1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
I'd seen a few reviews of this book online and it was swiftly added to my Amazon Wishlist. However, it was a complete impulse purchase on a visit to the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris two weeks ago along with Reni Eddo Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race (also added to my wish list after she was a guest on the brilliant The High Low podcast).
Eleanor Oliphant works in accounts for a design company. She's a bit of a loner and slight social misfit. Aware but seemingly unaffected by her colleagues sometimes cruel speculation of her life. She has her routine perfected, work all week, supermarket meal deal and the Telegraph crossword for lunch, pasta and pesto for dinner (except for Fridays which is a frozen pizza), two bottles of vodka to get through the weekend before Monday rolls around and the cycle starts over again. That is, until a chance encounter with a new work colleague breaks the monotony and what follows is a heart warming, slightly tragic story of kindness, human nature and loneliness. I dare anyone not to get a bit teary at the part Eleanor has her hair done at the salon and informs her hairdresser "You made me shiny!". Before starting this I was in a bit of reading rut but Eleanor and her story have made me fall in love with good storytelling again. Definitely my favourite book of the year so far!
I would also recommend a visit to The Shakespeare and Company too.... I could have come away with way more than two books if my luggage/bank balance had allowed! For EUR2.00 they also have small envelopes on the till with famous poems written out on a typewriter which make great souvenirs and will look great framed on a picture wall.
2. Love Island
I want to hate it..... I tried to hate it..... It was just too powerful for me to resist. The Internet is alive with gossip, memes, tweets, think-pieces... It's just impossible to avoid this absolute bonkfest. When discussing with my housemate last night about potential winning couples, she reminded me that we still have FOUR WEEKS left. Still too early to call my favourites but (and this might be a slightly controversial opinion), I cannot get on board with Camilla. She's a bit too whiny and I just need her to get out there and grow a pair so to speak.
3. Lidl Sunflowers
Lidl is the BEST for fresh flowers at budget prices (they have some prettttttyyy decent wines too) and I couldn't resist these sunflowers for £3 to brighten up our living room. Bargain.
4. Decluttering
I have lived in my house for five years now and the sheer amount of belongings I have is getting out of control. I guess it doesn't help being in a houseshare situation whereby I keep more in bedroom than I normally would. I'll never be minimalist but some kind of intervention was needed, maybe not as severe as Marie Kondo-ing but do I really need Boyzone programmes from a concert in 2010? And those collections of fancy dress tat?? I've started sending books and DVDs off to Ziffit, making piles for eBay and the charity shop, and I spent last Sunday building a new TV stand (FYI - an electric screwdriver is a game-changer). It's going to be an on going project that will take a good few months to get where I want but it will definitely be worth it.
5. GoodGym
I signed up to GoodGym back in February but have only managed to make 7 of the weekly group runs since then. I'm trying to get a bit better/regular but life gets in the way sometimes especially when we actually get some good weather here in the UK. I signed up for this weeks mission which was a 12km round run from the Brixton base to Streatham Common and back. Whilst on Streatham Common, we helped out in The Rookery Gardens with some weeding. The garden has had all it's funding cut and relies solely on volunteers to keep it in shape. It's also a protected site so they are not permitted to use any chemicals on the weeds so it has to be done manually which is where our green fingers came in. Despite living in Streatham for over five years now, I definitely don't take advantage of this common as much as I should. The Rookery is a gorgeous little garden and retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. They often host different events too - last weekend was a music festival Rookfest and this coming weekend, it's Shakespeare in the Rookery. The common itself and the neighbouring Norwood Grove offer some great views over London too.
