This book has made me think a lot about what I do in order to relax at the weekend. It has also given me some great ideas on how to reclaim life's simple pleasures like writing letters, making Christmas gifts, and entertaining friends the 'right' way. A great little bedside book.

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Product Description

For too many of us the weekend has become just another overcrowded couple of days dominated by duties, traffic jams, hassle and expense as we dash from supermarket to superstore catching up with the week’s chores. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Elspeth Thompson’s original and inspiring book shows us how we can reclaim the weekend by re-charging our batteries and relationships through enjoying the simple pleasures in life. From watching the sunset and the stars, making marmalade and writing proper letters to borrowing a dog, going to dance classes and using the internet creatively, she reminds us of the fun and satisfaction to be had from creative, social and relaxing pursuits. The Wonderful Weekend Book is packed with ideas that will help restore the balance in our lives, reconnect us to the seasons, and – quite literally – not cost the earth.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2211 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review

'Glorious ideas for slowing down and reviving your weekends'

(Easy Living )

‘A charming look at how our weekends can be spent doing the things we really enjoy’

(House and Home )

‘Filled with practical advice ... the pleasure is in the reading and dreaming. A wonderful way to  fill your precious 48 hours’

(Good Housekeeping )

‘Apty named, this book offers enough inspiration to transform any weekend . . . Thompson’s guide is sublime, a rich, diverse collection of ideas to reclaim the weekend’

(Good Book Guide )

‘Elspeth Thompson is a fine writer . . . and her perky call to enjoy homemade pleasures is a  timely encouragement . . . it is endearingly and enviably optimistic’ (BBC Country File Magazine )

‘Help is at hand with this guide which is crammed full of ideas to make weekends special’

(This England )

About the Author
Elspeth Thompson has been writing about gardening, interiors and aspects of green living for more than twenty years. A former features editor of World of Interiors, she has a weekly gardening column in the Sunday Telegraph and one in the Guardian on her project to turn a pair of dilapidated railway cottages on the south coast into a state of the art eco house. She spends her weekends gardening, beachcombing and cooking for friends and family.

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Customer Reviews

A WONDERFUL BOOK!
Just as we are all feeling poor - here's this beautiful book that is packed full of ideas for free, enjoyable, stressless ways of making the weekend a time of leisure and pleasure - like the weekends of our childhoods. Elspeth Thompson writes the most beguiling prose and besides the hundreds of ideas for making the weekend a contrast to the working week and winding down, she shares her favourite websites. These are as much fun to browse as the book itself. She selects for example - campaigning charities to get involved with; best suppliers of vegetable seeds and plants; best British campsites; weekend courses; decluttering and recycling sites; organic skin products for the ideal luxury bath etc etc. A really original book, beautifully designed and absolutely in tune with the mood of the times.

A timely book - I will be bunkering down with this, this winter
This is a very credit-crunch friendly book: we all feel like bunkering down right now, and this book is a timely reminder that there is more to life than 'It' bags ('Twit' bags?), seven-inch platform heels and reading about red carpet moments in Heat mag. Most of us aspire to return to a simpler life - remember life before the complications of mobile phones and e-mail overload? - and frankly, if this even distracts the reader for an hour or two from those twin pressures I really think it's worth the cover price. But I personally found much more there to enjoy than mere stop-the-world-and-get-off-ness - it's a sensual book that reminded me to stare out of the window and enjoy the crisp autumn leaves and crystal clear weather, to GET OUT MORE, and yes, to reclaim some of life's simple pleasures. I've actually bought 5 copies as Christmas gifts, so thanks for this gem, Elspeth Thompson.

A great Christmas present - but keep a copy for yourself!
I was thrilled to see two such different reviews for this lovely book. I don't happen to agree with the negative one but what it really tells you, read alongside the positive alternative, is that Elspeth Thompson's ideas are real, varied and challenging as well as cosy and affirmative. The book looks really pretty on the outside - a great bonus if you're thinking of it as a Christmas present - but once you get into it you may be surprised. I bought a copy at a signing event, took it home and dipped into it from time to time. The more I did this the more treasures I found. I'm definitely going to try some of these ideas for myself, save some money, try to be a better guest, hostess, take more walks, learn a new skill, it's all money-saving, life-affirming and positive. I'm giving five copies away for Christmas - but keeping the original for myself!