Tag Days Outs

My Week In Books (w/e 23rd July 2023) #daysout #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 8 Comments

Hello and welcome to my somewhat overdue weekly book update ( I completely forgot about writing one for last Monday!).

Earlier this month I had a week off work so went to see my Mum for her Birthday. We had a wonderful day out at Easton Walled Gardens in Grantham, Lincolnshire, just up the road from where she lives. I had never been before, Mum had several years ago and was eager to see if she could manage the steps and to see how far she could get around. She did amazing and managed to walk the whole garden with some little stops to see the plants, flowers and to admire the view. Last year she had a hip replacement and this year she has had problems with angina so she is having to learn to slow down a bit. Considering she’s only got little legs, she can’t ‘alf get a move on 😉😁. It was a fabulous day and I am super proud of how well she managed.

Here are some more from the Gardens…

I was going to show all the books I have read over the past three weeks but decided it would be quite a few and some I have already reviewed on my Blog. So instead I will share what I have read over the past week…

The Hotel by Louise Mumford – It was one of those that I saw reduced to 99p and looked good, forgetting that I already had it downloaded via NetGalley! This is a creepy and unsettling suspense and almost horror story. It is like a modern gothic thriller and for me, it worked really well. Full review tomorrow.

Judgment by Edie Baylis – this is a fabulous series and this one brings together all the strands and threads. It is a gangland crime thriller story that follows Sam Reynolds and Seb Stoker, their families, friends and their enemies. Brilliant book and my full review will be part of the Blog Tour in August.

How can it almost be August!!!!!!

This year I decided to reduce my Goodreads challenge. For the previous three years, I had set it for 200. This year I reduced it to 150 and I am pleased that I did as I am also reading and researching for a course. It has meant that there is no self-imposed pressure to read and keep up with the challenge. I know it is not something that is set in stone, but it is something I like to achieve. So far this year I have read 93 books out of 200 and I am ahead.

I hope you all have a fabulous week ahead,

Happy Reading

All the best

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 11th September 2022) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly update of books I have read over the past week. What a week we have had, a new Prime Minister and a New King.

I am not a huge royalist, but Queen Elizabeth has been Queen for many people’s lives, she is the only Monarch we have had in our lives. I did find, the same as many others, that the news of the late Queen was quite emotional. When she first came to the throne there wasn’t the media coverage there is now. My thoughts go out to the family as their every move, facial expression and their body language are put under the spotlight. In this time of sorrow, they are meeting and thanking people, they are accessible and this must be so hard for them. I do not know how they are managing to keep their emotions under control as they grieve the passing of their beloved matriarch.

The news is constant, no matter where you look there are posts on social media, the internet, in shops, and in conversations as you would expect. In Cornwall, we are inundated with visitors through the summer months, so I decided to take time out and go to a huge beach that I haven’t been to for years. Gwithian is rammed in the summer holidays and now that the children are back to school it is the ideal time to visit. I wanted somewhere open, wild and relaxing and Gwithian Beach is all that. There are families, dogs and surfers but sitting on the beach they are drowned out by the rolling of the waves. It was easy to just shut out the noise and listen to the waves. I soon discovered I had spent 3 hours perfectly relaxed and suitably chilled out.

Here are the books I have read –

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Sunny Skies & Summer Kisses by Eliza J Scott – this is book 7 in the Life on the moors series. I have read a few of them and this latest one is fabulous. Great reading for those who love stories about friendships, families and communities with a good romance woven in. Full review as part of tyhe Blog Tour.

6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten – this is the auhtors first stand alone and it was a cracking read. A mix of crime, mystery and some tense thriller vibes. I adored this one and the full review is part of the Blog Tour in a couple of weeks.

The Secret Life of Fungi by Aliya Whitely – a fabulous foray into the fungal world, told via anecdotes, observations and connections. I do love my science and nature reads and this one is perfect for non-science minded foll like me. Full review later this month.

The Temple House by Rachel Donahue – I had seen mixed reviews about this book and I decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did. It is a slower-paced boook that falls mroe towrd the literary fiction style more expressive, lyrical and I did begin this one while sat on the beach. I do think it has a Du Maurier feel to it. I really enjoyed this one and I soon devoured it over two sittings. Full review to follow soon.

There we have it, a four week book week this week! I have spent the last few weeks managing just the three.

I don’t have a many reviews to post over the rrest of this month so I am not going to be around posting much. It is actually a good time for me to step away from social media and my Blog. I will still update and write posts but not as much. I am actually looking forward to this more random schedule for a couple of weeks. It will give me the chance to catch up with some reading for Ocvtober Blog TOurs and for some of the books I want to read from my oiwn TBR.

I wisah everyone a great week ahead

Happy Reading

All the best, Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amaizing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 29th May 2022) #booklove #bookupdates #dayout #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I have had a really good week this past week. The weather has been great and I decided it was time to re-start my National Trust Membership. One of my favourite NT places to visit is Godolphin House and Garden. The house itself isn’t always open, but it is the gardens I go there for. I haven’t been for well over 2 years so it was great to return and see how things had changed. It isn’t one of the larger properties and this is why I love it so much. A great place to stop and unwind. listen to the birds, have a picnic and read a book, which is exactly what I did. A lot of the more formal grass areas have been rewilded and it has made such a difference to the insects I was able to see, many moths and butterflies were flittering and tumbling around. I was also quite engrossed in watching a hole in part of the old stone wall where a blue tit was flitting in and out feeding its chicks. I did try to get photos but it was so fast!

Here are a few pics and then I’ll get onto the books I have read…

NT – Goldolphin House – 28th May 2022

Each of this week’s books was an amazing one to read. Similar and yet very different, secrets, lies and dilemmas. The final book I had been looking at for over a couple of weeks, it is a non-fiction book. All the books are for upcoming blog tours over the next few weeks.

Airside by James Swallow – crime, suspense and thriller based in an airport. An addictive and mysterious story and one that puts the main protagonist in a dilemma. Definitely recommended.

The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler – is a brilliant book, brutal and shocking at times but completely addictive. A one-sitting read.

Chemical Cocktail by Fiona Erskine – a brilliant and addictive mystery story, secrets, time is of the element and fast-paced. Loved it.

The Gin Sisters’ Promise by Faith Hogan – I love this author’s books and this one is a gorgeous read. Family secrets, anger, but with the hope to maybe start again. Definitely recommended.

Faces We Love – Shanghai by Derek Muhs & Marisa Tarin – is a gorgeous book of portrait photos taken in the city of Shanghai, amazing to look through and each one tells its own story. Definitely recommended.

There we have it, another week done and dusted and also another month has gone by.

Have a fabulous week ahead,

Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

A Week off and Days out! #Cornwall #NationalTrust #LocalEvents

yvonnembee 10 Comments

So, as I mentioned in my weekly book wrap up post, I have finally got around to sorting out the photos I took during my during my week off work. Me and He (Alan) stayed at home and had days out, it was easier than arranging for someone to look after the 2 dogs and 3 geese.

The week started with the weather forecast not bring the best of news! A Yellow weather warning for wind and rain, so typical 😂 So a couple of days on decorating and the obligatory and never ending weeding was on the cards! Although I did have a little help with the weeding! I finally finished the painting the front room. Alan used to work with Shire horses years ago when he was a tacker, the fascination of these gentle giants has stayed with him over the years, hence all the Shire Horse ornaments.

The first Wednesday in our village means one thing… OX ROAST! It is a day where I stay home and leave the car parked, if I don’t I wont get parked later as visitors and locals come to the village. The Ox Roast is a fundraiser by our local St. Keverne Band. The Band plays a range of music from the traditional marches to more modern arrangements… I have to say that their medley of Queen songs was great! There are various stalls and as the village has 2 , yes 2 pubs, so not wanting to dehydrate, I did partake of a couple of pints! 😋😁This was the 59th Ox Roast and possibly the last to be held on a Wednesday, next year will see the move to a Saturday.

So a few pics from the day, the setting up in the morning and also of the local church than has a dominating presence across the square.

Yes that might be a random photo of a bag of candy floss and a shopping bag, but did you happen to spot the second hand book stall… yes every year that is my first port of call 😍 I suppose you nosy buggers Book Bloggers and readers want to see what I bought!

As the day went on, the crowds increase and by the end of the evening we were treated to a fabulous AC/DC tribute group who were fantastic! Sorry not the best photo of the that act because the spotlights played havoc with camera on my phone 😕

My next day out was to a local National Trust location, it is one of those places that is off the beaten track and has no facilities, just a car park! It is Poltesco Serpentine Works that has the derelict shells of buildings. It stands at Carleon Cove, a small pebble and rock cove that is a short walk from the car park through a small woodland. It is on the SW Coast path and does not attract the huge number of visitors, so is ideal so sit and listen to the waves and chill! It’s hard to believe that these were taken when we had a Yellow weather warning for 50-60 mph winds and heavy rain! Being on the east side of The Lizard Peninsular does have it’s advantages.

Our next day out was to another National Trust Property, this time to Gendurgan Gardens. A walk down through the gardens to sit on Durgan beach with a hot cuppa watching the world go by, before the trek back up again. While Alan is not a great fan of gardens, he did enjoy this one and enjoyed walking off his Sunday roast 😊

While out and about I did spot a couple of things that made me chuckle. A brilliant card and some coat hooks…

Well, that’s the lot. It has been fun to sort through. A really good week with plenty to do. Unfortunately Monday came round far too quickly and I had a 6 hour training course followed 4 hours later by a night-shift… reality and normality landed with a bump 😂

Thanks for reading my post, I hope you enjoyed it too!

Take care, Yvonne xx