Editor’s Diary: Back From A Break


View of the sea out the window with a glass and candle in foreground

In this week’s The People’s Friend Editor’s Diary, I’m feeling rested after a blissful short break.

I’m just back at my desk after a few days away last week.

While I was off, Mr PF Ed and I headed to the west coast. We were only away from home one night. But it felt as good as a much longer holiday!

When you look at the atmospheric picture I took from our dinner table you will understand why.

We treated ourselves to an overnight stay at one of our favourite hotels, about half an hour from Oban. It’s not particularly fancy or luxurious. But the setting is unbeatable, and the food delicious.

Dinner was a delight, and so, too, was breakfast the next morning.

It set us up for the task we faced when we returned home – the installation of our new fridge freezer.

Eagerly awaited!

I had been counting the days till its arrival. For several weeks now, we have limped along with a barely functioning fridge. The only plus was that the freezer part still worked perfectly. So lots of meals from frozen ingredients were the order of the day!

It’s only when something fails that you realise just how much we rely on our mod cons.

I am full of renewed admiration for the women of years gone by who managed to feed households without any kind of fridge or freezer. Although they possibly didn’t have to contend with the heatwave that coincided with my lack of fridge!

The “Friend” archives are full of stories from talented women who whizzed up amazing meals in kitchens we would consider hopelessly basic.

Luckily, the arrival of the new fridge freezer went without a hitch, and I can once more offer a cup of tea – with milk! – to anyone who visits!


Read more from Angela’s “The People’s Friend” Editor’s Diary.

Angela Gilchrist

Angela is Former Editor-in-Chief of “The People’s Friend” magazine. Her passions include cats, Highland ponies, good books, vegetarian food and long walks in the Scottish countryside. Her favourite place to get away from it all is the magical Isle of Skye.