Love your summer…
ICERTAINLY LOVE MINE – PERHAPS
BECAUSE I HAVE A SUMMER BIRTHDAY, AS DO MANY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, SO THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE!
I ENJOY THOSE LONG, HAZY SUMMER DAYS, AND WHILE I’M NOT A SUN WORSHIPPER, I FEEL MORE ENERGISED AND HAPPIER WHEN WE HAVE GLORIOUS LONG EVENINGS AND CLEAR, BLUE SKIES. I AGREE WITH LIBBY PURVES
(P48), WHO SAYS THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES IN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES – IT DOES IN MINE.
MY FATHER WAS A MEMBER OF A CRICKET TEAM, SO MY MUM, DAD, BROTHER AND I USED TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY EVERY SUNDAY, FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER, TO WATCH HIM PLAY. I CAN STILL HEAR THE SOUND OF THE CRICKET BALL ON THE BAT AND SMELL THE FRESHLY CUT GRASS. BUT MOST OF ALL I REMEMBER THE CRICKET TEAS. PLAY WOULD STOP FOR AROUND HALF AN
HOUR AND WE WOULD SAVOUR MY MUM’S HOMEMADE SANDWICHES (WRAPPED IN GREASEPROOF PAPER!). MY FAVOURITE WAS EGG AND CRESS; MY BROTHER’S WAS CHEESE AND PICKLE. THEN THERE WERE THE BAKES – SCONES, A VICTORIA SPONGE, A LEMON DRIZZLE… WHAT INNOCENT, CAREFREE DAYS. WHEN I HAD MY OWN FAMILY, WE ENJOYED HUGE PICNICS WITH GAMES, AND BARBECUES WITH FRIENDS (YOU’LL FIND PLENTY OF RECIPE IDEAS FOR YOURS ON P162). WEEKENDS ARE PRECIOUS AND, LIKE WRITER KATRINA ONSTAD, I AGREE THAT IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM SPONTANEOUS RATHER THAN FILL THEM WITH CHORES. SHE REVEALS THE LIFE-CHANGING BENEFITS OF TAKING TWO
DAYS OFF ON P43. CREATING “SPACE” WILL MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPIER, SO RE-EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES AND RECLAIM THOSE PRECIOUS 48 HOURS. ON THAT SUBJECT, WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US ON OUR FIRST WOMAN&HOME WEEKEND AWAY – TURN TO P65 TO FIND OUT MORE. WHENEVER I MEET OUR COVER STAR KATIE DERHAM, HER ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS. SHE’S LIKEABLE, FUN AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HER WORK, LIFE AND FAMILY. SHE’S MARRIED TO JOHN, THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE RESTAURANT CHAIN, LEON, WHO SHE MET AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. I LOVE THEIR VIEW THAT A HAPPY MARRIAGE IS ALL ABOUT COMPLETELY TAKING EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED WHILE COMPLETELY not TAKING EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED. THAT’S REAL BALANCE. KATIE’S PRESENTING THE PROMS THIS SUMMER AND I’M SURE WE’D ALL LOVE TO JOIN HER AND LISTEN TO THEM WITH A GLASS OF WINE IN HAND. READ HER INTERVIEW ON P14. I’D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR ASSOCIATE EDITOR CARRIE TAYLOR AND HER HUSBAND MARK, WHO GOT MARRIED EARLIER THIS YEAR – SHE TELLS US WHY SHE TIED THE KNOT IN HER FIFTIES ON P58. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE OF A HOT SUMMER IS BAD HAIR DAYS – WELL, IT IS FOR ME – SO OUR BONUS THIS MONTH (P87) IS DEDICATED TO GIVING YOU
GREAT HAIR EVERY DAY. LESS FRIZZ, MORE SHINE AND EXTRA VOLUME – YES PLEASE!
HERE’S TO A GREAT SUMMER,
Ò I can still hear the sound of the cricket bat on the ball Ó