Antidote

Urgh, this weather is vile!  Having been sewing all afternoon I got to half past five with cold feet and an aching back and decided enough was enough.

The weather spent the day steadily building itself into a screaming frenzy - rain lashing the windows and wind howling round the house ad roaring down the chimney.  The chickens were extremely unimpressed by the whole thing and went disconsolately and soggily to bed at about half past four.  Having nearly been blown away when I went to shut them up for the night I decided it was time for proper measure to be taken to counter the horror that is January.  It isn't a great month at the best of times and a violent storm on top of that really is a bit much to bear.

First things first, cosiness is absolutely essential for countering grim weather, especially if you've been out in it.  I lit the fire, dragged the armchair as close as possible for high quality shin roasting and grabbed a blanket and a few extra cushions.  Curling up by a radiator or simply snuggling under a blanket with a hot water bottle are equally viable options.  Fluffy socks, pyjamas, dressing gowns are optional extras.

Next, sustenance.  A nice hot chocolate and a piece of cake, toast or drop scones are just the thing to stoke the cosiness and entirely banish the grimness of the weather.  If you are being boring and January-ish however then even a cup of tea or a mug of hot squash and some toasted seeds will also do the trick, in a slightly healthier, if slightly less exciting sort of way...

Then just settle down and bask in the lovely cosy world you have created!  Turn up the music to drown out the weather and dream of Summer; of hot days with a gentle soothing breeze, soft warm evenings and supper al fresco, holidays with nothing to do where you amble contentedly bare foot or lie basking under burnished blue skies.

Spring is hopefully on its way somewhere in the not too distant future; I have proof to keep me reminded of the fact and to cheer me up now that Edward is away again.

My daffodils were grown in Cornwall and have a gorgeous delicate scent to them, though their best feature is their bright jolly yellow faces which greet me when I come through the door.

On the dining room table I have some carnations I rescued from a 'reduced' section at the supermarket, a bowl full of tiny irises which still have a bit of growing to do, and a glorious stunning and beautiful hyacinth which has just burst open and is busy filling the house with the most fantastic Springy smell.

Now I can't wait for the narcissi!