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January can be bittersweet. As much as I adore Christmas, there comes a point when the indulgence becomes too much. After eating my bodyweight in turkey, six thousand Mint Matchmakers and the equivalent of about three entire wheels of brie, the familiar post-Christmas craving for normality (and some fruit) kicks in. But although it is a wonderful feeling to move forward, there is always just a hint of sadness as I take down the Christmas tree, box up the baubles and fairy lights and send them up to resume their usual home in the attic for the next eleven months.

January brings with it a calendar-made fresh start. A whole new year lies ahead, full of promise and possibility. One of the things that I love most about this is getting a new diary. A brand, spanking new diary full of clean, crisp, blank pages that absolutely anything could be written on.

As it’s New Year, I could of course provide you with an endless list of resolutions; being more organised, exercising regularly, loosing 10lb (i.e. eating less brie) and learning to speak French. (If I could learn to actually be French, that would be high on the list. As far as I’m aware French women look effortlessly chic, always wear matching underwear and remain slender and leggy on a diet of pain au chocolat, vin rouge, fresh bread and gourmet cheeses.) But I don’t believe that New Year should mean enforcing a list of new rules to live by. Life is stressful enough. And so this year I have made only three Resolutions.

Resolution Number One: Exploring London. And I must admit that I am a complete and unashamed tourist at this stage! I adore the city and find myself thrilled to see places that once sounded fictitious. I visit them, astounded that they are actually real; Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, Canary Wharf so tall and proud, the lights of the offices twinkling after dark as it protectively watches over the city. I have been let loose in a Monopoly Board where I can drink coffee in Covent Garden, shop on Oxford Street and ride on red buses and I love every second of it. I walk along the South Bank in the early hours, wrapped up in a woolly scarf, morning cappuccino in my hand and as I hear my shoes clip-clopping underneath my feet I feel like I’m at the centre of the world…

And a cold world it is too! I always expect that after Christmas it will be Spring and am always outraged by the dark, early mornings and the still cold weather. Which is why one cold, crisp January day, it was so wonderful to find a haven from the bitter chill as I stepped inside a beautiful building, unwrapped my woolly scarf and took off my gloves. I had found Fortnum and Mason and my eyes sparkled as I looked around to see a glamorous and decadent wonderland. Up on the second floor, I found a wonderful collection of luxury fragrances, body butters, bath salts, soaks and oils with the aromas of sweet orange, ginger, cloves, geranium, lavender and I could feel myself slowly being drawn into relaxation…

Bringing me to Resolution Number Two: Take Care of Myself. Through the January blues, long, hot, steamy baths are mandatory for feeding your soul as well as bringing your toes back to life. It needn’t be naughty to lock the bathroom door and ignore everything else for half an hour (and if it does feel naughty, then all the better). A bit of time out just means you’re in tip-top shape for yourself and all your relationships.

Which takes me to Resolution Number Three: Keep in Touch With Family and Friends. Life moves so quickly, days can turn into weeks into months and suddenly a whole year has passed. And so I shall introduce you to my five best friends in the world - Anna, Kat, Chrissie, Jane and Lou. I’m sure you’ll come to hear all about them. In fact, with my resolution in mind, I have arranged to meet them for a drink to catch up with each other in Soho (as if I’m going to be French, I had better practise drinking vin rouge!).

Wishing everybody a wonderfully Happy New Year,
2012 is going to be an incredible year, I can just feel it…

With Love,
M.A. x