Books I Read in March

Due to being ill at the beginning of the month, where I didn't get out of bed for days and could barely do anything while I laid there, I didn't read much in March.



I bought this for Lee for Christmas but read it first, whoops. It was fun, just a little look at the jokes that Simpsons writers have put in. I'd recommend it!



This was just terrible. I feel bad for saying that as a writer myself, but it honestly felt like bad fanfic that had managed to get published. It promised to be a sexy read, but there was no sex - it just faded to black. Not recommended



This was for my book club, but I LOVED it. It's about a serial killer and is kind of based on the Moors Murderers. It is a bit unbelievable at times but enjoyable enough that it didn't matter. I highly recommend this if you're into crime.



I picked this up in an Amazon sale, having heard it was a good book for younger teenagers. I'm a bit dubious about books written by celebrities especially if they're for children or young adults - it isn't as easy as it looks. However, this is a genuinely good book and I've now bought the second in the trilogy.



This was free on Amazon and although I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. It's a decent enough chick lit read (I hate that term but it does the job) if you're into that. Anne is a good heroine, I felt. I thought the ending was rushed, though.

Wow, I feel like I read a lot of genres this month!

Weekend in Whitby

In March Lee and I went away with our friends Leanne and Adi for the weekend. We stayed just outside of Whitby in a cottage called Biffin's Berth. We had access to the on site pool so we went swimming on Saturday afternoon. I'd recommend the cottage, it was small but perfectly formed!

We arrived on Friday night, got settled in, and Leanne had brought pasties from a bakery local to her so we had those with beans. On Saturday she made bacon and egg sandwiches (nothing better!) and we headed out. As I've been ill and as Lee still was ill we needed to take it easy, so we headed up the coast all the way to Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

I've never been there before but the pier has been redone recently and it's got an amusement arcade on it, so we went in there to play on the machines for a bit. Lee beat me at air hockey, boo!

We paused in a couple of places on the way back and took photos, including Staithes and Robin Hood's Bay. Then we went to Sandsend which is just up the coast from Whitby - in fact you can walk along the beach from Whitby if you're so inclined!

There's a cafe there called the Wits End cafe which I love so we went in and had yummy coffee and cake. We then watched the tide for a bit - it was high tide and it was crashing over the sea wall. Someone told us that it was the highest tide of the year. I don't know if this was related to the eclipse on the previous day but it was quite cool to see anyway!

Staithes

Saltburn

Lee playing Sega Rally

Adi and Leanne in the Wits End

The high tide!

On the slipway in Sandsend

After we went swimming, Lee and I cooked enchiladas and while it was cooking Leanne posed for this. All she needs in her life is wine and feminism!

 

Wild rabbits in the garden!

On Sunday Lee and I made a cooked brunch and then we wanted to go into Whitby but it was packed, so we went down the coast to Scarborough. It was also busy there, but North Bay wasn't too bad so we got ice creams, even though it was slightly cold.

Scarborough high tide

In the evening we went out in Whitby for curry, it was delicious!

Leanne and I, isn't she pretty?

On Monday we left the cottage at 10 and went into Whitby. It was still busy but we managed to park. We had a wander and played in the amusements for a bit, before having a yummy lunch of fish and chips in the Quayside cafe. Leanne and I played bowling while Lee and Adi played pool. 

It was such a lovely weekend! 

Plotting a Novel

So you might know that I'm currently studying for my MA in Writing at Sheffield Hallam University. I did three modules of taught stuff, which ended last May, and now I have to write a novel and submit it in two parts. My novel is a Young Adult novel because I love YA literature.

A few weeks ago I had a very good tutorial with my tutor where he said there were no particular problems with my writing and that all I needed to do was plot my novel. I am rubbish at planning and usually just write, but since this is for my MA it means I really should know what I'm doing (or at least try to).

Due to several issues I find it really difficult to plot on screen, so I went old school and bought some supplies. I had a sheet of white paper with each chapter number on it, and I spread them across the futon in our attic. I had bought post it notes with several colours, so I had a colour for each main character and one for what they were doing as a whole. Then I started to write their story arcs on the post its, and stuck them on to the chapter sheets.

That way, I could see if there was an imbalance between the characters, and I could make sure I was dripping things in from the beginning, and make sure that all loose ends were tidied up. I hope it works! Here's some photos.

I didn't REALLY need the pink set on the top left - containing elastic bands, bulldog clips, paper clips, and drawing pins - but they were just so pretty I couldn't resist. And PINK!

And here's what plotting looked like! I then gathered all the sheets and put them into the pink folder above, with a key on the front and post it notes inside. That way it's portable for when I'm writing.

Small shopping splurge in York

I went to York on 17th March to see a friend of mine and we dropped into the Designer Outlet Village there. We didn't have much time so only went into a couple of shops, but this is what I picked up.

I haven't been shopping much recently as I'm trying to not spend as much money. However, I spent just £20 here! Bargain!

First stop was Claire's, which is cheap enough anyway but where the outlet has 1/3 off the marked prices. My friend wanted some sterling silver earrings and managed to pick up two pairs. I got some gold plated ones which I will put in the 2nd and 3rd holes in my earlobes. I don't change the earrings in those holes, I leave them in 24/7 so they have to be either gold or silver,

I got a new phone recently but only have one case for it, so I picked up three at bargain prices!

Yes they're horribly tacky - I love a bit of kitsch!

We then headed into the make up outlet store across the way, which sells loads of different make up brands at around a third off RRP. I could have honestly spent a fortune there! Instead I limited myself to this MAC nail polish which was £7. The shade is Discotheque and it's a gorgeous silver glitter. I can't wait to wear it!

Sheffield Zine Fest

Sheffield Zine Fest took place again on 14th March! I love zines - they're so DIY and give voices to those who may not otherwise be heard. This is the third year that Sheffield Zine Fest has been run by my friends Bettie and Chella, and their hard work always pays off.

I didn't have a table to sell my own zines this year, but I did put my own ones on the communal table which I was helping to run with Bettie's partner Jen. I also ran an hour's long workshop about Mail Art where basically I took a load of paper and craft supplies and let people play with them! I think people enjoyed it.

I had my friends Tukru and Emma staying at mine which was lovely, we had a good time.

These are the zines I bought at the festival.

I can't wait until next year! 

What I Wore 15th March

On Mother's Day my mum and stepdad came to ours in the evening for tea. Lee was just beginning to be ill so it was quite quiet - we listened to classic rock songs and just talked. Lee and I made enchiladas with salad and refried beans, and we had sticky toffee pudding for dessert. My mum and I shared a bottle of prosecco that I'd bought and a bottle of rose that she brought.

I recently ordered some stuff in the Yours sale and kept two dresses, this being one of them. The eagle-eyed amongst you might remember that my mum wore this dress on Christmas Day (blogged here) and I really loved it, so I ordered it. I could have actually sized down, it's really generous. Now we just have to make sure we don't wear it at the same time!

Please do excuse the messy kitchen. We're about to have a new one put in so everything is everywhere!

Massive hoods - why is that?

At the clothes swap Debz and I were talking about hoods. She had bought a new coat and the hood was huge. You can see her photo on Instagram here. It doesn't make sense, plus size clothing retailers, that when you scale up the body you scale up the hood? How big can one person's head be?

In the evening after the swap I got into my night things and put my dressing gown on. I never put the hood up because it's just huge. I took this photo of myself with it pulled fully up. Isn't it ridiculous? This dressing gown was from Yours and I love it - but there's no need for a hood this big!