I love Twixtmas
The following article first appeared on my blog in 2017. I discovered it the other day while I was looking for something else and it really brought it home to me how much we are creatures of habit - well, our family at least.
I'm sitting here in the same holiday cottage as when I wrote it on what we think now is our 10th Twixtmas visit. No one can remember if we missed a year during COVID times or not 🤣
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love Christmas. I love the anticipation, the twinkling lights and the smell of a real Christmas tree. I'm not so keen on the queues and the crass commercialism but on the whole I think that Christmas has a lot to commend it.
But, for me, the real joy is that period referred to as Twixtmas. That special no mans land between Christmas and New Year when no one knows (or really cares) what date it is, and it's perfectly acceptable to eat mince pies and cream for breakfast.
For our family it's made even more special by the fact that after the festivities are finished, we pack as much leftover food as we can into our car and head for the hills. Literally. We make our regular pilgrimage north to the Lake District and hole up for a week in our favourite cosy holiday cottage.
I'm sitting this watching snow fall outside the window, looking out over the valley. We have all our essentials (it's surprising how much knitting you can pack into a family car) and nothing to do for a week. I'm planning on spending the time knitting, writing and reading.
One thing I am absolutely not going to be doing is making any sort of resolutions or Grand Plans. Out of interest I brought a few of my old journals with me and one thing I was really struck with, was how repetitive they are - and not in a good way. My last 3 years journals show me here, in the same cottage writing much the same list of resolutions. But somehow I haven't transformed into that magical creature who rises at 5am, writes in her gratitude journal for half an hour and then greets the day with yoga, body brushing and a green smoothie.
So, this year I am embracing being me. I'm not going to be destashing, cataloguing my Ravelry inventory or making knitting plans for the year. I'm not going to be reviewing my 2017 knits - because, really - who cares? And it goes without saying that Cold Sheeping is never going to happen in my house.
I'm embracing my knitting, embracing my stash and embracing me.
If anyone wants me I'll be sat in the window seat with hot coffee, my knitting bag and the last of the mince pies.
Oh…and knitting on a new version of my Twixtmas Cowl.The version pictured is in DK but I'm doing a super cosy chunky version too.
https://www.louisetilbrookdesigns.net/everyday-knitter-shop/twixtmas-cowl
This is just what I needed to read this morning. Christmas has been lovely but a maelstrom and today is the first time I can consider slumping. Your holiday cottage in the snow sounds idyllic. We are heading to a beach for fresh air and exercise. And then knitting!
You're so right - embrace being you. Sod the 5am yoga practices etc etc. And who wants Cold Sheep really?
This year has not turned out as I'd imagined. This xmas I am heartbroken, picking up the pieces, mending myself, weaving strands of silver through the shards and creating something prettier. I don't do goals and resolutions - I usually do a word for the year - but this year I am revisiting the Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte and thinking how I want to feel during 2025 and allowing that to guide me wherever possible.
Here's to a 2025 that finds us finding and being ourselves, unapologetically.