Tuesday 28 April 2020

Great Home Workouts For People Who Hate Exercise

illustration of woman with ponytail in yellow vest and blue leggings going yoga lunge in bare room with a couple plants on right
I've always been a fully fledged member of the lazy gals club. My base instinct is to sloth. Give me a phone, a TV or a book and I'll beat records for time spent sitting.

You can therefore imagine my sheer incredulity upon discovering that lockdown has made me somewhat of a fitness fan. I know right?! 

Hear me out.

Thursday 23 April 2020

Book Wishlist 2020

multi-coloured covers of the books listed below
Having a large To Be Read (TBR) pile seems to be a common trait among book lovers. I'm totally overcome with excitement whenever I enter a book shop or, as is more often the case, a charity shop or jumble sale. I simply buy books faster than I can read them and this has been the case for years.

As a result, I currently have about 15 books I haven't read yet. In an effort to reduce the pile and save money, I'm not buying any more books until my TBR pile has reduced considerably. While we're in lockdown, I'm trying to read as much as I can. However, I'm finding it more difficult than usual to concentrate on a book. Once I'm 100 pages in I'm fine but getting to that point takes days. Anyone else feeling like this?

Monday 20 April 2020

5 TV Shows You Should Watch on BBC iPlayer

acer laptop with iPlayer Most Popular page opened on pink quilt with pink and gold cushion behind and velvet heart on left
I've never been a big one for Netflix because 1) it costs and 2) I literally can't be trusted not to binge 12 hours of shows every day. BBC iPlayer have really upped their game in the last couple of years and it's a great free alternative to Amazon Prime, NOW TV and Netflix. With classic series from Miranda and Two Pints of Lager to Doctor Who available, there's endless hours of entertainment. While I am making a conscious effort not to spend the entire lockdown glued to the TV, it's something I will do for an hour or two a day, perhaps even while doing something else like crocheting or journalling.

There's nothing better than stumbling upon a brilliant new TV show, so I've rounded up my top 5 must-watch list.

Recommendations on BBC iPlayer for 2020


The Nest

The final episode of this 5-part series aired just last week, so I partly envy those of you who can now go on and watch the whole lot rather than waiting a week for the next instalment.

The Nest follows the story of a rich couple, Dan and Emily, who are desperate to have a child. They find an unlikely surrogate in Kaya, a troubled young girl who has just left the care system and is determined to make a success of her life. The series unravels the mystery of why Kaya was in care and how Dan managed to go from scheme boy to owning half of Glasgow. That's the other fantastic part of this show. It's set in Glasgow. I absolutely loved the beautiful aerial shots of my city, the Merchant City sets and the incredible lochside mansion house.

Gripping, emotional, unbelievable.

The Capture

I watched The Capture when it dropped last year and I don't think it got anywhere near the amount of praise and hype it deserved. I therefore take any opportunity to convince anyone to watch it.

Shaun Emery, a British soldier, has his murder conviction overturned at retrial because his brilliant barrister proves the evidence which convicted him was faulty. He is released and, after a night of celebration, his barrister Hannah is caught on CCTV being brutally attacked and kidnapped... by Shaun. But he doesn't remember it like that. Meanwhile, ambitious Detective Rachel Carey starts with the Homicide and Serious Crimes Unit and is determined to prove herself.

The six part thriller follows Shaun as he becomes entangled in the multi-layer nets of police, secret service and other actors. Shaun, Rachel and we, the audience, search for the truth about what happened to Hannah, and what is at stake by her disappearance.

Wonderful, addictive, brutal.

Thursday 16 April 2020

'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen

Pale blue and gold large novel standing up on white shelf reading 'Jane Austen 7 Novels' next to green and white pride and prejudice mug with illustrations of unhappy man and woman
This is a no spoiler book review (except the mug in the photo)

Way back in 2014 in The Reading Tag, I said the next book I had my sights set on was Pride and Prejudice. When I wrote that, I was just about to start university studying English Literature. Fast forward nearly six years, I have the degree and a whole lot of other classics under my belt, but still no Jane Austen.

Why?

Friday 10 April 2020

My Top 5 Podcast Recommendations

iphone 8 with earphones on white desk playing 'Thick & Thin' podcast
During this weird and wild time where we're all on lockdown, if you're blessed enough to be safe and well and finding yourself at a loose end, you'll be looking for some great content to pass (and make the most of) the time. 

Whether it's Youtube videos, blog posts or articles, I'm always on the lookout for something new and inspiring to become obsessed with. Podcasts are no different. Over the last year I've listened to these on the commute, before I go to sleep, as I do housework and as I walk to the gym. Now, they're my go-to for my daily walk. 

I thought I'd share my all-time favourite podcasts in case you're looking for a fabulous new listen. There's an eclectic mix of educational, entertaining, spiritual and just plain fascinating. 

The High Low
The High Low provides my weekly injection of culture, pop culture, news, intellectual happenings and general silliness. I happily stumbled upon it after reading the brilliant 'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton and stalking looking for more of her work online. She co-hosts the show with Pandora Sykes, a journalist who has written for ELLE and The Sunday Times.

The High Low balances a light-hearted take on current affairs with a multi-faceted examination of every angle, interpretation and consequence. I'm a critical thinker, and the style of this podcast is the very definition of 'Yes, but...' that is right up my street. Their manner of speaking about the world is so refreshingly self aware and socially aware. 

It's also hilarious.