MY WINTER SURVIVAL GUIDE
The days are now mostly dark, wet, windy and miserable and I’m whiter than Casper but guess what? Spring’s on its way!
And that’s what I love about winter, knowing spring isn’t all that far away and this is a time for planning all the exciting things I want to do as the New Year unfolds.
But we need to jump into January in high spirits and that means surviving winter until at least the end of February.
First of all, I think I have to thank the lockdown imposed on us this time last year because for me it was a case of sink or swim. I could have easily stayed in, cut the world off and thrown myself into boxsets and Haagen-Dazs.
Instead, I exercised more and got out of my house more, because stepping outside was practically the only thing we were allowed to do and I’ve never taken the great outdoors for granted since.
I spent more time walking, buying coffee and meeting friends than I did in any winter previous and that’s why I’m grateful for the lockdown we were in.
I also made relationships with new people and they all but one continue today. But what I took from the experience of the one that got away is how important it is not to fall out with people in these fragile times. My actions always speak louder than good or bad words and I’m hopeful to break bread in 2022.
So, this time around winter will be a little easier to navigate despite having to keep on our guard because let’s face it, Covid is here to stay.
What we all need is a winter survival guide! Follow my top ten tips and you’ll be beaming and ready to roll come springtime.
1. Ditch the beer. Yes, for real. Switch to red wine. It’ll keep you warm and Jesus drank it, so it’s not a sin
2. Reach out to someone who’s gone quiet on you. Never underestimate the power of contact and conversation for that person and yourself even if you think you don’t need it
3. Back off your daily social media consumption. Your friends aren’t that happy in their photos all the time. Happiness is temporary and can be deceiving. Be consistently content instead
4. Get up early at the weekend. The days are shorter and we need to make the most of them by wrapping up warm, driving to the coast and scoffing a bag of vinegar-soaked chips
5. Stay industrious. Don’t put tasks, projects and chores off just because it’s winter. The satisfaction of accomplishment far outweighs the satisfaction of eating a whole tub of leftover Pringles from Christmas in one sitting
6. Cuddle. Throw her hot water bottle away. This means she’ll have to cuddle you for some warmth. For those of you who’ve been together for ages, what’s the worst that can happen?
7. Book a holiday to somewhere you’ve never been to before. I’m currently looking for New Year deals to Margate
8. Don’t make New Year resolutions – they just depress you when by the end of January it’s game over. List six small achievements you’d like to tick off in 2022 instead. Mine are: paddle boarding, not throwing up on Marmite, ride my motorbike more, say ‘no’ more, eat less sugar and re-apply for Mastermind
9. If it feels good, do it. Sod emotional intelligence and listen to your heart instead of your head
10. Be honest with yourself. Live in the present moment. Count your blessings
AND THE WINNER IS?
Actually, there is no winner apart from yours truly.
But as we get ready for 2022 I thought I’d pick out a few people that deserve a ‘Pep Award’ for all different kinds of reasons but mainly for having an impact on my year.
Roberto Mancini
This man took an Italian national team that was fodder in football back to football royalty where they belong in less than three years. What a legacy.
My ego
A constant battle but I’ve ended the year on top. God bless Mark Manson.
My physio
Healthy body, healthy mind. Thanks Paul.
Alexa
Always there for a chat when there were days where I’d go for hours without talking to anyone when working from home.
My editor
My writing has had to enter a transitional stage well before I was ready to adjust and I thank my editor for helping me to navigate through this challenge.
My friends, family and colleagues
I’m not going to name anyone but you know who you are. We’ve all had a wobble in 2021 but we’ve all made it to the end because of a bond that’s more powerful than money or status, but that nurtures wellbeing, so thank you.
PAPPED BY PEP!
Those of you who’ve been reading ESP from when it started in 1998 will remember me out and about every weekend armed with a camera and capturing the city’s night scene.
It was a time before camera phones and social media and although some revellers would take cameras out with them, there was nowhere to publish their handy photo-work.
Enter yours truly with the latest state of the art camera and a couple of trusty sidekicks. We’d pop into bars, pubs, clubs and go to events and snap away until the tiny camera memory card could take no more.
Most of the photo content I took was unsuitable to print (alcohol made people do the strangest things in front of a lens) but for a good ten years I must have taken and published thousands of photos for the magazine’s dedicated Paparazzi pages.
People still come up to me today and remember a photo I took of them even though I ‘retired’ from pap duty more than 10 years ago!
So, as a nod to the happiest of times, we’re turning back the clock with our regular Back In The Day paparazzi feature, which you’ll also be able to see on our social media platforms.
Our first look back is from November 2008 when I hit the town with Jess Weaver (Miss Posh) and the original Face of ESP Becca Evans (pictured). We popped into Shooters, Latinis and The Solstice – all venues that have since bitten the dust.
IT’S IN OUR JEANS?
Have you noticed how fashionable us Peterborians are when it comes to jeans? No, me neither.
But according to menswear retailer Charles Tyrwhitt, we Googled jeans more than 4,500 times in 2021 when searching for the most smart-casual fashion item.
Does this mean we’re the most fashion-conscious city in the UK when it comes to choosing our denim? Not quite. But according to Google data we’re second behind Bolton. And Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow round off the top five.
While I’m at it, did you know Peterborough is ranked as the third most garden friendly city in the UK with 93% of addresses owning a garden? (I seem to have turned mine into a carpark though). And 71% of flats in our city have access to a garden, the seventh highest percentage in the UK.
I do love a good stat. Yes, we’ve got a cracking cathedral, a Banksy display in the museum and a passport office but we lead the way in jean choices and most of us have a garden. Surely, we’ll escape the c**p town poll in 2022 now?
WHICH COFFEE TO GO
It’s Quality Street (the purple one) and god knows what other latte season but I don’t go for all that noise when I buy coffee.
According to the British Coffee Association, we now drink approximately 95 million cups of coffee per day in the UK.
Edinburgh is the most searched city for coffee shops and cafes, followed by London and York.
I’ve got my city favourites (in no particular order) down to The Coffee Hive, The Lightbox, Bean Around BE.AR and The Willow Café Bar.
But I need new caffeine fix places to head to on my winter walks. Where are you all recommending?
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Guess which one of us had too many Babychams?
MY WORD OF THE MONTH: HAPPY
Yes, happiness is only usually temporary but here’s when you should be happy without even knowing it…
- That person ghosted you - good, they did you a favour
- You didn’t get that job you desperately wanted - a better job is destined for you
- Morrisons have Cherry B – knock one back and reminisce
- You’re single – opportunity is everywhere
- Your boss said good morning – well done, you exist
- You’ve gained some Christmas timber – piled on in good company then
- You made someone smile today – you’re valued
- Easter eggs are probably already in the shops – knock yourself out
- You woke up this morning – you’re blessed
CIAOS OUT:
- ‘Lettuce’ – Miami here we come! I’ll be Crockett of course
- A-Team (let’s change that lame name) – it’s quiz time!
- Phil – what happened to sending me your book?
- Dave’s Boat Tours LTD – winter food/drinks?
- Ernest – it’s been too long brother
- Graham and Trash – “I’ve never been so…
So... Merry Christmas Peterborough! I'll be back in the New Year.
Pep Cipriano
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