Geth woke me with great excitement this morning because he’s had a paper accepted (it’s been a few years due to various things getting in the way of his research), and I was still on a high from giving a well-received performance at poetry night yesterday evening, so it was a good start to the day. Well, it was until I read all the newspaper headlines screaming ‘ARE YOU READY FOR THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR?’. Firstly, no I’m not, because I have to run 10k this evening and cooler temperatures would be preferable (the forecast is now saying thunderstorms – this could be interesting) and secondly, you don’t actually know that it’s the hottest day of the year until the year comes to an end, newspaper people.
Other than the uncomfortable heat, though, our good vibes have continued as Geth and I both had losses at Slimming World. Just hoping that the weather won’t make tonight’s race too miserable!
OOTD: shadows are not on my side when it’s this sunny. Sunglasses Ray-Ban (2019), vest top Primark (2018), skirt unknown brand (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair (2017), trainers Reebok (2018).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Oasis – Champagne Supernova Gunship – When You Grow Up Your Heart Dies Duran Duran – All She Wants Is George Michael – Careless Whisper Cole Porter – Too Darn Hot Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee – Despacito Martin Garrix, Macklemore and Patrick Stump – Summer Days
The one annual week of summer heat has arrived in the UK with a vengeance. I am not about it in the slightest so I have spent today indoors with the windows open, ignoring the news and getting lots of writing done.
Looking forward to a quiet evening with music and reading, and then another day of writing tomorrow.
OOTD: this is the lightest dress I own but it’s still too warm for a day like today. Dress Primark (2018), trainers Nike (2018).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Gunship – The Mountain Lil’ Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road Andy Taylor – I Might Lie Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf Trevor Something – All Night Al Stewart – Year Of The Cat Bowling For Soup – 1985 The Midnight and Nikki Flores – Jason Colony 5 – Black Duran Duran – All You Need Is Now Duran Duran – A View To A Kill Bucks Fizz – If You Can’t Stand The Heat Martin Garrix, Macklemore and Patrick Stump – Summer Days
Half a year without a drop of alcohol today. I couldn’t have imagined that this time last year.
On the whole, the trend over the last six months is that things have gradually become easier. But it’s not a straight trajectory by any means – I’ve found the last fortnight to be really difficult with the nice weather, because every time I’m outside, I find myself walking past beer gardens and people having drinks at barbecues. Summer, in my younger days, was always just one long, hazy, booze-soaked non-memory. It was the season of all-day drinking at weddings and on holidays. It was the best season for cider, and the only season when it was acceptable to sit on the grass in the park and crack open that first can at 11am. It was the season of a hundred outdoor music gigs and festivals of which I have absolutely no memory of the bands but could still find my way to the bar tent in my sleep. Without alcohol, I have to admit that I am finding summer a bit anxiety-inducing.
This is one of the reasons that I am giving music festivals a miss this year for the first time in adulthood. I’ll be ready to give them a go again next year – there’s an ’80s/industrial long weekender in Belgium and a synthwave festival in London that I’d really love to try – but it’d just be a bit too much this summer.
I’ve not been trying as many booze alternatives over the last couple of months, because I feel like I’ve found the favourites that work for me (Sainsbury’s Fiery Ginger Beer is my go-to on evenings in the house, because it’s calorie-free, while Fentimans Rose Lemonade is nice for a treat when I’m out, and for a proper celebratory-feeling drink I like Nosecco), but I’ve still got a few to review from earlier in the year.
Booze alternatives I’ve reviewed over the last month:
I’ve been listening to sobriety podcasts again over the last month, and they’ve been really helpful – I’ve also been finding online and offline support groups to be an important anchor. It’s hard when I’m so busy, but I really am trying to make time for things that are more therapeutic at the moment.
Finally some nice weather today! And I made the most of it by…staying in the house all day ’cause I was a bit tired after last night. Got to get that garden finished so that I’m more inclined to sit out!
Last night was hectic but ultimately successful. I lost for the second week in a row at Slimming World – only a pound, but I’d rather get into a pattern of small losses every week than keep doing the ‘lose five, gain five!’ thing that has characterised my results since race season began. My next race is the Great North 10k on the 7th of July, and I am so determined not to gain that week. I’ll have to be really strict to mitigate the post-race bloat that always seems to happen at the moment.
I then went to ukulele class – it was running late, so I had to skip out before the last song, as I wanted to get to poetry night in time to make sure I could read again. I’m still a bit nervous before performing, but I think I’m gradually getting better at it. Geth took a video, which I *may* be brave enough to post later in the week (no promises though!).
Have had a fairly quiet day today – Mum and Dad visited in the morning on their way back from Sweden, and I’ve spent the afternoon getting on with writing. Just a few things to finish off tomorrow and then I can chill out for the weekend.
OOTD: blue Thursday! Sunglasses Ray-Ban (2019), t-shirt Ron Holland for Cambridge University (vintage 1970s, thrifted from Dad 2012), jeans Vivid (2018), trainers Reebok (2017).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Queen – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy Haircut 100 – Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) The Midnight – Gloria Duran Duran – Shadows On Your Side The Midnight – Days Of Thunder Duran Duran – 911 Is A Joke
The weather is finally improving and feeling marginally more summery! I went out for a walk (well, really to go to Asda ’cause I’d run out of fizzy juice) this morning, which felt nice after a few days of being cooped up. I’ve spent the rest of the day editing for clients and doing my own writing.
Out again tomorrow morning – again it’s for a boring reason (doctor’s appointment) but it’ll be another nice walk if the weather stays like this.
OOTD: brightening up gradually! Hoodie Sonar (2006), t-shirt Punk Masters (2018), jeans Zara (2018), trainers Reebok (2013).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Charlie Puth – One Call Away 5 Seconds Of Summer – Easier The Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star Katy Perry – Never Really Over Space – Female Of The Species Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care Duran Duran – Violence Of Summer (Love’s Taking Over) Oasis – Cigarettes And Alcohol
June is usually the only month in which I am ever happy and excited about it being summer. By July, I’m starting to get fed up, and by August I’m totally over it and impatiently waiting for autumn, which is my favourite season.
It’s not that I don’t like summer weather. I love what summer weather is supposed to be – I just don’t like British summer weather. It’s as unpredictable as the rest of the year (in fact, I’m pretty sure it rains more often in the summer months) and is often downright chilly (this week it’s averaging around 10°C in Newcastle). Despite this, because it is technically summer, you’re expected to do things like plan outdoor activities (such as music festivals where you watch bands in the rain and wind, and barbeques where you eat sausages in the rain and wind, and weddings where you shiver underneath a big gazebo in your thin summer dress while the rain and wind blows in sideways and upsets all the paper plates for the buffet…you get the picture), and you’re not allowed to have the heating on, and you’re supposed to wear lightweight summer clothes. Because it’s summer. Technically.
Eleven days in, and I’m already done with it. I’m wearing boots, and long-sleeved dresses, and all the other things that aren’t supposed to come out again until September. I also have the fire on. I don’t care anymore – I’m nice and warm, and that’s all that matters.
Plus, spending the day being nice and warm indoors has meant that I’ve been really productive and have got all my scheduled work, admin, housework, and writing tasks done for the day. Same again tomorrow I hope!
OOTD: I know the ‘autumn flash’ is soooo autumn 2018, but the papers haven’t said anything about autumn 2019 yet and besides I expect I’ll be mostly rocking autumn 1985 anyway. Dress unknown brand (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2018), belt H&M (2017), boots Primark (2017).
Today’s earworm playlist:
The Drifters – Under The Boardwalk Charlie Puth – One Call Away Elton John – Crocodile Rock David Bowie – Golden Years Queen – One Vision The Crüxshadows – Winter Born (This Sacrifice) Queen – You’re My Best Friend The Midnight – Los Angeles
It was good to get out and have a walk today. Geth and I finished packing up his office fairly quickly, and after bringing his work essentials home, we headed back into town to go for lunch and a couple of pints. Now having a fairly relaxed evening, starting to catch up with some of the Marvel Universe films we’ve not seen.
Just under two hours to go until meteorological autumn. I’m very excited!
OOTD: a nice walk in the sunshine on the last day of meteorological summer! Sunglasses Boots (2013), jacket Mercy (2007/2009, due to a complicated story that I’ll tell you someday), bag CXL by Christian Lacroix (2018), jeans Levi (2018), trainers Reebok (2018).
Today’s earworm playlist:
Hot Chocolate – It Started With A Kiss
Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
The Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Tears For Fears – Shout
Matt Terry – When Christmas Comes Around*
Duran Duran – A View To A Kill
Queen – I Want To Break Free
Tracey Ullman – They Don’t Know
Bananarama – I Want You Back
Final Fantasy X – To Zanarkand
The Beatles – Ticket To Ride
And a bonus track that Geth was humming earlier:
Puretone – Addicted To Bass
*I want to emphasise that this was because there was a poster in the Metro station advertising Matt Terry’s role in a musical at the Sunderland Empire, not because I’m thinking about Christmas already! I have a whole autumn to enjoy first 😀
Lots of people have been posting this week about the weather cooling down, but that has definitely not been the case in Newcastle – I’m still finding it really hot and stuffy, especially in the upstairs of our house, where the mugginess just seems to collect and sit there uncomfortably. I’ve been trying really hard not to complain about the heat, because we hardly ever get summers like this in the UK, but in all honesty I am starting to get a bit fed up of only being able to wear about 5% of my clothes because everything else is too heavy.
Also, I love autumn. It’s my favourite time of the year – the pretty leaves, the onset of crisp weather when it’s still a novelty, Strictly Come Dancing on TV, Hallowe’en, NaNoWriMo, and the long magical run-up to Christmas. I know I shouldn’t wish time away, but it’s tantalisingly close now and I am starting to get excited.
Anyway, one day at a time. I lost two pounds at Slimming World weigh-in today, which is great – it gives me a good buffer for the weekend. I’ve been able to get a bit more work done this evening, and will be able to slot in a bit more tomorrow before the wedding on Saturday. All going well!
OOTD: another very lightweight summer dress. Dress Monteau (2018), trainers Reebok (2017).
Somehow, despite saying after last summer – which involved a busy work period and four weekends on the bounce in August where we were travelling away somewhere or hosting guests – that I wanted to have a much more chilled summer this year, it’s ended up being similarly hectic.
Fortunately/unfortunately work has been quiet during June and July (so I’ve been able to get on with other things, but I’m also a bit broke now). Fortunately/unfortunately this will not be the case during August as I have two huge projects lined up (more money – yay! More stuff to do – argh). However, the house stuff is still ongoing, the now-finished Now! marathon ended up taking up more time towards the end than I thought it would, and Geth and I ended up booking a lot more trips away than we expected. As such, I find myself doing the whole ‘argh! can’t wait till autumn when I can relax a bit!’ thing yet again – and I shouldn’t wish the summer away, especially when the weather has been so nice this year.
Today is yet another hectic day – I’ll update more fully later this week – so I’ll leave it there.
Oh, and I went swimming again this morning. Eight lengths this time, although I think I’m actually getting worse!
Like the rest of the UK, we’ve been enjoying glorious weather here in Newcastle for the past fortnight. Last weekend, we were able to make the most of it; as I mentioned previously, we were celebrating Geth’s birthday a couple of weeks late, and so on Saturday we went into town for some shopping and food, interspersed with a visit to our favourite beer garden seeing as how it was so nice.
View of the bridges of the Tyne from the Free Trade Inn beer garden.
We were fairly lucky to get a space in the Free Trade Inn beer garden – it was a hot Saturday afternoon, which is a rarity, and so the people of Newcastle were out in force in the centre of town – but we did manage it, and Geth immediately made a start on the bar snacks.
Geth with beer and some kind of pasty/samosa/thing? I wasn’t really paying attention.
I’m not quite sure what’s going on with the light in these pictures – I blame the sun. Clearly my smartphone camera has become accustomed to British weather and can’t cope with bright light!
Enjoying the heat! Also very pleased with the way my new Punk Masters T-shirt matches my tattoo.
We’d got all our shopping done fairly efficiently, so we were able to enjoy a good few hours in the sun before our restaurant booking.
I actually like plastic glasses, even if they’re not very solid to hold – they feel like summer to me!
We then headed to Uno’s Trattoria, one of our favourite Italian restaurants in Newcastle, which Geth had selected for his birthday meal.
Geth had been looking forward to that pork belly for weeks.
The reason Geth chose Uno’s Trattoria is that, for the last year or so, they’ve had pork belly on the menu, which is one of his favourite foods. Apparently most Italian restaurants don’t cook meat dishes properly (being a vegetarian I’m generally unaware of these things), but this restaurant must be an exception, as the pork belly went down very well.
Just looks like meat to me, but I’m informed it was very special meat!
I, meanwhile, went for my favourite Italian restaurant treat of pizza:
That rocket and parmesan topping was immense.
We also had dessert – we both went for the white chocolate cheesecake – but we were so keen to get stuck into it that I forgot to take a picture.
A lovely day out overall. Happily the weather has continued, and it looks like it’ll be similar this weekend – so we’ll need to take it carefully when running the Great North 10k on Sunday!
