Hello!

Have you noticed a lot of people talking about the fact that 'we are half way through January already' and sharing that they are 'incredibly behind' too? It's hard not to feel unsettled by their musings. And honestly, I have had similar thoughts myself.

Yet, as I write this, sitting in my cosy study with a warming cup of tea beside me, looking out at a grey and rainy day, I'm feeling encouraged by the beauty of this in-between time of year. Yesterday I discovered a small clump of early daffodils in bloom and rushed outside in the rain to see them up close, returning to the house soaking wet but full of joy. Sunrise (although it's so grey we have not seen it much lately!) is a minute or so earlier each day and sunset is a minute or two later in the afternoon, reminding us that despite the dreary weather, our corner of the world is slowly moving from one season to another. Nature moves at its own pace.

What if we did too? What if despite the world's insistence that we be in constant contact and motion, we allowed ourselves to embrace the season we are in? What if we gave ourselves a little grace - the grace we so often give to others but forget to offer ourselves?

Today, let me invite you to take a moment to consider that maybe you are not 'behind' at all. Maybe you are exactly where you need to be, and like in nature itself, everything is unfolding in its own time, exactly as it should.

Things That Are Bringing Me Joy

Getting back in the habit of reading

I have decided to be much more intentional about making time to read and it's making me very happy indeed. Goodreads is helping me stay accountable and I'll be sharing more about books and reading on the website and social media too.

Listening to audio books on Audible* is also helping me to read more. (affiliate link) Listening to books definitely counts towards your reading goal!

Have you found yourself getting out of a habit that makes you happy? Were you able to get started again or are you about to? Please hit reply and let me know!

Doing things differently

I love routine, but I find that too much of it can make life feel as if it is on fast-forward. Gentle shifts like taking new walking and driving routes, working from a coffee shop instead of my desk or planning something fun on a weeknight instead of waiting until the weekend, have brought a wonderful new energy to my days.

Moving every day

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of exercise. It's one of the main things that helped me lose weight and keep it off for over ten years now. But it also helps my mental health, especially on busy days. So whether it's going for a walk, working out with my trainer or doing a workout on my own, I am active every day - even if it's only for a short time. Remember, 10 minutes is better than no minutes!

Behind The Scenes

Back when my family and I visited Rutland in early January, we took a day trip to the historic city of Lincoln.

It was one of those days when we were having such an amazing time we forgot to take many photographs - also it was really cold and we didn't want to take off our gloves to get hold of our phones - but here are a few views of the aptly-named Steep Hill and beautiful Lincoln Cathedral. With historic buildings, lots of lovely little shops and cafés, two universities, the cathedral and a castle too, Lincoln is well worth a visit if you get a chance.

In My Kitchen

It's all about comfort food at the moment!

Cottage Pie with Roasted Root Vegetable Topping

A simple, nourishing twist on a British classic with a delicious, colourful veggie-packed topping.

Here's the recipe!

Easy Vegetarian Orzotto

A versatile hearty dish with the goodness of barley and lots of veggies. There's a vegan option too!

Recipe here

Banana Date Cake

This deliciously moist old-fashioned cake has a buttery sweet, honey and walnut glaze that is hard to resist.

Get the recipe

Links marked with an asterix (*) are affiliate links - If you purchase using these links I make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This week I'm...

updating some very old posts and recipes, ready for my web designer to upgrade my website. While the appearance of the website will not really change, it will be built on an even stronger foundation (also known as a theme) so it provides an even better user experience.

Breathing new life into the" oldies but goodies" is fun - there are some really great posts and delicious recipes I had almost forgotten about. Watch this space!

Reading - The Elopement* by Gill Hornby, a wonderful Regency romance based on the diaries of a young woman whose step-mother was Jane Austen's real-life niece.

Watching - I'm looking forward to the premiere of Bridgerton Season 4 on Netflix on Thursday 29th January.

Listening to - Get It Done - How To Complete Your Dream Project* by Gretchen Rubin on Audible

Visiting - The Savoy Hotel, London, one of my favourite London Hotels

That's all for now. I'm off to do some more work on the website. Until next time, remember you are not behind! Everything is unfolding in its own time.

Thank you so much again for being a subscriber. Remember you can reply to this email with any questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hi. I love to hear from you.

Warmly,

April x