A month of storms and gales! scream the headlines here in UK. Misery for all! Or as Jeremy Clarkson might say 'January'.
Having battened down the hatches and helped friends and neighbours do the same, I then thought 'OK, what can I do in a month of horrible weather?'
Here's what I've decided -
ONE
My natural instinct is to hibernate but I know that's not good for me (I might get a bit depressed, and fat!) so I'm going to upgrade my foul weather clothing in the sales. This is so that I have no excuse not to go out every single day. I have a very old jacket which isn't really waterproof any more, and the new modern ones seem fabulous - lightweight, warm and waterproof.
TWO
Take simple living to the next stage!
This is quite exciting for me. I can feel overwhelmed at times - by stuff, by too many decisions to make, by all the terrible things happening in the world, but since I started this blog in March 2010 I've been simplifying my life and home - slowly, slowly - often by asking myself Is there a simpler way to do this? and just doing it.
All sorts of anxieties have arisen and been dealt with, along with a lot of STUFF. So in January I will re-read my blog for each category and see what I can comfortably simplify further. It is about headspace as much (or perhaps more than) physical space. I've read some helpful books, talked with some helpful friends, and found wonderful support and friendship from comments on the blog. It's been a great journey and I would say I'm a happier and more adventurous traveller for it.
THREE
See the beauty in the wild weather! I shall do some storm paintings and try to get some good January photographs.
FOUR
We are opening the garden under Scotland's Garden Scheme in June, so to have household matters well organised and running smoothly by the end of January would free up time to get the garden looking great later. Running a home and family well is like running a small business and as time consuming - no-one tells you that when you dream of a family and a home of your own, do they!
Well that's enough to keep me busy for a bit....
What will you do in January, in foul weather (or fair if you are reading this in the southern hemisphere)?
PS Just looking at yesterday's photograph makes me believe I can do anything!