So here we are. Another new month, and another one that looks set to be spent off work, creating projects, and looking to the future. But let’s hope June 2020 is a better one. Continue reading “June 2020”
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100 Films Before You Die
Eugh how is it Wednesday again already? It seems like only yesterday I was working on last week’s Imagining the End of Lockdown post… But here we are again! I hmmed and hahed over what to talk about this week, and after watching the first ever Star Wars film for the first time yesterday, I decided to go with 100 films to watch before you die – a cheery thought!
Imagining the End of Lockdown
In case you, like me, seem to be having difficulty keeping track of days… it’s New Post Wednesday! Anyone else also really looking forward to getting back to work as soon as safely possible? Because today’s post is all about imagining the end of lockdown – just in case the title didn’t give it away.
A Home Holiday
So the way things are going, it seems unlikely that any of us will be going abroad for a summer holiday. If that makes you as sad as it does me, then today’s post is all about how you can have your home holiday – a summer holiday in your garden!
Reco’s ToothTabs*
And once again we’re here on a Wednesday morning! How are you all this morning? I can’t believe we’re almost a week into May already. In fact, thinking back to this time last year and the fact we were heading off on holiday. I can’t believe I’m jealous of year-ago-me. She didn’t know how good she had it. But that brings me to today’s gifted item – Reco’s ToothTabs, gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
May 2020
Firstly, allow me to say happy Friday! Especially to those of you who can still follow what day of the week we’re on. Secondly, welcome to May 2020! Will it continue the way it’s beginning, or will we be allowed some freedom over the coming weeks? Only time will tell.
Well as can only be expected, and as we somewhat predicted back when writing the April 2020 post, it’s been a quiet lead up to May. And to be honest, it’s looking like May could be more of the same! In fact, it’s the first Friday of the month and in usual circumstances we’d be meeting at the local pub after work for a drink and possibly dinner before heading home to watch the usual Friday night TV. Instead, the biggest excitement currently planned for this weekend is learning a new song on guitar! 
April 2020
So as we were saying, April was a strange month. We took part in a couple of pub quizzes over Zoom, organised by the man who does the pub quizzes in the pub Rachel works in, and won 3 out of the 5 we took part in! That was a bit of a shock, especially when there were between 15 and 19 teams depending on the night. We continued our “pub” chats with Granny over FaceTime on a Saturday, and Rachel and I continued doing the PE With Joe classes when we could. We’ve watched several films over the month, but couldn’t say we’ve spent more time in front of the TV. The garden was weeded and tidied, and we even managed to have a couple of barbecues in the sun.
I read a lot, listened to my audiobooks more, my bedroom got tidied and decluttered, and delivered some essential shopping things to family and family friends who are currently shielding. Easter was a strange weekend purely because we’re so used to it being a bigger family affair, but instead on Good Friday was took part in the pub quiz, had a barbecue, and just stayed in the sun in the garden as much as we could. Easter Saturday came around and we had our pub Skype session, watched a film on Netflix, and Rachel organised an easter egg hunt for us in the garden. So then on Easter Sunday we had our lamb dinner, took a walk, and not much else again. Overall, April was busy enough considering we’re on this lockdown, and it was even productive with me managing to get through some blog admin I’ve been putting off for months! Rachel travelled back to Edinburgh on the 18th, and has been busy working in the community since.
May 2020
By the looks of things, May won’t see us have a change in circumstances. The current plan is that lockdown will be reviewed on 9th May, but personally I don’t see it being lifted any time soon. The weather has now turned again and is more typical for Northern Ireland in May – lower temperatures, less sun, and a lot more rain – so I’ll most likely end up finishing my clear out and getting through more computer based activities. In fact, I could even spend the month learning new songs on guitar if the lockdown continues! All I know for certain is that my TBR pile is decreasing rapidly, even with receiving new books recently.
April 2020 Goals
- Teach myself a new song on guitar.
I just about did this! I’ve learnt the chords and strumming pattern for Begin Again by Taylor Swift, and I taught myself Photograph by Ed Sheeran. Just don’t ask me to sing and play at the same time – people who can do that are geniuses!
Continue to post weekly here.
Yup! If you missed any of the posts, you know where you can look for them!
Train my hair to go a third day without being washed.
My hair is just about coping with this. I’m currently washing it one day, leaving it to do its own thing on day 2, putting dry shampoo in on day 3, and tying it back on day 4 again if we’re not going to the shops or washing it day 4 if we are going to the shops. In fact, I was tempted to leave it for a 5th day just last week! But I think you would’ve been able to fry chips in my roots by the end of day 5.
Read 2 books
Again yes! I read Warlight by Michael Ondaatje, and Calm by Fearne Cotton, and finished two audiobooks – A Storm of Swords and A Feast For Crows (Books 3 and 4 of the Game of Thrones series). I had hoped to finish reading Creativity Brewing by Kevin Barrick, but I’ve only 12% left to read (Kindle edition) so it’ll be finished by the end of next month I hope.
Drink 2 litres of water a day
I didn’t manage to do this every day, but out of the last 30 I drank 2 litres minimum across 20 of the days! The warmer weather certainly helped with this goal.
May 2020 Goals
- Read 2 books.
- Finish blog admin relating to posts from April 2016 up until December 2017.
- Watch all the James Bond films from Dr No up to Spectre since I just rediscovered my DVDs of them!
- Post Weekly here.
- Learn 2 new songs on guitar.
How about you? How is the situation in your country, and do you have any goals for May 2020? Let me know in the comments below!
15 Blog Maintenance Tasks On My To Do List
Hello hello, it’s Wednesday again, and I’m back! This getting back to blogging has been great during the furloughing period – it’s like all my creativity has begun to flow again and I can finally take the time and energy needed to both write and promote my posts! Continue reading “15 Blog Maintenance Tasks On My To Do List”
The Lockdown Silver Linings Tag
And here we are on another Wednesday! As we wake up on what is my 5th Wednesday morning off work, today I am taking part in the Lockdown Silver Linings Tag.
2020 So Far – Part 1
It’s another Wednesday folks! I can’t believe we’re already this far into April, or into 2020 in general. Isn’t it mad how time just flies? Well, I say it’s flown, but 2020 so far hasn’t exactly been the marvelous year we all anticipated, has it? Continue reading “2020 So Far – Part 1”
Two Weeks
Can you believe it’s Wednesday again? I’m not sure if I can or not. But here we are, another Wednesday morning, and another chance for us to have a little catch up. Continue reading “Two Weeks”