The UK heatwave has continued throughout July – not perhaps as hot as we suffered earlier in the season but still warm for our normally temperate climate and with a notable lack of rain. The ground is baked hard, the grass like straw. I have continued my walks and runs but try to do the latter earlier in the day than would have been my habit.
After our family holiday last month, we have been heading off in different directions this month. Daughter enjoyed a couple of weekends in London: to attend a My Chemical Romance concert with a friend, and then the Diamond League with her brother – a highlight of this watching live as Josh Kerr set a new world record running a mile. Younger Son meanwhile travelled to North Wales for a weekend away with a group of his mates. Amongst other activities they climbed a mountain and swam in the sea – the hot weather having some benefits. That same weekend husband and I travelled to Somerset for a short break. I posted a review of the hotel we stayed in, Mercure Hotel in Bridgwater. I also posted about activities enjoyed during our trip through the lens of my teddy bear, Edward Explores Somerset.
While away we participated in a lovely parkrun and I posted a run report, St Matthews Field. I also posted run reports for last month’s second 10k race, Bowood Running Festival 10k and for another new to us parkrun visited, Green Park in Reading. Our two elder children joined husband and I at the start of the month for the Chippenham Harrier’s River Run, a lovely local 5k race we could cycle to. As this was my fourth time running it I didn’t write a report – little had changed in either organisation or experience of participation. We all then ended the month by taking part in a local parkrun that was Husband’s 250th event – new milestone t-shirt incoming.
I posted reviews for 6 books in July – a good mix of new releases and titles plucked from my vast TBR pile. To read my thoughts on each of this month’s books, click the title below. Half of the books reviewed were well worth reading which made it a decent enough month in that respect.
Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce, published by Wildfire
My Third Life by Daniela Krien (translated by Jamie Bulloch), published by MacLehose
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, published by Penguin
Horsefly by Mireille Gagne (translated by Pablo Strauss), published by New Cross Press
The Betrayals by Bridget Collins, published by The Borough Press
The Followers by Rebecca Wait, published by Picador
Sourcing the books
I received just the one book in the post this month, a surprise as I hadn’t requested it but do hope to enjoy.
My continued thanks to those who still share my words across their social media platforms – whichever ones you are now using – your support is always appreciated. For anyone interested, you may find me on Instagram and Threads.
And to everyone reading this, I wish you and yours good health and personal pleasures in whatever form you appreciate. May you find time to relax with some good books, ones that take your mind of whatever else is going on in our increasingly senseless wider world.
