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cups and compass's avatar

I’m so glad to have found your Substack. It’s so beautiful. I have a question - where do you find your replacement ribbons for your typewriter? I have my grandads from when he was sub editor of a newspaper and I’d love to get it working properly again!

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Alice Elgie's avatar

I'm so glad you stopped by. It's wonderful to connect with you! And how beautiful that you have your grandad's typewriter...it would certainly be a precious thing to bring it back into use. I love https://charliefoxtrotvintage.co.uk/ for all.things.typewriters. They are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they sell ribbons! 🙏🏻

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cups and compass's avatar

Oh they have some beauties on their website don’t they?! And I can get a PINK ribbon 🎀 how fun is that haha! Now to work out which one I need. Thanks so much for taking the time to share 💕

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Alice Elgie's avatar

It takes all my strength not to build a collection of typewriters...I have to stay away from their site.😂 I hadn't seen the pink ribbons. That's amazing. A must!

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Catharine Sheikh's avatar

So beautiful and exactly what we needed to hear. Gave us the courage that we are on the right path and we need to trust in the process x

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Alice Elgie's avatar

I feel you right now, Catharine. Keeping that trust can be hard and it’s important we all bolster each other up; remind each other that we can move forward bravely. Much love. 💕

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Isabella Ann's avatar

A lovely piece! Thank you for sharing. 😊♡

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Fran's avatar

Thank you Alice. This prompted so many thoughts. We think January is a fresh start and most of us, I think, look forward to the new year, then as you say we keep waking to the same grey, wetness and the same troubles. But you are so right. It is by accepting them and somehow stumbling through that we really live. It can be easy to be tempted to hide away and distract ourselves until the sun inevitably shines, but somehow we would miss out on so much.

I can’t wait ( in Mary Oliver’ s words) to

..wake in the valley of midnight or three a.m

to the first fragrances of spring

Which is coming, all by itself, no matter what.

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Alice Elgie's avatar

Dear Fran, I'm so glad this was thought-provoking for you and I appreciate you sharing. I do my best to write from the heart, hoping it will strike a chord with others—that way I feel less alone! Thank you for sharing Mary Oliver's words here. Ah yes, those first fragrances. I'm heading south for Spain and I'm eager to see what February will look like there.💖

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Sarah Wilson's avatar

Like everyone else below I really loved listening to this. As it happens I dont suffer from the winter months - in fact I quite like the rainy gloomy days and then the bright skies that follow. Your voice soothes me and I liked the typewriter sound too. Thank you. x

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Alice Elgie's avatar

Thank you for your lovely comment, Sarah.💖 I'm glad this offering soothed you. I think it's all about leaning into all.the.seasons, isn't it, and learning the lessons presented. Personally I'm looking forward to a little more brightness though!☀️

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Carol Anne Strange's avatar

Oh, Alice, this so resonates. We've also had those suffocating skies here for far too long, and I'm using a fair bit of energy on generating my own light. But here we are, navigating our way through to find that equilibrium, and trusting that warmer, sunnier, abundant days are ahead. Thank you for a beautiful, contemplative post. Sending hugs and much love. ♡

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Alice Elgie's avatar

Dear Carol, It always lights up my little online space when your name pops up, so please know your energy is appreciated. And I hear you. We have to keep navigating and trusting; what else is there to do? Warmer skies will be here soon! So much love and all the hugs coming right back to you.🙏🏻

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Woz Flint's avatar

I loved this, Alice. Thank you for the typewriter keys clacking...soothed my nervous system right away. :)

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Alice Elgie's avatar

There's nothing like it, is there—just the very thought of that clacking makes me exhale in peace. Glad to have found a fellow type-writer! 🙏🏻

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Alice Goldbloom's avatar

Simply beautiful. A tonic. I wish I had your prespective at the moment. But I can't seem to catch a break from the current madness that is the news (and I am not even American).

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Alice Elgie's avatar

Thank you for listening in, Alice, and for taking the time to connect. My perspective has certainly been mixed this month, so don't be hard on yourself. I hope with February you will find yourself able to breathe a little more easily.🙏🏻

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