Hunting for my joy stick

Come on in. The kettle is on and I'm ready to recount another week of witterings for your delectation. Don't worry, I'm not judging you for emptying your hip flask of Bailey's into your coffee.

We have successfully navigated our first working week of 2025. I don’t know about you, but I always find the come down from Christmas a tough one. I try desperately to put the somewhat sickly ‘New Year, New Me’ positive spin on things - a new year is a chance to realise new dreams - but in reality I am just crying into my phone as I look at whimsical Christmas scenes and eat the last of the strawberry creams - the chocolates that really do get left until the lowest ebb.

Of course, I am being nothing but dramatic. And as I bounce from one existential crisis to another - a favourite January past time of mine - I do keep recounting all the lovely things a new year has to offer. So, I have decided to use this instalment to hunt down my joy stick - not a euphemism - to batter the living daylights out of the January blues.

The Most Relaxed Pooch

Of course, the most recent joyous moment for us at Keeper’s is Logie’s clean bill of health. We had found a couple of lumps, one of which we’d already had checked in the summer, but we thought we ought to take him back. The vet seemed confident there was nothing to worry about, which is always a huge relief. We knew that taking on older dogs meant life was about quality, not quantity, but you can’t not worry. While he was there – and by all counts was a total flirt with her, as he rolled onto his back baring all – she did a few other checks, and the verdict was that he’s one relaxed Good Boy. We did feel like proud parents. It also prompted me to look back at early pictures. I remember him having sad eyes, but it really hit me when I went back into the archive. I had forgotten quite how sad. I must say, the rescue journey has been such an enriching experience for all of us (and the charity we got the boys from was amazing if you’re thinking of doing the same thing: Happy Paws Puppy Rescue). That in itself has beaten all January blues into a million pieces.

We've been on a journey and a half (L-R - Logie today, Logie's first night, Logie's second day with us)

Inspiration from the Man Shed

Last week we were invited over to some friends for the evening, as they were hosting a Scran and Snooker evening in their hut, which they built themselves during lockdown. I’d seen it by day, and was impressed, but oh my days, it doesn’t half come to life at night. I neglected to take any pictures unfortunately, so I’ll have to do my best to describe it. We arrived at their front gates and was led down the garden path by the warm, inviting glow of twinkling fairy lights. As we arrived at the shed - a title I don’t feel does it the justice it deserves - you could be mistaken for arriving on the wrong night. Other than the ice buckets of beer chilling by the door there was no indication of anything happening. As we opened the door, we were hit by peals of laughter and the warmth of a crackling fire. It was like stepping into a wee Highland pub you’d expect to find in some cosy story. What they have done is incredible. It had a fully-stocked bar, with all the whisky one could wish for. As I quickly skirted the intimidatingly large snooker table - I do not do sport, the carpet bowls are more than enough for my lifetime - I was drawn to the big, old log burner in the corner, surrounded by comfy armchairs and sofas. With a beer in hand, I settled myself down for the evening, surrounded by beautiful old Highland artwork, more twinkling fairy lights and, most importantly, the wonderful company of friends and neighbours. It was one of the most relaxing evenings I’ve had for a long time. It brought joy, as the impending back-to-work feeling was looming, in bucket loads. And it has inspired me to do two things: starting to plot what we can do with our huge garage (we’d love to create Keeper’s Cabin, a rustic holiday let) and given me the drive to make the cottage even more cosy. I am back in Pinterest, pinning all sorts of wild-cabin type things.

Morning coffees, evening walk and beach days

I wouldn’t say we take where we live for granted, we really don’t. We know how lucky we are to have been able to make the move and how lucky we are to have found our ‘home’. But I guess you do just get used to it, especially as the humdrum of life rattles on by. As you’re busy sorting out your mortgage renewal, various insurances, tax returns and the like, you can sometimes get bogged down with life admin and the banality of everyday, and just forget how you can seek moments of joy in the most unexpected moments. This was brought home when I spotted a poem by Donna Ashworth on Instagram that reminded me that you cannot wait for joy to arrive with fanfare. I don’t actually ‘do’ poetry. I’ve never really got it. But ‘Joy Chose You’ really struck a chord with me, and for that reason, I have shared it with you all below, if you haven’t read it before, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

I think there’s a lot to be said for those quiet moment that you can sit back and enjoy. A coffee in the conservatory, with dogs curled up with me and a good book is actually one of my favourite things in the whole world. So, I thought I’d share a few pictures from the moments of joy this week: spectacular sunrises, majestic dog walks around the castle grounds and the West Coast drama on our beach trip.

Moments of joy to banish those January blues

I am now off to do some Sunday pottering around the cottage and garden. And ‘ordering wallpaper samples’ is definitely on that list, as I plot a bedroom, hallway and possibly a sneaky snug, revamp this year.

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday, and if anyone has any other recommendations to broaden my very limited poetry repertoire, please let me know!

G xx

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JOY CHOSE YOU

Joy does not arrive with a fanfare
on a red carpet strewn
with the flowers of a perfect life

joy sneaks in
as you pour a cup of coffee
watching the sun
hit your favourite tree
just right

and you usher joy away
because you are not ready for her
your house is not as it should be
for such a distinguished guest

but joy, you see
cares nothing for your messy home
or your bank balance
or your waistline

joy is supposed to slither through
the cracks of your imperfect life
that's how joy works

you cannot truly invite her
you can only be ready
when she appears
and hug her with meaning
because in this very moment
joy chose you.

Donna Ashworth
@donnaashworthwords