I can't quite believe that December is here!

It is usually one of my favourite months of the year, but it has just seemed a bit too early to start getting Festive (although I'm sure that it is nothing that a marathon session of Christmas films can't sort out!) so I thought I'd try and kick start the Festive buzz by writing about what I'm looking forward to this Yuletide season.

1. Seeing Christmas decorations and lights on my way into work - I get up for work very early, and have to catch a 6:46am train, so it is dark when I leave the flat, and dark when I'm coming home (what does sunlight look like again?) but what makes it bearable is the plethora of Christmas lights and decorations adorning the houses and streets. It doesn't matter how old I get, it will always feel completely magical!
2. Spending time with loved ones - For the first time ever in my working life I have from Christmas eve until 4th January off work! This excites me a ridiculous amount, and I can't wait to spend my time just enjoying the festivities. Whether it is friends or family, I intend to do a lot of catching up and present swapping over mulled wine this December.
3. Waiting for the first frost of Winter - I love frosty weather, specifically when I'm going for an early morning walk, or and looking out at it from the safety of my home. It's been unseasonably mild for December, and I'd like to know when Jack Frost is going to come and deliver the goods! 
4. Picking our tree, and decorating our home - We'll be going to select our Christmas tree this Saturday, and I really can't wait. I think having the tree will definitely make me feel more festive.  

5. Binge watching Christmas films - Once we've decorated the flat, we'll start watching Christmas films. It doesn't feel right to watch them unless you're surrounded by all of the paraphernalia of the season. My favourites include Home Alone, White Christmas, Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street and Father Christmas based on the books by Raymond Briggs, which I watched every year growing up, and is still my all time favourite!  
6. Consuming copious amounts of Hot Chocolate - I don't need to elaborate on this one, just do it because YAAAAAASSSSS!
7. Christmas Eve - In many ways, Christmas Eve is my favourite day/night of the entire Christmas period. Christmas day always feels as though there is an undercurrent of stress. Has the turkey been over cooked? The cat's pulled down the tree again, and Great Aunt Mildred is one glass of sherry away from falling arse over tit into the fireplace again kind of situations. Boxing day is always the calm after the storm where you're tidying up whatever you couldn't manage on Christmas night, and returning to normality. But Christmas Eve is just so magical, and filled with excitement and joy, it is the best feeling, and I cannot wait to spend it with Fella and Louis, all snuggled up as we settle in to watch The Grinch in our Pajamas.
8. And most importantly, taking time to be in the moment, and allow myself to enjoy it - because that is what it is all about, isn't it?

x

What are you looking forward to this Christmas?

32. Remembering to Breathe...

I've spoken briefly about my struggle with anxiety in my recent posts. Truth be told, I wasn't sure if I wanted to share this information, but it has become such a part of me and my life I had to address it. I thought it was getting better, I thought I was getting better at managing it. 

Two weeks ago I suffered a major relapse in the form of the worst panic attack I can remember ever happening. I'll set the scene for you. Monday morning, the trains are delayed. Fellow commuters are grouchy, and the delays mean that when the train eventually does arrive it is busier than usual. This is not usually a problem. I don't remember feeling particularity anxious about the journey. In fact, I don't remember thinking about anything specific at all.

31. Hello November....

It's no secret that Autumn and Winter are my favourite time of year. The crisp chill in the air, the crunch of leaves beneath booted feet, all the while wrapped up in a voluminous tartan scarf sipping on a steaming cup of Lady Grey - what's not to love?

30. The Whisper King by Wil Radcliffe

My name is David Kinder. And this is my story... every goddamn bloodstained word of it.

About 25 years ago when I was six my parents died in a car crash. I was

bounced around a few state homes until they finally settled me at Meripitt

Hill, an orphanage just outside of Lansing, Michigan. It was there that the

shadows started visiting me. Not normal shadows. These shadows moved on

their own accord, and whispered strange, alien things to me. Scared the piss

out of me.

While not my usual tipple of fiction to indulge in, the opening lines of The Whisper King drew me straight in. The language and dark fantasy elements it presents threw me straight back to my days of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sin City. 

29.He liked it so he put a RING on it!

If you don't already follow me on my various social media accounts, after four years together, Fella proposed to my on our 4 year anniversary, Tuesday 23rd June 2015. In a photo booth. A photo booth we have been going to together since we have been in this relationship. 

28. 'The Chosen Queen' by Joanna Courtney

1066: A date that changed the course of history; a date that changed her life forever.

A while back I was sent 'The Chosen Queen', and I devoured it over the course of a few days. It's taken me longer than anticipated to get it posted, but I'm so pleased to announce that today is the day! I have always been interested in the Saxons, but have never delved too far into their history apart from what I learnt in school about the Battle of Hastings, and William the Conqueror. 

27. The Classic Book Tag

Firstly, thank you to Karina for tagging me in the Classic Book tag! Let's do this!

26. The Versatile Blogger Award

Despite my best efforts, my plans of regular posting have not materialized.  Life, inevitably got in the way in the form of a sudden job change, and my life was thrown head first into chaos once again. I feel I should elaborate. At the beginning of this year my old company decided they wanted to initiate an office move, and my department was the main one affected. It involved moving down to Devon, which as I'm sure you can appreciate were not part of my current plans being in my late twenties. This period lasted from February until mid May this year, which I have to admit was the most draining experience of my life to date. 

25. Oswald: Return of the King by Edoardo Albert

When I was first sent the first two books in The Northumbrian Thrones trilogy I'll admit I had a slight hesitation. It is not a time that I will naturally choose to read about, however I am pleased to say I was pleasantly surprised. 

24. World Book Day

x It's World Book Day today. Don't you just love it when there is a day dedicated to celebrating something as wonderful as books? Books have been such a part of shaping my life, from childhood to the present day. 

23. Life Lately

Life lately has been:

x

22. Wolf Hall

In keeping with my previous post of the topics I am going to write about in 2015, I'd like to kick off my second post by writing about the up and coming Wolf Hall adaptation. 

21. 2015

2014 reawakened dreams long forgotten. 2015 is my year to live what I love, and to achieve my dreams, as cheesy as it sounds, only I can do this for myself, with hard work and dedication. 

I decided to hold back on posting my first post of 2015 as I wanted to have time to mull over what I really want this space to become, and how I'm going to get there. I needed to pick realistic goals that really will work for me, and my lifestyle. The following goals are going to help me focus on what is going to help me get there.