All Change

I’m flighty at the best of times, but this time of year always makes my feet extra itchy. Flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the air is fresh and clean, and life feels brimful of possibility again after the long, dark days of the winter months. The last thing I want to do is sit at my desk while everyone else cavorts around outside – literally – there is a huge park directly opposite my office and it is simply cruel to be made to sit and watch people sunbathing/playing frisbee/having a picnic while I have to slave away inside! However, as much as I would like to stomp around on top of my in tray, declaring my intention to run out of the door and never come back to my colleagues while throwing armfuls of daffodils into the air, I do need my job in order to pay for my life. As such, I must be content with making smaller changes for now!

As you’ll notice, I have changed the appearance of the blog to give it a little bit of a fresher look, and I’m going to tinker around in the background to amend the way I categorise things over the next few days too. This will hopefully make it easier to find posts about specific topics, and find reviews that are relevant to the subject you’re interested in. So look out for that. I have also added a new page called ‘Bibliotherapy’. I would love to start a new series of semi regular posts answering people’s requests for book suggestions to suit their circumstances. Books can be such a wonderful source of inspiration, encouragement and edification; to help people choose the right book to lift their spirits and get them on the right path to a more positive future would be brilliant. I can only do these posts if people choose to take me up on my offer, though, so do write in with your bibliotherapy needs, and encourage people you know to write in too! I am really hoping that it will take off and be an interesting and thought provoking new addition.

I’ve been reading books about WWI for a little while now and I must admit I am feeling in need of a change of theme. I’m enjoying Siegfriend Sassoon’s Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man, but that’s probably because we’re still fox hunting and not fighting. As such I’ve picked out my next five reads; I did say I wanted to read Villette and I still do, but I can’t find my copy so that’s on hold until I’ve rummaged in my mum’s attic and uncovered it. I want to re-read Illyrian Spring, which is one of my all time favourites, and I also want to revisit Pride and Prejudice – it just feels like spring to me. The other three are books I’ve been meaning to get to for a while; Excellent Women, which a lot of people have promised I will love; The Solitary Summer, which is the follow up to the beautiful and life affirming Elizabeth and Her German Garden and Farewell Leicester Square, a Persephone I received for Christmas and am intrigued to delve into.

Something that always makes me feel sprightlier is revamping my wardrobe. By the end of the winter I’m always thoroughly fed up with my clothes – I’m sure many of my female readers will understand that feeling of being utterly bored with everything you own after months of recycling the same outfits! Dressing for the changeable spring weather is also a nightmare and most days this time of year I step out of my flat in the morning and instantly know that I’ve totally got it wrong and am going to spend the day either sweating or shivering. So, to combat this feeling of wardrobe malaise, I have invested in some pink jeans, a lovely colourful printed scarf and a royal blue blazer (not pictured) that means I can finally pack away my coat. Now I can leave the house with a spring in my step and a smile on my face rather than feeling like a slob who has no idea how to dress. Always a good feeling!

Finally, by the end of the month I hope to get the news I’ve been waiting for as to whether it will be ‘all change’ for me once again in September. A new career could be beckoning…I very much hope so! Keep those fingers crossed for me please!!