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Product Description
Review
'Filled with practical advice ... the pleasure is in the reading and dreaming. A wonderful way to fill your precious 48 hours'
(Good Housekeeping )'Help is at hand with this guide which is crammed full of ideas to make weekends special'
(This England )'Glorious ideas for slowing down and reviving your weekends'
(Easy Living )'A charming look at how our weekends can be spent doing the things we really enjoy'
(House and Home )'Aptly named, this book offers enough inspiration to transform any weekend . . . Thompson's guide is sublime, a rich, diverse collection of ideas to reclaim the weekend'
(Good Book Guide )'Elspeth Thompson is a fine writer . . . and her perky call to enjoy homemade pleasures is a timely encouragement . . . it is endearingly and enviably optimistic' (BBC Country File Magazine )
'It's a hugely enjoyable read that should definitely get you doing more - and activities that don't centre around the TV, mobile, laptop....'
(Birmingham Mail )Product Description
For too many of us the weekend has become just another overcrowded couple of days dominated by duties, traffic jams, hassle and expense as we dash from supermarket to superstore catching up with the week's chores. But it doesn't have to be this way. Elspeth Thompson's original and inspiring book shows us how we can reclaim the weekend by re-charging our batteries and relationships through enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
From watching the sunset and the stars, making marmalade and writing proper letters to borrowing a dog, going to dance classes and using the internet creatively, she reminds us of the fun and satisfaction to be had from creative, social and relaxing pursuits. The Wonderful Weekend Book is packed with ideas that will help restore the balance in our lives, reconnect us to the seasons, and - quite literally - not cost the earth.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had high hopes for this book, it is the kind of thing I always go for; girly in a grown up way, a bit chilled, and I am afraid to say (especially now I'm writing this reveiw) a bit middle class! I purchased it as a little treat to myself - a treat about treats - to become part of my growing collection of recipe books, swatch books by the V&A and all the other countless ones about making your own shabby chic cushions...generally I can't get enough.
The first half of the book was lovely if not predictable - bubblebaths and resurecting high tea are not new suggestions. I really liked the suggestion of taking up letterwriting because its something I already do and I am already a stationary addict, everyone likes a bit of self congratulation! A passage about the link between gratitude and happiness was also genuinely warming food for thought. All in keeping with the books subtitle 'reclaiming lifes simple pleasures' - Lovely.
I soon became far less grateful to the author and also about my own access to said "simple pleasures" when it became apparent that making the most of your weekend involves among other things - making the right choice when buying your second residence (be it country cottage or urban crash pad), actually, you should make a few weekends away of it shopping around locations in a hired vintage car or kooky campervan, there are just so many fabulous country hotels (of course a real fire is a must). GOLLY YES LETS! That is of course if you're not spending the weekend in New York or Rome.
Don't get me wrong I love aspirational reading thats why I bought the book, but the author's tone, which she probably meant to be jolly and inclusive seemed to suggest these were not treats but Godgiven rights enjoyed by everyone. Elspeth's top tip for getting through the cleaning "Pay someone else to do it" made me feel more than a little bit out of place in the authors sociable world. Despite her allowance that if you can't afford to pay the minimum wage to some desperate pleb (I wonder how her cleaner spends her/his weekends?), you can always bribe your kids to do it for much less.
I really don't want to appear green or bitter, because really I'm not. I'm sure Elspeth works really hard monday to friday - like Carrie Bradshaw!
I think even aspirational reading has a glass ceiling in these economically testing times and I would have liked this book much more if the pleasures described within had been genuinely simple.
The first half of the book was lovely if not predictable - bubblebaths and resurecting high tea are not new suggestions. I really liked the suggestion of taking up letterwriting because its something I already do and I am already a stationary addict, everyone likes a bit of self congratulation! A passage about the link between gratitude and happiness was also genuinely warming food for thought. All in keeping with the books subtitle 'reclaiming lifes simple pleasures' - Lovely.
I soon became far less grateful to the author and also about my own access to said "simple pleasures" when it became apparent that making the most of your weekend involves among other things - making the right choice when buying your second residence (be it country cottage or urban crash pad), actually, you should make a few weekends away of it shopping around locations in a hired vintage car or kooky campervan, there are just so many fabulous country hotels (of course a real fire is a must). GOLLY YES LETS! That is of course if you're not spending the weekend in New York or Rome.
Don't get me wrong I love aspirational reading thats why I bought the book, but the author's tone, which she probably meant to be jolly and inclusive seemed to suggest these were not treats but Godgiven rights enjoyed by everyone. Elspeth's top tip for getting through the cleaning "Pay someone else to do it" made me feel more than a little bit out of place in the authors sociable world. Despite her allowance that if you can't afford to pay the minimum wage to some desperate pleb (I wonder how her cleaner spends her/his weekends?), you can always bribe your kids to do it for much less.
I really don't want to appear green or bitter, because really I'm not. I'm sure Elspeth works really hard monday to friday - like Carrie Bradshaw!
I think even aspirational reading has a glass ceiling in these economically testing times and I would have liked this book much more if the pleasures described within had been genuinely simple.
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Well I don't live in London either, not do I have a cleaner etc but I couldn't disagree more with that negative reviewer. Although I live in a very rural environment that doesn't mean this book doesn't apply to me. It's like a cornucopia of ideas for 'slow living' and these are universal. The idea is to make the weekend a time of enjoyment and creativity - not duty and spending. It's a much needed idea and one that is very timely - and very much of the zeitgeist. There are some wonderful recipes (great cheese pie!) and ideas for everyone - indeed if you have a bit of outside space then her advice on planting a herb garden etc is more useful than it would be to a flat dweller. If there's a message to this book it's 'appreciate the small things' and that surely is something to recommend. And she writes quite beautifully.
27 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Unlike the first review I found an abundance of interesting, simple and money free ideas in this book.
I can't afford a cleaner or second home and I don't live in London either but that is no reason not to buy this calm and well timed book. I found a hundred and one ideas for ways to spend my weekend, enjoying myself being creative with and without my children, far better than washing the school uniform. I am now going to teach my young daughter to knit, thanks Elspeth, and I long to make natural decorations at Easter inspired by the natural approach that this author advocates.
Don't be put off buying this book as it is crammed with ideas for all income households.
I can't afford a cleaner or second home and I don't live in London either but that is no reason not to buy this calm and well timed book. I found a hundred and one ideas for ways to spend my weekend, enjoying myself being creative with and without my children, far better than washing the school uniform. I am now going to teach my young daughter to knit, thanks Elspeth, and I long to make natural decorations at Easter inspired by the natural approach that this author advocates.
Don't be put off buying this book as it is crammed with ideas for all income households.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The wonderful weekend book
I am in the process of reading this book. It has some really fun ways of spending your weekend. And i think we all need some "US" time, and with our partners. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Terri
Great reminder of how life should be
This is a fantastic source of ideas to re-awaken those chore filled weekends and turn them into more interesting and satisfying times.
Published 11 months ago by S. Hall
What a waste of money!
You don't really need to buy this book; you know it already - make time for friends; have people for tea; bake a cake; go on picnics; make time for yourself; plant seeds; make... Read more
Published 15 months ago by johill
The Wonderful weekend book Reclaim Lifes simple pleasures
Fantastic book . Full of great simple ideas to do wiyh your family or on your own. I am always looking at it for ideas .
Published 16 months ago by woo
Socially exclusive!
There are some good suggestions about this book and not all the activities suggested cost money. However, if you're not in a position to benefit from the advice on choosing your... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. White
Wonderful comfort read
A wonderfully inspiring read about reclaiming your weekend. The Wonderful Weekend Book is packed full of suggestions for things to do at the weekend, and the layout allows you to... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Emma Cossey
Perfectly simple
Just when you think the world is gone mad, a little book to bring you back to basics and lots of other ideas to keep you occupied in a positive way and to remind you that the best... Read more
Published on 25 May 2010 by J. Gormley
Weekend read
I really enjoyed reading the book, lots of interesting things to do ... reminders of days when I was young and enjoyed "real" weekends with my parents, brother, cousins and the... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by Mandy Elaine Weston
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