“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”
George R.R. Martin
Hey, Lovelies.
How are you travelling?
These current energies are very unstable, and I’m busy with clients and my students at all hours, supporting, guiding and making space for emergencies. Our whole team has been slammed. We love what we do, but it’s a big job sometimes, and it takes everything we’ve got.
One of my best coping strategies besides meditation and self-care is bedtime stories. Insomnia has been a companion lately and so I have been using audio-books to get me into that quiet space so sleep can come. There is something wonderful about being read to – I snuggle into my comfy bed like a child, a sleep timer on my story, and I almost always drift off before the timer ends the session, my head filled with wondrous images and the imaginary lives of others lit up big on the screen inside my head.
Have you ever listened to audio books? Do you have a favourite to share with us? I’d love to know.
Hugs, sleepy-time tea and the thrill of a good book, Nicole xx

I haven’t tried audiobooks for sleep but I’m supremely lucky to have a husband who loves to read to me! And he’s lucky to have a wife who adores having him to read to her! (I’ve just read your previous post Nicole and realise just how fortunate I am – thank you for the reminder). And sometimes he gets to read a passage twice having watched me gently snoozing, lol.
Books I’ve enjoyed having read to me are ‘The Hobbit’, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, a couple of John LeCarre, and currently, ‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ by Susanna Clarke.
A big thank you to you and your team for being here for us all. xx <3 xx
I too love audiobooks….always have one on hand…..and have hundreds in my library. I am currently listening to a Katherine Howell novel for the second time. A favourite I have listened to several times is ‘Eat Pray Love’ narrated by Elizabeth Gilbert herself. One of life’s many pleasures
Thank you, Nicole. I love audiobooks at night. Such a good suggestion. The swirling energies this past week have been nuts. I am riding the waves and find myself spending quite a bit of time in my bed, thinking and feeling. It does feel like my sweet nest.
I listen to eaudiobooks every night before going to sleep
oh yes! when I was a kid, listening to story tapes (yes it was that long ago) was a favourite quiet time activity. We’d do craft or colour in while we listened. My wise mum, who was a kindy teacher, always promoted audio books as a brilliant way to help kids listen. If you have a library card in Australia you can get audio books for free on Borrow Box app. Some of my favourites have been The Knife of Never Letting Go, Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Testaments, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and there are so many great ficiton podcasts. Tuman Bay is my current fave.
get sleepy podcast – it’s awesome – for a borderline insomniac like myself and I love the British accents – so soothing
I highly recommend “The End of the Affair” by Graham Green, read by Colin Firth. His voice is beautiful. I listened to a little interview he did after it where he said how much he enjoyed the artistic process it gave to him. And that whilst he did all he could to honour Graham Greene, for a little while he had to take the novel as his own. The cherishing of the story and the storytelling was just sublime.
Audiobooks and podcasts are my lifesaver for sleep as well.
I think it is one of the blessings of our time.
I will say a little prayer for you and your hardworking team tonight.
xoxo Sue Girl