The FEBRUARY Report
A Pocket of Softness: Books, Pizza, and the Joy of Small Things
Wasn’t February a delight? After the seven-year slog of January, February barely blinked and it was gone. And, truthfully, I felt a little wistful about it. It was an unexpectedly wholesome month, one of those rare stretches of time where life clicks into place, and you start to believe, fleetingly, that you might just have things semi-figured out.
I spent dreamy days in Bath and Hampstead Heath, soaking up the kind of quiet beauty that makes you want to press pause. I saw the utterly phenomenal Much Ado About Nothing, starring Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell, and I’m not being dramatic when I say I’d trade my entire wardrobe for the chance to dance under falling pink confetti with those two to a disco anthem.
February also became the month of wholesome offline hobbies. I went to the cinema twice (the unparalleled joy of a matinee with snacks), fell headfirst into a serious Sudoku obsession , I’m basically a grandmaster now, and kept up with my colouring, which remains the cheapest form of mindfulness therapy I’ve found.
All in all, it was a gorgeous month, a pocket of softness and small joys. I hope yours was just as lovely, and I can’t wait to share this little February REPORT with you.
READING
I’m still firmly in my reading slump, and honestly, it’s starting to feel personal. But hope is on the horizon, I fly out in four days for a little city break (subscribe to find out where, I promise it’s vaguely glamorous), and I’m praying that eight hours in the air will be the cure. I’ve managed to read 1.5 books, which I’m counting as a win because I’m this close to finishing my second.
January was the kind of work month that makes you contemplate deleting LinkedIn, but I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue landed in my lap like a gift. It’s painfully relatable in the best way, like reading the group chat you’d start if you didn’t fear HR. Sue captures the absurdity of corporate life so well you’ll laugh, cringe, and feel wildly validated all at once.
I’m also halfway through the much-hyped First Time Caller by B.K. Borison, and so far, it’s living up to every ounce of praise. This might just be the book that pulls me out of my reading funk, fingers crossed!
EATING
February was the month of midweek dinners, and honestly, I’m now fully convinced I deserve a tiny award for every time I dragged myself out on a school night. Each meal felt like a little pocket of joy, but the undisputed champion? The Triple Pepperoni from Rudy’s Pizza in Soho. I am forever grateful to whoever invented the Hot Honey Pizza trend, a true visionary. I still think about that pizza at least twice a day and pray I’ll be back there soon.
PLAYING
In other life-altering discoveries, I finally fell headfirst into the Bridget Jones hype. Like every 20-something Brit, I grew up with a mum who adored Bridget, but I never quite got it. Well hello, my name is Niamh, and I am now the president of the fan club. Mad About the Boy had me laughing, tearing up, and spiralling over the fact that I might actually be Bridget: curvy girl, works in TV, disastrous dating life. Someone hand me the flat and the emotionally unavailable but devastatingly hot men, please. Also, pair your morning commute with Olivia Dean’s It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be, it’s basically the soundtrack to my life right now.
OBSESSING
I wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest, I am fully obsessed with Sudoku. Since my reading slump is still holding me hostage, and I’m trying to spend less time doom-scrolling, I’ve turned to puzzles for some kind of intellectual stimulation. And honestly? It’s the perfect little break from your phone. I highly recommend grabbing a pen, pretending you’re in a cozy detective novel, and cracking some numbers.
RECOMMENDING
Oh, and Big Boys ended this month, which feels personally offensive. Jack Rooke gave us the most perfect, heartfelt finale, and despite the fact that I’ve never cried at a show or film (my therapist is aware), this one broke me. Do yourself a favour: laugh, cry, and sob your way through all three seasons. I wish I could watch it for the first time again.
TREATING
I’ve also been on a bit of a financial lockdown this month (past me had a very enthusiastic approach to booking trips), but honestly, she was onto something. A quick getaway really is the cure to all life’s problems. I spent a dreamy day in Bath and now have Rightmove notifications pinging me about overpriced cottages. Same goes for Hampstead Heath, what is it about quaint English towns that make you want to quit your job and open a bakery? Pubs, history, and pastry-filled weekends? That’s the life I want.
About Twenty Five Reset
Hi, I’m Niamh, and everyone was right—25 really is a turning point. I finally know who I am, what I want, and my purpose… but it’s nothing like I expected.
I work in TV, but it doesn’t define me. This space is my reset—embracing the mess, reflecting, and creating again. You can expect:
Pop Culture and a lot of chats about 2000 - 2020 TV Shows
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