The Sneaky Magpie

As Charlie Brooker said:

“Rather than setting yourself a New Year’s resolution, why not simply pick a reason for hating yourself for the next 365 days? Takes less time, and it’s easier to stick to.”

Brilliant as usual.

Why don’t we pick something enjoyable instead of hard regimen, it will also demand a bit of discipline and we will get a lot more out of it. Few years ago I quit coffee, now I am back on it but only choose to drink very good one. I picked walking instead of the tube and it was excellent, I discovered a lot of things I would never see instead of poking out of a hole like a mole. Eating home baked sweets instead of cheap chocolate, why not?

This year I would like to address my efforts towards reading. Last year, as you know, I had a baby and was absolutely shell shocked, I had no time for anything, as soon as he was asleep I was cooking dinner, cleaning the house, doing laundry. Watching films was my only amusement. I read very little at the beginning of the year and I only started to read book after book later in the year.

Kindle makes reading so easy but it is on a loan to my hubby so I opened a suitcase full of books to read. They are all gifted, borrowed and pre-Kindle purchases. I should read them as this little space is filled with writers I love.

I also really want to read all the Dickens novels, I read and know a lot of them but this year marking the bicentenary of his birth seems like a good time to complete his body of work. Have you got a favorite Dickens novel or story? I read David Copperfield recently and absolutely loved it. There was a great documentary on BBC where Armando Iannucci discussed the book and V&A have a special display where you can explore the original manuscript. You can also hear a lot of the novels on Radio 4, and catch up on Iplayer The Mystery of Edwin Drood – a very dark tale of passion and murder with Matthew Rhys who is as creepy as David Morrissey in Our Mutual Friend.

Peter Ackroyd who wrote wonderful books about London and Themes among others is back with London Under in which he discovers the unseen dirty gritty layers of the capital. Another reason to love the resolution.

Thank you so much for the lovely messages, I had no idea I had so many wonderful readers! You are all amazing. I promise to update as often as possible but it is definitely encouraging to know you will be back even if I have breaks. Yay. Onwards and upwards then. Here are few things I am obsessed with at the moment (because you need something to keep you going in January):

I have a new found love for Anthropology. When the shop first opened I found everything in it too pretty and fluffy but it has grown on me since, both clothing and home wares. So I purchased a pair of boots which I adore, I have been looking for such a pair for a long time and couldn’t find anything that was right. The stripy tops are Petit Bateau – great thick cotton, I have one and so does my son. All the bangles and the bracelet are Alex Monroe.

As you know I got really into Dickens and was looking forward to Great Expectations on BBC but sadly it was very disappointing. Firstly, it is a real shame to squeeze such a wonderful novel into 3 hours, it felt really rushed and a lot of very important things and characters got missed. Gillian Anderson was not right as Miss Havisham and Ray Winston played basically himself (as usual). Pip was more beautiful than Estella. Joe Gargery was much gentler and more humble in the book, and so was Magwich when he came back to reveal himself to Pip. Perhaps it would feel different to me have I not read the book. The art direction and set design were stunning though.

Next week we have The Mystery of Edwin Drood directed by Gwyneth Hughes (she did Emma and Little Dorrit) with very Dickensian cast like Alun Armstrong. It should be good.

And I am reading, for the first time, David Copperfield – what a great book this is. I am nearly at the end of it and I shall miss all the characters hugely. I think I will pick something light afterward, any recommendations?

Something to look forward to in the spring, a new Sue Townsend book.

And new Douglas Coupland book which is out now.

These two should bring me back to the 21st century for a bit. And of course another author I only discovered few month ago – the wonderfully witty India Knight!

I have been obsessing with my skin which gets very irritated in winter, I find rose and honey products the best.

From top left: Dr Hauschka’s body balm, Ren’s body scrub, Neal’s Yard’s facial wash, Ren’s delightful Moroccan rose bath oil, a smelly candle to improve one’s mood, Nuxe’s honey lip balm and Ren’s Mayday rescue cream. There is another cream that I swear by – a very wallet friendly Dr Organic’s Manuka rescue cream.

Well, almost. The bicentenary of Dickens’s birth is coming up and we have all sort of treats lined up.

First of all, I am so excited about the BBC adaptation of Great Expectations this Christmas with Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham, Ray Winstone as Magwitch and David Suchet as Mr Jaggers. I am besides myself and cannot wait. I am starved of a good costume drama this autumn (season 2 of Dowton Abbey completely failed to engage me). In fact, we will be doubly treated to Great Expectations as there is also a silver screen version being shot with Helena Bonham Carter who, in my opinion, is the perfect Miss Havisham and Ralph Fiennes as Magwich who I am very curious about.

Most of us are familiar with Pip’s passionate love for Estella but I decided to refresh my memory and I am rereading this great novel. I downloaded the complete works of Charles Dickens to my Kindle for a mere £2 but you can go flash and get these luxurious Penguin Classics editions with fabric covers illustrated by Coralie Bickford-Smith at £10-15 per book or a full set for £100. A beautiful Christmas gift, don’t you think?

The box set includes A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Bleak House, A Christmas Carol and Hard Times.

The Charles Dickens Museum was closed up until this week for some restoration works so I went to check it out yesterday. I expected a higgledy-piggledy house with creaking stairs and dingy rooms. In reality it was a very orderly and tidy home.

We start our tour down in the basement where we find a cozy kitchen, a washroom and a library. Of course I was absolutely fascinated by the kitchen and it was my favorite room in the whole house.

The drawing room was such a happy place, it was all coziness, fun and love. You can imagine the Dickens family enjoying many chatty afternoons here. Just imagine Christmas in this place!

Mary Hogarth’s room had a beautiful gown on display.

The author’s desk.

The musem has got the best collection of Dickens memorabilia in the world.

There is a great museum shop with beautiful editions of Dickens’s works and the museum will be dressed up for Christmas with special events.

Last but not least we have the new biography by Claire Tomalin which I am looking forward to read.