My Writing Ramblings: My June Favourites
Netflix, 2022
Hello July. It’s so lovely to see you. Summer is here. Let’s hope the nice weather continues.
As we’ve said goodbye to June, I wanted to share some of my favourites from last month with you. So, here we go.
Stranger Things.
I was so excited when the new episodes for Stranger Things 4 were announced. Netflix did something a little different this time and released the series in two volumes; the first seven episodes being available on 27th May and the last two releasing at the beginning of July.
My husband and I didn’t immediately watch it. We wanted to wait until the end of June so we wouldn’t have to wait too long for the last two episodes and I was so glad we did.
I loved every moment of this series. It was so well written and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I just couldn’t see where it was going. Incidentally, the creators of Stranger Things have done a class on Masterclass that I am very interested in viewing.
Now, I am not a ‘horror film and TV’ person but this series, for the most part, is AMAZING. If you’ve not given it a go yet, I recommend it (although there is one scene in a previous series I could have done without.)
Disney, Jam City Inc.
Aside from anything else, it has a fantastic 80’s soundtrack including great inclusion of ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush and Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey.
Oh, I love it.
Disney Emoji Blitz (Apple and Google Play.)
My second favourite is an app – Disney Emoji Blitz. I want to start with the thing I dislike most about this app (yes, I know, strange considering it’s a favourites post.) It can be very expensive to play. You can progress without spending much but it will take a lot longer so, if you’ve got more patience than me, it’s perfect.
It’s like Candy Crush Saga in that it’s a match game and yes, it’s Disney. I am in my 40’s and I love Disney. I admit it. I’m proud of it. LOL.
If you can get over the cost, it’s a very fun yet calming game to play. I usually play it before I go to sleep as it helps to chill me out and calms the anxiety.
The Fire Killer by Ross Greenwood.
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My Writing Ramblings: My March 2022 Favourites
I know I say this kind of sentence a lot but how are we already in April?!
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of my favourites from March. So, let’s get to it.
The first favourite was the BBC series, Peaky Blinders.
OK, I love this series.
My husband and I came to this series late. In fact, we’ve pretty much watched five series worth over the last month and wondering what took us so long to discover it.
Cillian Murphy is amazing, I am slightly scared of Arthur (LOL) and the last series, which we’re currently watching, isn’t the same without the wonderful Helen McCrory/Aunt Pol but it’s still brilliant so far. No spoilers. Promise.
If you’re looking for a gritty drama and you’ve not yet watched Peaky Blinders, I would throughly recommend.
My second favourite in March was Wordle.
Oh my goodness, this word game is so addictive and it also drives me crazy at the same time.
There was a time where I couldn’t check my Facebook feed without seeing a load of results from friends who were also playing.
I have even downloaded an app that gives me more than one puzzle a day! Yes, I know.
Anyone else love Wordle?
My third favourite is an app called Beatstar.
by My Writing Ramblings: Finding my Motivation
May is finally on the horizon.
April has seemed such a long month.
There is certainly a strange atmosphere right now as we all try and navigate our way through this situation. To me, it feels like that week between Christmas and New Year where you’re waiting for something to happen but not quite sure what to do with yourself.
I am naturally the type of person who likes being at home, preferably with warm pyjamas, a duvet, a cup of tea, a snoozing cat and a book although I am slightly obsessed with Animal Crossing right now. Despite being this type of person, even I am beginning to struggle with the lockdown. It’s necessary to stay at home but we’re only human. It’s natural to find it hard, even when you know it’s the right thing to do.
At the beginning of April, I was struggling with motivation to do anything (my enthusiasm to do housework is never there.)
It’s amazing how tiring doing nothing makes you, right?
I have been reading a lot which I love. I am also finally writing and I am so proud of this fact.
If you’re struggling to be motivated, I wanted to share something that has really helped me in the last few weeks.
Since discovering a website called Unchained Writer, I have managed to write every day since 9th April. My aim is 1,000 words each day and for the most part, I have managed this with a couple of exceptions. Regardless, it all helps to get me closer to writing and finishing a novel I have been trying to find the confidence to write for years.
Unchained Writer has been a real game changer for me. It’s made such a difference.
by My Writing Ramblings: My March Favourites
I know we’re already in the middle of April but I wanted to share some of my March favourites, especially as we are all stuck inside and if you, like me, are looking for recommendations, then posts like this are perfect.
Without further ado, let’s get into my favourites.
My favourite show that I’ve recently watched is The Stranger.
This is based from a book by Harlen Coben. I had heard so many people talking about this TV show both on and off social media. I had also throughly enjoyed Safe which was another adaptation done for Netflix.
I did worry that the hype was going to ruin The Stranger but I need not have worried.
Richard Armitage plays the husband of a woman who disappears under suspicious circumstances after he has confronted her with a secret, disclosed by someone he has never met before.
That’s all I will say about the plot but what follows are many twists and turns which resulted in me trying to guess what was coming and completely failing.
I throughly recommend it especially if you can binge all the episodes. The theme song is such an ear worm too.
The app I have been enjoying the most is Disney+. If you’ve followed this blog for a while, then you will know how big of a Disney fan I am despite being in my late thirties. I have no regrets. Hahaha. It was inevitable that this was going to end up on my favourites list.
I had been incredibly excited and impatient for this app, especially as it had already launched in the US. I was just about stopping short of marking off the days in my diary until it’s launch and I have not been off it much since. I love the fact that I can access it from my Sky Q box.
I am seeing films listed that I have not seen for years. It is going to be easier to complete my Disney watch list that’s for sure.
I know that it means an additional subscription but I feel it’s worth it. Not only have you got movies and TV shows, there’s a lot of behind the scenes and short films too. Also, Star Wars and Marvel if you’re a fan (I am more of a fan of the latter if I am honest.)
As usual, I found it quite hard to pick a favourite book for March. I enjoyed all the novels I had the chance to read. If I had to choose a favourite, it would be The River Home by Hannah Richell.
by My Writing Ramblings: 15 Things About Me
I know I seem to be saying this a lot but WHERE DID FEBRUARY GO?
It has slipped away that’s for sure. How was it for everyone?
As it’s Friday and almost the end of the month, I wanted to do something a little different and something I have not really done before (or if I have, it was ages ago.)
As I was preparing questions for authors, I began to wonder how I would answer some of these questions if I were answering them. The variety of answers is one of the things I love most about doing author interviews. Everyone is so different.
So below, I am answering fifteen questions about me – things that you may not know, others I may have answered before. I would love to get to know you too. If you fancy a go at answering these, please do in the comments below. I think this is going to be fun. Here we go.
Do you have a middle name?
Yes, I do. It’s Elizabeth. I did remember asking my Mum once if it was in honour of anyone. I think she may have said The Queen. Even if she didn’t, I am taking that.
Where were you born?
I was born in Bournemouth, which, for people not from the UK, is a seaside town on the south coast of England. I adore it and miss living there. There was something so lovely about getting out of school and heading down to the beach for an hour after school or deciding to walk home after work and listening to the waves as I walked along. I find that sound calming.
What did you want to do for a job when you were younger?
I wanted to be a teacher. I was always in awe of them. They seemed to be all-knowing.
Yes, I was one of those students that loved homework although I think that was as much to do with the fact that, the more I did, the more new notebooks I could insist on having. My stationery addiction began early.
I would even pretend to teach classes when I was much younger, using the side of my wardrobe as a blackboard. My Mum wasn’t impressed. Hahaha.
It was only as I finished senior school that I moved away from teaching and went into radio broadcasting.
What’s my favourite holiday destination?
Oh Walt Disney World. No question. You can forget about being an adult and no one cares. In fact, it’s encouraged.
Who’s your favourite author?
by Book Club
