Photo Diary P2 | Helmsley, North Yorkshire Holiday

Today I’m back with part two of my holiday photo diary. View part one here. In part one I chatted about the things we did on holiday such as going to the national centre for birds of prey. In this post I have a few photos I took of the birds of prey, as well as general arty shots back at the cottage and some ethereal plant shots from the forest which we visited most days.

While at the bird of prey centre, we decided to sign up for the demonstration where we were shown what the birds were like close up, we got to see them fly and how they were trained for the demos. My brother and dad particularly enjoyed this aspect.

In the cottage grounds, there was quite a bit to explore, for example the owner kept horses. There was an old telephone box just next to the cottage, which I found interesting, and I took a few photos of that. I hope you enjoyed this series.

Do you take lots of photographs on holiday too?

Does the national bird of prey centre seem like somewhere you might like to visit? :-) Xx

Recent Reads Reviewed #18

The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas by Carole Matthews - 4/5

This book is perfect to devour over the festive season! The writing was wonderful, and the author really captured the ups and downs of friendship and romance. There were parts of the book that showed some grit and others which were warm and fuzzy so it was unpredictable in that sense.

My few reservations were there were too many characters to keep track of and I felt the number of pages could have been condensed a little too. I’ve never read anything by this author before, although this is actually the third book in a series and therefore I missed a few minor plot elements.

Children played a big part in the story, and this aspect was done in an endearing way. I could see this book being popular with young Mum’s as the family themes throughout were done well. Despite imperfections, I enjoyed this book very much.

The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson - 5/5

Jacqueline Wilson, is an acclaimed British children’s author, and has always been one of my favourites. We follow Andy, a girl who is struggling with her parents’ divorce, and the disruption with living one week with her Mum’s new family, and one week with her Dad’s. The author really captures family dynamics in a realistic way. After rereading a childhood favourite, I found the story just as moving all these years later. Would recommend this book to all.

Trouble According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney - 3/5

Recently, I’ve been interested in reading books about animals, both fiction and non-fiction. I kept a few hamsters as a child; so the cover of this book intrigued me to pick it up. We follow Humphrey, the friendly hamster, who while has a big heart, gets himself into a pickle sometimes. This series I imagine would be great for children, and there’s a strong moral message in this particular book. I did find myself bored with it dragging in places, but otherwise, it was quite readable.

Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson - 5/5

I had so much fun reading this book, and I resonated with Becca’s point of view. The humour was absolutely excellent, really quirky and witty, I had a big smile plastered across my face while reading her jokes. The author touched on some really important subjects too such as mental health, and the difficulties of losing a family member in a very considered way. I thought the story would be fluffy chick lit, but this book was so much more than that. It’s about hope, redemption and the importance of family. This book truly captured my heart.

The Heir by Kiera Cass (The Selection #4) - 4/5

I completed The Selection series earlier this year, and this is the second to last book in the trilogy. While I have been thoroughly enjoying reading The Selection, I felt the last two books didn’t quite live up to the first three.

We follow America, in the first few books, as she enters a competition to become a princess in a dystopian world. I would most definitely recommend the series, and you can buy the complete set discounted in The Works if you are interested.

Paper Girls (Paper Girls #1) by Brian K. Vaughan - 5/5

The Paper Girls series has ignited my passion for graphic novels and the first episode did not disappoint. The vivid, ombre colour palette, and graphic illustrations are simply superb. The story of a dystopian world offers lots of twists and turns. A read I can’t recommend enough.

Dewey: The True Story of a World Famous Library Cat by Vicki Myron - 5/5

I picked this up thinking it would be one of those ‘filler’ type books for me. You know the one in between more intense, exciting reads where you want something a bit light-weight. Going into this with those expectations, I soon realised, this was an incredible, engaging and emotional read about a stray cat who found a new home in a library.

The relationship between Vicki, the cat owner and Dewey the cat touched my heart. The love for Dewey, at the library, was beautifully written. I’m definitely an animal person, and this is one of my all-time favourite animal themed reads. Maybe one of my top reads from 2019.

Have you read any festive reads recently?

Do you enjoy animal related books too? :-) Xx

Photo Diary P1 | Helmsley, North Yorkshire Holiday

It’s been a while, welcome back! Today I have part one of my holiday photo diary from earlier in the year. We went to Helmsley, in North Yorkshire which was my first time visiting. We went for one week for a relaxing, laid back time.

We did go on a few outings such as a visit to the Rievaulx temple, which we had a tour of, and later a picnic. We went to the national centre for birds of prey, which was one of the highlights of our trip, and photos of the birds will be in the next part of this post series. I took some photos of a rose garden, I found in the national centre for birds of prey which are featured in this post.

I thoroughly enjoyed having a potter around Helmsley centre, my Mum and I went in some interesting shops. I bought a military jacket from Age UK, which is featured in this haul post. There was a beautiful book shop, but it was a bit overpriced, although they had a fabulous young adult section.

We stumbled across an unusual shop selling wool, and secondhand books. The books were in a room in the back, and they had an array of chick-lit and thriller books. I ended up getting one book on holiday, it was called The Mona Lisa Mystery by Pat Hutchins, which I found second-hand in Oxfam.

We found a beautiful forest which we visited most days, to get phone reception and a coffee in the campervan. I got some interesting ethereal shots of the foliage while visiting there. We went for a meal in a pub in Helmsley centre one day too, and I had a gorgeously presented salad.

The cottage was stunning, particularly my bedroom, it had traditional beams, and a hygge, cosy feel. Most days I had a wander around the grounds with my camera; as there was a large pond, horses, and so on.

Do cottage holidays appeal to you too?

What things do you like to get up to while on a break? :-) Xx

Recent Reads Reviewed #17

Toil and Trouble by Tabitha Black - 4/5

This was a sweet, and highly readable children’s book. It has those Harry Potter vibes with it being set around a boarding school for witches although it’s very much aimed at younger girls.

I enjoyed the friendship between the main characters, and their loyalty towards each other and the school. There were a few plot twists which added an extra element of fun. I recommend this book, and might consider others in the series.

Grk and the Hot Dog Trail by Josh Lacey - 5/5

Don’t be deceived by the youthful design on the front cover; Tim and Grks adventure in New York City to find the priceless golden statue was thoroughly gripping. There were some fantastic moments in the book. I also appreciated the witty and fun dialogue. Very well written, and I without a doubt recommend to others.

Any Ideas? Tips and Techniques to Help You Think Creatively by Rob Eastaway - 5/5

I’ve read a few creative thinking books in the past, including the most well-known one Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I wanted to read further into the subject, and this title came up reduced on The Works website so I thought I would give it a go.

I particularly enjoyed learning about where ideas come from and the science behind lateral thinking. Quotes from famous figures were included which I felt were very notable too. It turned out to be quite a special book, and I came away with some insightful thoughts.

Abstracts (Collins Learn To Paint) by Laura Reiter - 3/5

I enjoyed flicking through the stunning art work in this book. I was hoping to get some motivation to do some art work myself, but I found the steps a bit tedious and only got half way through reading them. My main inspiration came from looking at the pictures which was enough to give the book a three star rating.

The Best of Miranda by Miranda Hart - 5/5

This book surpassed my expectations in many ways, and I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m a big fan of the sitcom Miranda, and reading this book felt like reliving the first time I watched the program on TV.

The book includes dialogue from the most popular episodes, and was just as fun to read as watching it on TV. Miranda Hart has annotated the script with her own little comments which was a lovely touch.

Little extras in the book include things like a snakes and ladders style marry Gary board game and Miranda talks us through some of her experiences from making the show. A big must for any of her fans for sure!

The Spooky School (Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam Series) by Tracey Corderoy - 5/5

I was delighted with this book overall. The illustrations complimented this well written collection of short stories. The autumn colour palette which featured in the imagery throughout was a nice touch and the unique stories were perfect for younger readers.

Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper by Debbie Johnson - 4/5

I’ve read one or two of Debbie Johnson books now so I can tell I like her writing. This was a lovely, romantic read, and I felt the connection between Maggie and Marco was written well. Marco in particular was a fun and well-rounded character. Towards the end, the story became a bit predictable, but otherwise a great read.

Have you been inspired to read any of these books?

Do you have any book recommendations for me? :-) Xx

The Snack Diaries | Part Eighteen

Sainsbury's Bedtime Infusion Herbal Tea
(From Sainsbury’s, £1.25 for 20 teabags)
This is one of my favourite herbal teas I’ve tried in a good while. I love the blend of flavours, including camomile, lemon balm, lavender, etc. It’s so calming therefore perfect for bed time. The packaging is absolutely stunning, and on top of that the price is a bargain for what you get.

Morrison's Red Berry Blush Fruit Tea
(From Morrisons, £1.12 for 20 teabags)
As I received this tea as a gift, I was willing to give it a go even though I’m not as keen on berry flavours. The cranberry really comes through making it seasonally appropriate and actually I found myself enjoying this brand. One of my favourite berry teas I’ve tried.

M&S Sweet and Salty Popcorn
(From M&S, price and quantity unknown)
These two snacks were, kindly gifted to us as a family, so we all had a portion each. The popcorn tasted delicious, and just like how you get it at the cinema. I did limit my share, as I have been with other sweet treats but can see this product being popular with anyone who likes sweet and salty popcorn.

M&S Cheese Tasters Crisps
(From M&S, price and quantity unknown) 
These are imitating Wotsits crisps which were a favourite of mine as a child. These weren’t quite as nice as the official Wotsits brand but my brother very much enjoyed finishing them off. The M&S packaging overall is great too.

Would you be interested to try any of these? 

Which supermarket do you get most of your snacks/teas from? :-) Xx

Autumnal Baking: Rhubarb Crumble

Crumbles are perfect for this time of year, and one of my favourites to bake as well as eat. If you want to get into the spirit of baking this autumn, a crumble is a good place to start as there is not a lot of preparation.

I’ve been growing my own rhubarb over the summer for the first time, and decided to use it here. You can add so many types of fruit to a crumble, and it you are trying to more economical there’s nothing stopping you using either bought or canned fruit.

This dish went down well in our family.

Let me know what your favourite crumble filling is!! :-) Xx