Good morning, Prep School family,
I hope you are well and not too cold on this proper wintery November morning! Did you all have a good weekend? I had a busy, albeit very lovely, weekend. I spent lots of time trying to sort out the living room that has morphed into a dumping ground since we moved in. We needed to get it emptied quickly as we are awaiting the arrival of our new sofas. Mr B and I both perform better when the pressure is on! Mr B and I also went into Nottingham for a few hours, had a coffee and a wander around the shops. Nottingham felt all festive with the Winter Wonderland on and Christmas music everywhere we went. We also then spent lots of time with Betty at home and again did really exciting adult jobs like the food shopping, washing and sorting the shed. I had a super few hours on Sunday evening when I caught up with my old deputy, putting the world to rights over a glass of wine (or two!).
I really do enjoy this time of year. Not just because of the build up to Christmas but I love the whole wintery vibe – dark mornings and evenings, frost, fog, the possibility of snow, fairy lights. . .the list is endless. However, I know that some of you much prefer the balmy summer months and struggle with the lack of warmth and daylight. So for you all, I have complied a list of reasons to love winter!
- Soup! No better time to eat the delicious, warming food! So versatile. . . especially yummy when it comes with thick bread and butter
- Telling everyone it’s too early for Christmas, when secretly you have already started to watch the Christmas films
- Being awake when the moon and stars are out
- Great TV – The Great British Bake off and Strictly Come Dancing – enough said
- Christmas and Red cups! IYKYK
- Snuggling on the sofa
- Leaves – reds, browns, oranges, yellows, greens – simply gorgeous
- Wintery sunsets and sunrises. The lowness of the sun, the frost and the lingering mist. . . perfection
- Going home from school in the dark – listening to Christmas tunes
- Making dragon’s breath in the cold air
- “Champagne mornings” – those mornings that are frosty, cold, sunny and sparkling
- Getting the blankets out for the sofa and feeling soooo snug
- Open firs and log burners. . .
- Comfort food – casseroles, crumbles and carbohydrates
- Movie nights in with friends and family and popcorn
- Layering all of your favourite clothes into one outfit
- Hot chocolate, mulled wine (for the adults only), and the fancy pants lattes that suddenly appear in the coffee shops.
- Twinkling Christmas lights
- Warm socks
- Curling up with a book
- Christmas carols
- Heated blankets – revolutionary
- School being cancelled because of snow. . .
- The smell of fresh winter air
- Christmas markets and village fayres
Enjoy the coming months!
Quote of the week: “To make a difference in someone’s life you don’t have to be rich, beautiful or perfect. You just have to care.” – Mandy Hale
Well-being tasks for this week: These are all based on New November! A range of task and activities to encourage you to try something new. These challenges are meant to help you create a habit of taking small, positive actions each day.
Tuesday 19 November– Broaden your perspective. Read a different paper, magazine or website
Wednesday 20 November – Make a meal using a recipe or ingredient that you haven’t tried before
Thursday 21 November – Learn a new skill from a friend or share one of yours with them
Friday 22 November – Find a new way to tell someone you appreciate them
Saturday 23 November – set aside time to pursue an activity that you love
Sunday 24 November – Share with a friend something helpful that you learned recently
Monday 25 November – Use one of your strengths in a creative a new way
Conversation starters:
When was the last time you felt that something very lucky happened to you?
What smell evokes a memory for you? Can you explain why?
Jokes of the week: Going in early with the Christmas jokes – no apologies here!
What did Frosty’s girlfriend give him when she was mad at him? The cold shoulder.
How did the reindeer learn to play piano? He was elf-taught.
What did the snowman say to the aggressive carrot? “Get out of my face.”
Why shouldn’t you lend money to elves? They’re always short.
Why are mummies such big fans of Christmas? Because they enjoy wrapping.
5 things that I am grateful for or looking forward to this week:
Can you try this simple exercise in gratitude and positivity?
- I am looking forward to my new sofa being delivered (fingers crossed it is on time).
- I am looking forward to predicted snow and the incoming cold weather.
- I am looking forward to making mince pies and brandy butter.
- I am grateful for the man who is coming to take the aerial off my roof on Saturday.
- I am grateful for loving my job – not everyone is able to say that (and mean it)!
Sleeps til Santa: 35 days – this countdown, for the first time ever, is making me have really mixed emotions! The smaller this number gets, the closer my departure date is. . .eeeek.
Have a super week, hopefully with some beautiful white snow falling at some point! Keep warm and safe,
With love,
Mrs Bennett
