Heartbreak never gets easier….

I wasn’t going to write this but it’s swirled round and round in my head ever since the final whistle went. Yesterday I was a nightmare I felt sick pretty much from the get go I had an epic breakfast but then didn’t really eat.

It’s just a game?! But when you’re a fan it’s much more than that. As a team we have changed into a force to be reckoned with and if the circumstances had been different this post would have been so different. But hey we can’t change that.

What I will say is I’ve never had more belief in that team. I’m the first to say there are a handful of players that I don’t always give credit to but each of them work and I respect that and I respect Gareth. I’m old enough to remember the pain of Euro 96 and the belief of France 98. Those last Euros saw so much change and I was proud to have witnessed some of those games from the stands. That Germany game will stay with me forever.

Last night was hard and not being at home meant I reacted in a different way. I’m heartbroken for each and every player but I’m proud of them all. We have seen them change in amazing ways before our eyes. Jude Bellingham is 19 years-old and he’s so much stronger than I could ever be. His courage his pride and his kindness will take him far. How he took Harry Kane in his arms was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen during so much pain.

Harry Kane is our captain and I won’t hear a bad word about him the pressure on that second penalty was huge. I know he will be hating himself for it but he’s the man I always want to see step up. That rarely happens and sadly that pain hurts.

I have every belief in that team and I’m immensely proud of them. They fought and we were beaten by the holders. A lot went against us but that experience will take them further. I honestly never wanted to write this post but today has felt numb for me. I got home late from work and was angry, tired and wired so I finished watching Wednesday on Netflix which is a must watch and shed a few tears before snoozing today I’ve pretty much wasted the day in my pjs. But we move…every single message and picture I’ve seen by members of that team has made me smile and shed a tear.

This dream may well be over but they’ll be back stronger….sorry once again for the lack of bookish content I have reviews to write and I’m aiming to create a Top Ten Tuesday this week so watch this space….

Football’s taking over!!!!

For those of you who come to my little place on the internet for bookish content. I’m sorry football has taken over once again…I can’t not talk about it. I’m overwhelmed and awestruck once again it has to be spoken about. I do promise there are lots of bookish things to come…so watch this space.

Football has been a massive part of my life since I was a kid Euro 96 and France 98 being solid memories for me. The streets were so eerie if you went out when England were playing you wouldn’t see a soul.

As a teen I hated being referred to as a Tomboy but essentially that’s what I was. Ok I did have a time when I played football with the lads on the green in a skirt but hey I’ve always been a girl. Now as an adult I embrace my football – anyone who ever watches a game with me in a stadium or on a TV will realise I’m animated I’m not one of these little girls who says nothing and knows nothing I can hold my own with the best of them and have done so pretty much all my life. Getting to many more games of late has been great let’s roll on the next Euro’s when I can go woo..

Getting to the Quarter Finals is always a special moment but we never make things easy. Last night was a mixture of pride, annoyance and stress and once those goals came the excitement took over. It was a special moment to be able to watch with most of my family soz Sam. Me and my bro Tom have always shared a love of the beautiful game and watching together can be fun but I know I pretty much annoy everyone. So it seems if I’m unhappy with a player they score ha. Queue Jordan Henderson’s impressive goal that opened the scoring ha…I mean I still cheered I’m always pleased to see any of the boys on the scoresheet but Harry Kane getting a much needed goal pretty much made my night.

Today I’m embracing the happiness and I’ve finally put this top on…

My sister treated me to this and I love it.

I promise tomorrow will be back to the books. What would you like to see? A Top Ten Tuesday or a book review? Do let me know. I’ll be heading into work early shortly to have brunch with a few of my colleagues before our meeting and then I have the late shift. Have a fantastic Monday all and remember We Still Believe!!!!

World Cup Fever…

I know the opening ceremony and game was yesterday but in all honestly it never begins for me until England play. Now Qatar is not a country I would like to ever visit and it doesn’t seem safe or right to host a tournament as prestigious as the World Cup but we didn’t decide this and neither did our national team.

Today sees our Three Lions take on Iran in our first group game and I’m wholeheartedly behind my boys. It’s going to feel weird watching a game on a Monday lunchtime but with most at work at least I can shout and scream on my own. It’ll then feel weird heading into work after the game which means I’ll have to catch some of the Wales game on my break. I’m intrigued to see all my Spurs boys sport their home teams colours but there’s only one I’m supporting and that’s the Three Lions.

On Friday afternoon I found out that they had remixed It’s Coming Home For Christmas and to say I’m obsessed with another take on the football song that started the love for me is an understatement. Bringing the Lionesses into the song and some festive cheer. My Crimbo number 1 in a heartbeat. Euro 96 was where my love for the national team started and I remember France 98 as if it was yesterday.

In case anyone like my Mum wants a physical copy it’ll be released on 2nd December. God I have such goosebumps.

Let’s go Harry Kane shirt for the win.

So I went and put on mine and mums bets this morning and I was instantly ID’d that was a good old boost this morning.

Weekly Update #49

It’s been a hot minute since I shared one of these the last one you can re-read here. I’m so sorry this is the first one of 2022 and we’re in October.

But we’re back….well for those of you who have been here a while this post usually consists of lots of running selfies as well as updates on blog posts and stuff but as it stands there hasn’t been any running as my foot is still kinda off. (That’s a whole other story)

I have been undertaking in daily 100 skips which is my challenge as part of October for Cancer Research UK if you would like to sponsor me you can do so here anything you can spare I will be eternally grateful. I’m off the starting blocks in terms of sponsors thanks to Nichola but they are still light and I’m on day 8 having successfully got through this far….

In regards to blog posts up first this week was my October TBR which you can read here.

Tuesday saw my besties birthday I took the day off and we attended the Jurassic World exhibition in London which was a lot of fun

That evening we went to see & Juliet. I still can’t believe it had taken us this long to see it and following watching the show I penned my thoughts and you can read them here

The next blog post I posted was a round up of what I read in September and you can read that here.

Yesterday I shared my thoughts on Bryony Gordon’s Let Down Your Hair and you can read that here.

In terms of reading I finished my first audiobook of the month this week and that was Christina Lauren’s Something Wilder.

I am hoping to have finished penning my thoughts to share this review with you tomorrow.

Last night I was lucky enough to be at Wembley Stadium to watch the England Lionesses take on USA. European Champions against World Champions – what a night it was what a game but thankfully the ladies came through once again. I was so grateful to have bagged a ticket following the Euros. What I will say is they are truly intoxicating to watch. The confidence they have in each other is awe inspiring what a night. I love watching the men but the atmosphere was a different level for the ladies.

May have found this beauty too. The Bobby Moore entrance was an experience on its own.

This morning I’ve already pushed myself to the limit. I returned to Park Run but not as a runner as a volunteer tail walker and on a beautiful morning it wasn’t a chore. I must admit I obviously miss running it.

I’ve also undertaken my 100 skips as per my October challenge. I did treat myself to a few cheeky hash browns and now I’m almost at my Legs, Bums and Tums class. They’ll be time to get refreshed and to refuel before I start work later. Happy Saturday all. Whatever you do make sure you do it with a smile.

As always if there is something else you would like to see me feature on the blog do get in touch. Until next time have a fabulous weekend.

Weekly Update #48 – it’s been a while….

It sure has been a while since I posted a weekly update and you can read the last one here. I do hope to get these posts back on a more regular basis – where they will be posted on Saturday if possible and on Sunday when needed like today. I had half hoped to have got it up yesterday but I was working and then I watched the England game.

I’ve loved every second of these posts and they gave me so much during lockdown.

As always if there is something you would like to see on the update or the blog in general then leave me a comment below.

There wasn’t a lot of running to report last week but I was out pounding the pavement for week 9 run 2 last Sunday.

Of late the runs I’ve been reluctant to do have been my best.

On Tuesday I had the absolute pleasure of attending the England V Germany game thanks to my awesome bestie for bagging the tickets.

What an honour, what a pleasure and omg what history was made. We beat Germany and Harry Kane bagged a goal. It’s safe to say I’ve been living on cloud 9 and last nights game at home added to that.

On Thursday evening I joined a bunch of my colleagues for a pub quiz and what a fun night it was. The last time I attended I didn’t remember much so I was a lot more subdued this time. I was dead happy with our team we didn’t win but I did contribute. It was so nice to be able to just chill with my colleagues. Although in saying that I learnt a lesson never leave your phone at the table. I ended up with a number of images including some blurry ones. Here’s a fun one….

It’s been very light on the blog with just this post that you can read here.

I’m hoping to finish Paige Toon’s fantastic Someone I Used To Know today so watch this space. Sorry that it’s been so sporadic I’m hoping to get things back on an even keel.

Football’s Coming Home…

Between a crazy work day and a football match I literally forgot that I had half started a book cover challenge blog post for yesterday. It will be finished and will more than likely feature tomorrow but as for today I have to mention the England game. I’m sorry if you’re hoping that my bookish ramblings would mean no Football mentions.

As a child Euro 96 was my first real memory of England playing in a big competition.

For me Terry Venables and his mixed team of experience and youth were golden.

The country were invested in the lads and if there was a game on you could bet the shops and the streets were eerily quiet. Then those penalties happened with our lads wearing grey and us being defeated. It was my first real sense of anticipation and disappointment – I was hooked on the team and hated seeing how much stick Gareth Southgate and Stuart Pearce went through as a result. I absolutely hate how the media turn on those we invested in.

Last night Gareth Southgate’s extremely young England team made history and broke the curse that ridiculed Gareth for years. We won on penalties – my heart could not cope and I literally cried.

For me what he has achieved with these lads is a sense of belief that now is our time. Not just in the lads but we actually believe it. I was certain we would get through last night – I wasn’t prepared for the nerves to be shot like that but a number of players who I had little personal faith in came through and that experience will change them as players going forward.

It’s such an exciting time to be English and to be alive. That little bit of history we made last night was just the beginning the tip of the iceberg and yes we will be on tender hooks come Saturday but let’s do this.

Bookish ramblings will resume tomorrow 🙂