Happy birthday 🥳 (my first born leaves the teenage years tomorrow somehow!)
I love how lyrical your writing is Jo. It often feels like a long slow breath out reading your posts and they always leave the world a bit more detailed for me.
One of the things I love about Sheffield is that wherever you are industry and nature will be in conversation. I live on the side of the Don Valley. The Forgemasters drop hammer keeps time on still nights and this small terrace house has hosted many families in its long life. There are also trees and birds and flowers and all types of plants to be found here too. In someways I’m spoiled I think, growing up in such as industrial city but always expecting plenty of green space too, whatever the postcode. It’s when I visit other places I realise not everyone is so lucky.
I’m looking forward to lots more excellent words and thoughts and pictures to be inspired by in 2026 (- no pressure 😁)
I'm not sure if Substack posted my reply to this lovely comment or whether it's just gone astray temporarily. I really appreciate your words, Fiona - thank you. And I especially love the idea of nature and industry being in conversation in Sheffield. You are absolutely right, of course and I shall be thinking a lot about this over the coming year.
Oh what a writer you are! And friend! This landed with me today just when I needed it. I’ve been experiencing a dreadful bout of my insomnia - worsened by not being able to get Trump’s USA and my friends there out of my head. But my New Year’s resolution to try to remain calm and steady and to daily find the magic in the outside world is part of my hoped for cure. Shimmer will be in there too. Thank you.
Oh Sally thank you for being such a marvellously encouraging friend. I really hope the insomnia eases soon - it's the absolute pits. I trust that beautiful Gillfield Wood will be a balm to you xx
So much to feast on here...I wanted to stay with the beautiful images you start with. You have shared so much insight over the past year and have faithfully witnessed beauty. Thank you.
Thank you Joanne. I love the understanding now of shimmer and as always the memories you evoke. For me, the beauty of Sheffield lies in the many parks and gardens. I recognise the gift of living on the Moray Coast for 8 years - it was just as you described the N of 🏴 - one of my very happy places - and here we are 🇦🇺 with yet more land to explore - the Bush and National Forests are wild - I am so very thankful to still live by the sea now too. Since being a child the light on the sea has drawn me to it and being in it is pure joy 🤩
Thank you for this lovely comment, Sue. Deborah Bird Rose, who has been such an inspiration to me was of course an Australian and her writing on Australian wildlife is so incredibly beautiful and shows such a deep understanding of the ecosystems there.
Happy birthday 🥳 (my first born leaves the teenage years tomorrow somehow!)
I love how lyrical your writing is Jo. It often feels like a long slow breath out reading your posts and they always leave the world a bit more detailed for me.
One of the things I love about Sheffield is that wherever you are industry and nature will be in conversation. I live on the side of the Don Valley. The Forgemasters drop hammer keeps time on still nights and this small terrace house has hosted many families in its long life. There are also trees and birds and flowers and all types of plants to be found here too. In someways I’m spoiled I think, growing up in such as industrial city but always expecting plenty of green space too, whatever the postcode. It’s when I visit other places I realise not everyone is so lucky.
I’m looking forward to lots more excellent words and thoughts and pictures to be inspired by in 2026 (- no pressure 😁)
I'm not sure if Substack posted my reply to this lovely comment or whether it's just gone astray temporarily. I really appreciate your words, Fiona - thank you. And I especially love the idea of nature and industry being in conversation in Sheffield. You are absolutely right, of course and I shall be thinking a lot about this over the coming year.
Oh what a writer you are! And friend! This landed with me today just when I needed it. I’ve been experiencing a dreadful bout of my insomnia - worsened by not being able to get Trump’s USA and my friends there out of my head. But my New Year’s resolution to try to remain calm and steady and to daily find the magic in the outside world is part of my hoped for cure. Shimmer will be in there too. Thank you.
Oh Sally thank you for being such a marvellously encouraging friend. I really hope the insomnia eases soon - it's the absolute pits. I trust that beautiful Gillfield Wood will be a balm to you xx
Happy birthday Wreckage & Shimmer! So glad this newsletter exists and look forward to more deep diving this year x
Thank you, lovely Finn!
So much to feast on here...I wanted to stay with the beautiful images you start with. You have shared so much insight over the past year and have faithfully witnessed beauty. Thank you.
Thank you for this lovely comment, Catherine. I have very much appreciated travelling with you this past year.
Happy Birthday, Jo. Keep going. Its very good.
Thanks, Paul - this means a lot coming from you.
Happy first birthday, Jo! It's my teenager's birthday today too, so cake all round! 🎂 looking forward to hearing what you have in store next 😀
Oh how lovely - happy birthday to your teen!
Thank you. Your posts are inspiring.
Thank you so much, Sara
Happy birthday! I love the title of your substack, Joanna. Looking forward to reading more in 2026 x
Thank you, Kate!
Happy birthday to one of my favourite reads! Here's to another year of looking for the shimmer <3
Thank you so much, Meg x
Thank you Joanne. I love the understanding now of shimmer and as always the memories you evoke. For me, the beauty of Sheffield lies in the many parks and gardens. I recognise the gift of living on the Moray Coast for 8 years - it was just as you described the N of 🏴 - one of my very happy places - and here we are 🇦🇺 with yet more land to explore - the Bush and National Forests are wild - I am so very thankful to still live by the sea now too. Since being a child the light on the sea has drawn me to it and being in it is pure joy 🤩
Thank you for this lovely comment, Sue. Deborah Bird Rose, who has been such an inspiration to me was of course an Australian and her writing on Australian wildlife is so incredibly beautiful and shows such a deep understanding of the ecosystems there.
Ooooo. Thank you. I shall certainly look her up. 👍🤗