Start out as you mean to go on?

Happy entry into 2026. We marked it with Indian food (loads) and ate it for several days after.  As ever the weather did whoopsie doodle: freezing on NYE and warm and grey on NY day. The past few days have been freezing (not like the Midwest of the US but really not comfortable for here — and no snow, so what’s the point?).

Too many fireworks for the dog. So, we ended up burrito-ing him in some blankets and that seemed to do the trick.

I wore Arpege on NYE – I wanted to smell good but in a slightly subversive way. NY day was Neela Vermeire Eshal, which is so bright and joyous it seemed a good way of marking our entering into a new year (start out as you mean to go on?). In between, I’ve been wearing Aromatics Elixir.

I don’t do resolutions. I do hopefulnesses. And a woman I sort of follow on social media sent along one of her generalised email prompts for the start of the year. One of them I really really liked.

Her name is Suleika Jaouad. Maybe you’ve heard of her. She’s now in her mid-30s but in her early 20s she developed a cancer which led to years of different treatments and hospitalisations. Through it all, in the ebbs and flows of being healthier and sicker, she’s continues to live big. She wrote a book, Between Two Kingdoms, that I think is very worthwhile … for anyone.

But the specific thing right now is that she’s big on journaling and sends weekly prompts for others to think about. I don’t journal that way and mostly I read them and delete the email. Go on to other things.

But her last ones included something to the effect of ‘what are you thinking about doing that’s maybe a bit mad and what’s the thinking behind it?’ That one I liked and I’m keeping it.

I think the point is ‘what might sweep out the cobwebs and get you moving in a different and righter direction?’.

Well, here’s mine. This is just an inkling but it feels like a good and right inkling.

I am starting to think about moving – or at least not being here for a good part of the year. That thought powered the retirement two years ago but it’s been a slow adjustment and only now have I really returned to how that might be accomplished.

Do I keep the house and just rent when I’m elsewhere? Do I sell this house, buy in the EU and rent (or couch surf) when I’m in the UK?

I’ve got ‘things to do and promises to keep’ currently, including that I’m still waiting to hear about when the Stolpersteine memorials for my grandparents and mother will be installed in front of what was their house in a southern German town.

But the thought/concept is firmly planted.

I did one impulse purchase riding down into the solstice in December. I had been eyeing the Atelier de Balthus candle by Astier de Vilatte for literally a couple of years. When I went to look at it yet again before Xmas it wasn’t in their usual stock. So, looked a bit more. Liberty had it. After 10 minutes of wooing and hooing I bought it. And now, having looked a bit more, it really does seem like it is maybe being phased out. So, all in, I’m good with this purchase.

Atelier de Balthus is an artist’s studio candle. It’s heavier on the paint and beeswax smell vs the Cezanne studio candle (which is long gone) that smelled more of turps, linseed and canvas. In any case, it’s very good and perfect for deep winter.

Finally, I think it’s really cool (no other word works) that the new NY mayor Mamdani was sworn in in the old City Hall subway station. And boy is his partner — Rama Duwaji, an artist – so cool as well. No silly get-ups, accepting payouts (her stuff was borrowed) so they can dress a certain way (that was our twat of a PM last year – campaign on change and immediately accept loads of dosh so he can dress like a politician). The boots she wore on inauguration day are outstanding (I tried to get a pic but it didn’t work – here’s a link: boots). Here’s to NYC!

Anyway, I hope the beginning of the year is looking positive for you and there are happy-making or at least interesting/intriguing plans in the works. Onward!

Pics: pexels, mine

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