Helvellyn – It’s a mountain (and a volcano) I’ve wanted to climb for years. One of those illusive ones that I could have done a number of times but just never got round to. That was, until earlier this month, when my fiancé and I made our way up to England’s Lake District for a … Continue reading Volcano number 26 – Helvellyn
Failure
Vlog 2 #normalisefailure – failing to meet expectations
Epic fail - I should have done this vlog almost two weeks ago, and I've been beating myself up about it ever since. Funny isn't it how we think we are a failure when we don't meet the made-up expectations we put on ourselves. Here's my second vlog as I try to #normalisefailure.
Vlog 1 of the #normalisefailure campaign
It's been three months since I last did a vlog (you can see them on my Facebook page here) and boy was it a little bit scary. What if I stuffed up or sounded stupid? Could I really do it? Was I good enough? What if people didn't like it or thought I was an … Continue reading Vlog 1 of the #normalisefailure campaign
Life after #WalkNZ: Return to normality
I went to the dentist on Monday. Over the weekend I went clothes shopping for the boyfriend and filled a skip with junk. I drank gin and tonics on Saturday night and the other week I voted in the European Parliament elections. You can’t get much more normal (or dull) than that. Life in South … Continue reading Life after #WalkNZ: Return to normality
Why pushing pause on #WalkNZ doesn’t make me a failure
Three weeks ago, I had to turn around and walk back into civilisation when poor weather conditions and a dodgy leg forced my hand and I couldn’t make it over the second highest point on the Te Araroa trail. I ended up in Hanmer Springs, a spa resort town in the South Island of New … Continue reading Why pushing pause on #WalkNZ doesn’t make me a failure
Day 134 of #WalkNZ: Decision Day on the future of the walk
After injuring my leg I'v been forced to make a big decision on the future of my walk on the Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. Watch the video I recorded here on my Facebook page. It was a hard decision but the right decision to make. Thanks to everyone for … Continue reading Day 134 of #WalkNZ: Decision Day on the future of the walk
Day 72 of #WalkNZ: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing – a day of ups and downs
I had originally planned to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, part of the Te Araroa trail, on Monday. But, you know how luck happens sometimes - the Mangatepopo campsite was full on Monday so Tuesday it had to be. Which is how I found myself walking up the side of a rather tall volcano in … Continue reading Day 72 of #WalkNZ: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing – a day of ups and downs
My top 10 most read blog posts for 2017
As 2018 gets underway, here’s a quick look back at the 10 most read blog posts during the past 12 months from my blog. It’s a snapshot of what went on in my life in 2017. Interview with adventurer Laura Bingham The British adventurer talks about the call of adventure and her resolute belief that … Continue reading My top 10 most read blog posts for 2017
5 things I learnt in 2017
2017 – one blink and it was gone. Or so it seemed. In reflection, it was a manic year of epic highs (awesome month-long trip home to New Zealand, gaining my British citizenship and starting a new journey of self-discovery through my mind). But it was also a year of epic lows (not one but … Continue reading 5 things I learnt in 2017
Is that the impending sense of failure?
It was inevitable but I’ve hit another bump in the road in this #40by40 quest to climb 40 volcanoes by the age of 40, and failing to climb Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Taranaki during my recent trip to New Zealand has really been playing on my mind. In my last blog on extreme planning and … Continue reading Is that the impending sense of failure?