The Penguin Women Writers Series - A Review

The Penguin Women Writers Series by Viking Books (Penguin)

Celebrating the Centenary of Women's right to vote February 1918

 

In my first publisher collaboration, Penguin have sent me this absolutely beautiful set of books for exploration. 'The Penguin Women Writers Series' was released to celebrate the centenary of women getting the right to vote in Britain in 1918 thanks to the tireless work of suffragettes around the country.

The collection consists of four forgotten classics by talented female writers which have been selected and introduced by Kamila Shamsie and Penelope Lively - both accomplished female writers in their own right.

 

 

The adorable modern covers have been designed by American artist Martha Rich whom you can discover more about here

 

Over the next two weeks I'm going to publish my reviews of each these forgotten works and hopefully assist them in getting the recognition they deserve (whether good or bad) which they were perhaps not afforded the right of the first time they were published.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

The Nuanced Notebook x

 

 

Sisters

When people find out I'm one of so many girls the reaction is often the same - "Your poor Dad, surrounded by all those women!" - which I generally refute by pointing out that he never had to lift a finger; from his boots being polished to having eleventy billion cups of tea made for him per day.

Poor me more like! Can you imagine the cattiness of that household?! From stolen belongings, blackmail, Chinese burns, blackmail, fighting over bedrooms, practical jokes, mental warfare, hand-me- down clothes, an abundance of PMT and not forgetting blackmail - it was a perilous environment to say the least.

To my older siblings I was a source of slave labour and amusement - a tradition passed down to each generation. In fairness to my eldest sister Emma, she was a surrogate mum to me for periods - but the terror she rained down on the others I could not even put into print - Girls are evil!
There were times when I was young that if someone had offered me £50 on the street for my little sister I would have strongly considered it, such was the extent of our rivalry, and I know my older sister Ali felt exactly the same about me when I was trailing round after her.

But do you know what happens when you get older?  You realise that they are the people with whom you have the most shared memories. You can grieve and celebrate with them for things lost and gained that other people would never understand - and they have crap loads of embarrassing stories about you so you need to keep them on side.
These gals become your best friends.
Even though your fashion tastes and lifestyles may have diverged dramatically, they have your back through relationships gone sour, house moves with no notice, crying phone calls at all hours of the day. They become your drinking buddies, your most avid social media followers and the faces you want to see when good stuff happens.

Even those you don't see as often as you'd like; you know that when shit truly hits the fan they'll be at your side, helping bury the dead body.

The top picture is a tattoo my baby sister (former nemesis) and I got recently to commemorate each other, and to celebrate all the crap we've helped each other through when times were bad; the laughs we've had when times were good and all the swings we've swung on, drunk and sober!

The next picture is me with my beautiful sisters - every one of them strong and amazing queens in their own way.

Love you girls. xxxxxx

Holly x

5 of the Best Bike Rides on the Wirral and Surrounding Area

Hello again :) As I'm sure you've guessed by now, I'm a fan of bike rides. I should start by stating that by bike rides I don't mean Road Bike cycling and I wouldn't describe myself as a 'cyclist'; which implies a level of all-weather dedication that I don't have! 
If you are the kind of legend that likes to ride 100K in a day on a bike worth more than a car; daubed head to toe in lycra and sporting a Go-Pro - then power to you! But this post is not really for you, it would bore you...

It's for people like me who don't like traffic, but do like picnics and views and cushioned bike seats and stop offs for refreshment of the alcoholic variety - Pleasure Rides if you will. It's for people with bikes like the little beauty below. 

Below are my personal favourites when it comes to 'Pleasure Rides' on the Wirral and the surrounding areas... Enjoy!


1)New Brighton to Hoylake - approx 14m round trip 

I do this route from where I live all the time but of course if you live at the other end of the Wirral you can do it in reverse! 

The official cycle path starts behind Bubbles World of Play on the New Brighton front (5 mins down the hill from the train station) and ends by Leasowe beach at which point you just follow the promenade. The prom comes to an end near the The Parade Community Centre in Hoylake. From here you can see Hilbre Island and Little Eye and out across to the welsh hills. 

As it's on the west side of the peninsula it's a great route on which to see the sunset. The Derby Pool Harvester is en route at Harrison Drive for a cheeky pint 😉

2) Hooton to West Kirby - approx 25m round trip

An understandably popular area for walkers, cyclists and families; this route follows the Wirral circular trail along arguably the prettiest of Wirral's coast lines on the Dee estuary. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery with a drink/picnic - my favourite of which is Parkgate - famous for it's ice cream and eateries. 

 If you get the train to Hooton follow the signs for Willaston village around 10 minutes away, which is where you'll find the entrance to the Wirral Way. Hooton to Willaston is via Hooton Rd but the rest of this route is traffic-less. Though this is a 25m round trip I like to end the ride in the White Lion pub in West Kirby (12.5m) which has tons of character and a boss beer garden. You can then either jump on the train home from here or carry on to rejoin the coastal path at Hoylake.

3) New Brighton to Otterspool Prom - approx 17m round trip

This route has the best of both worlds when it comes to scenery; from the Wirral side you get to see the iconic Liverpool skyline and from across the river the greenery of the peninsular. Ferries across the Mersey run frequently but try to avoid the 'river cruise' ones and ask for a direct ticket or you'll get stung for a tenner - unless of course you a visitor to the area and want a river cruise.

The route itself is fairly self explanatory, just stick to the promenade on both sides of the river. Enjoyable rest stops include the Magazines pub in New Brighton and the Brittania Inn on Riverside Drive on the other side of the river but if you're sightseeing in the area this is a great route past some great landmarks such as the famous Liver Buildings and Albert Dock.

4)Chester to Connah's Quay  - approx. 16.6m round trip 

Away from the Mersey and over to the Dee for our next route, this South Wirral to North Wales ride goes via route 5 of the Sustran's National Cycle Network,. Once on the disused railway from Chester into Wales, this is a traffic free route and can be linked up with a ride along the River Dee on the way back.

After getting to Chester City Centre (train/drive) navigate to  

Northgate Avenue at the rear of Northgate Arena (around the corner from the Northgate Arms pub 😉)and join the disused railway at the rear. As this route is slightly less straight forward here are the full details: Full Route Directions  - It is worth it I promise! The route follows mostly farmland and peaceful waterways and ends near Harwarden Bridge for rail connections. If driving it may be better to do the route in reverse as there is a free car park at Connah's Quay but a pay-and-display at Chester Northgate!

5) Liverpool Loop Line - approx 26m round trip

To any Scousers mortally offended that I'm describing Liverpool as a surrounding area of the Wirral, I'm sorry! 

I didn't want to exclude this route and '4 of the Best Bike Rides on the Wirral and 1 in Liverpool' just didn't have the same ring to it. Anyhoo...

You can join this fantastic route at either end depending how north or south you live but I find it easier to get to the Aintree end and back from where I live in New Brighton. 

Photograph: gooleimages

From Aintree Train Station follow this route to Roosevelt Drive - a 4 min ride max and you'll find the start of the loop line. This route has mixed reviews as it covers so many different parts of Liverpool, including some where broken glass and rubbish is abundant on the trail, but I've never read anything about people experiencing trouble and I've only encountered friendly people. 

The actual trail is traffic free and surrounded by trees and general greenery  - it certainly does not feel like riding through a city!

So there it is - I hope you enjoy these scenic rides as much as I do! I'm always looking for new routes to so let me know your favourites, traffic free preferably!

Holly x

Turning 30 (Reluctantly)

I knew I would never turn 30 with the dignity and grace that my friends have. Being one of the youngest in my friendship group from school I've watched them reach this mile stone one by one - (in sheer disbelief that I've known these people nearly 20 years!) and trying my damnedest to deny the passage of time that would eventually lead me here too.

I know my friends and followers who are over 30/40/50 and beyond are probably scoffing at the dramatics and may even be closing this window as we speak - and I do genuinely apologise. If you're still reading - I promise that once this week is over I will get over myself, pull up my big girl pants and crack on - after all life will not wait for me to catch up.

However, I must admit I am freaking out a little.

Not as badly as I thought I'd be mind; I'm not the weeping or rocking in the corner with a box of wine and my childhood photo albums. However I am reminiscent of a youth not particularly well spent (who's was?) and obsessing over wasted time I'll never get back. And I don't buy into that bullshit of having no regrets because they 'make us who we are'  - if they invent that machine from Eternal Sunshine I will be all over that mofo.

But onward and upwards right? Friends I have who are in their 30s say it's the best time of their lives, friends I have in their 40s say their 40s have been the best time of their lives so I guess its only on the up from here!
I made one of those '10 things before 30' lists which has been pretty much a disaster; so I'm re-writing it to be my '10 things before 33' as I've always been one to do things in my own sweet time, as my boyfriend and work punctuation records will testify!
OJ  -I'm almost never late 😉

So here it is, along with the current progress status!

1) Learn a new language - I did go to German classes and got an app on my phone. If you ever need to ask where a train station is I'm your gal.

2) Learn to play Joni Mitchell on guitar - again I did start classes! My chord progressions are coming along nicely but the likeliness of going from that to 'A case of you' in 4 days are slim to none.

3) Buy a house. Almost there :) 4-5 months to go.

4) Go to the Galapagos islands.  - Not done it. No plans, no financial prospects of doing so right now. But who knows - I've got 3 years!

5) Go to Africa - I've been to Morocco so technically this is ticked off, but the Africa I have in my head is still on the list, which is basically Chad - don't ask me why but I really want to go to Chad.

6) Have good hair. Progress: 😐

7) Get published... this one was probably a little ambitious since I've only started this blog in the last month let a lone built up the courage to go any further - but I feel like I'm on the right track.

8) Do a masters degree - Progress: On hold for now 😢

9) Learn to drive - I say this every year. This could be the one, you never know!

10) Get back to size 10. Enough said.

I won't list all the things I have achieved, but aside from the above the last three years have been the best of my life without a doubt.
So I'm going to try really hard to say goodbye to my 20s with a lighter heart!

See you on the other side!

Holly x