I didn’t hate January this year. I usually find the dark nights and subdued aftermath of Christmas a bit depressing. But this year I was excited about our upcoming house move and feeling positive about the year ahead.
So, here are the things I loved, liked and hated this month.
LOVED
Books, Books, Books
I read so much this month, probably more than the previous 6 months combined. Here are the books that were on my reading list this month and I loved every single one of them:
Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon – I’ve been meaning to read this a while. Bryony talks candidly about her history with mental health problems and addiction in an hilariously witty way
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray – I’m not completely sober but this seemed an apt book to read in my first month of trying to cut down on alcohol. Catherine gives a fascinating insight into a life lived both with and without addiction and helped me understand a few things about my own relationship with alcohol
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – Heartbreaking, uplifting, beautiful. This book was everything. I read it in a matter of days!
New Year’s Day in Belfast
We were in Belfast for New Year. After a pretty shitty 2019, New Year’s Eve truly felt like a fresh start. The turning over of a new leaf.
It turns out that the celebrations in Belfast don’t end on New Year’s Eve. The first day of the year was buzzing. We ate good food, drank good wine and watched traditional live music.
LIKED
Being (Almost) Sober
I managed an almost Dry January and I’m happy with that. After the excesses of Christmas and New Year my body was crying out for a break from the hard stuff. Other than a couple of nights (see NY day above) I managed to stick to my sober resolution and I have felt so much better for it.
I’ve been getting up earlier on a weekend, my mental health has improved and I’ve generally been more productive.
So why put this in ‘liked’ instead of ‘loved’? Well I just really enjoy a glass of red wine on a winter’s evening! So I’ve missed that.
HATED
Packing
True to form, we started packing up our flat one week before we moved. Unsurprisingly we had significantly underestimated the amount of belongings we had (when we came back from travelling we packed our belongings in one morning on the day we moved into our new flat).
Needless to say, after two round-the-clock days of boxing, taping and bubble wrapping, I was totally over it.
What about you? What have you loved, liked and hated this month?
