Getting to the Bell Bottom of it: The Franny Joseph-Zywicki Interview

 

I can't think of a better way of kicking off the new year than by introducing you to the indominable Franny Joseph-Zywicki  - mother, wife, business owner and all around bohemian muse. I first came across Franny and her husband Fenton on Channel Four's, New Lives in the Sun and did what any millennial worth their salt would do - stalked her on Instagram! It was Jan 2021, so as you can imagine the inclement weather and Christmas comedown had me roving for sunnier climes and adventure. Bored and coasting channels, I came across the gorgeous Franny and Fenton, two Londoners who had left behind the grey skies of our capital city, to embark on the adventure of opening 'Hostal Africa,' in Tarifa, Andalusia, Spain. Not only had they not ever run a hostal before, they also had THREE children under five and one on the way to contend with! 

Needless to say, having just had my first child and barely able to remember my own name through the post partum fug, I was mega impressed with Franny and her ability to seemingly do it all. As you can imagine, I was utterly stoked when Franny agreed to do this interview, especially considering her incredibly busy life- and I asked her in the run up to Christmas (sorry Franny). 

Best of all she's funny, like seriously funny, her relatable posts about motherhood breathe of an authenticity, gentrified coffee shops can only dream about! Her interview is peppered with this sense of humour and I'm sure you'll be as charmed by her as I am. Without further ado here's Franny! 

We don't do death row meals here; we do death row outfits...so. If you could only wear one outfit, an outfit that defines your style to end your days in, what would it be and why? 

I’m comfy over anything - likely because for the last 6 years I’ve been pregnant then post-partum then back to ish normal for 1 month then pregnant again - so my style has got lost somewhere - so I’d say I’d go with high waisted textured of some sort of wide leg trousers that stop above the ankle - a simple strappy top both in neutrals and then loads of different layers and textures on top. And ideally, I’d be bare foot - but if it was cold then I’d add in some Boston Birkenstocks with sheep skin inner.

We first met you, your lovely hubby Fenton and your three, (now four) beautiful kids, on Channel 4’s New Lives in the Sun, where we found you in the middle of setting up Hostal Africa. Can you tell us about the catalyst that inspired, you and Fenton, to embark on this venture and how you've come to be living your dream life?

ABSOLUTELY - neither of us were ever meant for the cold - so when we met - I had just come back from Madrid - and Fenton just come back from an art placement in the countryside - and we fell in love VERY FAST and within weeks we’d planned our first warm getaway - and we kept them going and discussed where we’d move to - but because I’d grown up in the south of Spain, we went there more frequently and Fenton loved it too, and our friends are there so we were drawn! We always knew we wanted to have kids in a place where they could play outside most of the time - we checked out Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil on our 3 month Megamoon, but nowhere felt as home as here - and after wed married on the beach of Tarifa - I don’t think anywhere was going to hold the same feeling either.

 Being self-employed is not for the fainthearted and often comes with challenges. As the owner of several businesses, (Hostal Africa, Casa Africa and Retiro Sambana), can you tell us what's good about owning businesses in the travel and hospitality sector and what's bad about it? 

Oooooooo owning businesses - the reason I grind me teeth at night! The amazing thing is - we have no place to be on any day - we make the rules - the location, the times and if a kid is sick - that’s it. It means Fenton and I get to have soooo much time together and with the kids that we couldn’t really do anything else now we know this life. The negative - you can’t call in sick if there is an actual problem - there is no day off - as comms and bills and accounts always need doing. And running a team of people and keeping them happy and motivated is also exhausting - but omg - SPANISH PAPERWORK is out of control ridiculous time consuming and unnecessary. And let’s not forgot COVID - we were on benefits for a year with no income whatsoever. And that was only Fenton - we were lucky not to have started HOSTAL or Casa then as that may have ended me. The only thing I think I wish I’d had was a maternity leave - impossible when you run several businesses - but I can thank COVID for giving me that with Mango!

Leaving the UK and full time employment must have been knee-knocking scary, what advice do you have for anyone out there thinking of leaving their jobs to set up a business?  

DO IT. But do it - with these three things in place - rough location of where you want to live (but don’t commit). A very happy lump of savings to survive you 6 months because you never know. A sure-fire plan of how and when you will start earning money - as the stress of moving alone means none of the big stuff needs to also be playing on your mind.

Your Instagram account is a beautiful ode to family life and your kids, what has motherhood taught you about yourself? 

I must comment that my Instagram is all laughter and happy pics, but I am an ARMY MAJOR at home - I shout, I scream, and I growl (a lot) - the kids drive me mad and sometimes when I put them to bed, I’m immediately guilty for how I’ve behaved all afternoon. I’m quite useless at remembering not to impart my tiredness onto them. But motherhood has taught me that LIFE and the circle of LIFE is amazing, and our bodies are INSANELY incredible - but also our brains - what we can go through and bounce back from - what we can juggle all at the same time - how we can muster up energy to do something just to make the kids smile - and how being ill isn’t a thing - HAHA. I look back on us pre kids and I’m like - wow I used to feel ill and lie in bed all day - what even is that.

Three thriving businesses, a great relationship and four children - Franny how the hell do you do it all?! What’s the secret, (asking for a friend)! 

HAHAHA - I don’t - it just happened. I have that disease where I constantly need to be doing something new - and then once I’ve “tackled it or done it” I’m like what’s next - AND SO DOES my husband. My husband and I even though we work together our jobs barely cross and when they do well normally argue about it - we stick to our lanes - it helps. WE DO KIDS VERY WELL together - we have the same ideals for what we want for them - I’m the scary one he’s the nice one. He’s the healer I’m the organiser!

What brings you balance on days when your head is on backwards or nothing is quite working? 

2 things - I go outside in whatever state I’m in with whichever child I have with me and walk outside for a bit. AND - BEDTIME - I am so basic that on the worst day I literally need to get in to bed when the kids do and turn on something sooooo mind numbing like love island and just switch off from reality. My husband is quite the opposite he would meditate and swim in the sea.

It’s very easy to get swallowed up in the vortex of motherhood, what makes you feel seen, or connects you back to yourself? 

Friends - I LOVE bringing people together - and hosting - I love connecting people I know will get along - and making it all happen with yummy food and without kids is perfect for me.

What is a day in the life like for you? 

7am wake up - if I’m lucky - recently more like 6.30am.

Fenton gives me 30 mins to lie in bed/get up - and go down to do the kids hair and get them dressed. I have a smoothie.

Then school days - we are out the door and its Chilli and I straight into admin while he naps - or food shopping or seeing friends while walking. Then sorting lunch and dinner. - (I’m a slow cooker woman because I don’t like washing up so the more, I can get done in advance the better) then 3-4 nursery and school pick up. And then some sort of outdoors play date - beach or mountains or playground. Home for 5.30 - dinner and then bath and bed at 7. Then Fenton and I like to relax - we eat with the kids so that we don’t have to lift a finger when they’ve gone to bed, and we can watch a movie and snack all evening long! Haha on a weekend we are normally hosting too! If my life had more time I’d probably add in a workout - but I’m just trying to intro that at the moment - 10 min YouTube hiit please!!

You live in beautiful Tarifa, what is a must see or a hidden gem that visitors should know about? 

 YOU must go to the sand dunes at Punta Paloma. They are breath taking. And you can sand skim down them!

Bonus Question: What’s your guilty pleasure? 

Oooophhh - TERRIBLE TV, I mean it’s awful. Oooo and endlessly scrolling on reels of mothers being hysterical - I ALWAYS FEEL SEEN. Hahaha.

Thank you so much Franny!

 Throughout this interview you've been looking upon the beautiful interiors of Hostal Africa, if you'd like to stay please check out Hostal Africa or Retiro Sambana or Casa Africa

For Franny give her a follow @frannycatz 

See you soon lovebugs! 

Soph x