The build up to Christmas is always so hectic that I relish the time between Christmas and New Year - that strange quiet time where everyone’s off work, where the days blur into one in a whirl of family, walks outdoors, and general decluttering of the house for a fresh start in the new year.
It’s such a pleasure to have John off work and be able to spend so much time together as a family - it’s lovely to see how Max clearly adores every second he spends with his Daddy, he seems to spend the whole day giggling, squealing and generally running riot. And I know I’m a better and more fun parent for having someone around to share the load with.
I’ve really enjoyed the mild weather this year which has meant that we’ve done more activities outdoors than we would have normally. There’s something about the fresh air which clears your mind and allows you to get your thoughts in order, which is exactly what’s needed as we head towards the start of a new year. It’s a time for a fresh start, new beginnings, a chance to do things differently and draw a line under things that we’re not happy with.
Little did I know until I read Lauren Laverne’s blog last night on The Pool that there’s actually a name for this: Romjul, the Norwegian word for the last week of the year. It’s a peaceful time, focussed on relationships with family and friends and involves it’s own set of traditions, set around taking stock of the year that’s passed and making preparations for the one that’s ahead.
Romjul is a concept that I’ll happily embrace; I’m not a particularly spontaneous person, so in a quiet period like this it’s easy for me to find myself wasting time slumped on the sofa mooching around on the internet. I find it’s helpful and motivating for me to have plans and traditions in place that give me a bit of structure and direction. For these last few days before life returns to normality I’m going to focus on making the most of this precious time, to embrace the opportunity to get out there, and to spend quality time with the people I love the most.
