25 Bookish Facts About Me

1.I got my love of reading from my parents
My parents are huge readers and where both big readers as children
They both agreed that reading was a great gift to give a child, so my brother and I where read to alot growing up. I loved reading, my brother not so much he got a love of Math and I the love of English lit! I still give and get book recommendations from my parents today!

2. I am a very fast reader
Which I get from my Dad, we both can finish a book in a day or two!
My Mam is a much slower reader it can take her weeks to finish a book which can be annoying if I am waiting to read that book after her! My hubby is also a very slow reader he laughs that I will have finished four books while he is still on the same one!

3. I am a night time reader
I will read whatever chance I get, but with having a two year old I normally only get the chance to read when he is napping or in bed for the night. I have often go to bed for an early night only to be still reading at 1am!

4.I have a kindle that I never use
I am very old school I much prefer books!

5. I very rarely buy books
Because I am such a fast reader I would spent a small fortune if I was to buy all the books I read!
I mostly use the library or second hand shop for my books but if there is a new book I really want I will buy if from a book shop. Also if I bring books on holidays with me I always buy them encase they get lost!

6. If a book hasn't engrossed me by the 100 page I normally give up
A book should have caught my attention by the 100 page if not I find it hard not to put down. There are so many books out there and life is too short to be suffering through a book I don't like!

7. I like to take my time through book series I like
If I like a series of books I take my time over them, to be honest I don't want to finish them. I recently finished the Game of Thrones series but I started that over two years ago! I was the same with the Lord of the Rings, Flowers in the Attic and now the Outlander series

8. I have never read any Young Adult Fantasy
It's not something I plan on reading right now either being a 32 year old its not something that appeals to me but I know it's huge in the world of reading so that might change.

9. I love music and books but not together
I am one of those people who can't read if there music or loud back round noise!

10. I haven't read Harry Potter beside the first novel
This is something I really need to work on as I loved the movies

11. I always lose bookmarks
I currently have a old photo being used as a book marker but an found a really cute Jamie Fraiser one I want on esty!

12. If I love a book I will look for merchandise for it
My collection includes a Wuthering Heights mug, Anne of Green Gables cup, Hand of the King pin from Game of Thrones, various Phantom of the Opera merch, Game of Thrones wine glass, Outlander colouring book and I want to add alot more to it!

13. It really annoys me when a book cover is misleading
Yes judge me if you want but book covers and blurbs are big for me when choosing a book
So it annoys me no end when the cover is for a light chick lit but the book is more deeper than that.

14. The one genre I don't read much of is horror
I read almost everything else, classic, chick lit, fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, romance, thriller and crime but I just can't get into horror plus it scares the crap out of me!

15. The library is one of my most favourite places
This is true for me since I was a child, and now it seems the same for my son
Even at two and half he loves it and trying to get him to leave is a chore
But I am so proud of that!

16. I read fan fiction
If I ship it than I read the crappy fan fic that goes along with it!

17. I would take my books to school and read them on break
When I was in the last two years of school some days I would bring a current book I was reading into school to read on lunch break. I will never forget when I was around 16 one of my teachers asked what I was currently reading and I whipped out a Jill Cooper book the look on her face was so funny!!

18. I plan on reading Roald Dahl to my son when he is older
Just like my Dad did for me and how we laughed at The Twits and The BFG

19. I am a bit of a book snob
I have read all the classic authors, Dickens, Austen, Brontes, Shelley, Tolstoy, Hardy, Tolkien, and Stoker so some modern books just don't cut it for me!

20. I cannot read William Shakespeare
I think this is because of how much I had to study his works in school
and I haven't read any of his work since!

21. The first audio book I listen to was Phantom of The Opera
I couldn't get a copy of the book anywhere and the audio book had a picture of Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford from the musical on the cover which sold me. I loved it and have listened to many an audio book since!

22. I don't have many friends that read
Most of my friends are not into reading, I only have two that do but there much more into chick lit so we don't do many book swaps

23. My favourite me time activity is reading
Whether it's having a bubble bath with a book, cup of coffee and a quick read or a glass of wine with a book in hand, reading is what I do when I need some me time!

24. I love writing book reviews
Not on good reads but just on this little blog of mine!

25. I am a book nerd and proud
Yes I am a book worm, to be honest I never had a problem growing up that I was a book nerd
maybe it was because my parents loved reading so much too
I am so proud that my little boy is showing signs of following in my footsteps too
Reading really is a passport to anywhere

Slimming World Meal Plan Monday

My chronic pain has been acting up lately and I haven't much of an appetite

but I am doing my best to try eat good food

Here is our meal plan for this week

Monday: Meatballs and Spaghetti

Tuesday: Mustard Gammon Steaks, SW Chips, Beans & Fried Eggs

Wednesday: Slimming World Shepards Pie

Thursday: Slimming World Taco Fries

Friday: Slimming Word Cowboy Stew

Saturday: Hot-dogs, Fried Onions and SW Chips

Sunday: Out for a family Father's Day Meal

Over The Weekend #34

We relaxed this week before the next few busy weekends so it was nice to chill out!

My chronic pain was bad all this week and weekend

Saturday hubby and son got up early and went swimming I was in too much pain

to go with them but had a nice brunch waiting for them both when they got home

Oisìn was so hungry after swimming he ate the lot and asked for more

Saturday was one of those murky, warm, rainy Summer days

So we watched Finding Nemo after brunch but Oisìn only got half way through it before

he fell asleep!

After naps and dinner we watched another family movie together this time it was 

Toy Story 3 Oisìn just loves this Pixar series and his Woody doll goes everywhere with him

Then it was bed time for the little one

Chronic pain was bearable today but I was glad to sit down with 

a cold glass of wine and catch up with Outlander and Penny Dreadful

This funny boy decided to dress himself this morning! He was wake and up bright and early this morning we let hubby sleep on but I was so thankful he wasn't working this weekend as my chronic pain was very bad as the morning went on!

By 11am I was in alot of bad so hubby told me to go back to bed and try get so rest. I really hate when I get flare ups like this as I have to mostly stay in bed.

So an early night it on the cards for me, with heat pads and a book!

Hubby is happy cause he now gets to watch all the football he wants!

The Me Time Tag

 What do you watch or read during me-time?

I am a big TV fan I don't watch that many films but I have TV shows I just love!

I do like some trash TV Teen Mom and Keeping Up With The Kardashians spring to mind

but my favourites are dramas Outlander, Poldark, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Penny Dreadful, Gotham, and Dowton Abbey are all shows I love to watch during me time.

Besides reading blogs during me time I am a big book worm so I read every chance I get

My favourite authors are Kate Morton, Diana Gabaldon, Martina Cole, Claire Sandy, George RR Martin, Charles Dickens, The Bronte Sisters, and Rachel Hore

What do you wear during me-time?
Something comfortable! Mostly jogging bottoms and a lose top, or else pyjamas!

What do you eat/drink during me-time?

If it's me time during the day I love reading with a good quality coffee in hand, probably a latte or cappuccino.
If it's me time during the evening or at night glass of cold wine or prosecco!

What are your me-time beauty products?
Lush products I love lush bath products but have also started to buy there hair and face products
my new favourite face mask is the Don't Look At Me mask it's great at relaxing skin and make it feel fresh. My hair has took a hit because of my illness it was feeling so dry and my scalp so flaky I tried the Lush Damaged hot oil treatment and it was so good at making my hair feel and smell great!

Current favourite nail polish?

I don't use nail polish I get acrylic nails done once a month and my toe nails shellac for the summer months

Current favourite candle?

I have a lovely Yankee Candle called Pina Colada which I have been burning
the past couple of weekends in the evening while we sit outdoors it smells Delicious!

Do you ever have outdoor me-time?
Only if it's slipping a glass of wine in the evening watching the sun go down!

Would you ever go see a movie alone?
I never have been but if I didn't have anyone to go with then yes!
I know hubby will not go see certain movies with me luckily I have my Mam and friends to go with but if I didn't have anyone to go with it wouldn't bother me to go alone

 Favourite online shop?
For hubby's and some of Oisìn's things Sport's Direct always get a great bargain there!
I always buy out of season on that site as you get some really good quality sports gear for next to nothing.
For myself I love ASOS and IClothing

That's how I spent my me time how do you spent yours?

Song of the Week

This week is sponsored by the song....

I Took A Pill In Ibiza-Mike Posner

On first listen this is just another pop/dance tune which being honest I like to sing along to
while catching some sun in my back garden
On second listen it's actually quite a sad song about a pop star who has/had it all but has nothing
Sure he had fame, money, drugs and women
but he is telling the lister he doesn't trust anyone, can't get clean or have a real relationship
He is lonely and all he knows is sad songs
I really like this song, it is a good dance tune and I am sure it is being played all over Ibiza while ravers are taking that pill! I like it because of the beautiful, regretfully, sad lyrics

On The Box This Week

Warning-TV Spoilers Ahead!

The Daily Mail seemed a little obsessed with this show and the amount of sex scenes in it the TV critics at the mail must have never watched Outlander!

TBH I am not sure I like this show! At first it looked like it would be everything I like in a historical fiction drama, beautiful costumes, wonderful scenery, and beautiful actors, but it got stale fast!

The script isn't great, it was a mash of strangely edited scenes, when it looked like it would pick up and we would get some action it didn't deliver! Characters were introduced quickly and it was hard to keep track of who is who and I got bored. There was strange scenes of Queen Maire-Therese keeping a half wit dwarf as a pet! While the rest of the show was meant to shock and look racy but for me it lacked. Sure the cast look beautiful, but the script wasn't great, yes there was sex scenes, but they didn't add to the plot and tbh where quite meh, there was violence but the viewer didn't understand why, something to do with tax and rebellion plots. The characters aren't very likable the female characters didn't get enough air time to know much about them. The King's brother Philippe seems like a good villain of the show and The King himself wasn't very likable he spent most of the episode dreaming of his new palace or shagging! There are shows which have done this type of thing much better before The Tudors, Game of Thrones and Outlander come to mind. I am only watching the next episode because of the twist at the end of the first episode. I will give episode two a watch and see if it gets better if not Versailles will be getting the chop!

Modern Family finished up season seven and for the Summer this week

Alex is home from college for the summer and nobody notices, I think Alex was underused this season it would be nice for her to get a real storyline next season and maybe a good romance.

Haley and Andy try make a long distance relationship work as Andy has a chance of a dream job. This storyline has been a major let down for me this season, not enough screen time for these two as when there on screen there really good and funny, it's just getting a little dragged out.

In the end the three families end up all going on different holidays with out the others knowing and that in itself was funny. I am hoping next season it comes back with strong storylines for Jay, Haley, Alex and Manny.

So our couple are back in Scotland and Starz released a mid season poster which I love so I had to use it! Also the titles once again have Scotland in them and the use of the bagpipes I have loved how the creators of the show have changed the title images and song according.

Claire, Jamie and Fergus are back in Scotland and have been recovering and healing in Lallybroch.

Jamie and Claire seem to have healed alot since losing there baby and seem very much in love. Which was lovely to see and reminded me of the Claire and Jamie of season one. It looks like they have been in Lallybroch for many months. I would of liked to see a little more of there day to day life while they healed after Paris, I know timing is a issue but surely the could of fit in a three minute montage of daily life in Lallybroch before another drama arises!

Jamie receives a letter to state that Bonnie Prince Charles is heading to Scotland and has named Jamie as one loyal to him. Thus making Jamie and his family traitors to the crown. Jamie knows he will now have to fight to save Scotland and his way of life, so himself and Claire come up with a plan to try rally all the clans so they will change history and win the battle with the English.

His first stop on his list of recruitment is with his Grandfather Lord Lovat, these scenes are wonderful and Beaufort castle was how I imagined from the book.

The adding of Laoghaire had alot of Outlander fans up in arms as it takes away one of the big story arcs in the book. I come to Outlander as a TV fan first and a reader of the books second, yes I read Dragonfly before the TV show aired but it was the TV show which I discovered first. So I watch with an open mind knowing as I have said before somethings don't fit screen as well as they do in the books. While I didn't hate the Laoghaire plot in this episode I personally don't think it added anything either and could of been left out or cut from the episode and the viewer wouldn't have missed anything. The writers could of just have Lord Lovat's son Simon grow a back bone for a different reason and then lots of very loyal book fans wouldn't of been annoyed.

One thing I enjoyed but did think was a little corny is the way Claire and Jaime are now using the whole white witch thing to there advanced! It was funny but for me it slightly lessen the whole be scared of a witch trial of season one.

On the whole I liked this episode but don't feel like the changes from the book added anything to the plot or story arc.

This episode done a scene before the credits not a thing we have seen before in Thrones. The opening scene revealed that Sandor Clegane The Hound was alive unlike Jon Snow we never actually saw him die but like Jon The Hound is unsure of this new lease of life and not sure what to do with himself now. He is working with Ian McShane a Septon who took him under his wing, and gave him work. 

In the north Jon and Sansa with the help of Davos are trying to recruit the houses of the North together without much luck. They don't have half the men they need to fight Rasay, Sansa wants to wait and try get some more men for there army, but Jon knows a snow storm is coming and wants them to march on Winterfell. Sansa writes a letter to Littlefinger to ask for the help she declined earlier to take back Winterfell.

Jamie arrives at Riverrun confronting Blackfish telling him he will take Riverrun back by force. Jamie's storylines have been a bit disappointing since season three, the writers don't seem to know where to go next with him. He seems to be right back to where he was in season one the head of the King's army hopefully his story arc will pick up soon. 

Back in Kings Landing The Queen of Thorns is despairingly trying to get Margery to see sense. Margery tells her Grandmother that the Gods see and hear everything and passes her a note. It tells her Grandmother she is still a game player and her loyalty is not with the High Sparrow but with her family house. 

Arya is strolling around Bravos without a care in the world, that is until the Waif stabs her in the stomach three times! Arya does get away but she is badly injured.

The Hound is still with the Septon's group until a gang from the Brotherhood Without Banners wipes them out while he is cutting fire wood. The Hound picks up an ax and walks away to get his revenge

Over The Weekend #33

In Ireland this weekend was a bank holiday and we had a lovely

the sun shone and we had lots of family time

 Saturday we where up early to the park 

Oisìn had fun playing football and trying on Mammy's sun glasses!

We had a picnic in the park, then went to the petting zoo. Oisìn sang Baa Baa Black Sheep to a goat

and Old Mac Donald to me and the hubby

Finally we went swimming, Oisìn is really coming on with his swimming and has no fear of water and loves to show off! Oisìn was pretty tired after all that and fell asleep in the car on the way home!

Later that evening we had a family BBQ and drinks

My cousins came to ours and we had a lovely evening in the sun, chatting with drinks

Sunday we had a lazy morning of chilling and cleaning the back garden after the night before!

Then it was time for family BBQ take two this time it was Dad and two Uncles for dinner

Later Oisìn had a sleep over in his Grandparents so that hubby and I could enjoy

a night out! 

 We went to our local on Sunday night with family and enjoyed

a night of music bingo and card games. It was good fun and I even won 80 quid!

It was so nice for Paul and I to get out for an evening together

Bank Holiday Monday was a relaxing day! Oisìn came from Grandparents Furey

and was shattered as he had been brought out to Blessinton Lakes

We spent a few hours chilling in the garden and Oisìn splashed about in his new paddling pool

We had takeout for dinner enjoyed bubbly and playing Monopoly Game of Thrones

before watching Game of Thrones that night!

Song of the Week

This week is sponsered by the song...

Dreamboat Annie-Heart

Sometimes I think I was born into the wrong era! I love 70's music especially women fronted bands like Jefferson Airplane, Heart and Fleetwood Mac. So when I discovered Heart back when I was a teenager I was so in love with this sister fronted band. I love there mellow rock sound of the 70's and there more pop rock sound of the 80's
This song is one of my favourite it's from there album of the same name which 40 years ago made them stars in America. While they aren't as big in Europe and haven't done the huge sell out shows across the world like Fleetwood Mac I still really enjoy there music and would love to see them live.
Like so many artists of the 1970's this band like Fleetwood Mac broke the mold and had two females fronting the band, in a industry that was male oriented this was a huge thing and would lead on in the 80's to having all women rock and pop groups.

On The Box This Week

Warning-TV Spoilers Ahead!

Tissues is what your going to need watching the Outlander episode called Faith, lots and lots of tissues!

What a beautiful episode, it is such a powerful emotional part in the book and the writers, producers and especially Caitriona Balfe gave us an amazing episode.

I loved how this episode opened with Claire sitting with a daughter in Boston in the 1950's looking at a picture book of different birds. As Claire looks at the wings of the bird on the pages her mind travels back to Paris. 

Poor Claire we knew when we saw her bleeding in the last episode that it didn't look good and in this episode she loses her precious baby. She goes into compete denial I sobbed as she screams and pleas for her baby. Mother Hildegarde is at Claire's side as she mourns the death of her baby which was a daughter. She tells Claire she baptised her daughter even though she was still born and called her Faith so that she could bury her in the graveyard. These scenes where so emotional Caitriona Balfe's acting was so powerful as the grieving Claire who lost her miracle baby.

Claire is still very sick she knows that it is due to some placenta being left inside her womb but she has lost the will to live, she is blaming Jamie's duel for her losing there baby. He is now locked up in prison for duelling and she doesn't care if she never gets out of that hospital bed. Master Raymond disguised as a Monk sneaks into the hospital (has he is in hiding from the King due to the King wanting to clean the Paris streets of magic)  he knows just by looking at Claire that he needs to remove the placenta. He does so and then has to leave as he knows the French King will have his head if he is caught in the streets. The scene when Claire come back to her French home after weeks of recovering in the hospital was a beautiful one. The young actor playing Fergus deserves an emmy after the heartbreaking scenes when he tells Claire what Black Jack done to him and that's the reason Jamie broke his vow to duel.

Suddenly Claire understands and although she is still very hurt and annoyed with Jamie she forgives him. She knows she is his only chance of getting out of jail. She knows the King will want to sleep with her for him to grant her favour but Jamie sacrificed himself to save her once now she must do the same. The Star Chamber scene was done brilliantly exactly how I imagined it from the books. So we say goodbye to France as Claire tells Jamie to bring her home to Scotland. Before he does though they go to there little Faith's grave such a sad scene as he places one of the silver christening spoons on her grave to watch over her.

So looking forward to seeing Scotland again

After a fairly strong second season The Flash went out with a bang in it's season finale

After witnessing his Father killed by Zoom in the last episode Barry is hell bent on revenge

He doesn't take the advice of his friends and family until it's almost too late. I don't understand the whole science of time travel and different earths as much as my hubby does but I enjoy this show and just go along with all the science jab. In the end Barry beats Zoom with the same trick Zoom used, with a time remnant. The man in the mask who Zoom has been keeping locked up all season weas revealed to us as Jay Garrick from Earth 3 in the form of Barry's recently deceased Father's doppelganger. This was of course a huge nod to the original 1990 Flash series where the actor John Wesley Shipp who plays Barry's Dad was The Flash.

The gang hatch a plan to get him back to Earth 3 Harry and Jesse decide to go back home to Earth 2. Barry unable to come to terms with losing his Mother and Father runs back in time and saves his Mother's life. Thus in doing so he will not become The Flash. I know fans where left scratching there heads! What now for Barry Allen and The Flash?! 

This season of Arrow started off strong with a really good first half season, but for me it really declined when it came back for the second half of season four. The strong villain that was brilliantly acted was dragged out for over twenty hour long episodes. The flash backs now feel stale and add nothing to the show or characters. Viewers and fans loved the whole team Arrow feel to the first half of the season, also Oliver running for mayor storyline was great and it felt like Oliver was seeing the hope not the darkness in the world it was good character development. As the season went on it felt like it was stuck in a rut, with the characters and the storyline moved backwards. 

While Dhark was a good villain his plan to cleanse the world and then destroy the world was stupid and we weren't given any reason or back story why he wanted to do this, instead giving this time to boring flashbacks. When Oliver did kill Dhark it didn't really grip me it was meh! Not a good sigh for a season finale of a show. This episode ended with Oliver as mayor (something that should of happened at the start of the season IMO) and Lance, Thea and Diggle all taking time out from team Arrow and Star city with just Oliver and Felicity left to fight crime.

I am left wondering where the show can go next?

Something that annoys with so called fans of Game of Thrones it that once we have a slower episode reviews and social media say boring!

IMO this was not a boring episode and if you really understand and "get" Thrones you will understand the need to have slower paced subdued episodes. It does say something for this season when a new alliance if formed, a Stark who thought is dead returns, Ayra reclaimed needle, and we saw one huge dragon and the episode is branded boring!!

This episode opens with Meera still dragging Bran away from the White Walkers just when all looks lost a figure on a horse saves them both. He reveals himself to be Benjen Stark, Ned's brother who went missing beyond the wall way back in season one! He tells Bran that the Children of the Forest saved him from death with a shard of dragon glass in his heart.

Walder Frey was back and giving his sons a hard time for losing Riverrun to the Tully's

and drags Edmure Tully (Tobais Menzies has been busy) from the cell he has been keeping him in since the Red Wedding!

Sam and Gilly have the most awkward reunion with Sam's family. His Father turns out to be a right nasty piece of work. He reminded me of Tywin Lannister and his hatred of Tyrion. Poor Sam was hoping there was going to be any hunting trips soon! Soon he had enough took Gilly, Baby Sam and the families valyrian steel sword and ran!

Tommen proved he is the puppet to The High Sparrow and at the last minute also Margaery as they stopped the King Guard attacking the Faith Militant as they agreed on a alliance of Gods and Kings.

Ayra couldn't give up her name or her list she couldn't kill her target, she was fond of the actress she was meant to poison. She dug out needle and we know the waif is hot on her heels as the faceless man tells her not to let Ayra suffer!

Finally we see Daenerys as her dragon Drogo comes back to her twice the size as he was when he left her! Her army of Dothraki in awe of her and her dragon agree to sail across the seas and make he Queen.