33 Comments
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Julia Wolfendale's avatar

Ahh focus! The thing that us natural enthusiasts need to keep us doing the things that matter as well as the things we got to just get done! How you getting on with the Five Ways to Focus book? ;)

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

I need to get back to it … I blame the end of year madness which seemed to start in October last year!!

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Julia Wolfendale's avatar

😂

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Hope you had a lovely Christmas and wishing you a happy new year as well. Looking forward to the permaculture and gardening posts in the new year!

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Thank you Sophie, I hope you had a lovely one too. I’m also looking forward to more permaculture & gardening, once I pull my finger out & socks up!!

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Sophie S.'s avatar

I love reading and watching videos about permaculture - but for some reason it’s always landed in the too hard basket for me. It’s one of those things I’d be keen to do “one day”.

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Bronwen Leigh's avatar

I’m definitely up for a simple Christmas - hope you’ve had a lovely day and today is as relaxing as it sounds 💚

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

It was very relaxing thank you - I hope yours was lovely too. Did you see your Mum?

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Bronwen Leigh's avatar

Mums been with us since 20th and I’m handing her back to my brother tomorrow! It’s been nice except I’ve had a really nasty cough and cold this whole week. Hoping for a quiet and relaxing new year ☺️

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

I’m sure she enjoyed spending time with you 💚

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Bronwen Leigh's avatar

Yes she does like company- it’s hard for her when she’s at home alone.

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

I bet, so it sounds like a success 🧡 except for you feeling like shit!

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Handing her back! That's a long while, but must be lovely for her to have somewhere to go to and not be alone all the time. Hope the cough & cold dissipate quickly and you can have a few relaxing days this week.

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Bronwen Leigh's avatar

Thank you. It was a longer time than usual to have her - I only wish I’d been well and could have taken her out places. It has been pretty boring for her I think. We’ve watched loads of films though. Looking forward to chilling out a bit more now though while I recover from this cough. 💚

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Lesley's avatar

You’re not alone. I could procrastinate for Scotland in the Olympics and walk a Gold. Easy. Have a wonderful Christmas day tomorrow and go easy on yourself 🥂🎄

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

You’d have stiff competition from me don’t forget!! Lovely to see you’ve started a publication 🧡

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Lesley's avatar

Thank you. I have zero idea what I’m doing and get very frustrated that I can’t edit the content from the app once it’s been published, but hey ho, we live and learn 😝

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Oh I know…so the app is great for reading, notes, commenting etc. consuming basically. Any writing / editing needs to be done via the dashboard so on the web browser - so I tend to write and publish on my laptop and read on my phone.

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Kim's avatar

You sound lost, Han. Grief takes time. Don't be too hard on yourself. ❤

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Grief is a complex beast, although these are not unfamiliar feelings, but I do feel more ‘found’ since moving to Orkney 🧡

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Kim's avatar

Merry Christmas, Han! 🙋‍♀️🎄🎄✨️

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

You too Kim 🎄

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Doc's avatar

And the kale looks wonderful! One of my favorite foods…

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Doc's avatar

Hannah, thanks for your rage about women. As a queer woman who is over 65 and is considered disposable in the US for those and several other reasons, there are times I find myself shaking with rage at how women are treated. And when we are treated well, there is the expectation of applause and praise by some. I’m also deeply grateful for many of the men I know who are not like that - my brother, nephews, friends. It is not a perfect world in so many ways, and at the same time, there is such beauty in it. Often your writing and pictures remind me of moments of beauty, whether it’s your dog seeking comfort in the storm or the memories you evoke when you write about Orkney.

You may not feel present on Substack, but your notes, even if brief, are frequently a highlight in my day. Because of the time difference, I often wake up to find one, and it gives me a better start to my day.

My Christmas this year will be a mix of solitude and family. I live on my brother and sister-in-law’s property, and all four of their adult kids are home right now and for at least 4 or 5 days, so I’ll do some things with them and also have some alone time. This afternoon they have a big Christmas Eve lunch with family, to which I am invited, and then we all play a Christmas trivia/Jeopardy game my niece does every year. Then they all go to church and when they come home they’ll come to my place for hot chocolate and to open their presents from me. The evening part is new this year, because all of us went in together on gifts for two of the kids, and I want to be there when they open them, especially as both were my idea. Normally, I leave them to open their presents as a family Christmas morning on their own, and then go up later for breakfast and our exchange of gifts. This way, the two group gifts happen when we can all be there.

I still have some cleaning to do, but this is a break for my coffee! ☕️ Then I have to make cheese grits as my contribution to lunch. Thank you, for what you share. Finding you on Substack has been one of the gifts of 2024.

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

There is a lot of beauty in the world and people 🧡 I think so many are blind to the injustice, I watched the film Hidden Figures yesterday and was astounded at how overlooked those women were. Some was overt but much of it was ingrained which is where we still sit with a lot of things now.

I love that my notes/posts often come out as you’re starting your day, that’s lovely.

Your Christmas sounds lovely, to be able to share the space but have your own space so you can go home to that solitude. I love playing games at Christmas / family get togethers. Erik and I always play trivial pursuit, I won again this year 🏆

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Amanda Llewellyn's avatar

That made me laugh Hannah. I noticed the upside down caravan yesterday. I then questioned whether a) it was the right way up before, or b) was it even there before the storm! You have answered my question!

Have a lovely Christmas!

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

I know! I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed it had flipped even though I walked right by it twice!! It’s gone now, which I’m a little bit sad for but the sheep seem to be pleased the fence has broken and they have more space to roam. Hope you had a lovely Christmas 🎄

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Izzy Moore's avatar

Have a lovely Christmas and stay cosy!

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Thank you Izzy, hope you had a good one.

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Christine's avatar

Have a wonderful Christmas Hannah with your family and friends in have a great time xx

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Thank you Christine, it was a lovely day. Hope you had a good one 🎄

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Christine's avatar

I had a great day plus enjoyed the peace and quiet tbh X just going to enjoy the same on new year's Day xx

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Hannah Swierstra's avatar

Us too!

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