Notes from the Weekend

OUR FIRST Christmas film this year wasn’t actually one of our usual old favourites (Christmas Vacation for P, The Holiday for me⏤although we’ve seen them both so much now that we mainly put them on as background ambience), but The Holdovers, directed by Alexander Payne and starring Paul Giamatti. The last time the two were together was in the 2004 film Sideways. The Holdovers is set 1970 (despite being shot digitally) and is the story of a curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school who has to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit a group of students with nowhere to go. It’s good, I think. Perhaps a little sombre for the holidays, but maybe some people like sad but hopeful films at Christmastime? Only four days of December have passed and we’ve already eaten far too many Ferrero Rochers, butter rum mince tarts (with heavy cream!), sea salt crackers and vegan mushroom paté. Actually considered taking this month off from all workouts, but at this rate, will probably have to schedule them in as usual, making exceptions for actual holiday days, of course. There’s a wreath on the front door and some fairy lights hung in the windows (do you prefer white string lights, or multicoloured ones?) and tomorrow we’re going to pick up the tree. This year’s theme is all chic black ribbon bows and lametta, and rather than being wistful, actually looking forward to a new year to start again…

This week’s links include 10 train journeys that offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences; and an ancient technique to improve your attention span; chic cocktail and wine glasses for holiday soirées, and much, much more.

xo,

P.S. past weekend links