I saw a stoat the other week. It was a fleeting moment, like, mere seconds, but I'm still carrying the magic of it with me. I whispered, 'be safe, friend,' as it threw itself away from the footpath and bounded into the woodland. I said 'be safe' primarily because the stoat was fleeing into woodland… Continue reading 100 Days Of Blogging #30 – My Friend The Stoat
Tag: Nature
100 Days Of Blogging #1 – Walking With A Wolfdog
I've been going through an existential crisis, and last week was at breaking point. After twenty-odd years of first-hand experience with mental breakdowns, I've finally, in my 36th year, come to accept when I need to say to myself, 'I'M DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS RIGHT FUCKING NOW.' The first thing I did was call my doctor… Continue reading 100 Days Of Blogging #1 – Walking With A Wolfdog
100 Good Things From 2022
I've been meaning to write again for a while, but I haven't had it in me for one reason or another. Full transparency - I ended 2022 exhausted. Mentally, emotionally, and physically worn the fuck out. Sure, 2022 saw fleeting triumphant moments, joyful moments, blissful moments, but for the most part, it was a harrowing… Continue reading 100 Good Things From 2022
Thinking In The Dark : Birch Trees
There are certain trees I find myself gravitating towards – spruce, pine, oak and birch. When I was living in Sweden, there was one silver birch in particular that I'd pass on my daily walk in the forest, and which I felt a kinship with. I’d always stop and watch it for a while. More… Continue reading Thinking In The Dark : Birch Trees
Mind In The Dark : Good Things That Have Happened This Weekend
One of the things that I don’t think many people know about me is that I live in a constant state of severe anxiety. It affects pretty much every moment of my waking and sleeping (yes, it gets me in my dreams too) life. The moments when I don’t feel suffocated by the pressure of… Continue reading Mind In The Dark : Good Things That Have Happened This Weekend
Parts Of My Heart (Is A Forest)
More book talk, folks. But let's be honest, there can never be too much book talk. As you may know, the other day I published my new book, My Heart Is A Forest, and I thought it might be quite nice to share some little extracts.
Thinking In The Dark : Thistles
Thistles, like foxgloves, can steal me away for hours. If I’m passing by a thistle or a whole host of them, I always, always, always have to stop and drink in their presence. The prickles that we see all over the plant are for defense and protect the thistle from being eaten by most animals.… Continue reading Thinking In The Dark : Thistles
Thinking In The Dark : Foxgloves
There's something about the foxglove that commands my attention. It's literally impossible for me to walk past a foxglove without getting up close to it and giving it all of my attention for however long it demands it. And they deserve that attention, friends. Growing up to six feet tall, foxgloves are hardy bastards, who… Continue reading Thinking In The Dark : Foxgloves
Thinking In The Dark : Cobwebs
It's more difficult to see cobwebs now, what with there being so much sun. (Boooo!) I have to look much harder to spot them, and usually need to squint to make out the delicate, glinting spider silk that's set like steel. I miss the autumn months when I'd get up early and rush out into… Continue reading Thinking In The Dark : Cobwebs
Thinking In The Dark : The Stinging Nettle
There are three memories from my childhood that, for reasons unbeknown, creep up on me at least a few times a week. These memories are of the stinging nettle, a plant most of us do our damned best to avoid, unless we know how to utilize it. The first memory is of when my seven… Continue reading Thinking In The Dark : The Stinging Nettle
Celebrating the strange and the shadowy, the damned and unseen 