I started to feel that longing need to explore new places.
Maybe I hadn't got the balance between work and adventure right and for a good few months, I started to feel the need to go and experience something new. The need to break routine and stop waiting around for adventures to land at my feet. Plus, I don't want to show up here tired, bedraggled and uninspired for you.
I booked some annual leave from my day job, dragged my bike out of the shed, made a vague plan and set off ready to explore.
This trip needed a goal - a meander wasn't going to cut it today. I aimed for Torr Vale Mill bar in New Mills (Derbyshire), somewhere familiar and the thought of a deliciously cold cider at the finish line was enough to get the wheels turning.
I donned my navy blue helmet and backpack full of snacks then set off. I'm a confident cyclist and I don't find road cycling in Greater Manchester very relaxing or inspiring, it can feel a bit dangerous at times. I chose the scenic canal tow path to New Mills instead.
The mostly flat journey (a couple of inclines and bumpy cobbled patches) was cool under the canopy of the trees with the promise of golden sunshine and warm hazy glow just in reach *chef's kiss*. There aren't many places to take a wrong turn on a tow path, making it quite a straight forward wander.
I came to a stop at the very impressive Marple Aqueduct for my lunch (pasta pesto salad if you're interested) and realised I hadn't packed my purse or my bike lock. Not ideal given the cider based end goal...
I tucked that problem into the back of my mind and had faith that I would come up with a solution eventually.
A few hours after setting off, I reached the bottom of the Millenium Walkway in New Mills and headed up to the bar for my sparkling reward. I found a bench, downloaded a payment system onto my phone and prayed it would work on the bar's card reader. A kind group of knitters on the next table looked after my bike as I went inside. The sweet sound of that 'successful payment' beep.
I sat in the sunshine and very smugly enjoyed my cider.
The warm evening glow and long shadows followed me all the way home as I clocked 29 miles (shall we just round it up to 30? Don't tell anyone). I felt a huge sense of achievement and was so proud of myself for just going out and spending time alone outside.
I soaked up the slow pace of narrowboat living, the odd scratch from an overgrown bramble and nettle (and peddle -oops), took time to draw and just enjoy a few minutes watching herons, Canada geese and fish moving under the water.
I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.
Things that helped on my adventure:
Packed lunch- Can't adventure on an empty stomach!
Battery pack - I didn't know how much I would need to rely on maps so having the option to charge my phone on the go took some pressure off.
Wireless headphones - Handy to have guidance from Maps
Bike lock - (comes in handy when you actually take it with you.)
Mobile payment option - Always good to have as a back up
A bell - not everyone can hear you coming and you might frighten some people
Travel sketchbook kit - colours you think you might need, mechanical pencil, rubber etc.
(I love Faber-Castell Olive green yellowish 173 pencil for lovely summery warm green tones*)
Tell me all about your last adventure in the comments and I'd love to hear about any routes that you'd recommend for a bike ride - or a walk! Or tell me about how you drag back your creative inspiration when you're feeling overworked or in the wrong mindset.
Find more inspiration with photography on the go with Elle Brotherhood and enjoying inspiration at a slower pace.
Even more!
I've not read it for a while, Barbara Jones writes stories of roses and castles on canalboats in her book 'The Unsophisticated Arts'
A really interesting podcast by Outside/In about the use of GPS for navigation and how it might be changing our brains.
*This post includes affiliate links. Whenever you buy something through one of these, I get a small commission without any extra cost to you. This helps to support my blog, thank you.
Creativity can be found in all sorts of places.
Food is fuel. We need it to function, to concentrate, to get us through the day. I understand there is a privilege that comes with this post, not everyone has the ability to afford, access or enjoy food.
I want to talk about cooking as a daily creative opportunity, in the hope that you can find kitchen confidence and eating inspiration.
Creativity as a muscle
I'm a huge believer that we are all creative people. Comments from others in the past or lack of self belief might have squashed that light over the years - maybe even just feeling like you're sinking in a sea of perfectionism online or from the telly.
What if we were to reframe 'being a creative person' - a phrase where somehow you might feel like you either fit into that camp or not. Let's look at it as a 'creative muscle' instead. Something that can be stretched when we use it and that will harness even more creative ideas over time.
Cooking as self care
Whilst we are being told that self-care isn't just running a bubble bath, it now includes setting boundaries and looking after your energy- BUT what if food can squeeze in there too. Taking time to have a think about your favourite flavours, maybe you're thinking about a seafood paella or a pesto panini? What lights you up and makes you want to engage with food?
Go even further and set the scene, use your favourite plate, create a cosy corner and get your favourite music on!
A considered meal can make anyone feel better and even more so if you can connect with someone else whilst you enjoy it.
Connecting with others via food
I'm happy to announce that I'm that irritating person in the workshop who likes to ask what every one has packed for their lunch - I'll often ask what everyone is planning for tea too.
It starts conversation and opens up more information about that person - plus I'm nosey and hope to be inspired.
Nothing turns heads more quickly in our workspace than someone walking into the room and announcing 'I've made a cake!'. That wonderful opportunity to sit and enjoy our food together or a simple fika break.
Sharing food and eating together goes back squillions of years and there's probably an inbuilt reason why we enjoy meal times together as a way to connect- there's something quite tribal about it.
No pressure.
You don't need to mill your own flour, grow your own tomatoes or complete a butchery course to produce tasty food. Like with anything, use the resources around you, your budget and your tastes to produce something that you will enjoy.
The second best bit is that if you didn't enjoy what you cooked. You don't need to eat it, move on, it was one meal you didn't particularly enjoy. In a couple of hours, you'll get the opportunity to try something else.
Sometimes after a long day, there is no energy or enthusiasm left to cook anything and food as fuel is needed to fulfil that role. Maybe take a moment to have a think about what you would like to cook if you had more energy- write it down for a time when you do have a bit more headspace to create.
Feel free to link your favourite recipes in the comments below
Occasionally I send out tried and tested recipes in my fortnightly emails, sign up in the box below x
Are postcards a thing of the past? Would we rather take the instant option and send 20 photos on WhatsApp instead?
Are you a creative person who's looking to connect with your friends but haven't got the time to make something perfect or 'finished'? Here's my attempt at inspiring you to send a postcard to your best mate this summer!
Nostalgic times
As a child, getting post through the letter box was exciting. It wasn't going to be the brown letter of doom from HMRC or a scheduled health appointment that involves being poked or jabbed.
No, it was going to be a postcard or two from your best mates who was off enjoying their time in Wales, The Isles of Scilly, or somewhere even further afield! They wrote to tell you what the weather was like, what they'd eaten or what they'd seen.
The days before a WhatsApp picture, postcards were little pieces of art curated by an experience. The postcard was chosen (maybe even paid for with pocket money), a pen was snatched and a stamp came from somewhere (probably mum's purse). Your friend then wrote out what they wanted you to know about their trip.
AND imagine what it was like when you then went on holiday! Finding the perfect postcard to send to their front door with your story all written out on the back. Even the details like using a found green biro or creasing the edge when it was in your bag or getting ice cream on it. The delicious design of a foreign or limited edition stamp. Imagining how excited your friend would be to see your masterpiece arrive, just for them. The time and effort you'd put into it.
(Yes, I'm missing the part where they got home before the postcard and they've already told you what's on it - but I'm being nostalgic).
Making a story out of a trip
Even if you aren't going anywhere fancy over summer, just looking out of the window in a different light with fresh eyes can be enough.
How would you curate that experience for your friend? What would you write about? What would you draw on the front? If you used the materials around you, what would they say about your experience. What colours can you see? What animals or greenery? What are the people doing? What's the temperature like? What's the weather like? Is there a tiny little detail that you just love?
My recent trip up the road
I mentioned the other week on a newsletter that I went on an adventure to my friends house. It was only up the road from my house but a change in scenery and routine just shifted something in me - so I emailed my mailing list about it (you're all very welcome btw).
I wanted to share with you how I would sum up that experience and how I would translate it across. If I were to make a postcard about that week, what would it have looked like?
Your Turn
Let's share some love. How can you share your experience of a trip or surroundings with someone else. Send them something meaningful, get creative and sum up your experience just for them. Pack a load of love onto that little piece of paper and slap a stamp on it.
Every month I send out a big Round Up of inspiration (and a smaller in-between top-up) on my newsletter, click the banner at the top of my website to join in! P.S. I'll send you a free list of 30 prompts to get you started.
Have more ideas than an what you can squeeze onto an A6 postcard? Have you thought about making a zine?
Get your postcard opinions in the comments, I'd love to hear them!
