I have always enjoyed reading, except when it was obligated by school š. At an early age, I started to be interested in books in English. I had read some books, translated in Dutch, and when I tried their original English versions, they just seemed way be
I have always enjoyed reading, except when it was obligated by school 😉. At an early age, I started to be interested in books in English. I had read some books, translated in Dutch, and when I tried their original English versions, they just seemed way better (to me, at least). I had times where I read a lot, and times where I had issues concentrating.
I read most on vacation, dragging all the books with me was a thing… It wasn’t until 2014 that I got an eReader… I enjoyed reading in summer, when the weather was nice, out in the garden, sometimes with a nice cold beer… Some books I’ve only read once, some I re-read several times. I still have several “old fashioned” paper books, but when I can, I try to read them digitally.
Don’t get me wrong, I do prefer real books over the digital ones. But… Ever since my hands got bad, it’s gotten very hard for me to hold books properly for a longer time, especially the heavier ones. And, one other thing that the eReader has: background light. I always have it o
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I have always enjoyed reading, except when it was obligated by school š. At an early age, I started to be interested in books in English. I had read some books, translated in Dutch, and when I tried their original English versions, they just seemed way better (to me, at least). I had times where I read a lot, and times where I had issues concentrating.
I read most on vacation, dragging all the books with me was a thingā¦ It wasnāt until 2014 that I got an eReaderā¦ I enjoyed reading in summer, when the weather was nice, out in the garden, sometimes with a nice cold beerā¦ Some books Iāve only read once, some I re-read several times. I still have several āold fashionedā paper books, but when I can, I try to read them digitally.
Donāt get me wrong, I do prefer real books over the digital ones. Butā¦ Ever since my hands got bad, itās gotten very hard for me to hold books properly for a longer time, especially the heavier ones. And, one other thing that the eReader has: background light. I always have it on a very low setting, usually at 8%, but itās so much easier to read in bed, and then fall asleepā¦ Or to read on the couch with just a few candles on (which I usually enjoy in winter, tugged in nicely under a warm blanket).
Iāve been struggling with concentration again. I was currently re-reading the Hunger Games series, after I read the latest one this summer. I struggled with my health, and I focused on my puzzle to distract myself (Finding distractions). After I finished it, I got an urgeā¦ I heard a new Robert Langdon series book was out (by Dan Brown). I have the first 4 in paper versions, but I only read the first three. And I loved the three movies, although I sometimes struggled a bit with the changes they made to the stories in the movie adaptationsā¦
Butā¦ I have all 6 books in the series on my eReader now, and Iāve been re-reading Angels & Demons. Iāve read more than usual, hoping it would help me relax and entertain me as well. While I write this, Iām at 88% of the book. I think I started reading this on either last Thursday or Friday? For the people wondering about the books in the series:
Of course my āaimā is to read all the books in order now. Which is quite a feat, I guess, as theyāre not the thinnest books and I have these moments where I canāt get enough of reading, or when I canāt properly concentrate on itā¦ But I have the books, so I can take my timeā¦ (as long as I charge the Kobo and it doesnāt die on meā¦ š).
As I am writing this post, I have the DaVinci Code on the telly. I wish they had made more movies of the books. Even though theyāre not always that accurate, I do love seeing the scenery of where the books take place. Iāve been to Paris with my mum back in February 2004, and Iāve done a little tour across Italy with her in October 2012. So it was so cool to actually see the places where the books take place and then recognize some bits where weāve been to as well. š
I would love to visit Rome again. Maybe take my best friend with me, as sheās a history teacher and she knows a bit about this and that. The tour mum and I took did show us some spots. But of course itās all in a short amount of time. I would not mind going to Rome for a mid-week or so, and just wander about and relax while enjoying all the sceneries.
So yeah, I do enjoy some reading from time to time. And at this moment, I am into the whole world of symbolism, with Robert Langdon leading me through it all. Both on the eReader screen, as on the bigger screen.
Three movies have been made: the DaVinci Code, Angels & Demons, and Inferno.
Letās get back to my book now, otherwise Iāll never be able to finish it. š
Thank you for your interest in my blog. I really appreciate your visit. If you like my posts and you want to share them on your social media, please, feel free to do so! Iād be honored. If you donāt want to miss a thing, press the follow button (youāll need to be a signed in WP user) or you can follow me though the FediVerse with the link below, or scroll down and leave your email below this post. If you are a WP user and you would like me to know you liked my post, press the star/like button please. You can also comment when you see this post as a Toot on the Fediverse, and Iāll be notified of that as well. Thanks ever so much! Of course comments are welcome, but spam wonāt get shared, so donāt bother with thatā¦
Please be wise and stay safe! I hope to see you back real soon again, feel free to drop in anytime! Wishing you all the best. With love, Cynni š¹
I am living on a disability income and donāt generate an income with my blog. If you would like to support me and my work, Iād greatly appreciate it. Every bit helps me tremendously. For more information and a donation link, please check out ko-fi.com/PlaystationPixy
If you prefer to use PayPal, thatās also a possibility: PayPal.me/CynniPixy
A scenic daytime view over the gently flowing River Tiber in Rome, looking toward Vatican City. In the foreground spans the historic Ponte SantāAngelo, a stone bridge from the 2nd century, adorned with Baroque angel statues designed by Bernini and hiā¦
Itās no secret that Iāve been struggling the last 4Ā½ months. Physically, mentally, emotionallyā¦ Iāve been through the worst and Iām trying to come back to a good routine, where I can focus on being healthy and strong. And I donāt mean āstrongā as in no longer crying over the loss of Arwen, even though I would not mind tearing up so easily when I remember herā¦ I mean strong as in having my body and my mind back on working together again.
Getting my muscles back on track. Getting my weight under control again. Finding peace with myself, where I now still struggle with feelings of guilt and remorse. But I needed to find myself something to do, to distract myself, to force myself to take a break and just relaxā¦ But I struggled to relax, even the things that I enjoyed before were not helping me to get my mind at ease. Soā¦ After the second surgery, after I had many sleepless nights where I felt sad and lonely, I decided that I should try something that I loved before, but that became āspoiltā by the hexā¦
I had ordered a puzzle before my surgeries. But I just wanted to have it, just because I was afraid that it would be one that would maybe not be available later onā¦ After the second surgery, I ordered a mat and a second puzzle. Mum chose the one we started with, and together we made a beginning. It was hard for me to sit on the chair for long, and I was still so tired that I had trouble focusing.
Then mum went home and I tried to get into a new routine. One where it was just meā¦ One where I was alone and sometimes lonely, where I felt sorry for myself, where I just kept wishing for Arwen to come back to meā¦ š¢
I got Covid-19 while I was trying to recover. So my recovery took even longer. I noticed that my favorite things felt empty. I could watch a series I love and enjoy and nowā¦ Iād feel bored. I became more distracted. Focusing was hard and my motivation was so hard to find.
So I started to think of something that could help meā¦ And then, I just cleaned out the table again, rolled out the mat, and I got back to my puzzle.
Iāve been spending several hours on it, sometimes losing track of time. Every time a piece fits, it feels good. Looking at the progress I made after every time Iāve sat down with itā¦ It feels satisfying. Itās hard to explain, but even with my AHDH wanting to go fast and finish it every time I sit down again, I feel at peaceā¦ Calm, relaxed, concentrated evenā¦ š
But at times, I also feel some pressure. I should go faster, do it better, try a bit harderā¦ And itās so silly to be dealing with thoughts like that, because doing a puzzle isnāt a race. It shouldnāt be too stressful, too demandingā¦ And I know theyāre just the voices of my past pestering me. But it can be hard to not feel pressured in some way, when those thoughts resurface again. Still, so far, itās brought me more fun and distraction than stress.
I wish I had taken a snap of the puzzle when I started it again in my own. Because mum and I had worked in it for a little while already. Mum had been working on the border while I had tried to focus on the little āmovie stripā in the top. Iāve taken several snaps since, to keep track of my progress since then. Every time I sit down, I manage to get some more bits done. And that just feels good. I have another puzzle bought already, to try and make after this one. But I wonder if I will be able to het that one done. Itās bigger, a 1500 pieces set instead of Dumboās 1000. And I fear the colors may be way more challenging! But Iāll have to finish Dumbo firstā¦
Every time I sit down, I just hope that Iāll finish some more bits, get closer to completing it. It would have been cool if I would have been able to show you the āfinished productā by the time this post went live. And I tried my best last Sunday, and I think I did rather well, but unfortunately, there is still the water that needs to be done. And I feel this will prove to be the most challenging partā¦
I have a few busy days, so I donāt know when Iāll be able to sit down againā¦ But I do hope that I can finish it soon. Iāll need to find a nice poster frame that can fit the puzzle. And I need to find a way to keep the puzzle together so I can get it in the frame, once I have itā¦ Iāve never framed a puzzle, so it will be a new experience for me. But I am glad that the distraction itās been giving me has been so positive. š And, to be honest, I am even feeling eager to starting a new puzzle as well. I have one ready to do, but I also have been browsing the web a bit for others that intrigue me.
This is a puzzle that I would enjoy makingā¦ Itās a smaller one, but I love the artwork and Iāve always loved some nice glow in the dark thingsā¦ But money is tight at the moment, so itās saved in my wishlist for nowā¦ And I still need to finish Dumbo and I have the northern lights one that will probably last me some time as wellā¦ I am glad that I found my enjoyment for puzzles again. As I feared it may had been ruined by the hexā¦ š Soā¦ Letās try to finish Dumbo! š
Thank you for your interest in my blog. I really appreciate your visit. If you like my posts and you want to share them on your social media, please, feel free to do so! Iād be honored. If you donāt want to miss a thing, press the follow button (youāll need to be a signed in WP user) or you can follow me though the FediVerse with the link below, or scroll down and leave your email below this post. If you are a WP user and you would like me to know you liked my post, press the star/like button please. You can also comment when you see this post as a Toot on the Fediverse, and Iāll be notified of that as well. Thanks ever so much! Of course comments are welcome, but spam wonāt get shared, so donāt bother with thatā¦
Please be wise and stay safe! I hope to see you back real soon again, feel free to drop in anytime! Wishing you all the best. With love, Cynni š¹
I am living on a disability income and donāt generate an income with my blog. If you would like to support me and my work, Iād greatly appreciate it. Every bit helps me tremendously. For more information and a donation link, please check out ko-fi.com/PlaystationPixy
If you prefer to use PayPal, thatās also a possibility: PayPal.me/CynniPixy
The image features a person and a chocolate Labrador Retriever. The dog is positioned on the left side of the image, with its mouth open and tongue out, appearing happy and relaxed.
