Flights of fancy

January can be a very bleak month when you live in the northern hemisphere. The days are short and often grey. The wind blows, the snow flies, the rain drenches, the ice lies in wait. If you’re a fan of winter sports and live in a snowy country, January can be wonderful, but for the rest of us it can seem like a long time until spring. But there are compensations. I wander through the garden peering under the leaves that probably should have been cleared away in the autumn, but am rewarded with the sight of tiny green shoots popping up from the ground. The snowdrops never let me down.

I know some people choose to hibernate at this time, but my solution to the January fug is to make plans. I usually do Adriene Mishler’s 30-day yoga challenge in January, but she’s only doing 7 days this year. Really, Adriene, what am I supposed to do on the 8^th? I suppose I could do one of her previous 30-day yoga challenges, but it’s not the same without her cheery email arriving every day to remind me to take out my mat and get going. Anyone would think she had better things to do than offer 30 free yoga sessions every January to her devoted followers around the world.

Fortunately, I do have other things in my diary. I am looking forward to meeting up with friends, going to the theatre, seeing some stand-up comedy and taking a local history course. Plus, I’ve signed up for another of the National Gallery’s online art courses. All lovely, but I think the event I’m most excited about is the Holiday and Travel Show taking place at London Olympia. Just think, the whole world spread out before you. What more could you ask?

Because that’s what people really do in January. Dream of being somewhere else. Except for those who have already migrated to southern Spain or Mexico to sit out the winter months. More holidays are booked in January than in any other month and there is something about the start of the year that fills you with a sense of possibility. With a whole year ahead, you could go anywhere and do anything. Snorkel among sea turtles in the Galapagos Islands, ride with eagle hunters in Kazakhstan or follow in Marco Polo’s footsteps from Istanbul to Beijing.

But, what do people actually do? If you’re British you’ll more than likely be booking a holiday to Turkey or Spain. Or maybe a week in Cornwall. If you’re Canadian, you’ll probably spend a couple of weeks at the cottage or maybe explore a bit more of your own country. After all, the Galapagos Islands are so far away, riding with eagle hunters looks most uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, and the Chinese can be so bossy. The Travel Show, however, is pure joy.