DIY Reading Retreat

[MrsMappFlint]

I know places run reading retreats but I can't get to one.

I fancy running my own at home just for me,
DC away on trip.

Husband and cat around- for the most part, they won't disturb me-maybe one more than the other-but will generally be able to suit myself.

What would be essential for your own DIY reading retreat at home?
I have plenty of books and tea!🍵📚

I would make sure I have good lighting set up and a comfy chair with a table for my mug. If you have garden then the same set up should be available wherever I fancy sitting for prolonged periods.
You can plan to drive somewhere for a coffee with your book.

Good idea to drive out for coffee. I could take a flask and park somewhere scenic

I spend a day a week doing this - I didn’t know it was A Thing you could go on! I just structure my schedule so one day a week I just read - sometimes out somewhere nice, sometimes at home.

Coffee and no interruptions. Ideally a slice of cake with a cup of tea around 3pm.

@MoistVonL talk about life goals! How amazing

It’s great - my kids are grown, youngest at uni. I make sure everything is done on the days either side, so I can just read on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.

I don’t do it in May and June because I use my ‘reading’ days as gardening days instead, but the rest of the year I try have at least 9:30-4:00 once a week for books.

Can’t afford foreign holidays so I decided to restructure how I lived to incorporate a sort of ongoing holiday each week.

I'm doing it this weekend! Dh working so I'm getting up early to exercise both days then settling down. Cake is bought and wine for 5pm.

I'd have to lock my phone in the car or something to prevent distractions. I don't think I could concentrate for a whole day any more. That's tragic.

I did 6 hours sat in the grounds of a national trust property last weekend. It was bliss!

I'll think of you!

@MoistVonL You are inspirational!

I run reading retreats in Greece and France and am just starting an online bookclub for people who love books but can’t join us. Do DM if you’re interested !

I'd also need to have a few different places around the house to read as I get very fidgety.

I'd also do some sort of do not disturb on my phone to stop me from looking something up or checking the news or whatever. I think you can get settings on phones to facilitate the level of do not disturb required.

Not quite the same but last summer I spent the whole day listening to an audio book, lying on a rug on the grass and watching clouds. It was the most relaxed I have felt in a long while and I keep on meaning to repeat it!

Read a book yesterday afternoon. This morning...gym at 9, coffees out and then home to start new book.

During the pandemic work insisted we take regular holidays throughout the year and so during my 2 week summer holiday I alternated days out with the kids to local places we hadn't been and days at home when I spent the afternoon reading in the garden. Best holiday I've ever had!

I bought a very old folding camper that I put up at the bottom of the garden and then grew a hedge so that only its roof can be seen from the house. It has a little stove for boiling the kettle (tea, coffee, hot chocolate and….do forgive…pot noodle), a comfy bed and a sofa, solar fairy lights and lots of snuggly blankets and cushions. A comfy fishing chair for outside.
Heaven.

Well, I had my little DIY Reading Retreat.

I have a big sofa, so sorted it out with cushions and throws. I put small bud vases of flowers all around and polished and hoovered the room before I began. I kept myself supplied with tea-in a china cup and sauce and a packet of Thomas Fudge's Salted Caramel Florentine biscuits. I had Alexa play a mix of classical piano music.

I took advice and incorporated a drive out to the grounds of a local stately home. Paid to park up and had a brief wander around the grounds before settling myself in the car and reading with a sandwich an a flask of milky coffee-made with a Taylor's coffee bag. I did a spot of people watching too.

My husband cooked both days, served wine, set the table and used our best crockery.

I read three books: The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas-a pot boiler that I didn't enjoy; The Salt Path that I did and a re-read, The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie.

The things like dinners cooked for me and served as if I was in a hotel and all the other things that allowed me to pretend that I was staying in a lovely Landmark Trust property probably won't happen very often.

Nonetheless, it has made me absolutely determined to set aside a chunk of time every week where I can read without being disturbed even if it means driving off in my car.

Thanks for all the suggestions and inspiring thoughts!

@MoistVonL that is such a beautiful way of making your leisure time on a budget work for you! Love the idea of driving somewhere beautiful to read and people watch with a thermos

@Golidlocksandthethreeswears would you share which NT property?

What a great thread - am quite inspired by this! I end up trying to shoehorn my book reading time into the day and often end up in bed falling asleep after a couple of pages. This sounds like a perfect distress/self care day.

To do this once a week must be so good for you on so many levels!!

Stourhead 😊

That sounds lovely! Except if it was me doing this I'd be worrying about when/where I'd need to go to the loo. Especially after all the tea/coffee/pot noodles!

Well I did my reading retreat afternoon. I'm on holiday in England (not far from home actually). Today Dh had to return home from early to around midnight for various reasons. He took the car so I was forced to sit around and read 😉. Where I'm staying has a sun soaked terrace raised up in a pine wood with purple rhododendron bushes (reminds me of childhood home, the rhododendrons). I had lots of tea and coffee and knocked up a salad for dinner with a ready meal.

It's that funny time of year in England where you can sit outside and it's almost too hot but by eight o clock it's almost icy!! I needed a sun hat for earlier and a bobble hat for after dinner.

Was able to sit outside on a lovely padded seat or inside on a sofa with bi fold doors open depending on weather I was too hot, too cold or just right. 👧🥣🐻🐻🐻

The best bit was no guilt at all things I should be doing at home around the house.

@tobee - which book were you reading?

Jealous of people's DIY retreats 😆 I can't wait for my garden to be finished, my favourite place to read is outside, ideally in the rain (under cover of course!).

I'm doing another one this weekend as dh is working. Not drinking this month but there will be cake. I'm planning to read Three Dads Walking which will be a tough read as I lost my ds to suicide last year.