My Week in Review to the 27th May

I'm linking this post up with The Sunday Post at The Caffeinated Reviewer.

Dave took a photo of me in my new favourite reading spot - our little riverbank garden. It really is beautifully idyllic here. So relaxing that I even (almost) didn't stress about GDPR! Fingers crossed that we're all compliant!

It was ridiculously hot here at the beginning of the week with thunderstorms rumbling around for three consecutive afternoons. We were caught out walking by the first and I got absolutely drenched which caused a few raised eyebrows from the better prepared umbrella-wielding French folks we passed. I just felt nicely cooled and refreshed though! There was another thunderstorm yesterday and now they're being forecast daily until Wednesday at least! It seems bizarre, but is maybe normal for Deux Sevres? I pity the families who have come out just for the half-term week. Not great holiday weather.


In book news, I got an e-mail on Friday from Dhruv at Book Sirens letting me know that Literary Flits has been added to their book reviewers database and my blog is now live on their website. You can click the little button to the right to see the Literary Flits entry and add your own blog if you would like to and haven't already. Book Sirens aim to be a different book reviewer listing site in that they won't keep extinct blogs in their listings. I haven't yet been approached by any authors via Book Sirens though so don't know how it will work out from a blogger point of view.

Talking of book promo though, it is nearly time for the next Free Spotlight Post giveaway draw! Ta daa! If you have (or know of) a book that could use a Spotlight Post on Literary Flits, add it to This Linkup before midnight (UK time) on the 31st May. I'll pick one at the beginning of June.

And more book news - it's probably going to be an indoors week after all! - the Two Gals And A Book blog is starting a new reading challenge as of the 1st of June. You can find out more about The Classics Club Challenge here. The idea is to read and blog about at least 50 classic books over the next 5 years. That's 10 books a year which I think is manageable alongside my other reading so I am looking forward to taking part. I've set up a Classics Club text box on Literary Flits (scroll down the page!) to keep track of my reading. Titles will be added as I get classic books and will link to their reviews when they're blogged. Suggestions of great classics I should read are very welcome!

Around the blogosphere:

Sarah at All The Book Blog Names Are Taken has a regular Would You Rather post series where she compares beautiful book nooks. This week's Would You Rather features a rather scary overhead net affair!

Aj at Read All The Things tells all (not quite!) for the Sunshine Blogger Award.

Olivia at Olivia's Catastrophe has a Book Haul Tower that's taller than herself! I love Olivia's blog photos!


Here's the most Popular Posts Across My Blogs this week. Click the images to visit the pages ... and don't forget to enter all the Giveaways!

Artisan Rainbow	Literary Flits	Stephanie Jane

My Week in Review to the 20th May

Hope Association book sale 

I'm linking this post up with The Sunday Post at The Caffeinated Reviewer.

I was delighted today to spot that Dani at Perspective Of A Writer included one of my book reviews in her Passport To International Book Travel post - thanks Dani! She's linked to bloggers' posts about books set all over the world some of which are heading straight onto my TBR.

You might have spotted my Bicycle Accident post on Thursday? I'm happy to say that, other than an overdramatic purple and yellow bruise across my stomach, both I and my bike are fine. I've done a couple more rides since and am still loving exploring the local countryside 'en velo', but I now know to double check the brake cables as well as all the folding points. Sometimes it seems to take longer to prepare for a ride than to actually cycle.

We've been out and about quite a bit this week, I'm glad to say. The Hope Association book sale at Clussais la Pommeraie this weekend was Amazing!! Just look at all the books in the photo at the top of this post! And that was just one of the rooms! Thousands of second-hand books in good condition at just €1 each and all supporting a good cause too. We came away with six books - aren't you impressed at my restraint! - and also treated ourselves to a Coffee and Cake lunch. If you're near Clussais la Pommeraie in October - and why wouldn't you be? - there's another book sale on the 19th, 20th and 21st.

And the Atwood is signed! 

We cycled to the regular Chef Boutonne market yesterday morning and this afternoon drove in the other direction to Ardilleux for their Farmer's Market / Vide Grenier (car boot sale). There weren't as many stalls as we had hoped, but this was a very French affair in contrast to yesterday's English-style fete. We were delighted to snap up a box of ten large vintage Kilner-type jars for €5 the lot. Bargain!

One of my favourite Etsy shops, Poody And Berty, has a 10% off sale until the end of May. This is where I bought my beautiful Sleeping Eye Mask which I love so I am happy to recommend them.

We went on a lovely rural walk on Wednesday. Starting from the church at Luché-sur-Brioux, we went on to Tilleul and then found a stunning riverside picnic spot at Sompt. We later had an Exciting Wildlife Sighting at the old Laverie - a half-dozen or so Perez Frogs. Actually we heard them first - very noisy for such small animals! We also spotted a Swallowtail Butterfly. The countryside around here isn't as dramatic as other places we have walked, but I love it all the same.

Luché-sur-Brioux church 

Sompt laverie

Perez Frog 

Around the blogosphere:

InLinkz - who provide the widgets for my Giveaway Linkup and Spotlight Giveaway - have written this excellent post about GDPR and what it means for bloggers.

Anne Goodwin at Annecdotal reviews two books about Disgraced Daughters: Circe and The Butcher's Daughter.

I made a batch of my new-favourite flatbread, Pumpkin Phulka, from this recipe at Sandhya's Kitchen. I actually used Sweet Potato instead of Pumpkin and think that any mashable veg would work just as well.

Here's what you might have missed Across My Blogs this week. Click the images to visit the pages ... and don't forget to enter all the Giveaways!

	Artisan Rainbow	Literary Flits	Stephanie Jane
M O N D A Y
T U E S D A Y
W E D N E S D A Y
T H U R S D A Y
F R I D A Y
S A T U R D A Y
S U N D A Y

Btwin folding bicycle - accident avoidance advice!

Just a quick post today which I hope might prevent any other Btwin (or similar) folding bicycle riders from finding themselves flying through the air (with rather too much ease!) as I did earlier this week. Apart from a beautiful purple and yellow bruise where a handlebar ended up punching me in the stomach, I am ok, but it could have been a much worse situation.

My accident was caused by the bicycle's brakes unexpectedly putting themselves on without my wanting them to. This bike actually has good brakes so it suddenly stopped dead! We worked out that when I had unfolded the handlebar stem prior to riding, I had failed to spot it had whirled around 360° from where it should be. The wheel was facing forwards, but the brake cables were wrapped around the upright. This might make more sense visually:

In the first two pictures, the brake cables are away from the upright stem - as they should be. In the third picture they're wrapped around it. This was so easy to do without noticing, that I am amazed I never did it before! The brake cables were already so taut that just turning the handlebars a little bit to the left slammed on the brakes.

Fortunately, at the time, we were cycling fairly slowly on a softish dirt track and there wasn't any traffic. I went flying off the bike though - my first proper fall since the childhood one that put pay to my cycling for a couple of decades. However, this time I just scuffed my palms and knees, and got the aforementioned bruise. My bike only sustained a bent mudguard which Dave was able to straighten out relatively easily before we carried, gingerly, on our way. Oops and Phew!

My Week in Review to the 13th May

Insect hotels in Ruffec 

I'm linking this post up with The Sunday Post at The Caffeinated Reviewer.

I deleted my Stephanie Jane Facebook page this week because I am trying to streamline my blogging and social media stuff. Having a Page and a personal profile just seemed like duplication and most of my FB interaction happens on my personal profile anyway - other than regular messages from Chinese sellers wanting me to buy and review their stuff on Amazon! I've got a two week grace period to reinstate the page if there's a massive outcry, but I kinda doubt that! You can see all my FB stuff by friending me.

This week we drove to Ruffec, a nearby town about half an hour away, primarily to visit a couple of wonderful shops Dave had discovered and also for a wander about. I loved Ruffec! It's a vibrant place with lots going on and a great variety of independent businesses. First stop for us was Emmaus, a rehoming warehouse for homewares, clothing, records and tons of books! We dropped off a chair we no longer need and had a good look around. I'm pretty sure we'll be back before long! I was amazed by the cheap prices on gorgeous antique wooden furniture. Beautiful craftsmanship and carved decoration, but one would need a certain type of house to suit these pieces which, I guess, is why they are less popular these days.

Also on our list, and a ten-fifteen minute walk from the town centre, is Les Papilles Fermiers which stocks products from local farmers and producers. There's fruit and veg, meats and cheeses, wines, jams, oils, flours, ... We bought a litre of rapeseed oil from Gaec Des Epardeaux, dried chickpeas from La Ferme de Chassagne, chocolate spread from La Ferme de la Vacherie, and Pear-Chocolate jam from Les Perles Rouges. Like with many of these types of shops, some items seem incredibly good value with others ridiculously overpriced. We've only tried the pear-chocolate so far - which is excellent - and I am looking forward to homemade hummous with the oil and chickpeas.

Insect hotels (and Dave) at Ruffec 

The insect hotel photos were taken outside Ruffec Mairie (town hall) where there are a dozen or so on display, most brightly painted with images of the insects they might atteact. I don't know if this is a temporary or permanent installation, but it caught out attention particularly because Dave got me my very own insect hotel for my birthday. It's now hanging under the lean-to and we've already seen a few bugs investigating.

My insect hotel! 

A special RedBubble offer for Today Only! Get 20% off sitewide with the checkout code RAIN20 The code is only valid during the 14th of May so hurry!

Around the blogosphere:

Aj at Read All The Things asked How Accurate Are Amazon Recommendations?

I made delicious Pita Breads from a super easy recipe at My Greek Dish. It took a couple of goes to get these just right. Both times I made half the recipe quantity. Second time I increased the yeast amount slightly, left the dough for an hour so it really did rise, and rolled out the breads to a 1/2cm thick before cooking them. Delicious - so much nicer than shop bought!

And today's the start of National Vegetarian Week. I've got some vegetarian recipes on my blog and Jacqueline at Tinned Tomatoes has put together this great Recipes And Ideas for Beginners post.

Here's what you might have missed Across My Blogs this week. Click the images to visit the pages ... and don't forget to enter all the Giveaways!

	Artisan Rainbow	Literary Flits	Stephanie Jane
M O N D A Y
T U E S D A Y
W E D N E S D A Y
T H U R S D A Y
F R I D A Y
S A T U R D A Y
S U N D A Y