On Sunday, I pressed 'publish' on my first ever newsletter. I thought I'd share the first one here too - if you'd like to be on the list for a little Letter from me each week, you can sign up here. No spam, no hard sell, just thinking-out-loud, a little love, a little silliness, going out into the world. I'd love to have you join.

Subject: Hello!

When I was younger, at boarding school, each Sunday was letter writing day.

After chapel, before lunch, we all had to sit in the common room and write letters. Letters to parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, scrawled out longhand and mailed off to the four corners of the globe. As tiresome as I found the routine at times back then, the discipline of Sunday letters has stuck with me and often it's the day where I find myself putting pen to paper to write a card, a greeting or a hello.

When I thought about setting up a newsletter, then, it made sense that Sunday would be the day to do it. Mondays are too busy, Fridays too festive, Saturdays too social and the rest of the week a bit of a blur, to be honest! As we move forward I'm sure this little newsletter will grow and change and morph into something all its very own, but for now I'm just excited to have you all along for the ride.

As I type this it's an inky-dark November evening here in London. Outside the temperature has dropped and the last few fireworks of the season are being set off by the good denizens of Stratford and Hackney. Here in my study all is calm and quiet, bar the occasional purr-snores emanating from Poppet and Leela, who are both snoozing in the corner (Fry has repaired elsewhere after bravely 'saving' me from the printer a moment ago. Hero). I love having this little space - a little haven from the world.

A world which can seem more than a little fraught at times. The next week is going to be pretty much dominated by one story, I think. Clinton vs Trump. The big showdown. I'm not sure how it'll play out, but whatever happens I think it'll be nasty right down to the wire. I've never seen a fight so vicious. Or so long - it feels like this presidential campaign kicked off in 1995!

I'll sign off for now, as dinner and an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition call my name. More to come; I'm looking forward to going on this journey with you all!

Best wishes,

Claire

This week I have been reading Hold Back The Stars; listening to Big Day In A Small Town; and watching The Apprentice  (so hooked!). I've also been enjoying candles in the dark nights, picking up catalogues for Christmas gift ideas, and partying at a Silent Disco in the loading bay of The Royal Albert Hall. Dressed as a nun.

The week ahead contains fun at the World Travel Market exhibition, steak at an Argentinian hotspot, time with friends, volunteering, and ten pin bowling. All on top of the usual fun. Have a great week, all!