Christmas wishes have a particular magic, whether they are made in letters sent up the chimney in a flurry of flames, stirring the Christmas cake, finding a sixpence in the pudding, or, in the folklore tradition, tying ribbons to the tree.
If you'd like to add something new to your own festive rituals,
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September 07, 2025
Are you ready for September's Birthday Bonanza?
Carpe Diem
In an essay on birthdays for The Gentlewoman, Sophie Hastings notes that the Ancient Romans were the first to celebrate the anniversaries of mere mortals - it was only gods and pharaohs before that - and that it was not until the 12th Century (!) that this applied to women as well as men - consider it a civic and feminist duty to celebrate yours and everyone e...
November 23, 2024
You Are What You Give... with Amy Merrick
I am thrilled to introduce our third guest in this season's You Are What You Give interviews, the floral magician and wordsmith Amy Merrick
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June 10, 2024
Father's Day
There's a fair chance I've shared this photo before; I don't have many of my dad and I, and this is one of my favourites. The life I have now is essentially my seven year-old-self's dream, and in this snap I'm not far off that age, scribbling in my auntie's garden in Somerset. We lost dad four years ago this summer but I'm so glad he got to see some of the things his love of art sparked for me; in his own life he never had the chance to pursue his creativity ...