Sunday Praise: What’s made me happy this week?
I won’t lie. This week has been a bit of a struggle and I thought of skipping this post for a week, but as always, some little rays of sunshine brightened up some otherwise cloudy days.
- It’s autumn in Belfast, my favourite shop at my favourite time of year.
- I know I harp on about Desert Island Discs a bit, but Samantha Morton was on this week and I wept my way through her inspiring interview. “There’s so much joy in the world. You just have to look for it”. Indeed.
- I really enjoyed taking part in the 1956 Club this week – I do love reading all the blog posts and finding out about books I hadn’t heard of before. Well done to Karen and Simon for another great week!
- Paul Heaton was getting the love on Twitter this week, for his very generous donation to Q Magazine staff, which led me to listen to The Housemartins on endless repeat this weekend. If this doesn’t cheer you up, I don’t know what will.
- We made American Pancakes for brunch on Saturday and they were delicious!
- This year’s Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Louise Glück – a very worthy winner. The Wild Iris is one of my favourite poetry collections.
- Kevin Bacon always cheers me up and this interview was fantastic. The movie adaptation of You Should Have Left looks less fantastic but I might watch it anyway.
- I was having a rummage in the roofspace (as you do!) and came across most of my very well read Martin Amis collection. I’ve been dying to reread Money and London Fields to see how I feel about them over 25 years on!
So, what in your life deserves some praise this week? Let me know in the comments!
Sunday Praise kevin bacon louise gluck nobel prize for literature samantha morton Sunday Praise the housemartins
Cathy746books View All →
I am a 40 something book buying addict trying to reduce the backlog one book at a time!
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Those pancakes do look delicious! Glad you found some rays of sunshine in a gloomy week. My little moment of joy this week is that I’ve been trying to find a way to carry on my morning walks as it gets darker, wetter, and colder, so I finally splashed out on an expensive winter coat which arrived on Friday. It’s easily the nicest coat I’ve ever had and looks set to keep me warm and dry in every kind of weather, so I should be able to carry on getting outside every day no matter what the winter throws at me!
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That sounds like the perfect coat! Well worth investing in…
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Domestic (non bookish) things have made me contented this week: I usually follow recipes slavishly but this week I experimented with a sultana, walnut and cognac cake and very nice it was too:)
I’ve just planted some beans in the vegetable patch and they’re growing very happily, just the right combo of sun and rain.
I’ve been watching the Italian film Festival even though we’re in lockdown: Palace Cinemas made the whole festival available as a boxed set.
And, even though we can’t go shopping, I have a beautiful new black cashmere cardigan which I bought online from a one-woman business in Queensland and it makes me feel totally svelte even though I’m not!
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This all sounds marvellous Lisa – particularly the cake 😊
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There are always good things if you look hard enough! It’s been a swine of a week here too… But I’m so glad you enjoyed the 1956 Club and thank you for taking part! 😀
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It was great! I loved reading everyone’s posts. Hope I can join in next year too.
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I hope next week will be an easier one for you, Cathy
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Me too 😊
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The Paul Heaton thing cheered me so much! I’ve worked for a lot of the staff and freelancers on Q over the years and was so sad to see it go, and that was lovely. I’ve had a week off and got a lot sorted, even though it wasn’t as much as I’d hoped it was still good work and an improvement in the house and garden.
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The loss of these music magazines is such a shame. It was a lovely gesture of Heaton’s. I do enjoy a productive week off work – well done!
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This week, I have been feeling a little under the weather, but I was cheered by some comforting homecooked food, including pork Ragu and sag aloo Korma; and I went for a lovely bracing walk around the picturesque Draycote Water. I’m glad you have found this to cheer you up on what has been a tough week. Take care and happy reading. 🙂
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Being outside really seems to help, I’m making an effort to do more of it.
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Some lovely things even in a tough week Cathy. Autumn is always a joy. I hope next week is much improved for you, XXX
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I love autumn too…
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It’s been a hard year but your posts brighten my day, Cathy. Thank you very much.
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Thank you so much Rose x
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Okay, I have to ask. You said “American pancakes.” Do the Irish typically make pancakes, and if so, how do they differ from the American version?
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These have cornflour in them, which ours woouldn’t but other than that, they aren’t all that different!
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I have the Housemartins playing, thank you for the reminder and I haven’t heard this weeks DID yet, but it always makes me cry. Such a wonderful programme. Pancakes yum and with Bacon (Kevin or otherwise!)
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Lol! Pancakes with Kevin Bacon would be bliss 🤣
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So glad you found those bursts of pleasure. It’s often the little things that keep us going isn’t it? Those pancakes are I think are what we called pikelets in our home. Super easy to make but delicious. My little moment of joy came when I saw the aubergines in my plant have ripened. Never grew one before!
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How fantastic!
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These days, being outside helps me tremendously. I’ve been planting succulents and cacti. I have a black thumb but during this pandemic I must have learned something because my plants are alive and thriving! I go out, sweep down the patio, plant a succulent, sip coffee, re-arrange the patio furniture and then go inside because it’s 102. Haha.
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Being outside really helps, doesn’t it? Sounds like that black thumb if yours is turning green!
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