16 Comments
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Biting Biting's avatar

Late to this Substack thing and found yours via Marc Diacono. Headphones on. Eyes closed. How wonderful to listen to you and I don’t wear mascara like Susan but if I did it would most definitely be smudged. Thank you for sharing x

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Karen Barnes's avatar

Ah, thank you Urvashi. This has made my day x

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Martine Tinney's avatar

Wow - such a personal piece . You brought a tear to my eye . THANK YOU Karen for sharing with us. I miss you and your wonderful calming voice X

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Natalie Young's avatar

Loved listening to you read this beautiful story and felt very privileged to hear it, thank you for sharing it. X

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Karen Barnes's avatar

Thank you for saying that. It took me a long time to write — and even longer to press the publish button.

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Nicky Welsh's avatar

Wow Karen! Just back from a glorious beach walk. As you know winter is coming in the Cape, so making the most of one of the late sunny and warm days. I casually started listening to your post. I had to stop, grab a glass of SB and imagine you sitting on the sofa. A beautiful, honest and heartfelt piece! Your dulcet tones are so soothing and easy to hear. When does the book come out? Nx

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Karen Barnes's avatar

Thanks for a wonderful and encouraging comment, Nicky x

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Nicky Welsh's avatar

You are SO welcome! Nx

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Susan Dearden's avatar

Struggling through the inbox after the Easter Break I thought it would be 'nice' to listen to a little bit of Karen - what a compulsive, emotional and fabulous piece this is - ruined my mascara but so worth every smudge xx

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Karen Barnes's avatar

Thanks so much, Susan (sorry about the mascara)

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Fiona Whittaker's avatar

This makes me wish you had put yourself on the Scribehound list! Such an emotional read, and even more so hearing it read by you.

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Karen Barnes's avatar

A wonderful and kind comment - thank you.

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Dawn Lait's avatar

I’ve been at home in a noisy kitchen this afternoon cooking a curry, chopping for England, boiling rice, frying onions.

I started your audio newsletter and a couple of minutes in, placed my knife down. I took the rice off the gas. The onions too.

And I stood and listened to your story in the quietness - I mean really listened to you.

What you shared with us all today was so generous.

Thank you x

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Karen Barnes's avatar

What a wonderful comment to read, Dawn - thank you. Hope the onions got fried eventually!

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Vic Grimshaw's avatar

Lovely to hear your voice, and the story about your dad at the end 🎵💛

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Karen Barnes's avatar

Thanks, V. I wasn't expecting to be quite so overcome with emotion... Who knew that would happen?!

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