Zi7ZpiJVl2
I’m watching Black Doves. It’s a gripping spy thriller, perfect for quiet January evenings. I’m reading Evenings And Weekends, the debut novel by Irish author Oisín McKenna. It’s been on my bedside since last year and I’m finally getting time to delve in. There are Sally Rooney/Zadie Smith vibes already — just my cup of tea. I’m staying local with my bookings and booking a month of reformer Pilates classes at One Pilates in Enniskerry and a weekend Art Course in Enniskerry Schoolhouse for Art.
I’m about to have the most fun start to the year, with the Young Hot Guys in the Olympia, Emma at the Abbey Theatre and Shane Daniel Byrne at the Moat Theatre all booked in to clear away any misery for the month – check out this list of January events to book some joy into your calendar. I’m watching The Traitors (mostly for Claudia Winkleman’s countryside wardrobe) and Lockerbie at the moment, which is brilliant but radicalising me, and do not try to get in contact with me next week, for I will be seated all week for a Barbenheimer-style double billing of With Love, Meghan and Molly-Mae: Behind it All.
I’m looking forward to starting Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe. I watched the limited series last month and really want to delve further. I always try to have a quiet month of reading, meal prepping and yoga classes in January, so it’s nice to have something planned for the end of the month. I have a birthday dinner in Variety Jones to look forward to and hope to nab some tickets to Jez Butterworth’s The Ferryman in The Gaiety to coincide!
I’ve just finished watching Black Doves, I loved this show so much it was perfect for binging over the holidays, and patiently waiting for the third season of White Lotus to launch this month. I want to book some life drawing classes this month along with some extra driving lessons (lol). I have my eye on this fantastic performance and screening happening next week at the National Gallery of Ireland, ‘Don’t Forget to Remember’ by Artbestos. The Hugh Lane are also offering free live performances on Sundays at noon of live classical music, this is always so wonderful!
I’m currently reading Long Island by Colm Tóibín which is the sequel to Brooklyn and is brilliant so far! But my next book on my wishlist is Ravelling by Estelle Birdy, dying to read this soon!
I’ve just started reading Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and I am really enjoying it so far! I love all of Sally Rooney’s books to date so I have high hopes. I also started watching the new series of The Traitors on BBC and I am hooked after one episode. I can see why so many people are obsessed with it. A new Pilates class started in my local area before Christmas and is based in Eden Rejuvenation so I am hoping to join once it kicks off again in the year. I’ve never done Pilates before so I am a little nervous, but I’m also looking forward to trying something new!
First things first, in desperate need of shedding the festive excess and getting back into a bit of routine I have myself booked into Strong Pilates for a few classes. Also really looking forward to blowing off the cobwebs with a plan made to to take the Dart out to Howth with friends this weekend, to do the Cliff walk (which is really lovely if you haven’t done it yet), followed by reward fish and chips after at the Seafood Bar at the King Sitric.
To read, I am really looking forward to getting stuck into Kala by rising Irish star writer Colin Walsh, which I got as a Christmas gift. I’ve just finished You be Mother by Meg Mason, set in Australia, which I really enjoyed. I love Meg Mason’s relatable, witty writing style.
To watch, I’m regularly dipping into Breeders (with Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard) for a bit of light entertainment; summed up perfectly by themselves as “the paradox experienced by nearly all parents, the willingness to die for one’s children coupled with the near-constant desire to kill them” and then looking forward to starting Drops Of God which has been recommended to me by lots of random people – so dying to see what it’s like. I’ll also be dying to take my mum to see Maria as soon as it comes out; she is a huge opera fan.
I just finished reading The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell and was utterly gripped from start to finish so I can’t wait to discuss all the twists and turns with my book club later this month. I am also hooked on Disney’s Rivals (I know I am late to the game!), but it is so much fun to watch; for the music throwbacks, the dodgy ’80s fashion, the frivolous characters, the husband-swapping, many an illicit rendezvous and lots of eye candy (hello Aidan Turner); all set in the stunning surrounds of the Cotswolds gentry. A real treat for a cosy night in!
I’m counting down the days until the second season of Severance comes out on Apple TV+ on January 17 (so there’s time to catch up if you didn’t catch the first one). The first season remains one of the best things I’ve watched in recent years. It follows a man who signs up to work in a company where employees’ consciousness at work and at home is separated, so when they’re at work, they have no idea who they are outside it, and it has such an arresting and engrossing atmosphere throughout.
I’ve just finished The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden and really loved it, and am currently reading Michael Magee’s Close to Home, which had been on my list for a long time. I haven’t booked anything yet, but am considering signing up for a few yoga classes to get me back into the habit after abandoning my mat for a while (and hunching over my desk too much!).
2025 is my year for health and wellness. I’ve signed up for the Raheny 5-mile run at the end of the month (as a non-runner!), so I’ll be especially focusing on walking, running and reformer Pilates! I’m also trying to prioritise reading over TV, starting with Manifest: Dive Deeper by Roxie Nafousi, and plenty of journaling in my Head Plan. As a treat, I’ve booked into Brindle, for their food and wine tasting afternoon — highly recommend!