Notes of Cheer - September

New ideas, new hobbies and the joy of a vintage cardboard box.

Hello - how are you? Very well I hope.

Welcome to my September newsletter where nobody knows what season it is anymore and we’re all living in a dual-universe of high excitement about new jumpers, while madly washing cumbersome finds from the back of the wardrobe or it will be another six months before they can dry on the line.

Several of my neighbours have been barbequeing with the desperate air of a mayfly looking at its wristwatch, and my dog has superglued herself to the posh lounger and is refusing to get off in case the winter covers go on.

Ah, September, you toy with us!

Pearce the Younger on high alert for signs of The Last BBQ of the Year

At the same time it feels like a time to start things - nice things - in a positive way rather than in January when there’s always a slight pressure to turn over a new and self-improving leaf. If you start things in September (a) there’s absolutely no need to succeed and (b) as a result there’s a good chance you might actually come up with something quite brilliant by Christmas. I like that.

Currently, I have tons of plans which range from covering all my hardbacks in lovely paper, to starting a watercolour journal and making my own clothes. Dream big, kids. I’m keen on all of these, but my favourite thing is that every time I consider taking up A New Fad, three seconds into the idea I begin plans for a lovely Etsy shop where I will start my own business to widespread acclaim and personal triumph.

Last time I took up sewing, after two evening classes where we did straight lines and wrestled with the button-hole on a bag, I’d come up with an exciting International Tote Bag Marketing Strategy and Wartime Novel Spin-off Plan. This I talked through with a friend when we were out walking our dogs.

‘Powerful,’ she said, when I came to the end. (We’d walked about five miles by now).

‘Thank you,’ I replied. ‘I’ll work up some stock first. Handmade, artisan - all that. I’m thinking of a brand extention range featuring The Emmy Bag and The Bunty Bag, and I’m going to recycle old horse rugs for a waterproof one called The Mr Collins.’

At this point there was what I’d like to think of as an impressed silence, so very much encouraged, I continued.

‘I think they’ll go down a storm and I’ve already got two old rugs in the shed even though they do need a bit of a wash.’

‘Crikey,’ replied my friend. ‘I don’t think I know of any writers who’ve done this before.’

‘Exactly,’ I said.

‘Hmm. Impressive.’ She reached into her non-Mr Collins (and therefore not very good) dog walking bag for a packet of Polos. ‘So, er, how many bags have you actually made so far?’

‘One.’

Reader, that was 2019. Today my TBI (Tote Bag Inventory) stands at, er, one.

A cautious start, I admit.

Groundbreaking work. I should also tell you that this is photo no. 693 of the one item.

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted. I’m adding a comment button right here so I can guage PBA (Potential Bag Appetite). All ideas welcome. If you’ve read the books I can tell you that I’m mulling over The Harold which will be huge, resiliant and rather adorable. With pockets. Don’t tell Hermès. It will do in their noggins.

Quick public service note: this is a long email so if it hasn’t all come through on email, do click on the title above to read it online.

Onwards!

Don’t you love old fountain pens? I do. Here are some of mine from the 1940s/50s. Imagine the sorts of things they have written and signed …

On The Book Front

Dear Miss Lake is out everywhere that it should be, or otherwise is on the way which is lovely, and I’ve nearly come to the end of spreading the word until next year when the paperback comes out.

Thank you so much if you have left a review anywhere for the book. If you haven’t yet but liked it, I’d love it if you might as it makes the robots think I’m a winner. I know - they are every author’s master now.

Meanwhile, I have some cracking events coming up in the UK if they’re handy for you:

7pm Saturday 27 September: Blue Bear Bookshop, Hampshire. I’ll be interviewing best selling author and excellent woman Milly Johnson about her latest novel Same Time Next Week, although Milly says she reckons we’ll just chat about anything people want us to talk about. I really like interviewing people so either way it will be a lark

Then at 2pm on Saturday 1 November, Milly and I will be at Yate Library in South Gloucestershire nattering about both our books. You get free coffee and cake too so that’s worth going for on its own.

And of course there’s my online masterclass with The Arvon Foundation on Tuesday 11 November (7pm GMT) which you can join from anywhere in the world and space stations* too. I’m really excited about this one, so do have a look.

*I have made the space stations part up.

New Ideas

Nice new stationery from Choosing Keeping.

With Dear Miss Lake bringing the series to an end, I’m now working on the next book. I’m really excited about it, although that’s what all authors say even if they’re also sobbing hysterically and mainlining chocolate Hobnobs at their desk. You don’t always hear people talking about the challenge of leaving made up people behind, but between you and me, I’ve actually been working hard to empty my head of Emmy and Bunty. It turned out my old friends have not been easy to forget, and oddly, I hadn’t seen that coming.

I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise as I’ve been living in Emmy’s world for four novels and thirteen years. It feels slightly like turfing out a flatmate you’ve grown up with, even though you all know it’s time for you to grow up and get your own places. The way to do it (or at least the only way I can do it) is to put in the hours with the new guys. Agatha Christie is quoted as saying she had a lot of her best ideas while doing the washing-up and I think that’s spot on, as doing menial things away from the screen frees up your mind.

So, I’ve been getting to know new characters while walking the dog. I’ve always found that a good time to think. Sometimes I dictate some dialogue or ideas which you can kind of pass off as you speaking with someone real on the phone rather than looking like you’re just talking to yourself. Mind you, when I was writing Dear Mrs Bird I once ended up in the middle of a forest repeatedly shrieking, ‘CAFÉ DE PARIS, CAFÉ DE PARIS’ as my phone cheerfully typed up, ‘CATHY DUPREE, CATHY DUPREE’ over and over again. That was a low.

But the good news is that the new people are coming to life, and it is exciting. I’m doing loads of research too which is the best kind of discovering. So we’ll see. I’ll keep you posted, of course.

Top Reads Corner

Onto other books and this month I’ve been digging into the C20th novels list as recommended by readers of this newsletter, and you’ve come up with cracking stuff:

Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker

This was a great nudge as I’ve had the 2009 Bloomsbury edition of Miss Hargreaves sitting on my shelves for at least ten years, but for some reason hadn’t read it.

Well! Do you know, it’s not what I thought it would be.

I read that Miss H was played by Margaret Rutherford (LEGEND OBVS) in the theatre and tv adaptations and assumed it would be a big old lark. Well, sort of, but there’s more. First published in 1940, a young man (Norman Huntley) and his friend make up an imaginary eccentric old lady as a joke, going so far as to posting ‘her’ a letter. When she turns up and is exactly as they had described (ie not easy to love), Norman’s life gets very complicated and he doesn’t like it at all.

There are all sorts of japes and twists, and I definitely wanted to know how it would turn out. I was also very much rooting for Miss H for much of it as it’s not her fault when she’s ghastly as that’s how she was made by Norman. The men in the novel run everything (and don’t appreciate being challenged) and I rather wanted to wade in and have a word with some of them. Which is always a good sign that a book has been worthwhile.

Anyway, it’s a good read and would be an excellent book group pick due to the fact that arguably (esp. reading it in 2025) it’s far more controversial than it looks and I’m sure was when it first came out. Or maybe that’s because I’m closer to Miss Hargeaves’ age, than Norman’s. Hmmm. I wonder.

If you’ve read it, do let me know what you think. I’d love to hear your take and share mine properly (ie with full-on spoilers).

Nothing to Report and Somewhere in England by Carola Oman

Onto two lovely novels by Carola Oman, one of which again I’ve had for a while. Social comedies written and set just before and during WW2, both chock-a-block with village conundrums and hoo-hahs. 100% up my street. (I love the covers by Dean Street Press too).

Nothing to Report follows Mary Morrison, an excellent forty-ish spinster who remains a bastion of calm despite no end of chaos breaking out around her. Somewhere in England is the sequel, where the local big country house is now a wartime hospital and (almost) everyone is doing their bit.

I love novels like this - loads of characters deftly drawn, class clashes, family and romantic misunderstandings, and (in Somewhere in England) the bonus of a garden fête. Gorgeous. Oh, and SIE also has one of the greatest dog names in the history of literature.

A bold claim I know, but if a bull-terrier called Flying-Officer Beetroot doesn’t make you want to rush out and buy this novel then I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do for us.

Do you know, as I write this, I think Somewhere in England is one of my most favourite books in ages. (You need to read Nothing to Report first though to be fully in the know and part of what I’ve decided is the in crowd like me). A real joy. And for all its perkiness, it doesn’t shy away from the impact of war. I had a tear in my eye at one point. Perfect.

My only sadness (although it is a very great sadness) is that Carola Oman did not write more of the series. I wonder why? If someone could please pick up the mantle and continue it, I will gladly buy anything you write. Thank you.

Right. Now onto…

Vintage Enthusiasm of the Month

Where do you stand on cardboardboxes? Up until now I’ve not held a strong view. But I saw this at a brocante and even though the Pearce & Sons on the box (who are still going strong I believe) have absolutely nothing to do with our lot, of course it jumped out at me. After all, who doesn’t like to see their name on an old box interesting historical artefact?

The bit I like best is actually in the corner, where someone has written ODDMENTS OF COLOURED SILKS FROM 71 HIGH STREET, WITNEY, and in the other one, BARTLETT (written rather politely in brackets).

Don’t you just want to know more? Blimey, I do. I wonder what was in the box to start with? It’s too big for jewellery so perhaps a christening mug, or tankard engraved with ‘everso well done’ over something. And wouldn’t it blow the owner’s mind to imagine that a hundred or so years later something would exist that would mean their oddments box could be seen all over the world?

One of these days I really am going to have to write a timetravel novel! 🙂

Anyway. I just thought I’d show you.

Right then.

Lastly, here’s a quick round up of nice things I’ve been seeing/doing/watching/getting inspired by, aka …

Where Things Are Mostly Cheerful

Artist Lucia Leyfield’s The Ink Pad on Substack is full of her beautiful sketchbooks and she has loads of online workshops here.

I spent a lovely morning at the sublime Lower Norton Flower Farm in Hampshire (look at their dahlias and drying flowers!) on one of garden designer Nicola Baldwin’s nature inspired art workshops. Nicola is on Substack here and I’m hoping she will be posting more of her nature writing (I did ask!) so give her a follow.

Meanwhile, I’ve gone mad for book artist Igo Agassi’s YouTube tutorials, especially 3 Easy Ways to Cover School Books. He’s brilliant. And in a world going insane, they are the most comforting videos. If you’re a stationery fan (what am I saying - WHO ISN’T?) then see also how to Make an Envelope with a Twist. Can you imagine receiving one? It’s all a joyful tonic.

To go in your beautiful envelope, I love Candlestick Press’s ‘Instead of a card’ pamphlets. From Ten Poems about Libraries to Twelve Poems about Chickens they hardly cost more than a card and are really special. I was sent one and I love it.

Dopamine time: Do watch this reel of two Valais blacknose sheep being happy. Blub! And this is from one of my favourite Insta accounts which will make you question all of your own life choices and put in a bid for a smallholding.

Finally, on the telly, it’s officially Comfort Viewing Season isn’t it? Bake Off is back (is it me or is it really hard this year?) while Sewing Bee is coming to an end (so obvs I’ll apply for 2026 re my Tote Empire). The Strictly build up has started and I can’t wait for La Voix who was my favourite on Drag Race UK Season 6. Surely Liza will make an appearance in Musicals Week? This makes me roar.

Well, that’s all until next month. Thank you for reading. Do let me know your thoughts on any of the vital topics discussed above, and do tell me what you’d like to hear more/less of, and what you’re reading or think I might enjoy too. It’s lovely to hear from you.

Until next time.
AJx

PS: Please give this post a Like if it’s up your street or even restack it so that Substack knows I’m doing my bit! Thank you!