Photo diary: Project 365, week 27

It's been a long week, as my husband was away for seven days (Thursday to Wedneday). Sasha misses him and tends to be more anxious, taking it on me. It didn't help that it was so hot as well, and in Sasha's eyes, it's all my fault, I'm responsible for the weather. 

I did a quick drawing of a Japanese boy with a floating carp balloon in my watercolour notebook. 

Filling in my notebook with some reading challenge stats. In the first half year of 2025 I read 52 books, including 7 non-fiction. Pretty pleased with that, as it's the most I've read of non-fiction books in years. Hoping to add to this number.

I also started a new reading challenge, run by our local Waterstones. You need to read nine books in nine weeks, following the prompts (Read a work of translated fiction, Read a book with a BIPOC protagonist, Read a locally-set book, etc). 

By reading 52 books, I completed my Reading Challenge on GoodReads. 

 My top favourites are:

A Life's Music by Andrei Makine;

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins;

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré;

A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre.

The last one is non-fiction, and is very well-written. I have been reading it about 15-20 pages at a time, as there is a lot of information to absorb. Philby was the right bastard, and the secret service is a dirty business anywhere. Whatever side you belong to.

With all the hot weather I've been watering my potted plants every evening. Spotted this little butterfly on the blackberry bush, and checked out online if it's the blasted moth who nearly destroyed our boxwood hedges. It doesn't appear to be the horrible moth.

I love the scent of phloxes. It's one of my Mum's favourite flowers. 

Another butterfly in the garden.

My blood test results are back, thankfully, no action required, but the health issue is still there, so need more tests.

On Friday Eddie went to London with his school to see Noughts and Crosses at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. He studies Drama as one of his GCSEs, and this play is one of the subjects they study. He came back from his trip after midnight, rather tired but happy. 

Though it was an evening performance, Eddie managed to get sunburnt, and woke up with very puffy eyes. He did have a hat, but seeing a photo that the school posted on Facebook, looks like none of the silly sods were wearing hats.

A splash of colour in town. 

We had a relaxing day, not doing much: took Sasha out, did a bit of shopping and watched The Rain season 1 on Netflix. It's a bit slow going, and not as good as El Eternauta, though it is quite similar in genre (post-apocalyptic society, survival in the aftermath of the virus which wipes out the majority of population). There are 3 seasons. Not sure if we keep watching beyond the first one.

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