Last week, round my way, it snowed. No matter how many mindfulness Apps I download, or how many times I remind myself to be present in the moment, it only ever happens for real when it snows. I can spend an entire evening looking out of the window being delighted by what I see. I can go for a walk and relish every single step as my feet crunch on the ground. I can stop, breathe, and look around at the world. Snow is magic!
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| The view from my window |
Sadly, the snow was a 24-hour event - in my Merseyside home, anyway. The trick now is to take those snowy, mindful experiences, and transfer them to every other kind of weather. Can I be delighted by a dull sky and a stiff breeze? That's my challenge for 2026.
Writing News
There was a point on Christmas night, when my niece decided to make notebooks for everyone to play a drawing game. I was reminded of that when I sat at my desk on Monday. It was the first time I'd been there since mid-December and the Christmas night carnage was evident. Paper, pens, and staples all over the show. I moved things around a bit, tried not to get sidetracked into tidying, then took my laptop back to the sofa to work from there. It's important not to do too much in January.
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| The Night Manger |
I could fill this section with Traitors chat alone, but I won't. Most people are obsessed like me so I'd only be preaching to the converted. Instead, have you watched The Night Manager? It's good but I've not felt the need to binge. One episode a night has been perfectly pleasant. (That sound damning, but I don't mean it to be. It IS good.) I do like these undercover crime dramas that we're being fed these days. Slow Horses winning all the awards has been marvellous for the genre. In other news, I watched Song Sung Blue at the cinema last night. It's a nice film, but I ballsed up. Going into the film thinking it's a Neil Diamond biopic completely threw me for the first fifteen minutes. I was utterly confused. For everyone else's benefit, it's not. Don't be baffled like I was.
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| Satay sauce and bits to dunk |
Here, have a website recommendation - Georgie Eats. It's become my actual bible. That's because I got Georgie Mullen's cookbook for Christmas and it's revitalised everything I've cooked since. Mushroom and lentil hotpot, nasi goreng, satay sauce and five-spice roasted dipping carrots!* There's loads of ideas and I've buzzed off making new stuff. Last week I talked about craving spicy veg? This week, it's ALL I've eaten.
I don't mean to actively hibernate but that's the way every January tends to go. I love leaning into the cosy gloom - so restorative! Despite these brooding vibes, I have left the house. I went to Asda, I met friends for brunch, and I spent Christmas vouchers in Sephora which meant a schlepp into town. That was quite enough outside world for one week and I happily scurried back to my fireside chair.
I hope the January gloom is working for you. I know for many people it doesn't. Can you find solace in a slower pace? In a cosy book? In a new recipe? Whatever gets you through needs utilising I reckon. Spring is mere weeks away. Keep on keeping on!
Have a lovely week, folks.
*The five-spice roasted carrots were my idea. I had carrots to use up and I was inspired by a recipe from the book that used five-spice coated cauliflower. That's what I love about a good recipe book. They get your own ideas flowing and give your creative juices an energetic boost.
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