Me: Harriet’s awfully serious this morning.
Nell: She’s worried about you.
Me: About me?
Nell: Yes. We had an extremely serious discussion at Morning Thoughts.
Me: About me?
Nell: Yes. And the cost of living.
Me: Oh dear.
Nell: We heard you talking to Alice and Chris yesterday on FaceTime so we know how worried they are about you.
Me: You weren’t supposed to hear that.
Nell: We need to find ways of earning you some money.
Me: I know we do.
Nell: You write a story every day and you’ve been doing it for four years now.
Me: I know I have.
Nell: Every single day. Come rain or shine or Covid you write.
Me: I love it and I love my audience.
Nell: Well, it’s time you asked your audience for help.
Me: I don’t want to do that.
Nell: They may want to help. They care about you too, you know.
Me: If I could just afford to keep writing, Nell. I would be so happy.
Nell: We need to find a way for people to support you if they want to. You have been doing this for such a long time with no financial help at all.
Me: People support me with their kind words.
Nell: I’m afraid kind words won’t pay the bills or keep us in biscuits.
Me: No. I know they won’t.
Nell: So just ask them if they have any ideas of ways in which you could start earning a little from your writing.
Me: Okay.
Nell: Give them a chance to help.
Me: I hate to talk about money.
Nell: They will understand. We are one big family. Don’t forget that.
Me: Yes.
Nell: And your family is worried about how you are going to cope.
Me: Yes. You’re right. Sorry.
I would be delighted to pay a subscription fee. Nell’s calm good nature in the face of crisis has been a help as I navigate life since my husband died.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending love and thank you. X