Coming Home

The low-down is this: I'm permanently home, for good, like I live here now. I keep flirting with going away and mentioning it, but not until I get my shit together. I'm predicting (praying) that only takes about four more months.

My Favourite Things About Being Home
I've been home for just over a week now and I've drunk about 100 cups of tea. 

That's not an overestimate I am really enjoying British stereotypes. 

I also love talking to people, I'm talking to everyone. I am a walking northern stereotype and I love it. In fact I am not a stereotype because it's true, we do speak to everyone. We talk about the weather and about being ready for Christmas and about how busy the city is on a Saturday even though it's busy every Saturday because loads of people live there. I am a northern woman and I love it.

I love Christmas more than I can ever express, and this is a first time in the last few years where this time of year doesn't look like it will be an absolute shit show. So I love that. I know there's technically still time, but I think if there's a time for blind optimism it's probably 2016.

I love the cold and dressing for it, I love my hair and my glasses and looking the way I imagine myself to look - does that make sense? My hair and my skin look about ten times better so my body obviously agrees with this conclusion. Cold weather and hats = my hair is GLOWING.

I love the rain, which is good because when I told people in Jordan this they claimed I wouldn't when I got back to it. So it's nice to know I wasn't just talking shit like everyone thought I was.
I love it most when I'm not wearing any makeup or my glasses so I can see and dry my face easily. I also adore the moment when everyone gets on public transport or inside a cafe and starts to warm up and dry out but they all look a little bit less 'done' because they've just been out in the rain.

I've also become a huge advocate of working on Christmas Eve, apparently. Shout out to my kids still working in retail who have to do that even though Christmas is over a weekend this year. I like to think it's because everyone is in such a good mood, and so ready to get home for dinner, that no one is difficult. And also because, as discussed, I bloody love Christmas. In reality it's probably a form of Stockholm Syndrome as I have worked every Christmas and New Years for the previous nine years (crying at my age) so it makes sense that I would have to find a silver lining in the absolutely hellish period that is retail during the festive season just to not spend every December in a pit of misery.

Here I am being so happy I've forgotten to let my face know or open my eyes.

Soppy Shout Out to my Podcast Partner

The podcast is still going - episode three should be with us very, very soon. It's worth noting, for context, that Sharlene and I have got into the habit of having at least two hours of Skype chat either before or after every episode. It is time that I thoroughly enjoy and we would love you to hear but unfortunately I keep mentioning people by name and so, as to avoid ruining my life, we're keeping it just between the two of us for now. We talk extensively about dating and friendship and what it means to be British and everything in between. 

Also worth noting is that we've never met, which is starting to feel increasingly strange and is hopefully to be resolved in 2017. For me we are not just proof of how great the internet can be as a place to meet people, but also proof that if you just give a shit about other people (as in all people, not just people you 'have' to be friends with) - and want to hear them - they can give you so much more than you expected. 

Thanks for letting me mention Gary Lineker every week. 

Sorry for accidentally activating Siri numerous times when we're recording. I love that we keep doing this even though it's so accident prone.

*****

I'm on Twitter - @clairegillesp - I'm trying to tweet positive seasonal/end of year things but also there's a lot of sass because I'm mad af. 

I'm on Instagram - clairegillesp - It's just me effusing about being reunited with all my friends and I don't even give a fuck they're all so great guys.

I'm listening to Christmas songs every day and I am feeling seasonal - my favourite is 'Warm this Winter' by Gabriella Climi.