September

Hello! I must also say hello to the 700 people who are now apparently reading my blog! I seem to have jumped from around 10 views a month to around 700 this month. I have visions of bots sitting in a row pretending to be people as I find it too hard to believe an alternative. Any other bloggers out there noticing their numbers of views rising to ridiculous numbers?

Well here we are in September and it feels like Christmas is just around the corner plus three people have asked me this week what I will be doing... 

September looks like this in London today, I just took Max out for a walk in between rain showers.

I thought I would do you a catch up on things lately.  

Reading  I read quite a few books this month. on my book list ratings I didn't give two Booker long list nominations much of a score - 4/5 for Benjamin Wood, Seascraper and the same for Tash Aw - the south. One book I really enjoyed was Sarah Moss - ripeness and I gave that 5/5. Its the story of a girl who is sent to look after her sister who is having a baby out of wedlock and will give it up for adoption. It flits between the young girl and the older version of the woman now living in Ireland. Its about women and their silent role, about loss and age and quite a lot of other things. I found it very thought provoking and well written. 

I am half way through an absolute doorstop - the sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri - it has been so well reviewed but I keep thinking it will be made into a series by Lena Dunham. I think I may have to give up on it, it feels very millenial and doesn't have much substance to it plus it's also so heavy to cart around and I refuse to read on a kindle. It says its a good holiday read too but you would need a very large suitcase to fit it in with your clothes. 

I have been watching quite a bit lately but can't remember most of it as all these thrillers sort of mould into one, hostages, the firm and we started "thursday morning murder club" last night, I have read all the books and love them but I want them to get Piers Brosnan a voice coach! We also bought on amazon ' The ballad of Wallis Island" I implore you to watch it as it is just such a wonderful film, feel good, funny, great music and truly lovely and perfect as a really great movie. 

Listening  - I have been listening to a few podcasts and songs at the gym. I am trying to do more stuff at the gym as my lovely labrador Max has arthritis and doesn't need as much walking so I am putting on weight as a result of a more sedentary life. I am trying to find podcasts I like but the self help ones aren't doing it for me and I haven't yet found an alternative, any suggestions gratefully received. 

Learning  - I am really hoping to learn a language, I just need to find a language school that is daytime not nighttime. I am starting a course on classical music for beginners in October and I am also watching videos from Magnum photographers as I am trying out street photography as something different to challenge me. 

Tasting  - Food is still something that gives me so much joy, I love food and having heard my sister in law is now on weight loss treatment and has lost 20 kilos and now has no taste buds, I think I will continue to keep living to eat and not eat to live which seems to be the way we are heading now. 

Smelling _ I love nice hand washes, I have just bought the most beautiful one from Diptyque, it cost some money but every time I wash my hands it smells so lovely. Little things like that are so important as we get older, small things that bring you joy each day and this does. 

How about you? how is your September going?