About Colette

However, I have still explored mainly through the pandemic and my treatment albeit mainly through walking. It is amazing how much one can discover even on their own doorstep if one explores on foot. Throughout my treatment I went for daily walks and I am sure this helped keep my immunity strong during chemo. My consultants recommended that I “walk, walk and walk” for my mental health, to limit lethargy and to promote blood circulation to prevent blood clots.

I often take longer walks in the countryside with friends at the weekend and I am working through several books of walks in local areas.  I also walk with a group of friends after work on a Thursday evening.  It’s a fantastic way to break up the working week with an evening getting some fresh air, gentle exercise, a dose of nature and chatter and laughter with friends and of course we usually finish with a post walk drink in a pub near the end of the route.

I also completed the marathon long, London Moonwalk the last 2 years; 26.2 miles overnight in my bra. The first of which I raised over £3,000 in sponsorship for, towards breast cancer charities and was part of a team that has raised £15.7K. I am so proud of us all, especially because as well as the close friends who joined me, many of the team were members of a weight loss program that I joined before my diagnosis, with whom I have lost 4 stone and which helped me transform my daily diet which I also believe helped keep my immunity strong throughout my cancer treatment.  The walking of course also contributed to my weight loss and it was one of the members that introduced me to mindfulness walks that made me realise that even just walking around the streets near my flat on a dark evening, I can still explore and notice little details I’d not registered before.

Towards the end of my active treatment, I started to venture further afield again, with visits to my family and friends in Ireland, a few days on the Isle of Man for the first time and trips to Devon and this year have made it abroad again for the first time since 2019, with  wonderful holiday on Skiathos.

Unfortunately my photos do not tend to do some of the stunning views I come across justice but they do invoke such wonderful memories.  I probably take far too many but I love to have that visual record of my explorations and purchasing my first digital camera was amazing after all those years being restricted in how many photos one could take with a roll of film and nervously opening the envelope to see how many photos had actually developed successfully or how many heads had been chopped off.  I’ve also been told by several whom I’m shared my photos with, who are unable to physically get out and walk due to health conditions, that they feel like they have been on a walk with me and that makes it so worthwhile me sharing them.

A friend suggested a while back that I should start a blog to share my photos from my walks and travels.  She told me a number of times that I would be good at blogging but for some time I dismissed the idea. I don’t consider myself a writer and my photos are just snapshots but she planted a seed and here I am sharing my experiences.

A couple of my trips to Devon have included a stay at a crafts and sports hotel.  Whilst I did also participate in the sport and spa activities on offer, crafts is another passion of mine. In particular I would like to share with you some of the jewellery I make as a hobby. As well as exercise and healthy nutrition and lifestyle, tapping into our creative side through activities such as arts and crafts, is so valuable for our mental health.

Mental health and wellbeing being another topic very close to my heart and I enjoy being a peer volunteer for local Mind social activity groups. It can be so very rewarding, the fun and laughter during the games hour I host plus the feedback I often get that just that 1 hour of forgetting about one’s problems and connecting with others has brightened someone’s day. I have learnt a lot about myself over the years and am still learning via the (often rollercoaster) journey that is life, how critical is to look after both our physical and mental health and for me getting out and exploring, especially in nature, taking up the opportunities of new experiences and tapping into my creative streak when I can, is part of how I look after my own health.

So come join with me on my journey of exploration, healing, and creativity. I hope I can offer some enjoyment and inspiration.