Gliding!

Last week I went gliding!

 It honestly felt surreal.

To be flying through the air on nothing but wind power honestly felt strange!

 I honestly thought it would be quite bumpy, however I had a very excellent pilot in the seat behind me who did all the manoeuvring onto air currents to keep us in the air.

The warmer the air the longer we had up there.

I was first in the glider so didn't know what to expect!

I was strapped into a parachute and moments later we took off.

And when you go up it's at speed.

It's almost vertical the way you take off.

We were attached to a winch which makes a loud bang as you are released from it.

And then you are coming back down gently and  slowly.

Honestly to see London like that was amazing.

It was a Kent air field. Kenley.

I was there with a charity called Sportability. Sportability ( www.sportability.org.uk ) is such a good charity.

Their credo is:  To take the ‘dis’ out of disability; focus on ability; inspiring the thought, “If I can do this, what else can I achieve?” 

It was my first time at an event of theirs and I hope to be doing many more in the future. 

Not to mention all the fantastic people I met! 

Steph

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How You See...

'What's a weed to one person might be a beautiful flower to another.' (The Trouble With Goats And Sheep, Joanna Cannon.)

I love the way writers use plants to signify the troubles in society.

As 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet' by William Shakespeare also symbolises.

It's about how we look at something, as later demonstrated in the speech by the character of Eric Lamb in The Trouble With Goats And Sheep by Joanna Cannon.

How you see something can be completely different to how someone else sees it.

How do you know the shade of the sky through someone else's eyes?

You don't.

You're just trusting that they see what you do because that's the way it is.

It's never certain.

And thankfully, we are all different.

Someone may come and see something through a whole new way that someone else has never considered before.

So while it may seem like the most practical thing in the world never be afraid to suggest something if you see someone going through a hardship.

We often overlook the most obvious things because we are looking for meaning, to save time or both.

Steph

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Aquariums

'Lights fizz and tick, and aquariums of people look out into the night.'

This is a quote from 'The Trouble With Goats And Sheep' by Joanna Cannon.

I think it's a lovely expression. Everything that happens to someone has to go through their perspective.

Aquariums of lives.

Everybody has things going on so can only view things from their aquarium. Or their perspective.

I love finding analogies that you can imagine and see.

People don't view everything in the same way. It's through their aquarium.

Everyonesd has issues going on under the surface or worries that paint their world a particular shade.

That makes you human.

Steph

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'The Girl Of Ink And Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

 Kiran Millwood Hargrave

'Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella dreams of the faraway lands her cartographer father once mapped. When her friend disappears, she volunteers to guide the search. The world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland - and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.'

I read this book on the recommendation of Carrie Hope Fletcher. I loved it! It made me feel like anything was possible. Books that do that are rare and far between. It really kept me reading, racing away the pages. After chapter 1, I thought this is exciting this is going to be a murder mystery! Then it transformed into an adventure book. It was a really fun and quick read. Well worth it.

Let me know if any of you pick it up and share your reviews below. I  love reading and finding a book I can really get into so if you have any recommendations I would love to hear them.

Steph

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P.s. you wouldn't have to write about it if you don't want to. Just a title and an author. But if you could give a little background that'd be immensely helpful! Thank you for reading!

The Widow by Fiona Barton - Book Review

Wow!

'We've all seen him: the man - the monster - staring from the front page of every newspaper, accused of a terrible crime. 

But what about her: the woman who grips his arm on the courtroom stairs - the wife who stands by him? 

Jean Taylor's life was blissfully ordinary. Nice house, nice husband. Glen was all she'd ever wanted: her Prince Charming. But then he became that monster on the front page, a man everyone thought capable of unimaginable evil.

Now Glen is dead and she's alone for the first time, free to tell her story on her own terms. Jean Taylor is going to tell us what she knows.'

It is an intriguing story.It really keeps going to the very last page. You get plunged into the widow's life. You don't know where you are and you're alone. The truth is tripping off your tongue, bit by bit you start to piece it together. You're just immersed in this world where little makes sense, until the end of the story.

All that is needed is a name.

Steph

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