Making January not a total loss-leader: Tom Hardy in Taboo
I can’t bear to be a stereotype, to be cliched. Even though I am all the time, I can’t stand it. And so I am really disappointed to find myself so bored, so uninspired right now. And when I say right now, I mean in January, the month that everyone moans on about. I have always tried to find joy and light in January but this year, it’s not happening.
Even my favourite all-time activity, quietly looking at dresses online, leaves me feeling queasy. I don’t know what to think anymore. In the shops it’s just a mess of ditsy floral print, and asymmetric hems, stripes, things all tied up, cold shoulders and bomber jackets. It all makes me want to go and lie down in a dark room.
Although I am pleased that my pre-winter purchases of those little North Face jackets for the kids, plus some snow boots and my absurd Canada Goose jacket have been pulling their weight the past few weeks.
In particular, the kids’ warm outerwear this winter has been this North Face jacket with a Uniqlo puffa over the top if necessary. It’s worked really well, it’s lightweight and gives you options for more or less coverage. Although Kitty managed to pull the zip off last week, and the zip off her winter boots. She’s like an e-bomb for zips.
I am also still stubbornly 3 blips overweight, despite no drinking during the week (except a small glass of whiskey on Burn’s Night with my haggis) and being on a diet. It doesn’t help that Irish Mary, who is thin as a whip, runs past my house at about 092o every morning, yodelling “Halloooo!” in her Lululemon leggings while my brave face crumbles to black dust and blows away on a stiff breeze. I must do something about it. But it’s so cold, whine whine.
PERHAPS THEY WILL MAKE ME THE NEW EDITOR OF VOGUE??? And other insane thoughts.
Anyway look I’d better go, I have to ring my editor about a piece and she’s kindly agreed to take a call from me. I kind of just want to have a chat, but don’t tell her that.
have you seen his Bedtime Story??? He LIVES each character with such conviction. Its amazing.
watching it RN
and there’s a new one being broadcast on the 14th!!!
The blubbery flumpy Januariness of everything seeps in to every facet of life. Even the dresses. Not long until Spring. Not long!
Ahh Esther but you love winter and got bored with wearing summery clothes….
I love your columns; you are funny and seem to be far nicer and kinder than a lot of journos on Twitter.
I am so lovely it’s true. and there ARE tons of bad things about summer
Yes, yes. That bedtime story! I raved to my husband about his acting, but it was genuinely very good. He could come to my party anytime, with or without a hat or a badger.
This post reminds me – thank you for recommending that John Lewis raincoat for children ages back. My son has some sensory difficulties and finding him the right coat is a bigger deal than it sounds – he becomes actually distressed if they are uncomfortable in any way, or too thick. We had been through so many coats until I remembered your post and ordered this one – he loves it and wears it all the time without any problems, and crucially it has a decent fleecy lining so it is warm enough. I can’t tell you the difference this has made to, well, every trip out of the house. I hardly cry at all any more. I’ve bought it in ball gown length so it lasts him for bloody years xx
it’s a VERY good raincoat. I’m glad he and you give it the proper appreciation
We do, we do. It has its own peg and everything.
Honestly, January sucks. It was my birthday yesterday – what a month to have your birthday in. I want to hide under the duvet until May.
You are mine and my children’s style guru! Like you I look forward to winter by August but this year I am finding winter so tedious. It doesn’t help that my insane toddler will not wear her hat and gloves and so screams her little head off on the walk to and from nursery. Any tips on how to get stubborn toddlers to wear mittens ?? My children live in their snoods after your recommendation last winter !!
stubborn toddlers HATE mittens. I found a mitten called Easy Kiddos (worst name ever) and they are just about bearable, but basically they hate them and I can only conclude they like having cold hands. cray cray!
Yasmin, I stopped forcing gloves on my children, I simply tell them they are in my pocket and wait until their hands get unbearably cold and they beg me for a solution and accept them gratefully. You may only need to do this once; now mine ask for them when it’s cold. If they don’t feel the discomfort of cold hands they won’t see the sense. If they are happy without gloves – what’s the worst that can happen?
Good grief, it’s cold here today! I’m wearing two layers of Uniqlo AND a sweater and scarf in the house (with the heating on). I am a huge fan of winter, but this is taking the mick. Must be something about the dampness I think.
The belt on the treadmill is broken so that’s my excuse. 😉
Cindy, I’m the same. I am baffled by my mother’s insistence that my 2 year old wear his hat and gloves just because she’s told him to. I don’t know how many times I’ve told her that he keeps his hat and gloves on/ asks to wear them if it’s very cold (in his opinion). If not, he takes them back off again. I don’t know what is so difficult for her to understand about this. Elaine x
Can’t be doing with Mr Hardy in “Taboo”, I’ve tried, but it’s not taking…………..!
Marmalade and baking. It’s the only way through Jan. That and leftover haggis on toast. . .
I find that looking at sunny beaches and perving on handbags help a lot, but so does turning gaze inwards and meditation. Have a go at aura / chakra rebalancing sesh with a well reviewed healer…why not?
I love you and your words/ writing so much.
Love xoxo
Love you too Isabella xxx
This post is everything. I’m done with winter now, I’m done with January. And er unrelated to your post but I’m DONE with building work.
Building work is so trying