Today is our 23rd wedding anniversary…and last night, we made magic at home.

One son was hiking with a 25kg pack and the other was at the skate park with his crew, good teens that we feed and let sleepover on the regular who have their own labelled toothbrushes here. (Teen tip: love their friends. Really love them. It’s so important!) We knew we’d be in for evening pick-ups, so we decided to make a magical anniversary celebration at home.

And it was beautiful.

I asked my husband to hang the lights. It took 15 minutes of us grumbling at each other as we untangled them but … WORTH IT.

And because I’d rather cook for us than sit in a restaurant, I made his favourite (simple) meal.

• A cheese platter (first, not last…I know, I know, but this is what we like.) Burrata and the most delicious aged cheddar from Harris Farm.

• Crab cakes! They’re my husband’s favourite and so very easy to make. Let me know if you want the recipe? Takes 10 minutes and two tins of crab meat. I crazy-poured that sauce on the side by mistake but they still look delicious.

Then I panfried two pieces of trout, which we like better than salmon, and roasted asparagus in olive oil for ten minutes in a hot oven. We ate two (whoops!) Lindt chocolate bars for dessert with fresh blueberries.

In between, we talked about important things, and eventually I got cold so I slid on fuzzy pyjama bottoms with my dress.

And that is what you can do when you make magic at home.

Oh, my friends, we’ve been lucky to weather it all so far. And though you might be imagining ease and glamour and beauty and fun — that is not the real story. It’s just what you’re seeing in the photo of this magical night.

There’s been love, and effort, fights and forgiveness, trying again, years of talking, give, take and struggle, money issues, unemployment, health scares and huge fear and worries about all of it.

We’re all the same in our hearts. Life is 50-50 for everyone. Me and you.

But if you have a chance to make a magical night at home, I urge you to give it a try. If you’re COVID-struggling right now, it’s beautiful and inexpensive. You can use what you have to make what you love. Light a hundred tea lights on your table — make a simple meal you enjoy.

And if you’re doing well right now, a magical night at home can be so much fun! Just try it for FUN. Surprise someone: a partner, a friend. Start in a dress and end up wearing your PJ bottoms underneath when it gets cold, and talk until the stars come out.

Life is for living.

Let’s all remember that, no matter where we are on the road to home.

Love, Catherine x

PS.

• My freshwater pearl earrings are a treat from Zjoosh. You can find them here.