Karen's Corner - Just Ask! - 27.04.25

Welcome back to Karen’s Corner! Join me here each month to catch up with what I’ve been up to both in and out of work. Can’t wait until next time? Connect with me on Instagram www.instagram.com/karen.anderson.fossoway

Karen xx

JUST ASK!

I started this month in Copenhagen, a city I’d never visited before but one that had been on my list of places to visit for a while. John was on the Danish leg of his tour so I thought I’d take the opportunity to go and visit both him and the city and I loved every second of it. So much of Danish culture speaks to me … the clean and uncluttered style of interiors and clothing, the relaxed vibe and sense of ample time to get things done, the belief in building things of quality that last so that there no need for excess, the esteem offered to professions like teaching that are so under-valued here at home and the knowledge that nature has so much to offer the community. Denmark, famously, is always ranked highly on the World Happiness Report and it’s easy to see why. Just walking around you can see that there’s a contentment amongst the people. Shop-workers and restaurant staff seem genuinely happy in their work - not in the disingenuous, psuedo-American, “Have a Nice Day” way we’ve become accustomed to in many retail spaces in the UK, but rather, it seemed, everyone had a quiet satisfaction and and openness and desire to help. Once I’d returned home and John continued his tour of Denmark, he got to meet some incredible people who run a network of schools focussed on educating it’s students about sustainability and a life grounded in nature and creativity. I’m sad I didn’t get to visit myself but it’s a lovely reason to return to Denmark in the future - I think I’ve got lots to learn and be influenced by there.

Back home, a wave of inspiration hit me and I’ve been riding it all month. It’s been literally years since I’ve felt the surge of energy that comes when I’m working on something that truly makes sense to me and it’s really great. A combination of the trip to Denmark and a series of conversations about Fossoway Stables’ purpose and direction has got me feeling really focussed and full of ideas. I’ve been working on a manifesto or pitch deck of sorts - partly for the planning department when we approach them about new projects for the future, but also for us as a family and team, to help keep us motivated and concentrated on the vision of the future. That’s worked it’s way into a development of a clear marketing plan and ways in which to measure it’s efficacy so rather than flapping about not knowing what I’m creating or why (other than thinking I should!), I’ve now got an intentional plan and the ability to plan ahead and create richer, more valuable content.

I’ve quietly mentioned on here before that I’ll be launching a new podcast this year but I wanted you to be the first to know the details…

You’ll know by now that as a business, we’re very much guided by our core values of Nurture, Harmony and Sustainability - they inform all of our reasoning and act as a sieve for every decision we make. It’s not always easy to live up to these lofty principles but they keep us focussed and grounded and it’s lead me to be curious about how other people I admire stay centred when life gets challenging. So the podcast is called The Sieve and it’s a series of intimate, thoughtful conversations about the Core Values that guide us - in life, in business, in creativity and in the quiet moments that shape who we are. Each episode, I sit down with fascinating people from all walks of life to explore what matters most to them, what motivates their choices, and how they stay connected to what feels true, especially when life gets noisy.

I have a little story to tell about landing who will be our very first guests on The Sieve and it acted as a little reminder/lesson for me but maybe one that can help you too. When I first started working on The Sieve I wrote a big long list of the people I’d love to have on as guests. This list is ridiculous by the way, in any objective sense, I have no business thinking my brand new, literally zero-audience podcast could have any of the guests on there but I decided not to limit myself to people I have some personal connection to or thought I could get (I’ll have some of them on too of course, they’ve got great stories to tell too). I thought to myself, why not just ask? What’s the worst that could happen? Being ignored is fine, I get it, people are busy and they won’t necessarily see value in what I’m proposing or, I guess, they could send me an email back essentially saying my podcast sounds rubbish, no thanks - ok, I could deal with that - so I composed individual pitch emails to some of the people on the list. My very top wish-list guest wrote back almost straight away saying they’d love to be involved! Sometimes you just have to take a punt and ask! I’m not sure I could be more excited about this new pillar to the Fossoway Stables brand and I hope you’ll love what we create. Keep your eyes open for lots of teaser content on social media in May but between you and me, the podcast launches on June 5th - I’d love it if you checked it out!

The Potting Shed re-opened and the honesty system is working really well. I’m still managing to catch most of you for a quick hello when you visit too which is always nice - I don’t want to lose that now that we’re using the honesty system. We’re upping our stock this week coming with fresh deliveries from our partners at Wild Hearth Bakery. The much-loved sourdough loaves to go perfectly with our soup sacks, everyone’s favourites - the cinnamon scrolls and new seasonal danish pastries just for fun. We’ve got potted herbs joining the stock list this week too. Please do drop by to pick up some delicious produce if you’re passing and if you want to order ahead to ensure you get what you’re looking for, just drop me a DM or email me on enquiries@fossowaystables.com and I’ll happily bag up your order for collection.

We ran our Fossoway Farmyard sessions over the Easter holidays and there was huge demand for the Tiny Tots sessions … when we announce Summer dates for this, we’ll make sure we keep this in mind and open more times for the younger age group so that no-one is disappointed.

John and I opened bookings for his very first Fiddle Weekend and spaces are filling up fast so we’re working hard behind the scenes to ensure that’s a really big success. There are a few tickets left still so please email hello@everythingandnothingpr.com if you happen to be a fiddle player looking to soak it all up.

While my work life has been buzzing, my personal life has too with the kids off school for their Easter break and my brother, sister in law and nephews over from America for a family visit. We’ve been juggling the kids’ activities - golf, swimming, tennis, horse riding, football with trips out to the Crannog Centre up in Kenmore (if you haven’t been - it’s worth a visit), Edinburgh and lunches and dinners galore. It’s been lots of fun but now that the school term has re-started and the associated routines are back in place, life does seem a little calmer again!

I know a few of you enjoyed catching up on the vlogs last month so I’ll pop this month’s vlogs here too.

Until next month …

K xx

WHAT’S ON …

Monday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm - The Potting Shed Farm Shop is open! Come and join us for a cuppa, a cake and to purchase your home-grown vegetables and eggs. Bring your own travel mug to enjoy complimentary teas and coffees and sit a while in our potting shed garden. Play area in construction and we’re dog friendly (please keep them on leads though - the dogs that is!). Honesty system in place (card and bank transfer).

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th July 2025 - Fiddle Weekend with John McCusker - email hello@everythingandnothingpr.com to book.

Sunday 14th September 2025, 7.30pm - John McCusker Trio with Sam Kelly & Toby Shaer at The Crook of Devon Village Hall - buy your tickets here; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1263955778759?aff=oddtdtcreator

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