2014 - A Snapshot

So another year has past, don't ask me where its gone! This time last year I enjoyed looking back and thinking about the past year - I've probably forgotten something major but here goes...

Achievements

Passing British Sign Language Level 1 and the first module of Level 2. Also met some lovely people in my new class and at deaf club!

 

After a somewhat traumatic 6 months in my new role on the Service Desk, I managed to change role to Systems Development Officer! Although I feel a little in over my head, I'm trying to learn the lingo and I've gone up another peg so that can't be bad!

 

 

I've finally started learning bass guitar...well teaching myself! Lessons next year would be good, but I've had some great jamming sessions with some guys from work which has got me to pick the bass up rather than sit looking at it, so that's a pretty good start!

 

 



Some Memorable Moments of 2014

Well this one has to come first - Jamie proposed (I'm not allowed to say 'Finally' ok so it slipped out) One happy lady and only 4 months to the big day and I'm very much looking forward to being Mrs Summerton!

 

A list of engagements to celebrate this year!!! Anyone would think we've all turned 30 and had a mid life crisis?! Congratulations everyone :) looking forward to all the weddings!

 

Laura and Mark

Jen & Andy

Michelle & Pat

Lucy & Michael

 

10 awesome book clubs and even more books in-between! Plus a few cinema excursions ;)

 

 

Lots of Theatre...

 

The Johnny Cash Show - a great way to spend Grandad's anniversary

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Mitre Players

Swan Lake Ballet in Wimbledon

The Carpenters Story in Wimbledon

The Book of Mormon with Letty - funniest show I've ever seen laughed til we cried!

Les Miserables - for our 12 year anniversary

Jersey Boys - with Rob and Jen 'Cherry baaaaaaaaby'

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time - BSL signed show with my class mates

 

Seeing the World

Jamie's 30th we had a Camper adventure in Devon, in every type of weather possible and it was so much fun, we didn't want to give the VW back!!

 

My birthday surprise trip to Prague, what an incredibly beautiful city and what was the chances of there being a Tim Burton exhibition!! Double excitement!

 

 

 

One to tick off my bucket list we flew in a Hot Air Balloon and it was possibly one of the best things I have ever experienced! The best way to see how amazing the British countryside.  If its not on your bucket list it should be!!

 

 

We explored the tiny but beautiful island of Cape Verde off the West Coast of Africa.  Possibly the most relaxing holiday I have ever had, which was just what we both needed.

Events - lots of big birthdays!

Jen's 30th in Balham's 3 monkeys

Chris Paps 30th house party

Letty's 30th Birthday girly weekender in Swindon for a bit of pampering, fun and games!

Charlottes 30th came next with a night out in London

 

Lucy's (not 30 yet) crazy 80's night at Strawberry Moons!

 

Jenny's 30th TGI balloon hat extravaganza - I know there's a photo somewhere...

 

My big 30, dinner with family and a house party!

 

Daniela's surprise 30th at the Jolly Farmers, with some Portuguese dancing

 

Lee and Lizzies fantastic safari wedding at Port Lymph

 

 

Janine & Terry had their beautiful baby Caeden on 28th November weighing 6lb 15oz

I'm not sure I can share the pics yet so you can only see his beautiful toes until Janine shows him to the world :)

 

 

What a year, it went fast but lots of good memories.  Next year is going to be a very exciting year (and exhausting I think...) I cannot wait, roll on Christmas, roll on New Year, roll on the weddings!

 

 

Book Club - 13/12/14

So after trying to remember what we'd read this year I thought id do a back catalogue to remind everyone of all the awesome (and not so awesome...) literature that we've read over the last 3 years :) thanks to everyone who keeps coming, I'm so glad I started it!! 

Our first ever book club was on the 5th April 2012!

Travels with Charley (John Steinbeck)
The Catcher in the Rye (JD Salinger)
The Witch of Portabello (Paulo Coelho)
Suite Francaise (Irene Nemirovsky)
The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)
Before I Go to Sleep (SJ Watson)
The Colour of Milk (Nell Leyshon)
The Slap (Christos Tsiolkas)

2013

The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway)
The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
White Teeth (Zadie Smith)
Tess of the D'urbervilles (Thomas Hardy)
Me Before You (Jojo Moyes)
The Plague (Albert Camus)
Everything's Cool (Justin Carroll)
11.22.63 (Stephen King)
The Woman in Black (Susan Hill)
Tiny Sunbirds Fly Away (Christie Watson)

2014

The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald)
Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
My Life in France (Julia Child)
Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn)
The Hundred Year Old Man who climbed out of the window and disappeared (Jones Jonasson)
Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge (Lindy Woodhead)
Childhood's End (Arthur C Clarke)
Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore (Robin Sloan)
The Shining (Stephen  King)

Last Saturday we had our Christmas book club at Zizzi which was really enjoyable, particularly the secret Santa book pass the parcel and playing heads up in the pub after!  We didn't really talk much about the book as the festivities took over but our book for last month was 'The Shining' by Stephen King. 

Rachael suggested this one ages ago but for some reason it never got put on the list so I added it last month.  I am so glad we did! I am a complete wimp when it comes to horror films (although I have seen the Shining many years ago) as a general rule I don't watch horror films (unless made to...behind a cushion, with my fingers in my ears) but for some reason I was really excited about reading this and with good reason.  I thought it was really gripping, I got hooked really early on even though the scary action didn't happen until later on in the story I could feel the build up, and I like the scene setting about the family and how they had come to be at that hotel and each of their mind-sets.

Amusingly I meant to tell my little story at book club and forgot but when I was reading a particularly suspenseful part of the book I was sitting on the bus on the way home from work, the bus was packed and noisy but I was completely engrossed unaware of my surroundings, until a child grabbed hold of my book with such force and literally would not let go.  It frightened the bloody crap out of me! The mother was telling him to let go and he just stared at me and held onto the book for ages until he finally let go...somewhat creepy!!

There were some majorly spooky scenes in the book, the hedge animals sent shivers down my spine and obviously the infamous woman in the bath was none to pleasant.  The zombie ballroom, the party paraphernalia in the lift that goes up and down on its own and the man in the dog fancy dress was a bit disturbing!!  I had pretty much forgotten the film so I couldn't remember what happened and so there was plenty of suspense for me.  I have read a few Stephen King's now but I've not read many of his horrors they have usually been sci-fi or fantasy based, but I just love the way he describes everything so vividly that you can actually see it.  I think my favourite character was Halloran, I liked the connection he had with the boy and that he was an unlikely hero.  I also liked the fact that I felt a range of emotions for Jack the father, going through a cycle of feeling sad for him, anger towards him, sympathy at points and then finally the fear of him. 

We didn't give the book a rating this time but I'll give it an 8 out of 10! I think everyone enjoyed it, and those that didn't quite finish plan to carry on reading so I'd definitely recommend this to anyone even those who don't like horror films, but a word of advice don't read a chapter before you go to sleep ;)

The next book is called 'The Shock of The Fall' by Nathan Filer, this is a book I picked up one day and thought it looked interesting so I hope its a good one!

'I'll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother.  His name is Simon.  I think you are going to like him.  I really do.  But in a couple of pages he will be dead.  And he was never the same after that.'


Apologies in advance we may need tissues when reading this but the reviews say it is dark, touching, sweet and funny, so hopefully a bit of everything ;) So its cold outside, get curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea, Christmas lights on, enjoy! Have a fantastic Christmas to those I won't see until next month and have a happy new year, love you guys! x x x

Next Book Club:
Date: Wednesday 21st January 2015 
Location: Matthews Yard of course!
Time: 7.30pm