Hello lovely folk!
How are you today?
I’m writing this from Pembrokeshire in Wales where we’ve just arrived for a family holiday. This place makes my heart sing – I’m a very happy being right now!
We’ve had a great week of play and discovery.
Iris’ beach school started back this week. More on this to follow.
I finished off the contents for issue 125 – it’ll be out next month. I can’t wait to send you a copy. It’s got so much joy and positivity inside!
Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:
Reading
I’ve not been nearly as prolific on the reading front this week. I finished The Artist by Lucy Steeds. It’s brilliant; rich and atmospheric. Set in 1920s Provence, it's Lucy's first novel and draws together themes of art, ambition, and female agency. The story follows Joseph Adelaide, a young English journalist who arrives at the secluded farmhouse of reclusive painter Edouard Tartuffe, only to discover he was invited not by the artist, but by Tartuffe's niece, Ettie. As Joseph becomes entangled in the household's dynamics, he uncovers layers of mystery surrounding Ettie's suppressed artistic aspirations and the family's complex past. Delicious! Find Lucy on Instagram at @lucysteeds.
Also reading WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals That Made History by Ben Lerwill and Sarah Walsh with Iris – this is a joyful celebration of courageous animals from around the world, who’ve made a difference, or done something amazing. Iris loves choosing an animal from the pictoral index at the back and then we read and talk about the animal.
We’ve met Pickles the dog, who found the stolen World Cup trophy; Ning Nong, the elephant who carried a young girl to safety during the 2004 tsunami in Thailand and Cher Ami, the heroic pigeon who saved hundreds of lives during World War I. Each tale is accompanied by vibrant illustrations. Other titles in the series are HerStory (we've just returned this to the library, it's fantastic!) and YouthQuake (now on Iris' birthday list).
Reading a book together has become a lovely morning ritual for us. She climbs into bed around 6:30am and snuggles in for a read and a chat. It’s a lovely, cosy connective time before we begin our days.
Going to Beach School
Iris, not me. This is a drop-off session run by the brilliant Bee in the Woods, for home educated children. They spend time rockpooling (discovering creatures like crabs, starfish, and anemones, and once a seal!), beachcombing, storytelling and lots of free play – digging, jumping the waves and playing their imaginary games.
Learning through play on the beach brings so much joy. I was intrigued by how much of an impact these sessions have on Iris and did a bit of research and thought I’d share some of the benefits here – the joy of blending learning, wellbeing, and nature in a rocky, splashy setting!
