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Imola's avatar

So many great inspirations here! I loved to read how à moment on one’s knees can bring the greatest creative opportunity! Very encouraging. And also, that it is never too late to open one’s heart to love and kindness. Thank you for a great first morning read!

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I agree!! And I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Imola!

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

I'm so pleased it spoke to you. We support each other.

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Imola's avatar

I believe that with my whole heart.

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Deirdre Lewis's avatar

I loved every word of this and the questions too! Learning these kinds of details about people makes life worth living!. I read Erica Jong too as a kid and it definitely sparked my curiosity and I just reread The Unbearable lightness of Being as well. And the pictures are great!

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Ooooh, I love that, Deirdre! And I'm so happy you enjoyed the interview!

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

All I can see when I look through those pictures is haircuts 😂

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Noha Beshir's avatar

So great to read Eleanor's thoughts. Also, and this is the nerdy Anglophile in me talking, but I love all the Englishy phrases! No one I know in Ottawa talks like this and it makes me feel like I'm in an episode of Downton Abbey 😅😅 (I mean this as the absolute highest compliment).

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I knooooow!! I feel the same, Noha!! So glad you enjoyed it!

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Ha! We laugh at Downton Abbey as this absurd pastiche of England. Just shows how hard it is to recognise one's self 😬😂

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Noha Beshir's avatar

That’s one possibility. The other possibility is that all British-isms are interchangeable to me so I think of Downton Abbey when I hear any of them, while you understand the nuance. Either way, it’s utterly delightful to me to read your British-isms 😂😂🥰🥰

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Karen Seashore's avatar

I love reading about people who start out fully armored, and learn how to shed it, bit by bit.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Me, too! Glad you enjoyed it, Karen!

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Thanks Karen. It truly has been laying down of arms and removing of armour.

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Ollie Redfern's avatar

What a great interview, and lovely to learn more about you Eleanor.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Ollie!

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Hi Ollie! and thanks.

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Lee Penman's avatar

Love these thoughtful and inspiring pieces.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

That makes me so happy, Lee!

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Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Thank you Lee!

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Emily Conway's avatar

Eleanor, I find myself in your clothes. What I mean is that I feel most myself in androgynous work wear. I love my insulated Carhart coveralls that I hike in during the winter. These kinds of clothes ground me, give me a sense of agency, because as you say, "they're me." Thank you Jane and Eleanor!

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Ooooh, yes, Carhartt coveralls! And clothing can be so so so grounding! Glad you enjoyed the interview, Emily!

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Emily Conway's avatar

They are!

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David Roberts's avatar

A few highlights from this interview with a favorite author of mine:

The Fifth Child! That was a tough read for me last year. So much pain. But I agree it is brilliant.

The cleaning power of ants is something I've never heard expressed before.

Eleanor's comfort with the natural and animal world. Very exotic to a city boy through and through.

thanks for this great interview

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

I share Eleanor's love of ants! I do the same thing at my house. Didn't realize anyone else did so! So glad you enjoyed the interview, David!

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David Roberts's avatar

I have to admit that we are very anti-insect inside our home. The exterminator comes once a week and the spotting of a crawling bug is treated as a major invasion.

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Jane Ratcliffe's avatar

Once a week! Wow! I do my best to never kill bugs. I have a couple of spiders currently sharing my home with me. Haha. Of course, when I lived in NYC with all the cockroaches that was a whole other thang!

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Penelope Rock's avatar

I love this interview, I don’t know why but it’s made my heart beat a little faster!

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