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Music, Milestones & Moments of Calm - Karen's Corner - 28.09.25

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September has been another busy wee month full of music, milestones, community gatherings and, somewhere in amongst it all, a few quiet moments to breathe and coorie in.


We started the month with two house guests, Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer, as they and John set out on their Scottish tour. This is the second year I’ve acted as “agent” through our PR firm Everything & Nothing ... negotiating contracts, working with promoters, and arranging press. It’s been a steep learning curve, but one I’ve really enjoyed. There’s something energising about stepping into a new role, stretching myself, and meeting so many new people along the way.


One of the first gigs of the run was in Broughty Ferry, close to much of Mum and Dad’s family. That night turned into an impromptu family reunion with an enormous guest list, plenty of catch-ups, and, inevitably, the search (un-successful!) for late-night chips before the long drive home.


The next morning, slightly bleary-eyed, I was up early to run a stall at the Fossoway Gathering, our local community event. It’s always a mad rush to get set up before the crowds arrive, but once I’m there, I love it ... meeting new faces, reconnecting with old ones, and sharing a little of what we’re building at Fossoway Stables. This year I also teased our brand new Club Fossoway merch, which will be ready to launch in early November ... just in time for Christmas shopping!


Back at home, my weeks have been full to bursting with veg box deliveries, welcoming walking groups to The Potting Shed, working with my energetic Fossoway Farmyard crew, and keeping up with the kids’ activities. Add in grass cutting, podcast recording (my latest episode with Chef Tom Hunt about food and sustainability went live just last week), and the usual million little jobs ... it’s been full-on.



I did carve out a bit of time to head up to Melfort with John, Sam and Toby for one of their final gigs of the run. It happened to be Toby’s birthday, and with his dad Jonathan and partner Teresa joining too, it turned into a really lovely celebration in the most beautiful setting. We were up early and back on the road the next day though, because that evening we hosted our own tour gig in the local village hall. Like last year, it was a sell-out and such a joy to welcome the community in for a candlelit night of music.


On the family front, September brought a huge milestone ... Mum and Dad’s golden wedding anniversary. We marked it first with the most incredible meal at Andrew Fairlie in Gleneagles, a truly special evening, and then the following day the kids and I threw them a Gold Party at home. There are still gold balloons tripping us up in the hallway, and if history repeats itself, we’ll still be finding them six months from now.


After such a busy few weeks, John and I carved out a day to ourselves in Edinburgh. We wandered the shops, had a drink on the balcony of the W Hotel in the sunshine, and then went to see the new Downton Abbey film in a cinema we had entirely to ourselves ... bliss.


And now, as I write this, I’m tucked up in bed with two of the kittens curled in beside me, the rain lashing against the windows. There’s a distinct autumn feeling creeping in ... the kind that makes you want to coorie down, light a candle, and just be still. And with another stretch of busy weeks ahead, I’m trying to savour this pocket of quiet while it’s here.


Because if September has taught me anything, it’s that amongst the tours, anniversaries, gatherings and gigs, it’s these simple moments of calm that make everything else possible.


Until next month,


Karen xx


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WHAT'S ON


Saturday 1st November, 12noon - 10pm - FIDDLE HANG with JOHN MCCUSKER

After the success of July's Fiddle Weekend, we're hosting another opportunity for fiddle players to come and join in on a day jam packed with workshops, masterclasses and a 'session-style' evening of tunes at the Crook of Devon Village Hall. If you'd like to attend, the cost of the day is £100, please email hello@everythingandnothingpr.com to secure your spot.


Mondays 3.30 - 5pm - FOSSOWAY FARMYARD

A slow, seasonal after-school club for curious kids who love animals, mud, and magic. Join us each week at Fossoway Stables for an after-school adventure in nature. Children aged p1-p7 are invited to roll up their sleeves and become little land stewards ... feeding animals, planting and harvesting veg, getting hands-on with nature crafts, and learning how to care for the world around them. Each session follows the rhythm of the seasons and the daily goings-on of our real working smallholding. It’s joyful, grounded, and designed to nurture a lifelong connection to land, food, and animal welfare ... one muddy pair of boots at a time.

✨ Fresh air, freedom, and friendship

🐓 Hands-on animal care with hens, ponies & more

🌱 Learn to grow your own food

🍎 Seasonal themes, nature crafts & storytelling

📚 Led by experienced, caring practitioners

Email enquiries@fossowaystables.com to secure your spot.


Tuesdays 3.30 - 4.30pm - CRAFT CLUB

Our weekly Craft Club invites children into the cozy studio for hands-on projects that spark imagination and joy. Each session explores a new craft — from painting and printing to seasonal makes and upcycled creations — giving kids the chance to learn skills, make something special, and enjoy the simple pleasure of creating together.

Email enquiries@fossowaystables.com to secure your spot.


Wednesdays 3.30 - 5pm - PLAYMAKERS

A creative after-school club for children P4-P7 who love to perform and those who just need a little encouragement to shine. Every Wednesday afternoon, Playmakers invites children to step into the spotlight through drama, storytelling, movement, and film-making. Led by Moira, this much-loved club is a chance for children to explore their creativity, build confidence, and work together to bring stories to life on stage and screen. From improvisation games and script work to character building and short films, no two weeks are ever the same. Whether your child dreams of the stage or just wants to try something new, Playmakers is a joyful, supportive space where imaginations flourish and friendships grow.

Email enquiries@fossowaystables.com to secure your spot.


Thursdays 3.30 - 4.30pm - PLAYMAKERS JUNIORS

A joyful after-school club for budding performers in P1–P3. Led with love by Moira, Playmakers Juniors is our brand-new creative club designed especially for younger children who love to perform or who could benefit from a gentle boost in confidence. Each week, children will step into a world of imagination through drama games, storytelling, movement, and music. They’ll explore characters, create scenes, and even try their hand at simple filming and performance all in a fun, nurturing space where every child feels seen, heard, and supported. Whether your little one is already bursting with dramatic flair or just beginning to find their voice, Playmakers Juniors is a joyful place to play, grow, and shine.

Email enquiries@fossowaystables.com to secure your spot.

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MORE FROM SEPTEMBER


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The Sieve - When Food Becomes Philosophy with Tom Hunt


This week I had the privilege of speaking with chef, food writer, and sustainability educator Tom Hunt.


Tom’s work asks us to see food not just as what’s on our plate, but as a reflection of our values ... joy, responsibility, sustainability, and connection. Through his Root to Fruit philosophy and his book Eating for Pleasure, People & Planet, he’s shown that it’s possible to eat in ways that nourish ourselves, each other, and the planet.


In this episode, we explore:


✨ The values that shaped Tom’s journey

✨ How pleasure and responsibility can sit side by side in the kitchen

✨ The challenge of speaking up about sustainability without making people feel judged

✨ What it really means to live and eat in line with your principles


🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcast or via this link ... https://rss.com/podcasts/the-sieve/2231571/


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This is 45 - The Beauty of Being Boring


One of my closest friends has been calling me “boring” since my mid-20s. Back then, I took it as an insult. Now? I take it as a compliment.


Because at 45, “boring” looks like:


✨ Being in bed at a reasonable hour

✨ Getting unreasonably excited about new bed sheets

✨ Actually knowing which wine I like

✨ Finding joy in the steady rhythm of ordinary days


It turns out the “boring” seasons of my life have always been the happiest. The wilder ones? They often came when I was running away from sadness or fear, not toward joy.


So here I am, fully embracing the beauty of boring. It’s not glamorous. It’s not Instagram-shiny. But it’s honest, grounding, and more than enough.



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This is 45 - I Want To Go To Real Lands


Someone recently suggested we take the four kids on an all-inclusive holiday.


Unlimited slushies. Waterparks on tap. Evening entertainment involving sequins and questionable choreography.


For some families, it’s bliss. For me? It feels like a very expensive hostage situation.


Because while everyone else is reserving sun loungers at 7am with military precision, I’m dreaming of real lands. Places with cracked pavements, fresh bread, a language I can’t speak, and the kind of gelato that melts before you’ve even paid for it.


Of course, part of me worries ... am I depriving my kids of a rite of passage? Will they be the only ones at school who can’t compare chicken nugget reviews from the kids’ buffet?


Maybe. But I’d rather they come home raving about the crooked streets of Lisbon or the chaos of a local market than the towel-wars at the pool.



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This is 45 - Small Joys, Big Impact


Lately I’ve realised happiness doesn’t live in the “big stuff.”

Not the dream kitchen (though I’d happily take one without a drawer that sticks). Not the promotion. Not even the week in the sun (although gelato in Tuscany would be nice).


At 45, the joys that matter most are smaller ... the first cup of tea in the quiet of the morning, a pen that actually works, a dinner the whole family actually agrees on, a walk where the sun suddenly breaks through the trees.


Tiny things. Ordinary things. But they can change the shape of a whole day.



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This is 45 - Autumn, Yes. Halloween, Not So Much


I adore autumn. The colours, the crisp mornings, the excuse to dig out oversized scarves and simmer hotpots for hours. This is my season.


Halloween, on the other hand … I just can’t get on board.


Plastic cobwebs. Bulk-buy skeletons. Adults in polyester capes looking very pleased with themselves. (Are we dealing with childhood trauma here, or just an overinvestment in fake blood?)


Don’t get me wrong, I’ll happily carve pumpkins with Callan and help plan his barn party, because childhood deserves that kind of magic. But personally? I’d rather watch the leaves turn, light a fire, and let autumn be what it already is ... enough.



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