I'm glad to say Good bye to January, it always seems to be a never-ending month, and a total let down after the Christmas festivities which rarely live up to the expectations. Last Sunday I spotted a competition online from Virago publishers. They wanted you to take a photo of one of their books to try to win one of their latest releases.
We have zillions of books in the house, and I started looking through some of the shelves, hoping to find at least some of Virago books.
I managed to locate three, but none of them were recent editions. Two were old-ish books by Sarah Waters. Affinity had the most mesmerising cover in blue and purple.
I didn't see any entries for the competition, and wonder if they will honor the competition if there are no other participants except me.
I love blood oranges, and was thrilled to find them in Waitrose on Monday. I'm happy to eat them raw, but they are also wonderful for making marmalade.
On Tuesday I had to walk across town to the Royal Mail depot, as I've missed a postie by 3 minutes the day before. They never bother to leave anything with the neighbours, so annoying. It was a parcel with wooden toys for reviewing.
The morning was frosty but sunny, and I loved the pattern of the tree shadows on the grass.
I had to pick up something from the summerhouse, and spotted this suicidal thyme which has grown in the middle of the path's flagstones. I'll need to carefully remove it and plant it somewhere else, so that nobody could step on it and break it.
On Thursday morning I had a quick coffee with my husband at UE Roasters cafe in town, just after I dropped kids in school. We don't often have time to discuss things in the evenings, so morning coffee feels like a grown-up time. They had some beautiful cakes on display, not that I fancied any first thing in the morning. Just a dose of caffeine for me please.
Fridays are Eddie's favourite days, as we come home from school with his best friend. They play Minecraft and discuss things that matter only when you are 7+. I offered them chicken burgers for an early dinner, and they gobbled them up with gusto.
Today I stayed in bed almost until 10am, which is a very rare occasion for me, but I felt very tired yesterday night, and I obviously needed all that long sleep. Thankfully, my men managed to survive without me in the morning, while I was asleep.
A fine drizzle is on all day today. I tried to entice Eddie to go out with me to do some grocery shopping, but he wasn't very enthusiastic. When I told him to get dressed, I found him in the lounge, sprawled on the sofa. I did convince him that we should go out together, and we popped into The Works and bought yet another Minecraft book. I have spotted some ghost stories and crime books that I would love to read, and will go next week for a good browsing session.
I also took seven books to the charity shop today, and feeling virtuous.
How was your week?
January did seem to last forever...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the competition. Even if there is no other entries they have to honor it. Them's the rules. hehehe
That's so frustrating about missing the parcel...At least it looked like a nice walk. Those cakes and burgers look so good!
Thank you, Kim! If they don't announce the winner, I might get in touch and ask. :) The walk to the depot is nice, but pretty far.
DeleteIt's so annoying when the postman doesn't leave parcels! I've got to go and pick two up tomorrow. Those cakes do look delicious.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! Our neighbours don't mind taking parcels, and I'm always taking their deliveries as well, but only from couriers. The Royal Mail can't be bothered.
DeleteThose cakes are lovely! #365
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the competition - they should honour it and you should probably chase them up about it if you don't hear. Might be worth taking a screen shot of the terms and conditions in case they disappear. Those cakes look delicious.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Erica! One day I'll go for an afternoon tea to that cafe and try one of those cakes.
DeleteHope they play fair on the competition. I remember having similar and being an only photo entrant. Then someone entered after the deadline and they awarded the win to him despite him apologising on his entry for being late. I wasn't impressed and told them they couldn't do that. So they offered to send me something to apologise. It was pretty rubbish and tbh, they should have changed the winner. If I'd realised at the time that you could report companies not following CAP rules, I would have done.
ReplyDeleteLove that you put extra little things with your burgers. Yum
That sounds so unfair, Emma, I think ASA deals with these issues.
DeleteI love a good wander round a charity shop for books and your food shots look yummy. Reminds me I need to pop out like that from time to time!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love charity shops, always end up buying china and books.
Deletei hope the wooden toys weren't too heavy to carry home, those cakes look lovely, did you really only have coffee?
ReplyDeleteThey were more bulky than heavy, those boxes. And No, I didn't try any of those cakes. :)
Deleteannoys me as well if they dont leave parcels here with post office as they take it back to the depot which is nearly 12 miles away.
ReplyDeleteNice he looks forward to bringing his friend home on a Friday.
Always love the look of cakes in eateries but none of them are any use to me.
Thank you, Elaine! They would only redeliver to the post office if you pay for the service.
DeleteThose cakes look amazing, but even I would have to pass on them first thing in the morning. Good luck with the competition. I love the photo with the trees, beautiful #365
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary, I don't think I can stomach a cake in the morning. I must go there in the afternoon one day and sample their beautiful cakes.
DeleteI hope you win the publishers photo comp, it is a great photo. How annoying your postie won't leave parcels with neighbours. Mine are super and we have a spare "fake" bin they leave them in for me which saves me many many trips to the sorting office as happened at our last address. #365
ReplyDeleteThank you, our posties are a law into themselves. :)
DeleteOh wow those cakes are insane! I would have taken some home for lunchtime... Good luck with the competition, your photo is very good! #365
ReplyDeleteThank you, I was in that cafe again this morning, but only had a latte. The cakes look beautiful there, but I don't eat cakes in the morning.
DeleteOh January has been so long. Good luck with the competition. Looks like a nice walk. Those cakes and burgers look so good, delish x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan! Eddie told me he wants these burgers every Friday now.
DeleteMy postie is the same! Never leaves anything with the neighbours! X #project365
ReplyDeleteThat's so annoying, isn't it?! It would save them also carrying it back to the depot.
DeleteI love Sarah Waters books, I hope you enjoy it #project365
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed several of her books, though haven't read any of the more recent ones.
DeleteJanuary is always such a long month. I love blood oranges too. #project365
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mandi! They are so beautiful to look at and so tasty.
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