Hi friends,
Today is Sunday, time to look back in the rearview mirror and talk about my week in and out of the blog. As usual I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted for years by Kimberly @caffeinatedreviewer .
As I didn’t post last Sunday (too busy having fun) I’ll cram two weeks in one today!
In my private life
One week ago, I was off work the whole week!
I had a great time!
For one, the weather was splendid! It felt like summer and not Fall.
On the weekend and early Monday, I rushed to drive both kids to their respective dormitories and now, they are back on the weekend only! That means that we have the house just for us, my hubs and I!! This is weird but good too as we are joking and pranking each other 😀
I went for a 15 km walk (10 miles more or less?) with a friend on the first Monday and it was glorious! Each on our side of the “road” (rather a former railway path converted into a path for joggers, bycicles etc) but soaking in the sun, talking and taking pictures.
Seeing another human being outside of my close family, finally!
I also invited my mom at my cousin’s restaurant and it was delicious! This is a fine gastronomy restaurant, formerly my uncle’s but my cousin trained with Ducasse and Valmora so you can imagine the food! It was a very belated 80 birthday for my mom and 50 for me!
Mother and daughter time.
I am still working from home as the COVID cases are skyrocketing again in Belgium!
When my kids come back home for the weekend, we wear a mask inside the house if they come close to us!!!! No shared meal inside either and opening the windows as much as we can.
That’s just crazy because you want to hug your kids, not keep them at arm’s length. But as they are surrounded by many students and in places where the COVID cases are climbing again, we have no other solution.
I am back at the fitness club for aquaboxing and aquagym. We have the 1,5 meter in the pool but this still feel weird. On the other hand, I can’t go on for months without having some normalcy back in my life and some connection with other human beings. So we try to be smart and careful, talking in the locker room for 15 minutes, 5 meters apart!
To end this one a positive note, I finished another funko pop: Bryce Quinlan
And I have two more to do on commission in the coming weeks. The pop for the female character has arrived and I plan on working on it next week but I am still waiting for the male pop.
On the blog (click on the graphic to read the post)
In these two weeks I have read 9 books and reviewed 7!!!
Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin that was very disappointing for me. 2 stars.
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore : audiobook and so much fun! Historical romance 4,5 stars
A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore. ARC and 5 stars. Very enlightening about sufragists!
The Heartache Duet by Jay McLean: She destroyed my heart! The reviews are in the release blitz post.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center. Excellent and smart woman fiction! 4,5 stars and audiobook.
When You Come Back to Me by Emma Scott. It..destroyed me! Amazing MM romance with heavy topics and lots of feelings!
I also did the Top 5 Tuesday and Top 10 Tuesday both weeks but what I want to show here is a fun post I wrote about quotes I imagined putting on masks!
On the blogosphere and literary world
QUIZ: Epic Reads asks us: which magical creature we would take down! I would fight an Urchin!
https://www.epicreads.com/blog/magical-creature-take-down/
I laughed hard at this post!
Ingredients for making the VERY BEST main character!
That’s it for today! How was your week?
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
Numbers are skyrocketing here too. Husband works in a supermarket though so if it comes close we’re not going to be able to avoid it.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday. That is a bummer though that cases are on the rise in Belgium again, but it’s good that you’re doing everything you can to stay safe while still having some normalcy in your life. A big yay for finally getting to hang out with one of your friends. I saw one of my friends this past weekend too and it really did lift my mood so much.
It sounds like you’ve been busy! What a shame that you have to stay distance from your children. The universities here are recording hundreds of COVID cases throughout the students.
Hope you have a good week!
I’m glad you enjoyed your staycation but I’m sorry cases are rising again in Belgium.
I can’t imagine my house ever being empty of kids 🙂
Wishing you a great reading week, stay well.
Thank you Shelley!
Balancing our drive for normalcy and the prudent behavior required by the situation does indeed require some effort, but the little things – like taking a long walk with a friend – more than compensate for what we otherwise miss. Let’s hope that there are more of these little but delightful occasions for you soon! 🙂
Let’s hope Maddalena!
You’ve been busy, Sophie! Glad you’re able to get out and celebrate your and your mom’s birthdays – and also have some people contact at the gym. Love the Funko. Have a great week!
Thank you Teri! You too!
Just you and the husband at home now. What a change! Hope you enjoy the peace and quiet. 🙂 Sorry to hear cases are on the rise again there but it sounds like you are being really safe and cautious.
We try Tanya!
As the weather turns drier and colder again, I’m afraid COVID cases will be getting out of control again! Stay safe!
You too Mogsy!
Nice that you were able to have such a nice meal! And some outdoor time too. Yay!
Sorry to hear about the Covid cases! We’ve had a possible exposure here so we’re crossing our fingers and hoping for the best!!!!
Crossing my fingers for you Greg!
My kids are both away at school but they don’t come home until Thanksgiving. It is nice to have a clean quiet house again, lol.
Enjoy the quiet Tammy!
I need to get round to Bringing Down the Duke! I’ve had it on my TBR for a while now, always intending to pick it up any minute… Sounds delightful!
My weekly roundup.
It is! Promise!
Happy birthday to you and your mum, that’s sounds like everyone had a wonderful dinner. And how lucky to have a cousin who owns a restaurant too! I hear you about family, our you g nephew came round and we all talked on the balcony, outside, with masks on, and stayed a good 10 feet apart. It would be funny if it wasn’t so heartbreaking. Do take care and stay safe.
Thank you Alex! Stay safe too!
I’m glad you are getting some normal time with going to the gym but sorry to hear cases are rising and you have to wear a mask at home! We just stay home so we wear masks when we go out for grocery or pharmacy pickups. I love the new funko!
Anne – Books of my Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Thank you Anne!
I think having your kids back and not being able to hug them and share a meal must be the hardest!! Still enjoy the quality time on the weekend!
~ Corina | The Brown Eyed Bookworm
Thank you Corina!
Loving that funko and am still bummed you didn’t gel with Blood and Honey!!!
Me too Caro!
Wow! You are doing so much. It wonderful that you got to celebrate with your mom, and good for you walking 10 miles. Sounds like you are taking precautions and following safety measures. I am glad you are able to enjoy some normalcy.
Thanks Sam! We do our best but always fear..
I’m so glad you had such a nice week! Since I’m a teacher, I won’t go around my friends or family unless we are outside and I’m in a mask. I know I am exposed to LOTS of germs.
Well that’s what we fear with the kids Samantha!
It sounds as if you had some fun and could enjoy some quality time with your mother. Stay safe and well. Happy reading!
Thank you Vi!
I’m delighted to hear that you had such a great holiday – no wonder you didn’t have time to post last Sunday:)). Grim about not being able to hug the children, but I completely understand… hard choices have to be made. I hope the coming week is a safe one for you and yours and that you get a chance to relax a bit!
Thank you!!