Very glad you are back. I kept your blog in my bookmarks just in case you returned. I look forward to reading your posts. I am especially interested in what you have been reading, and I know that will lead to additions to my “to read’ list.
I so enjoyed your blog and it’s lovely to have you back again - I’m looking forward to what you have to share! I’m also an English teacher and feel the same desire to share my love of literature with young people - the exam system is always a frustration, but seeing my students learn and grow more confident in manipulating language - and reading perceptively is still a joy after over 30 years!!
Thank you so much Helen! Lovely to meet another English teacher, too - I am starting to find the joy again after a tricky first month - it's hard being new in a school, something I've not been for a very long time - but I had my first truly successful lesson yesterday that made think 'I can do this!'. Looking forward to the new adventures to come with my students! I hope you have had a good start to the year :)
Welcome to Substack from a long-time reader of your blog! I’ve also had my life changed by travel in the past year - that’s actually what I’m writing about here. Anyway, looking forward to reading your posts, here.
Thank you so much, Jodi! Travel really does give you a different perspective, doesn't it? I shall come and see what you're up to as well - I'm always looking for travel inspiration!
Wonderful to see you blogging again. The moment I heard of your substack on the podcast I signed up. Thrilled that you recently mention a book I love: Sybille Bedford A Visit to Don Otavio.
Hello Rachel - I’ve come straight over to find you here after hearing about it on the latest episode of Tea or Books! I so enjoyed your blog back in the day, and only found T or B through it and thoroughly enjoy it. I can totally relate to your disillusionment with teaching in the system, and am glad to hear that you have found a new way of being in it, if with it. Working with young people is inspiring in so many ways and yet so very hard in others. Looking forward to reading more from you here. Linda (in Tasmania)
Hi Linda! Thanks so much for this lovely comment, and for coming over to join me here! I appreciate you getting it - it's a tough old gig sometimes when you constantly feel like you're working against your natural inclinations, but I have to remember the kids are the bit I really love, and there's plenty of fun to be had with them every day. :)
Absolutely! Keeping them at the very centre of everything is the key. I’m sure that your students will appreciate you, and know that you are there with and for them.❤️
Hello. I’ve only just discovered you, via ‘tea or books?’ and I’m already glad that I have. I resonate with your thoughts of work and have very recently come to the same conclusions. I can’t wait to read more. Thanks for having me. Rebecca.
Hello! Thanks so much for listening to tea or books and for joining me over here! I hope your journey to a less stress free work life goes well and looking forward to having your company along the way :)
Welcome back, you have been missed. Good to read about things in London, where I used to live before I departed for the rural West Country. I read a lot, but very little fiction these days. It just does not engage me like it used to, hopefully your blog will get the fiction reading vibe back.
Thanks so much Avis - hope you're enjoying life down in the West Country - my favourite place outside of London! Hopefully I can tempt you to get back to some fiction. Thanks so much for reading :)
I hope this medium goes well for you! I have been thinking of starting a Substack but I wouldn't give up the blog for now. I do like the simplicity and direct connection with readers. Thanks for sharing what's been going on with you, and I look forward to your future posts.
Hi Lory - yes, it's a bit of an experiment, but I felt perhaps a new platform would encourage me to go in a new direction with the blog, and also give it the freshness that I need - as I started my blog over a decade ago it feels like going back to Wordpress is going back to an old me I no longer am. I'll see how I get on with it - I'm still familiarising myself with all of the features. Hopefully it'll prove to be a good space and will work for readers. Feedback welcome!
Very glad you are back. I kept your blog in my bookmarks just in case you returned. I look forward to reading your posts. I am especially interested in what you have been reading, and I know that will lead to additions to my “to read’ list.
Thank you so much Karen - I am so glad you waited for me. I'm looking forward to sharing my reading with you :)
Welcome back. I missed your blog with all its recommendations not just of books but the nooks and crannies of London
Thank you so much! I'm really looking forward to writing and connecting with readers again :) Thank you for waiting for me!
I so enjoyed your blog and it’s lovely to have you back again - I’m looking forward to what you have to share! I’m also an English teacher and feel the same desire to share my love of literature with young people - the exam system is always a frustration, but seeing my students learn and grow more confident in manipulating language - and reading perceptively is still a joy after over 30 years!!
Thank you so much Helen! Lovely to meet another English teacher, too - I am starting to find the joy again after a tricky first month - it's hard being new in a school, something I've not been for a very long time - but I had my first truly successful lesson yesterday that made think 'I can do this!'. Looking forward to the new adventures to come with my students! I hope you have had a good start to the year :)
Welcome to Substack from a long-time reader of your blog! I’ve also had my life changed by travel in the past year - that’s actually what I’m writing about here. Anyway, looking forward to reading your posts, here.
Thank you so much, Jodi! Travel really does give you a different perspective, doesn't it? I shall come and see what you're up to as well - I'm always looking for travel inspiration!
Wonderful to see you blogging again. The moment I heard of your substack on the podcast I signed up. Thrilled that you recently mention a book I love: Sybille Bedford A Visit to Don Otavio.
Hello Rachel - I’ve come straight over to find you here after hearing about it on the latest episode of Tea or Books! I so enjoyed your blog back in the day, and only found T or B through it and thoroughly enjoy it. I can totally relate to your disillusionment with teaching in the system, and am glad to hear that you have found a new way of being in it, if with it. Working with young people is inspiring in so many ways and yet so very hard in others. Looking forward to reading more from you here. Linda (in Tasmania)
Hi Linda! Thanks so much for this lovely comment, and for coming over to join me here! I appreciate you getting it - it's a tough old gig sometimes when you constantly feel like you're working against your natural inclinations, but I have to remember the kids are the bit I really love, and there's plenty of fun to be had with them every day. :)
Absolutely! Keeping them at the very centre of everything is the key. I’m sure that your students will appreciate you, and know that you are there with and for them.❤️
Hugs, my friend! I'm sorry it's been a hard few years. This sounds like a really promising new start, and looking forward to having more posts.
Hello. I’ve only just discovered you, via ‘tea or books?’ and I’m already glad that I have. I resonate with your thoughts of work and have very recently come to the same conclusions. I can’t wait to read more. Thanks for having me. Rebecca.
Hello! Thanks so much for listening to tea or books and for joining me over here! I hope your journey to a less stress free work life goes well and looking forward to having your company along the way :)
Lovely to see you back, Rachel. I've always admired your ability to reinvent yourself every few years - that takes courage!
Thank you so much Mary! I always think of it as perpetual restlessness, but reinvention sounds much better!
Welcome back, you have been missed. Good to read about things in London, where I used to live before I departed for the rural West Country. I read a lot, but very little fiction these days. It just does not engage me like it used to, hopefully your blog will get the fiction reading vibe back.
Thanks so much Avis - hope you're enjoying life down in the West Country - my favourite place outside of London! Hopefully I can tempt you to get back to some fiction. Thanks so much for reading :)
Good for you!
Thank you!
Good to have you back!
Thank you so much, Janet - thank you for waiting for me!
I hope this medium goes well for you! I have been thinking of starting a Substack but I wouldn't give up the blog for now. I do like the simplicity and direct connection with readers. Thanks for sharing what's been going on with you, and I look forward to your future posts.
Hi Lory - yes, it's a bit of an experiment, but I felt perhaps a new platform would encourage me to go in a new direction with the blog, and also give it the freshness that I need - as I started my blog over a decade ago it feels like going back to Wordpress is going back to an old me I no longer am. I'll see how I get on with it - I'm still familiarising myself with all of the features. Hopefully it'll prove to be a good space and will work for readers. Feedback welcome!