Midweek Catch-Up 06/08/25
Apologies it has been 3 weeks since my last catch-up post, but we have been on holiday! I have so much to share from that as well as all the books I have been reading, so grab a cuppa, this could be a long one!
Weight Loss, Exercise and Mental Health Catch-up
I have done minimal exercise as I still have a horrible bug but it seems to be going now as I am on another course of antibiotics and have had a chest xray so the doctor is trying to get to the bottom of it. That said, on holiday I did a few walks to the launderette with bags of clothes which must have done me some good.
We were all-inclusive for 10 days in Mallorca and then before and after than during our holiday we had icecream, burgers, Nandos etc so I was expecting a gain on the scales and they did not disappoint! That said, I am massively pleased with my 1.75lb gain as for 3 weeks I think that is fantastic! I obviously made better choices than I realised and moved more than I realised too! I am hoping some of that is water retention from the heat too so it might even be less!
The holiday has definitely helped my mental health a little and I am working on just keeping busy, walking lots again when I can, eating well and reading lots to try and stave off that horrible depression.
Books
I have read lots this last few weeks, so here are the books I have read and an outline of the story, whether I liked them and a link in case you fancy treating yourself! I absolutely loved taking my Kindle and reading in the sun, on the balcony and even on the ferry!
I finished The Woman With All The Answers by Linda Green that I mentioned last time I had started. It is about a lady who is the voice of Alexa for a family. It is quite funny and really makes you think about family life and the different things you all ask AI like Alexa to do.
In Mallorca I read Do You Remember by Freida McFadden which I enjoyed. Tess wakes up every day with no memory of her recent life. A stranger is lying next to her who says he is her husband and she has a letter she has written to herself which seems to explain everything but is it all as it seems? This is kind of like the story of 50 First Dates but with a more sinister back drop!
I also read One by One by Freida McFadden. It was a little too predictable for me. It is about 3 couples who go on holiday together and their car breaks down on the way. As they try to find their way through the woods the group start dying one by one.
For book club this month the genre is “summer holiday romance and smut” so whilst it isn’t something I would usually choose I read The Donor Billionaire by Zoe Dod. I enjoyed it a little more than I thought I would but am not jumping to read the others in the series, It is essentially about a lady who wants a baby so agrees with her boss that he will donate his sperm to her and they will coparent but not in a relationship however they get intimate and what started as that soon turns into quite a physical relationship and then more. Very predictable but easy to read.
The next book I read on holiday was called The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage by Halima Khatun. I found this in my Kindle library with no recollection of adding it but I was so impressed and really enjoyed it. A funny account of a British-Bengali woman and her quest to find a husband whilst also explaining how arranged marriage really works. It was hilarious, eye opening and really easy to read I would give it a 10/10 for sure! I am definitely going to read her other books soon too.
The last book I read which I started on holiday and finished when I got home was Lola is Missing by Alison James. This was a recommendation on my Kindle based on my reading by an author I hadn’t heard of before. I actually really enjoyed it. There were a few predictable parts but on the whole it was a good book so I have now started another by the author with the same detective in. This book also appears to be called The Lying Kind and The Missing Child so I am not really sure how that has happened but they are all the same book by Alison James!
Family and Life
We all had an amazing holiday and I have started writing some articles to share with you about that which are included in the list below. It was an amazing experience driving in Europe again and especially in Mallorca which I really enjoyed.
There were some fantastic views, days out and relaxing throughout the almost three weeks we were gone and I got so many ideas for articles to write to help others who might consider doing the same! I also have sooooo many photos!
Stuart treated me to some spirits from Duty Free on the way back which I can’t wait to have once I have finished my current antibiotics! I got Beefeater blood orange gin, Beefeater Pink Strawberry gin, Dead Man’s Fingers Cherry Rum and Gordons Sicilian Lemon all one litre bottles for a total of £44! How amazing is that? They will last me at least until the next holiday as I don’t even drink that much!
We have been home since Sunday night so almost 72 hours and already I have done a big shop (and forgot things typically!), done about 10 loads of washing, and realised the UK weather is rubbish and I want to go back but otherwise it is all back to reality here. Stuart and I both started back to work Monday morning!
On the Blog
Here are some of my latest posts that you might have missed. Most have a holiday theme, but if you are looking to book a holiday or drive abroad, you might find them super helpful! Next week I will have more holiday reviews to share as well as more normal posts including a giveaway so be ready to keep an eye out for that!
This week I also was features on the Express website which was a nice surprise and always helpful!
- How to preserve flowers at home from a wedding bouquet
- What do toll roads in France actually cost – my breakdown
- Our hotel in Mallorca reviewed – Bahia Del Sol, Santa Ponsa
- Ferry from Barcelona to Palma, Mallorca – A Review
- Great travel games for the family
- How to keep mushrooms fresher for longer
- How to cope with a period on holiday
