Friends of Begg x Co - Laura Weir

 

I am working from home most of the time, but I have to go into Farringdon, London once a week for a project I'm working on, which is a balance I'm really grateful for. I find switching up the scenery and breaking up the Zoom marathons is really important. Working from home is quite relentless when you’re lucky enough to be so busy with work. I live by the sea, so I have been trying to make sure I walk there in the morning or at lunch time. I'm not doing very well at sticking to that, but it helps me focus when I do. 

 

I bought Earpods so I can do walking meetings to get a break from my machine which is working well. Lots of cups of tea, of course, and I've tried to make my home desk space a nice place to be - a comfy chair, trinkets and pictures on my desk - and it's under the window so I can fit in a bit of people watching and daydreaming.

I think this year has taught me more about myself than any other so far. I have made some big lifestyle changes - as we all have -  and I have fallen in love with spending time at home, just me and my daughter. I've always liked being cosy - partly why I love Begg x Co blankets so much, and why I wrote a book about it, but this year has amplified that feeling and made me realise what is important.

 

I feel really positive because life is simple and I feel content with that. There have been some really hard times during the lockdown process, but I cook food that I love which makes me feel happy and full. I watch TV with my daughter which I love, I do odd jobs around the house - there's been a lot of pottering which gives me pleasure. I miss seeing my friends, big groups of us, and socialising that way but it's a bit of give and take, you've got to be thankful for what you've got, and that will all come back soon enough.

 

 

 

 

It changes every day and every week. This week I bought a second hand radio off eBay, so I've been playing Radio 4 in my kitchen. I have found that quite soothing, humming in the background, and I spend much more time in the kitchen these days. Talking of the BBC, Desert Island discs brings me so much joy and I really recommend Arsene Wenger's. 

 

New Yorker Radiohour is a fantastic podcast for making sure you stay on top of what's happening across the pond - and the recent Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Martin episode was great. 

 

I'm reading Shoe Dog by Phil Knight which is an inspiring true story of the founder of Nike and his journey. Article wise anything by Ben Machell always makes me smile, and there's an amazing interview with laurence Lewelyn Bowen by The Guardian that made me laugh out loud this week.

 

Outside of my day to day work which is a creative process, I'm writing a script with a friend (a comedy sitcom) which has been so amazing. I've also been doing more with my hands - I was in the garden all summer, planting vegetables and flowers in our pots. We grew some gorgeous tall sunflowers, which my daughter loved. 

 

I've been mending and patching my daughter's clothes if they rip, in a way I would never have had time to do before. Inspired by my friend Jasper, I've been doing needlepoint and I'm in the process of covering an old room divider with some new fabric. My daughter and I even made a candle the other day! I don't recognise myself in half of the things I'm doing, but I totally love it.

 

 

I've noticed I've been wearing more jewellery (earrings and necklaces mainly) which I suppose gives me that dressing up element when it comes to my "Zoomiform". Jumpers, slippers, socks - it's all gone to pot to be honest, although I do always put a face on for the screen.

There is no way that I could carry on eating the way I have been and not engage in some kind of movement. Working from home is so sedentary, so where usually I'd get 10,000 steps in a day no problem, I was struggling to do so. 

 

I also noticed my joints were getting a bit stiff (must be my age) but it must have something to do with sitting down in a different way for such long periods of the working day. I've got a personal trainer who knocks my door twice  a week and makes me work out. I'm usually faddy with exercise but I'm determined this time. 

 

I've also got into Gua Sha at bedtime (not as exciting as it sounds) which is incredible for the face and a sense of wellbeing, it's generally really relaxing. My friend Sarah Bradden does online acu-massage sessions and they have been incredible during lockdown.

 

So many to choose from. My sausage stew, chicken noodle soup - or my nan's cottage pie.