This time it was Emma's turn to choose, and with the Chinese New Year around the corner, she inventively chose "Eye of the Tiger." It is of course the Year of the Tiger.
Dear friends. I bring you a special edition of my round-up of TV, books and podcasts. You lucky people!
There's a wide range of entertainment covered including latest Korean thriller The Silent Sea, much hyped film Don't Look Up, a thrilling podcast drama Last Known Position, and three books making big waves - Mrs March, Snowflake and Sorrow and Bliss. I also give my thoughts on The Responder, Trigger Point, Hidden Assets - and plenty of others.
Dear friends. To be brutally honest with you, I've always hated Valentine's Day. It started when I was at school and there was competitive pressure to receive more than one card. Fortunately I was guaranteed to get at least one from my grandma.
Fast forward a few decades, and Feb 14 is all about over-priced restaurants, and expensive and over-travelled red roses.
But for those of us who haven't got a partner, or whose partner is unromantic, we can still make the day special. Here are my tips.
Dear friends. You may have noticed ads appearing on Facebook and IG for make-up sticks, aimed at older women, which are designed to simplify cosmetics and give a natural, fresh look without trying to make us look younger.
I wrote about one of the brands, Forever Yours, a few weeks ago. Now I am trying another range from a UK company called Violet Jordan.
Dear friends. Welcome to 2022, and the second Is This Mutton post of the year. What? You missed the first? Catch it in the link-up below.
Today we're looking at fashion trends - quick ways to update your wardrobe; why I don't make New Year's Resolutions, and what you can expect from Is This Mutton going forward.
Weds 1 Dec
Opened the 1st window of my Feel Unique beauty Advent calendar. Did forest walk. Started the 12 days of Christmas Kettlewell Colour Club challenge (to see the outfits, look here and here).
Thurs 2 Dec
3 posts on the blog this week, a record! No walk today. Set off for gym but forgot phone so didn't go in (need the phone for podcast app to listen to). Wrote Christmas cards for family and friends in Ireland and the Netherlands. Received the annual package of "tat" from a former colleague, who sends useful little notelets, pens and other items.
Fri Dec 3
Raining in morning. Did Zumba for 1st time.
Sat Dec 4
Sunny after rain. Did 30 mins of cardio at the gym. Then Body Balance with the Orion Harriers - just 2 of us. Swung by the Christmas market and was given a lovely gift of dried flowers by Heidi, who I featured here.
Sun Dec 5
Rainy most of day. J and I went to Gunpowder Park, an outdoor track. First time I've run for a long time. Only did 1 circuit. Roast chicken. Put tree up, wreath, crib, garland, earlier than usual.
Mon Dec 6
25 miles to go in the Walk 1500 Mile Challenge. Did another 4.2 miler.
Tues Dec 7
Walk. Wrote blog post.
Weds Dec 8
Did walk via Connaught Water and the Queen Elizabeth 1 Hunting Lodge (pictured). Cold. Wrapped some presents.
Thurs Dec 9
Went to gym and did cardio and Peak on treadmill. Then weights. John installed new speakers. His son and daughter-in-law both have Covid.
Fri Dec 10
Walk, J came as well but only for half and ran. Quiet day work-wise.
Sat Dec 11
Blue sky start. Did the "mud walk" which includes Yates Meadow and the horse and pony. After lunch went to Epping to pick up some bits from M&S. It was the semi final of Strictly Come Dancing.
Sun Dec 12
Rest day. Woke up v late for me, 6.50. Intended to take blog photos but heart not in it. Roast lamb. Watched Grand Prix final. Lewis Hamilton robbed.
Mon Dec 13
Day off to have hair done. Surprise delivery of an M&S food hamper which was sent by the ad agency in New York.
Tues Dec 14
Walked to Tesco. Good workout, particularly on way back with loaded rucksack. Watched 14 Peaks documentary - very good.
Weds Dec 15
A lot of concern now about new variant. Rachel was exposed to someone with Covid so fingers crossed for Sat when we are supposed to be going to a carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall. My brother and his wife struggling to book boosters.
Thurs Dec 16
Penultimate day working. Will complete the challenge on the next walk. Wapped presents instead. Watched film Lovehard. Predictable but actually not too bad
Fri Dec 17
Took car for MOT. They called me to say it had failed because of a bulge on a tyre. Agreed they would get the tyre and I'd pick it up Tues. However they then called to say the tyre was in stock, so can collect it tomorrow. Went to a gong bath. Had no idea gongs could make so many sounds.
Sat Dec 18
We didn't go to the carol concert. None of the 6-strong group have Covid now but it was likely to be a super spreader event and we want to safeguard Christmas. Did urban walk to Waitrose and saw annual procession of a camel and donkey with Mary and Joseph. Picked up some more lateral flow tests. Then John drove me to Loughton to collect car.
Sun Dec 19
Walk, roast lamb, cleaning. Have finally met goal of walking 1500 miles. My brother now has Covid.
Mon Dec 20
On holiday until Jan 4. Did walk. Made the final payment for my car, after 3 years of leasing. It's now mine. Would not normally have kept it but will make a profit if I sell it myself, plus the new car will not arrive until March at the earliest.
Tues Dec 21
Did a mini blog shoot and wrote blog post. Had long chat with a friend in Munich I haven't seen for years.
Weds Dec 22
J and I did a short walk at High Beech so he could present me with my Walk 1500 Miles medal. Very cold. Spurs v West Ham. Watched 1st episode Emily in Paris. Not sure we will watch the rest.
Thurs Dec 23
Spent morning cleaning and tidying. V satisfying. Watched The Holiday, a Christmas ritual.
Fri Dec 24: Christmas Eve
In Sains at 6am to get a few bits. Ocado delivery at 11. Then had flowers from my mum. Went for forest walk, surprised to find the cattle (thought they went away for winter). Nephew proposed to girlfriend of 8 years (she said yes). Watched Don't Look Up. 4 out of 10.
Sat Dec 25: Christmas Day
Overcast. First we went over to Christopher and Katie's to open presents with them, Rosie, Rachel and Sean. Came home and put turkey in. Then J and I opened presents. Watched Last Christmas with Emilia Clarke followed by Love Actually. Peaceful day.
Sun Dec 26: Boxing Day
We've made it, 8 of us are Covid-free and able to have lunch at our house, first time for two years! Nipped out to buy sliced chicken to avoid the cold turkey which was dry. I'd bought a new game, Herd Instinct, not very good. Rosie - aged nearly 3 - made us laugh with some of her funny sayings - "where do you think you're going?" and "I want to go to the pub."
Quite a few dessert choices - all from M&S!
Mon Dec 27
Went for walk in new wellies. Put to test in puddles and mud. Steak. Watched Xmas sewing bee in afternoon.
Tues Dec 28
Spent long time preparing a blog post. Too long. Listed some items on a FB site for Kettlewell clothes. Ate 9 Florentines. First time I have deviated from usual frugal diet over Christmas. Oops. Watched first episode of A Very British Scandal about the Duchess of Argyll.
Weds Dec 29
Bad night, circles under eyes. Fortunately didn't put on any weight in spite of Florentines. Went to the post office. Too hot at night so going to get rid of duvet and try sleeping with sheet and blanket. Did yoga and meditation at the gym, followed by trip to big Tesco. Seems to be a shortage everywhere of tissues.
Thurs 30 Dec
Slept better but still woke up too hot several times. Did forest walk, J ran part of it. Took down tree and decorations. Watched film The Tomorrow War - 5 out of 10.
Friday 31 Dec
Dreary. Raining so drove to gym instead of walking for Body Balance. Post office. Did 3 skirt shoots and downloaded some new images for blog. In bed early as per. Woke at 11.30 and then again at midnight for what sounded like Armageddon but was only fireworks.
Thanks to Rebecca Jo at Knit by God's Hand for the Sentence a Day concept, and to Leslie at Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After for creating and sharing the link-up code.
