Kathy Hamilton How can it be the 18th of September already? How has your month started? Mine was filled with a cold that came out of nowhere and was so bad I had to take time off work. I’m feeling a little better no. So, it seems like the perfect time to share a cosy, lovely post in the shape of my August wrap up.
Since I’ve been feeling under the weather, this month I’m combining two posts. What I read in August and Things I Loved In August. Towards the tail end of August, I was too busy battling the sniffles, that rolled into a full-on cold, migraines … you get the picture! Anyway, although it’s a little late, here’s what I’ve been reading and loving lately.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a book I almost convinced myself wasn’t brilliant! I hadn’t re-read it for a while. So I forgot how beautiful and sweeping the prose is. And how complicated the character of Jane Eyre is. So I decided to really take my time over it. To savour the experience. That’s what I love about reading, some months you can read six, seven, eight books and others you can dedicate to a single reading of a classic.
I think I’ve said it before on the blog. I am fascinated by how reading the same book at different times of your life can bring different themes and contexts out of a book that you have previously missed. Reading Jane Eyre this time, I was struck by the total imbalance of power between Jane and Mr Rochester.
Jane is barely 19 when she is pursued by the mid-30s Mr Rochester, who also happens (as her boss) to be her only source of income and shelter. I think Charlotte makes great efforts to address this re-balance throughout the novel but I couldn’t help noticing it all the same. Interesting food for thought.
Ireland Road Trip
In mid-august, I packed up a bag and went on a whirlwind trip around Ireland with friends. During this time I got to see the highlight reel of Ireland. We drove from Belfast to the Aran Islands. Then saw the sweeping landscape of Kerry and finally the stunning Wicklow Mountains. It was an amazing trip! I can’t wait to go into a bit more detail about it, so look out for a post coming your way soon!
Nectarine Tart
I decided to try making shortcrust pastry from scratch in August. The result was this sunny nectarine tart! I adapted a recipe in my trusty Be-Ro book. This time for a plum tart. And I have to say it was delicious. Interestingly, the filling was made up of ground almonds and I thought this would make it overwhelmingly nut flavoured but it didn’t. Instead, it was the perfect complement to sweet, seasonal Nectarines.
Feeling Relaxed and Content
One positive side effect of my road trip was that I didn’t have time to worry about what I looked like. This may sound vain, but I have a feeling most women reading this can relate? Usually, I’d be stressed about whether my fringe was lying right, or my makeup looked nice. But between pitching a tent and having to scurry across a field to the shower block I soon forget about all of those things! Instead, I focussed on enjoying myself, being outside in the fresh air and taking in all the next experiences.
