The Absolute Word

24/06/2025

My neck is knacked.

My brain pings too rapidly to easily switch off.

My reliance on caffeine/sugar/carbs/all of the above* is textbook burnout diet.

I’ve begun making small changes over the last few months to evolve organically into routine and positive habits.

One is regular physical actions to improve my posture and relieve tired muscles.

Another is making time to breathe and refocus.

A third is replacing my doomscrolling with reading more.

But if I was free from 9.45-11.30 on Saturday 5th July, probably the best thing I could do would be to join Yvonne EwingtonWellbeing Life Coach and Marie Brobyn Wellness at their 90-minute Summer Reset at Middleton Hall Retirement Village.

Not only are they two of the loveliest, calming, supportive listeners, the workshop is in a tranquil setting, and it’s only £15.

Fancy stepping away from the noise for a bit? Link to book is in the comments.

*delete as appropriate. That’s what I’m working on, anyway.

28/05/2025

It was a privilege to work on this local community project, designing and creating the guide booklet using the historians' research and copy. Can't wait to see it in print!

Interested in the history of our local area? We’ve got just the thing for you!

In conjunction with the S&dr200 festivities, MSG Local History Group has worked with Katharine Matthews of The Absolute Word to produce this fantastic insight into the birth and growth of Middleton St George - largely due to the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

You can get your copy for the grand old price of £1 at MSG S&DR 200 Celebrations Week from a few places:

📍 Week-long: Middleton St George WI Hut Photography Exhibition
📍 St George's C of E Academy Summer Fair
📍 15th June: Middleton St George Cricket and Social Club Family Fun Day
📍 18th June: MSG Business Elevate Evening Elevate with Hopetown Darlington

More venues to be announced, including local vendors going forward from the celebrations.

01/05/2025

Who needs a right propa good marketing chinwag?

Stuck on your socials? Confused about your content? LinkedIn leaving you in limbo?

Want to upskill without a huge investment?

Gimme a shout!

My Copy Consult Power Hour is the perfect option to get your ducks in the best row since The Full Monty’s Post Office queue.

Whatever you want to go over, whether it’s copy, content, SaaS platforms like Canva, LinkedIn, or branding and messaging, you can pick my brains for 60 or 90 minutes at a time.

Not enough time? Book a block of 5 or 10 calls and nab a discount.

And - I’m so bladdy generous, I know - if you book a call or block before the 31st May, you can knock another 10% off the cost. Regular little philanthropist, me, like.

So, in the compelling and inspirational words of Gwen Stefani:

What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?

DM me, hun ###

24/10/2024

I’m no Alice Slee Photography but I bladdy love capturing the autumnal colours changing on my tree.

It brings such peace looking out the window and spotting birds on the feeders - zoom in and you might see a bluetit on the half-coconut.

But if you want a professional autumnal shoot, give Alice a shout! She’s got a few spots left on her Autumn special at £99 each.

23/10/2024

👵🏻 At the risk of channelling Titanic’s old Rose, it’s been about ten years…

🗣️ Today I had the pleasure of delivering WizeUp Financial Education workshops at Framwellgate School Durham’s PSHE day, which was enjoyable in itself, but I wasn’t expecting to be working alongside a former colleague!

🍒 Bumping into Rachael after a decade was the icing on the cake.

➿ Delivering workshops for Co-Op on squiggly careers, she’s another example of teachers who’ve used their transferable skills to transition into new roles, depending on what’s best serving them at that point in their life.

🔀 Along with the power of financial literacy from an early age, demonstrating the ‘okay-ness’ of squiggly careers is such an important message to our young generations, as it shows them they don’t need to have it all together and mapped out right now if they’re not sure.

☮️ It takes the pressure off them a bit, and, hopefully, helps them learn to navigate different chapters of their lives with resilience, patience, reflection, and joy.

💭 I loved reminiscing with her over lunch about the good old days at Berwick - where I started my career in education at 24 - and on the way home considered how far I’ve come since leaving (mentally, geographically, and in life and business).

🥰 I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: linear careers absolutely have their place, but I truly love the freedom, growth and new experiences I’ve found in this squiggly little life of mine.

07/10/2024

⚖️ Juggling businesses and little humans is a tricky balance. That’s why for the last few years I’ve used a Boxclever Press Perfect Year Diary.

🗃️ A full page per day, divided into thirds, with a to-do list at the side and space for crucial tasks, plus a little layout of the full month’s dates and the one ahead - it means I’ve got space to write aaaaallll the stuff without faffing on flicking back and forwards.

🖋️ Two ribbons to keep important places, notes pages, a pen loop, and a handy little pocket for papers in the back make it so functional and handy for keeping things clear.

🥰 Plus, look how pretty!

🗣️ This isn’t an ad - I just got major new diary energy this morning when it arrived and had to share!

☺️ My not-so-silent business partner enjoyed unwrapping it too…

04/10/2024

📣 Owner (re)introduction...

👋 It's been a while since I showed my face on here, so I thought it was time to say hello again.

👩 I'm Katharine, the founder of two businesses, and I work full-time freelance around my young family.

🔍 I built my first business, The Absolute Word, when I was on my first maternity leave from a long career in teaching. Pandemic pregnancy and maternity reframed my priorities, and I decided to leave education to work for myself as a freelance copywriter.

👩‍💻 I began my second business, MSG Business Elevate, a few months after having my second baby, realising a need to connect with others in person and be me for an hour or two, rather than just Mum.

💡 There wasn't a local networking group in my immediate area, and I saw a gap to use local venues to meet with other professionals. That way we could all get a boost of energy, ideas, problem-solving, introductions, and leads - and boost the local economy at the same time.

⚖️ Since starting them both up, I've had highs and lows, amazing projects and harder setbacks. I'm learning to live with the tricky bits, and navigate them optimistically. Sometimes I fall, but I do get back up again - bruises and all.

📈 I've launched the MSG Village Expo, which ran last weekend for its second year. I've published a quarterly village magazine, which has nearly doubled in size from the first to the second edition, and looks like it'll grow again for the third.

🙋‍♀️ I project manage the whole thing, from admin and invoicing to design and creation. At some point, I'd like to outsource some aspects, but for now, it's just little old me.

🖋️ I write web copy, social media marketing campaigns and content, blog posts, newsletters, internal comms documents, brand guidelines and LinkedIn bios, amongst other things. And I do marketing consultancy and training.

☀️ I love collaborating with other business owners, working together to build something exciting and help each other grow. That way - and it's cheesy but true - we all get to enjoy these lives we live, with the people who mean the most to us. I mean, isn't that what we all want, ultimately?

👉 If you've got a copywriting or marketing project, or you want to find out more about the networking events, Village Expo, or magazine, you know where to find me! (Here. Message me through here. 😆)

13/09/2024

🥳 I’m 41 today. Which is really just the same as 40 with a bonus year for a bit of existential crisis bantz.

🔥 I’ve been mega successful in the last year, juggling two businesses and two young‘uns:

✅ Sanity? Cracked it, man.
✅ My favourite mug? Smashed it, mate.
✅ My neck and shoulders? Tight, bro.

🚀 So here’s 41 tips for all you hustle bros out there trying to hit the big time…

🤡 Jokes.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 The only six figures I have at the forefront of my life are my bloke, my kids, my dog, my self and… does my garden count as a figure?

💸 Having the freedom to work with who I want, when I want, around my family is priceless.

😵‍💫 Yes. It’s stressful being self-employed.

🙅🏻‍♀️ No. Not every day is a jolly.

🤔 But am I richer this last year than the one before?

👌🏻 Wan ten, as we say in Scotland. (110 per cent.)

🙏🏻 Massive thanks to all the marvellous clients I’ve had the pleasure to work with and all the wonderful connections I’ve built relationships with this year.

📈 You’ve been the reason I’ve grown stronger, wiser, more resilient, and wealthier - in so many ways.

🥰 My little loves - and my lettuces - thank you.

04/09/2024

Humble brag: I’m the best colour-er in-er in my family.

Wee man’s first day at big school today: I gave the lad a direct line to cuddles and love in case he needed some reassurance.

He just has to press and count to three and we’ll send him a hug through the air.

Aside from the cute surface message, teaching him to press his pulse point and pause to take stock of his feelings is something that’ll ground him and navigate tricky situations as he grows older.

Modelling open communication and acceptance of uncomfortable emotions, as well as coping strategies - we’re hoping - should help him become secure in the youth, man, partner, ally, parent (if he so desires) and friend he will be.

And, ultimately, hopefully, it will help him be happy and healthy. The greatest wealth of all.

Addendum: I may or may not have pressed mine a few times today.

Ok, like, twelve.

13/08/2024

Career su***de? Or just careful client selection?

I’m not sure. I hope the latter.

If folk don’t get me, or get that I’m still a bloody good copywriter (just a bit bloody busy at the mo) then we’re not a good fit.

And that’s ok.

The last few months have been rough, to the point I’ve had to prioritise certain things and let other things slide.

A constant stream of illnesses and injuries (kids and me) and extra childcare have meant I’ve had to dig deep for resilience. And, some weeks, I’ve just not felt strong enough to lift that spade.

Throw in infuriating tech issues where Outlook hasn’t sent emails or saved drafts, unbeknownst to me, and my communication standards have suffered. And my admin has increased to rectify things.

Lead gen? Nil.
Income? Tight.
Cozzie livs? Doubled.
Headspace? Ping-pong Pete Tong.

I went to Atomicon in June for a brain refresh and reset, and fell asleep afterwards, missing the after-party. Gutted.

If you’ve messaged me and I’ve not replied, I’ve not forgotten you.

Believe me.

You’re on my mind most nights - another thing I have not yet ticked off my Sisyphean list.

But I’m having to prioritise my current clients and kids this summer until I’ve survived and September school starts.

Why am I telling you my failures?

Because I’m human.
Because I’m fallible.
Because I’m not able to message my friends and contacts individually to say, ‘I’m going to get back to you!’

And because, despite all the chaos, I’m still juggling two businesses and two kids, and all four are beautiful and joyful loves I have actively chosen to bring into my life.

So I’m unbelievably grateful.

They’re just hard work.

And because, as would say…

I’m fine.

And, if you’re reading this and it resonates, you are too. This, too, shall pass.

24/05/2024

Just my youngest chilling with toast under obs at the local urgent care this morning. Obvs.

Not content with coming into my bed in the witching hours most nights to boot me in the face while I’ve been soloparenting the last fortnight, he decided to belt his heed off the bedpost right before the nursery run.

Hello, big bump, quiet child, and wobbly walking.

Goodbye, morning of productivity and anti-paranoia coping mechanisms.

So, we’ve come to my least favourite place, somewhere that’s a real trigger for my anxiety after a number of traumatic postnatal experiences.

But I’m not feeling massively anxious.

Partly because this lad is having my absolute life climbing on everything and absconding with unused sick bowls.

So I know he’s fine.

Partly ‘cos the lovely paeds staff brought me a cuppa and brekkie too. That hospital toast and jam hits different, don’t it?

And partly because this space doesn’t feel scary, thanks to the wonderful work of CDDFTCharity to make it bright and welcoming, full of toys to keep him occupied.

That’s if he’ll forget about the fire extinguisher for a bit. 🙄

👉🏻 To donate to the CDDFT or see what you can get involved with as an individual or an organisation, go to the link in the comments.

08/05/2024

🗣 Propa lovely feedback from a propa lovely bloke.

🥰 Catching up with Steven Turnbull last week on a call, he gave me this wonderful update as to how his year had gone since working together last February.

💓 Now, any of you who know me, know I'm a gal with her heart proudly embroidered Brownie Guide-style on her sleeve, so obvs I had to channel my inner Phil Mitchell and push back the happy tears.

🤓 I've calmed mesel down now though, and, as a good businesswoman, have turned it into a mercenary opportunity for marketing and lead generation.

📲 So, if you need game-changing copy or content, giz a shout, pet.

⌨️ Websites, socials, newsletters, worreva.

📅 I've some availability for June projects and beyond, and I'm also looking for another retainer client to add into the mix.

👉 Get in touch before someone else calls first dib, dib, dibs.