Sunday Praise: What’s Made Me Happy This Week?
This pandemic just isn’t getting any easier, is it? Still, there were some lovely moments in the past week that brought me hope and joy.
- For those of us old enough to remember him, the inimitable Roy Castle was trending on Twitter last week and that clip (posted by his son) of him on Parkinson with Buddy Rich and Sammy Davis Jr is a reminder that we don’t make them like that anymore.
- Two of Northern Ireland’s best won some big literary awards this week – Anna Burns won the International Dublin Literary Award for Milkman and the fantastic Wendy Erskine won the Butler Literary Award for her brilliant collection Sweet Home
- We took a trip to our favourite spot – Cregagh Wood – and spent a lovely socially distanced afternoon with my sister, her dog Reilly and a campfire (with obligatory toasted marshmallows!). Good for the soul.
- I’ve always loved the Belfast Festival and worked there in my 20’s. This is usually the time of year when I head up to Belfast and enjoy all the International Arts Festival has to offer. This year, it’s online and there have been some fantastic readings and talks.
- In this week’s Adventures in Baking, the girl and I made Salted Caramel Peanut Bars and they were yummy.
- I know I always go on about Schitt’s Creek, but this week we watched the Cabaret episode (season 5 finale) and I laughed and clapped and cried like a baby.
So, what in your life deserves some praise this week? Let me know in the comments!
Sunday Praise anna burns hamlet schitt's creek wendy erskine
Cathy746books View All →
I am a 40 something book buying addict trying to reduce the backlog one book at a time!
746books.com 
Schitt’s Creek is always worth going on about 🙂
That link to the Literary Gift Company could see me spending some serious money – I’m very tempted by the Satre doormat!
Lovely photos Cathy – hang in there…
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I love The Literary Gift Company bit have to visit very sparingly 🤣
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Gosh I love the Literary Gift Company. It’s the puzzle section that I have to stay away from (although I have their Shakespeare puzzle and can report that it was a very lovely puzzle to do).
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I’m going to ask Santa for one of their puzzles for Christmas!
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It’s not getting any easier to negotiate life during the pandemic, no – I am just glad to have made it to half term with hopefully a little time to regroup and let the batteries recharge. I’m glad you got some time out in nature – I think that helps!
And don’t let me near the Literary Gift Co – my bank account would never recover….
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It’s a VERY tempting site!
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So glad you managed a get together with your sister. Gorgeous woodland shots!
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It’s a lovely spot 😊
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Shakespeare merc is tempting. That reminds me to post my Bard Bits for the month!
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That Roy Castle clip is just brilliant, thank you so much and I’ve started watching Schitt’s Creek and do love it!
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It’s such a warmhearted show. I love it!
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I have a mild dairy intolerance but the supermarket had Salted Caramel Drumstick icecream cones half price this week and I couldn’t resist,
The socks I want from a similar company (mentioned in my Monday post) are a little less highbrow LOL
Wishing you a great reading week
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You sold me on the crunchy peanut bars. Got all excited about making them today but now can’t find my tin of condensed milk. Drat, will have to wait until tomorrow now.
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They will be worth the wait 🙂
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I love that Shakespeare top! Also I just spent a long time looking at the Literary Gift Company website – I have been wanting some more art for my spare room and that looks promising.
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It’s a great site, but very tempting!
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Lately, I’ve been into this show called The Good Place. It’s the length of a sitcom but must be watched in order, which is a weird combo for U.S. television. But it has Ted Danson 🥰
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I’ve been meaning to watch The Good Place for ages – Ted Danson is the best!
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I loved him in the 80s films, but thanks to this show, I can really see the scope of his abilities.
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Can you believe I’ve never watched Schitt’s Creek? Yet!! I keep meaning to give it a try, because everyone speaks so highly of it.
I’m glad you got to spend some time with your sister. And with toasted marshmallows, yum!
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It took me about 5 episodes to really get into it – it’s great fun and very warm-hearted. Just what has been needed during lockdown!
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I started watching Schitts Creek a few years ago during another hard time and it was one of the only things that could make me laugh (the other was the podcast My Favorite Murder). It’s really held up all this time. I might have to embark on a rewatch soon.
Those salted caramel peanut bars looked so good!
I love this idea of documenting the good things!
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I’m actually finding it really helpful to keep an eye out for happy little moments throughout the week. Sometimes they slip by and we hardly notice.
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I went to one of my fave bakeries – on Saturday closing they tend to have the non perishables such as peanut butter bars. So nice, and I bet yours were too.
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They were delicious – but SO rich!
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We’re progressing through SC for the second time. Nuff said.
I know it’s doubtless not pronounced the same, but reading about Cregagh Wood did remind me so much of Tarzan’s warning cry to his, fellow apes in the Burroughs books, “Kreegah!” I thought you might want to know that… 😁
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You know I’ll be thinking about that every time we go now, don’t you? 🙂
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Sorry. 😁
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We’re halfway through Season 4 of Schitt’s Creek now. I don’t want it to end, but I know it will. I might have to watch it all again.
I have the H2G2 Don’t Panic socks and the Library Card socks from LGC, and I bought my husband the Kafka Metamorphosis t-shirt which I now endlessly covet. I love their enamel pins, too. I’ve never looked at the puzzles.
Last week was rough, with the announcement that Manchester was going into Tier 3 lockdown coinciding with my employer announcing that they’re starting to plan for ‘downsizing the organisation’, like we’re bits of furniture in some empty nest home and not people. But Tori Amos and Angela Davis at the Manchester Literature Festival at the weekend were a perfect tonic. And I made an almond sponge cake with almond buttercream, which we somehow managed to make last for 6 days.
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Oh Jan I love that Metamorphosis t-shirt too, I am very tempted to get it. And their pins are wonderful. Sorry to hear about your work – I am in a similar position and the uncertainty is very stressful. Tori Amos always makes things better though – I love her!
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It was amazing to hear her speak about her creative practice, and I’m going to get her book.
The uncertainty of it all is the thing, isn’t it? I hope you come through it okay. I keep telling myself that, if redundancy happens, I must use it as an opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted to do. Some days it works!
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