Pets make a great addition to any family, they are someone to cuddle, someone to talk to, someone to look after, someone to love.
This probably seems like a really random blog post but I started this blog to document one of the most important days of my life (our wedding) and since then I have found it my place to write about the things I like, that make me, me as well as the things that are important to me in my life.
I’m so sad to say that our guinea pig Captain died yesterday, Sunday 20th September 2020 😭💛 He was such a lovely chap! An old boy at 6 years and 2 months old. Our first pet together (with Remus 💚) back in 2014, when we moved into our flat.
You were adorable when we saw you at Pets at Home, we both knew you were coming home with us! We’ll miss you squeaking to say hello (or FEED ME) as we come in the front/lounge door.
Thanks for being my little lockdown buddy.. you were great company!
We’ll miss you Captain (Gothmog) Byford💛 🐹 . RIP Buddy X
I love documenting what we get up to in the Summer holidays.
Though thanks to Covid we didnt actually have a Summer ‘holiday’, I also didn’t have to work this Summer, so I had all six weeks to enjoy, have fun and relax ready for Sept!
So, without further ado, let’s have a look at what we got up to…
Sorry guys, this is a bit late… but I thought I would still post it as I want to keep up with the quarterly posts.
I’ve been a lot busier since I started back at work.
April/May/June
So, that bloody pandemic is still happening… I am however back at work and have been for two and a half weeks. It is definatly nice to have a bit more normality. My work schedule isnt 100% back to what it usually is so I’m trying to make sure I still use this extra time to get through all my new books that I bought for the COVID-19 outbreak.
Lets have a look at what I have read during this next quarter… we’re halfway through the year already, madness.
Books I have read:
The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary
The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (3/4, but I’ll leave it on the list as its a biggun’)
The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer
Heidi Swain is one of my favourite authors so I was so excited to have this book in my second quarter. I had pre ordered it so that was a very welcome arrival.
As you can see I have also been enjoying Beth O’Leary’s books this quarter. I started with ‘The Switch’ as I have seen lots of recommendations on Instagram and then my friend at work read it and suggested it too. I really enjoyed it and consequently bought her second book, which I enjoyed even more.
‘The Family Upstairs’ I found really gripping. I literally couldn’t put it down by the end, its funny how some books grip you like that! I had this book at the beginning of lockdown so I can’t believe its taken me this long to get around to it.
I have even more books planned for the third instalment, so check back to see what I’ve been reading.
Or, check out my Insta ‘RoseannesBlog’ as I post regularly on there too.
‘Well I’d never do that’ or I don’t see those things’ isn’t enough. The fact is you could, as a white person, and get away with it. Its disgusting.
White privilege is an unseen, unconscious advantage.
You are automatically one step ahead because of the pigment of your skin.. because that is the only difference, we are all part of the human race but our skin pigments vary.. everything else is the same, literally everything.
ℝ𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕤𝕞 & 𝕤𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕤𝕞
Racism is usually carried out by individuals or groups.
Systematic racism is when groups use their power to instill biased values.
(These definitions are adapted from online research.)
This bias within the very systems and fabric of society create a culture of privilege and biased views. When this racial bias results in actions this is when racism becomes a active part of society.
If you are biased you may believe that a black person is more likely to be the culprit of a crime. When you use your position to emphasize this view you are actively being racist, eg: you call the police when a black person is doing nothing that is illegal, but you call anyway, because of the colour of their skin.
This systematic racism within institutions such as the police means that once you’ve made that call that person is unlikely to be treated fairly.
We all know the tragic stories of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless innocent people. It’s sickening.
Can you imagine being terrified everytime you see a police car? No, white privilege.
If you committed a crime and it was between you and a black person, would you be deemed more trustworthy, more innocent regardless of the evidence? Yes, white privilege
𝑫𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆?
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱.
That is nothing really is it! The least you can feel is uncomfortable. Because it’s nothing compared to actually being subjected to it.
ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘/𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕞
You don’t get it?
It’s because you dont have to shout to be heard.
It’s about fighting for a right/s that most people already have as basic human rights… why aren’t black people afforded the same rights?
The system twists these rights so that they aren’t applicable for everyone. Especially in the US. They seem like they apply to everybody, that everybody is free, but they aren’t, not if those in power don’t want you to be.
The Thirteenth Amendment (to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime) being a prime example… you are free unless we can pin a crime on you then you are at our mercy.
So stop and think about how you would feel if you knew you were always going to be on the back foot.
Wouldn’t you want to fight against that?
Yes riots can turn to property damage… I suppose it depends if you equate property damage to human lives? If a bit of rioting is all it takes for people to not care about the ‘Black Lives Matter’ then they were never really on board with it in the first place and thats part of the problem, it’s all too easy for people to walk away from it, black people don’t have that luxury, it’s literally their life.
𝔹𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕃𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕤 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣
All lives cannot matter until black lives matter.
The voices that need to be heard at the moment are that of black people because they are increasingly being targeted. I’m talking about the ‘all lives matter’ debate here; If a house on your street was on fire, would you expect the fire service to arrive and point their hoses on all the houses? Of course not. While they would, rightly, argue that all homes matter, in that very moment they’ll focus their attention and expertise on the house that’s burning down.
All lives cannot matter until black lives matter.
So, what can you do?
Educate yourself. Speak up. Stand together.
👊🏿👊🏾👊🏽👊🏼
Here is a link to the petitions, sign, sign, sign. It’s so easy.
Netflix and Spotify have some brilliant resources that you can watch and listen to.
𝔹𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 🌍🤜🏿🤛🏻
It’s so important that we keep talking about these issues. It’s important that we not only use our platform to do this but to educate ourselves at home too.
Black Lives Matter Is A Movement Not A Moment.
I am by no means an expert, after all I’ve lived my life in a very privileged position (even if I haven’t always realised it) so I am doing my best to change this & educate myself.
Over on my Instagram (roseannesblog) it was decided, via a poll, that my next blog post would be my ‘Day in the Life’
I am going to do a Part One and a Part Two, a mini post for each one.
Part One : Quarantine DITL
Part Two : Back to Work DITL
🄼🅈 🄱🄰🄲🄺 🅃🄾 🅆🄾🅁🄺 🄳🄰🅈 🄸🄽 🅃🄷🄴 🄻🄸🄵🄴
6.30 am Get up! (Begrudgingly) and do our ((Bounce)) trampoline workout.
7.15am I make my breakfast smoothie after ((Bounce)) and I either drink it as I get ready or I leave it in the fridge to take to work with me.
I try and pop something into the slow cooker before I leave for work. I am loving it as it saves any faffing when I get back from work.
8.30 am – 3.30pm Work, Work, Work!
4pm Once I’m home I get changed into my Pjs or comfies.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this!!??
I usually use this time to wind down a bit. I’ll watch a bit of TiKTok, read or watch some tv with a snack.
6 30pm Dinner.
Some meals we have been loving recently are Mexican dishes such as Nachos or Tacos. We’ve also been loving sausages, burgers and BBQ chicken.
8pm onwards
I usually do either a guitar lesson or a little bit of practise at this time. I don’t always do a full lesson, it just depends on my mood.
I also either read or play/chat on House Party with my sister.
11pmonwards Bed time 😴
I probably should go to bed earlier but I’m so rubbish at it, I can’t switch off. Plus, the lockdown got me in bad habits as I didn’t have to get up the next day at a particularly early time.
I usually read or listen to podcasts before bed. I try to limit my screen time.
At the moment I’m listening to the ‘Showmance: Glee recap edition’ podcast with Jenna Ushkowitz & Kevin McHale.
This is awesome, especially if you are a fellow gleek.
I have just finished ‘The Switch’ by Beth O’Leary which is awesome! I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a book to read.
What have you guys been up to in the evenings since we can’t go out?
Over on my Instagram (roseannesblog) it was decided, via a poll, that my next blog post would be my ‘Day in the Life’
I am going to do a Part One and a Part Two, a mini post for each one.
Part One : Quarantine DITL
Part Two: Back to Work DITL
🄼🅈 🅀🅄🄰🅁🄰🄽🅃🄸🄽🄴 🄳🄰🅈 🄸🄽 🅃🄷🄴 🄻🄸🄵🄴
8am Wake up
I usually use this time to scroll through social media, watch YouTube Video’s or Tik Tok and generally wake up.
9.30 ((Bounce)) Workout
This is a 45 minutes trampette exercise class that we usually would do, in the evenings, at a nearby venue. They have moved to online classes during the quarantine and we bought a trampoline each.
It’s great fun & a good workout. We have been doing this 5 days a week.
10.15am Wash and get ready for the day.
(Usually leggings & a hoody or Pyjamas, let’s be real)
10.30am Phonics with my Nephews via Skype.
I work as a Learning Support Assistant in the Early Years class of a Primary School so I was happy to do this for both their (and my) benefit whilst we were unable to be at school! I don’t wanna get too rusty!
11.15am Skype chats & hanging out
Whilst we do this I usually write my to do list for the day. At this point I would also either make some breakfast or brunch depending on how hungry I’m feeling… accompanied by a cuppa of course!
12pm I would usually sit in the sunshine by our double doors playing a bit of Animal Crossing whilst I watch Golden Girls or Glee.
The weathers been amazing.
1pm Work stuff/courses etc on my laptop.
I usually either listen to music whilst I do these or I have Glee on the tv in the background. I hate silence.
3pm Sorting out
Around this time I would do a general tidy round of the flat, hang up any washing, do a spot of washing up… all the fun stuff 🤪
4pm Guitar lesson online
I used the website ‘Fender Play’ to do my online Guitar lessons. I have really been enjoying these during lockdown and I’m pleased with my progress so far. My best achievements are learning chords, Hedwig’s theme guitar tab and the guitar riff to such classics as Salt N Pepa’s ‘Push it’ and MJs ‘Beat it’
5pm I would usually read or play some more animal crossing or go on my phone (thrilling stuff I know!)
6pm Dinner time!
8pm Skype quizzes or game sessions
I love quizzes! And we have been doing these loads during lockdown… we have even started a weekly family quiz on a Friday night.
Me, my husband Tim, my twin sister Sarah and her Husband Dan have been playing board games over Skype too. That’s been really fun and interesting to work out! Sherlock Holmes, a Cludeo style board game was the most interesting to attempt during a video call.
We’ve also played ‘Now that’s what I call Music’ the board game, Birds Names, Harry Potter Monopoly, Tension, Harry Potter Scene it and Big Bang Theory Cluedo.
10pm onwards
Usually I would either watch a film with Tim, read my book or go on my laptop.
I’m not gonna lie, my sleep has been so messed up in this lockdown. I go to bed so much later (or early, depending on how you view 1am/2am) and I’m not up as early as my usual 5.30/6am get up for work. Thank goodness for books and podcasts.
Roseanne Byford 