30 Comments

“we slapped thighs (our own; not each other’s)”

Top shelf comedy, this. I had hard time choking back the guffaw (the family’s asleep and I’m reading in bed).

Also, what a bargain this piece was. Like, three stories for the price of one? In this economy? You must be operating in the red.

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My goodness, this is excellent ... smile out loud, super interesting, revelatory - yeah, just happen to have swum in Baikal ... very cool ... and the Cadair Idris lake, was it Cregennan? JoJo is a keen wild swimmer (cold water dipper, lake swimmer ... I don't know the proper name these days without upsetting someone in the fraternity!). Love the story about the flower farmer ... brilliantly told. Lovely stuff, thank you.

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This was great.

I also like spiders and wild swimming (amongst other things). I also like to examine why I’m scared of the things I’m scared of (of which there are many) - and even though I don’t have any solid answers I have some ideas... 🤔

Thanks :)

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This is hilarious, I needed it. Thank you.

I used to wild swim in some of our rivers in Kent, but wouldn't do it now... I felt so sorry for (laughed directly at) your poor, be-wadered colleague standing solo, sans protest. Called off due to rain... smdh, the French wouldn't let a little weather get in the way of a protest.

I sincerely hope you get an invite to SFFHF's next dinner party.

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Absolutely sumptuous descriptions of water and spiders!

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Jul 25·edited Jul 25Liked by Jill

Brilliant and fun. I loved it. On one very important issue, I'm firmly in Joel's camp. All about mammals. Even fish.

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So great, Jill! I love the drawing - that's one biiiiiig spider!

I'm chief spider-wrangler in this house - Jim and Joel have an aversion in common. I have rather a soft spot for the things, despite finding one IN MY SLEEPING BAG when we were camping last week. It was fine once I realised what it was, and had reassured myself that it wasn't an earwig. *shudders*

This line made me laugh out loud: "Most of the time the conversations I overhear in the office are as inspiring as toenail clippings, and quite as brittle." Glorious! (the words, I mean, not the toenails. Ugh.)

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Phew! The taster - mostly about the spider stopped me in my tracks. Thankfully, I was able to read more today. Hoorah! A lovely piece. Thank you. And I love your tumbling train of thought.

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So wild and beautiful! Also, your voice is so lovely, I could listen to you read anything 💕

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Thanks for the restack!

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