A list of things I’ve been loving in February
Places, products, books and tasty treats
In an uncharacteristic move, I’m cobbling this newsletter together the day before it goes out. This week has felt like a fast-moving river - exciting and beautiful - but I’ve been like a cork on the surface, pulled helplessly along.
I’ve had my first full week at my new job, my editor has fed back on my novel manuscript, I’ve seen friends and family, and I’ve forced myself to get outdoors and move my body in the spare daylight hours. But today is the first real moment I’ve had to sit down, do a wide unsuppressed yawn, and get down to some writing.
The good news is, life’s been full of lovely things and pockets of joy lately. So, given that this week’s antics have rendered me incapable of a single critical thought, I’m simply going to share what’s made me happy. Enjoy!
Cream teas
My friends Hannah, Harry and I went for a walk on Friday afternoon from Alciston in East Sussex, through the countryside, ending up at Badgers Tea House in Alfriston—voted one of the seven best tea rooms in the UK by National Geographic. Obviously, I expected it to be good, but it surpassed every expectation by miles.
We sat around eating fluffy slices of chocolate cake, scones daubed with clotted cream, and drinking cups of tea from the most delicate, ornate china. With the rain pattering against the windows and nothing else to do but while away the afternoon under the low Tudor ceiling, we agreed that this is the one thing the British do well. Well, that and a pub roast.
Embracing the rain
The other thing Britain does very well is shit weather. But that does mean, if you live where I do and you wait around for sunshine in order to do nice things, you’ll waste half your life. So, over the last few months, I’ve been slowly investing in clothing and footwear that keeps me bone dry even in a downpour. As a result, I’ve been having great fun unplugging my feet from concrete-coloured mud on hikes and squinting through sheets of drizzle at Parkrun.
OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub
A client very kindly treated me to a £50 Liberty voucher as a Christmas gift last year, the majority of which I spent on this OUAI hair and body scrub. Not only does it smell quite literally mouthwatering, but it’s made the roots of my hair soft as silk and light as air. The bad news is that, at £36 a tub, I’m now addicted.
Razor-sharp bobs
I feel like I’m always one difficult conversation or general inconvenience away from getting a razor-sharp bob. This week, the urge has been particularly strong, especially after getting a distinctly average haircut in January (especially painful these days as even a cheap haircut is about £70?? Ugh). Anyway, I’ve not pulled the trigger yet, but if you catch me in a couple of weeks with half the amount of hair, you’ll know what’s happened.
NEOM “Perfect Night’s Sleep” candle
There is nothing I’m enjoying more at the moment than getting into bed at 9:30 pm and lighting this NEOM lavender-scented candle (another generous Christmas gift, this time from my auntie). I’d love to tell you that I’ve been instantly drifting off into a peaceful sleep, but that would be a fib. It smells just as luxurious during an hour-long session of scrolling through TikTok, though.
Spring flowers
Some people hate January and February, but for me, it’s just downhill to spring from here. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the snowdrops I’ve seen shooting up all over my garden, and in the £1 bunches of daffodils that are back in the supermarket aisles. We’re nearly there, everyone. Just a few more wintery weeks to go.
Foster by Claire Keegan
The novella is written from the point of view of a young, shy girl in rural Ireland who goes to live with distant, childless relatives for a summer because her parents can’t afford to keep her. As someone who was raised on a farm, the unpolished descriptions of countryside life felt particularly nostalgic, but I’d challenge anyone not to feel moved by the unlikely emotional bonds formed by the girl and her foster parents.
Oh, and you should also watch The Quiet Girl, the film adaptation of Foster. It’s incredible and shot straight to the top of my all-time favourite film list.
* Never lend your books, kids
What have you been enjoying this month? Pop your recommendations in the comments below (can be anything you like, books, films, places, things to eat or drink). Let’s stuff February full of nice things.
Embracing the rain is something I had to learn too living in the Netherlands. I have to say honestly with a good raincoat and good waterproof shoes I don't mind the rain as much.
Love, love, love. But tbh you could write your shopping list and I'd lap it up.
This filled me with all the good feels and I hope your new job is going well <3
A favourite for me this month has been early nights. Sometimes as early as 8pm. My body clearly needs it, and I've been hunkering down in bed with a candle and Kindle for approx 10 mins before I'm out for the count.