Keep life simple

IHAVE THIS PICTURE IN MY HEAD OF EASY SUMMER DAYS – I’M IN THE GARDEN, CHILLING OUT, READING AND ENJOYING A CHILLED GLASS OF ROSÉ. OR I’M DINING AL FRESCO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SHARING GOOD FOOD AND CONVERSATION.

I’M NOT ANSWERING EMAILS, SENDING A WHATSAPP MESSAGE OR CHECKING FACEBOOK – I’M ENJOYING THE REAL THINGS IN LIFE, NOT THE VIRTUAL.

IT’S FOR THIS REASON I LOVE OUR BONUS, The art of escapology (P145), ABOUT STEPPING OUT OF THE EVERYDAY. THERE ARE 15 BRILLIANT IDEAS FOR YOU TO TRY, TEST OR SIMPLY READ AND RELAX WITH. ENJOY!

OR PERHAPS NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK. DISCOVER THE JOY OF VOLUNTEERING ON P68 – FOUR WOMEN

SHARE THEIR STORIES ON HOW THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR SPARE TIME.

THIS MONTH’S INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN IS NOELLA GABRIEL OF ELEMIS, WHO I’VE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS (P80). HER PASSION FOR

HER BUSINESS AND HER DEEP KNOWLEDGE IS AMAZING AND INFECTIOUS. HER RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE IS “NOW GO LIVE LIFE EASILY”, A MANTRA I THINK WE SHOULD ALL ADOPT.

KATHY LETTE IS ANOTHER GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, SO I WAS PROUD THAT SHE CHOSE W&H TO BE INTERVIEWED IN ABOUT HER SON JULES, WHO HAS AUTISM (P44). KATHY IS WARM, FUNNY AND HONEST ABOUT LIVING WITH THE CONDITION, AND HAS A CLOSE AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JULES, WHICH IS WONDERFUL TO READ ABOUT. DID YOU KNOW IT’S 50 YEARS SINCE THE SUMMER OF LOVE? I LOVED READING OUR DEPUTY EDITOR EMMA JUSTICE’S ACCOUNT OF FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HER

MUM AND DAD TO SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS ALSO A HIPPIE, WEARING LONG DRESSES

AND FLOWERS IN MY HAIR – DEEP DOWN, I KNOW I’LL ALWAYS BE ONE AT HEART.

IT’S ALSO 20 YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES. I’VE MET MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE, BUT BEING INTRODUCED TO HER REALLY STANDS OUT. I WROTE TWO BOOKS ON HER UNIQUE STYLE, AND I TALK ABOUT MEETING HER IN OUR SPECIAL TRIBUTE ON P36.

WITH SO MANY INSPIRING WOMEN IN THIS ISSUE, I WAS DELIGHTED THAT NADIYA HUSSAIN AGREED TO BE OUR COVER STAR. SHE HAS, THROUGH SHEER TALENT AND DETERMINATION, BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. SHE WON Bake Off, MADE THE QUEEN’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CAKE AND HAS TWO NEW SHOWS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING. THAT’S WHAT YOU CALL THE FAST TRACK TO FAME! MEETING HER, I THOUGHT SHE WAS WARM, FRIENDLY AND QUIETLY CONFIDENT. BUT

THIS WASN’T ALWAYS THE CASE, AS SHE TELLS US ON P12 THAT SHE HAS HAD A LONG BATTLE WITH PANIC ATTACKS, WHICH MAKES ME ADMIRE HER EVEN MORE.

SO WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING THIS SUMMER, I HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO NOT ONLY READ W&H BUT ALSO TO ENJOY SOME OF LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES. HERE’S TO CHILLING OUT,

Take some time this summer to step out of the everyday and enjoy life’s simple pleasures”