A Personal Message Of Thanks From Mandy

Dear listeners, this is a quick thank you to all of you who have listened again and again this year, those who have commented and reviewed. I am also very happy to welcome new faces, or should I say, new ears.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Transcript

Hello there,

It's Mandy here.

Thanks so much for joining me tonight.

Well,

That's my usual introduction to my tracks here on Insight Timer,

But tonight I just wanted to leave you a personal message of thanks.

If you've been listening loyally for the entire year,

And I know how many of you have,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And if you've just recently discovered my tracks here on Insight Timer's premium platform,

Thank you too.

It really means the world to me to see the same names crop up again and again in the reviews section,

And I especially appreciate the fact that you listen on premium,

Because Insight Timer really does need people to subscribe.

And as a teacher,

It's the number of listens on premium,

Rather than free,

That I get paid for.

So I've got rather a vested interest there,

But it means you're doing something really valuable by being on the premium platform.

And I also want to thank those of you who have donated to me this year.

It's something that you're under no obligation to do,

So it always seems especially kindly.

The money itself is very welcome,

Obviously,

But I think the encouragement and the vote of confidence it represents is equally important.

And I also appreciate your comments on individual tracks and your ratings this year.

I do feel,

Possibly wrongly,

That I'm starting to get to know some of you a little by the sorts of things you write in the comments section.

Of course,

It is just a snippet,

But these snippets fire my imagination.

So a bit about me,

I'm retired now and have a state pension.

In fact,

I only began working for Insight Timer a year before I hit the age of 66,

Which was retirement age in the UK at the time.

I believe the retirement age is,

Or soon will be,

67,

And I feel sorry for everyone having to work at such a ripe old age,

Especially if their job is a physical one.

But I'm the kind of person who can't really imagine life without some sort of work,

Perhaps because I absolutely love narrating stories for you on Insight Timer,

And it doesn't feel like work.

I love preparing a story for reading.

With some stories,

I need to edit out parts that won't come over well in audio form,

And parts that are perhaps just a little too unpleasant that might keep you awake rather than helping you go to sleep.

The Great Gatsby was a bit of a risk like that,

As it contains distressing scenes as well as the shooting at the end.

I agonised over a scene with a little dog at the beginning,

Which I found very upsetting,

But in the end I decided I had to keep it in,

As it was integral to the novel's theme.

You might have noticed that most of the stories I narrate are from the 19th century or the early 20th.

That's partly because I love that period,

But more practically it's because these stories are in the public domain,

Meaning they're out of copyright and one is legally allowed to record them.

But it does sometimes mean that a little racism or sexism creeps into the writing,

And I usually soften that for listeners.

Another thing you might have noticed is the amount of violence in many of Grimm's fairy tales.

Sometimes you just can't take this out,

But nearly all the complaints and low ratings I've received have been for Grimm's tales,

Though someone did once complain about A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

I go up to our attic,

Which is of course where I'm sitting now,

Reading this to you.

We live on a main road,

It's an A road,

I'm not sure what you call those kind of roads in the States or in other parts of the world,

So I have to wait until the evening because otherwise the mic picks up the low rumble and vibration of lorries outside on the road.

It's a sound so low that I can't edit it out.

Anyway,

I sit up here recording onto a voice recording program on my phone,

And then it's down to my office where I have what I poshly call my little editing suite.

In reality,

It's just my computer,

My software and my headphones.

When I listen back to the story that I've narrated for editing purposes,

I really enjoy it.

It isn't like listening to myself at all.

I appreciate the writing much more,

And frequently I burst out laughing or sometimes have a little cry.

So by the time the story gets to you,

I've listened to it many times.

This I think mirrors the process that some of you go through,

Listening to a piece multiple times,

Falling asleep again and again before finally getting to the end.

I become so immersed in these stories,

Most of which I loved to begin with,

Even before I recorded them,

That I noticed lots of things in them that I hadn't noticed before.

Anyway,

I am starting to ramble on now,

As is my won't,

And what I really want to say is,

Loving listeners,

I hope you manage to have a good break over the festive period and to enjoy some time with others and some time to yourself.

I know it can be a difficult period,

If you've lost someone this year perhaps,

Or if perhaps you just hate Christmas,

As some people do.

I know my dad always found Christmas very difficult,

Even before my mum died,

And for people who live on their own,

It can be tough too.

But within whatever limitations you find yourself and taking on board and accepting things the way they are,

As much as we can,

I wish you the best possible time you can have.

And don't forget that stories and literature are always there,

If you need some moments of immersion in a different reality,

As I know many of us do,

Both with the busyness of Christmas,

But also with all the troubles in the world today.

We read to know we are not alone,

The writer C.

S.

Lewis said.

He's the one who wrote the Narnia books,

The Lion,

The Witch and the Wardrobe,

And so on.

And never a truer word was spoken.

A good story goes beneath the surface to remind us of our shared humanity,

And of the things that bring us together,

Rather than divide us.

When I was a troubled teen,

Literature more or less saved my life.

It was E.

M.

Forster who did it,

The writer of A Passage to India,

Howard's End,

A Room with a View.

I had never read such articulate,

Sensitive accounts of people's inner thoughts and feelings.

I'd been so lonely,

An only child,

Fighting my parents,

Fighting my teachers,

And suddenly I felt not alone,

That there might be someone in the world who would understand me.

Many years later,

I realised there was.

My dog,

Safi.

I delude myself that she understands my every word,

Look and touch.

Only kidding.

But back to E.

M.

Forster,

Who was all about connection,

And in particular,

Connection between people of different classes,

Races,

Religions and backgrounds.

Only connect,

He said.

The world today would do well to listen to him.

But I would like to thank you again,

Dear friends.

I wish you all the best,

For now and for 2026.

See you soon,

I hope.

Reviews

Thank you so much for these comments. Ihave been listening to you all year and start to think of yas a friend. I particularly like the pieces that you wrote yourself. I spent the summer in the UK and enjoyed your neighborhood rambles. I lost my Mom 2 years ago and the stories about your Dad have been precious to me. As a former mayor in college of English literature I appreciate the short introductions to your literature pieces. I hope that retirement will allow you to do more writing of your own and I can’t wait to listen to them. Thank you so much for being here on Insight Timer. You make sleepless nights enjoyable.

That was so beautiful and heartfelt I had to listen twice. I love EVERYTHING you write & narrate and I good to ’ know’ a wee bit more about you with every story. Sasssy? Love her. Your
Dad. Your Gran and Mr Mandy. What a gem you are. I have been listening since year one with you and love your sttyle, your voice and your selections. Thank you. Hope your holidays were sparkling and bright. Happy 2026!
From California to UK with love
(Excuse typos.. writing w/o glasses late at night🙃)

So wonderful to hear from you Mandy. I look forward to listening to you in 2026. And I hope your Holiday was a happy one 🎄🎉🥰

How beautifully written as are you to take the time to share stories with us that touch us in someway sooner than later. Such a gift you share so freely with love. I am blessed to have a share of your sharing as all the stories have carried me through some rough times. I totally enjoy your insight and information before some stories ie. author’s information and find myself looking up more information on authors I am reading. You opened my world as once your world became open. I do enjoy seeing all those whose life you have changed around the world. You my friend are one in a million. Thank you and many blessings your way.🕊️🎶📚📖❤️

Oh Mandy, this is wonderful to hear… I feel like you are a dear friend, a penpal of the heart, sharing through the ethers… great to be able to picture how you do it! Also great to hear you get paid for every listen because sometimes they are numerous😅 we can call this very mutually beneficial. Blessed brightening of the days to you, Mr. MS, and your all seeing dog🥰❤️✨🙏🏼✨

What a lovely message Mandy, especially since it is we who should be thanking you. Your stories have solved my insomnia and turned bedtime from something I dreaded to something I look forward to. Thank you.

Hello Mandy, thank you for your message and for all the great stories you read to us. A merry Christmas and a happy 2026 to you!

Hi Mandy,
What a lovely, thoughtful thing to do — thanking us readers. Of course it’s for us to thank you first and foremost! You are such a good reader and I love your accent 😉. Who doesn’t love an English accent! I’ve listened to many of your stories. I’ve loved the “off the cuff” ones of your “doings” over there in England. And so many more. You bring a nice escape to us in this world (USA for me) that has become not such a good place🥹. Anyway, I wish you and yours a healthy, safe and happy Christmas. Thank YOU again ❤️❤️❤️❤️

That was a really lovely message! In all my years on Insight Timer, I have never had a teacher that I regularly listened to who came in with a message like this. Thank you.

And thank you for all that you do to make my bedtime just a little bit brighter.

Wishing you and yours, a Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year’s! 🕯️🎄✨

Thanks so much for your stories on insight timer and for your kind message. I really appreciate your choices of what to read. They are interesting, yet your voice is so calming it helps me wind down from my busy day and relax for sleep. Have a peaceful holiday.

Hi Mandy, thank you for sharing a small glimpse into what goes into making these stories for us. You are my favorite teacher on Insight! Thanks for taking us on this little journey with you! Happy Christmas!

Dear Mandy, thank you for your lovely and heartfelt message. I am so happy to have found you on IT, a platform that has made a huge difference in my life. I love being read to and it never happens once we grow up and you do it so well. Unlike most, I listen while awake since the stories are too good to miss by falling asleep. And The Great Gatsby was my favorite to date. I appreciate all the time, thought and effort you put into these tracks and look forward to more. Wishing you and yours all the best in 2026 🙏🏻

dear “ Mandy here” there are no adequate words to explain how much you mean to me … you have helped me during a very difficult year… your voice automatically soothes … your stories about Ted had me laughing and crying as it brought back fond and difficult memories of my engineer father… have listened and slept to your playlists … (do you get paid when we listen to a playlist ??) … look forward to the next installment when you start a new story … I am a huge fan … sending much love from California … Lydia

This is “so Mandy” - a dear friend reaching out to others to share and give thanks.

I know that I have been blessed to have discovered you here, and I am so grateful for your readings (The Enchanted April, Gatsby, Ted the Shed) and ramblings (all the walks in and around your hometown, especially with Dog MS 🐾 💕). Your narrations are genuine, with perfect intonation and space. The accompanying music, spot-on. From the beginning, I have always felt as tho you were reading just to me! Thank you, dear Mandy, for sharing the gift that is you. Happiest holidays and thereafter to you, Mr MS and perfect pupper, Dog MS.
🙏❤️

What a lovely new photo and such a wonderful personal message. It’s so nice to hear a little more of your personal life, aside from my favourite Ted the Shed readings.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful and safe festive season.
We’re quite muggy over here in Australia so a. Lot of swimming and prawns will be on the agenda xx

Thank you too Mandy for bringing your kind voice to the stories you read to us! I too woke up during the night, turned to Insight Timer and found your message. I’m currently enjoying The Wizard of Oz and your additional notes at the beginning about the author. Adding some background before each segment is brilliant and I’ve learned so much about Baum and other authors this way. Thank you 😊
P.S. I’m also recently retired and keeping busy with hobbies I enjoy.

Dear Mandy...upon awaking during the night I went back to Insight Timer to relisten to the second part of the recent Sherlock Holmes story, and I discovered this personal message from you to all of us, your listeners. What a treat to get to know a little more about you and to hear you talk about your process of reading to us. As you feel you’ve gotten to know some of us, I too feel like I’ve gotten to know you a bit and value that connection, with a nod to Mr. E.M.F. It’s been such fun becoming acquainted with the works by Eliz Van Arnim and Eliz Gaskell to name just two. And I would never have discovered the humor of George and Weedon Grossmith and what a loss that would have been! But I especially have a fondness for your Rambles and of course, Ted the Shed which I’ve listened to several times, and love sharing the book itself with others.
Keep writing and sharing your wit and heart.
Wishing you and yours all the best for the New Year and give Dog MS a cuddle from me.

Thank you for that message and for all the recordings. You’ve been my go-to choice at night - and like you said - since I fall asleep, I listen over and over again. Love the rambles. Also Ted the Shed. I loved it all - laughed out loud and also felt very tender towards your dad and your relationship with him. Like that special moment when you sort of were annoyed with each other and later he told you he loved you - which you said he rarely expressed.
That was something. Ted the Shed is an excellent memoir and I even wondered if it was a book. You should publish it!
I’m a 69 year old but thought of my grandfather and my mother often while listening.

I live in Arizona. You sometimes wonder where we all live.

I’m not a Christmas person but I wish you a wonderful holiday season - to you and Mr MS and Dog MS! Really I’m a big fan!

Lovely message, dear Mandy! Very nice photograph as well! I am so grateful for you and your thoughtful readings! I only have 2 or 3 “teachers” that I follow and you are my absolute favorite for fiction.
Thanks again for your sweet words and happy holidays to you all!!!