Rituals | A letter to 2017

On this, the last day of the year, I’m sitting down with a cuppa to write my annual letter.

It’s a tradition I picked up a few years back. Write about the year just gone and hopes for the year ahead, then squirrel the letter in with the departing box of Christmas decorations. Getting the decs out for Christmas is exciting enough, but having your own mini time capsule to read as well takes it to a whole new high.

Christmas picks | Want, need, wear, read

Image: Daria Shevtsova

It's Christmas Eve. I've woken up tired and emotional which is very much peaking too soon. But excited too... I'm only two deliveries away from having everything done and basking in the glow of having presents wrapped but no real idea of what we're all going to eat on Boxing Day. Classic Christmas for me - 50% totally organised, 50% winging it.

Christmas | Paddington and the Christmas Visitor

When my brother and I were kids, we had a much loved and rather battered old Paddington bear. His wellies kept falling off and he was definitely sticky from the marmalade sandwiches we'd make for him (complete with 'nom nom' pretend eating noises), but he was very much loved. Paddington is a bona fide classic whose recent resurgence in popularity is thanks to that brilliant Wes Anderson-esque film from 2014.

On health and finding a love of exercise

Something unexpected has happened... Over the past few months, I think I've found a love of exercise. Now no one is more surprised by this than I am. But it's the truth - I finally get it.