It’s CHRIISTMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS. It’s Christmas this week.

I feel like I am CRAWLING to Christmas right now purely so I can have a couple of days off work. Life has felt ridiculously busy and chaotic again for the last 6 weeks or so, and there has been A LOT going on. I have been feeling extremely run down (hence a missed post last week!) and I can barely catch my breath.

The back end of this year hasn’t been kind to the people I love and I feel like I’m firefighting, flitting frantically between trying to support everybody and also keeping up with my jobs and a sudden, unexpected huge increase in work (spend all year pitching to clients and they all bloody come the month before Christmas!!!) Add a poorly dog (yep – AGAIN!), a broken-down car, a couple of powercuts and a bloody mouse infestation in my house to the mix, it’s fair to say I need a drink or 50 when I finally get to Christmas Day!!! Disclaimer: yes I know there’s always somebody worse off, this is my blog and I am allowed to use it to let off steam and moan when I am struggling to cope, ALRIGHT?!

This week, I am working my last shift in the wine bar that I love so much – I have tried and tried to keep going as long as possible but after taking on another new client recently and more work with my existing ones, I think I finally have to admit defeat. I’m not superwoman after all. I feel really sad because I have loved it, and the family who run it have been so good to me, but I have said I’ll be happy to fill in from time to time if they ever get desperate for staff, and I’ll still be in there a lot stocking up on wine, so it’s not like it’s leaving my life for good!

I’ve unfortunately not been sleeping very well recently, and I’m awake for several hours in the middle of the night. As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time buffering on social media, so that’s not good. But what is good is that I have a lot of things to share with you as a result! So at least there’s one winner here!

Reading

I’ve not been reading much (at all) lately, but I did read through this whole thread and laughed my way through it. I love stuff like this, and I love random strangers on the internet for providing me with so much joy.

Watching

This Wholesome Video

Awwww I thought this was just lovely when I watched it, aside from the fact that the baby is super cute, I just found this whole thing really wholesome.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CXVn8z9IR-S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

AND SPEAKING OF WHOLESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

My favourite human being on the planet is back! And sadly, he has a girlfriend so I’ve got no chance of ever marrying him (that, and you know, because I’m already married!)

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A post shared by Francis Bourgeois (@francis_bourgeois43)

The Christmas Chronicles

Throughout this month I have felt like all I’m doing is working, worrying, and walking the dog. All the Ws. James is away during the week and my workload has dramatically increased, I’m doing a lot more than I usually would be and I feel like I’m not doing anything else. So to combat that, whilst he’s away I decided that no matter what time I eventually finish working of an evening, I WILL watch a Christmas film to at least feel like I’m having something festive in my day. He’s not really into anything festive and lovely anyway, so I figured this would be my time for me to switch off and relax.

I spent the start of the month watching some particularly crap ones, but then my friend told me about this one (if you’re wondering why I haven’t watched the best Christmas film – The Holiday – yet, it’s because I’m saving it for this week!) and OH MY GOD. I bawled!!!!! It is the most beautiful Christmas film, it is so gorgeous and I am telling you if you have kids, YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT! I think I’m pretty late to the game, but it brightened my day so much.

Listening

Calm after the Storm by The Common Linnets

Sometimes you discover a song that for some reason, strops you in your tracks or calms you right down when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed. This was it for me recently. This is so beautiful, calming and delightful to listen to.

I think I heard this beautiful song on a film, and I’ve been listening to it because it just seems to calm and slow me right down whenever I hear it. The band has got a slight similarity to The Magic Numbers, and I am soooo appreciating their chilled-out, lovely-to-listen-to vibe. If you’re a little stressed right now and struggling amidst all the Christmas chaos, give it a listen. YOU ARE WELCOME.

Before You Go…

Christmas is a magical yet emotional time for many. I haven’t forgotten that we’re living in a pandemic and an almost-certain impending lockdown 500.0 here in the UK. But there is so much mention of another potentially ruined Christmas, why bring it here too? We’re all tired of the news.

What I will say though is that there are people who will be spending their first Christmas without loved ones, people who will be spending the Christmas period worrying about loved ones who may be here but are suffering or struggling or going through things that are beyond their control. And there are people who are just generally having a shit time. And there are people like one of my best friends who have just tested positive for COVID meaning she can’t go home and be with her family at Christmas. There are all sorts of circumstances leaving people having less than an ideal holiday season.

So you know what I’m going to say don’t you?

BE. FUCKING. KIND!!!!!!!!

It’s not hard. A lot of people are dealing with a lot of stuff. Just be kind, even if they’re not kind to you.

I’m sending you peace, love and light. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, wherever you are in the world and whatever you celebrate.

I’m hoping you get to celebrate the festive period COVID-free and with as much joy as possible. I’ll see you next week for the final 5 Minute Coffee Corner instalment of the year!