Hey gang! Another week, another Weekly Balance. Let’s have a look back at the past seven days in my life and what I’ve learnt from it.

What I’m thinking about…

Christmas! As I write, it’s Sunday 20th December, and Christmas is just a few short days away. I can’t quite believe we’ve made it to this point in time in 2020, a year like no other, a year none of us will forget in a hurry (as much as we would like to!). I am really looking forward to a few days at a slower pace over the festive period – I’ll be working some of that time of course, so I plan to make the most of the downtime to simply be. 2020 has been an absolute rollercoaster and I’m sure many of you reading are just glad to be sending the end of it (likewise!). 2021 awaits us, and brings with it definite hope and excitement for a new chapter in the pandemic with several vaccines in development and approval for one or more in progress or already granted across the globe.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you guys a very merry, restful and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Thank you all so, so much for joining me every Sunday to read The Weekly Balance. I started it last January as a way to get me writing more and I’m so so glad I did – it’s one of the most enjoyable and mindful parts of my week and I love sharing these thoughts, reviews, recommendations and recipes with you. And yes – I do plan to continue into 2021, so I’ll see you all with a new post in the first week of January!

What I’m reading…

 After The Silence was the last book I read, and that was definitely a different kind of book choice for me. So, here’s the thing. I am, totally, 100%, utterly WOEFUL with anything remotely scary. So me deciding to give After The Silence a read is testament to the book FOMO I had about it! I heard Louise O’Neill interviewed on the Irish Times Women’s podcast recently and after hearing a bit about the story of the book, I was intrigued.

 After The Silence is a fiction novel about an unsolved crime, a mystery that hooked the attention of the Irish nation for years to come – the murder of a young woman called Nessa Crowley, whose killer was never found or convicted, on an island called Inisrún in Ireland. The murder happened the night of a birthday party thrown by well-known wealthy couple Henry and Keelin Kinsella, in their mansion house on Inisrún. Speculation about the killer continued for years to come – was it Henry? Keelin? Someone else with motive? No one ever knew for sure. A decade after the murder, a documentary crew arrive on Inisrún, intent on uncovering Nessa’s killer, with interviews planned with the island residents, the Kinsellas, and beyond. But the Kinsellas have a lot to hide, and they’re very very good at keeping secrets.

 This book gave me the absolute CREEPS but I also could NOT put it down. It’s dark, disturbing, thrilling, chilling and definitely worth a read! I don’t think I’ve disliked a character as much as I disliked Henry Kinsella in a long time (Umbridge in Harry Potter comes close!). I did have to leave all the lights on in my room for a while after finishing the book – but that’s perhaps just me!

As always, let me know what you’re reading in the comments below! My current read is The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and as always I’ve review that when I’ve finished it – only a few pages left. Next up for me with be On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.

What I’m listening to…

This week I really enjoyed the latest episode of the Unlocking Us podcast by Brené Brown, which was an interview with Dax Shepherd and Tim Ferris. It was really interesting to listen to three podcast hosts chat on a range of different topics, and it’s a very funny conversation too. It’s also a long listen so you can plug in while doing a few jobs or going for a stroll, and it’ll keep you company on the way!

Recipe of the Week

The recipe I’m loving this week are my Christmas Magic Mince Muffins – a lovely festive recipe just in time for Christmas! You can find the recipe here.

And that’s a wrap for this week gang! If you want to get in touch, you can find me @theirishbalance on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I hope you have a lovely week ahead folks – remember, stay informed with the advice from your local health authority regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance and be kind!

Ciara  x