#15: Alone On Christmas Day
Recommendations from my C*VID sickbed...
So it turns out that COVID is even worse than I remember. I caught it two full weeks ago and I still feel like death warmed up. Apologies for the lack of a post last week, but I was mentally and physically enfeebled. This week’s post was supposed to be about exfoliation and the products I’d recommend for rosacea and sensitive skin but my brain is still not present, so that will (fingers crossed) be coming to your inbox next week. This week, I’m sharing a few things that have kept me entertained/sane in my sickbed.
Enough whinging! Let’s go.
Listening: Instead of my usual song recommendation, I’m sharing my ‘Actually Good Christmas Songs’ playlist for your festive listening pleasure. It’s a bit of a mix of indie covers, Sad Girl originals, and some of the (actually good) traditional and mainstream songs. I’ll keep adding songs to it as the weeks go by. I hope you like it, feel free to save it so you can come back to it in the future.
Watching: As my husband and I were both ill at the same time, we watched a lot of TV. I have two Korean shows to recommend, both of which are on Netflix. Zombieverse is an immersive reality TV show where the celebrity contestants have to survive a zombie apocalypse. There are two seasons and they are both absolutely fantastic. We watch with the English dubbing because we are both usually dual-screening so it’s easier to follow!
The second is Culinary Class Wars which is kind of like Masterchef, but it’s White Spoons (Celebrity/Michelin star chefs) vs Black Spoons (‘normal’ chefs). Typically I’m not a fan of cooking shows, but this is so much fun to watch - especially because you’re obviously rooting for the underdogs throughout!
Preparing: I shared some tips for surviving social occasions over the next few weeks. Whether it’s family gatherings, work Christmas parties, or just meeting up with friends, click through and swipe across to see all of my advice for preparing beforehand, what to say to comments about your skin, and how to reframe those comments so they don’t upset you as much.
Reading: I’m so close to hitting my 2024 reading goal, I’m currently on book 114 of 120. I’ve had run of stinkers recently, but some good ones that I’d recommend. The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer (hilarious with great characters) and Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones (queer romcom, this is a re-read from last year - that’s how much I loved it!)
Plus, Under The Mistletoe With You, the new festive romance from Lizzie Huxley-Jones, is currently only 99p on Kindle so I’ll be getting that as my celebratory final book of the year!
Watching: This video from James Welsh (who I love and who also has rosacea) about filters that you will no doubt see used every day but are so sneaky that they won’t register. Please remember that a huge amount of content that you see (and probably compare yourself to) online is fake, tweaked, or edited. If someone’s skin looks too good to be true, it usually is. Every person has pores, hair, texture, and lines. That’s called being human.
Smelling: We put our tree up a few weeks ago, in preparation for our annual Fistmas party (Fistmas being short for Friend Christmas…obviously). Here are my favourite ornaments.
Details: Dog, M&S; Hot Air Balloon, Sostrene Grene; Chicken and Stevie Nicks, Merry Xmas Shop Amsterdam.
I also bought some of these Scentsicles, which hang in your tree and have such a festive smell that fills the room. You can get fir tree ones (if you miss the real tree smell), cinnamon ones, or the ones I got which are called Spiced Pine Cone and are described as ‘cinnamon, clove, orange zest, all spice & nutmeg, ending with the smell of pine cones, and a newly lit fire’. The instructions say to use the full pack for a christmas tree, but our dining room is fairly small so I only used 1 stick and saved the rest for future Christmas decorations.
Watching: If you fancy a festive recommendation, then may I humbly present two of my favourite Christmas films? The first is an absolute classic: White Christmas. I assumed that everyone had seen this, until I found out my own husband had no idea what I was talking about. The music, the dancing, the costumes… it’s just perfection and still makes me beam with happiness even though I must have seen it 50+ times. The second film recommendation is Anna And The Apocalypse (currently only £0.99 to rent on Amazon), which doesn’t sound festive but it is. It’s a zombie apocalypse Christmas musical set in Scotland. That description will either completely sell you on its greatness, or send you running. Both reactions are valid (though the latter is incorrect).
Reading: I wanted to end my final newsletter of the year with this poem from Lyndsay Rush, who I love so much. This poem sums up everything I hope for you and for me in 2025.
So sorry you were sick and still feeling bad. Covid is still a big fear for me... :( hope you feel great soon!!
Well done on another great newsletter despite feeling poorly 👏
I love watching videos from James Welsh and his brother, although I struggle to tell them apart!!
I am another person who hasn't watched white Christmas nor its a wonderful life. I haven't even watched love actually which confuses people because I am Christmas obsessed 😂
Hope you start feeling better soon x