Simple Things Jan/19

We made it through January, folks. Didn’t we do well? I think our survival deserves a large glass of whatever you fancy, and a long nap too. A+ effort, all round.

In full disclosure though, I am that annoying person that enjoys the first month of the year (feel free to punch me in the face). I simply don’t mind the drab weather, plus I relish the quiet and calm after the frivolities of December (a month of not having plans is pure, unadulterated joy to me).

I’m trying very hard this year to focus on the moment and the imperfect aspects of my life, so I don’t like wishing away the months in favour of ideal temperatures and perfect conditions. I hate how fast these months go by. I still can’t believe Christmas is over, can you? Before we know it spring will be here, and a quarter of the year will have passed.

Anyway, January has been a quiet month of simple pleasures that have got me through Monday to Sunday with a smile on my face. Here’s to a bright and hopeful February!

Seaside escapes I had a couple of scary (to me) hospital tests in the beginning of January so needed some much-needed distractions in the shape of wide open space, sea air, and chips doused in salt and malt vinegar.

We started the year in Silverdale on the Lancashire coast (I will write another blog post on this as I have oodles of photos to share) and a couple of weeks later we went to Lytham St. Anne’s, another Lancashire favourite, with the dogs. The sea sorts me out, every single time.

Writing I have no idea why I chose to start a new habit in January. Surely that should mean it’s doomed to fail? Nevertheless, I am writing. By that, I mean creative writing. Not writing for this blog (this is my first post of 2019, oops), or writing press releases and copy (although I do love that is my job), but actual creative writing.

For too long I’ve been giving myself unrealistic goals in terms of writing creatively again, and feeling bad that I’m not writing how I used to, pre jobs and blog. Then I realised when I used to write on a daily basis I was a student. My friends, A LOT has changed since then.  So my only ambition this year is to practice creative writing again, amidst work and adult life.

I’m just finishing week 4 of Tim Clare’s brilliant Couch to 80k Boot Camp, and I’m so proud I’ve stuck with it, and more importantly, that I’m enjoying it too. I’m not focusing on the end result, although I do have a protagonist that keeps popping up in my writing exercises that I’m intrigued with. I’m simply loving writing again. Even if most of it is nonsense for now, I’m finding space in my days to prioritise it. Hurrah. Wish me luck going forward!

Snow We got ourselves some snow at last! We’ve not been doing long walks with Polly over the past few weeks down to ill-health on my part and Polly’s too (she had a nasty tummy bug). But we felt good enough this weekend to climb the hills and take delight in the snow-covered woodlands, hills and moorland. It’s nothing like last year’s offering, but a welcome change from the rain. I’m hoping there are more snow days to come, and subsequently nights spent indoors with the open fire for company.

Birthday In a month it will be my final year of my thirties, and I’m going to celebrate every last single day of it doing what makes me happy. I found a great deal on a mirrorless compact camera (one that I’ve wanted for a while) and before I knew it, it was dispatched and waiting for me on the kitchen table to open on my birthday…in a month’s time. I couldn’t wait chums (thank you Ste!), so I’ve been playing with it for most of the weekend. I figure, I don’t want to spend my birthday reading camera instructions, so I know I’ve done the right thing. Ha!

Holiday Perhaps one of the reasons January wasn’t so bad is because of our impending holiday, to Australia. Yikes! I love the months before you go away when you pick up bits and pieces, in anticipation of the big event. I’ve been scrolling through the destination on Instagram for motivation, and I’ve found a couple of summer bargains in the winter sales too.

We haven’t been abroad for 3 years, so to be in Australia for three weeks in April, is a treat and then some. I can’t wait for lazy beach days, walking in the sun, having long lunches and drinking wine in the vineyards near my MIL’s home. Have you booked a holiday for 2019? Do tell!