Hibernation

Pic: wit + delight

This happens every year.
I start looking forward to the thought of winter - snuggling under a blanket while watching Wimbledon, chunky scarves, oxtail stews and winter afternoon walks (wearing said chunky scarf).

And then the cold, dark mornings arrive and my motivation goes out the window. I don't want to get out of bed. I don't want to move my bum off the couch. I don't want to paint my toenails or go out. Maybe it's the lack of central heating in this country, but between my runny nose and my daughter's persistent cough, I'm over this winter. Thanks for coming, off you go now.

While everyone in the Norther Hemisphere is celebrating the 'official start of summer,' little do they know that we are celebrating the fact that it is the official middle of winter, which means that it's downhill from here (said very hopefully) and that while it might not get warmer any time soon, it will slowly, slowly, slowly start getting lighter.

The thought of sunny early mornings and the few things below are about all that are getting me through right now.

• Dreaming of spring cleaning. Spending more time in the house means I start to notice every little speck of dirt.
• Staring at pictures of Cassis, where we'll be going for a few nights later this year during our trip to France, and choosing accommodation. I am feeling a little Med cruise collection wardrobe coming on.
• Bar one biscuits and milo-coffee. Which are not going to help me be bikini-ready in September, that's for sure.
• Dark nail polish like Essie's Wicked that seems to go with everything and makes me look, well, more polished.
• • Nigella's pea and Parmesan risotto. Same point as above re the bikini readiness, but it's so very hard to care before the 1 August.