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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe UK heatwave has continued throughout July \u2013 not perhaps as hot as we suffered earlier in the season but still warm for our normally temperate climate and with a notable lack of rain. The ground is baked hard, the grass like straw. I have continued my walks and runs but try to do the latter earlier in the day than would have been my habit.<\/p>\n
After our family holiday last month, we have been heading off in different directions this month. Daughter enjoyed a couple of weekends in London: to attend a My Chemical Romance concert with a friend, and then the Diamond League with her brother \u2013 a highlight of this watching live as Josh Kerr set a new world record running a mile. Younger Son meanwhile travelled to North Wales for a weekend away with a group of his mates. Amongst other activities they climbed a mountain and swam in the sea \u2013 the hot weather having some benefits. That same weekend husband and I travelled to Somerset for a short break. I posted a review of the hotel we stayed in, Mercure Hotel in Bridgwater<\/em><\/a>. I also posted about activities enjoyed during our trip through the lens of my teddy bear, Edward Explores Somerset<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n While away we participated in a lovely parkrun and I posted a run report, St Matthews Field<\/em><\/a>. I also posted run reports for last month\u2019s second 10k race, Bowood Running Festival 10k<\/em><\/a> and for another new to us parkrun visited, Green Park<\/em><\/a> in Reading. Our two elder children joined husband and I at the start of the month for the Chippenham Harrier\u2019s River Run, a lovely local 5k race we could cycle to. As this was my fourth time running it I didn\u2019t write a report \u2013 little had changed in either organisation or experience of participation. We all then ended the month by taking part in a local parkrun that was Husband\u2019s 250th event \u2013 new milestone t-shirt incoming.<\/p>\n I posted reviews for 6 books in July \u2013 a good mix of new releases and titles plucked from my vast TBR pile. To read my thoughts on each of this month\u2019s books, click the title below. Half of the books reviewed were well worth reading which made it a decent enough month in that respect.<\/p>\n Blood Orange<\/em><\/a> by Harriet Tyce, published by Wildfire<\/p>\n My Third Life<\/em><\/a> by Daniela Krien (translated by Jamie Bulloch), published by MacLehose<\/p>\n The Fault in Our Stars<\/em><\/a> by John Green, published by Penguin<\/p>\n Horsefly<\/em><\/a> by Mireille Gagne (translated by Pablo Strauss), published by New Cross Press<\/p>\n The Betrayals<\/em><\/a> by Bridget Collins, published by The Borough Press<\/p>\n The Followers<\/em><\/a> by Rebecca Wait, published by Picador<\/p>\n Sourcing the books<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I received just the one book in the post this month, a surprise as I hadn\u2019t requested it but do hope to enjoy.<\/p>\n My continued thanks to those who still share my words across their social media platforms \u2013 whichever ones you are now using \u2013 your support is always appreciated. For anyone interested, you may find me on\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Threads<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n And to everyone reading this, I wish you and yours good health and personal pleasures in whatever form you appreciate. May you find time to relax with some good books, ones that take your mind of whatever else is going on in our increasingly senseless wider world.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n