December

Dec 24, 2025

Dear readers of The Uplift,

It is Christmas Eve and I have just opened one of the cheeses I am taking to my sister’s for Christmas tomorrow and made myself up a little plate of cheese and crackers. I knew I should have taken them round when I visited today to resist temptation but never mind!

For the past five years, I’ve been lucky enough to to cat sits or stay in friends-on-holiday’s homes in north London near enough my sister’s to engage in the family festivities and also have my own space. I’m now onto a little plate of two mini mince pies, looking at a simply and tastefully decorated real Christmas tree and listening to instrumental-only Christmas tunes.

I think this year I’m having the most suited-to-me Christmas yet. Hardly any presents, I haven’t done cards and I avoided Christmas music (except two lovely festive gatherings) until December 22. That meant on the drive from London to Brighton, I really enjoyed listening and singing along to a festive playlist.

Since I last wrote to you in November, most significantly, I have completed The Artist’s Way 12-week programme, facilitated by the wonderful Marianne Power. My favourite thing to come out of that is a newfound love of collaging, as well as meeting new and inspiring people. I’m looking forward to doing it again with Marianne on Tuesdays from January 20. Watch this space. Before then, Marianne is running some Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026 workshops, using the fabulous Selina Barker’s Goodbye Hello journal.

Other things that have kept me going through some bleak Winter days include trips to Wakehurst.