Despite being a bit chilly, November was a great month! I had some time to wander around, regroup, pet cats, hike some high peaks, spend time with friends, hug children and see some beautiful sights.
Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix!
Where was I? England & Wales
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
January: Baguettes and Many Steps
February: In Like Minnesota; Out Like Hawaii
March: Wet and Wild
April: My Life is in Ruins, and Beaches Too
May: Al Fresco
June: Tales as Old as Time: The Christianity and Wine Versions
July: Quick and Dirty: the Baltics and the Balkans Adventure
August: The Dark Tourist
September: Recharging The Batteries
October: Blown Away
November: Baby, It's Cold Outside
2. What did you learn last month?
I learned about the textile trade in England. In Manchester, it was cotton and it was very important, which is how they became as big of a city as they are. Also during the Civil War they decided to stop buying cotton from slave owners, which meant that they had to source the cotton from Egypt and other further afield places, therefore driving up the prices. There are also a lot of well known bands from Manchester. Can you name one?
I also learned about the silk industry in Macclesfield, which was kind of like the "end of the silk road" as London would send the silk there to be processed. I got to see an old loom in action, which was so cool, but very, very loud! I can't imagine working for 10 or 12 hours a day in that kind of environment!
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| Silk looms |
3. What was the weather like where you are?
It was a tad chilly, with some rain at the beginning and by the end, on one of the colder days, it was about 17 degrees F! On that day, I was riding a bike, and it was icy!
4. What event last month was your favorite?
Its hard to choose! I spent some time in Snowdonia, and loved wandering every day, as well as climbing Mt. Snowdon. The peaks and valleys there are beautiful! However, I also cycled from one end of Wales to the other on the Lon Las Cymru route, and that was quite an adventure! Last but definitely not least, I got to spend some time with Rachel and the kiddos (and the husband of course!) which was great. We even went hiking with the twins and I made a new bestie (Clara)!
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| Me and my new besties! |
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? November was not a good reading month. I was having trouble getting into any audiobooks, despite having time on the bike or hikes to listen! However, there were a few that were four stars for me.
Book: A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Arden
Movie/Show: N/A
Podcast: nothing new...
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
I was riding the bike on a tiny Welsh road, down a hill and a patch of ice came along and I fell! It was such a slow speed fall (in my mind) and I wasn't really hurt. Also there are barely any cars so I was not in danger of getting hit. However, it was so hard to pick the bike up off the ice and gingerly make my way off the ice with the bike! Also, later I discovered quite a nasty bruise on my thigh, but I had not even felt it when I fell.
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Hugging my Mother! 💖(and my Dad of course, but there is something special about laying your head on your Mothers' bosom, isn't there?)
Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.
NOVEMBER:
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
DECEMBER:
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Bonus question! Can you name a band from Manchester?
I'm pretty sure The Smiths are from Manchester, also the Bee Gees. I'd have to look it up but it's early, so I'm not going to. My husband is a fan of...well now I can't remember if it's Man U or Man City. I think Man City. God what is with this comment. I'm just going to leave it here! I'm not sure falling on your bike counts as a funny story, Kyria! It sounds painful, not funny!
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? Tiny Secret Festive Season becomes Full On Festive Season
2. What did you learn last month? I'm sure I learned something, but no idea what.
3. What was the weather like where you are? Mild!
4. What event last month was your favorite? Putting up the tree with the guys!
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? The Love Haters
6. Tell us one funny recent story. I got to go into the back of a Canada Post office! See my blog for more details.
Haha! I don't think you should tell the people from Man U or Man City that you can't remember! They all are very proud of their specific teams! The Smiths ARE from Manchester, but sadly the BeeGees are from the Isle of Man! Close, but no cigar on that one! Your answer to number two is funny because it is funny in itself but I am fairly certain it is also your answer every time! :)
DeleteWelcome home!! I hope you have the best time soaking up time with your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You too; I hope you are well into the festive season!
DeleteWelcome home! Now let's play!
ReplyDelete1. FREEDOM!
2. I learned that the maple leaf on the Canadian flag is a composite image of the 10 maple species that are native to the area. And that retirement rocks!
3. Chilly! We got our first winter storm on Thanksgiving
4. Thanksgiving of course! It's my favorite holiday. Other highlights were my Ottawa/Toronto trip and hiking in Mohican SP
5. Books: 168 Hours and This American Woman/TV: season 2 of the Gilded Age/Movies: the many Alfred Hitchcock movies that I watched.
6. It's not that funny, but I see your bike fall and raise you a bruised tailbone from falling on ice while walking the dog.
7. So many things! I'm not a huge fan of Christmas, but I am a fan of getting together with family and we've got some exciting outings planned. I had a good trip to Virginia last week and I'm hoping to squeeze in another trip somewhere warm between now and Xmas.
Ug, bruised tailbone is not fun! However, isn't is strange how one moment you are upright and the next you are lying flat on your butt!? I have not read either of your good books, watched any of the Gilded Age, and I read all of your Hitchcock posts, but I have only seen Vertigo, The Birds and...the one where it is at Fort Point near the GG Bridge (is that Vertigo? Maybe it is). I need to up my game, I know. Somewhere warm sounds fun! Where will it be?
DeleteThat picture with Rachel and the twins is SO sweet. I just love that you made some pint-sized besties (my kids still talk about you regularly).
ReplyDeleteWhat an epic adventure and, also, it will be SO nice to be in a familiar environment for a while in the same room as your parents. I'm so happy for all you've experienced and also that you're getting this little "respite" from all the travel.
A respite will be nice and there will be so many games! I wish Indy and Belle could be with us, as I know they are also big game fans too! I have so many things I need to do while I am home, but the top of the list is Holiday movies and tons and tons of games!
Delete1. Last month's title: it's time for holiday decor! Hooray!
ReplyDelete2. I learned that GF cut-out sugar cookies are a terrible idea. The dough is not hearty enough. Many swear words were said under my breath as I tried to make fall-shaped cookies for the boys to decorate.
3. It was mostly mild but we had a few cold snaps at the end of the month.
4. Thanksgiving was my favorite! Everyone got along and there were no political discussions (which is why everyone got along).
5. We started to watch The Sopranos and are enjoying it. Dream State was my favorite read but I would not recommend it to you as it's quite character-driven.
6. Funny stories... I'm coming up blank. I did laugh a lot when I got together with 3 former Wells coworkers. It was the hardest and most I've laughed in a long time.
I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas with Phil's extended family. Christmas Eve is my fave part of the holiday. And then we go to my parents which I'm cautiously looking forward to. All 5 of us siblings will be together for the first time since Jan 2020. I just hope we keep politics off the table again. And I hope we stay sane because we will be cooped up indoors most likely, although the guys/kids can ice fish in my dad's large ice house. It's not my favorite time of year to be together because it is very loud and over stimulating for everyone to be in the same house. I usually like the snowy, cold vibes of Christmas in our part of the world, but just for this year I'd like a southern hemisphere Christmas so we can be outdoors and spread out a bit...
The Sopranos! I have never seen it but my parents watched it several (or 10?) years ago and loved it. I have had it on my list for a while, but I never have HBO (I think that is where it is?) so I haven't gotten around to it yet. I also heard Succession was good, but haven't seen it either.
DeleteYour Christmas sounds like it could be an adventure. I can't believe it has been so long since you have all been together, but I completely understand why, and I hope that everyone behaves so that you can all just enjoy the time spent together. Can you snowshoe or ski or something so that at least you can be out of the house for a couple of hours? Haha! It is definitely hard when you have nowhere to escape to!
NOVEMBER:
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
Family Matters
2. What did you learn last month?
Life can slow down and still be okay.
3. What was the weather like where you are?
Too cold and too snowy!
4. What event last month was your favorite?
Thanksgiving/Theo's 2nd Birthday Party combo
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
The Beatles Anthology doc
DECEMBER:
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Each day, Christmas with Theo and the family, quiet mornings with the Christmas tree lights, the finale of "Stranger Things"!
I have never seen Stranger Things! I am so glad that you are getting to spend some quality time with Theo! I am really looking forward to doing that with my family over the next couple of weeks. Also quiet mornings with the lights = bliss!
DeleteHi this is Daria from Mom of children
ReplyDeleteOasis is from Manchester! I love them :))
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
Theme- drowning and coming up for air, yet celebrating.
2. What did you learn last month? That I have an 8 year old sassy and smart daughter <3 Also, that I need to find a cleaner.
3. What was the weather like where you are? Fresh and fall-y
4. What event last month was your favorite? My fall break from school when the kids and I went to the NYC
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? The Names! and Kill Creek.
DECEMBER:
7. What are you looking forward to this month? R & R during the ten days of the Christmas break. I am so fatigued.
Oasis IS from Manchester! That is probably one of the more well known ones of our generation. Nice work! Re drowning, at least you came up for air and celebrated! I hope Dec is a little more calm for you!
DeleteArgh, The Names! I was having a rough reading month last month and that is one that I started but just could not get into. I am pretty sure it is me though, not the book, so I need to give it another try. Yay for Christmas break!
Well, I would say you know what the weather is like where I am, but it was only gloomy and cool the day you were here- of course the next day it was sunny, and today looks like it's going to be beautiful. But, after reading about your time in Wales I can see our rainy day didn't bother you.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I looking forward to in December- it's a joke in my family that I'm looking forward to Boxing Day. I took that day off work, all the Christmas prep will be DONE, and I'm just going to lie on the couch and read all day. The reason it's a joke- kind of- is that my family knows I love Christmas too much to wish this time away.
Hope you're enjoying your time with your parents!!!
I got your post from Jenny (runnersfly)
ReplyDeleteNOVEMBER:
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
Running before it gets too cold...
2. What did you learn last month?
I did have FOMO watching my friends run the NYC Marathon
3. What was the weather like where you are?
Up and down.... mostly cold and windy... but not as cold and snowy as Dec.
4. What event last month was your favorite?
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10k
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
read Broken Country
DECEMBER:
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Escaping the cold for a few days as I head to Florida.
NOVEMBER:
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? Spread thin
2. What did you learn last month? That NaBloPoMo might not be a good fit for me right now
3. What was the weather like where you are? started out delightfully mild, but then so much snow - weird as we've had several recent Decembers with very little snow, And it's also really cold. Ick
4. What event last month was your favorite? my folks' 60th anniversary party or one of the tailgates that I attended
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? I am reading Amy Poehler's memoir. It's funny and light . . . I got When Breath Becomes Air out of the library and read the preface, but I decided I didn't want to read a really sad book right now.
6. Tell us one funny recent story. A very funny thing happened to me yesterday - I am hoping to get a post drafted of it to share tomorrow. I'm gonna hold off till I post it.
DECEMBER:
7. What are you looking forward to this month? Having my college kids home and my older kids around /home more. I love it when everyone is home and we sit around the table talking and laughing or playing a game. Super fun.
Bonus question! Can you name a band from Manchester? If you know me, then you know I'm the least likely to know the answer to any music related questions.