For me there’s only one cure for the January Blues – February

TODAY is the 74th of January ... or it feels like it anyway. All I want to do is wear pyjamas, eat cheese and sleep. Maybe humans need to hibernate too because if I could do anything for the rest of the month it would be stay in bed, sleep and watch tv.

And I know I shouldn’t complain, I’ve gotten off very lightly this year when it comes to the January Blues. I’ve had a holiday, a birthday party and loads of presents but still that lurgy lingers, that lack of motivation to get my fat backside in gear and get out and do something.

I’ve been hiding from everyone, particularly Himself who doesn’t seem to be the slightest bit effected by the January Blues. He’s very much of the school of thought that you just “get over it” whatever “it” may be.

You could be suffering from some horrendous illness, you could’ve lost someone you loved dearly, you could have had a major falling out with a close friend and his stock answer would be, “come on now, get over it” or in the case of actual physical injury, “put a bit of sudocreme on that, it’ll be grand.”

And he loves a bit of oul exercise too. That is his remedy for everything also. Hence me hiding under the duvet, praying he won’t find me. The children hide in the loo to try and get away from him and his promises of lovely long walks/bike rides and plenty of fresh air.

I know this too will pass. It’s totally psychological. Once I close the door on January I am a different woman. I’ll still eat the cheese, drink the wine and put on my pyjamas as soon as the 6 o’clock news is over (it always feels a bit indecent to be watching the news in nightwear!) but I’ll perk up a little.

I’ll probably sign up to do an exercise class which I might attend twice and then decide it’s not for me, I’ll definitely go on a diet which will last maximum three days, at which point I’ll admit defeat and say at least I tried and I’ll inevitably give up the smokes ... yet again.

But February is the first sign of hope. Of fresh starts, a bit of a stretch in the evenings. It’s incredible how a bit of sunshine and light can lift your spirits no end. The daffodils will soon be lifting their little yellow heads, the leaves will be back on the trees, you will be able to smell spring in the air.

And Himself will still be tormenting me – “come on, come on, come on, we’ll go for a nice long walk, followed by a bike ride and maybe we’ll fit in a game of tennis.”

You can’t have everything I suppose.