Walking has kept me sane this lockdown. To be honest there’s been plenty of days I didn’t feel like leaving the van but two large hounds in a small space are great therapy because you’re going outdoors whether you like it or not.We’ve been averaging 5k a day in the week and 10k at weekends so I feel a certain low-level fitness is being maintained and even today I’m starting to notice a deeper, underlying energy return, which feels so…
Today’s #veganuary brunch. It took a while for us to get used to not having eggs with all weekend breakfasts. We do occasionally have eggs from our grandson’s pet hens but they’re not laying so much in this cold weather. Anyways! Flavour is key. This is cold small potatoes (left over from a mid-week dinner) gently crushed and fried with good olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika. Served with tomatoes softened over heat with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano; and…
I was reminded of an old poem on today’s walk (it’s from the pamphlet, Prophecy: conversations with my Self, which you can download for free from my website here). For the trees There was a place she visited oneWith forests that s t r e t c h e dPlanted, regimented, ruledAnd when she spokeThe trees did not know herAnd when she spoke with the voice of the mountainThe trees did not know themselves And she ragedAnd mountains weptFor the…
I wrote this poem after weeks spent swimming in Slovenian rivers back in May 2019… is anybody else missing their outdoor swims just now? So I will relive these moments through the poems – that’s what they’re for – and keep making apples. #slowtime #riverswim #poetlife TEXT READS:Swimming in Slow Time Drop a stone into Slow Time& ride each ripple to the green water’s edge.Forget which day of the weekis tomorrow – beauty anticipated is toosoon spoiled. It is not…
I enjoy blogging about my day-to-day life in this tiny-home-on-wheels, about how we navigate living in a tiny space and the ways in which we’re trying to live a more authentic life that fits with our ethics. It a space where I share my mistakes and failures as much as the successes and dreams because this is all just part of life.Recently I’ve been writing about clothing which has generated some lovely conversations so I thought I’d share some of…
Is it luck I’m here? The privilege of being born with a white face in a country where my passport allows easy access to almost anywhere in the world. I don’t feel it’s luck that I now live a (mostly) stress-free slow-life: that took determination, vision, and a deep desire to follow though regardless of some of the anger and gossip it generated. Is it luck that, because we’ve given up a rooted home we’re able to park with family…
Making more of my own clothes, and mending those I have, changes my attitude to these things in ways I can’t really explain. I’ve loved fast-fashion in the past – being able to walk into a store and buy something I might only wear a handful of times. Everything just got chucked in the washing machine regardless – then eventually out to a charity shop. Andy bought a pair of Hiut jeans recently (I didn’t because I have enough jeans)…
As it’s Veganuary I thought I’d document some more of our meals. A few people have asked if I’m going to make a cook book but honestly they way I cook is so random and intuitive I’m not sure it would make a very interesting book. I think it makes an interesting addition to the blog though so I keep a lot of stuff either in my Instastories or over on the OUTSIDER blog (link in bio – then find…
Bedding has been an interesting dilemma in the van. This is the third duvet set in just over three years. The first one came with us from the house but soon shredded at the top (where our current one has also torn). We stripped the old one into rags and patches and bought a cheaper one, which also shredded, and in the time since then we’ve vowed not to buy cheap cotton products wherever we can help it (if it’s…
A poem for the coming decade. text reads: 20/20 Vision When the Earth is heating rapidly And the air is thick with accusations When oceans fill with plastic & empty of fish When people are stacked at borders like refuse As trash is shipped freely around the world When The Machine has become so huge it extracts joy From the very marrow of you bones Remember: That this planet survived ice age & fire That the mountains are gods That…