The highs of lows of January

Can you believe we’re already in the first week of February? It feels like the year has barely begun and yet it’s already flying by. (No, I won’t say it’s almost Christmas… yet, ha ha!)

Before we fully lean into the romance of February, let’s take a moment to look back at January and revisit everything that unfolded over the past month.

I returned to your TV screens with the New Year Bake Off special - a moment I was so excited to share. I know not all of you in America, Australia, and Canada will have seen it yet, as it won’t air there until later this year, but Andy and I arrived as NEDY 007, our take on James Bond and Moneypenny, and I think it’s fair to say that we were undoubtedly the best-dressed couple in the tent. I’m quite sure we can all agree on that!

At the beginning of January, I was invited to BBC Solent for an interview about my book - an experience I was incredibly excited and grateful for. Visiting the BBC studios and talking about the book was a real highlight of the month for me.

Not long after, however, disaster struck. In the middle of a very busy day preparing for my son’s 12th birthday, (I was rushing around trying to make everything perfect), I fell and landed face-first, quite literally like a rotten apple dropping from a tree! Brushing off the embarrassment at first, I didn’t immediately realise how badly I’d hurt myself. Once home, I called my husband for help with the birthday preparations and he stepped up by baking our son’s birthday cake (while carefully following my strict instructions of course!) And I have to say, he did an absolutely brilliant job.

By the evening though, I was feeling very sore. After a trip to the hospital it was confirmed – I had broken my collarbone. Luckily it was only a small hairline fracture, so not too bad!

Unfortunately though, because of my injury, I wasn’t able to take on the challenge I had planned for the month. Instead, I changed it to something a little different, and very special: I spent time reading stories from my book, which I truly loved doing. If you haven’t yet picked up a copy, you can still order it via the link here. And if you’d like to watch the exclusive videos of me reading my book, you’ll find them waiting for you inside the membership hub where you’re always welcome to join us.

My eldest son loves history, music, and English, so a trip to a museum or a theatre show is always a treat, for both of us. Our youngest isn’t quite so keen, so for the first time ever we divided the family and I took my eldest into London for a special day together.

We started with lunch at a Korean restaurant (apparently that’s what teenagers like to do these days), followed by The Lion King, which was absolutely incredible.

After a gentle stroll through the city, we headed home. I did feel a flicker of guilt about not being with the rest of the family, but it quickly passed when I realised that having my undivided attention, even just for a day, was perhaps the most meaningful gift of all.

Once my sons were back at school, the house fell quiet and I somehow managed to get everything back in order – even if it was only with one hand!

The most exciting part of January was the launch of my subscription, a project that has involved a lot of work behind the scenes! From making sure every link works seamlessly to shaping a space that truly feels welcoming, it’s been a labour of love. This subscription is about going deeper than recipes. It’s where I share my life honestly, my struggles, my joys, my failures, and my successes, and where we can connect in a truly meaningful way.

It’s an intimate community where I’m present, listening, answering questions, and engaging with each member who joins. For £5 a month, you’re not just getting extra content; you’re joining a safe, supportive space where you can share openly, laugh, cry, and feel understood, without judgement. This is Nelly’s community, and by opening my heart, I hope each of you takes a little piece of Nelly with you.

If you haven’t joined yet, you’re warmly invited to do so here.

This month I have also started working on my second book - the next installment of my life which touches on the theme of ‘adulthood’. This book is much harder for me to write and if you thought that my childhood experiences in ‘Be Free’ were hard, this book will reveal much harder, much darker moments. However, I do find some light in my darkest places so there are some happy moments too.

I also have something else very exciting in the pipeline which I can’t share yet! We are already working hard on it so watch this space.

It may not always be visible, but there’s a great deal happening behind the scenes, and I’m keeping wonderfully busy. Every single subscription plays a vital role in helping to keep the website running, and I want to say a heartfelt thank you to each of you who has subscribed and is supporting me on this journey. Your support truly means more to me than I can say.

The final piece of news, and one of my proudest moments, was seeing my sons invited to BBC Solent to take part in an on-air quiz. Stepping back and watching them blossom into confident, polite young people was incredibly special.

I may not have achieved the heights of celebrity, but knowing I’m helping to build a strong platform from which they can grow and create their own futures means more to me. I cannot wait to see where their journey takes them; they truly are the best.

Ps. If January is a month of change, then February is the month of lasting change. January is for dreamers and February is for doers. Roll on February!

Much love

Nelly