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By Gareth Hargreaves
Yours magazine
02 June 2009 16:24
Cookery doyenne turned novelist Prue Leith, 69, reveals how it is never too late to change course or fall in love again.
“Happy, loved and privileged” sums up my childhood. I think it’s the answer to my confidence and ability to take on stuff I really shouldn’t!
If you stop dreaming, you have no ambition. Dreaming is all about hope and optimism at any age.
I’ve always, always wanted to write novels and could paper a wall with rejection slips and letters of regret I’ve had from publishers, but I didn’t stop trying. I sold my business and gave up cookery writing – against the advice of my publishers and agent – to write my first novel at 55. I’ve just had my fourth published. Whether you think things are or are not possible, you’re right! It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I firmly believe that.
I adored my first husband (South African writer Rayne Kruger with whom she had a son, Daniel, and adopted daughter, Li-Da, from Cambodia) and we had a fantastic marriage for 30 years. When he died of emphysema, it was grim and I missed him dreadfully. But I got stuck into widowhood and decided I could bear it. I would not have wanted him back so ill and suffering. Not having to have meals ready on time was some small compensation.
Being a widow taught me I can do things on my own quite well, for example going to the cinema. In that situation, you don’t actually need anyone sitting next to you to watch a film. What you can’t do so well, though, is ‘nothing’ on your own. Sunday mornings reading the papers just aren’t the same by yourself.
It was to my astonishment that I fell in love again with Ernest (entrepreneur Sir Ernest Hall) after four years on my own. I certainly wasn’t looking for it. It was all exactly as I remembered falling in love the last time with Rayne. The physical feeling of being in love is exactly the same. That slightly sick, pleasant feeling you get on hearing their voice.
It sounds ridiculous at our age, but partner sounds like a business deal, so Ernest is known as my sous chef!
Even if you can’t do it in tune – and I can’t – you can still sing out of other people’s earshot in the bath or garden. I’m sure the deep breathing releases endorphins to make you feel happy. Just look at the faces of the audience on Songs of Praise!
I honestly don’t know! Perhaps it is that I’ve always been energetic. People always think success is about genius, imagination or creativity, but a main attribute has to be health and energy. I’ve always been someone who wanted to do things.
We have six copies of Prue’s fourth novel Choral Society to give away (RRP £17.99). The first six entries drawn after the closing date of June 16 will receive a copy. Send your entry to Prue Leith Book competition, Yours magazine, Media House, Peterborough PE2 6EA. And If you do not wish to be contacted in the future by Yours Magazine please write ‘No Further Contact’ clearly on the postcard.
Prue Leith was talking to Carole Richardson.
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