthood (which are so essential), introduced the horrifying travel ban which will undoubtedly lead to more deportations and families being torn apart, he's had climate change pages removed from the Environment Protection Agency website, and that's just to name a few. That's just a drop in the ocean of insanity. Not to mention he's still going on about that bloody wall. Look, you've all seen the headlines, but here's a couple of links if you want a more comprehensible list.
It's been eleven days, and it's terrifying. This is fascism in action. This is what fascism looks like.
I think it's going to be a very long and very uneasy four years.
But anyway, enough about that. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.
Near the beginning of January, someone (or some people) broke into our garden shed and took a garden shredder. A pretty hefty thing, too, I'm surprised they thought it was worth the effort. They got into next door's as well and made off with most of their power tools. Which is just such a scummy thing to do, really.
So I rang the police to report it, and at one point the police-lady asked me if I had ever reported a crime before, and I wanted to say, "Why, am I doing it wrong?" but I managed to refrain. Anyway, a few days later I had a phone-call from a friendly neighbourhood policeman who asked if I wanted to sign up to a crime alert email system for the local area. I thought this seemed like a good way to stay informed so I agreed.
It was, in retrospect, a terrible decision. Every time I get an alert and it tells me about burglaries two streets over or cars being stolen off drives really near to where I live I get really paranoid. There's just so much crime. I mean, sure, these crimes would still be happening if I wasn't getting these alerts, but at least I wouldn't know about them. Ignorance really is bliss.
Last year, I aimed to read 30 books and in the end I managed to read 40. I could have read more, too, but I hit my target in August and then slowed down considerably, and re-read a few books instead of just reading new ones. So this year, my aim is to read 40 books, and then maybe I'll read 50 all in all.
I'm off to a really good start because I finished 6 books this month. According to Goodreads, that puts me at 15% of my goal, 3 books ahead of schedule. Go me.
Favourite book of the month: Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Least favourite book of the month: Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
It's February tomorrow. I like February. Pancake Day is in February.
Currently reading: The Sandman Volume 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman
Song of the Day: I Found by Amber Run (And I've moved further than I thought I could/ But I missed you more than I thought I would/ And I'll use you as a warning sign/ That if you talk enough sense then you'll lose your mind)
Sleigh bells ring ...
There are few things more irritating than pouring water into the kettle for a cuppa, disappearing for a couple of minutes to do something else while it boils, then coming back and realising you forgot to switch the bloody thing on. So that's what I'm dealing with today. How are you?
Christmas is starting to get into full swing. The tree went up on the 1st, as always. Some of the lights were broken, and I got into a strop about that. Then I couldn't get the tinsel to look right, and I got into a strop about that, too. 'Tis the season.
(The broken lights got hidden around the back of the tree and the tinsel got sorted eventually. Crisis averted.)
Jack has been in 'Full Festive' mode since mid-November. He's the only person I know who gets even more excited about Christmas than I do, and that's saying quite a lot. He got me a Galaxy chocolate advent calendar and a Yankee Candle advent calendar, as well as a little tealight holder in which to hold the candles.
Giving people presents is one of Jack's favourite things to do, and he likes me for some reason, so he always ends up getting me loads. This works out really well for me; I love getting presents. He seems really excited about them, which is pretty adorable actually.
Jack asked if I knew what I was going to get for him yet and I told him I was going to make him a mix-CD. I was sort of half joking but then he seemed quite taken with the idea, so whatever, I'm doing it. I've got him a couple of other things, too, so I won't look like the biggest cheapskate in the world.
But anyway. Christmas time is busy. There's a lot to do, and people to see, and plans to make. I'll see you on the other side.
Song of the Day: You're The Storm by The Cardigans ('Cause you're the storm that I believe in/ And all this peace has been deceiving/ I like the sweet life and the silence/ But it's the storm that I believe in)
Currently reading: A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir
Christmas is starting to get into full swing. The tree went up on the 1st, as always. Some of the lights were broken, and I got into a strop about that. Then I couldn't get the tinsel to look right, and I got into a strop about that, too. 'Tis the season.
(The broken lights got hidden around the back of the tree and the tinsel got sorted eventually. Crisis averted.)
Jack has been in 'Full Festive' mode since mid-November. He's the only person I know who gets even more excited about Christmas than I do, and that's saying quite a lot. He got me a Galaxy chocolate advent calendar and a Yankee Candle advent calendar, as well as a little tealight holder in which to hold the candles.
Giving people presents is one of Jack's favourite things to do, and he likes me for some reason, so he always ends up getting me loads. This works out really well for me; I love getting presents. He seems really excited about them, which is pretty adorable actually.
Jack asked if I knew what I was going to get for him yet and I told him I was going to make him a mix-CD. I was sort of half joking but then he seemed quite taken with the idea, so whatever, I'm doing it. I've got him a couple of other things, too, so I won't look like the biggest cheapskate in the world.
But anyway. Christmas time is busy. There's a lot to do, and people to see, and plans to make. I'll see you on the other side.
Song of the Day: You're The Storm by The Cardigans ('Cause you're the storm that I believe in/ And all this peace has been deceiving/ I like the sweet life and the silence/ But it's the storm that I believe in)
Currently reading: A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir
The Happy List
My last blog post was pretty negative and I decided I didn't like that being the most recent thing on here, so here's some happy things instead:
- An old friend from school sent me flowers and Belgian chocolates because I did her a favour that literally only took up 2 minutes of my time. People are nice.
- I finally read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and even though the plot was convoluted and weird, Harry's kid and Malfoy's kid are best friends in it and that fills me with so much joy.
- As it's getting towards Christmas, Boots seasonal 3 for 2 offer is back, and last week when I was helping Jack find presents for his cousins, he could only find two things that he wanted so I got some slippers for free as they were the cheapest item. They have hedgehogs on them and I love them. (And did I mention they were FREE? Because they were free.)
- Speaking of Christmas, 'tis the season! It's my favourite time of year! Hooray!
- I have been drinking a lot of hot chocolate and it's warm and toasty and comforting and, overall, great.
- Jack bought himself a Nintendo 3DS and he's going to let me play Zelda.
- We didn't get any trick or treaters again so I have leftover mini chocolate bars that I have been methodically making my way through, which is always the upside of Halloween. (The last time we had any trick or treaters was like 3 years ago or something and my brother was here and we didn't have any treats so James gave them little oranges. We were that house.)
It's always important to remember the nice things.
Song of the Day: Death of a Bachelor by Panic! At The Disco (The death of a bachelor, seems so fitting for/ Happily ever after, how could I ask for more/ A lifetime of laughter at the expense of the death of a bachelor)
Unfathomable
I woke up this morning to discover the apocalypse had been ushered in whilst I slept. Oh, good.
Okay, so I don't pretend to know much about politics and all the intricacies and hierarchies and whatnot involved. And I don't like to talk about stuff like this on the internet usually because I don't have the energy to argue with people.
But I have to say something about Trump, because try as I might, I cannot fathom how he has managed to bullshit his way into the Presidency. I'm not saying Hillary Clinton is perfect, but she was qualified. She had bags and bags of political experience, and she was the only logical choice.
There's no question that she should have won.
How on earth has America gone from having Barack Obama as President, to electing a man who was endorsed by the KKK?
Bigotry, misogyny, racism and general intolerance won today. The history books are going to remember 2016 as a political shitstorm, worldwide. First Brexit, now this.
What the fuck is going on?
Song of the Day:
Minor injuries are major inconveniences
If I had made a list of ways I wanted to spend my Sunday, driving Jack to the hospital wouldn't have been high on it. In fact, it probably wouldn't have made the list at all. (He fell over playing football and sprained his wrist. He's fine.)
Jack sent me a text, which I didn't notice until almost an hour after he sent it, asking if I had any wrist braces or bandages at my house. I told him no, but that I could get some. And then I sent another message saying, Also why do you ask? What's happened? The reply I got just said that it was a long story and that he'd explain when he got back.
It wasn't a long story. He fell over and hurt his wrist.
He eventually got back about a million years later and had stopped at Waitrose for some tubing stuff to support his wrist, and then he explained what had happened.
I said, "Does it hurt?" which was, admittedly, a stupid question.
And Jack said, "Well, if I keep it perfectly still, it's only a dull pain. When I move it, it's excruciating."
"How did you manage to drive back?"
"With difficulty."
"Do you think we ought to go and get your wrist looked at then?"
"That would probably be best."
So I drove Jack to the hospital. Anticipating a lengthy wait, I took my Kindle with me. Jack didn't have the same forethought. The wait time for minor injuries simply said 'over two hours', which unnerved me.
"That could mean anything," I said. "That could mean two hours, or it could mean, like, 5 hours. We could die here, Jack. We'll never see the sun again."
I am nothing if not dramatic.
Luckily, it seemed to have been a relatively quiet day, as after waiting exactly two hours, Jack's name was called, and he was back out again with a wrist brace and a pamphlet on hand injuries twenty minutes later. I didn't even get to finish my book.
He asked the doctor who saw him about driving, and was told: "If you try driving and it doesn't hurt, then by all means, carry on."
And Jack said, "Yeah, I tried earlier and it was excruciating."
So the doctor said, "I probably wouldn't, then."
Sound advice.
In all seriousness though, I really love the NHS. I know it's not perfect, but it's so nice to be able to go and see someone and get medical advice and treatment and not be charged for it.
Anyway, this morning I watched Jack struggle to put his t-shirt on, and said, "Do you want any help?"
To which he replied solemnly, "This is my life now, Em. I've got to get used to it."
Because Jack is also nothing if not dramatic.
Song of the Day: Deserve This by Circa Waves (Oh why do I deserve this/ I was never good on purpose)
Jack sent me a text, which I didn't notice until almost an hour after he sent it, asking if I had any wrist braces or bandages at my house. I told him no, but that I could get some. And then I sent another message saying, Also why do you ask? What's happened? The reply I got just said that it was a long story and that he'd explain when he got back.
It wasn't a long story. He fell over and hurt his wrist.
He eventually got back about a million years later and had stopped at Waitrose for some tubing stuff to support his wrist, and then he explained what had happened.
I said, "Does it hurt?" which was, admittedly, a stupid question.
And Jack said, "Well, if I keep it perfectly still, it's only a dull pain. When I move it, it's excruciating."
"How did you manage to drive back?"
"With difficulty."
"Do you think we ought to go and get your wrist looked at then?"
"That would probably be best."
So I drove Jack to the hospital. Anticipating a lengthy wait, I took my Kindle with me. Jack didn't have the same forethought. The wait time for minor injuries simply said 'over two hours', which unnerved me.
"That could mean anything," I said. "That could mean two hours, or it could mean, like, 5 hours. We could die here, Jack. We'll never see the sun again."
I am nothing if not dramatic.
Luckily, it seemed to have been a relatively quiet day, as after waiting exactly two hours, Jack's name was called, and he was back out again with a wrist brace and a pamphlet on hand injuries twenty minutes later. I didn't even get to finish my book.
He asked the doctor who saw him about driving, and was told: "If you try driving and it doesn't hurt, then by all means, carry on."
And Jack said, "Yeah, I tried earlier and it was excruciating."
So the doctor said, "I probably wouldn't, then."
Sound advice.
In all seriousness though, I really love the NHS. I know it's not perfect, but it's so nice to be able to go and see someone and get medical advice and treatment and not be charged for it.
Anyway, this morning I watched Jack struggle to put his t-shirt on, and said, "Do you want any help?"
To which he replied solemnly, "This is my life now, Em. I've got to get used to it."
Because Jack is also nothing if not dramatic.
Song of the Day: Deserve This by Circa Waves (Oh why do I deserve this/ I was never good on purpose)
There Are Wrecking Balls Inside Us
'Cause it's okay to be scared sometimes
And brave sometimes
And fail sometimes, sometimes
And it's not possible to lose every time
We have the time, we have the time
What we build could be anything
We can go places we never even thought of
