Hey Hey HAY! Notes from Hay-on-Wye Festival 2025

Every year, as I drive over the Severn Bridge into Wales, I whoop with joy: I’m on my way to Hay. Forget Glasto and Coachella—Hay-on-Wye Festival is the one for me: clean loos, excellent cake, and most importantly, inspiration, ideas, and connection in abundance. Passing the Welsh dragon outside Newport and winding through the Brecon Beacons, the journey itself is a joy—only made better by occasionally moving the odd sheep off the road.

Nicknamed "The Town of Books", Hay-on-Wye lies at the foot of the Black Mountains on the Welsh side of the Wales / England border. Already home to a number of book shops, the Hay Festival began in the 1980’s and gets better every year. This year was no exception with some stand out events including Matt Haig, Deborah Frances White, Edith Hall, Sharon Horgan and so many others. Overall, the tone of the festival was one of profound concern, marked by a collective reflection on how we can find unity and move forward together in these deeply troubling times. However, even with such serious subject matter, the tents were full of warmth, wit and laughter.

Deborah Frances-White spoke about cancel culture, emphasizing how division among liberal thinkers is inadvertently fueling the far right. She urged for collective focus. Edith Hall explored themes of war and greed in Classical Civilization, highlighting how these forces led to widespread deforestation in mainland Greece. She drew striking parallels to today’s patterns of overconsumption and climate change. In his warm-hearted and insightful way, Matt Haig likened characters from the world of Winnie the Pooh to common mental health conditions—Pooh as an addict, Tigger with ADHD, Piglet with social anxiety, and Owl with OCD. Meanwhile, Sharon Horgan discussed the strength and relatability of her female characters, suggesting that perhaps there’s a little bit of Amanda in all of us.

I’ve already ring-fenced the Hay Festival in the family calendar for next year—and I urge you to do the same. It’s the ultimate escape from the mundane. You’ll return fizzing with ideas, full of inspiration, and ready to (unapologetically) bore the pants off everyone at home. Thank you, Hay-on-Wye—see you in 2025!

When you're not feeling the sparkles

There's nothing quite like forced joviality to make you feel more rubbish if you are feeling really low. A number of years ago, I had crippling Post Natal Depression at Christmas. On receipt of a lovely, well wishing text suggesting that we would be having a wonderfully snuggly time with our gorgeous new babe, I smashed my phone against the wall (terribly counter productive, resulting in hours swearing in The Apple shop with a crying baby). The fact is, shit doesn't stop happening just because its Christmas. For plenty of people out there, it will be a challenging test of endurance rather than rocking around the Christmas tree wearing a paper hat at a jaunty angle. So, for those of you feeling really rubbish, this blog is for you.

If you haven't read 'Reasons To Stay Alive' by Matt Haig, please do. In fact, give it to everyone you know. It's a book about depression which isn't depressing, nor is it preachy or insistent that you follow some kind of radical regime that involves weird things like stuffing coffee enemas up your bum and refusing conventional treatment. Matt nails the experience with his deeply moving personal account of his battle with acute depression and anxiety. With the support of his great girlfriend and family, Matt finds his way through and learns to accept and even find meaning from his debilitating illness. His account is absolutely spot on. If you have ever struggled with your mental health, reading his book will be like listening to lyrics in your 'break up' soundtrack, his words feel so true. I particularly liked this passage: 

"If you have ever believed a depressive wants to be happy, you are wrong. They could not care less about the luxury of happiness. They just want to feel an absence of pain. To escape a mind on fire, where thoughts blaze and smoke like old possessions lost to arson. To be normal."

Matt tells us about his most frightening experiences, but doesn't dwell on them; instead he gives hope to the situation and reveals that depression has given him greater empathy and an ability to feel more in the world. The book isn't about well-being buzz words and Matt doesn't refer to a 'journey' unless he is actually going somewhere. If you're wondering whether or not this book is for you, it probably is. Whether you suffer mental from health issues, know someone going through this stuff or even if you just want to know more about the experience of being human and being alive, go and grab a copy.

If anyone reading this is going through a horrible time, I understand (and so does Matt). Christmas will be tough, but they'll be another one next year. I promise you that you will feel the sparkles again and they will be brighter and more sparkly than before. I  always think that the best experiences and moments in life are the ones that aren't scheduled. Lurid jumpers, awful shouty songs about how it should be christmas every bloody day and getting crushed in the shops can all be appreciated another time. 

Sophie xoxox

PS. All Matt Haig's books are total winners. I can highly recommend them all.