Back to Assynt

October 22, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

I was in Assynt on the west coast again last week to get footage of the red deer rut for my latest Opticron video. If I wasn’t already in the mood for autumn, there’s nothing like roaring stags, soggy fungi and fiery bracken to get me even more excited for the dark half of the […]

3 Tips for a Healthier Work-Life Balance

October 8, 2021.Reading time 9 minutes.

I’ve struggled with work-life balance a lot in the past. Freelancing has many advantages, but it’s difficult to leave an office when you live in it. My living and working spaces are blended together and I find it hard to switch off. Weeks have gone by where I haven’t taken a full day off, and […]

September Roundup

September 28, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

I say this every month… but honestly what a month! We’re moving towards my favourite time of year – there were still some randomly hot days in September but autumn is definitely in the air now. This morning I crunched through my first frost since February and it was finally cold enough for my mittens. […]

Mindful Creative Retreat – Day 3

September 8, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

For the last day of the mindful creative retreat, we began in Burgie Arboretum. The grass was soaked with dew and I soon regretted not bringing my wellies! Still, fungi loves damp ground and we soon spotted one of my favourites: amethyst deceivers. These lovely mushrooms are bright purple, and in contrast to the usual […]

Mindful Creative Retreat – Day 2

September 4, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Day one of the Mindful Creative Retreat was a huge success and I was looking forward to kicking off day two with my own writing workshop. We met outside Roseisle Forest in Burghead and spent the morning wandering along winding trails within the 1700 acre Scots pine woodland. It was a boiling hot day so […]

Mindful Creative Retreat – Day 1

September 1, 2021.Reading time 5 minutes.

Last week I took part in my first ever retreat. Back in June I met Kim Grant from Visualising Scotland when she attended my event in the Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival. Afterwards, she invited me to run a writing workshop in her upcoming Mindful Creative Retreat in Moray. Also helping out was Jen Price […]

Calendar 2022 now available!

August 7, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

I’m thrilled to announce that my first ever calendar is now available to buy! I’m sorry the blog has been quiet these past few weeks. I’ve been smacking my head repeatedly against a wall getting my calendar design finalised and sorting out payment. And now I’ve finally got there. Over the past couple of years […]

A Welsh Week

July 26, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

Another hectic month! I’ve travelled more over the past few weeks than I have all year. At the end of June I drove down to Hertfordshire, where I’m now staying until mid-August. It’s so strange being in my home town again after a year away – the same old walks I used to do daily […]

My First Guiding!

June 28, 2021.Reading time 4 minutes.

Last week I made my debut as a wildlife guide! As part of the Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival I hosted a woodland writing workshop in my local patch in Moray. My own writing is always enhanced when I incorporate all my senses so during the workshop I encouraged the participants to pick up on […]

A Cabin on Stilts

June 21, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

I can’t believe we’re almost halfway through the year already! June has flown by… I spent the whole of last week on the west coast of Scotland for an MA assignment. I had to organise a self-led trip and two of my previous plans had already been cancelled, so it was a relief to finally […]