Living in Magazines

The joys of blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:51:00 +0000

As someone who writes for a living I'm being incredibly bad at keeping up with my blog! Somehow, training for and then running a marathon (yes, i finished it all in one piece!), keeping up with twitter and facebook, publishing a couple of magazines, trying to control three kids and everything else in life, the blog seems to have suffered.

Must do better as I really enjoy doing it!

The fabulous June issues are now out - I just have to send out copies to all my lovely customers and drop off a couple of hundred at the regular drop off points. Raining hard outside now, so will probably have to leave it until later.

Full day ahead - lots of great leads to follow up and people to contact this morning and then this afternoon I've got to get to grips with starting to put together the magazine on Indesign from scratch again as my previous file has somehow become corrupted. No small job as there are more than 100 pages to put together into house style.

Hmmm, time to pick up the phone...

April issue now out!

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:12:00 +0000

The April issue started hitting the streets at the weekend. Love the front covers and already getting lots of positive feedback from those who have received their copy already. You can also see it online from the 1st of the month.

Marathon Day - less than 3 weeks to go!

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:07:00 +0000

Yes, just less than 3 weeks to go before the Marathon. When I was chatting to people last week I'd had a disastrous long run where I'd just run out of steam at mile 15 and had to walk the rest of the way home and so felt very down and worried. But this weekend did an 18 miler, which was hard of course, but really OK. It has left me feeling elated and now really looking forward to the big day on 17th April.

Thank you to all the amazing people who have sponsored me so far! If anyone else would like to donate, just visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PippaDuncan

Thank you!

Keeping focussed

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:21:00 +0000

I love my special issues as they always do really well and are a great opportunity for local businesses to promote their services within a special section in the magazine, dedicated totally to their market. Got a great number of new businesses booked into this issue. If anyone out there runs a homes-related business the final deadline for print-ready artwork for this edition is 9 March. Give me a April issue -just shows great focus always works well.

Sadly, focus was somewhat missing yesterday on my 16-mile training run for the Marathon on 17th April. The first 8 miles were great - going well and keeping to my marathon pace. I thought the homeward 8 miles would be easier but it was really hard. Around 13 miles I slowed to a walk a few times and as soon as I did this my feet were really painful and, of course, it was harder to start running again. Picked up pace again for the last mile and a half and made it home. Collapsed on the sofa in tears feeling a complete failure for letting myself walk.

Am I being too hard on myself? I still managed 16 miles and probably walked for a total of 10 minutes out of 3 hours of running. But because of this missed my time target. More importantly to me, why did I let myself lose focus and slow down?

Need more focus for next week's 18 miler!

March editions of Living In Magazines now online

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:55:00 +0000

You can now catch up with the new March editions of Living In Richmond & Kew and Living in Barnes & East Sheen online at www.livinginmagazines.co.uk.

Running with injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:02:00 +0000

Well, I didn't expect training for the marathon to be easy, but now running with injuries has turned into a whole different thing. Saw a physio on Saturday who thought I may have the beginnings of stress response - or shin splints - and suggested a number of causes.
So off I went to a sports physician yesterday who watched me running and saw that when I go fast my knee bends inwards, obviously affecting the rest of my leg.
Today I saw a fantastic personal trainer - Paul Bowman - at the Riverside club in Chiswick (www.esporta.com) who did some exercises with me and can see that I have lazy hams (!), which means the rest of my legs and feet and working much harder than they need. Bottom line is that it's going to be a gruelling 8 weeks to get me through to Marathon Day - but I will do it!

How lovely are people?

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:52:00 +0000

We all go about our daily lives - work, home, husbands, wives, children - and sometimes we forget that for other people, each day can be a struggle to get through because of illness. And even if we do remember it, we don't always feel we can do something to help.

But running this marathon for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research shows that we all can do something - and that other people are prepared to help. While the training is often mentally and physically exhausting, the tiredness just fades to nothing every time I read one of the wonderful messages left by friends - and strangers - on my virgingiving donations page. People are just so generous with their hard-earned money and their words of support, it is incredibly uplifting!

Lots of people have told me that they were really touched to read about why I was running the marathon in my article in the February issues of Living In Richmond & Kew and Living In Barnes & East Sheen magazines.

So, thank you to everybody so far who has donated or, just as wonderfully, given me words of support. I appreciate it from the bottom of my (very aerobically exercised) heart.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PippaDuncan

Kew Midsummer Fete - Saturday, June 18th

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:33:00 +0000

Yes, I know June is ages away but we're already getting in lots of applications for stalls. Last year's first Fete was a huge success with around 5,000 people visiting the 80+ stalls and Victorian fairground and watching the bands and live entertainment, playing footie or watching the incredible turn out for the Dog Show.

Not being a particularly doggie-loving person myself I didn't expect the show to be quite the enormous success it was - it was absolutely mobbed with people and their pooches. Probably helped, of course, by the fact that the not-bad-looking Zac Goldsmith was judging!

Anyway, this year is set to be even better and I'll be publicising it a lot in Living In Richmond & Kew and Living In Barnes & East Sheen magazines, as I did last year, which helped to attract lots more people.

If you want to have a stall, just visit www.kewfete.org. Application forms can be downloaded from the Stalls page. If you're thinking of selling jewellery please email me first at pippa@kewfete.org as this category is almost full.

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:35:00 +0000

Oops. A while since I last blogged - just too busy getting the combined December/January together before having a lovely long break over Christmas, then getting the February issue off to the printers. So, my New Year's Resolution is to blog more regularly!

As I've mentioned on facebook and twitter, I'm running the London Marathon on 17th April in aid of the local branch of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research - a great charity which helps families with a child suffering from this disease, the most common form of cancer in children. I've been training since early November, running four times a week - just regular small runs before Christmas, but I've now really stepped up the pace.

Saturday was a 5 mile circuit - ran really well (for me!) - 50 minutes, so 10 minute miles. Sunday was a whole different story! Tired legs from Saturday's run and 10 miles to go. Started off late in the afternoon, deliberately going slowly because of aching legs and got back home 2 hrs and 9 minutes later, exhausted, barely standing up and even wimpering a little... Literally couldn't move for the next hour.

Training for a marathon is a strange thing. You feel full of enthusiasm and excitement at taking on such a massive challenge and yet at the same time the commitment is huge - not only the running time itself, which will get longer and longer as each week goes on, but the thinking about eating the right foods at the right time to make sure you have enough carbs, the aching muscles after the runs, the planning the running times to fit in with everything else in life, including publishing two magazines, and spending time on the fundraising so you are actually doing something that helps a charity, too.

Do I regret taking this on? The hours of running, the painful knees, the sore toes, the boring pasta? NOT AT ALL!

Contemporary Craft & Gourmet Food Fair - 19-21 Nov

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 09:22:00 +0000

If you've not got anything planned for the weekend of 19-20 November, do pop along to Sparkle! The Contemporary Craft & Gourmet Food Fair at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington. There's a fantastic range of work from more than 60 individual designer makers, including jewellery, glass & ceramics as well as a selection of gourmet foods.Sounds fab and I'll be going along especially to see local ceramicist, Isobel Allan-Lowe who creates beautiful pieces at great prices - perfect for Christmas presents!

Barnes Art Fair - Sat 27th November

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:03:00 +0000

The November issues are now out - and I'm particularly excited about the Barnes & East Sheen edition! A great cover by the artist Hugh McCarthy who is showing at the Barnes Art Fair on Saturday 27th November. There's going to be a great pop-up gallery full of artwork - you can buy a painting but pay just half now and half before Christmas - as well as an Arts & Crafts area and loads of other stalls selling food and Christmassy goodies. Can't wait!

November Editions now live

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:05:00 +0000

Your favourite local magazines for RIchmond and Kew and Barnes and East Sheen are now available online for you to read at your leisure.

We've also updated the website with a slightly new look for the home page as well as some new glowing testimonials from advertisers and readers alike.

Click here to check out the new look Home Page now.

Do you kiss your customers?

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:31:00 +0000

Emailing one of my lovely long-term customers the other day, I signed off Pippa x. Quickly emailed him again and apologised for the affectionate ending but realised that I actually often sign off like this with my customers. I've known many of them for more than four years now and we've built up great relationships over that time, which is why I always love talking to my customers and love my job! Happily, my lovely customer emailed back saying he liked kisses, so no red faces!

And to kiss or not to kiss people you know well when you meet them at networking events? Well that's another story...

Bumper September Issues as local schools hold open days

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:05:00 +0000

Very excited as the magazines come back from the printers in a couple of days – and they’re bumper September issues! From September through to November is when the local private schools hold their Open Days, so lots of them are promoting this in the magazines as they know they go directly into their target market homes.

I can’t believe it’s September already – what started off as a promising sizzling summer ended up a damp squib instead. Even our longed-for break in France was rained on – so we got in lots of culture but not enough time by the pool!

I’ve got some great new contributors lined up for the magazine and am always interested to hear from locals – so if anyone’s got anything they think might be interesting for the local community do let me know.

I thought that news about the economy slowing down in the US might affect new sales, but the opposite seems to be true. Reminding businesses that locals can only use them if they know about them and that the most cost effective way to do this is to advertise in the magazines is obviously working has I’ve lots of new calls!

Lastly, congratulations to Samantha Hamp at Heavenly Green! Her lovely daughter, Holly, 15, has made it through to the regional finals of a national singing competition – and if she makes it through to the next round she’ll be singing at the O2 Arena! Not bad, says Samantha, as Holly as only ever sung before a live audience once before! Heavenly Green do the most brilliant beauty treatments in Kew (they’re on Kew Green) so if you haven’t been in before do try them out!

Pippa.

July / August editions of Living In Magazines now live

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:09:00 +0000

Wow! What a fantastic few weeks it’s been! Though I say so myself, the June issues both looked fabulous, and the combined July/August issues look just as good and should be hitting the streets within the next few days.

Living In Barnes & East Sheen celebrates its 1st birthday this month and I just want to say thanks to all the residents and businesses who have let me know that they love the magazine and support it. It’s always great to have feedback so do let me know what you think of it and how I can improve it. I’m looking forward to growing the content in the coming year, too, and making it even better, using local contributors.

Thank you to everyone who came to The Kew Midsummer Fete – despite the really chilly June day (this is England, after all!) – we had around 5,000 visitors throughout the day and raised more than £5,000 for local charities. All of us on the organising committee are well chuffed and already planning how to make next year’s event even better!

Have a great summer!

Health & Wellbeing special in June's Living In Magazines

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:23:00 +0000

The June issue is back from the printers and is hitting the streets in the next day or so. Both Living In Richmond & Kew and Living In Barnes & East Sheen are big issues this month, which is great. If you're keen on health & fitness, check out the articles as this issue is a Health & Wellbeing special, with lots of great businesses advertising their services.

And yes, as June is finally here that means the Kew Midsummer Fete is only a days away! Yikes! So much time and preparation has gone into making this event happen, I can't believe that June 19th is almost here.

Of course all of us on the organising committee are desperately hoping for a sunny day but hey, this is England in June, it could be freezing or sizzling hot! Please do come along, eat some delicious food, buy some lovely treats and listen to some fab entertainment. All in aid of local charities! As well as dashing around making sure things are running smoothly I'll also be on my Living In Magazines stall, with the lovely Debbie doing the face painting (believe me, you don't want it to be me trying to paint your child's face...), so do come and say hello.

See you there!

June Editions now online to view and read

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:43:00 +0000

You'll find the latest June 2010 editions of Living in Richmond and Kew and Living in Barnes and East Sheen available online to read via our website - Living In Magazines.

To make sure you don't miss out on future editions the minute they're published online, why not subscribe to our RSS Feed?

Great Features in this months Living In Magazines...

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Sat, 01 May 2010 08:11:00 +0000

The May issues of Living In Richmond & Kew and Living In Barnes & East Sheen magazines are just hitting the streets now. And they’re rather fabulous- looking issues, even if I do say so myself! That’s because there are some great features in there this month.

Read about the Richmond Arts Society exhibition coming up and, of course, the Kew Midsummer Fete, which I’m involved in, which takes place in June. We’ve got around 50 fantastic stallholders booked in, selling everything from beautiful jewellery and ceramics to ostrich burgers and hog roast! There’s an old fashioned fairground and I hear that applications are being put in for the Dog Show! You can also read about the long history (over 250 years!) of fairs and fetes being held on Kew Green.

The last few days of April have been really beautiful and this is a great time to get out in the garden. Gardening expert, Valerie McBride Munro has some great hints on how to keep your garden looking great right through to the end of summer. Colour is the theme of the Homes & Interiors feature this month – add a little zing to your home with lime green, neon orange or perfect pink!

Have a great month!
Pippa

May Editions of Living In Magazines now online

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:01:00 +0000

No sooner had we published April's editions of Living In Magazines then it seems May's editions of RIchmond & Kew and Barnes & East Sheen Living In magazines are ready for distribution and going live on our website.

Both editions are now available to read online. Click on a front cover to visit our website and read the edition in full or visit our Back Issues page and browse our back issues since our new website design went live in March 2009.

Living in Richmond and Kew May 2010 Edition.

Living in Barnes and East Sheen May 2010 Edition

April editions now available to read online

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Just a short note to let you all know that the April Editions of Living In Magazines - Living in Richmond & Kew and Living in Barnes & East Sheen are now available to read online.

Busy time ahead of the Kew Midsummer Fete

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:47:00 +0000

It’s been a really busy month – March seemed hardly to have gone out and I was already well into planning the Homes & Interiors special section for the April issue. There’s loads of great homes-related businesses in this issue which is great. And, of course, there’s plenty going on with the Easter holidays coming up, so do look at the feature on where to find all the locally organised Easter Egg hunts with the kids over the hols.

Being on the organising committee of the new Kew Midsummer Fete (www.kewfete.org) is taking up a lot of time, too. It’s great to have so many people in Kew really keen to make this work and we’re really excited about all the interest from local people and businesses who want to get involved too. If you want to be one of the sponsors, take a stall or just help out in a great community event, do check out the website or email me at pippa@kewfete.org for more information.

March editions of Living In Magazines now live

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:18:00 +0000

Residents near and far of Richmond & Kew and Barnes & East Sheen can now catch up with the latest March editions of Living In Magazines.

This months issues feature Homes & Interiors, Local history and Local Restaurant reviews.

Living In RIchmond & Kew and Living In Barnes & East Sheen are FREE independent directories, highlighting local businesses and services for local residents.

Our website - www.livinginmagazines.co.uk - has full copies of both magazines which you can read and browse through online.

February a month of "Fantastic Feedback" & Kew Fete

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:16:00 +0000

I’ve had fantastic feedback from all the businesses who were included in the February ‘Weddings Special’ edition. Thanks to everyone for their great features, too – I’ve had lovely feedback from readers who thought the whole issue looked beautiful. Many thanks to dress designer, Louise Selby, for her great cover shots!

It’s count-down time towards the Kew Midsummer Fete on 19 June and as part of the organising committee, there’s lots to do – especially as most of us are experienced at running businesses not local fetes! But it’s all coming together and we’ve got the Victorian fairground booked, around 40 stalls so far which will be selling beautiful objects from ceramics to paintings and textiles. If anybody wants to book at stall, just get in touch at my official Kew Fete address: pippa@kewfete.org

February 2010 issues of Living In Magazines now online

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:49:00 +0000

Hello readers and welcome to the first issues of Living In Richmond & Kew and Living in Barnes & East Sheen for 2010.

This months issues feature a weddings special - everything from designer wedding dresses and stunning wedding venues to fabulous wedding photographers and much more.

Click on the links to catch up with what's happening in your area and read the full magazine online.

Click here to read the February edition of Living in Richmond & Kew.

Click here to read the February edition of Living in Barnes & East Sheen.

December 2009 editions now available to read online

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Richmond Magazines) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Dear Readers and followers of Living In magazines.

Just to inform that you can now read online our December 2009 editions of Living In Richmond and Kew and Living In Barnes and East Sheen.

Two fabulously packed seasonal editions of the areas favourite community magazine, now being distributed.

Regards.

Living In Webmaster.