HTMW Quarterly Review: Q3 2020

‘In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.’ – Francis Bacon.

Q3 2020: Three months of increased freedom!

Welcome to the third quarterly review on How The Mind Wanders…, looking back over Q3 2020! You’ll remember in my Look Ahead at 2020 that I made the decision earlier this year to cancel the Monthly Recap post series. I have cut back to four quarterly reviews instead. You can read my Q2 Review here.

Q3 2020 will definitely go down as the most normal of the four quarters this year. Lock down was eased incrementally and we enjoyed much more freedom during July, August and September. Things still weren’t normal, by any stretch of the imagination. However, this was definitely the quarter where I tried to pack as much in as possible and enjoy myself. I knew, deep down, that the good times couldn’t last. COVID was omnipresent throughout. As Q3 2020 drew to a close, it began to rear its ugly head once more. The impending second wave started coming in hard.

Travelling the UK!

Throughout Q3 2020, I took opportunities that arose and visited Wales, the Lake District, Yorkshire and Scotland. Between these longer trips, I spent days in Kent hiking. Travelling again after months being stationary felt wonderful, a partial return to life before COVID.

I discovered the joys of travel in the UK. The wonder of gloriously hot sunshine one day and torrential, unrelenting rain the next. Rolling, mountainous landscapes I never knew existed so bountifully in northern England. Narrow country lanes, nosing along slowly in a car until you turn a corner and a vista opens in front of you. Narrow mountain trails, temperature extremes between sea level and 1,345m above, the triumph of summits. Green paths, purple heather, streams stained brown from the peat.

The UK holds a bounty for travellers and explorers, people seeking adventure and escapism. It is a beautiful country. If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that we can seek far and wide, but sometimes everything we need is right on our doorstep. We just have to look up and see what is right in front of us.

Q3 2020: The Highlights.

Spending two weeks in Wales.

I started the quarter by heading back to Wales for the first time since Christmas. Initially, I only planned to stay a week and booked annual leave. However, as the time to return to London drew near, I knew I was going to stay longer. It turned into a two week stay – the longest time I’ve spent in Wales since I moved to London in 2016!

It was wonderful to be back. After months of lock down and uncertainty, the July days in the heart of the Welsh countryside felt sacred. It was so good to reconnect with my parents. We hiked, ate well, and generally spent a lot of time catching up!

Catching up with friends after not seeing so many of them for months!

As lock down eased, I started seeing more of my friends again. After so long apart, it felt really special to see them. We were cautious. Lots of time this summer has been spent outdoors, either walking or sitting in parks or beer gardens when the pubs reopened. Thankfully, the weather largely complied!

Seeing people after months spent with P felt so bloody good (much as I love P!). Some of my friends had been locked down alone. It was great to be able to see them in person and really check they were doing okay. I’ve been constantly reminded this year about the importance of human contact. Now more than ever, I appreciate the small moments with friends and family!

Seeing A for the first time in about six months and spending a baking hot summer evening together drinking gin and tonics was a particular highlight. Another was spending time with both P and Z (fatherhood pending for both!) in various parks around the city. I chatted on the phone for an hour with A who has been locked down in Melbourne for months now, a welcome catch up.

Climbing Ben Nevis!

At the beginning of August, E, H and I travelled to Scotland to climb Ben Nevis. Thankfully, the day we assigned to the climb turned out to be a great weather window! We summited after a four hour climb. I felt triumphant as we posed for our summit photo. It felt like a big achievement in this strange year. We stayed half an hour before beginning the descent. This turned out to be actually harder for me than going up! It took me a further three hours to get down, with screaming knees and calf muscles by the time I reached base.

I am so proud of myself for climbing the UK’s tallest mountain! We didn’t have much luck with beautiful views. The ever shifting clouds unveiled briefly to give us a tantalising glimpse of what we were missing. Then, just like that, they closed up again and wrapped more densely around us than ever before.

A boozy trip and a stay in a church!

As soon as the announcement came that we could book holidays again, I set about organising a staycation near London. I ended up booking a deconsecrated church in Essex for a group of us to stay at! It was suitably atmospheric. I can safely say that barbecuing in a graveyard is one of the odder experiences I’ve had this year!

The weekend ended up being the perfect boozy release that we all needed. I’ve not drunk that much in one weekend since university! To say the recovery was tough is an understatement. It got so bad at one point that I actually had to drink a small glass of wine to feel better. Oops!

J coming for a sleepover.

I hadn’t spent time alone with J for over a year. When she came to stay at the end of August, it was a wonderful treat to spend some quality time together. I made lasagne, she taught me about Caroline Hirons (more below) and we put the world to rights. It was so bloody wonderful to see her. She left me feeling incredibly grateful that I have her in my life!

Visiting the Lake District.

This surprise big birthday trip for our parents had been in the works for literally years. I was worried it might not go ahead, but thankfully luck was on our side and there were no issues. For me, it was the perfect retreat.

We stayed in a small cottage in a village on the edge of Ullswater, kindly leant to us by E’s friend’s parents. We hiked, we visited a gorgeous waterfall, we ate well, we read and relaxed… It was lovely. I couldn’t have been happier that the six of us were all together again after months apart. And the Lake District is GORGEOUS. I cannot believe it has taken me until 2020 to visit. What a superb national park!

The only downside was that Mum unfortunately got an allergic reaction to something while we were there. This meant that sadly she couldn’t join us on a couple of hikes which was a shame!

The best roast dinner!

When G invited P and I, plus C and G, around to his place for a home-cooked roast at the end of September, we jumped! G is a FANTASTIC chef and my mouth watered for weeks beforehand. I looked forward for days to the delicious dinner he would no doubt cook for us!

G did not disappoint. I ate the best Glamorgan sausages I’ve ever had, and everything was so well cooked. Even the vegetables were divine, and they’re usually the weak point of a roast. It was honestly one of the best meals I’ve eaten this year and I am already trying to twist his arm to do a Christmas roast… Fingers crossed we can, what with lock downs and all!

I started a new skincare routine.

When J introduced me to Caroline Hirons during her stay, I was initially skeptical. I’ve always been a bit suspicious of skincare routines, viewing them as largely over-priced and something I didn’t need to get into until I’m much older. However, J’s skin looked so great and glowing that I had to ask what she was doing. As a result, she spent time talking me through the products she was using and introducing me to different ideas. I was hooked!

I bought Caroline Hirons’ book ‘Skincare’ the very next day. Within a week I purchased my own collection of products to follow the skincare routine that Caroline advocates. The thing I love best is that this is a routine for any budget. Caroline does not push you towards one particular set of products, but instead takes you back to basics. She explains the science behind each step of the routine and why it’s important, then leaves you to find your perfect products.

I’m a definite convert. I’ve signed up for a monthly Beauty Pie subscription and I discovered acids! They do wonders for my skin! I cleanse twice a day now. Quite regularly, I tune in and watch Caroline’s Instagram Lives. Trying new and different products gets me excited and seeing results is so satisfying. My skin already looks and feels so much better. I’m delighted and will continue to rave about Caroline and her methods to anyone who’ll listen. Even my landlord, who happened to pop round one afternoon while I was reading her book, got to hear about Caroline!

Q3 2020: The Low Points.

Ongoing uncertainty over COVID-19 and a mixed, usually ineffective, response by our Government.

At this point, do we really expect anything else from the most inept, shocking and downright horrifying government Britain has seen for decades?

The second wave of COVID is here. Collectively, we are reacting different now to how we were in March, but times are still uncertain. Restrictions change so often it’s hard to keep up. New rules are constantly getting introduced, making it tough to plan too far in advance. I’ve changed. I used to love planning a long time in advance. Nowadays, I make more last minute decisions and keep socialising to a minimum!

A disappointing HelloFresh delivery.

I gave HelloFresh a go as I got a 50% discount code for my first delivery. As someone who loves cooking and going off piste with my recipes, I should’ve known that this delivery service wouldn’t be for me. Having my meals pre-planned for a week, with little room to deviate from the recipes, is not what I’m about!

I also found that HelloFresh did not accommodate vegetarian recipes very strongly into their repertoire, so there were limited options for me to choose from. Off the meals I did pick, a couple were unappetising or not to my liking. The whole experience was quite restrictive and I was relieved to return to normal the following week!

I badly injured my hand.

At the start of Q3 2020, I got drunk (classic) and I badly injured my right hand. I’m ashamed to admit that to this day, I’m still not entirely sure exactly how it happened.

What I do know is that for days afterwards, I was in agony. For weeks afterwards it continued to be painful and even now, months on, it still aches on a daily basis, especially when I spend a lot of time typing or on my phone. I have a dent in one of my knuckle bones, and suspect that I should have gone to get it x-rayed. Looking back, I think it was probably broken. As it is, I didn’t go for an x-ray, and if it was broken, it’s healed sufficiently in the meantime. I doubt it’ll ever fully return to normal, if it’s still sore months after the incident! Time will tell…

Posts in Q3 2020

Germany: My Last Overseas Trip for Quite Some Time…

Mum and I travelled to Germany in mid-March, just as the vicious first wave of the COVID pandemic was sweeping through Europe. The trip, for me, was riddled with guilt (about travelling), anxiety and uncertainty. The world was changing around us by the second, and part of me just wanted to be at home, curled up in a ball! My last overseas trip for quite some time was both eventful and incredibly uneventful. I’ll treasure those last ‘normal’ moments spent abroad before life as we knew it turned upside down.

Books I read in Q3 2020

During Q3 2020, I’ve read fifteen books. Overall this year, I’ve read a total of forty four books. Picking my top three reads from Q3 has been really tough. It was a strong quarter and I loved so many of the books I read. However, I’ve managed to just about narrow it down, and my top three reads from Q3 2020 are reviewed below.

Honorary mentions must go to Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, War Doctor by David Nott and Ordinary People by Diana Evans, all wonderful books! If I wrote reviews about every book… Well, let’s just say this would be less a travel blog, more a blog about books!

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. *****

One of the strongest books I’ve read so far in 2020. This book had me pausing every few pages as I read, thinking back through my life and assessing myself and my past behaviours. It checked me utterly and made me fully realise the privilege I was born with as a white woman. DiAngelo approaches her subject with passion and authority. This is an important, must-read book.

I have written a more comprehensive review on my Black Lives Matter resource page, so head there to find out exactly why this eye-opening book made it into my top three reads of Q3 2020.

Olive by Emma Gannon. *****

I devoured this book in a single sitting!

It’s rare to find a book where the female protagonist does not aspire to have children. As such, Gannon’s debut novel is a refreshing change from the norm. As a woman who doesn’t necessarily see children in her future, I read the book with interest and found it wonderful to be able to identify with many of the issues and barriers that Olive came up against as she explored a future without children.

Aside from being a well-written book, with great characters and a strong narrative throughout, Olive is obviously thoroughly researched and provides welcome insights into a life where not wanting to have children is viewed as ‘normal’. Gannon also explores the nuances of female friendship as Olive and her closest friends navigate their late twenties and early thirties and the changes wrought by marriage, children and big life decisions.

I found this to be a thought-provoking read and would highly recommend it. Olive is a great first novel and I can’t wait to see what Gannon delivers next!

To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope by Jeanne Marie Laskas. *****

I have had this book on my reading list for literally years! When I purchased it and picked it up in early September, I had minimal expectations. How surprised I was to have this book absolutely blow me away! It brought all the emotions, from joy and excitement to sadness and anger. I was shocked to find myself tearing up during a couple of chapters, and laughing out loud at other points.

This is non-fiction at its best – poignant stories from everyday Americans who just happened to write to the President of the United States and receive a response. Laskas collects their tales and sympathetically incorporates them into the book, sitting them comfortably alongside collections of other letters Obama received during his time in office. She also interviews various members of Obama’s Office of Mail and Messenger Operations and the former President himself.

This is a beautiful body of work, a tribute to letter writing. Laskas has done an incredible job with her subject matter and reading the book helps you realise the value and power in letter writing. In this modern age, where digital communication rules, the age-old art of writing a good letter is slowly being eroded away. This book serves to remind us just how important letters still are.

And the other twelve books I read in Q3 2020…

• The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold by Tim Moore. **
• Calypso by David Sedaris. ***
• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. ****
• War Doctor by David Nott. ****
• The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan Philipp-Sendker. ***
• The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. ***
• Ordinary People by Diana Evans. ****
• Twenty Tales from the War Zone by John Simpson. **
• Skincare by Caroline Hirons. ****
• 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak. ***
• Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder. ****
• Intimations: Six Essays by Zadie Smith. ***

Top Three Instagram Photos from Q3 2020

My photos in Q3 2020 are from London, Kent, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Scotland, Wales and Essex.

I choose these three images based on which got the most likes on Instagram and then tell the story behind the picture. Disclaimer: They are not necessarily my favourite photos!

Highgate Architecture, London.

I pass these houses often on my walks around Highgate. They are within fifteen minutes from my home and are spookily beautiful. Every time I pass I make a comment about them, and on this occasion, I finally captured them in all their glory. The Gothic architecture could look menacing or eerie, but I think the building looks whimsical here, perhaps a touch avant-garde. As I slipped my phone back in my pocket, I found myself wondering who lived in these gorgeous properties. I can’t pretend there wasn’t a little touch of envy as I continued my walk…

Summer Sunsets, Powys, Wales.

It was an absolute joy to escape London in July and return to Wales for two glorious weeks. I walked a lot, taking the dogs out in the evenings for sunset strolls. The meadow grass was knee-high, the dogs would all but disappear in the rolling mass of green. Those golden hours were my favourite part of the day, peaceful and quiet, leaving me undisturbed with my thoughts. An oasis in a stressful, generally difficult year.

A Rare Self-Portrait, Hardraw Force Falls, Yorkshire.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram will know that I rarely post photographs of myself on my grid. I prefer pretty scenes, beautiful architecture, landscapes and cityscapes. However, this time, I had a message: Come for the Photos, Stay for the Stories. The caption I wrote underneath this image explains everything.

The caption I wrote underneath this image explains everything.

‘Come for the photos, stay for the Stories.

You may have noticed over the past couple of months that my space on Instagram has evolved slightly. My grid remains a collection of pretty images taken here, there and everywhere. However, my Stories have generally become more focused on current global affairs, politics and topics that I am learning about and that have become increasingly important to me. You’ll notice more links to sign petitions, make donations or click through to posts full of information that has helped educate me.

I want the small space I occupy on social media to be more impactful, which is why I’m bringing more of these conversations and posts to my Stories. I am conscious that I’ve been silent on many things in the past where I should have raised my voice more loudly. Previously, I was worried about rocking the boat and I cared too much about what other people thought of me and my opinions. Well, that’s changing slowly. It’s time to make my voice heard, add it to causes I care about and support and stand up and speak out on matters close to my heart.

So, enjoy the pretty pictures on my grid, they’re not going anywhere. But, going forwards in my Stories, you’re gonna hear my voice much, much more. Come for the photos, sure, but stay for the Stories!’

My Favourite Image of Q3 2020.

There were a LOT of waterfalls in Q3 2020. You’ll get that if you spend time in both Scotland and the Lake District in a single quarter! This was my favourite though!

On our final full day in the Lake District, we hiked to this beautiful waterfall, about an hour or so away from our holiday cottage. It was an unexpectedly warm day and by the time we arrived, I had stripped down to my t-shirt. The walk took us in a loop around the falls and then back down to Ullswater, where we followed the lake shore to Glenridding. We strolled along, enjoying the ease of the walk, and chatting amiably. It had been nine months since I last saw P and it was wonderful to catch up.

Coming Up in Q4 2020

With restrictions tightening once again and the dreaded COVID edging its way back into our lives on a second wave, it’s looking like Q4 could be much quieter than Q3. P and I have one last hurrah planned though – a trip to Skye at the beginning of October! Expect to be inundated on Instagram with a thousand gorgeous shots from Scotland, I’m so excited to finally visit!

I’m also hoping that I’ll be able to go back to Wales at least once, but this is looking increasingly unlikely as Wales have just closed their borders to high-risk areas in England, including London.

It’s likely to be tough three months, but I am also looking forward to the little things. Soup, autumn leaves, blankets, scary films, reading, pumpkins, tea, walks around the Heath, comfort food, nesting… Everything cosy, basically! Oh, and Christmas. It might be an odd one this year, but I know that no matter what, I’ll make it as special as possible!

Why not follow along and find out what I get up to in Q4 on my Instagram!