I thought you were moving house? You look far too produced these days. I’m so disappointed that you’ve put make up on. Your life looks fake and like an advert.

I thought I’d address a few of the outraged comments I received on my Instagram account over the last few days.  I have more space to do it here but it is probably fruitless as I doubt the real cross patches will bother to read more from me.  However, it has been bothering me - so I will answer them - even if it’s only helpful to restore order in my own mind.

I’ve had a lot of people asking why we haven’t moved house when we said we were going to.  Well, if you’ve ever tried selling or buying a house - you’ll probably know the answer.  It is not a simple process.  It is not a quick process.  It is also not an easy process.  It is hard.  It hurts.  It takes much longer than you think.  We have found the perfect family - or they found us - who want to take on our beautiful Woodley and so things are moving forward. This is wonderful for us.  It really matters.

So… We ARE moving house but it doesn’t happen overnight. We are endlessly jumping through all the hoops that are necessary to get to where we need to be.

Why am I wearing makeup and trying so hard?  This was a weird one.  Am I really being shamed for putting on a little bit of mascara and some tinted moisturiser?  When I’m 20 weeks pregnant?  By other women?

I know I’m normally make up free and very lazy - definitely not best turned out for any category but… come on. I literally had the very bare minimum of make up on and a crumpled dress (I had also brushed my hair, Granny will be proud!).  I hardly think it’s fair to attack me for dolling myself up.  I feel like shit, all the time.  I was trying to make myself more presentable for my children and my husband.

Then the comments about over production.  It is either me or Toby home-filming on an old iphone.  I am flattered you think it’s a professional job but it really, truly it is not.

As for my life being an advert.  We had our Iggywick blankets out as we were having a picnic and I wanted to put one on Dolos to take a picture for our website.  The rugs are new and I love them.  I have been using them all the time so I wanted to try and take pictures of them being loved and used.  I don’t feel like I should have to apologise for that.  We all need to work at the moment.  To keep the show on the road.  And we have a team of wonderful saddlers, weavers, mills, farmers etc etc and every time we sell something it helps THEM to put bread on the table too.

For the most part, I love sharing (the very bare minimum- about 25 seconds of a busy week normally) snippets of my life with you.  We get such happy, positive, dare I even say - life affirming comments from lovely people, every day.  I am so glad that we can bring respite to tough times.  However silly and futile it may seem - we seem to actually have an impact.  And I am so proud of that.

It does makes me question and doubt everything though when people attack me so unnecessarily.  Haven’t they got better things to do with their time?  I have NEVER attacked someone on social media.  I find it absolutely mind boggling that people have the time, the inclination and the energy to come at me for these things.

I am really busy.  I’m in the editing process for book II - and although it’s hard work, I am loving it and I’ve immersed myself into Sage’s world again so easily and naturally.  But I have also got another entire book to complete.  We are visiting lovely independent bookshops as my first book is being released in four weeks in the UK and then shortly afterwards in America and Canada.  I have got midwife and hospital appointments(all going really well so far 🤞🏻♥️).  Three boys to wrangle.  The animals.  We are moving house.  I am doing press pieces (which include terrifying photo shoots) for very exciting publications, (what a privilege but being fairly pregnant now - it’s not easy).  I am so grateful for everything that’s going on.  Deeply.  I know how lucky I am.

But, I am exhausted.  And hormonal.  And I feel quite furious about having to address this.

Please take a moment next time you are about to write something nasty or spiteful.  It does make an impression.  And not a good one.

All you other beautiful radiators, keep on shining your light.  We really need it in this world at the moment.  ☀️ 🔦 💛🙏🏼