What I have loved this week! Week 9. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you have all had a good week! Mine has been a one of getting back into a routine after my family had time off work and college last week. As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share the things that I have loved over the past week.

The weather!

Since the weekend it has been so lovely with proper blue skies, sunshine and the hope that winter is over! (apart from yesterday, it was still warm but grey,) I’ve had washing out on the line actually drying instead of just getting damp in a different way and it smells fresh in a way that no fabric softener can ever compete with. I’ve had the windows open too. Even just pottering around the house feels better when there’s a little breeze coming through. At one point I was outside in just a T-shirt, only in the garden though, I was not brave enough to venture too far without a jacket. Although, after seeing the crazy weather in America, I’m slightly suspicious this might be one of those false springs. Eek!

Putting pretty things on my new shelf!

You know when you measure something and you’re convinced you’ve done it wrong, that was me with the new shelf. Except I hadn’t!! It’s actually two shelves and they fit the space perfectly. They slot into the wall like they were made for it and it has completely changed that little area of the room. (They are straight, it's my photo skills which aren't!) The best bit was putting pretty things on them!

More painting!

Stu has been on a proper roll with the painting. Once he gets started, there was no stopping him. He finished off the dining room and then just carried on straight into the bathroom. By Monday evening we had two freshly painted rooms. Our house has had a mini makeover without us changing that much. It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do, it makes everything else look newer and brighter!

Sideboard storage!

After the shelves and the painting I was in full home improvement mode so I decided the little sideboard in the living room needed changing too. Most of our furniture there is black and the old brown drawers just didn’t quite work any more. They weren’t awful but they didn’t blend in either. So I found a new set of drawers on Temu for just over £30. A metal frame and canvas drawers which are a lot stronger than they sound. The drawers are bigger and we now have more storage. It just looks neater and the old brown drawers are in the garage waiting to be given a new lick of paint and then we will find a new home for them! 

Bridgerton!

New episodes of Bridgerton were released yesterday and I am fully ready. I’ve been planning my afternoon around it. I am going to binge it all this afternoon!

Being home alone!

After having everyone home last week, this week’s quiet has been very welcome. I love my family but I also love a bit of space. The first day I was alone, I didn’t even put the TV on straight away. I just enjoyed the quiet, had a cup of tea, pottered about and caught up on the bits I didn’t manage to do last week. I haven’t even done anything exciting apart from putting the sideboard together but it has been lovely being home alone! 

What have you loved over the last week?

What I listened to in January!

At the start of the year, I started listening to audiobooks. I always wanted to be a reader but couldn't/wouldn't make the time, so audiobooks were a way around it. I could be busy doing something while still listening to a book. Anyway, I thought I would share what I have been listening to. This post would have come sooner but I had to wait for my listening time to reset on Spotify to finish the last book. I have since moved away from Spotify audiobooks as 15 hours listening time per month is just not enough for me and I now borrow audiobooks from my local library through BorrowBox.

A Chosen Destiny: My Story by Drew McIntyre!

A destiny chosen, a destiny squandered, and a champion's relentless pursuit for redemption.

Growing up in a small village in Ayrshire, Scotland, Drew dreamed of becoming WWE Champion and following in the footsteps of heroes Stone Cold Steve Austin and Undertaker. With his parents' support, he trained and paid his dues, proving himself to tiny crowds in the Butlin's circuit. At age twenty-two, McIntyre made his WWE debut and was touted by none other than WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as "The Chosen One," who would lead WWE into the future. With his destiny in the palm of his hands, Drew watched it all slip through his fingers.

Through a series of ill-advised choices and family tragedy, Drew's life and career spiralled. As a surefire champ, he struggled under the pressure of expectations and was fired from the company. But the WWE Universe has not seen the last of this promising athlete. Facing a crossroads, this powerful Scotsman set a course to show the world the real Drew McIntyre. Buoyed by the support of his wife, Kaitlyn, and the memory of his beloved mother, Drew embarked on a mission to recharge, reinvent and revitalise himself to fulfil his destiny. It is a story of grit, courage and determination as a fallen Superstar discovers who he truly is and storms back to reclaim his dream.

This was the book which kicked this whole audiobook thing off for me. If you know me, you know I love WWE. I always have. Drew McIntyre is one of my favourites, so this was always going to be top of my list but I didn’t expect it to grab me the way it did! He reads it and comes across exactly how he does on screen. What really got me with this book was how open Drew is. There’s no glossing over the bad bits. He talks about the poor choices, the self-doubt, the ego and the knock to his confidence when he was released from WWE. Hearing him talk about that period, in his own voice, made it hit harder. You can hear the disappointment and the frustration, the way he rebuilt himself, not just physically but mentally and how much he changed as a person, not just a wrestler. Losing his mum clearly shaped so much of that growth too and those parts were emotional without being overdone but I did cry!

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella!

Audrey can't leave the house. She can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house. Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start. And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable. Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you.

I don't usually listen to fiction but this was a great way to get into it! At first, it felt light and funny but underneath there’s a thoughtful look at anxiety, recovery and someone finding their way back to who they were. The way it is written feels kind and careful, not heavy or preachy. Nothing is rushed. There’s no big dramatic suddenly everything is fine moment. There are still laugh-out-loud moments mostly thanks to her family and her mum’s obsession with self-help books had me smiling more than once. As a mum myself, especially knowing the struggles my youngest Ellie has faced, some parts hit close to home. That feeling of wanting to fix everything, to make the fear disappear and sometimes getting it wrong despite good intentions. It was impossible not to relate. Even though this is aimed at young adults, I got so much out of it. It’s a reminder that kindness matters, patience matters and that small steps are still steps.

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella!

Lexi wakes up in a hospital bed after a car accident, thinking it's 2004 and she's a twenty-five-year old with crooked teeth and a disastrous love life. But, to her disbelief, she learns it's actually 2007 - she's twenty-eight, her teeth are straight, she's the boss of her department - and she's married! To a good-looking millionaire! How on earth did she land the dream life? She can't believe her luck - especially when she sees her stunning new home. She's sure she'll have a fantastic marriage once she gets to know her husband again. He's drawn up a 'manual of our marriage', which should help. But as she learns more about her new self, chinks start to appear in the perfect life. All her old colleagues hate her. A rival is after her job. Then a dishevelled, sexy guy turns up and lands a new bombshell. What happened to her? Will she ever remember? And what will happen if she does?

I loved this book while I was listening to it. I flew through it while laughing, cringing and muttering Oh no," like they could hear me. The whole idea of meeting a version of yourself you don’t recognise was so interesting. he ending but the ending! I didn’t dislike it, it wasn’t bad or disappointing but it just felt unfinished. Like we reached the most important part and that was it. Even with that, I enjoyed it. It was funny, warm and thoughtful.

The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back by Fiona Gibson!

Meet Celia. Life hasn’t worked out quite how she’d planned.

Since her son left for university, Celia has felt stuck at home battling with her husband Geoff over control of the thermostat, and without the merest glint of a social life. Her only joy comes from the plants she nurtures in her makeshift plant hospital in their Glasgow flat. Then three unexpected things happen: She catches Geoff in bed with a secretary from his sausage factory (no pun intended). Her high-flying best friend Amanda arrives on her doorstep without warning (but with a very large suitcase) and A tall handsome French teacher asks her to tend his daughter’s cactus back to health.

Suddenly, Celia finds her life in freefall, but she makes a decision: she won’t let this be the end of her. She’ll bring herself back to life, just like the plants she works her magic on. But just how do you change the habits of a lifetime?

Celia is so relatable, she’s the sort of woman you want to cheer for because she’s kind, a bit shy of the spotlight but when life knocks her down, she doesn’t just lie there. She starts figuring out who she is apart from all the roles she’s been playing. There’s humour too in the right places. Her dynamic with the other characters is brilliant, especially with Amanda, who has her own set of baggage and Enzo, the French teacher who doesn’t mind that she talks to cacti like they’re her best friend. I really enjoyed this. There was drama but no big drama. It was a cosy sort of book.

What have you been reading or listening to lately?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #44

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the 'historic triangle' which includes Jamestown-Willimasburg-Yorktown Virginia.

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see?

I haven’t seen any of them in person or even visited America but I can definitely daydream about it. I would love to visit New York and do all the touristy things. Stand in Times Square, have a walk through Central Park, take a ferry past the Statue of Liberty, visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Metropolitan Museum of Art, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and see a show on Broadway!

I think everyone should see The Grand Canyon in person. It’s one of those places that I imagine photos never fully do it justice. Just standing there looking out over the landscape must feel so surreal.

2. Three sounds you love to hear?

My girls laughing properly - The full belly laugh, the kind where they can’t stop and it spreads to everyone else in the room.

Rain tapping on the windows at night - The steady, gentle tapping when I'm in bed and don’t have to go anywhere. It makes me want to snuggle under the duvet even more and be cosy.

The kettle boiling and clicking off - That little click. It means a cup of tea is seconds away!

3. Three sounds you hate to hear?

Someone chewing with their mouth open - That squelchy, smacking, gulping noise that I can’t ignore no matter how hard I try.

My fella snoring - It is like sleeping next to a chainsaw, it's loud and just when I think it’s stopped, he starts again!

My alarm clock - It is my worst enemy every morning! I have even tried putting relaxing music on to wake me up gently but it just makes me angry that it's time to leave my bed.

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips?

I’ve never been a huge fan of tortilla chips but I don’t dislike them either. They’re fine if they’re there but I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat them. There’s nothing really exciting about a plain tortilla chip and while dips like salsa or guacamole make them a bit more interesting, they’re still not something I crave. They’re a nice snack to have snack but not a must have snack in my mind.

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile?

I’m really looking forward to Mother’s Day this March, a whole day when I get to just relax and be spoilt. No chores, no running around, just a day to feel appreciated and loved. I can already imagine the little treats, maybe a nice breakfast, thoughtful cards, and just enjoying time with my family without having to think about anything else. It’s the kind of day that makes me feel really special.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It feels like spring! Well, today it does. I am writing this on Sunday and it's 14C (57F), the sun is shining and there's not a drop of rain! I put Ellie’s trainers on the line after they came out of the wash and just stood there watching them flap in the breeze thinking spring is coming. The air feels different, all fresh and light. I couldn’t stop there, I stripped the bed, washed everything and it went straight onto the line. I love drying stuff outside. It just makes everything feel a bit brighter and days like this make me actually want to do all the boring jobs. The sunshine makes everything easier!

I still can't get my head around the fact I am mother to two adults!

My brain still refuses to accept this information, that I am the mother of two adults. Two adult daughters! I say it out loud quite often, partly to practise and partly because I’m hoping one day it’ll sink in and stop sounding so strange. It hasn’t yet.

Ellie, my youngest, turned 18 back in August, which means I officially crossed that line into all my children are grown-ups now. I thought by now I’d be used to it, I assumed the shock would wear off, I’d adjust, move on, maybe even feel a bit smug about it but no. I still find myself wandering round the house then suddenly stopping to mutter I have two adult daughters, like it’s a fun fact I’ve just learnt and can’t quite process. They are both proper adults. They can vote. They can sign contracts. They can book appointments, open bank accounts and walk into a pub without anyone batting an eyelid but they still want me to make phone calls for them, sit next to them while they fill in forms, and double check emails before they press send. The confidence disappears the second paperwork appears.

I caught myself telling someone that my girls aren't kids any more, they're all grown up and then immediately felt like I was lying because, sure, they’re legally adults but I think they will always be my babies. Slightly taller, louder babies with opinions and strong feelings about everything but still mine.

In theory, having two adult daughters should mean my workload has dropped massively. They should be cooking their own meals, keeping on top of laundry, changing their beds, cleaning up after themselves and maybe even doing the odd bit of housework without being asked. In real life, it’s more like having two very tall teenagers who can debate politics one minute and then shout Mam! the next because they’re not sure if a recipe needs salt or not. There is less teenage drama, which I appreciate more than I can explain but there are still plates left on the sides instead of in the sink. There are still cups abandoned around the house and my chocolate still mysteriously disappears.

They’re independent in lots of ways now. They manage their own money, organise their own schedules, deal with work, college and life stuff. I love seeing that. I love watching them handle things without panicking or needing me to step in straight away. It makes me proud but independence doesn’t mean they suddenly stop needing their mam. It just means the reasons change. Instead of tying shoelaces and packing school bags, I’m now helping with bigger decisions, listening to worries about work, relationships and what on earth they’re meant to be doing with their lives. Sometimes I’m asked for advice, sometimes I’m just asked to listen and sometimes I’m asked to fix something that Google could absolutely handle but apparently Mam is still the preferred option.

They’re learning how to stand on their own two feet and I’m learning how to step back without fully stepping away. That’s the tricky bit, finding that balance between giving them space and still being the safety net they’ve always had. I want them to be confident and capable and excited about their adult lives but because they’re still living at home, I’m very much part of the day-to-day stuff too. I remind them to eat properly. I ask what time they’ll be home. I check they’ve got everything they need before they leave the house and I offer guidance when they’re making decisions. They’ve come such a long way and I’m in awe of the young women they’re becoming.

At the same time, little moments catch me off guard. A laugh that sounds exactly like it did when they were small, a song that reminds me of when they were little or a random memory of bedtime stories or school runs or tiny hands in mine. It’s bittersweet. I wouldn’t rewind time, but I do sometimes miss the simplicity of those days when their biggest worry was whether their teddy had slept well.

Having two adult daughters living at home feels like a strange but lovely in-between stage. They’re grown enough to make their own choices but close enough that we still share meals, stories, TV shows and those little everyday moments that matter more than you realise. We chat in the kitchen, laugh over silly things, and occasionally fall out over the same old stuff. Some things never change. It’s not always easy. The mess, the noise, the constant Mam can you just moments can test my patience, especially when I trip over shoes that definitely didn’t belong in the middle of the dining room but I know how quickly this stage will pass. One day the house will be quieter, too quiet and I’ll miss the sound of them coming in, the random conversations and the chaos of everyone being under one roof.

Being part of my girls adult lives is a privilege. I get to see them figuring things out, making mistakes, learning, growing. I get to cheer them on, support them and be there for them. I still can’t quite get my head around being the mother of two adults. It feels strange and wonderful and slightly unbelievable all at once but I do know this: no matter how old they get, no matter what they do or where life takes them, they’ll always be my girls and I wouldn’t change that for anything!