I feel like mine's been the latter. Suddenly, autumn is just around the corner, yet it feels like summer never really happened.
You people who get to see the sun more than twice a year and enjoy summer days where the temperature gets above 18 degrees C (64 degrees F), I don't want to hear about it.
The sun came out for about 15 minutes since July 1st. Our strawberries all went mouldy on the vine while still green, and our one tomato on the kitchen windowsill is just now turning orange after 2 months of trying unsuccessfully to expand its one-inch diameter. I used to be a gardener. Now, I hardly see the point.
Somehow I've got four reviews to catch up on, despite not having read very much this summer.
I loved all my recent reads -- all very different from each other:
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
A staggeringly well-told tale bursting with eccentric wordplay, flabbergasting characters, fluid identities and ripe secrets. Where to begin?
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Moving, unforgettable, terrifying -- an intimate experience of events in Nigeria/Biafra in the 1960s -- I could not turn away.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Wishing like many that I had read this earlier, but I'm glad this book is part of my life now. I'm exceedingly fond of Atticus.
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
I read this while we were in Sweden. We didn't make it to the 'western suburbs' of Stockholm where the book is set, but I could still amply imagine vampires and zombies about to jump out of the woods towards us!
Here I am reading while trying to dry our stuff out.
What have I been doing with myself, then?
I've been feeling a bit bogged down, to be honest. I'm trying to tell myself that I need to LIVE more, whatever this means. Have some fun, I think.
Here's my plan for living it up for the rest of this year:
- Actively promote allotment gardens in our area (I'm on a committee to create allotments since there are none here at all). This is turning into quite a project.
- Start a craft group to meet once a month. The inaugural meeting is tomorrow!
- Go running at least once a week, ideally twice a week.
- Cook a new recipe once a week.
- Invite friends over for dinner once a month.
You'll notice that reading and blogging aren't on the list -- this doesn't mean I'm cutting back, but becoming more active with other things.
Anyone else struggling with the work/fun/blogging/life balance?
I've read and loved all of those but Let the Right Ones In, so it sounds like I need to give it a go! :D
ReplyDeleteI do sometimes struggle to balance everything, but I've decided to stop worrying about what my life 'should' be and just do things in whatever proportion makes me happy at the moment. Sometimes, that's lots of reading & blogging, sometimes not!
Thanks, Eva. I really enjoyed Let the Right One In, and the film was just as good if not better than the book. A highly unique vampire story.
ReplyDeleteAre there people not struggling with life balance?
ReplyDeleteI suppose so. And I suppose I've been one of them at some times, but that's mostly when I've been too busy with any one thing to think about the struggle.
The summer I lived in Glencoe July was cold. Then there was this week of summer in August. As a USAn, it was so weird to suddenly be excited by summer in August, but there is was. We lived at the campground and all the campers somehow had sundresses packed into their rucksacks for just such an occasion and we all started drinking outside (until the midges got us) and driving around with the radio blaring and the windows rolled down (in an NTS Land Rover) and went to Edinburgh to see two concerts at the Festival Fringe (one of which didn't start until 1 am). It was the most intense bit of summer I've ever had, something that those of us here baking in the states can't quite conceive of in August.
Not related to anything, you need to read The Good Women of China for your feminist challenge and just 'cause.
How did your craft night go?
I think its a funny time of year, its easy to lose yourself in books in the depths of winter but during this time of year theres lots going on. I also do alot of sewing and other craft stuff which does tend to suffer a little when Im busy with everything else.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity the weather has been so bad! We've had a great summer here in the Netherlands (and I hope it's not finished yet).
ReplyDeleteI recognize the balance issue. I spend way too much time reading/blogging as I'm not working right now. But I think I should go out and live life a bit more. On the other hand, I wanted my blog to be successful and I think it is (in its own limited way) which is a good achievement.
Well done for making a list for yourself (I may try that, but not sure yet what will go on it)!
SS, We just had a lovely sunny Saturday so I've lost my licence to complain! Craft night was great -- more socialising than crafts (of course). Thanks for the recommendataion.
ReplyDeleteJessica, It's strange, I don't feel like I'm busier but somehow I just haven't been reading very much. I'm getting back into crafts too, which may interefere with reading time.
Leeswammes, Thanks for visiting and commenting, and good luck with your own life list! Mine's constantly getting revised.