Crikey Jan is a long old month innit? Coupled with bleak weather, the old D word that everyone is doing or at least everyone SAYS they are doing and husband's birthday (who has a birthday in January? It's selfish isn't it? Especially after all that Xmas malarkey) it is enough to send one over the edge.
I feel like it has been a January Monday FOREVAH. So I thought I'd list the things that are giving me life this month. Plus a couple of things that aren't.
1. Candles.
You can never have too many can you? I have never ever been given a candle (bar a Yankee one once) and felt saddened. That little flicker, the warmth, the scent - it makes one happier. I always have one burning on my desk to keep my metaphorical creative flame lit, (or spluttering most of the time). This is my latest purchase. To myself. I know I know, it's a bit fancy for a self gift. But hey, it's Jan and I'm not drinking or eating anything fun so I need SOMETHING godammit. How pretty is it? Plus with my John Lewis discount (Sproglet can never ever leave his job at Waitrose) it was almost a steal. Grab one here.
2. Cold water.
However bleak, it is my fav time of year to immerse oneself in cold water. First time ever of swimming through shards of glass-like ice the other week. Man in front of me got out with a bloodied chin. Still smiling of course, because nothing makes one smile more than one degree... My weekly swims are SO cold, you don't actually feel anything. Like an epidural. All over. But, in order to get that weekly high more often - although admittedly not as much fun - I'm getting in my new ice bath. Another John Lewis purchase but you can get them all over. My cousin and his wife are getting into the joys of cold water and had purchased one that they swore by. Whilst not quite as in nature as a lake swim - or in fact a swim at all, more of a dunk - it is still exhilarating. I cannot wait to get in later tonight and will curse spring when temps get above 10 degrees. My personal fav is 7-8 degrees. Biting and brilliant. The high is amaze. Promise. Get involved.
3. Hot water.
It is bloody lovely isn't it, wallowing in hot water? NOT - I repeat - NOT straight after the above. Or risk coming out in serious hives or something more dangerous. (As an aside always let yourself warm up naturally after being in cold water under 10 degrees... ). Anyway, for Xmas I got my husband to buy me a recommended bath oil. When it came, the size of the bottle was SO tiny - for £28 - 28!!!! I was livid. They are taking the piss I thought. Until I poured half a cap full into my bath and then -shazam! Instant heaven. I bow down to the creators of such blissful stuff. It smells like angels and butter clouds of lavender silk wrapped up in a comfy cashmere bow of loveliness... Don't take my word for it - but you will never look back.
4. Films
I'm sorry I missed The Traitors boat - so I have no idea how good it is. I must get on and watch it, but Married at First Sight Australia is back soon and I can only cope with one trash show at a time, sorry.
January is always great flicks time, with all the awards contenders out. Sorry but not sorry - I could only do 15 minutes of Saltburn - and that was after 4 double gins. What a crock of bollocks that was. Emperor's new clothes. Undoubtedly some great lines - but do we have to watch very deliberately provocative scenes meant to create buzz and water cooler fodder (or rather social media memes) - to justify a feature? I mean when you stoop to a bloke licking a bath plug for residual cum, one wonders what the point of the whole thing is? Titillation? Shock factor? Or something rich poshos do - a world I am not privy to...
Or maybe I'm old. If you are a Jacob Elordi fan then much better to watch the sublime Priscilla - Sofia Coppola's latest. A gorgeous director - one of my favourites - it is fascinating as it is beautiful. Elvis comes across as a bit of twat... Also, I loved The Holdovers. Sentimental yes. Predictable, maybe. But laugh out loud funny and I adored being back in the 70s... Next up All of us Strangers. I would watch Andrew Scott paint a wall and still find it amazing. Go support your local cinema, while we still have them. Not a Vue though - because they are toilet even if they have reclining seats. Oh and shout out to Next Goal Wins which I watched on New Years Eve with my daughter. It was wonderful. I'm so into feel good these days. I may even re-watch Dawson's Creek. The world is crazy - we need all the joy we can get.
5. Bedding.
Well it is winter. We need all the blankets. If you want a throw - McNutts. Google it. A place in Donegal that I have sadly only been to once. But its throws are magic. Duvet cover wise, I always struggle. I know, John Lewis blah blah - but everything feels samey and then I chanced upon these guys: Secret Linen Store. My god, they had me with a stripe. I love a stripe. (As an aside, I had wardrobes built in, just before Xmas. (Sadly 3 handsome men in my bedroom as I lay downstairs with a bedridden with a lurgy as they hammered away). I now have a dressing table nook, a desk nook, pretty lights covered with THE most perfect lampshades in front of tongue and groove panelling. (Issy Granger - BLISS). The sheer ORDER of my closet is thrilling. I had had my pants in B and Q plastic drawers for 7 years... Anyway, I digress. Secret Linen Store - not so secret I assume - but has the softest duvet covers known to man. Invest. Going to bed - already exciting because it is winter and we need that wintering rest - is even more exciting. My exact bedding:
What I'm NOT into:
Abstinence. Looking at bottles of alcohol calling me and realising that we aren't friends. I smile and walk on by. Trying to avoid carbs. Carbs are so MUCH FUN. Bread is amazing. AMAZING. But I can't have it.
Driving in the dark. I am challenged as far as driving is concerned at the best of times. But on a dark foggy night - it is grim...
Ageing skin. Why do women think they have to look younger? WHO started this idea? What fuckwit said - men can grow old gracefully - but women, yeah they can't grow old. Ever. Sorry. Now, I'm totally down for any woman to do whatever they want with their bodies and faces - whatever makes ya happy and all - but I just wonder where it all began? What person is laughing their way to bank having said 'lets make it that women have to always look 25 and a size 10.' It's ridiculous.
Having to make plans. I am wintering people. Call me again in March.
Etiquette. And for those that do call me - a lesson: it is polite and empathetic to ask someone how they are rather than rant about yourself for 20 minutes before hanging up. Ranting is always allowed, just remember to enquire how the other person does. Life does not revolve around you, despite you thinking so.
Menopause. Sweet Jesus but I cannot remember anything. A convo with my closest buddies (all the same age) is a start/stop/where were we/oh yes! I was saying/did I not say/why was I telling you that - where we all give up and spend the rest of the evening trying to remember the word we forgot.... The RAGE. I am RAGING. FOR. NO. GOOD. REASON. Then I am sad. Sad for no reason. All in the same 5 minutes. The brain fog is the worst. Debilitating. I was in a writers room for first two weeks of Jan and at one point asked my mate: am I thick? I felt wildly stupid. Because trains of thought just ... kind of run out of... yes... where was I again?
See you in Spring! CM XX
