First foray into IGTV yesterday and I was so nervous I forgot to post it here. I think I might do more in future though as it feels a lovely way to share the spoken word.…
Difficult times can offer the chance for deep reflection. So many people are beginning to question this world we’ve all created, that we all buy into. There’s a feeling of overwhelm at times, that perhaps the individual ‘I’ is so utterly insignificant, that unless we hold important titles, our brains overflowing with knowledge, we should leave it to others to figure the way forward. Then change comes and sits at our table, she looks us directly in the eye, refusing…
dailyconnectionwithnature Europe feature nature photography travel
travelling from your sofa in times of quarantine
April 3, 2020
If you’re fed up with the four walls this weekend, I’ve removed the paywall on two beautiful photodiaries by Andy Garside of some of our travels in autumn last year. I know we can’t get out much or travel just now but I’m finding the nature photos and blogs online a great source of inspiration and a reminder of just how wild and beautiful this planet is. I love Andy’s take on the world, the way he focusses on the…
I’m not sure I can think of a time in my 44 years on this earth that is parallel to this current turmoil. Or is that myopic & selfish of me? People across the globe have been dealing with the fallout of war, famine, drought, & political unrest for decades. Perhaps it’s just that these events have been something we’ve watched from afar, in 24hr news reels, on the Internet, or through the stories of photojournalist. Speaking with a German…
dailyconnectionwithnature Europe feature nature vanlife
reconnecting through ceremony
March 23, 2020
**flashback to the border of Catalonia and Aragon October 2019** As we’re all house(or van)bound for the next few weeks I thought I’d share some OUTSIDER stories from our travels over the previous year-or-so that were previously paid for content. I’ll start posting these up for free for those who’re looking for something more to read, or just want to engage with the outdoors through online channels (for now at least). This piece was written in northern Spain last autumn.…
What does showing up for myself look like? Honestly it’s different every time, and I’ve had to learn that just because I figured it out in one situation that doesn’t mean I’ve got it sorted. Maybe I’ve got good at setting boundaries: saying NO is no longer something I find difficult, but the work doesn’t end there does it? As soon as one thing’s sorted it’s time to level up. And so I find myself in the situation of wondering…
Cymraeg dailyconnectionwithnature feature field recordings politics Wales
on borders and ecosystems
February 17, 2020
Sophie McKeandIn response to a week-long creative residency at the National Trust’s Chirk Castle, Jan/Feb 2020 To ascend the steep, tree-lined, bird-song-filled lane and face Chirk Castle’s imposing portcullis entrance, is to do no less than to hike through centuries of time. Multifaceted layers hang like bright linen sheets in the morning fog of these borderlands, of y ffîn, so that if you slow down for long enough you might feel a slight caress on the cheek, or a brush…
dailyconnectionwithnature Europe feature photography water
When the surf is everything
February 15, 2020
While my board is in surf A&E we both went out on @andyrgarside’s today which meant we actually took some photos. Waves were fierce. Look at that rolling horizon. I got up a few times, stacked it a few times, but oh my! Do I feel a million kinds of amazing. Will do this every day until I die. Photos by @andyrgarside who I will love until the day I die 💙🌊…
Dearest readers, Firstly, thank you so much for following this OUTSIDER journey for the past two years, and I promise to continue posting free words, photos, poems and suchlike on here. But we live in a capitalist society where I have to make a living and I hope to be able to continue doing this from my words. One of the ways in which I can do this is through Patreon support. This allows me to keep writing and creating,…
Yesterday evening we took our boards to the Atlantic and surfed with the sunset. He said, this is the most perfect moment. Laughing in the salt spray of the cold winter ocean, I felt it. The white light of the day gave herself over to panoramic orange skies as I tumbled again and again in love with him. Love you @andyrgarside 💙💦🌊💙…