Hi there

Once again, I apologise for going AWOL, and not blogging for what feels like weeks. I can’t even come up with a good excuse, except that we’ve been working such long hours at Clarity, that the evenings just became a time to sit down and switch off. I treated us to Parker Knoll recliners a while ago. You know, the electric ones which bring the foot rest up and the back down, and even tip you out when you’re unable to get up from a sitting position! Future proofing we called it at the time! Little did we know that they would fast become the highlight of our days! Not because we were old and decrepit – although if I were a book you could definitely consider me to be “well thumbed”. We’re just worn out by the time the day is done.

When I stop to actually put pen to paper, as it were, and consider the few weeks past, it’s been a real challenge at work. Since Create & Craft folded in Oundle, Peterborough, the big question has been whether Clarity would be able to keep going. I know I’ve told you all this. You know how we dived into Clarity TV almost immediately, how we started going LIVE on Facebook almost daily, to keep the boat afloat, how we were coming up with new and fabulous ideas/products weekly. All this in a bid to navigate the good ship Clarity through the storm. The thing is, without an audience, a buying audience, it all means nothing.

Want to hear some very good news? It worked. It really did. We got out of the very deep hole we’d been left in to rot and die, clawed our way back up to the surface, and pulled ourselves out of what was a diabolical mess. Sound dramatic? After 32 years (that’s half my life) of working like a Trojan to ensure a creative, kind and productive company, it certainly felt like a modern day commercial massacre attempt. And when you read the administrator reports, and see what has happened to the shareholders (err… that’ll be me too), those 2 million shares of mine, which are now worth a grand total of £2 – well friends, all I can say is – there went our retirement plan! Silly me, for getting sucked in by a bunch of con men.

But back to the good news, which is largely due to you, our Clarity family. Because you dug deep too, and pulled us out of the hole. You watched, you supported, you bought. You knew what was needed, and you rallied. I have always been grateful for your support – you know that! But this last couple of months, you have literally pulled the company from the brink.

It continues to be a challenge, of course! It’s an ongoing flow. It always was, but at least now WE are in charge of the oars, and we row the boat.

There are so many new, creative ideas in the pipeline at Clarity! Paul and I have been planning our Clarity TV schedule, and working out when to launch what! We are actually excited for January to come round, so we can get back in the saddle, and show you what we’ve come up with!

But December is Subscription Month. December is when our Clarity Club Members subscribe to our Project Clubs for 2025. If you have signed up for another year, I thank you. If you have upgraded to 2 project clubs, or even all 3, then I thank you profusely. Because it is the subscriptions which carry us through – whether you pay in full now, or split the payments monthly throughout the year. You can sign up online, HERE or you can call Sue on 01732 868215. If you have never heard of our Clarity Craft Club – well, you don’t know what you’re missing! CLICK HERE.

I’m having a day off today. Grace and Mark are home from the States, and we are all going to see Oma today. That will be wonderful. Mark hasn’t been home to England since his Grandad’s funeral, so it will be good to see his Oma again.

As for blogging here, to be honest, I have been in a dark place in my head quite a bit, and I tend to retreat to the back of the cave when that is the case. I don’t see the point in sharing misery. So when I’m tired and low, it’s a no-go! I have to withdraw, process the feelings of betrayal, anger, resentment, fear etc.

So today, for the first time in a while, I felt optimistic enough to come out of the cave and chat to you. I am sure you understand. I can only fake it to make it so much, but it works, it really does.

Please bear with me. One day at a time things are improving. You’ll know my life is properly back on track when you see pictures of pottery popping up! Haven’t been near the clay since before the wedding in September.

Right. Time to put my smile on, and visit Mum.

Love always,

Barb x x xs