GALLERY

Full of pride for the wee man getting into the sea

Full of pride for the wee man getting into the sea at 730 this morning. At his request I hasten to add. He’s seen me doing it, he wants to join in. What a morning for it. Cold. Calm. Lots of slipway chats after. Community. This is my favourite kind of Sunday service. #wildswimming #wildswims #seaswimming #seaswims #coldwaterswimming #coldwaterswims #coldwater #irishsea #doctorsea #vitaminsea #sunrise #morningswim #skytimeoverscreentime #getoutside #clearyourmind #wellderness #childhoodunplugged

Taking 15 mins at lunchtime to #getoutside and jus

Taking 15 mins at lunchtime to #getoutside and just sit in the sun. Homeworking runs the risk of too much time sitting on my backside in front of a screen or making distance only to the kitchen. Don’t muck about people, take yourself out the door. #getoutside #clearyourmind #wellderness #spring #springsunshine #sunshine #blueskies #bluesky #spéirgorm #grass #workfromhome #skytimeoverscreentime

I read a thread on twitter recently where people w

I read a thread on twitter recently where people were remembering the moment in 2020 when they realised the enormity of the pandemic and what it was going to mean for us. There were comedy moments about being in a sweaty nightclub one day then being afraid to shake hands the next, and the more emblematic temperature checks in airports, empty buses and tubes. My particular favourite was the person who said they knew it was serious when Ireland closed the pubs. I don't actually remember when the full enormity dawned on me. I'd known it was coming but all felt a bit far away. In hindsight I do know that 2nd March 2020 was my last day of 'normal'. So it's been one year for me. That day I went to the gym early doors, had a walk on the beach with my better half, took my son to my parents that afternoon where he made lego with his grandad while I went for a swim. The next day, everything got a bit more real. I was in London and a nearby office in Canary Wharf sent everyone home and had a deepclean because there had been one (!) covid case. I got stranded two days later when an airline collapsed, the first casualty of the travel industry. After getting home, I had a fever and although I had no idea what it was I was sufficiently worried to hide away. By the time I felt 'normal' there was no normal anywhere else. School closed. WFH order. You know the rest. A year later everything has changed and yet nothing has changed. Today I went for a swim at lunchtime. Tide still coming and going out. Sub 10 degrees. Same anticipation before. Same elation after. Keep doing the small things. They add up to be big things. #coldwater #coldwaterswimming #coldwatertherapy #irishsea #vitaminsea #doctorsea #wildswimming #wildswims #seaswimming #seaswims #marchswimming #marchswims #marchswimming #getoutside #clearyourmind #wellderness #newcastlecodown #exploreeverywhere #mentalhealth

And that’s a wrap. #28dayswalking day 28 ✅ M

And that’s a wrap. #28dayswalking day 28 ✅ My garmin tells me I walked over a quarter of a million steps in the last four weeks. Most of those steps when wearing wellies. I have never been an initiator of things so #28dayswalking was right out of my comfort zone. Big thanks to everyone who joined in and made my month fly by. It has put the “social” into social media and I have LOVED seeing the posts. For anyone else I’ve bored rigid, normal intermittent posting will resume in March I think. I know a lot of people are out a lot but the most common feedback I got was that it was a gentle nudge out the door on the wet and windy days. And we had plenty of those. That held true for me too. Working from home has brought me lots of benefits but there are days when I realise I’ve been sat on my arse for a lot of hours. Having a push to get out the door has helped counteract the chair prison. That so many people joined in made me smile and given me a chuckle every day. I’ve also got to see so many beautiful places in three continents - thanks also for the carparks and the murals (you know who you are 😂). I’ve seen lots of friends and gotten to know a little bit of the lives of lots of folks I’ve yet to meet in person.
I love walking. I love its accessibility. The lack of fuss or fancy equipment. The effect on kids. The social aspect. The power of getting outside to decompress and let go. The meditative effect to calm a busy mind. The simplicity. I’ve even loved the challenge this month of dodging blizzards and massive storms. I’ve loved seeing the seasons change and I’m glad I picked this month. Most of all I’ve loved the connection on here. Thanks again folks. #walk #walking #wellnesswalks #wellnesswalking #mentalhealth #mentalhealthwalks #getoutside #clearyourmind #wellderness #dailywalk #giveusthisdayourdailywalk #exploreeverywhere
PS I will tag everyone I can think of here who joined in (full timers and part timers!) - if I miss you please tag yourself in the comments and I will send you some virtual love x
PPS Special kudos to one of the gang who didn’t get to day 28 because she had a baby on day 24 😘 👶

Feet not only for walking. Glorious day. Ticked t

Feet not only for walking. Glorious day. Ticked the walk off early doors with the wee man #28dayswalking day 27✅ leaving the time later for a swim with the ladies and a farewell for now to someone off to warmer waters. Here’s to those mad enough to do handstands in 7 degree water. #wildswimming #wildswims #coldwater #coldwaterswimming #coldwaterswims #seaswimming #seaswims #irishsea #doctorsea #vitaminsea #blueskies #spéirgorm #getoutside #clearyourmind #wellderness #spring #handstands #februaryswimming #februaryswims

A minimal screen day today. Our early in pursuit

A minimal screen day today. Our early in pursuit of fornicating frogs. Alas ‘twas not to be and all the frogs appear to have had their fun. One vast ditch of frogspawn but no frogs. Loving that the hot takes from my friends these days are “quick, there’s loads of randy frogs in the ditch behind the house”. Truly lockdown has changed everyone. Out this afternoon for a solo trip with the dog and spotted these beauties. I have loved seeing the changes over this month. I feel like it’s ending with a flourish. #28dayswalking day 26✅ #getoutside #clearyourmind #wellderness #walk #walking #crocus #spring #flowers #donardforest #dogwalk

That’s more like it. Especially when I had the m

That’s more like it. Especially when I had the morning off work. Whoop! The dog happy out. I am too. #28dayswalking day 25 ✅ #happyout #getoutside #clearyourmind #dogonabeach #labradoodle #labradoodlesofinstagram #labradoodlesofig #labradoodlesofinsta #blueskies #bluesky #sunshine #spring #spéirgorm #beach #irishsea #doctorsea #vitaminsea #wellderness

Early morning frogspawn check. More big clumps in

Early morning frogspawn check. More big clumps in the ponds. Expect many more of these in the coming weeks. Viewers from previous series will remember the will the pond dry up cliffhangers and where do they all go musings. Seriously this might be the most excitement we get for the next 3 months. #28dayswalking day 24 ✅ On the home strait now. And a nice forecast to see out the month. #walk #walking #earlymorningwalk #mentalhealthwalks #exploreeverywhere #outdoorclassroom #childhoodunplugged #outdoorlearning #nature #amazingnature #spring #1000hoursoutside