A Little Ray of Sunshine to Start the Year

Bear with me. I know for most people, the "New Year" starts in January but I think we can all agree January is a pretty dreadful month. It's dark (unless you're an antipodean which, granted, I know some of you are), it's cold, nothing much happens, half the world is on some ridiculous diet or regime which just makes you feel like a failure, and it goes on FOR EVER.

Unlike April. Which, to be fair, has, thus far also been pretty dark but I did see the sun today. And, it's the start of a New Year for my business, the Reignite Academy, so time to kick off the old and begin with a fresh set of resolutions.

Almost Called it Off

Last year, I have to be honest, was pretty tough. It ended, disastrously too. A brilliant new candidate, who came to us unsure that she'd ever be able to get her career back, approached us for advice, went away full of enthusiasm & confidence, did exactly what I told her to do and landed herself a job within 3 1/2 minutes, though not through us.

Happiness, pride, a sense that you've really helped someone is all well and good but it does NOT pay the bills.

Ho hum.

And Then Again

You'll delighted to hear I didn't let that particular tragedy get me down for long. Helped by the fact that this month we are placing our first ever MAN into a role, and by a fabulous email from someone we helped return to work five years ago. I will précis the key points:

• Thank you!
• I love my job
• A central London location helped me start dating after years in the wilderness and I now have a lush new boyfriend
• I have pension that is actually worth something
• Working gave me the confidence and personal space to be a good parent to three teenagers
• Everyone in my team knows a LOT about the effects of the menopause on the human body, whether they want to or not.

Not sure which bit I enjoyed the most. Probably the bit about the boyfriend. Lush. (That, by the way, is a nickname that some friends gave me a long time ago, though KTB is now probably the only one who uses it .... very rude).

Anyway, suffice to say, this very personal and heartfelt message gave me the motivation to keep going for another year at least.

Missing in Inaction

Did you hear the one about the Government's illegal migration policy? While we are all getting hot under the collar about them declaring a country is "safe" just because someone in Westminster says it is, and fretting about the implications of leaving the ECHR, it turns out they don't actually have any planes to put people on anyway.

Duh.

And, clearly using the same project management methodology, it turns out that you can't solve the childcare crisis by giving people vouchers for free childcare. You also have to find, train and pay for more nursery workers.

The incompetence.

Wait for it ...

If you think about it too long it will make you quite mad. The rules of our system mean that the PM gets to choose the date of the next election and since things aren't looking too clever for him he gets to delay and delay, hoping the polls will turn the corner. Leaving us with this wretched incompetent crew supposedly running the country.

(It's almost a relief that none of their plans are actually coming to anything much at the moment).

Apparently, Sunak actually came out and said that he is waiting for people to "feel better". He's pinning his hopes on us noticing some tax cuts and the Bank of England reducing interest rates.

Frankly, I think the only thing that will really make us feel better is a bit of sunshine. I'd advise him to go for June. By October we could well be back into this endless rainy season.

No Subscription

Anyone watching A Gentleman in Moscow? I'm refusing. On two grounds. Firstly, Ewan McGregor is totally miscast. The Gentleman looks much more like Jonathan Pryce in my book; and in my mind. Ewan, lovely as he is, is not the right person at all.

And, in addition, I refuse to pay yet another additional subscription. Thought it was going to be included in Amazon Prime, or Disney, or Sky or one of the channels I already subscribe for, only to find that they wanted me to pay another ￡7.99 a month. I refuse. Wasn't even duped into signing up for the first free month, knowing that I will then inevitably forget to cancel.

I will be sticking to Married at First Sight Australia which, whilst perhaps not being quite so highbrow, is also free. Each episode lasts 90 minutes (OK much of it is repeated and you have to sit through ads but I can put up with that) AND - here's the best bit - compared to A Gentleman in Moscow it also has the appeal that I don't know the ending!

The Fashion Slot

I've thought about this. How to pretend it's Spring when the weather is rubbish.

The solution: a long skirt and a gilet. There you go.

Be careful, though, I just nearly fell the full length of our stairs when my feet got caught in the hem of the skirt.

The Cultural Bit

I'm reading: Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad. Hamlet being staged in Gaza, before the latest war there. Very profound. And just finished Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan. Small book with a big message. Would recommend. Both on the Women's prize long list, both deservedly.

I'm watching: MAFSAU. I told you this already. Pay attention at the back. Also This Town. V good. Ghost town is one of my favorite songs ever.

I'm listening to: The New York Book review - Gabriella Zevin discussing her book Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. She is of Jewish and Korean heritage and it's fascinating to hear how this influences her work. Great listen and an even better read. Ewan McGregor could not be cast as any of the main characters here either.

That's it. I'm off. Short and sweet.