Angel Jem's City Cottage

I didn't get the post of Reading Champion. I did get through on The Chase and may be called to film a programme at some point this summer.I had a filthy cold last week that kept me from doing anything apart from work, sleep and sneeze and, yes, I am desperate for the holidays. Ours don't start until Thursday. That's Maundy Thursday, so as close to Easter as it could get. I'll be back with plenty to post about when I can breath. And relax.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as pe...

I was working today, but fortunately working in a school means lots of people are obsessed with teaching children about special events, so we went outside, we held our pinhole cameras and we watched. And I took my camera. And you knew I had to show you this!

Seriously, how easy is it to lose 2 weeks from your life? I feel like I've been in a cave or asleep, or just on another planet, or abducted by aliens. I wrote a blog post, turned around and... wallop... two weeks later I'm back. And this is Wednesday Wind Up again and I can't remember whether anything of consequence has happened or have I spent the time in a work-induced coma. I will do my best. What am I reading this week? The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins. I've only just begun reading this. We're doing it for bookclub the month after this one; so next April, actually. It sounds quite good, I like the whole seeing something off the train/bus/rear window idea and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops. I'm also reading Demelza  by Winston Graham. It's good fun, and quite reminding me of my (ancient) History O level, which was political history and the Georgians. I like to say I passed my O level on Georgette Heyer, but I think if I...

What am I reading this week? Poldark , by Winston Graham. I picked it up (virtually speaking) this weekend and I have been enjoying it ever since. I'm looking forward to watching the series when it starts on Sunday.  I've also been reading The Way of the Happy Woman by Sara Avant Stover. It's a book about honouring my femininity and working in rhythm with the seasons, my life cycle and nature to achieve balance and harmony. It's heavy on Yoga and Buddhist tenets of meditation, but that's no bad thing in the modern world. If I can align myself a little more with the natural cycles of life (apparently I may be entering my perimenopausal phase and need to honour the passing of fertility and the approach of wisdom. I'll let you know if I have any wisdom at all when I find out) then  I may be a better and happier person. I'm enjoying reading it, and I have to say the chapter on periods was interesting. We so often feel obliged to rampage on with life ...

Joining in with At Home With Mrs M ! Monday; Roasted chicken, peppers in olive oil, mash Tuesday; Sausage and pasta Wednesday; Spicy Bean pot and wedges Thursday; Chilli Beef Noodles Friday; I Have No Idea Saturday; Probably a meal at Ma's Sunday; Roast Pork with gratin potato and yorkshire pudding. If Jo at Through the Keyhole can have yorkshire pudding whatever roast she does, I don't see why I can't either! I can't believe it's March already. I rushed my planning this weekend, so there are still gaps to fill when I may have to make it up on the hoof. And I can't believe it is already March in my life! Where has the year gone? I was planning March and thinking that by the end of the month the weather will be so much better, the food will be so much lighter and we will finally be coming out of hibernation! Although I can't wax lyrical about spring yet... after all, it's entirely possible we may get a big blast of snow for Easter yet!

And it was not fun. No, seriously, I really am built to handle more than one at a time. Or perhaps I am attuned to a more vocal child. Son Number 2 is a sweet and deep thinking, quiet person who enjoys explosions and a good dose of science. having just him without the voice of his elder bro is weird. He doesn't step up and talk louder. He just smiles a lot more. And getting him to say what he wants to see or do or eat can be next to impossible. Except pizza. He likes pizza. So we had a family day out that was chosen for him but not by him. It has to be science-y based. It has to be interesting. It has to be a short drive away because although we had all day we didn't want to spend all day driving. Thanks to your lovely advice, we chose a secret nuclear bunker in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. Hack Green Nuclear Bunker was built at the height of the Cold War fear of nuclear war and only decommissioned in 1993. It was one of a set of secret bunkers from which th...