Can I have a word?
There's a bit of a chat, an escapist recommendation, a clever packing hack, oh, and a deceived dog, in this week's Heyday Friday newsletter
Hello!
As I mentioned at the end of last week’s newsletter I’ve been away since I last wrote to you. I was lucky enough to be invited to spend a few days in the company of my younger daughter, her husband and their two delicious girls during their family holiday in delightfully sunny Majorca.
I’m back in far less delightfully rainy London now, *sigh*. As a result of the trip I haven’t had time to write a blog. Instead I wanted to have a little a chat with you.
First of all, thank you to all of you who’ve been generous enough to click on the like heart at the end of the last couple of newsletters. And an even bigger thank you to those of you who do that pretty much every week. Sitting here at my desk, or at the table in the garden when it isn’t blinking well raining - so that’ll be just the once this year *sigh again* - it can sometimes feel as if I’m sending these carefully composed missives into the ether with no real idea how they’re being received.
So what I particularly wanted to chat to you about, is that. Chat.
When I was editing Woman’s Weekly the emails, messages and letters we got from readers were one of my favourite things about the work we all did (others included being able to taste test the recipes and rummage around in the fashion and beauty cupboards. Oh, and producing the best issue we could every week, obviously).
They never hesitated to tell us when they thought we were doing something wrong or inappropriate (one reader wrote to admonish us on a vintage-style knitting pattern which she thought was unacceptably old fashioned, adding in her PS that she was 98!) Equally they were generous with their praise when they enjoyed something in an issue (they loved sending in pictures of the recipes of ours that they’d made, often returning the favour with one of their own), and fabulously forthcoming in sharing their thoughts and experiences (another reader letter, which began as the vast majority of them did, explaining that she had been reading the magazine most of her life, shared in quite eye watering detail a recent operation she had had, and thanked us for keeping her company during her recovery).
Readers would often comment on, or ask questions about, things I wrote about doing or seeing in my Editors Letter. When one reader emailed to check whether I’d had good weather in Cornwall, it took me a while to realise she was referring to when I had written about an upcoming trip there with my girls in an Ed’s letter several weeks before (I was wittering on about the weather back then too. Plus ca change…..)
As the team producing the magazine each week we knew that we were very much in conversation with, and serving the needs and interests of, our enormously and affectionately valued readers.
All of you who read this Heydays newsletter are every bit as valued by me. It’s because of you, and especially those of you who are paid subscribers, that I’m able to keep writing it, which I really love doing. And whilst I’m pretty confident you find something of value here each week, I would really really love it if you felt moved to respond to any of the elements, or questions I occasionally ask.
Partly that’s because there’s nothing I enjoy more than a good natter. Partly because I’m genuinely interested in what you think and do (call it nosey if you prefer!) Partly because it gives you a chance to get to know each other (which can only be a bonus because you’re all so bloody lovely). And partly because the more you respond, the better I can craft and deliver content that will help deliver the Heyday promise of providing ‘Ideas to help you live life to the full’.
Gawd knows we all have so many demands on our precious time, so I do hesitate to be adding this to yours. But if ever you do feel like tapping out a few words in the comments in response one of these newsletters, please know that that would fill me in equal quantities with delight and gratitude.
Thank you.
HACK OF THE WEEK
If you’re heading off on holiday any time soon, then this accessories hack will literally be a game-changer. Taking chain necklaces and bracelets away without them getting tangled has always been the bane of my packing existence. Until I saw this on Instagram. What a genius idea!
Thread the chain through a (paper obviously) straw, cut to the appropriate length, and do up the clasp (forgive me if that seems obvious. Let’s just say I can confirm that this doesn’t work as well, or even, ahem, at all if you don’t) then just roll all the straws up in a piece of paper towel. How simple and brilliant is that?
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN….WATCHING
If I say that the first two episodes of the new season of Bridgerton were frothily compelling enough to pretty much entirely distract from young boy kicking the back of my seat almost the entire way through the two hour flight out to Majorca, whilst the next two held my captivated attention sufficiently to overcome the absurdly uncomfortable Ryanair seats on the journey home, that should tell you all you need to know.
If you’re already a Bridgerton aficionado, then I can confirm that this new season delivers everything you - and I - have come to love about this Shondaland/Netflix behemoth. The costumes. The settings. The generous cast of characters. And, of course, the scandal, the gossip, the steamy sex and the will-they-won’t-they love arc of the central couple. This time the romantic heavy lifting is in the capable hands of rakishly handsome Luke Newton as Bridgerton brother number two - Colin - and the luminously wonderful Nicola Coughlan as his long time friend and perennial wallflower, Penelope Fetherington (who has for just as long harboured an unrequited love for her handsome neighbour). Of course Penelope also harbours another secret (no spoilers here if you don’t already know what that is), one that has already had a devastating impact on people who matter to her, and which looks set to cause yet more damage.
There are sub-plots aplenty and more than enough witty moments and sharp observances to carry you through the periodic slumps in pace. It’s true that no-one comes to Bridgerton expecting high class drama, but what it does deliver is high class escapist entertainment, in bucket loads. And lord knows, we could do with plenty of that right now.
You can watch the first four episodes of BRIDGERTON on Netflix, with the last four airing from June 13th
And see the trailer HERE
WORDS OF WISDOM
As shared by Bridgerton’s would-be-lover Colin to desperate-to-be-loved Penelope, but worth taking on board for us all.
WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
Aside, obviously, from my scrumptious grand-girls, this video, which couldn’t be a more perfect, and perfectly hilarious, encapsulation of a ‘hang dog expression’ if it, and the poor duped dog featured in it, tried
FRIDAY FUNNY
It’s been a while since I’ve featured the brilliant ROSIE MADE A THING in this slot, so I’m happy to put that right and get back to my typically British favourite topic - the weather. Although since my heating has just independently come on (which it does if the temperature in the house falls below a certain level), I’m not sure I can entirely agree with her.
That’s all for this week. It’s been lovely chatting to you as always.
See you next time
I saw a lovely hack the other day about a woman taking a pillow on her journey , when she got to the hotel room the woman emptied the pillow ( it had no cushion ) but contained items of clothing - how clever
Liked the necklace hack - not seen that one before. Have some metal straws somewhere that might work. And Rosie made a thing brilliant as always. Thanks.