Warm winter wishes from Oxford and a social media sabbatical

This winter letter was sent to my mailing list on 21st December 2021.

Hello friends,

Season’s greetings! I’m popping into your inbox today to wish you a Happy Winter Solstice. I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

It’s chilly here in Oxford. I feel a gentle pull to slow down and embrace all things cosy at home. I recently read The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking, which had me lighting candles, reaching for comfy blankets, and making hearty soup. As I’ve got older, I’ve grown fond of the colder months and the simple joys they bear. There’s something quite magical about a frosty morning, especially when the winter sun makes everything sparkle.

At the start of November, I began a social media sabbatical. If you’ve been here a while, then you’ll know I value regularly switching off and stepping away from the digital world. Here are some of the things I’ve been up to:

• Completed an eight-week mindfulness course.
• Went on long river walks with friends.
• Updated my website.
• Disappeared under a pile of fantasy novels; recent reads have included Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Stardust by Neil Gaiman and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Fellow book lovers will find me on Goodreads.
• Re-joined the National Trust.
• Walked, cycled or practiced yoga every morning.
• Devoured the seven hours of The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+.
• Gave my entire apartment a thorough shuffle, declutter and clean.
• Continued to explore local forests and woodlands – always with a flask of tea.
• Cooked a lot of soup and made orange and clove pomanders.

I haven’t yet set myself any goals for the new year. If the pandemic has reminded me of anything, it is to be flexible and approach each day as it comes. I’m enjoying the time at home and feeling grateful for the small everyday moments. I hope you have a wonderful and restful holiday and a very happy and healthy 2022. May the winter season and new year bring you an abundance of all the things you love.

Take care and stay safe.

Until next time,
Natasha