TOWN COUNTRY

Spring puts Kathy and Katie in the mood to tackle their to-do lists

KATHY LETTE

The comedian and author loves city life and has lived in London for over 30 years

‘I’m sorry to report I’m as ignorant as ever’

Every spring I contract Listeria – a desperate urge to

KATIE FFORDE The bestselling author lives in the Cotswolds and

is a country girl at heart

‘I’m not satisfied with just one list’

I love a list. Maybe it’s because I’m a very untidy person who constantly worries about forgetting things and needs rewards for small tasks accomplished, but writing things down makes me feel in control.

The trick with a to-do list is to put small things on it. Starting with ‘Brush teeth, get dressed’ – the things you are almost bound to do – means you get something crossed off. Of course you do have to put the big things on there too, but

garden’. Instead put ‘Weed that little corner by the garage’,

I always put ‘Write 1,000 words’, unless I’m between books. I’ve never yet descended to writing ‘Eat chocolate’ on my list, although chocolate may well go on a shopping list.

The ‘Lost List’ rarely gets much crossed off it although referring to my current list, I’m not doing too badly apart from those shoes that were comfy and a bit glam and have disappeared off the face of the earth.

I have packing lists on my computer. The list for Scotland might well have ‘hot-water bottle’ on it along with the knickers and socks, but my packing list for France will have ‘adaptors’ on it but no hot-water bottle (sometimes a mistake).

The best list is the ‘Worry List’. This one

usually stopped worrying about everything on it. I discover I haven’t offended that person, column’. It also has ‘Get dressed’ and ‘Write 1,000 words’. I’d better get on with one of

those so I can cross something off. I’ll

✣ A Springtime Affair by

Katie Fforde (£8.99, PB, Arrow) is out now. @katiefforde