The Lady Magazine

17 June 2016

Dear Readers, Throughout history we have idealised motherhood, yet for many women full-time childcare can be exhausting and stressful. While nannies used to be the exclusive domain of the wealthy, the growth of women’s employment has meant that for countless families a nanny is often a non-negotiable necessity. If motherhood is the hardest job in the world, then caring for someone else’s child is surely the most important, and this week we pay tribute to nannies, past and present, who have wholeheartedly devoted themselves to their charges. Selfless devotion of another kind is found among those expatriate Englishwomen living in Cyprus who care for the island’s abandoned dogs at enormous personal cost. Distinguished journalist Elinor Goodman met some of these expats on a recent trip, and writes about their dedication and the difficulties they face. It has been said that a litmus test of a civilised society is the way in which it treats its animals – these ladies represent an outpost of British civilisation to be proud of. Another Englishwoman is celebrated in this edition. Born in 1814, Georgiana Houghton was an artist and medium who produced the most astonishing abstract watercolours in the firm belief that her hand was guided by members of the spirit world, ranging from deceased relatives to famous renaissance masters. Whether or not spirits were involved, there is no doubt that her hitherto forgotten works were remarkable – and rightly the subject of renewed interest. I hope you agree. Until next week, Sam Taylor