November 2020 – OUTSIDER

The Art of Being Jane Coe

November 28, 2020

In the second of this occasional series of chats with middle years women who live on the road I’m talking with the utterly wonderful artist, surfer, full-time vanlifer, creative recycler and beachcomber, Jane Coe. This was so much fun! We talk everything from travel and menopause, to four-legged companions and getting in your flow. Additional photos of Jane’s work below:Follow Jane on Instagram: Artofbeingjanecoe View this post on Instagram A post shared by OUTSIDER [Sophie McKeand] (@sophiemckeand_outsider)…

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#100outdoordays

November 26, 2020

Going to document these winter months through #100outdoordays over on Instagram. I’ve posted the first few main grid photos on this page, theres also more over my Instastories. I’ll post some as separate pieces on this blog, if you want to see them all hope over to Instagram: @sophiemckeand_outsider day 1 life on two wheels with this guys is just ? Day 2 For obvious reasons we made the decision not to visit any people on this tour of Cymru,…

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S T A N D I N G

November 19, 2020

View this post on Instagram A post shared by OUTSIDER [Sophie McKeand] (@sophiemckeand_outsider) A old poem and one I’ve been thinking about a lot this past month. Also wanted to do something to celebrate finishing this beautiful jumper: pattern by @camillavaddk. #feminism …

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Naked bodies aren’t offensive (but sexualising them can be…)

November 14, 2020

My body is a prayer to the waterNaked, I return to herThe rain is charismatic in her offeringsI bathe in the full potential of Self.? @andyrgarside ? In celebration of my body who got me through over 44 years of life in style (most of the time), and giving praise to the waters that birthed me (but not for too long as the Cymraeg waters are cold in November).…

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When I need to be around big things so I can ignore the small…

November 13, 2020

I had a bit of a weird trigger this morning. Usually if I wake early I lie in bed writing a blog or ideas for a poem on my phone as it’s not fun getting up too early in a van when it’s cold, dark and raining outside.Yesterday I posted a lovely chat with Liset who also spends time creating on the road and I was feeling really happy with the way the OUTSIDER blog is evolving. I also sent…

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Liset Van Dommelen

November 12, 2020

This is the first in an occasional series of chats with some truly wonderful OUTSIDER WOMEN from the road. I hope you enjoy these conversations as much as I am. Discover more of Liset’s work on her website here, or Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by OUTSIDER [Sophie McKeand] (@sophiemckeand_outsider) on Nov 12, 2020 at 3:33am PST…

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On gifting

November 10, 2020

These days I don’t wear makeup. It’s not even been a conscious choice as I still have some rattling around the van somewhere. I think it’s more to do with accepting myself exactly as I am – all the lines & wrinkles, the grey hairs & belly rolls.I also have a huge aversion to Xmas presents. Like massive. I hate the obligatory nature of it forced upon us by our capitalist society. I hate how people get into debt just…

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Inter-species zero-waste kitchen

November 8, 2020

This is a lengthy heading! But it’s explains what I’m doing so I’m gonna stick with it. If you’re thinking of switching to home-cooked food for your hound(s) the most difficult aspect is probably finding the time. Part of our slow-living vanlife is that I have more headspace for things like this, but I still don’t to want to spend all my days cooking. I’ve found the easiest way is for us all to eat different variations of the same food…

creating family feature feminism poetry

On histories and storytelling

November 6, 2020

View this post on Instagram I’ve been working on letting go of expectation, both my own, and the expectations of others. Sometimes I get lost in all the rushing and the fuss and forget that a huge part of slowing down and minimising our lives was that I have the time and space to create exactly what I want, how I want, without worrying about how it’s received or having eleventybillionlikes. This online space, and the OUTSIDER blog were always…

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Shedding skins

November 5, 2020

I’ve only taken three long-haul flights in my life: one to Florida with my daughter about twenty years ago. Then I’ve flown to India twice in more recent years, both for poetry projects. I used to think this made me uncultured, that I hadn’t experienced enough of the world. We even used to take most of our holidays in north Wales. It’s both crazy and amazing how we can jet around the world these days, but I’m also happy that…

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