July Journal
July has been a whirlwind (I feel like I say this every month and perhaps I need to figure out how to plan a calm month- is that even possible?!) My daughter finished year three! With the end of the term came all sorts of fun extra school events and activities, including a school fair that I had a big part in planning. I've been working on edits for my Tokyo book, updating my London book for the next printing (thankfully not too many places have closed since the book came out in 2022), preparing for my Rome book coming out (September!!), and we've also have friends and family visit, visited friends, watched so much football and tennis, and so much more- here are some of my highlights from a busy month:
Night and Day by Virginia Woolf
I saw this in theatres and it made for an enjoyable evening out- but the movie itself felt a bit lacking. It felt like a group project, where everyone had their own ideas and simply hoped it would cohere at the end. I loved the themes of suffragette movement, classism, and astronomy and just wished it all tied together a bit more. I will say it made me want to read the book, as there is nothing more fun than comparing a movie to the book.
Caesar Salads
It has been HOT. I've been making caesar salads on repeat and serving it with grilled chicken. Easy, filling, and home made dressing makes all the difference.
Granola
I've been making big batches of homemade granola and enjoying it with yoghurt or on top of an açai bowl.
Cute Ice Cream
My new favourite treat are these super tiny ice cream cones from Ocado. Cute and delicious, what more can you ask for.
Thomas Hardy Day
A friend and I spent an amazing day visiting some Thomas Hardy sites. We visited his cottage, house, and the church where is heart is buried. I'll be doing a full write up of this day and be sure to share all the details.
Wimbledon
I was able to go to Wimbledon with my daughter this year. It was such a memorable experience! We had tickets to see the men's wheelchair final, the u18 boys final, and the women's invitational doubles final. It made for a wonderful day out. If you want to try to get tickets for next year be sure to join the mailing list for the public ballot. Even if you don't win in the ballot, you are able to buy returned tickets, which is how I got my tickets this year.
Dad Had a Bad Day
The main plot is an out of work, stay at home father, needs something that is just for him and joins a tennis club- he had played tennis until university but then had a long hiatus due to an injury.
My main reaction when reading this book is that the main character is only able to get away with his parenting behaviour because he is a man. He is struggling and trying to hide it, he is drowning and those around him don't know what to do, which leads to increasingly erratic and dangerous behaviour. There were many times when reading this book that I was just in shock. I don't know that I would really recommend it, but I did finish so that is something. If you read it I want to know your thoughts! When I picked it up I was initially drawn by the idea of a book about a stay at home dad, and perhaps the differences men vs women face and also it's 10/10 cover design.
Piglet by Lottie Hazell
I started reading this last week and am very intrigued so far.
Endometriosis
I've been recovering from surgery to remove endometriosis. It took me seven years to get a diagnosis. The story of how I finally got diagnosed is a long one, and one that most woman will be able to relate to.
Ultimately, the tipping point was me realising that I actually shouldn't be in pain all the time, that that was not normal, but you kind of get the the point though where you just accept it. Then last year I was determined to get my health in order. Blood tests, ultrasounds, more blood tests, getting an IUI to see if that helped, waiting, etc. It was ultimately getting the ultrasound that led to my diagnosis. But the diagnosis was also sort of a shock, there are so many issues it could have been.
I have so many feelings about this process. In the past seven years I have felt gaslit, ignored, dismissed, assumed it was all still knock on effects of child birth, and ultimately resigned.
I am so glad that I have been able to get the treatment I need, but the unfortunate truth is that women's health is grossly under researched, women are routinely dismissed, real issued are brushed off as anxiety, hormones, or weight related issues. The only way I know to combat this is to talk about it more. Talk about it with friends, your partner, your children, family. There ultimately does need to be a systematic change to how women are treated- at the book store the other day I saw this book
It's Probably Nothing: Critical Conversations on the Women's Health Crisis and immediately added it to my to-read list. I'm ready to be enraged reading it.
Anyway, send positive recovery energy my way, I'll be on the mend for a few more weeks.
xx Cierra