A NEW BEGINNING

“THERE WAS A SAFETY NET WHERE IT WAS JUST MY WIFE AND MY SON.”

This might sound quite strange but in some ways, I am going to miss lockdown. There was a safety net I felt where it was just my wife and son, two people I love, where together we created a new routine in our very own bubble. We developed a pattern of meals and much discussion together, playing cards after lunch, family quiz night on a Friday, walks around the neighbourhood for exercise, a cuppa tea and a laugh out the back as the sun went down, drinks and nibbles when the occasion called for it, which could be anything from watching a new episode of Tiger King or the latest series of Alone. I actually loved this time. I felt more relaxed, I smiled more, listened and we talked about all sorts of different things that weren’t COVID-19 related. I discovered Whittaker’s Dark Salted Caramel chocolate which, as I kept telling myself and my wife, there could be worse things to be addicted to.

We live in a time of unprecedented upheaval where questions swirl about the future, our work and income, our families, political agendas and decision making, and working from home vs going into an office. And then there was the worry. I would worry and miss our daughters (I still do) and how they were going as they weren’t living in the same country as us. It’s my son’s last year of school ... what would exams and his year really look like for him? During lockdown I would have concern around the business, making sure staff were paid their salaries and were coping, that the magazine went on sale and we minimised any problems we could foresee coming.

What took us pleasantly by surprise during lockdown was that things started to evolve around MiNDFOOD that we hadn’t predicted. We sold more subscriptions to the magazine than we had at any other time in its 12-year history. Our online audience increased, with record numbers coming to mindfood.com and to our other social media platforms. I’m happy to report this larger audience has stayed with us as we move forward.

We started MiNDFOOD LIVE on Facebook during lockdown and I was blown away with the response and interest. I received even more emails from readers about stories we had written, support about what MiNDFOOD meant to our readers’ lives during this time. That made me feel that the MiNDFOOD community was not only surviving, we were championing new thinking and envisaging what post-lockdown would look like. I took a breath and also did lots of thinking about our future, as I am sure lots of you did as well.

So what would our first magazine cover look like coming out of lockdown? I really wanted to feature someone who was wise, who not only was passionate about what they believed in, but really spoke from the heart and made people sit up and think about things. I just didn’t want another celebrity promoting another movie. As we emerged from the greatest health scare the globe has seen in our lifetime, I wanted someone on the cover who has respect and who speaks to our readers and perhaps to others who have not picked up MiNDFOOD before.

MiNDFOOD has interviewed David Attenborough many times over the years and during those interviews he would often capture the essence and mood of the current time and what we were all collectively thinking and feeling.

This exclusive interview is no different. Yes, traditionally men on our covers don’t sell so well. And yes, he is the oldest person we have ever featured on the cover of MiNDFOOD.

But he holds great authority and respect that as he reports on the world and shines a light on what is happening and what we all could be doing and thinking, it just seems the right time and choice to stop and listen to someone wise.

Shine the light, let’s make a difference at this crucial point in our lives. Our time starts now!