Monthly Archives:

February 2019

dailyconnectionwithnature Europe vanhounds

My power animal

February 24, 2019

This is a journey about friendship as much as anything. Our hounds are wonderful companions who thrive on being outdoors in all weathers. They just love hikes, bikes and the sea. Bonnie’s favourite game is sticks thrown into rolling waves. I’ve never know a whippetx love the water in this way. She is fearless. She is my power animal ✊??? photo by @andyrgarside ?…

Continue Reading

food vanlife

No bake peanut butter balls

February 22, 2019

Here’s a weekend treat you can put together in no time but that is rich and delicious. No-bake chocolate peanut butter balls. Gluten free. Can be vegan if you sub honey for liquid sugar like maple syrup or agave syrup. In a bowl put two large heaped tablespoons of peanut butter (you could use other nut butters and I’ve also made a batch with 1/2 peanut butter & 1/2 tahini because we ran out of PB and I couldn’t be…

Continue Reading

dailyconnectionwithnature Europe nature water

Nature calling

February 22, 2019

Wild water on naked skin is utterly sublime. Stumbling across this hidden cove on our hike today was a gift I could not turn down. Feeling thoroughly grateful and inspired by the Cretian landscape at the moment. I look at the land & know she is beautiful: with her barren, angular rocks & scars, or her deep round basins of water & carpets of white & lilac wildflowers. I am learning to think of my body & mind in this…

Continue Reading

creating dailyconnectionwithnature nature water

I can do this

February 20, 2019

For weeks this rock has called me to swim out to her. But the waves have been too big, or the water too cold, or I was not ready to swim that far. Today I asked for bravery so that I can write the words this novel requires, and no matter how much I searched within, I began to understand it is time to ask the water. The sea is calm. The sun is warm. I can do this I…

Continue Reading

creating dailyconnectionwithnature Europe poetry water

Sea swims & cold beach showers

February 17, 2019

Back on Crete. Back to sea swims & cold beach showers; to morning coastal hikes and foraging for inspiration in the mountains, waves & sunsets of this magical place. So much of the writing work has nothing to do with creating in a literal sense, instead it’s about clearing space & believing I have the right to do so; it’s about saying no & not feeling guilty when declining things that will eat into the writing time but won’t add…

Continue Reading

Europe family travel

Family time

February 12, 2019

Travel is such a gift. The opportunity to grow, to see yourself in a new light, to see people from other countries as potential connections instead of a threat. It feels like two sides of a coin: the rooting in one place / \ the letting go & learning to fly. I used to think you should be one person or the other – now I realise that growth comes from learning when to grow roots, and when to grow…

Continue Reading

creating poetry

Performance heads-up

February 9, 2019

Dear friends – just a heads up that I’ve got two events today: 2pm at Oriel Davies to celebrate the wonderful words that came in for their writing competition and to hear the winning and commended pieces. I loved reading them all as co-judge with the wonderful poet Chris Kinsey. Then tonight 8pm at Theatr Clwyd I’ll be supporting the utterly fabulous Hollie McNish as she tours the U.K. with her book Plum. Also loving my new Freddies of Pinewood…

Continue Reading

creating feature poetry

Reaching

February 8, 2019

I reach for myself / submit to lunacy & intuit / in this place I am naked / in this place I unravel / in this place I bleed / when darkness threatens / my womb births stars / when did I let myself forget this? / the moon is vulnerable in her brilliance / silvery light hums over fingertips / I tie these blindfolds to soak tears / I tie these blindfolds because I do not trust my eyes…

Continue Reading

creating poetry travel

Connection

February 6, 2019

connection: I have constructed & dismantled myself over & over / so that I might understand why I exist / I have sung songs that were not mine (they are all mine) / I have endured bitter winters evergreen / terrified to let needles drop / I have shed bark & tossed my mind into the universe / where others sought depth / I was the shallows // I have tumbled into planets & returned chastised / the voice of…

Continue Reading