Happy Twixmas Vanessa. I am sorry about the glass. I have enjoyed very much reading your letters and it’s so lovely to be a part of this creative community with you. I hope that you find your mentor and I look forward to reading your 2025 letters (and perhaps joining you for wicker deer making!) sending love 💛✨
Hey Vanessa, lovely as always to read your newsletter and see your picture. I feel for you re the breaking of that wine glass. Visiting galumphing teenagers have done similar in this house on a number of occasions recently and I am NOT happy. Grrr. Our Christmas/New Year was a true mix - the Day itself was fun and it's been good to have daughter home, albeit studying madly for her next set of law exams. Despite that, she's been in a pretty good mood, helped of course by lovely boyfriend Fin also being here for a few days. But....our 17 year old got mugged on his way to Midnight Mass and self, husb and same 17 year old have all had Right Proper Flu this week. As a result, I can't quite face thinking about New Year, new opportunities, new me etc etc just yet. At least the sun is shining today. When I walked Crumble early this morning, the hoar frost on a pine cone was just stunning. Sadly, I did not have my phone with me to record it though. Spent some time trying to commit it to memory...xx
Oh Anna, that sounds like quite the (un)festive season 😟 I do hope you’re all recovering from it all gently. As for New Year new anythings, well it’s just another day and frankly unless there was dire need for reinvention ticking along as we are is enough I think!
As for beautiful photos, I do think the whole point is in the looking properly at stuff, so while the record is nice to have it’s truly the moment that counts and the fact you managed a dog walk post-flu is frankly enough to celebrate alone! Sending love. Xx
A very Happy New Year to you Nancy! Thank for reading, I love writing and Substack feels lukewarm a great place to do so these days. Hope life in Connecticut is good and you’re well. Xx
What a great letter! And huge congratulations for showing up every week for a YEAR, sharing your hopes, dreams, endeavours and vulnerability - what a gift to us readers.
Hoping the Oz dash was worth it, and that Apollo is forgiven.
Sending love, and hopes you'll come and stay with me in London soon xxx
I was just thinking about you! Oz is proving wonderful and Apollo is happily ensconced on the top of the schrank in the kitchen (well out of Gertie’s way). I’m thoroughly enjoying this quiet time, ‘though am just working out how I might move the studio around…..!! I would love to come and see you of course!! Xx
You truly have a gift, Vanessa. I so enjoy your postings, although, I missed a few weeks in November and December and I haven’t caught up yet. Your writing style is warm and inviting and it makes me feel like you are in the room with me. Thank you. I am hoping to read many new missives from you in 2025. Whisking you, Mike, Thea and Polly a wonderful New Year.
Ah you’re so kind Cath 🙏🏻 I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and that 2025 might even see us getting together again somewhere…. Much love to you all. Xx
We should use the word "snoot" more often. And like you, I've always felt that it would have been so good to have had a mentor. Where are they all hiding?! X
The rearranged dining room looks beautiful (even when strewn with the detritus of a festive meal!). Sorry to hear about your glass, it is only a glass but it’s still a loss for you… You’ve worked so hard writing weekly all year - congratulations 🙌🏻😘
A whole year of writing weekly - and such wonderful writing too - is to be highly commended and must surely be garlanded with all manner of gold stars and tinsel in your List Of Things I Did In 2024.
Your images are always gorgeous and evocative but thank you for alluding to the tensions of Christmas too. The feeling of responsibility for making sure that everyone has a good Christmas can lie heavy on our generation's shoulders, can't it?
Thank you Ceri, I consider myself duly garlanded and betinsled! And gosh, I think we have a duty to be honest about just how heavy the weight of burden and responsibility can feel, I know in part I'm guilty of submitting to the idea of creating the perfect day for everyone, but it's very hard to simply take to the sofa and let everyone know they're welcome to do it their own way isn't it?! xx
What a fabulous milestone. Great consistency. Love a reorganisation too … sounds like you have the place in great order. And a smaller writing space is the way I’ve headed too! Sometimes it makes for fewer distractions. Good luck with the hunt for a mentor. Plenty of encouragement around if you want a chat in the new year.
Thanks Barry, I'm really loving being tucked away up here in my little room. Once my screen is mounted on the wall I'll have room for the sewing machine too so will allow myself to be inspired by Jojo in the year ahead! Thank you too for your offer of encouragement, without your initial enthusiasm at the beginning of the year I doubt I'd have made this milestone. xx
Ooh, wall-mounted screen … awfa fancy! We had tons of deconstruct JoJo’s studio to accommodate guests but it is back up and running today so she’s poised to get sewing. 🧵
The loss of a favourite glass is good reason for a few expletives IMO, I broke my favourite cup just before Christmas and was so upset I cried, I couldn't even blame the cat because she killed my little robin and we are not speaking!
Happy New Year Vanessa, here's to another year - well done for the first - of your weekly ramblings which I do so love! Lots of love xx
I have loved reading these please dont stop! Oh I would bot be as brave as you letting eldest go, well done, what steps to follow ♥️♥️Hope you all had an excellent Christmas xxx
Happy Twixmas Vanessa. I am sorry about the glass. I have enjoyed very much reading your letters and it’s so lovely to be a part of this creative community with you. I hope that you find your mentor and I look forward to reading your 2025 letters (and perhaps joining you for wicker deer making!) sending love 💛✨
Thanks Emily, it is lovely to have found a community over here now it seems Instagram is no longer the place. I’m sure we’ll enjoy 2025 together ✨
I rarely visit Instagram these days. I think it had its day. I’m looking forward to a lovely 2025 here! 💛✨
Sincere condolences for that special wine glass V 💔 . I hope you will soon find an appropriate replacement. 😘
Thanks Liz! The search is underway…. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas? Xx
Hey Vanessa, lovely as always to read your newsletter and see your picture. I feel for you re the breaking of that wine glass. Visiting galumphing teenagers have done similar in this house on a number of occasions recently and I am NOT happy. Grrr. Our Christmas/New Year was a true mix - the Day itself was fun and it's been good to have daughter home, albeit studying madly for her next set of law exams. Despite that, she's been in a pretty good mood, helped of course by lovely boyfriend Fin also being here for a few days. But....our 17 year old got mugged on his way to Midnight Mass and self, husb and same 17 year old have all had Right Proper Flu this week. As a result, I can't quite face thinking about New Year, new opportunities, new me etc etc just yet. At least the sun is shining today. When I walked Crumble early this morning, the hoar frost on a pine cone was just stunning. Sadly, I did not have my phone with me to record it though. Spent some time trying to commit it to memory...xx
Oh Anna, that sounds like quite the (un)festive season 😟 I do hope you’re all recovering from it all gently. As for New Year new anythings, well it’s just another day and frankly unless there was dire need for reinvention ticking along as we are is enough I think!
As for beautiful photos, I do think the whole point is in the looking properly at stuff, so while the record is nice to have it’s truly the moment that counts and the fact you managed a dog walk post-flu is frankly enough to celebrate alone! Sending love. Xx
I always look forward to your blogs! Such a different life from mine in Connecticut and I love that! Happy 2025 Vanessa and family.
A very Happy New Year to you Nancy! Thank for reading, I love writing and Substack feels lukewarm a great place to do so these days. Hope life in Connecticut is good and you’re well. Xx
What a great letter! And huge congratulations for showing up every week for a YEAR, sharing your hopes, dreams, endeavours and vulnerability - what a gift to us readers.
Hoping the Oz dash was worth it, and that Apollo is forgiven.
Sending love, and hopes you'll come and stay with me in London soon xxx
I was just thinking about you! Oz is proving wonderful and Apollo is happily ensconced on the top of the schrank in the kitchen (well out of Gertie’s way). I’m thoroughly enjoying this quiet time, ‘though am just working out how I might move the studio around…..!! I would love to come and see you of course!! Xx
Sorry, wishing, love that auto correct!
Actually I kind of like the idea of whisking instead of wishing - more concrete, like baking! 💕😂
You truly have a gift, Vanessa. I so enjoy your postings, although, I missed a few weeks in November and December and I haven’t caught up yet. Your writing style is warm and inviting and it makes me feel like you are in the room with me. Thank you. I am hoping to read many new missives from you in 2025. Whisking you, Mike, Thea and Polly a wonderful New Year.
Ah you’re so kind Cath 🙏🏻 I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and that 2025 might even see us getting together again somewhere…. Much love to you all. Xx
One year - bravo! I hope you daughter has coped ok with Brisbane summer - the last few days have been rank.
Thanks Tony! I think she’s quite happy - currently on the beach at Marcoola 🏖️
Actually to tie back to another thread, both Marcoola and Coolum have proper beaches 😝
Marcoola is lovely - my Grandparents had a place just up the road at Coolum.
I am awaiting photos, but since we remain sealed under perpetually cloudy skies I’m hugely envious!
You don't want to see picture of Australian beaches in summer - it would only make you envious!
We should use the word "snoot" more often. And like you, I've always felt that it would have been so good to have had a mentor. Where are they all hiding?! X
Thank you - I think ‘snoot’ is underused, but let’s see how often we can insert it into our posts in the year ahead? 😂 xx
First resolution right there!! #snoot
The rearranged dining room looks beautiful (even when strewn with the detritus of a festive meal!). Sorry to hear about your glass, it is only a glass but it’s still a loss for you… You’ve worked so hard writing weekly all year - congratulations 🙌🏻😘
I’m glad you approved of the dining room (though felt sure you all would!). Frankly I’m amazed I’ve stuck at it a year - who knew 🤷🏼♀️😂
I think if you take time to reflect, there’s lots in your life that you’ve stuck at…. 😘😘
A whole year of writing weekly - and such wonderful writing too - is to be highly commended and must surely be garlanded with all manner of gold stars and tinsel in your List Of Things I Did In 2024.
Your images are always gorgeous and evocative but thank you for alluding to the tensions of Christmas too. The feeling of responsibility for making sure that everyone has a good Christmas can lie heavy on our generation's shoulders, can't it?
Happy new year. Onwards.
Thank you Ceri, I consider myself duly garlanded and betinsled! And gosh, I think we have a duty to be honest about just how heavy the weight of burden and responsibility can feel, I know in part I'm guilty of submitting to the idea of creating the perfect day for everyone, but it's very hard to simply take to the sofa and let everyone know they're welcome to do it their own way isn't it?! xx
What a fabulous milestone. Great consistency. Love a reorganisation too … sounds like you have the place in great order. And a smaller writing space is the way I’ve headed too! Sometimes it makes for fewer distractions. Good luck with the hunt for a mentor. Plenty of encouragement around if you want a chat in the new year.
Thanks Barry, I'm really loving being tucked away up here in my little room. Once my screen is mounted on the wall I'll have room for the sewing machine too so will allow myself to be inspired by Jojo in the year ahead! Thank you too for your offer of encouragement, without your initial enthusiasm at the beginning of the year I doubt I'd have made this milestone. xx
Ooh, wall-mounted screen … awfa fancy! We had tons of deconstruct JoJo’s studio to accommodate guests but it is back up and running today so she’s poised to get sewing. 🧵
I know - v fancy 😂
The loss of a favourite glass is good reason for a few expletives IMO, I broke my favourite cup just before Christmas and was so upset I cried, I couldn't even blame the cat because she killed my little robin and we are not speaking!
Happy New Year Vanessa, here's to another year - well done for the first - of your weekly ramblings which I do so love! Lots of love xx
I have loved reading these please dont stop! Oh I would bot be as brave as you letting eldest go, well done, what steps to follow ♥️♥️Hope you all had an excellent Christmas xxx