Five Books I Loved That I Think You’ll Love Too.
My Weekend Managing The Some Good Ideas Stage At Camp Good Life
The Folklore and Mythology of the Rowan Tree
Charlie Recommends… August 2021
What I’m Looking Forward To At Camp Good Life
Fungi And Foraging By Roger Phillips
Roger Phillips is a mushroom maestro and one of the most respected foragers in Great Britain.
In 1975 he began his life’s major work, photographing an encyclopaedic collection of world plants and he has since written 20 additional volumes with combined sales of 4.5 million copies worldwide.
What Does Music Mean To Me?
Charlie Gladstone is co-founder of Some Good Ideas, The Good Life Society, Glen Dye Cabins & Cottages, Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, The Glynne Arms and much more.
He is a serially optimistic entrepreneur. And a man who describes music as his main thing. Here, in an article originally published by Guitar School, Charlie tells us what music means to him.
My Month In The Country
In 1989 Charlie & Caroline Gladstone, SGI co-founders, upped sticks in London and moved to Glen Dye, Kincardineshire to raise their family.
They would go on to quite literally write the book on The Great Outdoors, and have always championed and befriended those who carve a life out for themselves in the countryside.
With a great exodus now taking place in our cities, these are the stories of those who call the countryside their home.
We asked them to speak about their favourite month in the country.
Charlie Recommends… July 2021
In Praise of: Chickens
Chickens. They’re everywhere. No, seriously!
As least twice a day I get up from my desk and head outside to wave my arms around in a fashion similar to tai-chi in attempt to usher chickens safely back into The Walled Garden.
Good Sustainable Floral Ideas
Kathryn Cronin is a floral artisan, gardener and writer.
Her business, Fierceblooms, next to bridge 14 of the Shropshire Union canal, is rooted in florals that are as ethical as they are aesthetically beautiful.
What grows sustainably in the wild hedgerows and her Cheshire canalside cutting garden is her fierce inspiration.
She can be found often with her face close to the earth.
100 Dog Breeds And Their Terrific Traits
It’s no secret the Good Life Society crew are obsessed with dogs. Truly loyal. Friends there in desperate times of need, wagging tail, expectant gazes of unconditional love. Debbie Kendall is on our level.
The printmaker and illustrator behind The Enlightened Hound, who from her attic studio, accompanied by her muse, a Portuguese Water Dog called Figo, makes prints and cards for people who love dogs.
She talks us through the idea behind her 100 Dog Breeds print series.
The Benefit Of Walking And Then Standing Still
Charlie is here to talk to us about what he sees as the personal benefits of walking and then standing still.
As a retired (for now) runner and an incredibly active (in mind and body) person, we’re excited to hear Charlie speak on these subjects.
Stuff I Love: From Religion to Books to Places
We love those pages in magazines or newspapers where a special guest answers a series of set questions.
They can be intense, silly, personal, insightful… But they’re always a great read and a snappy means to get to know someone in a new light.
So, we’ve made our own!
In Praise of: The Leatherman Pocket Multi-Tool
Rachel, the estate manager at Glen Dye, says that we should all hail the small but mighty Leatherman, so we asked her to tell us why…
In Praise of: Pets
For many years (about nine, in fact) we ran a weekly feature titled Pedlars Dog of the Week.
Many of you will probably remember it. It was simple and lots of fun. And frequently it was our most viewed thing that week.
Now we want to open it up. Dogs are welcome, of course, but so are cats, horses, rabbits, hamsters, goldfish, rats, snakes, goats, budgies, hens and anything else that you can -legally- own as a pet.
Six Things To Do In Flintshire
When people ask me where I’m from, I tell them I’m from Flintshire. And yet, to my dismay, the response that I’m most often met with is, “where on earth is that?!”.
Charlie Recommends… May 2021
My cultural round up of the last month or two. Some books, records, podcasts and television that has kept me happy. From Hockney to Floating Points, axes to herbs…
My Mentor: A Collection of Personal Essays From People We Know, Love and Respect
Small business, people, friendship, kindness, even love; these are at the root of what we do at Some Good Ideas and My Mentor will investigate the complex relationships between mentors and their mentees.
Asparagus: Why We Love It
Asparagus season is here! There’s so much that I love about these alien-like green spears that wind their way up through the soil when the sun shines. At Hawarden, their arrival is a true celebration of spring.