ARE YOU INSTAGRAM SAVVY?

I asked student Demet, who runs the fab book and nail art Instagram account @books_polished, to share her advice on running a cool Instagram... this is what she said!

Demet says:
I am by no means very good at Instagram compared to some... but generally, I think that whatever makes you happy is fine. What do you want out of your account? Is it just for you and your friends? Is your goal to gain followers? If you want to post twenty pics of your cat each day, then go ahead... I am always in favour of cat pics on the internet! If that is not your goal, though, here are a few tips I picked up over the last two years:

* Have a theme. No matter if it's books or nail art or a specific fandom, people are more likely to subscribe if they know what to expect.

* Picture quality matters. I'm saying this knowing that I fail a lot at it myself, but if you have a camera that takes better pics than your phone, take pics with that and transfer them later.

* Post regularly. People who use Instagram can be very picky when it comes to the amount of times you post. The best advice is to follow other accounts who do similar things and see what they are doing. There is a lot of trial and error in finding out what you can/ can't do. I just can't do more than one design a week, but when you find what works for YOU, be it once a week, a day, or an hour, make yourself stick with this schedule. Many people prepare things in advance so they can post them on schedule with no last minute panics.

* Always include a caption. People want to know what they are seeing and why they are seeing it!

* Hashtags are important ...but nobody wants to read them. You need hashtags to get your work seen by others, but only a few are interested in reading them. I usually post them as my first comment, but others may separate them from the caption by leaving a few blank lines between. Again, keep an eye on other accounts and see how they handle things - you'll find your own way from there!

* Interact with people. Follow other accounts and actively talk with them. Not just 'Hey, check out my Instagram,' but actually commenting on their content if you like it. This will encourage them to do the same with your account. And don't forget to answer the comments that you get! You shouldn't just be there for the numbers, but for the community.

* Last but not least, have fun! You are doing this because you really want to. What would be the point if you didn't enjoy it?

Demet's account is @books_polished, where she posts nail art inspired by the books she has read. Pictures above show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Cathy says:
Whoa, an eye opener for me... I use my Insta (@cathycassidy) as a sort of personal photo album. Oops! Must try harder! #EspeciallyWithTheHashtags.  Seriously, Demet's tips are brilliant for anyone trying to get to grips with Insta... do YOU do Instagram? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

BROKEN HEART CLUB... MORE FAB REVIEWS!

More of your brilliant reviews for my new book BROKEN HEART CLUB... word is you are liking it lots! Phew!

Lynsy says:
I really enjoyed BROKEN HEART CLUB. I live in Singapore and after reading this book, I felt very moved, very grateful to have my loved ones and my friends... the story has twists and turns that made me vow not to take my friends for granted, to treasure them more. I loved how the book changed between the thoughts of Ryan and Eden. There are so many things I liked about this book and one is that it does not just focus on romance (although there is some!) but also on friendship. BROKEN HEART CLUB has left a deep impression on me... a good one! I cannot wait for the next book... I hope it is just as splendid, wonderful, marvellous and excellent as this, and just as moving!

Ceri says:
BROKEN HEART CLUB is an amazing story of friendship and love... near the end, I was almost in tears! There are many reasons why I loved it... 1: The different points of view... I loved seeing different perspectives on the story! 2: The twists, the turns, the secrets! There's a big plot twist, and I really didn't see it coming! 3: The glimpses of the past... I loved reading about how the friends met and how they became the Heart Club. 4: The characters... they were all strong and believable. I loved reading about how they changed and then changed again as the story progressed, 5: The opening... I love prologues, and this was the best one I've ever read. All of these reasons add up to this being my new favourite book. My favourite part of the book was the party - the dancing, the fight, the park, the kiss... aww. I also liked the picnic, the yellow paint scene and Andie's letter. What can I say? I love this book! It's fabulous, incredible, fantastic, awesome, amazing... the list goes on!

Clare says:
I think the new book BROKEN HEART CLUB is amazing. I'd been helping my dad with the decorating so he went out and bought it for me, and I read the whole thing in three hours because I just couldn't put it down. I loved it SO much and yes, I did need tissues towards the end... it was so emotional. I started reading it to my dad and the two of us couldn't stop talking about it... we have decided it's not just a book but a trick of the mind because it does mess with your head a little bit and what you think is happening turns out to be quite different. Needless to say I am telling all my friends and some of them have started reading the book as well... I really recommend it. Great for all ages and it will definitely keep you guessing!

Cathy says:
Thank you Lynsy, Ceri and Clare for the fab reviews! Have YOU read BROKEN HEART CLUB yet? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

BEACH, BABY?

We asked readers to tell us about their favourite beaches... perfect holiday reading!

Jayne says:
I think I lost my heart to Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, the most beautiful county in Wales.

Kym says:
West Wittering and Widemouth Bay in Cornwall are amazing... everyone should go!

Zoe says:
I agree with Kym... Cornwall beaches are just awesome. Beautiful clear water, stunning scenery and landscape!

Anne says:
Weymouth Beach in Dorset has so many memories for me...

Linzi says:
Crosby Beach in Liverpool is amazing. The famous sculpture of the 'Iron Men' is there, dozens of iron sculptures standing in the sand and some of them out at sea, people come from all over to see them. It's a place we go quite a lot to walk the dogs and blow the cobwebs away, and even on sunny days it never feels too crammed or busy, there's miles of beach so there's room for everyone. You can see the docks in the distance but that does not detract from the beauty of it, it's a perfect city beach! Crosby Beach is beautiful, though at times it can be more mud than sand!

Zaila says:
Mud is not my thing! I love the sandy beaches in Llandudno in Wales... they're so pretty and it's such a seasidey town with all the fun stuff a beach place should have. I stayed there for five days last summer and it was so sunny!

Sophie says:
North Berwick beach - well, beaches, because there's more than one - are gorgeous, even in the winter. I live very near to them so I get to go over quite often. You can see four islands from them, which I think is pretty awesome!

Gemma says:
We go to the beach at Blackpool most years. It is not just the beach itself but the whole Blackpool experience... ice cream, fun fair, sticks of rock, people having fun. Blackpool will always have a soft spot in my heart.

Mhairi says:
We live near Glasgow but every summer we head for the highlands and islands. The west coast of Scotland is one of the most stunning, unspoilt places in the world. We like to camp, and we like to explore wild places. The most amazing beaches we've found are on the isles of Iona and Skye, where the water is turquoise and crystal clear, and if you are lucky with the weather there really is no better place on earth!

Carrie says:
Ayr beach is a five minute walk from my house, and in the winter it's quiet and windswept and in the summer sandy, pretty and filled with families but never too busy. You can get ice cream or chips or buy rock or do crazy golf nearby, and you can see Ailsa Craig island and Arran from the beach too. In the holidays, when it's sunny, my friends and I hang out there and swim in the sea... I can't imagine living anywhere else!

Pics of gorgeous Channel Island beaches and model Eden by Cheryl - thank you both so much!

Cathy says:
Linzi, I know Crosby Beach well... I've been going there since I was a toddler! The 'Iron Men' are indeed amazing! Mhairi, agree about Iona and Skye - and Carrie, I love Ayr beach, I even put it in my first book, DIZZY! What's YOUR fave beach? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

CATHY: MY HOLIDAY MEMORIES...

We've shared some readers' holiday memories recently... I thought I'd join the party and tell you all about my long ago summers! #BlastFromThePast

Cathy says:
My earliest holidays were trips north to visit my mum's cousins and aunties in Liverpool. We would stay with them and sometimes, as a special treat, we'd go to Crosby Beach. I always loved driving along South Road in my Auntie Sheila's white VW Beetle (so, so cool in the 60s, as was she!) and cresting the hill to see the sea on the other side... the best feeling in the world. At the end of the road, old ladies in shawls would sell buckets and spades, and we'd sometimes buy one and spend all day making sandcastles. We'd picnic, drinking fizzy Corona pop and eating slightly sandy jam butties, and I always spent ages on the trampolines that filled on of the beach front parks. The photo shows me on Crosby Beach with my cousin Ricky... my dress sense hasn't changed much since then, but luckily my hairstyle has!

After a while, we started branching out with our summer holidays. My dad, who repaired cars for a living, acquired a clapped out camper van and we set off for the muddy Lancashire coast. Dad was searching for somewhere he could sail the boat he'd been making in the back yard (shades of Daizy Star?!!). We found a place called Glasson Dock which was pretty cool, stuffed with boats and with a slimy, barnacle encrusted slipway that led down into the water where people launched their boats. There was even a cafe on a boat called the BaBa Gee, where we sometimes had a chippy dinner as a special treat! This pic shows me aged nine or ten, with the muddy estuary behind me and our whippet Smokie in my arms. This was probably the holiday where I took her for a walk and ended up chasing her for miles along the seafront because she was chasing another dog. The camper van had pull out hammock beds in the roof, and a camping stove where we cooked up baked beans and made tin mugs of milky coffee. Eventually, Dad brought his home-made boat up to Glasson and moored it there, and we spent one night sleeping on it, under an awning made of sails. It was very exciting, except when the tide came in in the middle of the night and we spent two hours bobbing around. My brother, still only a toddler, cried so much that Dad had to put him and Mum in the canvas dinghy and row them ashore to the safety of the camper van!

We struck holiday gold when someone told my dad about an old hut on a farm near Glasson Dock, up for sale. That hut, the size of a small garden shed, became our holiday home for the next ten years. I LOVED being on a farm and developed a big crush on the farmer's son, but got very upset when the newborn calves were taken away from their crying mothers, or when the farm lorry came to take the half grown lambs to market. I was never cut out to be a farmer's wife! In the picture, I am about twelve... wearing flared dungarees and a horrible shirt with puffed sleeves and a flyaway collar. It was all very trendy for the 1970s, I promise you, but I guess that's no excuse! My brother is in the pic too, and I'm riding my Raleigh bike, a sort of half hearted copy of the iconic Chopper bike which was so popular in the 70s. Dad sometimes dropped us up at the shed and went back home to work, so we'd spend weeks of the summer messing about on the muddy beach, swimming in the sea (very polluted, this was pre EU regulations, yikes!) and cycling around the country lanes. When Dad arrived back, we'd go sailing, heading out to beach ourselves on a sandbank at low tide and staying there all day until the tide returned to allow us to return.

My childhood holidays were all done on a shoestring, but they were magical all the same. What are YOUR happiest holiday memories? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

SISTER ACT...

Readers tell us about their cool and wonderful sisters... and why they mean so much!

Hollie says:
My sister is amazing. She is three years older than me but might as well be my twin... even though we're nothing alike! She likes art museums and cathedrals and I like M&M World and London! I've been ill for the last three years and she has taken it all in her stride. She treats me like a normal human being - even if that does mean taking the mick out of me occasionally, especially when I lose to her at Mario Kart! She's thoughtful and kind and does her very best to cheer me up when I'm low. She's at uni most of the time but I hear from her every day and FaceTime her often. I LOVE that she's at home at the moment and would give anything to have her around all the time. She's my best friend, my ally in everything, my favourite person ever. And let's not forget my furry 'brother' Boris, in the pic, an angel in my recovery!

Molly says:
I have a little sister of 22 months... I'm ten. She is probably the naughtiest little sister in the world, but when I am sad she has this power that can make me laugh and smile. Even though she is naughty, I will always be there for her and hopefully our bond will get even stronger! I love you, Megan!

Supty says:
I don't need a star or a celebrity to inspire or motivate me... my elder sister Semonty is my lucky star. She is the strongest person I know (mentally) as she embraces her flaws and pays no attention to those who criticise her. She never cries or complains over trivial things such as appearance and that makes her beautiful. She is a straightforward person who never talks behind people's backs and tried to accept the flaws in others. She is outstandingly unique because she doesn't go with the trend or follow others, she creates her own style. Even after being hurt, she never shed a tear for those who weren't worth it. She can control her temper and stay calm through any situation. Her talent outshines her beauty, and she guides me at all times and helps me to overcome my fear and believe in myself. She treats me like I am special and makes me feel adored. We quarrel sometimes, but at the end of the day we cannot live without each other!

Cathy says:
Awww... I always longed for a sister but never had one. These stories have really made me smile! Do YOU have a sister who means the world to you? Or one who drives you nuts? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

BOOKS IN BRAILLE!

A while ago, reader Claire blogged here about reading CC books in braille and how she had persuaded the Royal National Institute of the Blind to turn more CC books into braille books. Now Mark from the RNIB tells us how it all happens...

Mark says:
The Royal National Institute for the Blind Library has the aim of getting as many titles into accessible formats as possible and making them available, free to borrow, to people who are blind, partially sighted or print impaired. Braille is a form of written language for the blind and partially sighted, where characters and letters are represented by patterns made of raised dots which the reader feels with their fingertips. Only around 7% of published material makes it into braille, giant print or audio, so we have our work cut out!

We have a long list of criteria that we use to help us choose which books to add to the library, and customer requests feature somewhere near the top of that list! For example, we recently added some new Cathy Cassidy titles to our braille collection because a reader had requested it.

Our customers range from the very young to the very old... we have more than twenty customers who are over a hundred years old! When we choose a book for braille or giant print (24 point, bold) we actually buy the physical book and chop it up before scanning the pages onto a computer to transcribe the text into an electronic file. This can then be used to produce a braille or giant print version.

A 'normal' book can often end up as more than six volumes - a volume is roughly the size of an A4 ring binder packed full of pages. We send them out to RNIB Library customers in big canvas bags... two volumes per bag. The Post office very kindly deliver the books for free to people's homes and once they have been read, and hopefully enjoyed, they come back to us in just the same way!

Cathy says:
It's great to know just how braille books are made... hats off to the fab team at RNIB Library! Which books would YOU suggest the RNIB add to their lists? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

ELLIE: I HELPED MY FRIEND TO SHOPLIFT

It's problem page time on DREAMCATCHER today and reader Ellie has a huge dilemma to solve... can wild-child HONEY TANBERRY help her work things out?

Ellie says:
This has been playing on my mind since the first day of the summer holidays. On that day, I went into town with my friend J. We were looking at make up in Boots and trying out the testers when I saw her take a nail varnish and put it in her pocket. I was so shocked I didn't say anything. I tried to ignore it in case I was wrong or in case she planned to pay for it, but she didn't, and just before we got to the doors she stuffed a lip gloss and the nail varnish into my bag. I hadn't even seen her take the lip gloss. I was shaking I felt so scared, but luckily nobody came after us and no alarms went off. When I tried to say something J said she'd got them for me because of not getting me a birthday present. So now I have two stolen things I didn't want in the first place, and a friend I don't want to hang out with any more. Please help.

Honey says:
As you know, I am a rule breaker by nature, but shoplifting has never been my thing; it's theft, pure and simple. As for shoplifting and then dumping the stolen items on your friend just as you are leaving the shop, that just sucks. By putting the stuff in your bag, she was making sure that if the two of you had been stopped, you would have been the one to get into trouble. I don't even buy her excuse of stealing them 'for you' - she must know you well enough to suss that you would not want anything to do with this. So, I can understand why you're feeling upset. Rather than blank her, give her a chance to clear the air. Tell her why you are so upset with her and see what she says; ask if things are OK at home, if anything is upsetting her, as her actions seem to be so out of character. Perhaps there are bigger things playing on her mind and the shoplifting was a cry for help? Maybe. Sadly though, I think her actions show a sneaky, mean streak and perhaps even a wish to get you into trouble. I wonder if she is envious of you, jealous in some way? Talking things through may help you get to the bottom of this, but whether you want to go on being friends with someone you cannot trust is a decision only you can take. Is she just mixed up, unhappy and crying out for help? Or is your friend more of an enemy in disguise? Find out, and if it is the latter, let her go. Nobody needs friends like that, trust me. As for the make-up, put it in a paper bag and hand it back to the shop - you can always say you saw someone drop it by the door. Job done.

Cathy says:
Good advice from straight-talking Honey! Would YOU add anything? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

THE BOOK THAT SHAPED ME...

Older readers share their favourite Cathy Cassidy books... and tell why they mean so much!

Scarlett says:
I read all of Cathy Cassidy's books when I was in my first few years of secondary schools - the books inspired me and made me feel so much better about who I was. My favourite was and still is SCARLETT - I think it will stick with me forever. I felt like that lost and angry main character WAS me, back then. Although I am older now and have my own daughter I still love re-reading the books, and I'll read them to my daughter once she's old enough, too. These books were my inspiration and comfort when nobody in my life could get through to me. They helped me through the difficult times of growing up and sitting alone at school. I'd still love to meet Cathy Cassidy - maybe I'll look out for one of her book signings one day!

Dalia says:
The first time I read one of Cathy's books was in 2008 when I was given DIZZY as a present on my twelfth birthday... so yes, I am twenty now. The book inspired me to love the English language (which is not my first language) and also to learn how to write. I'll admit I had a hard time reading English books back then, but DIZZY changed my whole perspective on reading and writing. I've never stopped writing ever since! I hoped to major in English Literature in university, but my parents wished me to follow a career in the biological sciences. My dream is to be an accomplished, published author, but for now that dream will have to wait. Every now and then, when I hit a writer's block, I glance over at my bookshelf and see the bright pink cover of the book DIZZY, with its worn and yellowed pages, and I remember how inspired I felt when I read it for the very first time.

Kiki says:
GINGERSNAPS is a book that means so much to me... I was just going into Year Eight when I read the book, just like Ginger. I'm seventeen now, and it's weird to think that if we were the same age, she could drive now! I have honestly never related to a book as much as this one. The story of a girl battling her own self-esteem to find the friends she deserves is the story of every insecure preteen girl I know. I can remember feeling just like Ginger, thinking that looking pretty and having a social status meant everything. I have never read something that depicts bullying, friendship drama and first crushes so accurately. The battle to choose between what makes you a good person or what makes you look good. I relate to Ginger so much... the puppy fat, an old friend coming back into your life, I even have my own Sam... sweet, musical, curly hair. This book is a must-have for all teen girls - it's like a warm, reassuring hug. This book is about much more than love and friendship, it's about accepting who you are and learning that liking yourself is just as important as having others like you. Take it from someone who's been there!

Cathy says:

So much loveliness in one short blog... thank you so much, Scarlett, Dalia and Kiki. Your words mean the world to me. Do YOU have a book that shaped your teen years? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

DEMET: LOOKING GLASS GIRL... NAILED!

German student Demet tells us how her love of children's books and her flair for nail art led to the creation of a very unusual Instagram account...

Demet says:
I am from Germany and I am currently in London studying for a Master's Degree in Children's Literature, which is my dream. I began to get into nail art as an undergraduate student, watching a lot of YouTube tutorials and slowly getting better at creating my own. I remember having a conversation with a friend where I noted that 'My nails don't match my clothes, but they usually match the book I'm reading!' Let's just say everything escalated from there! I opened my Instagram account in 2014.

I have read and studied the children's classic Alice's Adventure's In Wonderland a number of times. In class, we talked about adaptations and books inspired by the original, and one classmate told us all about the CC book LOOKING GLASS GIRL and told us we should read it because it's different from other adaptations. LOOKING GLASS GIRL keeps part of the confusing world we all love about Alice but incorporates the real world too. I was so enthusiastic to read it that three weeks later when we did our Secret Santa Christmas party, that same friend got me my own copy of the book so I could see the amazingness with my own eyes. The book was everything I was hoping it would be.

Sometimes I really like a book but don't make a nail design based on it because the jacket doesn't translate well... but this is clearly not a problem I had with LOOKING GLASS GIRL! The cover may seem complicated, but it's made up of several elements which on their own are not too difficult to do. I thought of using these elements singly, one on each nail, but then I saw the book without its dust jacket and just loved the blue checkerboard design. It had a hand painted look to it which meant that nothing would get lost in translation! With the small hearts and musical notes as accents I could keep it interesting while still being simple and not too busy.

If you're interested in finding out more about my work, you can find my Instagram account at @books_polished and I now have a Snapchat account too which is books_polished also. Apart from my boring day to day life I try to show a lot of in between pictures to show how I build up the designs, from easy to the more complicated. Why don't you experiment too?

Cathy says:
I LOVE Demet's nail designs for LOOKING GLASS GIRL... how cool? Have YOU ever found a creative way to share the book love? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

BOOK LOOK: A GOOD HIDING BY SHIRLEY MCMILLAN

My lovely writer pal Shirley McMillan has just written her first YA book... and it's amazing! I asked Shirley to tell us a little bit more about it...

Shirley says:
Growing up in Northern Ireland, I loved reading - my favourites were Robert Swindells (check out STONE COLD and BROTHER IN THE LAND if you're not squeamish!), the Armada ghost books and the SWEET VALLEY HIGH series. But there weren't many books about where I lived. I loved Joan Lingard's KEVIN AND SADIE series about star crossed lovers in Belfast during the Troubles, because I recognised the accents and knew the culture, but I'd have loved more books I could connect with. Northern Ireland is a brilliant place, and our history makes us a little different to other places.

When I started writing, I was completely sure that I wanted to set my books in Northern Ireland. I wanted there to be a sense of young people's lives here - a sense of our language and our humour and our capacity for hope even when faced with very difficult circumstances. I hope I have achieved that! The young people I know in NI are some of the bravest and funniest you could meet anywhere, and I wanted my characters Stephen and Nollaig to reflect that.

Set in Belfast, my debut YA (young adult) book A GOOD HIDING tells the story of pregnant runaway teen Nollaig and her best friend Stephen, a young gay man. Stephen and Nollaig hide in the crypt of a local church but are found by the vicar; they think all is lost, but the pair have discovered 'his' little secret and plan to use it against him. Together, the three face a choice: a life in the shadows, or one lived freely, in plain sight?

I hope above all that A GOOD HIDING is an enjoyable read... I always think that, wherever you are from, your story is different to everyone else's and that makes it important. If there's one thing I'd like to say to those who read and enjoy the new book, it would be to never feel you can't tell your own story to someone - it's one of the most important things there is!

You can buy A GOOD HIDING by Shirley McMillan in all good bookshops, or order online HERE. Happy reading!

Cathy says:
I can't wait to read Shirley's book, out now... it sounds tense, dramatic and intriguing! Bear in mind that it is a YA book, so suitable for older teens. Have YOU read an amazing book this summer? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

YOUR STARS FOR AUGUST...

Skye Tanberry has been consulting the stars again... take a look and see what your horoscope for August has in store!

LEO: 24 Jul - 23 Aug
You've learned a lot in the last few months. It's been a steep learning curve but you will be stronger for it... and much clearer about what you want the future to bring. Look for one good thing in every day and keep moving forward... small steps, but sure!

VIRGO: 24 Aug - 23 Sept
Your head is a whirl of crazy ideas just now - but don't dismiss them out of hand, some of these ideas are sharp, smart and innovative. Get talking to friends, family and the wider community to discuss how you can put your thoughts into action!

LIBRA: 24 Sept - 23 Oct
If you've been over-doing it lately you may find you need to stop for a while and chill. Summer isn't just about racing from one fun activity to the next, it's also about taking some downtime. Grab that sun cream and a favourite book and hit the sun lounger...

SCORPIO: 24 Oct - 22 Nov 
You're in planning mode this month... why not give in to the impulse and get organised for the new school/ college term? Sort out uniform, stationery etc and get to work on any summer projects you may have been given. The year ahead is going to be full-on... but awesome, too!

SAGITTARIUS: 23 Nov - 21 Dec
You have itchy feet... your nomadic nature has you dreaming about travel and holidays. If you don't have any trips away to look forward to, take things into your own hands and plan a few days out with friends/ family. Summer is the perfect time for an adventure!

CAPRICORN: 22 Dec - 20 Jan
Feeling a little lost without the usual term time routines? Embrace the freedom, even if it feels a little unsettling to start with! Summer has lots of new opportunities for you to explore... and groups, classes and projects you could join, too. Do you dare?

AQUARIUS: 21 Jan - 19 Feb
You're enjoying your freedom just now and trying to fit as much fun into every week as you can. That's great... but don't just dash from one thing to the next without thinking. Find your priorities. Life is throwing you some brilliant chances right now... make sure you take them!

PISCES: 20 Feb - 20 Mar
A holiday romance or perhaps a close holiday friendship is in the stars for August... be open to the possibilities and don't let any natural shyness get in the way. You have a lot to learn from someone new... perhaps someone very unexpected!

ARIES: 21 March - 20 Apr
Summer hasn't been feeling too thrilling yet - you're stuck in a rut of chores, jobs and plans. Yes, it's important to keep things running smoothly at home, but it's also time to relax! Plan some free time with friends or family when you can shelve all the worries and enjoy the moment.

TAURUS: 21 Apr - 21 May
Strong bonds are pulling you back into the family fold right now... it's time to touch base and take some family time. It might be a holiday away or even just a day trip, but time spent with those you love is never wasted; enjoy every minute.

GEMINI: 22 May - 21 Jun
Feeling frazzled? Slowing down is not a typical Gemini trait, but sometimes you have no choice... it's time to recharge the batteries! Your imagination has been working overtime lately... why not grab a notebook and capture some of that creativity on paper?

CANCER: 22 Jun - 23 Jul
You've discovered - or are about to discover - a new hobby or interest this summer break. It may be sporty and active or arty/ techy / creative... either way, give it your enthusiasm and energy and you will be rewarded. New skills build confidence and bring fun into our lives... what's not to like?

Cathy says:
Well, my prediction has more than a grain of truth in it... frazzled? Me? Just a bit! Do Skye's predictions ring true for YOU? COMMENT BELOW to share your thoughts!