Rediscovering the 'Me' in 'Mumeeeeeee'

'I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife’s badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways'. (Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, 1861)

January 6, 2012

Pleasing things


First of all, Happy New Year as this is, officially, my first post of 2012. And to start the new year, I am in frivolous mood (am probably still a little bit drunk from the New Year's Eve party to be honest) - so I thought I would share a little of my conviviality by considering some of the simpler things in life which give me much happiness on a dark and windy January day. It would be easy to grumble and grouse, but I'm not going to take the obvious route. Not today.

Here's what currently makes me happy.

1. My rose-patterned cake stand. We made buns yesterday. Covered them with nutella and sprinkles and arranged them nicely on the cake stand. Infinitely more pleasing than a boring old plate.
2. My union jack dog which my sister have me for Christmas. I think he is supposed to be a doorstop but he's too nice to stand in a draught. He brings a little bit of English-ness into my very Irish life.
3. My new Jo Malone perfume - it smells divine. I feel divine when I wear it.
4. My new Paperchase 2012 diary. Love, love, love filling those blank pages with exciting plans for the year ahead and, yes, I have written in the front '2012, the year I get published'! Are you listening, universe?
5. The very tiny Daily Prophet newspaper and the stained-glass windows in the Lego Howgarts castle (courtesy of Santa). It is a level of teeny, tiny detail which fills me with untold joy.
6. My new 'cat' pen which miaows and lights up bizarre blue eyes when you press the top of its head. Writing by hand is fun again and smacking its head on the table to produce a 'miaow' is a great stress reliever.
7. Left over chocolate orange - yum.
8. Lying in bed listening to the storm outside - surely there is no other feeling which fills you with such a sense of security and comfort.
9. Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a Woman' which I am completely loving and chuckling along to. She is a very funny lady, if a little bit naughty and rude.
10. The King's Speech - watched it for the first time the other night. How I love, love, love period dramas. Fabulous.
11. Florence and the Machine 'Ceremonials' - uplifting, soaring, beautiful music which, as I tweeted this week, makes me want to own a harp and several floaty dresses. Simply gorgeous.

So, that's a pretty good start to the first week of January is it not. Of course, I will now have to go and shout at the kids for wrecking the Hogwarts castle and will regret scoffing all those buns from the cake stand ('start Monday' as Peter Kay would say), but all in all, all is well with 2012 thus far.

And long may it last.


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8 comments:

  1. How To Be A Woman is fabulous - so many laugh-out-loud moments! And that pen sounds amazing. Hope 2012 is a fabulous year for you. :)

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  2. jo malone perfume all divine, love the rose and musk scents, I missed king speech everytime, maybe someone will get the DVD for my birthday,My husband bought Caitlin's book for me last summer, it's a riot!Lovely sentimental feel to your post Hazel thank you for sharing your thoughts and Here's wishing us all Happy Publications in 2012, mary Jo x

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  3. Great things to make you happy! I also love the kings speech'

    Dp
    X

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  4. Enjoying the details of life :) Love this list and it's a reminder to me to do the same x

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  5. It's a wonderful life when a cake plate makes you happy.
    I don't care how sad my daughter says I am. Mine is an Emma Bridgewater pink 'Love" cake plate that a girlfriend gave me for Christmas this year and I love it. In fact I had no cake to put on it so put all my Christmas jams and marmalades are on it instead!
    And all our chocolate orange was eatten on the day. Good of you to still have some left!

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  6. How funny, just reading Caitlin Moran's book, she is so honest about everything, a breath of fresh air. Plus Downton Abbey starts up again tonight in the US - cannot wait!

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  7. Really nice post to read. I have an issue - what is leftover chocolate orange? My brain does not understand! I have the CM book but put it down at the masturbation bit early on (I'm no prude but tmi!). Should I persevere? -HMx

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  8. Lovely list. The King's Speech is a total highlight of 2011. Wait a minute. Wasn't it out in 2010? Anyway, it's very good.

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