Coping with January

Well, I finished reading The Gifts of Winter. The odd thing was that while I was reading it I felt more cheerful, but now I have finished it I feel as bad as ever about January. 

Of course, the world news doesn’t help. And Starmer’s refusal to take a stand on anything that the British people care about is pathetic. He makes me want to spit.

And then there is the weather…we were promised snow and I was looking forward to the world outside the window being brighter, but all we got was an inadequate coating of wet mush. Yesterday, we decided that despite the cold grey everywhere, we’d walk the mile down the Trail to Hassop Station, only to find it closed: presumably, because of the dire forecasts, and the expectation of travel difficulties for staff and punters, they’d decided not to open.

And then there is my current painting, which is taking so long it’s getting tedious.

Dave asked me what was wrong this morning. Had he done something to annoy me? 

‘No,’ I said, ‘definitely not. I was just trying to find reasons to be cheerful.’

Here they are:

My lovely family

My friends

My patchwork quilt 

I have enough to eat

We have more than enough wood for our log burning stoves - thanks to Dave

Our house is cosy

I am in good health

In two weeks time I am going to London for the weekend with my daughter for fun and artistic inspiration 

It won’t always be January 

We’re forecast sunshine for today and I shall go out for a long walk and take a flask of coffee and come home happy

I feel better for writing this…perhaps all I need to do every winter morning is to think of ten reasons to be thankful.