What Sophie Said

I’ve always been afraid of change. Maybe fear isn’t the right way to describe it, but I’ve been resistant to change. Reluctant to upset the balance of things. Nervous to veer away from what’s comfortable, what’s familiar, what’s secure. But things have been changing. They’ve been changing pretty rapidly and I think I’m learning to go along with it. In the space of a few months, I’ve started a new job and moved house – just a couple of tiny changes there! And I’ve been allowing myself to be a bit picky, and choose to spend time with and talk to the people who matter most. And do the things I really enjoy, not just the things expected of me, because they’re ‘what I’ve always done’. Will I ever be the most impulsive person in the world, or not be a stickler for planning, or throw all caution to the wind and be completely reckless? No. But what I will do is say ‘yes’. Yes to exploring. Yes to adventuring. Yes to wondering, and to wandering. ...

I’m fully back into the routine of racing through books, so here’s the latest reading round-up… Enigma, Robert Harris March 1943. Bletchley Park. Codebreaker Tom Jericho is dealing with the fact that the Germans have suddenly changed their coding, when his girlfriend Clair disappears. This was a good thriller, and well-researched when it came to interesting details about coding and the pattern of the war. Although a brilliant novel, for me it didn’t match up to Harris’ other novels, simply because I didn’t feel particularly strongly towards the characters. Goldfinch, Donna Tartt Thirteen year-old Theo survives a catastrophe and is taken in by wealthy friends. Throughout the course of the novel, he clings to a small painting that reminds him of his mother, and draws him into the criminal underworld. I was really looking forward to this one, after it received so much acclaim when it was first released. Yes, it was well-written, and yes the story w...

Those that know me know that 2014 was a year of huge changes for me. A lot can change in a year, and last year, for me, that was more true than ever. And so, as is the trend at this time of year, I've been reflecting back on what 2014 has taught me, as I get ready to try and make 2015 even better. Here are my 14 biggest lessons learned in 2014: 1. You can do a lot more than you thought you were capable of if you set your mind to it 2. You can be brave 3. Friends will continue to surprise you, both in good ways and in bad 4. You can move from a point where anxiety was stopping you doing everything, to a point where it's a part of your personality you're learning, slowly, to control 5. You really do feel better where you're putting good food into your body. So get on with it 6. Ditto exercise. Get a wriggle on 7. Continue talking to anyone and everyone. Everybody in this world has something to teach you 8. Sometimes taking the scariest steps can pay y...

Another thing I love about Christmas is the amount of parties and gatherings, and getting the chance to catch up with people you maybe see less often. Especially now, about 18 months after graduating, when the majority of my friends are only all in the same place for a relatively short time. On the 20th, we got started with a Christmassy evening at my house. House decorated... The baby sister and me Christmassed up... It was a relaxed festive evening with some of my favourites. And Max definitely won at Christmas with his Santa onesie. A couple of days later it was time for the annual Hawker Christmas Drinks. Glasses ready... Family ready... (Jess is pretty much my parents' third daughter so she's the extra brunette on these ones!) Mum and dad spent time perfecting what they've named the #champagneselfie And then Baz's Christmas Quiz turned the atmosphere competitive... ...

This is the first of three Christmassy blog posts: the build-up, the parties and the day itself.  I absolutely love Christmas, and it’s been such a busy festive period that it feels like the perfect way to get back into blogging ahead of the new year. I started to feel Christmassy this year on the day of a trip to The Ideal Home Show at Christmas with my mum.  The queue was enormous, but we were greeted at the door by a choir singing Christmas carols, santa and an elf in their sleigh, and it was snowing over the entrance. On arrival, we walked through a winter wonderland of Christmas trees guiding us in to the main exhibition hall. The stalls were divided into different sections, such as health and beauty, clothing, Christmas, home and garden.. and by far our favourite was food. We watched a few demos, and sampled plenty of foods and drinks - although we did decline a 10am bowl of curry! Having not really known what t...