The whole picture: November 2020

What I've done in November

Along with the rest of England, I've been back in lockdown for most of November, so excitement has been somewhat limited. Plans to return to work part-time were thwarted by the announcement of the new lockdown, so furlough continues.

Unexpectedly finding time on my hands pushed me into buying a new camera after my old one broke a couple of months go. I had planned to wait until the Black Friday sales, but I was spending so much time out walking among the autumn leaves, frustrated at being unable to photograph their colours, that I bit the bullet early - and somewhat spontaneously, at least for me - and splashed out. No regrets.

Being a creature of habit, I've really struggled with not having a routine over the past few months, and one of the ways I've rectified that has been taking morning walks. A couple of times a week, I'll wander into town and get a takeaway coffee, then head up to the hill in the grounds of Tonbridge Castle and enjoy or photograph the view, before walking home and starting my day. I love seeing the town laid out below me, and find it fascinating to see how the view is changing day by day, as the leaves fall off the trees, and Tonbridge Park inevitably floods.

Where I've been in November

By my estimation, I haven't strayed any further than about 9 miles from home this month, thanks to that aforementioned lockdown. I think I've only filled my car with petrol twice this year, for which my bank balance is very grateful.

The month began with a wander around the Bidborough Scarecrow Trail with a friend, a couple of days before the lockdown kicked in. Bidborough is one of my favourite Kent villages (though the steep house prices mean I'm forever destined to be a visitor rather than a resident, despite my ardent wishes...) and it looked even better with all manner of scarecrows adorning people's gardens and drives.

I ended the month with a 'big night out' at Hever Castle's winter lights trail - literally, the biggest night out I've had since February. A friend and her son were due to join me, but the new restrictions ruled out those plans so I went alone. This year's theme is Peter Pan, with London landmarks recreated in miniature, against a backdrop of psychedelically illuminated trees. The castle building itself is floodlit, and other installations include a light tunnel and a towering Christmas tree. You can read more about it and see photos on this blog post.

What I've eaten in November

To my shock, I don't appear to have taken a single food photo in November (#TerribleBlogger). Eating out has been non-existent, and general cooking/baking fatigue has set in (though I do intend to make a big festive baking comeback for Christmas!). I did whip up a spectacular mushroom and bacon macaroni cheese. But my most adventurous culinary outings have been my mission to find the best (takeaway) gingerbread latte available in my local area. Pleased to announce that, after some very indepth and considered research, the winner is Finch House in Tonbridge High Street, which has been open for takeaway throughout, so I've been going back a couple of times a week to get my fill. Support local and all that.

What I've been watching in November

Cold, dark days + lockdown = me hitting Netflix HARD this month.

TV Shows

• The Crown - Obviously, series of the month, which everyone was talking about. We're in the Diana years now, which is still a bit before my time (I was only 6 when she died) so I don't really remember much about her from the media at the time. However - and I hesitate to admit this as I know I'm largely alone in saying it  - I didn't really find her likeable in this particular portrayal. The acting is fantastic, and the Royal Family didn't exactly come across well either, but I didn't find myself warming to Diana. That said, I subsequently fell down a rabbit hole of all of the Diana/Royal Family documentaries on Netflix, which made for interesting viewing.
• Designated Survivor - Watching this gripping American political thriller while the whole Trump-Biden election debacle was going on in Washington IRL was... an experience. I raced through the first series, and made headway on the second one before deciding to take a break. I'll get back to it one day.
• Dash & Lily - I saw a few people talking this one up on Twitter and liked the look of the trailer, so decided to give it a go. The opening episode contains many of my favourite things (a bookshops, New York, Christmas, snow, ice skating...), and I do love a rom-com. I'm three episodes in and enjoying it so far, albeit somewhat cheesy. I'll probably pick it up again when December's back in full swing and I'm feeling more festive.

Films

My Octopus Teacher - Not going to lie guys, really don't see what the fuss was about this one. Yeah, it's a nice story, but David Attenborough would have told it in a tenth of the time, with better camera work and narration.

The Healer - A relaxing, easy and moving watch, though without giving the plot away, it strays a bit too far into fantasy territory for my liking. 

Red Joan - Based on the true story of a young British scientist who worked as a spy for the KGB. An interesting plot, but I didn't really find her reasons for doing what she did all that compelling. 

True Heart - A very young Kirsten Dunst finds herself and her twin brother lost in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. A bit slow-paced, and very dated for something that's only 20 years old, but some spectacular scenery to be seen.

Enola Holmes - This story of Sherlock Holmes's younger sister was highly recommended when it was released. I found the whole story of a sheltered 19th century teenager solving a mystery in London a bit far-fetched, though it'd be a good one to watch as a family, with older children. 

First Man - For a film that's almost 2.5 hours long, I had hoped for a bit more detail in this dramatised biography of Neil Armstrong. There's plenty of information about his training and missions, but I was disappointed that it didn't really show much about what he was like as a person. 

Life of the Party - Anything with Melissa McCarthy is bound to be a hit, and while the story of a middle-aged woman attending college with her daughter is a bit of a stretch, it's an easy, feel-good watch.

Christmas With The Coopers - Nothing too deep here, just a festive, family story. There's so much going on, it's hard to feel an affiliation with one particular character or storyline, but it's ideal for putting on in the background while you're wrapping Christmas presents.

Midnight at the Magnolia - Predictable, yes. Cheesy, yes - but not unwatchably so. If you're into romcoms and easy-watch Christmas films, give this Chicago-set story of two lifelong friends a go.

What I've been reading in November

• Grown Ups by Marian Keyes - I bought this one at the start of lockdown and had been saving it for a 'special occasion' as her books have never let me down before. But as it became clear there would be no 'special occasions' in 2020, I cracked it open this month. I'm usually of the opinion that any book requiring a family tree printed at the start to help you keep track of the characters is probably not worth persevering with, and it did take a while to get all of the characters straightened out in my mind, but it turned out to be worth it in the end, sprinkled with Keyes' signature sparkling wit and fantastic dialogue throughout. 600+ pages though - you've been warned!
• Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain - the title sounds like a mushy, cheesy romance novel, but it's not. It's the story of one woman's obsession with a broken lighthouse, the reason for her obsession revealed slowly as the novel progresses. There are no sudden twists, but it's a compelling read. It was only once I finished reading it that I realised it's the second book in a trilogy. It makes perfect sense as a standalone novel, but I wish I'd known before.
• The Whaleboat House by Mark Mills - is what I'm reading now. The opening few pages contain some very indepth and specialist fishing descriptions, which might put some people off. I persevered and Moby Dick has morphed into a Great Gatsby-esque situation - I'll let you know next month how I get on.

What's next?

As of 2 December, the area I live in will be in Tier 3, so it's looking like a quiet Christmas. I plan to continue reading, crafting, baking, walking and photographing my way through the rest of 2020.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with my latest adventures.

See also - what I got up to in:

• October 2020: London, baby!
• September 2020: Seals, beach huts and ice cream.
• August 2020: Cream tea, rooftop jaunts and sunflowers.
• July 2020: Castles, wildflowers, and a return to blogging.