Summer Reads...

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - 4 stars ****

This was another easy little read, which I was surprised at as I thought it would be a huge book, like most of the other 'classics'! Whilst doing research I actually saw that it is categorised as a 'novella' (short novel) which makes more sense.

Of Mice and Men is about two farm workers called George and Lennie - Lennie is large and strong but of limited intelligence, whereas George is clever and a hard worker, a protector of Lennie and loyal to him. The pair dream of owning a ranch with animals on and making a living, a vision which Lennie frequently asks George to describe to him. They are on the move from their last place of work after Lennie was accused of raping a girl there, as he likes touching soft materials so grabbed her dress and alarmed her.

Whilst they are working there they meet various other people, Curley, the heir to the farm who has an inferiority complex and likes to get into fights with people, Candy, an old worker who has one hand and is close to retirement, Slim, a much respected member of the team, who is shown to be compassionate and insightful, and Crooks, a black worker who is ostracized due to his skin colour. Curley's wife is also in the story, she is never known by name, and is very flirty, enjoying the attention she receives from the men, much to the jealousy of her husband, who threatens them all.

George and Lennie tell Candy of their intentions to set up a ranch, and offer him a place to join them as he has money to help them achieve it sooner than planned. One evening when all the men go out for drinks in the town, Lennie stays behind and chats to Crooks, who he learns is intelligent and feels resentful of being treated how he is due to his race. Lennie tells him of the plan and he too shows interest in joining. The four of them vow to keep it a secret from the rest of the group so as not to jeopardise their success.

*Spoilers*

However, the whole thing goes wrong when on another occasion when Lennie is left behind, Curley's wife chats to him and lets him stroke her hair. When he begins to mess it up, she tries to get him to stop, but her alarm only makes him grab it tighter. Unintentionally, after she struggles to escape him, he manages to break her neck, and runs away to a place that him and George agreed to meet should anything go wrong.

When the other men return they know Lennie will be doomed to death by Curley. In a bid to make it less painful for him, George goes to find him in their hiding place, and shoots him in the head whilst he is turned away from him listening to the story of their ranch and what it will be like.

This is such a sad story, and one which makes you question the actions and reactions of humans. For such a short book, it really stayed with me afterwards and made me think, which is probably why it is placed on so many school reading lists for GCSEs etc, as I can imagine a fair few essay questions that could come out of it.

I would recommend anyone read it, as I can completely see why it has been categorised as such a pivotal piece of work. I am interested in reading The Grapes Of Wrath, Steinbeck's other book now!

Weekly Update! (Part 2)

Garden Parties & Yorkshire Pudding Traybakes!

Continuing from my last post... on Friday we all went back to the Trafford Centre, this time for some crazy golf! We played two games, both of which I won, which never happens! Afterwards we wet for lunch at TGI Fridays, where I had a Jack Daniels chicken and shrimp plate, which was nice, but served with frozen veg which was a little disappointing!

In the evening I had a chilled one, I dyed my hair and Mo came round super late after packing all his stuff up ready to move back home the next day. Yesterday I cleaned the flat from top to bottom, which was much needed, then in the afternoon I went to our family friend Laura's 21st birthday party. It was a gorgeous day so everyone was in the garden, which was decked out with fairy lights, bunting and a bar! I had a few glasses of prosecco and some of the lovely food which was served, before Mo picked me up to go to James and Kelly's for some more drinks (others had gone earlier for a barbecue). We played a board game which was hilarious given that I was rather tipsy at this point, and eventually made it to bed at about 3am!

Today we hung around for a while, before going back to Mo's, calling into McDonalds en route for hangover food! I headed back home for a couple of hours, and then went for a roast at my parent's house. Mum was feeling experimental so made a strange yorkshire pudding traybake thing (Jamie Oliver is to thank for it), that was basically roasted vegetables and sausage balls with pudding batter poured over and baked. It was really tasty, and a good change from the usual, still with the obligatory stuffing and roasties of course! I've just come round to Mo's to stay, we are currently watching House of Cards, a new show he has got into - although he refuses to watch it with me as I take too long to do series apparently!

Weekly Update! (Part 1)

Mazes & Trails!

This week, with it being the school holidays, I have decided to split the weekly update into two individual posts, to save having one humongous one. We have been busy as ever, especially as Aum's cousin Euan has been visiting from Singapore for the week. Monday however was a lazy one as I started at 11am due to Aum not getting back from New York until early that morning, so we just chilled out in the house. 

On Tuesday we had a picnic in Stamford Park as the weather was lovely, followed by a haircut, and then cake at The Cake Gallery (I had my favourite raspberry and oreo flavour). Afterwards I took Aum to Oldham to his grandparents as Euan was due to arrive so they had a sleepover there. 

Yesterday I took them both to Crocky Trail near Chester, Aum loved it when we went last year so I promised to take him again. The weather was gorgeous, and they'd done up the site a bit so it was less run down - and had proper food outlets and toilets this time which was better. Today has been a fun day, I picked them up and after a quick trip to the Trafford Centre with Pizza Express for lunch we went to the Maize Maze at Redhouse Farm. This year it is Alice In Wonderland themed, and was a lot harder than previous years! We spent a good two hours collecting all the stamps from around it, before heading home after a much needed drink!

Summer Reads...

South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami - 4 stars ****

This is a nice short little holiday read, that is up there with Murakami's finest. It tells the story of Hajime, an only child, and his childhood growing up in Japan. He makes friends with a girl called Shimamoto, who has polio which causes her to limp. She too is an only child, so the pair strike up a great friendship, hanging out listening to music and talking about themselves.

The pair go off to different universities and lose touch, and Hajime ends up married with two children, and opens two successful jazz clubs in a trendy part of town thanks to help from his wife's father. He has a happy, content life and loves his wife and children, but when he is 35, Shimamoto returns and it causes him to question his happiness and what he wants. 

This novel is the epitome of the age old 'grass is greener' dilemma. Although they were young so had no romantic relationship in the past; Shimamoto and Hajime feel a deep connection that they share through years of getting to know each other. Hajime begins to develop intense feelings towards Shimamoto, which cause him to become irrational and act out of character.

It is never revealed where Shimamoto has been all this time, or if she has a family of her own, but that is part of the beauty of Murakami's writing. It is also left open at the end for the reader to create their own opinion of what has happened - some theories suggest that Shimamoto's return is all an illusion, a manifestation of Hajime's mid-life crisis, whereas others infer that the situations all occur in real life, but that Shimamoto is a test and has no intention of setting up a life with Hajime as is mentioned. Read it for yourself and make your decision!

Weekly Update!

Lydia's Birthday & Being Home!

I got back from New York yesterday morning, knackered after a long night flight, though luckily I did manage to catch a few hours shut eye so I wasn't a complete zombie. I spent the day chilling out, unpacking and napping to try and prepare myself for the evening, when Mo and I went to Piccolino's for my friend Lydia's birthday. There were 13 of us altogether, and we'd been given the private dining room upstairs which was cool, so we were all sat around a huge circular table.

We shared bottles of wine between us all, before Tasha and I advanced onto prosecco after the food. I went for the crab ravioli, which was really nice, and the portion size was perfect as I wasn't feeling that hungry. We all shared the Cakes by Melissa that I had brought back from New York with me - I had the chocolate chip pancake, peanut butter and jelly, and chocolate chip cookie flavoured ones; they were gorgeous little cakes, I would definitely recommend if you can get hold of them.

 We all stayed for quite a while after the meal, a few had desserts, and we left when the waitress came to tell us they wanted to close. We continued the drinks back at mine as a few people were staying, it ended up being a late one, but maybe that's was a good thing for my jet lag!

Today after a lie in and tidying the flat, Mo and I headed round to my parents for a roast dinner and much needed catch up (I haven't seen them for a month as they were on holiday before me). It was lovely to all sit around and chat, and although the food didn't include Yorkshire puddings (poor show on Mum's account!) it was delicious, and much appreciated after a fortnight of American grub!

Travellers' Tales...

NYC - Part 6 (Weds-Fri)

On Wednesday I got a slight lie in (7.15am!) as I'd bought my breakfast from Starbucks the night before and Aum was on his sleepover. I got to their apartment to help with the school run at 8.15am and then went back to my hotel, went for a run and got changed ready for my tattoo appointment at 1pm.

I had a light lunch en route so I didn't feel faint, and then after seeing the design that Grez, my artist, had drawn up, he set to work. It was more painful than I expected; having my last one on my ribs which is supposedly the worst pain-wise, I thought my upper arm being much more fleshy would be a walk in the park! It still stung, and after about an hour it was really achy and sore, so I'm glad it didn't take much longer!

I was given a bandage over it to protect it (caused some interesting questions at school!) and popped into 16 Handles, an amazing frozen yoghurt place. I had salted caramel and toffee popcorn flavours, topped with raspberries, Butterfingers, peanut butter cups, cookie dough and chocolate pretzels, which definitely helped ease the tattoo pain! 

After collecting Aum we quickly whizzed back to the hotel for him to have a shower and get changed, and then we got the PATH to Manhattan with his cousins and the rest of the clan to see Times Square. We did Toys R Us, including riding the big wheel inside (we got the Scooby Doo carriage!) and then decided to get some food as it was getting pretty late for the kids. We just went to a fast food place, where we got pizza slices and the three adults shared some wine - very nicely served in polystyrene cups!

The kids were knackered at this point, so we headed back, taking pictures along the way of the amazing buildings all lit up. We eventually got to bed at 10.15pm.

Yesterday was my last full day, but I was so tired after the previous night that I needed a lazy day, so spent it packing my bags and sorting everything out for my departure. I wandered to the Jersey Mall in the afternoon, for a meander around the shops, and treated myself to a very American lunch of an Auntie Ann's pretzel and a Dunkin' Donut. Aum's dad (also called Mo) arrived just in time for the school run, which was lovely for Aum, and after a coffee and a change of clothes we went out for dinner with the whole group to a Cuban place called Azucar.

For starter we had a mixed platter of appetisers, including vegetable crochets, chicken wings, prawns wrapped in bacon, pork balls and nachos, and for main I had king prawns in a creole sauce with black bean rice and salad. We had their house special mojitos to begin with which were amazing, and then I had white wine with the rest of the meal. The kids were all really tired after eating so we went home straight away afterwards, and I completely crashed out!

This morning we took Mo to the diner to experience the amazing breakfasts we've been having! I had French toast filled with sweet cream cheese and maple syrup which was gorgeous, and then we dropped Aum off for his final day at summer school. I walked and got the train to Manhattan, and bought a few last minute presents - some Cakes By Melissa for Lydia's birthday tomorrow, some M&Ms PJs as a present for her, and a KitchenAid attachment for my mum. 

I walked to Bryant Park and finished my book whilst eating a ham, mustard, cheese and poached pear sandwich (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!) and then got the PATH back to collect Aum for one last time. Now I am all packed up and ready for my taxi to take me home after an INCREDIBLE 2 weeks!

Travellers' Tales...

NYC - Part 5 (Mon & Tues)

On Monday morning we woke and went and got breakfast in the hotel, then I dropped Aum off and got a cab back there. After a run, I got ready and chilled in the room. I spoke to Mo who was back from the stag do, seems he had a great (drunken) time!

I summoned up some energy and walked to the local Target and spent £18 on American food to bring home! I got Poptarts, Lucky Charms, M&Ms in cool flavours, Reese's and Hershey's ice cream sauce and grape flavoured Jell-O, excited to share it all with people once I'm back!

I picked Aum up and we had a rest back in the hotel before going out for some dinner at a local Indian restaurant called Raaz. I am always dubious about getting Indian/ Chinese etc abroad, but this place was awesome - I had a delicious lamb rogan josh with roti, followed by gulab jamun. The kids portion was perfect for Aum, and he got to have a mango lassi which he loved. We got a cab back home as it had started to rain, and a lightning and thunder storm erupted when we got back to the hotel!

Today after the school run I went straight into Manhattan on the PATH and walked to the High Line which I had a walk along and took some photos. There was a photography student up there who asked to take my photo as she liked my outfit which was flattering! 

I stopped in a Starbucks for a while, and then wandered around Greenwich and Soho for a while. I had a consultation for my tattoo at Kings Avenue Tattoo Parlour, where I paid my deposit ($100) and discussed my ideas with them - including an awful sketch I'd done which they were able to rework!

Afterwards an AWFUL storm hit - I had pale trousers on that turned see-through up to my thighs and my shoes squelched as I walked, despite using an umbrella! I got back to the hotel, ate a spinach and chicken wrap that was in a green tortilla (!) and got changed before popping a bag for Aum round to his aunties apartment as he is having a sleepover there tonight (the storm has made doing anything pretty limited!).

I have just bought some supplies from Starbucks, and have given Mo a call, now I intend to stay in my room all evening eating and watching Snowpiercer, which I have wanted to see for ages. A well deserved chill out night I think!

Travellers' Tales...

NYC - Part 4 (Sat & Sun)

We had a 'lie in' this morning, though Aum woke up at 7.50am! After showering and lounging for a while we went to the City Diner again for breakfast, this time I had eggs Benedict with Canadian ham and homefries to fill me up for a day in the city!

We got the ferry across the river with it being the weekend (cheaper) and walked for a while before hopping in a taxi to go to the Guggenheim where we met Aum's cousins. I must admit, art isn't really my thing, but it was all modern and futurist there so I actually really enjoyed looking at the paintings and prints. There was also a section on sound that had cymbals suspended from the ceiling that you could hit - which obviously the kids loved!

Aum and I stayed to do the whole thing whilst his cousins left for some lunch at the Metropolitan - then we spent a good two hours wandering around there afterwards trying to find each other! Eventually after cake and a drink at the cafe we gave up and went to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, which was incredible. Everyone was given a chip upon entry which they could program with their own login details including a photograph, soundbite and music preference. You then went around exhibitions scanning the chip and doing various activities, including a section where you could program robots, try the latest technology used in hospitals to perform virtual heart surgery and even be a newsreader with an autocue and working video camera.

We had a look around FAO Schwarz afterwards (I actually managed to get Aum out without buying anything) and then we walked for ages to find somewhere to eat before stumbling across an Australian grill. Aum had barbecued pork ribs and I had kangaroo in a red wine sauce with asparagus, which was great to try and tasted rich like a dark red meat - kind of like a mixture of lamb and venison.

We caught the ferry back and waited up as Anjali was back that evening, although her flight was delayed so she didn't arrive until gone 10pm - Aum was so tired! He stayed with her so I got a night to myself - which I spent researching tattoo parlours...

This morning I slept in until 9am when Aum knocked on my door for some clothes to change into. We went to the diner again (I had double berry pancakes) and then caught the ferry again and went to the Natural History Museum. We saw a show at the planetarium called The Dark Universe which was fascinating - having never been to a planetarium before it was a great experience. We wandered around the mammal sections and then Aum met up with some friends from back home and they did an exhibition called 'The Power Of Poison' whilst I stayed outside and called my parents for a chat.

We had a bit of a panic trying to meet up afterwards as Anjali had to rush back to catch her flight back to England, but once she had gone we stuck with Aum's friends and went to an Italian called Caffe Storico for dinner. I had seafood pasta with clams, mussels, prawns and lobster in, followed by pistachio icecream (and Aum's honeyed apple sorbet that he decided he didn't like!).

We said our goodbyes afterwards and rushed to catch the ferry as it was getting late and we had a project to do for his homework. We have just managed to make said project (a glider) using straws from the hotel, sellotape and scissors borrowed from the giftshop and the box from some honeycakes I bought - if only they gave points for inventiveness!

Travellers' Tales...

NYC - Part 3 (Thurs & Fri)

Thursday was the day Anjali was leaving for her course in Miami, so we had breakfast in the diner as a send off - I had nutella stuffed french toast! After we'd dropped Aum off I hung around the hotel for her to leave her bag with me and dop Aum's stuff off. I went to the gym for a bit and then chilled out in my room until it was time for pickup.

After I'd collected Aum we went straight into Manhattan to the Dominique Ansel Bakery; home of the famous croissant/donut or cronut as it's known. Unfortunately they had sold out, so we got some of their mini madeleines and a pastry called a Paris-New York that was two puff pastry circles stuck together with chocolate and caramel cream. We sat outside in the garden area for a while and then walked onto the main street (casually passing Lana Del Rey on a date in a restaurant along the way!).

We jumped in a cab to Gansevoort Street, where the High Line starts, but Aum was a bit tired so we went for dinner instead. As we were in the Meatpacking District, it seemed only right to have American food, so we went to a diner called The Sugar Factory that was amazing! When you walked in there was a wall of sweets, and a cocktail menu encorporating them - gummy bears in vodka, marshmallows in Caipirinhas, smoking Margaritas - I wish some of the girls had been there so we could sample some!

 I had a turkey burger with cheese and Aum had a chicken burger, both served with skin-on fries. I also had a grape soda cocktail which was really good - although mine didn't come with a sweet! We headed straight home afterwards as it was getting late and we had one more day of summer school before the weekend!

This morning after the school run I went straight into Manhattan back to the DA Bakery. I queued for an hour for a cronut, and then they ran out when I was just four people from the front - devastated! I read my new book in the queue though and it was sunny, so it wasn't too bad.

From there I walked into Mid-Town and went shopping, buying lots of presents for people! I had a bite to eat from Breads Bakery at the outdoor food market in Greeley Square and then caught the PATH back to do the school pickup.

We had a bit of a break back at the hotel before going across the river to the Metropolitan Museum. It is huge! Aum loved it and there were loads of interesting exhibits, including one by Charles James on dresses which was great to look around - Aum didn't seem to mind!

There wasn't a great deal of restaurants around the museum area (the rooftop bar only did drinks, although we went up for a peek at the view whilst the sun set) so we walked for a while until we came to EAT Cafe & Deli. I had crab cakes and Aum had tomato and basil pasta, which were both lovely, although it was quite expensive, probably as it was in the 5th Avenue surroundings (where all the high-end designer shops are).

We got a taxi back to the station and caught the PATH home, I can't believe it is so late already; at least it's the weekend tomorrow!

Travellers' Tales...

NYC - Part 2 (Tues & Weds)

Tuesday dawned and I got up super early (5.45am!) to shower and get ready for a day in Manhattan. We ate in the hotel which is a buffet style so I had eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes - they have them with every meal over here - and a blueberry bagel with grape jam.

After taking Aum to school I walked to Hoboken PATH station, where I caught the train to 33rd Street. From there I walked all the way to the Planetarium to see if they had tickets (they didn't as the last showing was too early for after school), stopping at Central Park on the way for a break to read my book and have an ice lolly.

I walked back through Times Square which was cool, and popped into a few shops before heading back to the hotel to collect Aum. After school we went and did the Empire State. Aum loved the Skyride and we got some great pictures. We ate afterwards at The Rockefeller which was gorgeous - I had a lamb and squash kebab after some of their famous guacamole and chips. We stopped for some cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery on the way home (I had a lemon and blueberry and a peanut butter with jelly) and I had the first one with a cup of tea before bed - delicious!

This morning we ate in the hotel again; this time I had some oatmeal with berries and honey as well as my eggs, bacon and sausage, and tried a corn muffin which I left as it wasn't that nice. After dropping Aum off all of us (including his aunt, cousin and nanny) walked to Carlo's Bakery of the legendary Cake Boss. I got a caramel cupcake which was my favourite so far - the sponge was more dense than most and the topping was like whipped cream it was so aerated, a perfect combination.

Afterwards I walked and got the PATH, this time to 14th Street to explore the East Village. I had made a stupid decision to wear uncomfortable shoes though, so stopped in Washington Square Park and Tompkins Square Park to give myself a rest from blisters! Luckily the scenery was pretty enough to make me forget them.

I got the train back and had a wrap in a cafe in Hoboken and gave Mo a call as he has gone to Tallinn today on a stag weekend. After school we were all quite tired so just had dinner locally at a place called Henry's on the Hudson which had a gorgeous view of the sun setting across the water as we ate. I had a chicken caesar salad as my wrap at lunch was so filling, and I can feel myself falling asleep already, so imagine an early night is calling!

Travellers' Tales...

NYC - Part 1 (Sat-Mon)

This could be a long post, as I feel I have crammed so much into my first three days here in New York!

Saturday was a fairly chilled one, as we arrived at our hotel (the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City) at 1pm and I went to my room straightaway for a while so I could unpack. Anjali and Aum's wasn't ready so they waited downstairs and I joined them afterwards for some lunch. I had a simple salad of spinach, olives, tomatoes and bacon with a ranch dressing which was really tasty. After lunch we went back to our rooms (theirs was now ready) and relaxed for a while. At this point it was around 3pm (8pm UK time) so we were all fairly tired after very early starts. We were going to go out but we all just didn't have the energy so stayed in our rooms - I was fast asleep by 8pm!

Yesterday we were all up really early because of the jetlag, I got out of bed at 6.30am and showered before meeting Aum and Anjali for breakfast at an American diner near the hotel called City Diner. In true US style I ordered a waffle with bacon and poached eggs; which filled a hole as having missed dinner the previous evening I was ravenous!

Straight after breakfast we caught the ferry across the River Hudson to the Financial District (very reasonably priced at $5 return for the weekend) and walked to find Wall Street and the New York Stock Market. We then continued walking for the whole rest of the day! From Wall Street we went along to see Brooklyn Bridge and Seaport, through China Town and Soho where we stopped for a drink. Next we went up through Greenwich to Macy's where we had a toilet break and Aum had some lunch (I was still stuffed from breakfast!).

Outside Macy's we jumped in a cab to Central Park, but by this point we were all knackered so only stayed for ten minutes before jumping back in a taxi to the ferry port and going back to the hotel. That evening after an hours chill in our rooms we went out for dinner to a place called Honshu Noodle Bar where we shared some edamame, pork dumplings and vegetable spring rolls before I had shrimp udon for main. We walked (waddled) back to the hotel where I lasted for half an hour before falling asleep at 8pm again!

This morning we woke up super early ready for Aum's first day at summer school. We ate at the diner again, this time I had three huge pancakes topped with nutella and granola - it was delicious! Then we used Uber to catch a cab to school (this app has been a lifesaver over here!) and dropped Aum off. After getting a taxi back to the hotel I went for a run along the boardwalks, great view to exercise to with the New York skyline in front of me!

After a quick shower I went for a wander around Hoboken where we're staying. I walked along the seafront and stopped to read my book for a while when I got a bit hot (the weather is so nice!). I was trying to find the mall but must have missed it and ended up in a Target where I bought some supplies for nibbling! I eventually found the mall and had a look around, there's a Macy's and a few other decent shops, handy to have nearby.

Anjali picked Aum up and we went for a walk around Liberty Park, which is the best place to see the Statue Of Liberty from apart from going around Ellis Island on a ferry. We ate at a bistro called Amelia's where I had incredible mac and cheese with bacon, mushrooms and truffle oil in. We walked back to the hotel as Aum was really sleepy, and I plan on sleeping soon after reading for a while!