ME…. AND MY HOUSEKEEPING!
Author and presenter Giovanna Fletcher on inviting the Queen for dinner, roast potatoes with everything and relaxing with her sons
Meet writer Giovanna Fletcher
Giovanna, 35, lives in London with her husband, Tom Fletcher, and their three sons, Buzz, six, Buddy, four, and Max, two.
How would you describe your home?
With three young boys in it, chaotic! Tom and I bought the house when we were 21. It was a pristine show home full of lovely furniture and we felt like we were living in a hotel. But eventually we realised it wasn’t very ‘us’, so we turned it into a colourful, cosy home with nothing too precious inside for the kids to break!
How tidy is it?
Fairly. We try to clear all the toys away at the end of each day to make it feel a bit more under control, and once a week we blitz the whole house. But I always say to Tom, ‘There’s a massive difference between tidy and clean,’ because my cleaning goes a little further than his…
What are your kitchen cupboard must-haves?
Rice, pasta, beans, tinned tomatoes and cereal. I like doing a Ready Steady Cook-style thing where I’ll use up all the ingredients we have left before the next food shop. It’s always a surprise what ends up on the dinner table.
What would you hate to run out of?
Lavazza coffee. I’m drinking at least five cups a day and it’s getting me through.
What do you always have in your fridge?
Lots of milk (whole, almond and coconut), orange juice, eggs, butter, loads of veg and various cheeses.
What food can’t you live without?
Roast potatoes. It doesn’t matter what we’re having; chilli con carne or a curry, they’re always an appropriate side!
What’s your best time-saving tip?
I drink at least five cups of coffee a day
Freeze garlic and onions. They keep their flavour and it means you don’t have the faff of chopping them before each meal.
Who are your dream dinner party guests?
The Queen is top of my list; I’d love to be in her presence, listening to all her stories. Michelle Obama would be pretty amazing, too.
What did your parents teach you?
My dad taught me to work hard for my money. I started saving when I was very young, helping out at his cafe. My mum taught me to talk to everyone; she has this incredible ability to do it.
What advice will you hand down?
That it’s lovely to be able to buy yourself nice things, but too many and you’re not really cherishing the stuff you’ve worked for. And even if you don’t talk to everyone, a smile when you pass in the street goes a long way.
What’s the best bargain you’ve ever found?
It sounds mad, but cardboard boxes. Every time we order something, we keep them for the kids to draw on or turn into a car. With everything that’s happening with the planet, it feels good to give things another life.
What’s been your biggest extravagance?
My Phillipa Lepley wedding dress and a ridiculously expensive shrug I bought to go with it but ended up not wearing. I told myself I’d justify it by framing it, but it got lost on the big day. Eight years later, I’m still gutted.
What lifts you out of a bad mood?
Going for a run. It’s great for your mental health. Sometimes I can feel the pressure of trying to juggle everything and the guilt coming from every angle; then I run and suddenly feel in a much better place.
What’s your favourite household task?
Folding the laundry. The repetitiveness of it is very therapeutic.
What keeps you awake at night?
Everything that’s happening right now. I think about my kids and what their contribution to the world is going to be and how they’re going to tackle things.
What helps you stay calm?
Leaving my phone in another room and sitting on the sofa with my arms around the boys. Everything else kind of disappears and I realise this is why I wanted to be a mum.
What are your favourite home comforts?
My pyjamas – I spend a lot of time working in them at the moment. And if it’s after 10pm, a glass of wine!
Giovanna presents the podcast Happy Mum, Happy Baby, available from all podcast providers