Mrs Doubtfire The Musical

Hello Loves!

Half term is a joy! I’ve had a really busy but great week. I’ve spent most of it in London which has been wonderful, mooching about and feeling the pulse of the city. I was also lucky enough to get some really good seats to see Mrs Doubtfire too. I feel like I’ve been waiting really patiently because I just missed out when it was in Manchester for a really short run. As soon as it was announced that it was coming to London, I had to see it.

Making its home at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Mrs Doubtfire opened on May 12th and are taking ticket sales until January 2024. I’m so glad it’s getting a lengthy run – it really does deserve it. I’ve got to say, I think this is the best show I’ve seen this year so far. It’ll be really hard to beat!

The Plot

It’s hard to think of Mrs Doubtfire without thinking of the 90s classic film with Robin Williams. The plot for this show hasn’t changed. Out of work actor Daniel Hillard will do anything for his kids. However, the relationship with his wife has turned sour and following their middle child, Chris’s birthday, decide to divorce. Daniel is devastated and ends up losing custody of them.

He learns that Miranda wants to hire and Nanny to help with the children and some light housework. Daniel sees this as an opportunity to see his children more and thus, Euphegenia Doubtfire, the Scottish nanny, is born and all of their lives are changed forever.

The Cast

This cast really is something special. First and foremost, Gabriel Vick really is something else. It’s like he was born to be Mrs Doubtfire. I don’t have the words for just how talented he is. Naturally, he received a standing ovation for his performance.

Laura Tebbutt plays Miranda perfectly and her solos were really out of this world. I also thought she was perfect for this, just like Vick for Daniel, you could see they are the perfect onstage pairing.

I also loved Cameron Blakely and Marcus Collins as Frank Hillard and his husband Andre, respectively. The comedy these two provided really was brilliant as well as the importance of a gay couple trying to adopt. I thought that added touch was really inspired for the times we live in now.

I’m always really excited by the child performers. After all, they are the next generation. Carla Dixon-Hernandez plays Lydia perfectly. I’ve seen her in Matilda and her vocals just shine. The younger children, Chris and Natalie have a range of actors but for the show I saw their roles were played by Elliot Mugume and Scarlett Davies. Both of these are making their debut.

Finally, the ensemble were genius too. They had multiple costume changes and different genres to deal with and they really were an added bonus to the show. This cast is probably one of the strongest I’ve seen ever. A huge shout out goes to Lisa Mathieson too. Gosh, that girl can sing!

You can find out information on all the cast here.

Staging, Singing and Dancing

This show provides its audiences with another great soundtrack. Make Me A Woman was a standout for me and I also loved the cooking show too, Easy Peasy. I think the addition of the YouTube video was really clever and again, perfect for our current times. He Lied To Me from the flamenco dancer (Lisa Methieson) was fabulous as well but my favourite song has to be As Long As Their Is Love. Everyone left feeling that one for sure.

Staging wise, there’s quite a lot of changes so it’s a complicated set. You’ve got Daniel’s flat, the family home, the salon, the court, just to name a few. A lot of work has gone into this for sure. No photos of that sadly as the screen was down for the interval and ending.

Overall

I’ve seen a number of shows this year, Mrs Doubtfire being number 9 and this has to be my favourite so far. I loved the film growing up and despite the sadness within the story, it teaches us all the importance of family, whatever that looks like. I really want to see this again and just fall in love with it all over again. I’ve mentioned some hints throughout but I’ve loved the modern additions: the iPads, the YouTube tutorials meaning that you can love the original and love this just as much. Vick makes Mrs Doubtfire his own; he was born to do this part.

I’ve also seen The Great British Bake off and Six too so I’ll be sharing those soon! Enjoy the rest of the week loves!

Big Love xx

Reading Round-Up: May

Hello Loves!

Oh how I love half term! I’ve had a really super time in London so I’m playing catch up again but I know I won’t finish my book today so I thought I’d check in with you all and post my round-up!

I really do like the month of May because the sun tends to be shining and the daylight hours are continuously extended, little by little. Reading wise, it’s been a joy as well. I’ve managed to read 12 books this month which I’m pleased about. You’ll notice a particular type of book this month too. Let’s check out the shelves!

I did warn you that there’s a particular type of book this month but there’s been some great ones here actually. Here’s my top three!

1. Humble Pie – Gordon Ramsey. I am a huge Gordon Ramsey fan so when I stumbled across this in a second hand book shop, I just had to get it. I loved this book because it was just so refreshingly honest. He’s got a clear persona for TV but loyalty to his staff shines through. A really great non-fiction read!
2. A Secret Garden Affair – Erica James. I really do like the writing style of Erica James and I also think she’s the queen of character creating. I found this story completely compelling and I couldn’t put it down. Beautiful cover too!
3. The Miseducation of Evie Epworth – Matson Taylor. You may remember another Matson Taylor book and that’s because it appears that I’ve read these the wrong way round! It didn’t do any harm though and I loved this just as much as All About Evie.

This month appears to have been good but my brain hasn’t really got to grips with lengthier or complicated plots. In fact, some of these are rather simple picture books. Paris is a beautiful book and I love the affirmations from. She Believed She Could and All on the Board. Sometimes you just need the simpler things. Reading is reading. It’s about the pleasure of it.

Like I said in my previous post, I’ve seen a number of shows that I want to catch up with you all about and of course, my trip to London. It’s been a blast. Here’s to the next half of the week!

Big love all xxxx

Blog Birthday – 8 Years!

Good Morning Lovelies! ☀️

The title of my post kind of gives it away but this week my little blog turned 8! I can’t believe it. 🥳

When I think about those eight years and the kind of person I was when I started blogging, I’m really proud I stuck at it. That’s because of you really, those dedicated people who read my posts and those who have the kindest hearts to leave a comment for me. I always say how this is a community but after 8 years it feels like a little online family really. But most importantly, my blog is for me. Whatever I post about is because I want to! There’s still a distinct lack of cake mentioned but it features heavily in my life – haha! Honestly though, those of you who have been with me since day one to my latest new friends here, thank you.

I’m finally on half term which is a massive relief! Year 11 have done their Literature exams so there’s just Language left to go. I always think I’m more worried than they are but I had the sweetest moment this week. One of my students said: “Miss, we’re not worried because we’ve had you teach us.” Thinking about that makes me really emotional because that’s my sole aim: give them what they need to be successful. I hope my fellow educators have had many thank you’s. It’s an exhausting and often thankless job but we’ve got each other. ♥️

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It’s meant to be really sunny in the UK so enjoy that everyone! I’ve got a few posts lined up so I hope you enjoy them!

Again, thank you for the support and for being there. What a wonderful bunch of people you are.

Big love! Xxx

Reading Challenge 2023: The Tao of Pooh – Benjamin Hoff

Hello Loves!

How are you all doing? After a restful weekend, I can’t wait to share with you the topic and the book I chose for my reading challenge this month. It was such a difficult thing, I had to go and peruse the bookshelves in town to find some inspiration, The topic I chose was Read a new genre. Now, I really am a creature of habit so this really did push me out of my comfort zone. I knew that if I went too far away, I’d never finish whatever it was I’d end up choosing. Thankfully, I stumbled across a section I’d not quite considered before: philosophy. Thus, I chose The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. I am the first to admit I know very little about philosophy or spirituality really. However, the character I can remember (until Harry Potter fever kicked in) most from my earliest childhood days is Winnie the Pooh. Oh my, I loved that bear so. This would going to be my bridge to a new genre. I actually ended up really enjoying it. I hope you do too.

What’s it all about?

In this lovely little book, Benjamin Hoff uses excerpts from both Winnie the Pooh and ancient Taoist writings. One of the first concepts that Pooh Bear embodies so well is that scholarly thinking and learning can get in the way of inner peace. He exemplifies this by talking about where Winnie the Pooh was struggling to spell Tuesday.

“…you can’t help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn’t spell it right; but spelling isn’t everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn’t count.”

In other words there is more to wisdom than being correct and Winnie the Pooh exemplifies this in the cutest possible way.

The next Taoist principle is that everything has its place and its function, the idea that square pegs are in square holes and round pegs are in round holes. Pooh Bear never attempts to be someone or something he is not but he is always content and happy with his lot in life. So many of us strive and fight to fit in or to conform. Therefore, it is refreshing to think that maybe it is ok to be who we are.

“We don’t need to imitate Nearsighted Science which peers at the world through an electron microscope. We don’t need to play Abstract Philosopher, asking unnecessary questions. What we need to do is recognise Inner Nature and work with things as they are.”

It becomes clear as you read through this book that Taoism, or The Way, is in fact the Pooh way. In Chinese it is known as Wu Wei, which literally means, ‘without doing, causing or making’. It’s like the idea of water flowing over and around the rocks in its path, not trying to grind its way through the obstacles, or carve a straight line. A famous Taoist writer, Chuang-tse tells a story of a mighty waterfall and an old man caught up in the maelstrom at the bottom of the fall. The old man is thrown about by the water and appears to be drowning but when his rescuers get there, he is climbing out onto the bank. When he is asked what secret power he has he says, “I go down with the water and come up with the water. I survive because I don’t struggle.” In the same way Pooh also does not struggle. In fact, in his own words, he doesn’t do much of anything. But things do still get done, such as the birthday pot for Eeyore, originally full of honey. This simple way of life is actually quite charming and one we can all strive for, or should that be relax into.

“If we are smart, we will choose the way of Pooh. As if from far away, it calls to us with the voice of a child’s mind. It may be hard to hear at times, but it is important just the same, because without it, we will never find our way through the forest.”

Final Thoughts

Like I said at the start, I really enjoyed this little book. It was insightful, charming and completely new for me. The concept of Taoism is complicated but this broke it down to manageable understandings which have been on my mind since. Whilst I might not embody the mindset of going with the flow or keeping calm, I will endeavour to try and be more Pooh – literally! After all, he is the epitome of Tao philosophy, unlike our other friends from the AA Milne classic.

I’ll see you next time loves for more reviews of books and places. I’ve got a couple of shows to share with you too!

See you all next time lovelies!

Big Love xxxx

Londonist Mapped – AA Publishing

Hello Lovelies!

I hope you’re all having a really super weekend. The weather here is gorgeous! It’s definitely giving me summer vibes. I’ve been doing a little indoor gardening and making the most of the weather despite being a little poorly. Hmm.

Anyway, I’m super excited to share with you a really quirky book I found when I was in London last weekend! It’s been created by Londonist which is a website showing you all the different things that are on in London and featured events they’re promoting; an online tourist information, if you will. Working with a number of illustrators, the book Londonist Mapped includes a number of hand drawn maps for the ‘Urban Explorer’. This book is an absolute treat!

What’s it all about?

What fascinates me most about this book is the wide range of topics it spans. I also love the origins of the book.

“It’s Monday morning in the Londonist office. Someone sips their first coffee of the week. Then they frown. Scratch their head. Open their mouth. Look around the room. Close their mouth. Pause, as if concerned they might be about to say something stupid. They then say it anyway…”

The collection of maps all stem from curious minds. It ranges from, Secrets of Buckingham Palace, to A brief guide to London’s docks’ and London’s longest roads just to name a few. Spanning the history, length and depth of London, this book is the perfect addition to any book collection.

For me, it’s the 37 illustrators that have taken part in this project as well. I always have a massive respect for anyone who can draw because I am rubbish at it. The appreciation from myself is real. I’ve included my three favourites below.

My first choice is lost London Victorian buildings. I’ve got a huge interest in the Victorian period, specialising in this when I was at university. Without them, we wouldn’t have the London Underground. I always think of those pioneers whenever I’m mooching around London.

Following on from my summery vibes, I picked a map showing hidden gardens in the city. I’m so tempted to try and find these when I’m next there over the Whitsun holiday. I also really love the illustrations and the font of this map too.

My final choice is the most impressive map I think. I’d have this across a whole wall in my house I think. It’s just that good. I’m in awe of it actually. This map features all the unsung museums of London. I hadn’t quite appreciated how many there are! Just look how beautiful that is!

Final Thoughts

I think for me this book is perfect for finding out about hidden gems within London, the secrets that are there just waiting to be found. I absolutely love it! The illustrators are truly talented and I’m really impressed with the variety of different styles. Each map is unique and you can tell so much work has gone into it. It’s one of my most treasured finds in London.

Until next time!

Big Love xxxx

Reading Round-Up: April

Hello Loves!

The sun is shining! However, for those in education it’s exam season! SATS and GCSE exams have started so it means it’s the time of peak pressure really. I love exam season for so many reasons. I love being able to have those reassuring conversations so students know I’m right there with them. Mine are telling me I’m more worried than they are! To all my fellow educators, we’ve got this. 💜

Anyway, it’s time for me to catch up with my reading round-up. April was the Easter holiday so it meant I got a lot of reading done which was excellent. I’m so thrilled! There’s been some excellent books as well that I cannot wait to share with you all. It felt like I was on fire as I managed to read 17 books. Let’s check out the shelves!

Oh my days picking three out of these is really difficult but there are some that stand out and some that I’ve already reviewed. This month really has been stellar! I’ve loved it. Here goes…

1. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers – Jesse Sutanto. How can you not love Vera Wong?! What a protagonist! She’s easily one of my favourites. As a dead body ends up in her world famous (questionable) tea shop, she feels like she’s got to solve the mystery. A cracking read. One of my favourites this year so far!
2. Surviving to Driver – Guenther Steiner. A lesser known fact of mine is that I’m a F1 follower. I always have been from being a child as it’s something we would watch as a family. Guenther Steiner is a massive hit following the Netflix series about F1 and to be honest, I think he is hilarious. This book is so good, it felt like his voice was inside my head. A really super piece of non-fiction if you’re interested in racing driving at all. Warning: he does swear a lot.
3. The Mother – T.M. Logan. One of my favourite writers with another excellent thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end. BUT I also want to include The London Seance Society – Sarah Penner because I love her writing too. Her new book is just as exceptional as The Lost Apothecary which was one of my favourites from last year.

So there we have it! A bit cheeky putting another little number in there so I’ve got four but I really couldn’t not. There wasn’t a way to pick between them. I’m trying to champion non-fiction a bit more as well as my other favourite reads. I feel much better that I’m all caught up too! Finally!

I’ve got a couple of shows I want to tell you all about and some really interesting books I’ve been reading but I’ll save that for next time.

Big love all xxxx

Reading Challenge 2023: England Poems from a School – Kate Clanchy

Hello Loves!

It’s May! For those in secondary education it’s the time where exams loom and it’s the final push to get our students over the line. I’m definitely feeling the countdown in the background! I really hope for all of you it goes well. It’s also a month of seeing a lot of shows which I’m super excited about.

Anyway, I’m slowly but surely playing catch up with the posts I’m behind on! I just lost my way a bit and time ran away with me. I know we’ve all been there and the support from you all has been lovely. I’m blessed.

Today I want to share with you my book choice for my reading challenge. April is a strange period of time: rain, sunshine, hail, frost. It has it all! The theme from my reading challenge that I chose was: Read a collection of poetry. I have to say, I absolutely loved this and found a theme close to my heart: education. I picked England: Poems from a School edited by Kate Clanchy.

What’s it all about?

Rather than spoiling this collection and revealing details of all of the poems, I’m going to share with you my favourite three. These three stood out to me for a variety of reasons: the content, the emotions and the age of the writers. I said before that I was completely blown away by this and I really hope you can see why.

The first poem I’ve chosen is The Doves of Damascus by 14 year old, Abou Kerech. This poem made me feel really emotional and grateful at the same time. It speaks of missing home, of missing what you’ve ever known despite being in safety now. Simple things we take for granted, like snow, flowers and grapes all feature here. It made me reflect on the fact that the longer you spend somewhere, the more you rely on memories of home. Memories are literally all some of these children have of their old lives.

“I lost my country and everything I had before.

and now

I cannot remember for sure…”

My second choice is by 12 year old Mohamad Assaf called Where Are My Unnumbered Days? The only way to describe this poem is to say it’s a poem all about longing for home and losing what it used to be. Displacement is a feeling that I’d never want to wish on anyone. However, for a 12 year old, I found that this poem really tugged at my heart strings. Imagine feeling like you’re just a number, a statistic. I can’t begin to comprehend it.

“I lived in a house with a name:

And now, I am just a number.”

Finally, I chose a poem by 17 year old Rukiya Khartun entitled Silence Itself. This one called out to me because it just felt like the embodiment of loneliness. The wonder, beauty and yet sometimes pain of silence means that silences are hard to read. Is it isolation? What does silence give to us? Here, the silence is a friend, an opportunity for reflection and acceptance. For a 17 year old to write like this, it’s powerful.

“I know I always felt like a ghost:

observing the world and myself…”

Final Thoughts

Working in education provides me with such highs and real lows. There’s rarely a day where there’s anything in between. However, it’s really easy to forget that there are places in the world where children do not get the same opportunities as everyone else. There are also children who are displaced, leaving what they know and love for safety. The children in this anthology are real hero’s in my eyes. The collection oozes talent and personality. I’d be really proud to have these students in my class. I’m also really pleased I branched out into poetry too. It’s something I don’t spend a lot of time reading but with children writing like this, the future of poetry is looking really bright.

See you all next time lovelies!

Big Love xxxx

Reading Challenge 2023: Strange Weather in Tokyo – Hiromi Kawakami

Hello Everyone!

Whether you’re a royal supporter or not, I really hope you’re enjoying the celebrations and time we can spend together this weekend. For me personally, it’s been lovely to see! It’s also given me some much needed time to catch up on my many late blog posts. Hopefully over the next few days I’ll be all caught up! I’ve also managed to sneak in a trip to Waterstones after a difficult day at work.

Anyway, today I wanted to share with you my choice of theme and book for my reading challenge. I’m so behind that this was the choice for March! Don’t worry, I’ve got April’s choice all reviewed and ready to go too! For March, the theme I chose was: Read a book that’s been translated. I really love reading translated books because I feel like it opens doors to new worlds really. It always makes me wish that I could read books in other languages too! The book I chose was Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami. I found this book by pure chance so I had no idea what I would find within its pages!

What’s it all about?

This really is a strange little story. It’s got two time frames running through it: past and present. The narration is from the main protagonist Tsukiko. For most of her life she’s been happy with her solitary existence. She had an office job and when she wasn’t working she spent her time reading her books, talking to herself and bathing.

One day, she bumps into her former teacher at a bar. She cannot remember his name so calls him Sensei. She does remember eventually but decides that she will continue to call him the name she’s decided upon. Over time the two fall into a comfortable rhythm together. The pair spend most evenings eating and drinking at their local bar, Satoru’s. Despite the age different, the two feel at ease with each other. Tsukiko feels more comfortable with him than she does with anyone her own age. However, one evening the two get into a heated argument about baseball. It is at this point that Tsukiko realises the importance of their friendship. Before him, she lived a life of solitude, trying to convince herself that she liked it.

“Forcing myself to make conversation felt like standing on a cliff, peering over the edge, about to tumble down headfirst.”

After clearing the air, Tsukiko and Sensei is invited on a mushroom hunting excursion with Satoru and his cousin. It is here that she learns the beauty of the world; that maybe she isn’t as alone as she had originally thought. She felt regret for tagging along really but this lesson was worth it. Not long after, Sensei invites her to a cherry blossom party, hosted by her former art teacher. She was reluctant but she found a former friend, Takashi Kojima, and spent a lot of the evening with him. Yet this conflicted her. She couldn’t stop watching Sensei conversing with the other teachers and students. Ultimately, she decides to leave with him, spending the rest of the evening drinking and eating together. Feeling a little disengaged, she was surprised when Kojima kissed her. They continue to see each other over the next few weeks.

Another evening that Tsukiko and Sensei spend together ends with a surprising declaration: love. Tsukiko shocks herself by saying it and Sensei doesn’t respond. Yet the elements do by there being a thunderstorm in the background. He holds her through the whole thing.

“If the love is true, then treat it the same way you would plant – feed it, protect it from the elements – you must do absolutely everything you can. But if it isn’t true, then it’s best to just let it wither on the vine.”

Despite the possible tension, the two take another trip to a nearby island. She had no idea what to expect from him or this trip so was a little uneasy. She soon discovers that he’s visiting his late wife’s grave. This does upset her as she believes that he will never love her. But, as is their normal pattern, they make amends. Following his apology, the two decide to officially start dating.

They only get one year together as Sensei passes away. She missed him greatly and thinks of him often. She opens and closes his suitcase, the only thing of his she has, when she misses him.

“Those nights, I open Sensei’s briefcase and peer inside. The blank empty space unfolds, containing nothing within. It holds nothing more than an expanse of desolate absence.”

Final Thoughts

It’s been a tricky little book to review because of juggling the timeframes. However, a linear approach makes understanding the short story easier. I’d said before that there is such an art to a translated story. How do you manage to not lose the narrative magic? I did enjoy reading this book, despite finding it tricky to follow at times. At it’s core is two lonely people finding company and joy in each other. It’s a rather simple premise really and something that we all want in our own lives! An enjoyable little read, especially if you like translated work.

Sending you joy and peace for the long weekend ahead. And possibly an umbrella!

Big Love all xxxx

Annie – The Musical

Hello Loves!

What a week! I don’t even know where to begin. There’s a lot of conversation at the moment about different roles and it’s become quite exhausting. Thankfully, I’ve found solace in reading and booking more trips. I’ve also drank a lot of fruit tea as well! I do find it very calming. I need bucket loads!

Anyway, I’ve been super excited about seeing Annie since the tour was announced. The role of Miss Hannigan is so prolific and I was thrilled to see the original line up for this role of Craig Revel Horwood and Paul O’Grady. I managed to bag myself some tickets to see the show in Birmingham at the Alexandra Theatre. It was incredible!

The Plot

This show transforms the audience to 1930s America where The Great Depression has taken hold. Young orphan Annie is forced with the other children at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage to live a life of misery. Miss Hannigan clearly hates children and uses them to do all the jobs she doesn’t want to do.

However, Annie’s luck is about to change when she is picked out of all the children from the orphanage to spend Christmas with the famous Billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. However, Miss Hannigan has other ideas… she will do whatever it takes to spoil Annie’s search for her mother and father.

The Cast

Craig Revel Horwood is honestly sublime. He plays Miss Hannigan beautifully; from the way she moves and behaves. I love seeing Horwood perform, it’s a real treat.

Alex Bourne plays Warbucks and he was really excellent too. Amelia Adams has one special voice, she sounded like an angel I swear. The children were all really great too. Each had their own personality shine. Suki Hillier playing Molly was just wonderful. I’m always in awe of children performing on such big stages because they’re so young and small!

Of course, along with Craig Revel Horwood, the other stand out performance was Zoe Akinyosade who played Annie. She was utterly charming and such a talented little girl. What blew me away was that she is 9 years old and completely owned that stage. The future of musical theatre is bright with fresh, young talent like the child cast of this show, coming through. I also think they did a really amazing job working with a real dog (role shared by Darcy, Boris and Lily.

You can find out information on all the cast here.

Staging, Singing and Dancing

Annie is so popular and the soundtrack is one that everyone knows. It features the classics like: It’s A Hard Knock Life, You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile and Little Girls.

The staging is also really clever. For a touring stage too, there’s a lot of props and materials that need moving. I loved the details to the bedroom of the orphans – including the teddy bear on the light!

Overall

I loved it. Each and every second was just joy. I’d definitely see this again and again. There was also a lovely tribute to Paul O’Grady at the end of the show too which brought a rapturous applause again. I can only imagine what he would have been like in that role. The audiences in Edinburgh were so lucky to see him.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Paul O’Grady.

Big Love xx

Blog Tour: Thunderstone – Nancy Campbell

Hello Loves!

I hope your Monday has treated you kindly. I’m super excited to share with you today my stop on a blog tour for the amazing Thunderstone by Nancy Campbell. A huge thank you to @NancyCampbell, @eandtbooks and Claire Maxwell for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it. You can check out their instagram accounts too here, here and here. I love being a part of this community because it’s where I find out all my next reads. Hopefully, this amazing book will become one of yours! I really hope you enjoy it.

What’s it all about?

The novel opens following the devastation that was lockdown. Facing an ending relationship, it is time for Nancy Campbell to do something for herself for a change, to stand on her own two feet. She decides it is time to own a property of her own. She does this of sorts: she buys herself a caravan and decides to live on a woodland by a canal and a railway. The next chapter and the new journey begins from here.

‘On closer investigation many of the vintage caravans are not just basic, they are burned-out, mouldering wrecks described as ‘good restoration projects’. Those that have been refurbished are blighted by bunting and floral curtains. I set my heart on a tiny but van, round as a button…’

What comes next is almost poetry. There’s description of the surroundings during the summer months, how the plants and animals change, followed by quotations and references to literature and also snippets of the people around her. All these elements are intertwined together to create this book. June brings the morning birdsong and the teething problems with the van. There’s frustrations as well as learning curves. What shines is the kindness of those around and the beauty of the natural world in which we live. It’s touching to see references back to Anna, from the relationship at the beginning too,

“You have to let go. Anna has to get on with her life. You have to get on with yours. Now, what needs sorting?”

June bleeds into July, into August and September. Life is very different but it’s no less simple for Campbell. Anna’s father passes away and Nancy herself has health issues of her own. She repeatedly needs to leave the comfort and solace of her van for various medical appointments. Despite the beauty of her surroundings, there is a sense of urgency, to move quickly to find out what is wrong with her health.

‘On the screen she points out a spherical mass, which dwarfs the shadowy organs surrounding it. “It’s often the way,” she says. “A patient comes in with one concern – and we find something entirely different.”

To find out the full extent of Campbell’s journey, you’ll have to get yourself a copy of this book. As a side note, the cover really is beautiful so you’ll have no issue finding this in your local bookshop! Do check out the other stops on this blog tour too!

Final Thoughts

It’s quite difficult to review this book because there’s just so much beauty to it. It’s for a certain type of reader though, not necessarily me, but I have appreciated it. Like I said before, it’s almost lyrical. There’s pain as well as beauty and in that respect, it feels raw and honest. Personally, it’s honest non-fiction that is the unsung hero of the literature world currently. Finding something you can relate to or think about is what literature is for. I feel truly grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of this tour and for this book becoming back of my own reading experience.

See you next time!

Big Love xxx