Thursday 18th September - mood changer...

 Here's the thing...

I've been listening to the audiobook 'Adventures in Being Human' by Gavin Francis, a GP./ I find him a most interesting writer, mainly on medical topics. Some years ago I read 'Recovery' by him, about the lost art of convalescence, and today I finished 'Island Magic' which is very different,  being a series of musing and reflections on his fascination with life on Islands all over the world. 

Anyway, back to 'Being Human'; in the chapter on the face, he discusses the anatomy, how the understanding of the muscles and structures developed over the centuries. One thing that interested me is how various artists, scientists and physicians have suspected that reflecting your emotion in your face increases the intensity with which you experience that emotion; if you are fearful and have a fearful expression on your face, you will be more scared (so there is some value, then, in 'putting a brave face on things'). Likewise sadness; if you can  try and look cheerful it should reduce the intensity of your gloom...

There is now a growing body of research to support this suggestion. 

I suppose in future I should suppress my normal urge to take a swipe at people who call out 'smile, love, it might never happen!' and thank them instead...

So, (gradually getting to the point of this post) I was sat sitting there feeling the dreary gloom descending what with dull weather and a dull day and so on...

I remembered this passage, formed my features into a reluctantly cheerful expression and... 

Well! It did seem to help!

So got up, chopped apples, weighed out dried fruit and sugar and suet, and

My crackpot was soon brim full. I think it was zesting the lemon, oh, that lovely smell! that saw off the last of the gloom.

I used Delia Smith's recipe as always, making half quantities, and now have three jars ready to label and store for... for later.