The longest January on record


I was recently surprised to discover that Brian’s least favourite month of the year is November.

I rather like November. It has an anticipatory, pre-Christmas feel that smacks of cosy nights in beside a newly-lit fire. But I suppose it’s different for Brian, who in a normal year spends every other week working in Sweden where November signifies heavy snowfalls, bitter winds and long, long nights that will only get longer until the winter solstice.

 

My least favourite month has always been January. Once Christmas is over and the family has melted away I am left feeling jaded, deflated, cake-fuelled and blubbery. 

 

January for me means 31 endless days of cold winds, dark mornings and soggy landscapes. And I rather think this particular January will be the worst one yet. 

 

This is the time of year when we cheer ourselves up by planning our holidays. Not this year though: we have no idea when we’ll be allowed to travel again. 

 

An overnight stay in a cosy hotel with an open fire is a lovely way of breaking up this tedious month. But hotels are all closed and we’re not allowed outside of our “local area” in any case. And forget about cheering yourself up with a convivial quiz night or dinner party – mixing between households is also a no-no.

 

So, where’s the bright side, I hear you ask?

 

• It’s now January 15, so by midday today we’ll be halfway through the month. Well done us!

 

• The Stay at Home edict means there’s no need to get up and go out on these cold, damp mornings.

 

• Trump has finally had his comeuppance. I hate to be political, but can’t help but gloat.

 

• The “R” number is finally down, which means the lockdown is working.

 

• The vaccine’s-a-coming! More than two million people have had their jabs already so your days are numbered, COVID-19.

 

• It’s Friday, so it's pub night. Say, what?

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