What a sublime nose dripping, finger numbing, eyes streaming, chilly day. 

Each sense was opened and each used breath could be traced out of the nostril and mouth in a plume of vapour. The day was filled the mother toddler song, ” please put your bobble hat on, it’s collllllld” and in reply was “no pleaaase” and sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t. We moved our feet through thick mud with enjoyment, something I never grew out of. In one moment there was rain, the next exhilarating cold then a flash of sunshine. Once our fingers were beyond numb and the red in our cheeks had spread to our ears, we made our way to the farm cafe in pursuit of sandwiches, hot chocolate and brownie, what more could one ask of a simple Sunday. With your little family?

And so we returned home, rather tired with the hope of rest but our little’un who is teething like crazy decided a 20 minute nap in the pram sufficed, but with weariness comes an odd energy- slightly manic and drawn from invisible reserves, hence apple and mango chutney making with old apples. I can’t bear throwing or wasting goods and I’ve been dreaming about warming chutney for a long time.

Last night as I thought about my 30th year approaching in February and froze a little with worry, worry for my unfinished work, I realised why it was unfinished- I am stuck! Stuck in the middle of a plot that I am struggling to see a way out of and I happened upon two pointers by Margaret Atwood and had a major “aha!” moment, the points are;

I’ve been sitting in the middle of the woods too long but it’s better to realise that sooner than later.

I hope you had a lovely Sunday, embraced the cold and nestled in the warmth