Midweek Catch-Up 26/11/25

Hello again, apologies there was no midweek catch up last week. I had a lot on and just didn’t have time. So, this week’s is a two week roundup!

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Contents

Health Catch-Up

So, there are a few updates here.

My mental health is a bit all over the place at the moment. Sometimes I am tearful and others I am happy. I think a lot of this is down to the current stresses I have in life and perhaps less linked to my brain as such. It is so hard to tell, don’t you think? I know there will be an aspect that is related to my past traumas as well as my hormonal issues but I don’t think it is outside the realms of possibility that a lot is also linked to the current stresses too. We have had a difficult year with many things so there is only so much medication can do, isn’t there.

Ben is still off college due to recovery from his operation. He is being so brave and resilient as there is so much that has changed for him this year because of these health issues. His pain relief was recently increased which caused him some really nasty side effects which worried us so much. He ended up in hospital on a drip on his birthday! Luckily he was feeling much better by late afternoon and managed the evening at home. We did have to change plans a lot though and we had his birthday takeaway the week after (last weekend).

A tablet—an ideal pick for tech gifts—displays the cover of "The Intruder" by Freida McFadden on a floral placemat beside hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a chocolate slice at a café table set for two.

Book Reviews

As life has been so hectic I have not had much chance to read.

Last time I told you I was listening to The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer, well I have finished that now and I quite enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say it was my favourite lately but I would recommend it. I would probably give it maybe a 6 out of 10. Good but forgettable!

I have read The Intruder on my Kindle recently. It is Freida McFadden’s latest book. I have read a lot of hers, in fact possibly all of them, I need to check! I quite enjoyed this one but I didn’t think it was as good as some of her others. I am not sure if it is because I have read so many of her books but I did predict the ending about two thirds of the way through!

I am now listening to another book for for book club in December. The theme is Winter or Christmas so I am listening to 12 Ways to kill your family at Christmas by Natasha Bache. I am quite enjoying it so far. The main narrator is one who has narrated a lot of books I have enjoyed so I am sure that helps.

Do you have any recommendations of Christmas or Winter themed books you think I would like? I am not a romance, fantasy or sci-fi fan but otherwise I am open to most other things!

A man with glasses and headphones sits on a couch, focused on something out of view. Sporting a black hoodie with colorful patterns, he could be testing out the latest tech gifts.

Family Life

Ben has had his birthday and is now 20, how did that happen that I became old enough to have a 20 year old? We couldn’t really do much to celebrate due to Ben’s current illness etc however we did do our best to make it special. We bought a takeaway Afternoon Tea from Poffles, Ben’s favourite coffee shop/tea room in Mansfield Woodhouse. He didn’t know about it, so it was a lovely surprise for him.

The bottomless brunch cocktails at home I mentioned last time didn’t go well as his increase in medication made him so sleepy one drink was all he managed. I have promised though when he is well again and all recovered I will take him for a bottomless brunch!