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Sara Santa Clara's avatar

"...and remind myself that I really need to keep a few pieces of string in every pocket I own so I can tie in the things that would benefit from it." Me too! 😀

Lovely post, Vanessa!

Looking forward to seeing the finished bird bath!

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Thanks Sara. I realise now that in lieu of string in pockets I left my string and scissors hanging on the sweet pea frame. And now it’s raining 🙄x

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Liz_Suisse's avatar

Dearest V, the kefir and sourdough are clearly a contagion!! I have been fully stuck in since the start of the year and it is a lovely distraction from other cares. Good luck with yours and look forward to seeing any related vessels you put up. x

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Liz! It’s been an age 🙈and we are long overdue a catch up… Glad to know you’re happily fermenting though, I’m sure I could be doing many more! xx

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Liz_Suisse's avatar

In London until 31 July when we move back definitively. In Edi 28-5 but otherwise free. Would love to schedule something!! x

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Kate Harvey's avatar

I love reading about your life Vanessa! I’m glad you forgave yourself for your error, it’s an easy mistake to make. I know I can still be hard on myself too but we do our best, right? And you honoured his life in a beautiful way! ☕️🍰

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Thanks Kate, funny how so many of us are self flagellation experts! x

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

I love these recaps of your week Vanessa, I feel your guilt at arriving in the wrong place for the funeral service, this is something I would definitely be capable of too… and I would beat myself up for days over it.! I’m sure the family understood and were very forgiving though… these things happen!

Thank goodness the sun is shining somewhere because it sure isn’t doing it’s thing here… yesterday was a truly awful and cold day for the month of June! Shocking! I fear our summer will continue along the same vein too….

Your pottery is divine, I adore the crackled effect glaze especially! X

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Oh Susie surely it should be sunny in France - I keep telling Mike we must retire there for better weather 😳😂

Happily my brother in law is a lovely, lovely man and wasn’t worried at all, and I don’t imagine the rest of his family even noticed. No harm done I think. Hoping to catch up on some reading today and looking forward to your beautiful words. Xx

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Oh Vanessa… it should be gorgeous by now, I agree!

We are having a truly shocking and cold summer so far… general opinions say it’s set to stay too - I have given up hoping that the GO is wrong and am now praying for a truly glorious Indian summer instead…🙏🏽xxxx

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

I pray for an Indian summer every year🙄😬😂

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Haha.. me too..! Even when summer has been glorious..!🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

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Colin & Becky Blyth's avatar

Enjoy your garden this weekend. We shall be doing the same. Xx

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Please tell me it’s going to be sunny again later? Xx

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Feasts and Fables's avatar

What a lovely post, Vanessa. The perfect follow on to your super-engaging chat with Claire … love the idea of radical acceptance and it seems such a positive way to deal with life’s wrinkles and curveballs. Also, I confess, my Substack admin is appalling. Somehow I hadn’t subscribed. Duly corrected. Have a fab weekend. Barrie

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Thanks so much Barrie, without your encouragement right at the start of the year I don’t think I’d have kept writing. Yet here I am six months later having written every week, nothing wild or magical has happened, but slow, positive changes are in progress 💕

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Feasts and Fables's avatar

So thrilled if any of the gentle encouragement we offer helps a little. The writing is fabulous. A gorgeous part of a wonderfully varied creative practice 💛

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Fiona's avatar

Bob loved both coffee and cake and I’m sure would have been very happy to know that’s what you stopped for on the way home this morning - thank you for even trying to be with us today 💕💕

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Well I’m glad I stopped on his behalf then - it was a most delicious honey and bergamot cake. I highly recommend a trip out there. Xx

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Fiona's avatar

That sounds classy and delicious!! Xx

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Catherine Windsor's avatar

A good read and a lovely way to start my morning.

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Vanessa Simpson's avatar

Thanks so much for reading Cath, I so enjoy sitting down to write and it very gratifying to know people read it….. xx

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