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Interview – Hanna Huhtonen of Primavera Coffee Importers

24/09/2019 / no comments

Interview

Hanna Huhtonen

of

Primavera Coffee Importers

Earlier this week, in collaboration with Redbank Coffee, the very first Wonderful Wild Women coffee blend was launched.

The first EVER offering comes from Guatemala’s Huehuetenango region. It is grown by Rosa Linda, Ana Marcos Morales and Miguela Morales, and is part of Guatemalan importer, Primavera Coffee ‘s Female Coffee Growers project.

Primavera’s Female Coffee Growers project supports female growers by paying them better prices, and by giving them micro-loans and technical assistance in order to help them continuously improve the quality of the coffee they produce.

We’re hugely proud and honoured to support this project and wanted to find out a bit more about one of the women who is making it all happen. Surfer, Yoga Teacher, Coffee lover and all round inspiring Wild Woman Hanna.

First of all, please could you give us a little introduction about yourself and PrimaVera Coffee

My name is Hanna-Maria Huhtonen. I’m 32 years old, Finnish and live on the coast of Portugal, in Ericeira. I’m a coffee professional, a yoga teacher, writer and a little bit obsessed with surfing. I studied history in the university but fell in love with coffee at the same time and have been working in the industry in various positions for over a decade. I combine my days between coffee, surfing, yoga and creating.

Primavera Coffee Importers is a boutique importer of coffees from Guatemala with deep roots in the country. Primavera started working with their own coffee farm and neighbors and now have expanded to represent over 100 producers, associations and cooperatives in the many coffee regions in Guatemala. Primavera is invested in representing the coffee producers in the best possible way, supporting the sustainable coffee production and empowering the local coffee producers. Primavera is based in Guatemala with a European office in Amsterdam.

Can you tell us how you came to work for Primavera?
I had worked in coffee importing in Australia for a couple of years and had returned to Europe to be close to my family in Finland. I lived in the Netherlands and missed the ocean and surfing and had decided to move to Portugal. With a common friend, we met with Nadine, the director of Primavera, in Amsterdam for a coffee and it was a match. Nadine is a driven, honest and knowledgeable woman who’s values are aligned with mine. We both thrive for the wellbeing of the producers, preserving of the nature and sustainable coffee trade.
What makes Primavera a different kind of coffee business?
It’s investments in the origin, continuous work to empower the producers and efforts towards a sustainable coffee production and trade. Primavera is an importing business who has deep roots in the country. Operations in the origin makes its links to the producers direct and connections and logistics straightforward. The fact that Primavera sources, mills, bags and exports all of its coffee is special and results in control in every step of the way.
Most importantly for me personally, Primavera is very invested in improving the livelihood of the producers and educating the future of coffee producers by organising a primary school, a weekend coffee school and empowering the young coffee producers and coffee leaders.

Photo credit Riemkje Poortinga.2019
Photo credit Riemkje Poortinga
Can you tell us more about the surfing and the yoga you teach?

I grew up snowboarding in a country with no proper swell. I tried surfing in Norway, France and Costa Rica, but it wasn’t until I lived in Australia, near Bells Beach, that I began to surf. And very fast, I got obsessed. I find surfing as a deep way to connect with nature and live in the moment. I’ve always lived through my heart and intuition and surfing is a one way to express that. Living with the tides and the swells and the winds.. It just has something to it that I haven’t had with anything else. Adding good surf buddies and a healthy lifestyle to that mix – what else would you wish for?

Yoga has given a sort of similar way to connect with the now and the state of being for me as surfing but in a very different way. I started practising yoga more than 10 years ago and found that I felt more calm, centered and happy when I practised it mindfully. It also made my life more balanced since I am a highly curious and energetic person. Yoga brings me to my body, to listen to it and slow down. This is what I’ve wanted to share with other people as well and have learned through experience and research that yoga is a great tool for coping with anxiety, depression, stress and trauma. I am at the moment in the process of getting trained as a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator, which is a form of research based treatment designed specifically for complex and developmental trauma. I’m specially interested in working for the empowerment of females who have experienced sexual abuse.

And finally, what does community mean to you?
Everything. Community is really everything to me. As a person who has lived around the world (and hopefully has settled down now to the ocean), the people you share your normal life means so much. When your normal familiar support net from homeland is gone, you seek for similar kind of people around you and you keep them close. Coffee has a strong international community and I’m fortunate enough to have coffee friends almost in every corner of the world. A more local community I had in Jan Juc in Australia and now in Ericeira which I cherish and value highly. There is nothing better than sharing your day with your friends who also love the ocean, sustainable simple lifestyle and enjoying the moment. Sharing and communicating is an essential part of being a human being.
Photo credit Roza Kadi
Photo credit Roza Kadi

A huge THANK YOU to Hanna for sharing with us a little insight into her world and Primavera Coffee.

If you are interested in finding out more about Hanna you can find her on Instagram

Two Steps Forward

10/02/2019 / no comments

Two Steps Forward

By Cat Blyth

2018 was a game-changer. On Boxing Day, 2017 I finally succumbed to the increasingly painful sciatica which had bugged me for the previous five months. Having no idea what was coming I had just carried on, wincing and grimacing but, essentially, putting up with it and continuing to run, ferry my kids about, teach yoga, work. All the life stuff. My husband and I have sometimes had a conversation along the lines of, what would happen in one of us was incapacitated. For me it was simply unthinkable. As a busy working mum there was no scenario in which that was an option. Soldier on. That’s what we do, right? And then Boxing Day happened. The pain suddenly intensified. I was on the floor. Yet, true to form, I suggested a family walk, traditional on Boxing day in our house. My husband looked sceptical. We settled on a quick jaunt to the mushroom on Scout’s Scar, me hunched over in agony in the car as my family took turns to express concern for this outing. Gritting my teeth, I managed to cross the road from the car park and, in the frosty near-dark, began to climb the path up to the top. Suddenly this was my Everest. I slowed to a crawl, every step more painful than the one before. I didn’t know whether I wanted to pass out or vomit. I made it to the bench near the top, where I collapsed, urging them to leave me there. They did. I lay back on the frosty wood and focused on yogic breathing, praying for the excruciating pain to recede. I swam on the edge of somewhere dark, my mind unable to cope with the intensity. I remember focusing on being mindful; the crisp, freezing, clean air. The crescent moon and a smattering of stars, shining sharp and cold above me. The land felt expansive and still and I forced myself to focus on the beauty of it all. The thrill of being outside. Eventually my family returned, and I began the epic, glacial-slow journey back to the van. Finally deposited at home I stayed there. For the next four months. Incapacitated.

Fast forward to April. I honestly thought I was ‘cured’. I was pain free for the first time in months. I was walking (slowly) with my dog in the woods every day, watching the wild garlic gradually cover the floor with its rich, green carpet, listening to the air filling with bird song. I was recovered, and life was good.

I’m better, I said. I’m going back to work, I said. I’m starting up yoga classes again, I said. I’ll just have a quick practice drive, I said….. I had not driven our van since before Christmas. I felt a little excited, if I’m perfectly honest. I slid some reggae into the CD player, adjusted my seat, mindful of my lower back and all, and started the engine. Now, had I been thinking sensibly I would probably have taken someone with me who could take over the driving if it proved too much for me. But in my over-enthusiastic spirit of grabbing my new-found health and freedom by the balls, I did it alone. Lesson number one, right there. I only went across town and back. Almost immediately I realised how weak my bad leg still was. And how damn heavy our van is, how hard that clutch pedal. By the time I had reached my destination, a mere ten minutes away, I was in pain. My leg felt spent, exhausted, useless. My spine felt aggravated and unhappy. I could have wept with frustration at the prospect of having jeopardized my recovery with something so stupid as a quick drive across town. So, I was back to the floor. Back to the exercises. Back to square one? No, not quite. A small relapse, but I knew exactly what I needed to do to get back on track. And, most valuably, I had learnt how slow and fragile this healing process is and that I needed to go easy even if everything seemed ok.

Two steps forward, three steps back. It is frustrating. But maybe this is how the best progress is made in the long run. Maybe this forges a deeper respect and understanding for the process, offering bigger, more satisfying dividends in the end. I began to wonder, could I bring the same understanding to other areas of my life? I mean, isn’t this how so many of our best laid plans actually pan out? And how useful would it be to set out with the knowledge that this oscillating and meandering and back and forth-ing is all part of moving forward, all part of the journey. I guess the important thing, armed with this understanding, is not to give up at the down times, the three-step-back times, but to see it as a time to re-group, pause, take stock, breathe and step forward again when the time is right.

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I have been doing a lot of intention setting of late, holding in the light of my mind the end game, the final outcome, the biggest dream. No matter how remote or impossible seeming, no matter how improbable or laughable or unlikely. Visualising that dream as though it is happening right now, already achieved, being loved and enjoyed. Holding the image at all times, while working on the baby steps to get there, building the road as I go, one brick at a time. I read a lot of stories online of inspirational folk who have manifested their heart’s desire in an instant, who asked and received, who focused on the dream and achieved it almost immediately. As I read these tales, I can almost hear the doors of opportunity slamming open for them, bang, bang, bang, one after another. And it can be so depressing if that isn’t what you experience. What am I doing wrong? Why is my dream still an unresolved blur, miles off in the distance? Why is every door slammed in my face, not flung open with invitation? Am I not worthy enough, talented enough, brave enough, likeable enough? It’s all too easy to wallow in that place of failure, rolling around happily in the mud of defeat and self-loathing. Get out! Claw your way out of that unhealthy mire.

How about we celebrate the journey, not the destination. Sure, keep that widest dream in your sights and, if it’s worth aiming for, make everything you do another step in the right direction, another brick in the road ahead. But be prepared for set-backs, relapses, closed doors. And most importantly, embrace them all. Pause and consider what the learning here is. Do you need to change route? Do you need to take some time to nourish your soul before moving on? Do you need to focus on something else right now which might, in the long run, help the process? A few days back on the floor in pain does not mean the road to recovery is washed down the mountainside. It may have some temporary traffic lights, that’s all. No need to do a u-turn in anger and shoot off up another road in a cloud of dust and frustration, a road which may lead you in the opposite direction from your destination. Take it easy. Take it slow. Walk, walk, walk. Rest. Walk, walk, walk. Rest.

‘There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way’. Thich Nhat Hanh

fbt

To read / see more from Cat check out her website and Instagram

Interview – Katie Edwards Illustration

05/12/2018 / no comments

Interview

Katie Edwards

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Katie Edwards Illustration

Featured Image By Milton Haworth

Katie Edwards is unsuspecting. An illustrator, screenprinter & general embracer of the outdoors. In her professional life Katie has an impressive (and growing) list of high profile clients who have commissioned her to create custom, dynamic and creative solutions. Outside of work Katie is rarely seen standing still!

Mountain biking, swimming, paddle-boarding, practicing yoga and general adventures with Ryder, her energetic Kelpie, Katie appears to have that work /play balance figured out. We got together with Katie to find out more about the journey of Katie Edwards Illustration, what inspires her and how she manages to play just as hard as she works…

Tell us a little bit about yourself & your journey so far with ‘Katie Edwards Illustration’...

I left university in 2007 with the hope of being a freelance illustrator. I secured myself an agent through the process of entering a graduate competition and got noticed that way. I moved to London in the October of that year and got a part time job as a Graphic Designer, I got my first illustration brief that same month and that marked the start of Katie Edwards Illustration. It was a tiny illustration, just 6cm, commissioned by the Radio Times and I was so excited to have my first published commission. I continued like this for 4 years in London, splitting my time between part time work and commissions for various newspapers and advertising campaigns. I then got a job designing children arts and crafts which I loved but it was full time, which meant late nights working on my freelance briefs, but I made it work. Then we moved to Canada for over 2 years, where I continued to work on my freelance commissions along side jobs such Action Photographer, and Stone Carver. When we moved back to the Lake District 5 years ago after being away for 10 years that was the big plunge into running my business full time without any other income.

Photo by Milton Haworth

Aside from work you appear to be a very active person – either out on your mountain bike, doing yoga or on adventures with your dog Rhyder. What does your typical day look like? And how do you keep a good work / play balance?

I tend to plan my day around the weather, if its a nice day, instead of 2 separate hour walks ( Rhyder is a 2 year old Kelpie x Border Collie and needs a lot of exercise) we’ll go for a bike ride instead. Or if its raining we’ll go for an early morning run in the woods, in summer we’ll go swimming in the lake or take the paddle board out (Rhyder will sit on it and then jump off every now and then to swim to the shore and back). We save the rainy days to get stuck into work. When I’m really busy a short local bike ride can take up less of my working day than two walks. I enjoy it more and Rhyder is tired out, double bonus.

On the days that I take out a few hours for an adventure I’ll get up and work early and work later into the night. I’m not a big TV fan, I’m quite happy working in the evenings if it means I get to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

When I first went full time freelance I felt guilty going for a walk or ride when I should have been working, and I wasn’t very motivated to go on my own when most people work 9-5. Rhyder is the perfect excuse to enjoy what I love doing in this amazing place that I live. No matter how busy I am he still needs exercise and is a welcome break for looming deadlines.

Getting outside is great stress relief and rest for your mind when everything is getting on top of you. I’m lucky to live a beautiful part of the Lake District. Woods, lakes, tarns and hill tops right on my doorstep, I rarely do the same walk/ride twice in one week. When I have meetings or gallery deliveries, Rhyder comes too and we explore a new place. He really is the perfect adventure buddy, loves everything I love and gets me outside every single day, rain or shine. When I lived in Canada, I really felt everyone worked to live, not lived to work. I wanted to keep this mentality. I work hard but I play hard too, in fact I tend to burn myself out and have to remember to take a day off every now and then.

Does life living in The Lake District and the things you enjoy doing in your spare time influence your work?

A lot of my illustrations are nature or animal inspired. Sometimes I place objects or animals in unusual compositions to communicate a new idea, often funny, quirky or thought provoking.

I’ve recently being exploring mountain biking screen prints, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. ‘One More Brew’ finally kick started this, a collective of mountain biking creatives working towards a premiere night where we share our new biking inspired projects. As a result I now receive commissions to transform photographs of all sorts of outdoor activities into a unique screen print, they make a great gift. I have many outdoor adventure ideas in the pipeline, its just finding the time to do them.

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Photo by Milton Haworth

Have there been any particular highs or lows which stand out since starting your business?

That first published illustration was pretty special, but every commission is really exciting, going out to buy the magazine or newspaper its in, or your friend sending you a picture of your work on a hotel wall or a poster on the London Underground.

I love selling my screen prints direct to my customers at art shows. I do a little dance inside every time and you can’t help but smile from ear to ear. I’ve won 3 awards, 2 of them were in my 10th year of business, so that year was a very memorable time, I really felt all my hard work was paying off.

I’m currently working with the hotel chain Roomzzz and have been creating new screenprints for their new locations (three so far) Manchester was the first one and at the opening night the CEO that I hadn’t met before thanked me personally in front of everyone for all the art on the walls, that was pretty amazing.

My most noted low point was when I went freelance full time, when we moved back to the Lake District from Canada (it didn’t help that I missed Canada terribly). When I first started out I did a lot of self promotion and then when I didn’t have much time to work on my freelance work, I didn’t self promote, I just took the work that came to me through my agent, this worked fine as I was getting a good amount of work. So I thought if I have all my time to spend on my business surely I would be getting full time work. It didn’t work that way and it was actually my quietest time for briefs coming in. I had totally forgotten how to self promote and so much had changed since leaving uni. Social media marketing was all new to me and I was doing it but all wrong. After going on quite a few workshops it eventually started working for me. It didn’t happen quickly, its just about getting your name out there. There were a few times I looked at having to support my income with another job, but all my ideas were also freelance which would have been just as hard to succeed in. I have my other half Dave to thank, he believed I could do this full time, made me persevere and is very supportive. My business is now growing from strength to strength every year and I love what I do.

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What tips would you give someone who is looking to start a career in a creative industry like illustration and screen printing?

Be prepared to spend at least half your time on marketing and admin. Go on some social media courses, find one you like and do it well, its the most powerful free marketing tool. Network, get out there and meet people, I make a lot of sales through facebook and people that I know and their friends. Enter competitions, its a great way to be noticed by the right people, it can be disheartening to not get any where with them, but it only takes one to have a dramatic impact on your presence. Try to do art shows where you can sell direct to public, its great to talk to your potential customers, to build a relationship with them and hopefully they’ll want to follow you in your journey. If your having a creative block, go for a walk.

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What exciting ventures are you most looking forward to in the near future?

I have been invited back to my uni to do a professional practice lecture to my course, I’m petrified but honoured to be asked. My ongoing projects with Roomzzz is exciting, currently working on their Newcastle location. I’ll be teaching my first long term screen printing course at the Brewery Arts Centre starting in January. On a more personal note attempting to build our own house, getting married and trying to fit in as many adventures at home and abroad as possible.

You can see more of Katies work on Instagram, Facebook and on her Website

Follow her outdoor adventures here.

Interview – Faye Whelan Reflexology

07/11/2018 / no comments

Interview

Faye Whelan of Faye Whelan Reflexology

Mental health, one of the most serious and complex issues faced in today’s society.

The connection between spending time outdoors and the improvement of mental well-being has been well researched and documented.

Here at WWW we are big advocates of small manageable lifestyle changes and everyday adventures to improve physical and metal well-being. One Wild Woman who is a perfect example of this is Faye Whelan. Faye grabs life with both hands and it has been a joy to see her growth and journey over the past couple of years.

We caught up with Faye to find out more about her and delve a little deeper into what we see through social media…

Tell us a little bit about yourself & your journey to setting up Faye Whelan Reflexology...

I grew up in South Lakes, going to school in Kendal and studied at Kendal College. I still live in Kendal and I can’t imagine living anywhere else as I have everything around me, friends, family, the mountains and lakes. I am a self-employed support worker for children and adults with disabilities based in the community of South Lakes. Being a support worker is very rewarding and I feel lucky to have a job which I love so much. 18 months ago I studied reflexology and I now do this alongside my care work. I set up my business ‘Faye Whelan Reflexology’ in May 2018, I hire a treatment room in Kendal one day a week and combine home visits to fit in around my care work. I enjoy the variety of both my jobs and being self-employed gives me some freedom and flexibility. Setting up a business is daunting but with support from others so far it has been a success and I have some plans to develop this further next year….

You are a big advocate for everyday adventures and positive mental well-being – is this something which you have had a personal journey with?

I have always enjoyed being outdoors. Growing up we had ponies so every day after school and weekends would be spent at the stables with my Dad and my sister. My Dad would also spend his free time on the fells and I think that is where I have found my passion for the mountains. I enjoy gaining new experiences and going on adventures and seeking adrenaline. Being in the outdoors gives me the space to clear my head which is I find helps my anxiety and depression which I have battled with for a few years. Also meeting like-minded people with a love for the outdoors has helped me accept that it’s ok to not be ok. I believe that the outdoors is healing and one of the best places to share personal stories. Also, the challenge of testing my limits outdoors and gaining new experiences is a positive achievement and I am happiest when outdoors.

You recently took up outdoor swimming, can you tell us a little bit about how you got started?

Since I was about 10 I have had a fear of deep water due to having an asthma attack during swimming lessons at school. This has stuck with me and I wanted to overcome my fear, so I set myself a challenge of signing up to do the Great North Swim in June 2017; what better way to conquer a fear than literally jump in the deep end! I gave myself 5 months to train. I did my first outdoor swim in April 2016 with a wetsuit and the feeling was incredible how invigorating it was being outdoors in the water. I completed the GNS in about 50 minutes and so far, that is my biggest achievement in the outdoors and I now love being in the water. I joined buoy 13 swim club and did my first non-wetsuit swim on Christmas Eve 2017 and I have stayed wetsuit free since. The cold fresh water also helped me with my anxiety and depression as it puts the mind in the present moment, there is no time to think of anything else, just focus the mind on the present and breathe through it. Also, I find there is such a positive achievement from doing this and again I have met some great people who are all so encouraging and supportive. It amazes me at what you can train your body to do and to overcome. (New Years Day 2018 swim in Derwentwater)

What would you say most motivates to get into the outdoors?

Being outdoors is something I try to do each day, even on ‘down’ days as I know I always feel a little bit better after. I’m content in going for a solo walk and I sometimes prefer this than being in company as it allows me the space to clear my mind properly. I have also taken up sleeping in a hammock this summer, which was amazing sleeping under the stars amongst the trees. To me there is no better way to wake up than to be around nature. I’m not one to spend a day indoors so usually first thing in a morning I either go to the stables, go for a swim in the lake or go for a walk, being outdoors is a good way for me to start the day. My favourite place is Scout Scar as it is close to where I grew up in Brigsteer, where my parents still live. I often just pop on there even if its just to stand and watch the sun set or just to clear my head, there are amazing views all around and so many different walks to take.

Have there been any particular highs or lows which stand out on any of your outdoor adventures?

Highs- a high for me was I did a solo sunrise walk up Helvellyn in July. I set off walking at 3am to catch the sunrise at 5am. This was an emotional journey for me as it brought back a lot of memories which I had tried to forget. I really wanted to turn around as I had a panic attack, but I pulled myself through and carried on to watch an amazing sunrise and I never saw another soul. The achievement if doing this was so positive and I felt proud of myself.

On top of Helvellyn for solo sunrise walk

Lows- I recently did Snowdon via Crib Goch and this really tested my limits. I haven’t done much scrambling before, so this was a new one for me and for the first time hiking I felt scared. I honestly didn’t think I could do it but with good guidance and reassurance we took it a little bit at a time and I did it. So the low then turned into a high as I was determined to complete it and I did.

On way up Crib Goch
Do you have any advice or tips for someone who may be going through challenging times that they are struggling with?

Talk about it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support. One of the biggest challenges for me was going to the doctors and accepting that I had anxiety and depression but with the amazing support from family and friends I am getting through my journey. Every night before I go to sleep I write down one positive thing that happened in the day. It can be as simple as ‘I got through a bad day’ to ‘the sun was shining’ but it’s all about training your mind to look at the positive. Also, I am a big believer that the outdoors helps clear your mind and would encourage anyone going through a challenging time to spend a bit of time outdoors and make it part of your routine. Find things to focus on and set goals.

What exciting ventures are you most looking forward to in the near future?

I have set myself a challenge this past year of completing 30 things to do before I’m 30 and on that list is to travel so in the next few months I am going to New York, New Zealand and Australia. I am nearly through my list and it has been a great focus for me this past year and has really helped me get through a challenging time. I have a few adventures in the pipeline for next year but no definite plans as yet.

Faye

See more of Fayes ‘Everyday Adventures’ by following her on Instagram

For all your reflexology needs you can find her HERE

Planning life after near death…

19/03/2017 / no comments

Planning life after near death...

By Kate O’Callaghan

Ok a little dramatic but let’s go with it for now because it seems a good title!  

 

I spent years living on the edge of the lakes but never really appreciating it!  I was always admiring other people’s adventures on social media, always wanting to be doing more.

 

I just wanted to escape!

 

These people were doing the things I wanted to be doing, why the hell wasn’t I?  And so, I snapped, I packed up my things and I decided that I was going to be who I wanted to be!  (Sounds a lot simpler than it was, but it was worth it…) 
Since I made that life changing decision I have had some of the best years of my life!  For a start, I met Danny, who has changed everything for me, he is my adventure.  We have travelled plenty – Vietnam, Thailand, Croatia, New York, Indonesia, Italy, France and more!  He also introduced me to a new love – mountain biking!! 

Mountain biking has opened the lakes and all the places we have visited in a way I’d never experienced, I’m always overwhelmed by what we discover on our bikes!! Being in the mountains gives me peace and freedom, and the fact that you’ve cycled your way there gives you a massive sense of achievement!  We have been on more adventures and completed more challenges in the last 5 years together than I had in my lifetime! 

Life was going spectacularly well, I was getting all the adventure I wished for, huge plans for our next adventures in the pipeline and I was having the best times with my friends and family, I literally couldn’t have been happier!  And suddenly in one small sentence EVERYTHING changed, just 3 small words that shatter your world completely – “You have cancer”! 
Shortly after my diagnosis I decided that things could go one of two ways, I could either stand up and fight or I could let it consume me!  The decision was easy for me, there wasn’t a part of me that would allow this thing to consume me!  Having cancer has challenged me in a way I can’t even begin to explain, the side effects from chemotherapy are soul destroying, not only do you have the physical stuff like the hair loss nightmare and weight gain but things like the fatigue, which is crippling, from being a person who was always on the go with bounds of energy to someone who needs a 3-hour nap after something as simple as a shower is hard to swallow.  The worst part for me, is the fact it has tried to steal my identity! 

Being told that all you can do is pretty much sit still and rest when you’re used to mountain biking and exercising 5 times a week is hard work! I haven’t been the best ‘cancer patient’ always pushing myself as soon as I feel a little energy returning post chemo!  I’ve not been able to bike but I’ve walked and I’ve hiked (having a crazy new puppy to walk has helped) and I’ve even decorated! I’ve pretty much done anything I can and got in trouble with my consultant constantly along the way 🙂 

I have been able to really focus on Yoga and Meditation with the help of Hannah at Proper Northern Yoga, who I met during the Wonderful Wild Women taster session.  I fell in love with Buddhism during our trip to Thailand, now whilst I don’t practice Buddhism, I do practice mindfulness and that has been a major contributor in to how I have emotionally dealt with having cancer, it’s given me the peace of mind and inner strength to just get up and carry on, no matter what!  

Danny and I were always very much ‘live life’ kind of people but the reality of having cancer and fighting for your life really does make you realise that life is so short and precious! You really do have to forget about the day to day worries and just live how you want to live and be who you want to be!

I am spending my down time planning more adventures – 2017/18 is going to be one hell of a year, my treatment is due to finish in April 2017 (yey!!) so we will be starting with a week in the Scottish Highlands in June, followed by a couple of weeks travelling around South West Sri Lanka in December, a couple of weeks traveling around Canada in summer 2018 – plenty of mountain biking and socializing in between too!  I will also be heading over to Nepal for 11 days in April 2018 with Hannah and a few others from Proper Northern Yoga for a trek and yoga retreat! We plan on starting 2019 with a bang too by heading over to New Zealand for a couple of weeks… It is a big old world out there and we want to see it all!!!

 

My new bike has been ordered, and I am currently planning a full back with a vengeance training plan, not only to shift the chemo blubber but to get back on my bike and become the best rider I can be! Riding has never been about competing for me, racing isn’t my thing, the social and the headspace are the draw for me, but to progress and for the craic my target will be to complete the Hope Tech Women’s Enduro in October 2017! Watch this space…! 

All my hardships prior to cancer now seem somewhat minor, this has so far been the toughest and most physically and emotionally draining challenge of my life!  It has softened me, refocused me and really made me realise what is important in life – love, laughter, adventure, family and friendship! I am lucky to have all those things in abundance already, without my family and friends support I wouldn’t be where I am today!  I am going to work less, play more and make sure I enjoy those things that are most important to me more than I have before!! 
“Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind.  The goal is to find it.” – Buddha 

Soul & Surf – Sri Lanka

01/01/2017 / no comments

Soul & Surf

By Joanne Rogers

As my daughter was growing up as a child we had many holidays together that were activity based, snowboarding, wake boarding, body boarding etc  but neither of us had ever  learnt to surf properly. As it had been a few years since we’d taken a holiday together and it was the year of her thirtieth birthday, an adventure was calling. I decided to whisk her away and go somewhere different, somewhere we could re charge our batteries have a new experience and relax.  Soul & Surf in Sri Lanka popped up on my browser and before I knew it the trip was booked.

 

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Soul & Surf  is situated in the  heart of the jungle near to Anhangama on the South West coast of Sri Lanka and is one of the very few places on the island to enjoy both surfing and yoga, offering week-long breaks in luxury villas designed for you to relax, rejuvenate and revitalise.

 

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The spacious, clean accommodation is found at the foot of a lazy river is spread out between the two stunningly beautiful Duwa Villas with their own pool. Each bedroom is en suite with either verandas overlooking the river and gardens or big bath tubs open to the stars.

The wildlife is astonishing, with the chatter of  monkeys in the trees, cheeky mongoose in the undergrowth, lizards, sea turtles and the occasional creepy crawly that might look a bit scary but is perfectly safe.

 

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Each day is typically welcomed with an invigorating morning yoga session followed by a Tuk Tuk ride with surf boards attached for a two-hour surf lesson on some of the most beautiful beaches imaginable. After a delicious and healthy breakfast, afternoons are dedicated to gentle stretching  and breathing  with guided meditation and Pranyanma under the yoga canopy to help calm the body and mind, followed by an amazing authentic Sri Lankan prepared lunch.

 

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There’s still plenty of time for lazing around the pool and relaxing before the evening draws to a close with an evening surf session and a fabulous evening meal with like-minded travellers, fast becoming new friends.

 

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The staff were faultless and so friendly and nothing was ever too much trouble. From management to housekeeping and surf crew to yoga instructor, photographer, masseuse, Tuk Tuk drivers and the chefs who fed us the most beautiful fresh and wholesome food every day, everybody was there to make sure you had the best experience.
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The communal style of eating was laid back and pleasant and the way the staff hosted the meals meant that you had the time to get to know them and chat about your days surfing.

Wednesday is a day left free for you to do your own thing. Believe me your tired and achy body will be glad of the rest. A SUP session was on offer at dawn that took you on a guided tour around the river which was magical. The day is then your own to either relax by the pool or get a bit of sight seeing in.

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We went at the beginning of November when the worst of the monsoon season had come to an end but you may get the occasional tropical rain shower, happily the temperature stayed around 30 degrees, nice and warm but not crazy hot. It’s also the perfect time for beginners to learn to surf with consistent rolling waves, powerful enough but not overwhelming. As long as you enjoy being active and are happy being socially active  you will love this trip.

I cannot recommend this experience enough whether you are  a solo traveller, group or a family. It is a fantastic, magical island that has left me with some beautiful memories of our time together that I will treasure for ever, and one day  I will return to visit this amazing place.

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