It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it? I have a putative list of possible September Small things in my planner, sort of back ups in case I don’t stumble across one in every day life that I like better, and my idea for today was Rediscovering an Old Friend of a Book. Mind this: I wrote that title with no idea which Old Friend I would rediscover, just that it seemed like a good idea for something that would add joy to my life.

Then yesterday (4th) Becky Galambos posted in the Hygge Nook as her small thing that she had received a box from a friend who knew her really well.. including a copy of one of her favourite books, Noel Streatfeild’s Party Shoes. I’m not a Shoes books kind of girl: I never had them, never read them and wasn’t a natural ballerina in my youth, but the Streatfeild novel I did like, own and read as a child was Thursday’s Child. I had a Young Lion copy of the book, with a cover from the BBC TV series that was broadcast when I was only (get this!) four years old.

Set in turn of the century England, the story has a girl, Margaret Thursday, named Thursday because that was the day she was left on the Church steps with three of everything, best quality. I won’t go through the whole plot, just say that I had a packed suitcase under my bed ready to go for a good few years after the book. And I probably acted out the story with my dolls and stuffed animals as well.

My copy is, alas, lost in the mists of time, but thank goodness Thursday’s Child is available on Amazon and yesterday afternoon was a slow day at work. I downloaded it on to the computer, fetched another cup of tea, and retreated gently back into my childhood. I am now off to be a legger on a canal boat, join a circus and find out, eventually, who I really am. Truly, time spent with an old friend again.

How to Hygge the British Way is my gift to the world. I don’t get paid for writing it, I’m not in it for the kudos, financial rewards, to become an influencer, work with brands or otherwise make any money from the blog. That’s why there are no ads, and any products I mention and recommend have either been gifted to me or bought by me with my everyday wages or donations from supporters. Every book I review has been bought and read by me, unless stated otherwise.

I do get a couple of pennies each time someone buys from the Amazon links on my page, as an Amazon Affiliate, but otherwise if you’d like to support me, I like to give something back in return. That’s why I write books. It always feels good if you get a book back in return for some money. You can find a full list of my books at my Author’s Page on Amazon, but especially recommended for this time of year are:

Cosy Happy Hygge: Setting up a rhythm to life and rituals to enjoy it to make for a more balanced life that handles waves and storms better. Lent is a season of rituals and resets. The book has small and easy ways to make your life flow with grace and happiness, which lead to more hygge.

Happier: Probably my most personal book, it’s the story of how I used hygge and the little things in life to help boost my happiness. I still go back and reread to remind myself what I need to do to be a happy human. And it’s always the little things.

Is it too early to think ahead? My Christmas books are always available: Have Yourself a Happy Hygge Christmas is a good place to start, on how to make the season cosier, happier. Celebrating a Contagious Christmas was written during covid year, but has useful advice on celebrating when times are hard anyway and Enjoying a Self-Care Christmas is a short e-book on keeping Christmas simpler, easier and better for you, your waistline and your budget. It even includes 25+ suggestions for self-care activities over Christmas, as simple as sipping tea, keeping a list journal or lighting a candle. Bigger is not always better for Christmas.

I’m currently working on two book projects: I have a hankering to rewrite 50 Ways to Hygge the British Way, so it’s not available at the moment, but even dearer to my heart and my next stated aim is to finish and publish my next book, Simple Plus Cosy = Hygge. It will be about homemaking and how the home we create shapes the hygge we have. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of summer/autumn/winter.

If you’d like to support me, but don’t want to buy a book, I have a Paypal.Me account as Hygge Jem. Every little helps, so even a few pence goes towards the books, goods and courses I use and recommend on the site. I’m grateful for every little bit that brings me closer to my dream of full-time writing, and I know I couldn’t still be writing if it weren’t for the support of many readers and friends out there. Thank you all for every little bit of support, emotional, physical and financial, you give me.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it or save it so others can enjoy reading, thinking about and living hygge as well.

The photo between post and promotions is by Arno Smit on Unsplash. I wish I had a garden shed like this one! I chose it because I love the colours of the windowframes, the tantalisingly inviting open door and the comfy chair within. Perfect spot for a cup of tea and a good book. And the header today is the audiobook cover of Thursday’s Child.