The Reading Challenge!

Hello Everyone,

Lady M here. I hope you've enjoyed my two January posts and they've cheered you up through what is traditionally a depressing time of year. I went to the library on Monday and they told me that next week they are having the town crier at the door greeting peeps with the traditional, "hear ye..." and announcing news. This is a novel way of brightening up what has become known as Blue Monday, the day when most people are depressed. Does that mean no one is depressed at any other time of the year? According to Wikipedia this term began in 2005 and only applies to the Northern Hemisphere. It is a gloomy title given to the third Monday in January and is due to a combination of post Christmas blues, the weather and arrival of unpaid credit bills. 

Well, what Lady M says is the glass is half full, stay positive and look forward to good times ahead. Happiness comes from within and we need to find our own ways of surviving dark days. This week I would like to share with you something I have found and am participating in. It has helped lift the January blues. I am taking the Penguin Reading Challenge. I believe other publishing houses, like Random House, are also offering challenges. It's a simple thing to do if you love books and reading... just sign up for it and tick one or more categories. They email you a list of books each month throughout the year. I'm not totally naïve, I know that it is really a marketing opportunity and the main idea is to see a rise in sale figures but there are wonderful places called libraries where you can obtain them for free, read them and return them.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/the-penguin-reading-challenge.html

There are four categories as below. What could be easier?

Expand my mind

• Writing to help you learn more about the world and delve into topical issues 

Keep up with the big hits

• Discover the popular writers and bestselling books that everyone’s talking about

Read the books I've always meant to

• Tick off your literary bucket list and read the books that are called classics for a reason

Discover the best contemporary writing

           Read stories, poetry, essays and more  from critically-acclaimed writers.

So far, I've found an interesting concept on time by reading The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli. I am moving on to another Sophie Kinsella novel and A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena. I am familar with Sophie Kinsella's work but the other two are new authors to me and I would not have found them without doing this challenge. It is important that we open up our eyes to new opportunities. Please let me know if you choose to join me in this challenge or if you have discovered new ideas for surviving January but remember that glass and keep smiling.

All my love, Lady Mxxx

                                       

FIRST!...Nostalgia!

Hello Everyone!

I'm still in the archives and am thinking 'inspirational'. No new creation arrives by magic. It is after thought, research, effort and determination. In the modern age we think of the web, social media... Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, My Space etc... all created by someone. Back in 2013 at the beginning of the year I was suggesting you make it a year of personal firsts. Once again, I lay down the gauntlet...make the rest of 2018 a time to have a 'first' attempt at something and good luck.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is the first week of the first month of a new year. It is a time for resolutions which will probably be broken before February.

But it is a 'first'! Think about the joy that is associated with 'first'... first prize, first born, first past the post, first in line, first place, first day at school, first job...

Second, third or fourth is just not the same and last is almost embarrassing.

As we begin 2013, I would like to share some 'firsts' with you.

First man to walk on the moon... Neil Armstrong, July 20th 1969.

First man to make a solo non-stop transatlantic flight, Charles Lindbergh 1927

First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhurt 1932

First Blackpool (UK) illuminations, September 18th 1879

First skyscraper was the Home Insurance Building, Chicago, USA, 10 storeys high in 1883-5 built by William Le Baron Jenney

First safety pin was invented by Walter Hunt (USA) in 1849

First video game was produced by Willy Higinbotham (USA) in 1958

First men to reach the summit of Everest were Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) on May 29th 1953

First man to swim across the English Channel was Matthew Webb (England) in 1875

First supermarket trolley was introduced by Sylvan Goldman (USA) in 1937

First match was produced by Robert Boyle (England) in 1680

First top hat was made and worn by English haberdasher, John Hetherington, in 1797. He was arrested and fined £50 for causing a disturbance in London when he wore his creation for the first time!

First lawn mower was invented by Edwin Budding (England) in 1930

There always has to be a 'first'! This year, I offer you all a challenge. No, I don't expect you to create something or do something dramatic like climbing Everest; anyway that's been done but how many personal 'firsts' can you achieve? Maybe, you'll purchase your first car, get your first degree, play that first game of golf or run your first marathon.

Make it a year of personal firsts!


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Lady M ✨✨✨