I know! I’m cheating! But the thing is there are not enough hours in the day! (We all hate this universal fact, don’t we?) To avoid posting the longest Wrap-Up post later, here are what I have been doing these past two weeks!
Ps: Time Flies! Send help!
Remember the last time I wrote about my London trip, I was about the get the weekend off…
What is the first thing I did on this Saturday? GO TO A BOOKSTORE! Obviously. I headed to our local shop without knowing it was the beginning of #supportyourindiebookstore week. Perfect timing!
What to say about my first steps into a bookstore filled with books in English? Paradise! It was such a sweet moment, especially because I had chosen the bookstore working with Orenda Books for our event the week before and the manager remembered me! I was so shocked it took me more seconds than necessary to reply, haha! Red hair and good books, I am not easy to forget :p
Did I buy books?
Of course I did! A French book translated to finally try and have more comparison posts on the blog. Crime fiction because you never have enough of them, and The Anxiety Cure to see if there’s something to learn from it for my Mental Health category. I spent so much that I was offered a secret book 😂😍 as well as some shortbread and a glass of Pimms. I did not know what Pimms was… Let’s say I slept well that evening!!!
The Sunday was quieter for my credit card but not for my legs. I left the house before 11a.m. and bus’ed/Tube’d/train’ed and then walked my way through Hyde Park / Kensington Park to see Lady Diana’s fountain. Lots of tourists, too many French people, a nice breeze, and me unable to find a way out of the park. It was fun to see people not caring about the weather and going out anyway. A bit chilly and definitely grey, even for a Northern girl like me so I did not stay long to read!
Work resumed and my batteries were full and ready to give their best! Lots was done, but nothing compared to the amount of work Karen goes through every day!
On Wednesday 20th, I was lucky to meet the wonderful Katherine (bibliomaniacUK) @KatherineSunde3. Kind, lovely, sweet, and so fun, we had a wonderful time near St Pancras / King’s Cross (and I did go out the wrong way so had to walk around the entire thing to get to the place we had chosen!) We forgot to take a selfie but it was the highlight of my week! I love meeting online friends and realize how easy it is to just chat and be together as if it happened every week!
This feeling was reinforced on Saturday 23rd June. A Bookouture party!!! Thank you to my Auntie Kim for organizing it and for my darling Queen Noelle for coming despite the “train” issues! I had a fabulous time meeting bloggers I look up to like Linda Hill, Jen or Claire Huston (and her lovely baby!!!) … and authors, bloggers I sometimes did not know! My pork cheeseburger was weird but yummy and my heart was full of love! (Sorry I borrowed your pictures, Noelle! I LOVE us together 😀 We’re perfect as a Macbook wallpaper!)
So many great moments… Then work, which don’t feel like work, even with the most fiddly tasks because it’s all for the love of books. I’ve dreamed of Excel spreadsheets but otherwise I was okay!!!
Then, the big day. Louise Voss and Doug Johnston’s launch. Yummy cupcakes to bring, lots to do, but what a nice feeling when you see people arrive, some you recognize, some you don’t, and you know everyone is going to have a great time. Pleasure and work go well together.
Did I fangirl? YES! Thomas Bloody Enger had made it to the launch to support his friends! So had the lovely Johana Gustawsson, who I love so much! Ladies and gentlemen, Angela Clarke!!!!! I caught up with the wonderful West Camel, the fantastic and adorable and ojqofhsjkhfgjs Anne Cater, and again, my sweet and fun Jen! Between two cupcakes we managed to sell the books, have lots of fun, and … find a pub to finish the night! Sometime during this evening I stopped and stared, thinking how good it felt to be part of something so big. To be able to introduce yourself, be useful, chat, drink, chat again, have fun, talk football, eat, be yourself. Be happy.
Warning, the following pictures contain some fangirling moments (and a bit of pride for recognizing most people on the pictures now, haha!)
A wild night out that left me zombified the next day!!!
Other news include the Westminster Cathedral, my dogs missing me a bit, me wandering around, and here we are, another Saturday, listening to the radio, having an Orenda Books reading weekend. I used the post office for the first time this morning, so weird! Went shopping to a Co-op, nice times in London.
Oh, and I scared people in the WHSmith at Victoria’s station with my videos and reorganisation of shelves…
Thank you to everyone who has made those two weeks so memorable. Thank you for the support and the love. I had my first homesick/what is my life day. It was to be expected, and it’s part of the journey. Every good day is a victory!
This post won’t let me tag everyone!!!!!!
Have a nice weekend, everyone!!!
You look so fabulous and happy! I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself!
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Oh, thank you! I really am happy 🙂 It’s a great feeling to hold on to when you have bad days!
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Fab post lady!!! Loving following your adventure!!
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❤ Thank you for reading my silly posts!!! I love sharing the love and the photos, haha!
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Wow, you took a lot of pictures – and significantly better than mine! It was lovely getting to meet you in person at the book launch on Wednesday. You did a sterling job of convincing everyone to buy books too!
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It was fabulous meeting you! You are a real ray of sunshine! 🙂 Thank you so much! I had a wonderful time and I am glad you did too! I wish I had a better phone to get the best pictures but… xx
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I *might* be going to London this year and I’m already worried of going to the book shops 😂😂😂
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Hahahahaha, if I were you, I’d let free space in my suitcase!!!
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Looks and sounds like you’re have such a great time! 😀
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I am! 😀 The best and yummiest time, haha! xxx
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Another amazing few weeks. These are great posts to share and perfect for you to keep memories. I’m so envious you met Angela Clarke and all the lovely bloggers. The bookouture event sounds fantastic. And the cakes look delicious.
I hope next week includes fun work books and smiles. 😊🇬🇧
Amanda xx
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Writing this today made me smile so much it hurt! 🙂
Angela Clarke is the sweetest and funniest woman! I was fangirling the whole time! I hope I did not scare her, haha!
Next week is all about work and a nice meeting with an author I adore!
I hope you have had a nice week, darling Amanda 🙂 xxxx
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I love these posts, it warms my heart to see you so happy on these pictures my sweechie ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
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Aw, sweechie ❤ Love you loads! Thank you for following me on this adventure! xxxxxxxx
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It was so brilliant to meet you! I’m delighted you’re having such an excellent time. Those cupcakes look fab. If I ever get published I’m definitely having book cupcakes!! 🙂
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It was fabulous, you are fantastic! ❤ I'll bake cupcakes for you and your book! xxx
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You lucky thing! x
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I know! The luckiest! xx
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It was so lovely to see you on Wednesday! I was totally fangirling from afar over Thomas Bloody Enger (to give him his full name!) Great post and love all the photos xxx
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It was awesome to see you! Thank you for coming! We had such a great time! 🙂 Haha, yep, Mr Enger deserves this full name. THOMAS BLOODY ENGER. Can’t believe it happened and I acted so cool when I was fangirling inside xD Thank you for your support xxxxxx
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A brilliant post and you’ve obviously had a great time 😁
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I am having the best time! 🙂 x
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The pictures are so beautiful, and so are you!I’m so happy that you had a great time and I agree, time flies so fast, it’s unreal.<3 x
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Aw, thanks so much!!! I wish I could take better pictures! Time is a mean thing, it goes away with a blink of an eye!
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I love reading your updates and I love LOVE that you are having such a great time!! Enjoy to the fullest my dear. ❤ xx
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Thank you lovely!!! Had issues with the heat this afternoon 😂 woke up from my nap in a terrible state! Who would have thought London’s weather could kill me faster than Bordeaux’s awful 40/45 degrees?! Xxx
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Ah that is what humidity will do to you… English and Dutch summers are quite the same in that way. xD
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Send buckets of water, please xD
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I can lend you some of the cold weather we’re having down here if you want? xD
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YES!
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It was close to 0°C last night; you’re welcome to have it all. xD
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Haha, the rain has come!!!!
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Wasn’t sending you that haha. xD Although it’s going to rain pretty soon down here as well.
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Love it! ❤
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Lots of love for you!!! Xxx
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This all looks so awesome and you look fantabulous and happy!! It’s so great to see your journey over there!
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Lovely Inge ❤ Thank you!! It's brilliant and even the event-less days feel good. I've adopted London and I think it adopted me! xxx
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If not for the fact that I’m considerably older than you, I’d be saying something to the likes of “I want to be you when I grow up.” I’m so glad your having such a fab time. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
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Aw 💕 This is so kind. And something I never thought someone would say to me! I’m enjoying every minute, I promise! X
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Fabulous post
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