My Oxford Year + Bonus Content

My Oxford Year ~ Julia Whelan (yes, that Julia Whelan)

Ella is a young American woman who travels to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar to study for a year. At the same time, she is offered a career changing opportunity to work on a political campaign back in the states, a job she is assured she can do long distance. Oh, and she quickly falls for a sassy local, Jamie, who is teaching one of her classes. They really like each other, but she is only there for one year, so they decide to keep it light, keep it fun, keep it temporary. It’s going to be a busy year.

My Oxford Year starts out as a typical rom-com, but turns into something more. Without going into too much detail, I will simply say that I enjoyed this book, which Whelan adapted from a screenplay by Allison Burnett, and which Burnett is turning into a film for Netflix. I liked Jamie and Emma, I liked the side characters, I liked the feel of it, I thought it was a charming read. Bonus that there is a quick mention of Grasse, France, where I spent a day on my ‘No Regrets Trip’ in 2022. There were some predictable plot points (aka, the major one), and I would have liked some smaller story lines to not simply disappear, but I feel like that is kind of standard for romantic novels. I listened to the audiobook, which of course was read by Whelan, who does excellent work. Recommended.

Bonus Content

Inspiration

Inspired by Sarah, I cleaned out my personal email account last week. I put emails into folders, and of course a lot go in the trash, but I hadn’t really gone in and sorted it out in almost 2 years. The last time it was empty of all but things I needed to remember was January of 2023. So I thought, maybe I’ll make it a 2025 resolution. Then I thought, future J would love it if I just do it now (thanks Sarah, for the shift in thinking that helped me get it done!), and I vowed to put in 1/2 hour here and there until I got it completed, and hoped I would be finished by January. I was finished in about 1.5 hours. I’m also doing the ‘unsubscribe’ thing, which works well with valid organizations, but I’m not convinced on the actual spam. It’s better, though.

Inspired by Jenny, I bought some new candles when I was out with my friend recently. Inspired by Stephany, I decided that before I start burning those candles, I would finish up all of my 1/2 to 3/4 burned candles. I can declutter and not waste candles, which is great. It’s the perfect time of year for it, since it’s getting dark earlier, and I’ve been enjoying it. Thanks ladies!

Inspired by Sustainablemum, I have twice in recent weeks served leftovers for dinner without any feelings of guilt. Why do I sometimes feel guilty for serving leftovers? I have no idea. Ted and Maya couldn’t care less, they’re just thankful to come home after a long day of work and find food ready for them. But I embraced it, in the mode of 1. not letting food go to waste, and 2. saving money. Yay me!

Where we are now

Stupid resident squirrel George Bush has taken to nibbling the new shoots on my poor avocado tree, which I cut back (severely) due to a heat wave we had that almost killed it. It’s bouncing back, and I tried coffee grounds on the soil to stop the squirrels from burying their acorns, because they were knocking down the shoots in the process. Nance suggested putting river rocks in at the base to keep them from digging, which I was going to do and made perfect sense, but then they started eating my plant. I’m not convinced stones will help with that. So I bought a tomato cage and some mesh to cover it and am hoping for the best. Pray for my poor avocado plant, she only wants to live in this world!

Blogging Fun

Thanks to Birchie, Kyria, and Elisabeth for the beautiful post cards! You have made checking my mail fun again! You all inspired me to send a few post cards of my own. <3

Existential Dread

Of course today is Election Day in the United States, and we’re all stressed out, waiting and hoping. I remember how hopeful I was for Clinton back in 2016, and how bitter I felt when she lost. I remember how excited my Grandma and Great Aunt were to finally have a woman as President. Now they’re both gone. I hope they’re pulling some strings and getting shit done, so we don’t have to try to survive 4 more years of Trump. As one of Ted’s friends used to say, “Stout hearts, friends.” If Harris wins, I’m repeating my 2020 celebration and buying the good champagne.

14 Comments

  • Jenny

    Glad I could be your candle inspiration! I’ve been lighting mine every day (I rotate scents) and I love it.
    Yep- the big day is here. I could still cry when I think about what happened in 2016. This time I’m prepared for anything. Stout hearts, indeed.

  • AC

    Leftovers are the best. I have been known to double the recipe in order to ensure this. I don’t usually read book reviews, but I am glad that I saw more in this post. It’s just that I figure that I will never read those books.

    • J

      We sometimes double recipes so we can freeze the leftovers, too. Regarding book reviews, I know they’re not everyone’s jam. Keep your eye out for the title of the post…if it says ‘Bonus Content’, there will be more than just the review.

  • Ally Bean

    I like the postcards. Don’t know when I last even saw any for sale. Today I’m trying to distract myself from the existential dread. Many comments will be left, many cookies will be baked. No news until after 9:00 p.m. ?

    • J

      Several years ago I needed to buy postcards so I could send them for a political thing I think, and I had a heck of a time finding them! I bought a bunch online, and sometimes if I’m somewhere touristy I will pick up a few.

  • Tobia | craftaliciousme

    Fingers crossed that good champagne is in your hands by end of the week.

    I really need t tackel my inbox. I go through it every month when doing my taxes and sort things but it is still so much. Soe emails I want to read, others I dont know where to put. It’s a mess. I believe I jhave never had an inbox zero in my life.

    I am actually running low on candles. I keep all the remains of burnt down candles and then reheat the wax and mike my own candles. But my last batch got all used up and i dont have much remains for new ones. I guess that means i did rather good in using things up.

  • Diane

    Julia Whelan! There have been a couple books where I didn’t know if the book was good or if Julia Whelan was just excellent.
    Sunday is always leftover night at our house. I call it “Clean out the Fridge” night. In truth, the 12 year old and I eat leftovers. The rest of the family eats sandwiches. Oh well. As long as I don’t have to cook.
    I’m really following the saga of your avocado tree! Gripping.
    Also gripping is today. I’m going to go to work and bury myself for a little bit.

    • J

      I’m with you, as long as I don’t have to cook, I don’t care what people eat. Maya sometimes will make eggs if she doesn’t want what we have leftover.

  • nance

    George Bush continues to be aptly named. Good luck with your netting; I hope it works. The only other alternative I can think of is to actually feed that asshole, which seems all kinds of wrong. Still, you could put food (shelly raw peanuts, feed corn on the cob, etc) in the complete opposite area while your dear avocado tree is sprouting.

    I would love to lend you Marlowe and Piper, who I often run out at the squirrels who interfere with my porch-feeding bluejays, but alas! you refuse to relocate to NEO.

    Rick banned candles here at the Dept. ages ago when he used to work for a fire restoration company. It scared the hell out of him to see how many fires were started by candles. I miss them, and we were always very safe about them, but he really was adamant, so I acquiesced with sympathy.

    And we love leftovers! The boys used to call them Sameovers, LOL.

    • J

      I think we need an outdoor cat to post in our front yard, and another in our back yard. Frustrating. I’m afraid if I feed the squirrels, they will just invite their friends. I already have George Bush, do I really need Dick Cheney hanging around messing things up? NO.

      LOL on sameovers. I love that.

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