The Brighton Jotter

"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." – Mary Oliver

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2026 F.I.G. Collective – week 1

I’m joining with lots of others in looking for little joys in the month of February. For all the details pop over to Elisabeth’s blog.

Sunday 1st: Getting back to church after the break. Catching up with everyone after the service.

Monday 2nd: First week back of term for our mainly music group. The kids make me laugh so much, and their joy and wonder is infectious. The local shop had prawns today which are usually sold out, so we had a prawn stirfry for dinner with the girls for family dinner.

Tuesday 3rd: Today I enjoyed putting together my video from January. I love looking back at photos and videos. I also had a nap.

Wednesday 4th: I started reading The Age of Innocence. I love her brand of biting wit. It reminds me a little bit of Les Miserables. The insights into ridiculous societal expectations make me giggle.

Thursday 5th: Mangoes. They are probably my favourite seasonal fruit. Although I like cherries too and we had some of them this week as well. I had music practice for Sunday and it went well. We managed to get the songs organised in 30 minutes. I picked two songs that I felt comfortable with and that helped.

Friday 6th: We tried a new to us vietnamese takeout for takeout Friday and it was good. I think we will add it into our regular rotation.

Saturday 7th: Being able to make it to our friend’s birthday celebration. Every time our vicar has asked us over to a party at their place we’ve had something else on. Had some lovely chats with some of the young adults that I hadn’t met before.

Sunday 8th: worship went mostly smoothly. The singers did miss the chorus repeat, but I played an extra bar on the piano and then sang them in myself, with Fi catching on and taking it up. One of our young adults mentioned Pancake Tuesday and since uni hasn’t started yet I suggested she organise something. By the time we were leaving church after morning tea, she had a little team on board with the details sorted and by the evening a digital flyer was being distributed. I love that when someone has a heart to do something, people get behind and run with it. It rained later in the day which we really needed, but also stopped long enough for us to walk to and from church in the evening.

Are you counting FIGs this February?

Comments

21 responses to “2026 F.I.G. Collective – week 1”

  1. Catrina Avatar
    Catrina

    Casually saved the chorus by playing an extra bar and singing everyone back in like a pro! Nicely done, Melissa!

    It’s nice when an idea gathers momentum like your pancake Tuesday. Sometimes it just takes a gentle push to get things going.

    We have rain here too! It was badly needed and it’s nice to have a cooler day for once. I have a half-marathon on Sunday and with 35C, it’s going to be a tricky one. Hopefully it will be a FIG when it’s finished!

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      I will need to pop across to your blog and see how your race went.

      Reply
  2. Elisabeth Avatar
    Elisabeth

    I am tracking FIGs this month 🙂
    Stay tuned for all my joyful things on Wednesday. I’m so glad you’re participating, Melissa <3

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      Thanks for getting us all together doing this again.

      Reply
  3. Ernie Avatar
    Ernie

    I’m attempting to count figs in my head, but knowing that’s unreliable – I need to get a list going.

    I wish we could get a family meal started once a week – I’d settle for once a month. It’s hard for the two boys in the city to get out to us. They have no car and the uber is pricey and the trip can be lengthy with traffic. Hopefully once they are out in the suburbs we can make that happen.

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      Mondays, S works at the office, but she can catch the train straight from there to our place and H drives across after work and then takes her home. E and K will probably be less regular depending on whether E is away with work, but K works near the city too so she can catch puyblic transport to our place after work and E can meet her here.

      Reply
  4. J Avatar
    J

    A lovely list. Perhaps since Shrove Tuesday is the same as the first day of the Lunar New Year, some scallion pancakes would be in order? Gung Hey Fat Tuesday!

    I am also loving The Age of Innocence. Snarky in a good way.

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      That would have been a good way to combine the two, but we did not do it.

      Reply
  5. NGS Avatar
    NGS

    I am really digging into the fact that February is one of my least favorite months by doing FIGs daily for my blog, having a fun gratitude list for my journal, AND sending Elisabeth entirely different FIGs at the end of every week. It’s forcing me to look beyond my regular list of gripes and whines (why does February have to be so…gross?) and focus on the positive. Yay!

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      February is generally pretty nice here but I can see how it would be difficult in your winter weather.

      Reply
  6. K @ TS Avatar
    K @ TS

    I love mangoes! I think they are one of my favorite fruits also. The only issue is that I think a lot of sugar plays a bit of havoc on my belly these days, so I can’t quite eat as many as I used to! I also love cherries but they have the same effect. My FIGs for the week were that I made a new friend (sometimes hard when traveling), did an excellent hike (that my calves are sore from!), and have had great weather (not too hot, not raining!) lately!

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      Sounds like a fabulous week Kyria. How sad about the sugar.

      Reply
  7. Alexandra Avatar
    Alexandra

    I missed seeing this post on Elizabeth’s blogs as I haven’t been blogging for at least 12 days. I’ve had a terrible bout of something. I could lift my head off the pillow for a few days and then, the hacking cough. I’ve missed what everyone’s been up too.

    Probably not a lot to be grateful for this first week of February other than I’m now on the mend.

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      I’m sorry you have been sick, but I’m glad you’re on the mend now.

      Reply
  8. Daria Avatar
    Daria

    I SHOULD be counting figs, especially that my word of the year is… delight but this initiative slipped through my fingers.
    I do notice more- the sky, the sunrise/sunset, something that my kids say/do, sweet things my students say/do. Outfits that I look cute in. My husband’s hugs. Books. Aquafor lotion.

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      I love that you notice outfits you look cute in, so often I feel like I don’t do that kind of thing.

      Reply
  9. San Avatar
    San

    It’s been so delightful to read everyone’s FIGs from the first week. There’s always something good to find in every day! I love mangos, too. And cherries… unfortunately it’s hard to find sour cherries here in the US.

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      We don’t have sour cherries here either.

      Reply
  10. Stephany Avatar
    Stephany

    Yes, I’m counting FIGs! It’s one of my new favorite February traditions. It’s such a great way to pause and reflect on the GOOD. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Tobia | craftaliciousme Avatar
    Tobia | craftaliciousme

    That was so lovely catching up through your F.I.G.s I am not doing figs officially but I am always trying to find nice things. I love that you got a Pancake Tuesday organized in mere hours. That must feel so amazing when everyone is on board and it runs smoothly.

    Reply
    1. Melissa Avatar
      Melissa

      Whether you do it officially or unofficially, finding nice things in each day can be a real mood booster.

      Reply

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