Hello, my friends from around the world. This morning, I wish all of us were in my kitchen together (but we wouldn’t fit, we’d need a huge hall!) I have something to say to you, to my own brain, and it’s this.

We’re growing older, and we are not invisible women.

All the parts of ourselves that are changing are not meant to be criticised and judged.

The arms.

The neck.

The tummy.

We’re not meat packages laid side by side in a grocery store for comment and choosing. I like this bit. This one looks too fatty. Yes to her. No to me.

And we are not invisible.

Our arms are made for holding. Our older teeth and mouth wrinkles are for laughing. Our throats are there to swallow down the disappointments of life and then buck up to help the people we’ve been given to love.

You know this. I know this.

We are not invisible. Not to ourselves, and not to our friends. Certainly not to the people we love.

I am tired of society telling older women we don’t matter, and that we have to look young to look good. I’m tired of women our age who swallow and believe the lie.

I don’t want to pick myself apart, piece by piece. (I don’t want you to do that, either.) I want us to love, fully and deeply, and matter and work and create and build and hope and hold tight to the sails while our people learn to whoosh across oceans…and grow older and wiser themselves.

So today, please take a moment to appreciate you.

• What have you learned? That everything is survivable.

• What have you done? Tried — no matter the obstacle.

• What will you do now? Love and love and love.

People are starting to ask me what my new book is about. And it’s about this: a woman who is sick and tired of people acting like she’s invisible. So she stands up and fights back with humour and joy and love…and baking.

Hugs to all of you, all over the world. Australia. Canada. Sweden. Germany. England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Mexico, Taiwan, Singapore, Portugal, Japan, Barbados, India, Italy, the Channel Islands and America. This is what’s coming for you in 2025 (in some places, via Kindle only). The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe. And I hope you love it. But even if people don’t, I love it. And I’ve worked so hard to bring it into the world.

And on I go, like you do.

Growing older, falling down and standing again.

Because we are not invisible.

Love, Catherine xx

P.S. The Fun Stuff!

• Do you see the size of this proofread? My Reading Team has been helping me fill out a survey so I understand where and how you buy books. Thank you to my beautiful team!

• These slides are the best. You know how slides always flop around and slap the back of your feet, even Nike and Adidas ones? These don’t. So good! And you’re getting them half off. Run! Great for Aussie Christmas gifts for the girlsssssss. M=size 8/9 and S=6-7

• This amazing Aussie female athlete is my son’s girlfriend. She’s an Aussie-Mexican boxer (and Dental Assistant) and is trying to build her Instagram audience to gain sponsorship for her sport. Can you help with a follow? She’s asked for my help, so I’m asking for yours. Thank you!

• This spot in downtown Sydney is the most beautiful. Take a peek!

• If my message today has resonated with you, please share this newsletter with a woman who needs to hear it. Thank you. I appreciate you.