We all need a bit of sunshine!
Who better to star on our August cover than Davina Mccall? She is a blast of sunshine in human form and, on the day of our shoot, we were blessed with glorious weather. But, even had it been pouring with rain, with her megawatt smile, high energy, generosity of spirit and openness, Davina would have single-handedly lit up the set! She’s a true beacon of positivity and her enthusiasm for life is contagious. ‘My 50s are a banger of a decade!’ she says. ‘I’m feeling a lot more at peace with myself… Once you stop trying to be perfect, it’s such a relief.’
I’ve recently been travelling around the country talking to readers in research groups, and I’m sure Davina’s message is something that will resonate; many of you talk about not sweating the small stuff or worrying any more about the things you can’t change. Rather, you’re embracing life as it is. That said, you did tell us about how busy you are and what an important role Good
Housekeeping plays in doing the research for you and bringing you the best selection of fashion, beauty and recipes, plus homes and health news. So, with that very much in mind, this issue is all about giving you brilliant shortcuts to summer enjoyment. Best clothes to take on holiday? We have them. A menu that doesn’t even require switching on the oven? We’re bringing you that, too. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a great summer without a good book to get stuck into, so we’ve chosen our pick of the best reads (page 152), plus what the GH team is going to be reading and listening to (page 44).
While we’re on the subject of the GH team, a special mention must go to our commissioning editor Ella Dove, whose debut novel Five
Steps To Happy is out this month. I couldn’t be prouder of Ella and her fantastic writing. In this issue, she tells us about the friends who got her through the biggest challenge of her life, which I’m sure, like me, you’ll find humbling (page 60). Most impressive, though, is Ella’s strength of spirit and positivity; she’s truly inspiring and another ray of sunshine.
New to audiobooks? They’re brilliant for consuming even more great writing; you can listen while driving or lying in the bath! Turn to page 154 to find out how to download the free audiobook we’ve selected for you. PS.