Reasons to be cheerful

 Okay. Let's face it, things are not ideal. Lockdown is a fixture for absolute minimum another month. Cautious optimism re numbers trending down and vaccines trending up doesn't mean things aren't hideous in hospitals right now. And next Monday is Blue Monday which is both a ridiculous artificial construct designed to sell many things we don't need (or can't have, I imagine it's shifted a few holidays over the years but the whole concept of travel feels ridiculous just now)... and a real feeling in the dark pit of January that things are grim, flooded and lacking sparks of joy. 

Exhibit A: my walk yesterday. I remember when this was all fields

We are very much in a Make Your Own Sparks of Joy scenario now. So I hope some of your will be at #ConfinedCocktails at 7. Some of us are doing a live thing for Anne and Ruth's birthday celebrations, but if you haven't signed up/don't know them from Adam, I'll still be on twitter too. 

I will, personally, be drinking proper glögg, with almonds and raisins, because dammit why not at this point.

This sparks considerable joy in me, at least

 

Tonight, however, I have been drinking an El Presidente in a slightly bastardised version involving white vermouth because I can't bear Noilly Prat. I froze it mixed before yoga and then I swigged it amazingly joyfully. It was so cold the glass misted completely and this is a terrible photo accordingly. But it is GREAT.

 

Now, beyond this week, Reasons to Be Cheerful:

• Hopefully if you're playing #ConfinedBookswap, you have a book on the way. Mine have arrived, and are brilliant. 
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• Next weekend is nearly Burns Night and some of us are doing a themed #ConfinedCocktails for 23rd accordingly. I have emergency raspberry gin on the go for something inspired by cranachan. Others will be drinking a Rob Roy or a whisky mac. Make it yours! 
• 6 February will be another #ConfinedCookalong, themed on #HeritageKitchen. Get planning: an old fave family recipe? An archive recipe? Something terrifying from 70s_Party? All are possible. I've no idea what I'm going to do, but I'm looking forward to working it out. 
• 13 February is not Valentine's Day. Let #ConfinedCocktails be as Not Valentine as you please. I might have another corpse reviver. 

And after that, it'll nearly be spring. 20 March is our one year anniversary btw. I don't know what I'm doing to celebrate that, but SOMETHING, surely?