Well that was A Month
November 2024
Well I was tired and hit the wrong button so if everyone could just pretend this went out on the last day of the month when it was supposed to and I’ll try not to cry.
There is nothing I can say about the US election and the subsequent… insanity coming from the be-oranged one that hasn’t already been said, more eloquently, by people far more informed and closer to the issues than me. So I won’t. Other than that I hope all the people now deeply worried by what the next four years may bring can find some respite and space to just be before the end of the year.
I also have no useful words to talk about the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people, Russia’s ongoing war against the Ukraine and the upswell in environmental damage being caused by climate change. I have sent what money I can in terms of aid and written many emails to the relevant people with the power to do something here in the UK. While it feels like a drop in the ocean of awfulness, it is at least better than just sitting and worrying about it.
Closer to home my parent’s house continues to be a millstone around our necks. The load is, however, becoming lighter each day. More than that I will not say after the jinxing debacle of my September newsletter. If sending positive vibes/keeping me in your prayers - in the hopes that everything keeps moving - is a thing you might be comfortable doing it would be much appreciated.
Now, having covered the things I needed to mention but didn’t want to talk about in depth, let’s turn to three things I’m very happy to witter on about at length.
Social Media
I have finally ditched Twitter - or eX as I’ve seen it amusingly referred to - and my main social media platform is now BlueSky. I’ve been using it since July last year but, as most of you will know, it went a bit existential with signups this month and currently has a very 2009 ‘new and exciting’ vibe to it. If you’re also over there you can find me @kizzia.bsky.social
Although I’m still trying to keep my social media use to minimum I’ve been thoroughly enjoying myself there when I do go on. The nuclear blocking function is excellent, as is the community drive to get everyone using alt text on all photos in a bid to make the space genuinely accessible to people using screen readers. The best thing, though, is that as well as the majority of people using the place doing so first and foremost in the spirit of kindness, it runs on the principle of refusing to tolerate intolerance and hate. It is a gentler, open, far more interesting space because of that - there are genuine conversations and sharing of information rather than debates to be won - which is such a refreshing contrast to the toxic cesspool Melon Husk turned twitter into.
I have retained my Twitter handle but did a mass deletion of the forty thousand plus posts I’d made over the last fifteen years and in the future the only thing I’ll be posting there are links to blog posts and this newsletter. The Muskrat can find someone else’s photos and words to feed into his awful AI, he isn’t getting mine!
Midwinter celebrations
I have spent today (why yes, this was written at the last minute, like I said it’s been a Month) writing cards, wrapping presents and generally getting myself into the holiday spirit. If you’d asked me two months ago if I was looking forward to midwinter and the holiday I’d have made vaguely enthusiastic noises whilst not meeting your eyes and being very non-committal. And then I thought about how I’d feel if this were the last festive season I got to spend with the people I love the most in this world and how if I’m going to walk the walk re living a hallowed life then I have to make the effort even if I don’t feel like it. I am lucky enough to be in a position to fill the tiny space I occupy on this planet with joyful celebration of the season. I don’t want to squander that.
And although I said aesthetics did not a hallowed life make, in this specific instance they sort of come baked in, given how much they mean to the people I’m living with and caring for. So, as well as the cards and the gifts that will be winging their way to my friends and family next week, I will be putting up a tree, draping my shelves in fairy lights, covering every surface that doesn’t have greenery on it with candles, and putting my Christmas music playlist on at every opportunity. Oh yes, and making mince pies and mulled apple as often as time and energy allow.
It’s not quite lighting a flamethrower in the face of the darkness in the world but it’s something.
Herding the Words
Drumroll please ……
After months of not finishing anything at all I have new Wildwood stories to share. In fact I have written an entire advent series!
As of now there are two stories up (or would have been if this had gone out when it was supposed to) :
Wildwood Advent - an introductory post I shared last week on Stir Up Sunday
‘Twas the Night Before Advent - fairly self explanatory!
Plus there is the Wildwood Advent “Contents Page”1; a dedicated page on my blog listing all the stories that will be updated with the relevant link every evening of advent as the latest story goes live.
And why did I decide to write them? For similar reasons as I’m about to deck my halls with gay abandon. I wrote them, first and foremost, because I wanted to create some small joys at a time when they feel more needed than ever. I wanted to offer a series of tiny escapes from the world to anyone who would like them that are gentle, comforting, easy reads.
These little tales are, hopefully, the written equivalent of being wrapped in a cosy blanket and given a mug full of your favourite warm beverage. They are incredibly low in stakes and do not require anything of anyone, other than the suspension of disbelief for long enough to read tales involving talking animals and the magical powers of a sapient woodland.
They will not light the literary world on fire but they might, maybe, make someone’s day a little bit brighter having read one. And that’s all that matters to me.
The One Card Tarot Draw
As we look towards December my Prisma Visions tarot deck offers us the Ten of Chalices to guide us:
No matter how fast the river of life rushes us along, there will always be chances to climb out of the flow and take time to connect with the people who make the journey a worthwhile one. Make sure you grab those moments this month, no matter how frenetic everything gets, and allow yourself to celebrate simply being here with those you care about.
Since this is the last newsletter before Midwinter and Christmas I want to take this opportunity to wish you all as fantastic a festive season as it is possible to have and offer a winter blessing:
As we move towards the longest night let us all kindle the fires of hope in our hearts, that we may face the darkness with courage.
Until New Year’s Eve, gentle readers, keep safe and be well.
PS Any unattributed images are either photographs taken by me or my own digital creations. And for the avoidance of doubt, I do not generative AI at all.
If you read the introductory story you’ll find out why I’ve called it that.