Julia Samuel
“January is traditionally a month I am quieter; after the frantic busyness of Christmas and New Year, I tend to slow down. Gather my thoughts, reflect and hibernate in synchronicity with the darkest winter month. This year I have turned inward in a new way, needing to call on my reserves of experience and knowledge to hold myself steady when I feel rocked by the uncertainty and disconnection of lockdown January.
I am learning anew, what I have always known, and even written a book about ‘This Too Shall Pass’ that life is change. We cannot control it. The things we do to block change harms us, and paradoxically when we accept it with all the disquiet it brings, we are more likely to thrive. We need to find ways to support ourselves in it. For this I have devised The 8 Pillars of Strength. These are the ways of being, attitudes and good habits that hold us steady when we are tipped off our axis.
Ultimately, I trust in hope. Hope is not just a feeling, although that helps, it is also a focus of what we hope for, with a plan, and self-belief we can make it happen. Hope is the alchemy that turns a life around. Each of us would do well to picture something we hope for in the future, that is realistic and inspiring.”
Julia Samuel, Psychotherapist, Author & Speaker
Reading: New Book Releases this month
The weather is grim and we need to stay at home so what better than curling up in the warm with a good book. If you’re looking for a brand new read then our top suggestions for January 2021 fact and fiction releases are as follows:
We are all Birds of Uganda, the debut novel from Hafsa Zayyan that explores racial tensions, generational divides and what it means to belong, as the book spans two continents across one century. In 1960s Uganda, Hasan is struggling to keep his business afloat after the death of his wife and in present day London, Sameer, a successful lawyer, feels emptiness in his supposedly dream life until he is called home by a family tragedy. Zayyan has been billed as one of the most exciting young novelists of today.
Speak your Truth, by Fearne Cotton dives into all the ways we learn to stay quiet for the wrong reasons, and explores how to find your voice, assert yourself and speak out with confidence. Fearne is a powerful writer and has a legion of fans for many good reasons so if this book sounds like what you need in this ever more confusing and noisy world we live in then you may find it revolutionary.
On a New Year health kick? Check out Asian Green, for everyday plant recipes inspired by the East. Asia has always had an abundance of delicious recipes that are traditionally meat and dairy free. Here, Ching-He Huang MBE draws inspiration from across the continent to create simple, healthy home cooking that everyone can enjoy. From Nourishing Soups to Fast & Furious and Warm & Comforting, each chapter features fresh and vibrant vegan dishes that are both nutritious and packed with flavour.
No Such Thing as Normal from Bryony Gordon offers sensible, practical advice, covering subjects such as sleep, addiction, worry, medication, self-image, boundary setting, therapy, learned behaviour, mindfulness and, of course - as the founder of Mental Health Mates - the power of walking and talking.
Back to Fiction, The City of Tears by Kate Mosse is the second thrilling historical epic in The Burning Chambers series, a sweeping historical epic about love in a time of war. A breath-taking novel of revenge, persecution and loss, sweeping from Paris and Chartres to the City of Tears itself – the great refugee city of Amsterdam – this is a story of one family’s fight to stay together, to survive and to find each other, against the devastating tides of history.
Lastly, Concrete Rose, the next novel from international phenomenon Angie Thomas. Concrete Rose is a hard-hitting return to Garden Heights with the story of Maverick Carter, Starr's father, set seventeen years before the events of Thomas’ previous novel, The Hate U Give. With his King Lord dad in prison and his mum working two jobs, seventeen-year-old Maverick helps the only way he knows how: slinging drugs. Life's not perfect, but he's got everything under control. When he finds out he is a father though, suddenly it's not so easy to deal drugs and finish school with a baby dependent on him for everything. So when he's offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. But when King Lord blood runs through your veins, you don't get to just walk away.
Hopefully there is something in amongst those that appeals and plenty to keep you distracted from the rain and wind outside!
Watch: New TV Releases this month
If books ain’t your thing then take comfort in knowing there are plenty of new releases on the box to while away the lockdown hours instead. Starting with Netflix is The Dig, starring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes and Lily James amongst other recognisable British faces. Based on a historical novel by John Preston, which in turn is based on a true story, the film is a dramatisation of the excavation in Sutton Hoo in 1939 that led to a massive historical discovery...Out on Netflix on the 29th January.
Next up, Sound of Metal starring Riz Ahmed tells the tale of a heavy-metal drummer's life as it is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing. Deafness is a theme not often covered in cinema so this is worth paying attention to – not least because Riz Ahmed is in it. Also out on Netflix January 29th.
Moving to Amazon Prime we have One Night in Miami, set on a fictional night in 1964, and following a young Cassius Clay as he emerges from the Miami Beach Convention Center as the new Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. Against all odds, he defeated Sonny Liston and shocked the sports world. The film sees a fictional meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke in a hotel room to discuss the big win.
Also out on Amazon Prime this month is the 5th Season of binge favourite, This is Us. Fans of the show will see the current pandemic incorporated into the show as well as the Black Lives Matter movement. Kevin and Randall’s troubled relationship will also be explored in season five, as well as Rebecca's ailing health and battle with dementia.
Over on Apple TV is Palmer, out on the 29th January, starring Justin Timberlake in a gritty film rather than the expected rom com. After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer (Timberlake) returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie’s past threatens to ruin his new life and family.
Last up on BBC iPlayer we recommend Traces, a mega crime series to fill the Line of Duty shaped hole in your viewing heart. In Dundee, three emotionally driven women from the Scottish Institute of Forensic Science try to unearth the truth about an unsolved murder that's very close to home. Laura Fraser, Molly Windsor and Martin Compston star in the thriller.
Activity: Sherlock Holmes, The Case of the Hung Parliament
Incoming on the 27th January is a brand new immersive theatre experience from Les Enfants Terribles that’s...drum roll please...ONLINE. Obviously. Sherlock Immersive is an 80 minute online adventure from the immersive experts with 360 technology and over 100 clues to discover in the Case of the Hung Parliament. ‘The Home Secretary, The Foreign Secretary and the Lord Chamberlain have all been found hanging in their own chambers. Each victim died on their birthday, and on that day had received a card with a mysterious quote written in it. But what does this mean? Where’s Sherlock? And how will you solve the case before the murderer strikes again?’ You get to don the metaphorical deerstalker and step into Sherlock’s well-trodden shoes as you travel back to Victorian London to interview suspects, read reports, search for hidden clues and research old facts in this intricate online world. It sure beats a Zoom quiz and can be played across multiple households and devices in teams of up to 6. (Age recommendation is 12 years and over) If you aren’t a group of 6 then you will get paired with other members of the public to play. All you need is a computer or device with internet connection, webcam and a microphone! Simple! Tickets are priced at £15 for individuals or £90 for a group ticket and of course, as expected, fancy dress is heavily encouraged.
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Active: Walking Routes
As we all know well by now we are limited to our local area or borough for daily exercise and many of us find the joy in walking more than running, Peloton’ing, or religiously following Joe Wicks’ workouts. However, are you tired of pounding the same residential streets every day? If so we wanted to recommend some of the best walks in the Capital to help you spice it up a little.
For North Londoners, explore the Parkland Walk- the longest Linear Nature Reserve in London at 4km in length which follows the former railway line connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace which opened in 1873.
South Londoners can check out the Wandle Trail - The 20km (14 mile) Wandle Trail follows the route of the River Wandle from Croydon to the Thames at Wandsworth. It allows you to enjoy the heritage, flora and fauna of this typical chalk stream in the heart of some of south London’s most industrialised landscape. For cyclists there are both walking and cycling routes, which coincide for much of the way but differ in places. Part of the trail is National Cycle Network Route 20.
Over to East London you have The Line - London’s first dedicated public art walk which illuminates an inspiring landscape where everyone can explore art, nature, and heritage for free! The route runs between Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the O2, following waterways and the line of the Greenwich Meridian.
Over in West London check out The Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park which provides a circuit of the Park connecting park entrances at Roehampton Gate, Robin Hood Gate, Kingston Gate, Ham Gate, Richmond Gate and East Sheen Gate. It is almost entirely car-free making it a perfect route for families.
Lastly in Central London you have the Jubilee Loop - a section of The Jubilee Walkway which takes you past Buckingham Palace and other iconic Central London buildings. There is a formal route but of course in Central London it’s often better to just walk and get lost and explore places by accident as there is so much to discover.
For those outside the city then you can’t go wrong with a National Trust recommendation so here is a good list of stellar routes to tackle. Please remember, government guidelines stipulate that in Lockdown we must stay in our local area for our daily exercise so please don’t be travelling far and wide but instead seek out what is undiscovered on your doorstep.
Exercise: One LDN, “Curve”
We all need to keep ourselves moving now we are back in Lockdown, but Ladies, have you thought about tying your exercise in with your menstrual cycle? Tailor your fitness regime to push your body when you are feeling your best and highlight rest and recovery when those need to take priority. One LDN, the premium gym located in Fulham, is this month launching “Curve” so us gals can Harness your Her-ness. The hormone fluctuations have powerful effects on female bodies throughout the cycle and these fluctuations directly affect our energy levels, muscle and joint function, metabolism, vulnerability to injuries, appetite, sleep quality, and even skin health. The Curve is the first online Female Body Transformation program designed for you and your body. The mainstream fat loss, nutrition and training plans that most women follow are tailored to men, who don’t experience the same hormonal ups and downs throughout the month. So by adjusting your routine according to your time of the month, and, with One LDN’s guidance, you can actually take advantage of these ebbs and flows and harness them to your advantage to maximise your goals and achieve the optimal long lasting results. The CURVE programme, available from 25th January, will last an average of 8 weeks (so 2 average cycles) but pending your natural cycle, which varies woman to woman, it will be fully personalised so it might be slightly longer or shorter. Visit the One LDN website to sign up and get more information.
Food: The Cheese Barge
A barge….of cheese...let that sink in. The Cheese Bar who brought us the Cheese Truck and other Cheese obsessed fantastic venues are this month opening the Cheese BarGE! The exact date is TBC and as with anything at the moment please do regularly check back for updates as the ever changing situation with Covid could mean a delayed opening. And we do NOT want to be the people that let you down when it comes to cheese. They will have to be takeaway only to begin with of course but we’re still interested! The cheesy vessel will be moored on Grand Union Canal near Paddington with an impressive interior design inspired by the Electa Bookstore in Venice. Once it formally opens you will be able to enjoy panoramic views from either the lower or upper deck. As for the main fromage affair, dishes include Windrush Goats’ Curd with lamb scrumpets and pickled walnuts, Cropwell Bishop Stilton ‘Devils on Horseback’ - medjool dates stuffed with Stilton and wrapped in bacon, Maida Vale, a washed rind cheese from Village Maid, served on treacle soda bread with smoked mackerel and green sauce and Yorkshire Curd Tart and a Malted Milk Chocolate Cremeux. Dee-lish. We are so happy this has BARGE’d into our lives...
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Charity of the Month: The Refugee Council
Amongst all the craziness of this pandemic there are families having to flee their homes and struggling to find a safe place to live. There are many charities out there who fight to provide for these people but one we chose to recommend this month is The Refugee Council. The charity was founded in 1951 in response to the UN Convention for Refugees, which was created after World War II to ensure refugees were able to find safety in other countries. Today, they support the thousands of refugees who arrive in the UK each year, providing crisis advice, practical support and helping them to integrate into their new communities. They also offer mental health counselling to help them come to terms with the trauma so many of them have experienced. The Refugee Council is the only organisation providing a national service in support of refugee children and young people who arrive in the UK alone. They speak up for refugees using their work as an evidence base and ensure refugees have a stronger and more influential voice in decisions that will affect them. To show your support and help rebuild their lives you can donate via the website but also check out the many ways you can get involved beyond a simple donation.
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App of the Month: Endel- Sleep, Relax, Focus
Do you struggle to concentrate doing certain tasks, find it tricky to fully relax and even battle to drift off to a sound sleep? Have you considered the benefits of sound to ease these issues? The Endel app creates personalized soundscapes to give your mind and body what it needs to achieve total immersion in any task. There are four modes depending on your needs: Relax Mode which calms your mind to create feelings of comfort and safety, Focus Mode which boosts your productivity by helping you concentrate for longer, On-the-Go Mode which adapts to your personal tempo when you’re out & about or Sleep Mode which soothes you into a deep sleep with soft, gentle sounds. The app’s soothing soundscapes are algorithm-powered and designed to gently rise and fall in line with your immediate internal and external conditions like location, time zone, weather, and heart rate. Completely aligned to the circadian rhythm, these finely-tuned personalized sounds are pitch perfect for stress reduction, productivity boost, deep work, daily relaxation and calm sleep. This app integrates with the Health app and comes with a 7-day free trial to see how effective you find it. After the free trial period ends you will need to subscribe but the app store gives Endel a 4.5 star rating so they are doing something right!