Blog Posts

Finding Narnia: A secret hike in Hawaii - follow up

15/10/2021

Narnia Falls, Hilo, Hawaii. Photo Credit: Jason

Three and a half years ago I visited my friend Charlotte on the Big Island of Hawaii. I had incredible adventures!

I visited the Volcanoes National Park and walked in moon-like craters. I also paddled with the local canoe club and had a wonderful experience swimming with dolphins.

But it is my blog post about hiking to the secret waterfalls of Narnia that has consistently had the most visitors since it was published.

On the day that I visited, Hilo was grey and rainy - not unusual for that part of the Hawaii. The tropical climate is in contrast to the sunny side of the island, where the town of Kona is and where the tourists flock. Unsurprisingly, I had the place to myself. I didn’t see a single other person at the falls or on the trail. And I wanted it to stay that way. I had previously been running to a different waterfall known as Boiling Pots. Much easier to access than Narnia, it was busy with visitors. A bus-load of people had just disembarked with their selfie sticks, and I left quickly without taking any photos.

The original post about Narnia gets over 100 views a week. Imagine if that many people actually visited! I realise that many people may be planning or dreaming, but still, I didn’t want to be responsible for changing a secret and secluded hike into a self-stick situation.

So instead, I offer to send some clues to people who want to find the route for themselves. This has led to a steady trickle of emails from random strangers who live all over the world. Messages have to be nice, or I don’t reply. I like it when people say why they will be visiting or something about themselves.

One person who requested some clues was Jason. He went a few weeks ago, using the information I gave him, and found Narnia!

“Thanks so much for the info! We ended up finding it, and it was a great time.”

Jason’s update will allow me to give future seekers some additional information. Plus he kindly shared his photos. It looks like a lovely sunny day, maybe one day I'll go back...

Do you want to find Narnia Falls for yourself? Send me a message using the Contact Form and check out the original post here.

Narnia Falls, Hawaii. Photo Credit: Jason

Photo Credit: Jason

0 Comments

Dear Priti Patel: The Home Office is Failing My Friend

12/10/2021

2 Comments

Photo by Niklas Weiss on Unsplash

Here is a copy of the letter I have sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel. If you feel moved by what you read, please sign the petition against the Nationality and Borders Bill which seeks to criminalise and dehumanise those who seek help in the UK.

Dear Priti Patel,

I am writing to you about my friend Mohammed*. He is an asylum seeker from Sudan and is currently experiencing the indignity of the British asylum system.

I first met Mohammed in France. I was a volunteer in Calais, so I saw first-hand what you described in your recent Conservative Party Conference speech as:

“vast camps outside Calais, mainly of male economic migrants”.

There are no “vast camps”, the French police branch Compagnies républicaines de sécurité (CRS) perform regular and complete evictions of all the places that people try to sleep.

Roots - an organisation working on the ground - reported a mass eviction on 23rd September this year, stating that evictions are an “almost daily occurrence”.

To describe most of the people there as “economic migrants” is also incorrect. Everyone I met in the 12 weeks that I was there would qualify for asylum.

One of my friends is from Afghanistan. The Taliban tried to recruit him so that he could put his business and finance skills in their hands. He fled to save his life.

Another of my friends is from Iraqi Kurdistan. Decades of conflict and continuing discrimination mean that it is no place to have a future.

Sudan is a country haunted by the end of British colonial rule, which resulted in a North/South divide, with violent militias fighting for power. Normal people are displaced from their towns and villages to avoid being caught up in the fighting. Mohammed lived in a refugee camp from the age of 5 years old. With virtually no education, no employment opportunities and even limited access to nutritious food, he had no choice but to leave. His early life and the circumstances of his country undoubtedly fit the description of an asylum seeker.

Mohammed arrived in the UK in August 2020. He came via a small, flimsy boat. His life in France had become so unbearable that he knew he was risking his life, but dying in the Channel was a better option than staying where he was.

On arriving in the UK, he was placed into a hotel. We both understood the need for compliance to COVID restrictions, and of course a hotel room is better than a tent on some wasteland, but the conditions were poor. The GP practice nearest the hotel made a complaint to the Home Office on behalf of the residents. The standard of the food was below an acceptable level, and the treatment of residents was often rude and demeaning.

Whilst these conditions would have had little long-term effect had they been endured for a brief time, Mohammed was there for more than 9 months. 9 months of being fed the same food, 9 months of being isolated from other people without the ability to do anything for himself, 9 months of wondering if tomorrow would be the day to move somewhere better. He couldn’t cook, go shopping, or buy clothes or toiletries.

We rejoiced on the day he was notified of leaving. He was one of the last people to be moved from the hotel. Again, we could both appreciate that families with children were prioritised, but plenty of single people who arrived after him were moved before him. With only a day’s notice, he was sent to a shared house in a northern city. Mohammed was disappointed not to be in London, but excited to get to know a new city. The city where his future could finally begin. The disappointment at the state of this shared house fell especially heavily after such optimism. It was unclean, there were no curtains at the window, no table or chairs. Just a bed in a room that didn’t lock.

Thanks to volunteers and organisations, he now has curtains and more furniture, but three weeks ago he called Migrant Help (the charity assigned to handle accommodation logistics on behalf of the Home Office) to report a problem. There were biting insects (probably bed bugs) in the furniture. He spent some of his own weekly allowance on attempting to treat this problem, but his request went unanswered for more than three weeks. He’s still waiting.

The effects on Mohammad’s mental and physical health are visible. He is depressed by his living circumstances, he looks tired from lack of sleep and thinner than I’ve seen him. He goes days without eating in order to save some of his £39.63 weekly allowance. The perpetual waiting for a date for his asylum interview is interminable. Whilst he has all but given up hope, he feels like he can’t travel to visit friends in case a letter arrives while he is absent.

Whilst I have no doubt about the economic benefit to the UK of “welcoming brilliant scientists, the finest academics and leading people in their fields,” as you mention in your speech, the current petrol crisis and problems with the food supply-chain could be eased by allowing asylum seekers to work. This would allow people like Mohammed to pay tax and contribute to society. It would also save the government £39.63 each week for each person plus housing costs. Healthcare costs would also be reduced. Mental and physical health would be improved by being active and useful in a job which is essential to the life of all people in Britain.

Besides the clear monetary gain of allowing asylum seekers to work, don’t we value dignity and kindness in this country? Giving opportunities to vulnerable people shouldn’t solely be motivated by greed and profit-margins. Mohammed has faced unspeakably awful events in his life during his search for a safe place. Yet despite that, his bright smile welcomes me when I visit, he extends his hospitality to me in whatever form he is able to at that moment. He cooks delicious meals, we discuss football results and important religious questions. I only wish that my country would extend the same hospitality to him.

I strongly request that you change the rules to allow asylum seekers to work, that you reduce the time the people have to wait, and that you help to enable British people to extend a hand of hospitality and friendship to those who are here. For the sake of my friend, for the sake of all those who are waiting and for the sake of our country.

Yours Sincerely
Hannah Parry

*For the sake of privacy, Mohammed’s name has been changed.

2 Comments

A change is as good as a rest, And don’t forget to feed the goat… Workaway in Germany

23/9/2021

2 Comments

Workaway life, on the Dutch border, of course there are clogs.

The last 18 months have been unexpected for all of us. Yet I still wonder how I end up where. One thing led to another, and I found myself arriving at the farm on the German/Dutch border in my noisy British car. Living with strangers, helping with goats, it’s just the sort of thing that happens to me apparently.

I had decided to do a Workaway. I was stuck in a rut, bored and needing adventure. I’d been spending a lot of time in front of a computer, writing, doing courses and had put pressure on myself to achieve goals and keep working hard. There had been a time when a week was the longest I’d spend in one place. So I needed a change of scene.

Restrictions in Germany were still quite strict which made travel problematic, but it was only an hour’s drive to my new home. The deal with Workaway is that you work in exchange for bed and board. Hosts can set their own parameters but something like 4 or 5 hours work per day seems common.

Farm is perhaps a grand word for where I was. Joris and Leonie have around 10 goats, 5 or so chickens, a couple of geese, dozens of cats (ok only about 10 at the time…), and an elderly dog. That first evening I was welcomed incredibly warmly. We had a drink and a lovely dinner and got to know each other.

My first full day, and it was raining. Joris and Leonie both went off to work, leaving me with a choice of several jobs. It was liberating to be told what to do and not be self-motivating.

Tiny kittens!

First I checked on the tiny, week-old kittens before being watched by several pairs of goat’s eyes as I dashed to the shed. I say shed. The house was pretty confusing, only part of it was modern and liveable - like a concrete box inside the shell of the older structure. The enormous, long building that was the shed, actually attached to the rest of the house and somehow led to the roof space and other more solid rooms. I put on a podcast and settled to my task. I was sorting and tidying the numerous, somewhat lethal looking tools and cleaning up. It was satisfying to see chaos turned to order.

I spent the drier part of the day weeding the potato patch - under the watchful eye of both goat and cat. It was great to be outside in the fresh air, and watching the potato plants appear as the weeds were cleared away.

By the end of the day I was tired, but in the good way of feeling physically spent. So much better than sitting at a computer all day! I also had plenty of time for yoga and reading.

Over another delicious dinner, with vegetables from the garden, I got to know more about the motivations for the farm. Of course, veganism was brought up quite early on, but we agreed that the most important thing was for people to know where their food came from. Would you really eat the chicken if you had seen it’s living conditions? Or if you knew what cocktail of drugs and hormones were fed to mother cows to get the milk you drink? Joris and Leonie are working towards self-sufficiency. Already they produce a healthy crop of vegetables to keep them going throughout the year.

A selection of goats on a sunny day.

I raised the window blind on my second morning to rain pouring from the sky! The goats normally get let into their paddock during the day, but the weather meant that they were staying in the stable for now. Leonie left me a note to ask me to check the water, give more hay and bottle-feed the smallest baby. So around lunchtime, after chopping wood all morning (not with an axe like a badass woodswoman but using a machine), I ventured into the goat stable. Taking the little boy outside for his bottle seemed to go as planned. The sour smell of the goat’s milk had already become quite familiar and goats all have their own, unique personalities which I was beginning to learn. It was only when I opened one of the inner pens that I had a few issues.

Goats are strong and heavy. So when a mother and her babies are wandering around the wrong part of the stable, there’s not really that much you can do about it. Chief goat Selma went to have a look through the doors of the other pens, tried to steal their hay, attempted to break into the feed shed and trod on my foot. Obviously these goats only understood Dutch, none of my pleas for cooperation were listened to.

Eventually I convinced her that her hay was just as good as everyone else’s and the babies followed her in, with the gate slamming quickly behind!

Joris and Leonie both had taken holidays from their regular work for the second week that I was there. It was really fun to be part of a team (and not take full responsibility for goat escapes…) The weather shared our enthusiasm and we had beautiful sunshine to inspire us to work harder.

Our first team project was to dig holes for the fence posts of the new paddock. The goats needed more space and a change of scene. The experts (not me!) measured and marked out the new fence line while I dug 70 cm deep holes where I was told. I really enjoyed the physicality of using my muscles, sweating in the sun and chatting to my friends.

Work in progress, new fencing.

When we had had our fill of holes and fence posts, I borrowed a bike and went exploring. As an islander, it still blows my mind that you can just step into another country so easily. It's not quite as flat as expected in this part of the country and Joris directed me to a viewing tower on a hill. There were fantastic views in all directions, over the Netherlands and back across Germany, on the beautifully clear day.

It’s amazing how a shift in thinking can cause a physical change. I had given my time to the farm and therefore released myself from the pressures of writing pitches, learning German and cramming each day full.

I haven’t mentioned the puppy! Olla joined the family during my stay. I think he’s the absolute best.

Olla the puppy! He's so good.

On my last evening, we had a barbeque. Marinated giant mushrooms, veggie kebabs, garden grown salad and Dutch beer led to some deep conversations. Leonie asked me what they could do to make it better for Workawayers. They’re keen to create a place that is as inspiring as some of the Workaways that Leonie had done several years ago. I had been so warmly welcomed, they had given me the right amount of instructions about the tasks and I’d worked hard but not too hard. I had time to write a bit and explore. It was the perfect refreshment that I needed.

The pandemic has caused us all to rethink our interactions and priorities. I found rejuvenation and renewal so close to home, by changing my mindset. I was reminded how important exploring and meeting new people is to me, and how simple living is rewarding in a different way to being productive at a computer. And it was certainly the case that my fresh mindset allowed me to focus on projects better when I got back.

Thank you Joris and Leonie for us a wonderful break. I already know that we'll meet again, especially because the puppy is soo cute!

Have you done a workaway? Would you consider it? Tell me why in the comments below.

Relaxing by the fire. Workaway life.

2 Comments

Book Launch: Refugees from Eden, boys from Afghanistan

10/9/2021

3 Comments

Book Cover: Refugees from Eden, Voices of lament, courage and justice.

Everyone is creeped-out by spiders.

My theory is that people who study them or have massive pet tarantulas, who are fascinated by their too-numerous legs and eyes, do so because they are super creepy.

But I must have read something about spider webs, I can’t remember what it was exactly, but it was something along the lines of:

“Personal connections are like spiderwebs.
You might meet someone for one moment and share an experience together.
Now you’re bound by a near-invisible thread,
like the fine, silk chord of a spider’s web.

When you meet that person again, share more time, experiences and conversations,
the thread is reinforced, until you’re bound strongly to that person, with unbreakable strength.”

That’s what happened for this book to be produced. I met Rosemary Power in Calais, France - a fellow brave volunteer during a pandemic. We spent time together at the beach with the other volunteers, and she lent me a copy of one of her books.

In Serbia, I met Aziz and Wahid. Stef and I saw them most days when we’d take hot food and re-charged powerbanks to their group who slept in tents in the woods. The threads of silk, already connecting us, bound us more strongly when we saw them again in Bosnia.

I am extremely proud to share their story in this book. Rosemary Power has collected stories for this anthology of stories from refugees and those from the communities that support them. Each person has a sad, uplifting, devastating and hopeful story to tell.

Aziz and Wahid are my friends - two teenage boys that I care about. But now more than ever, there are thousands of teenage boys like them who have fled Afghanistan, not to mention the other countries with equally harsh realities. There are thousands of families, struggling to keep hope, stuck at borders, their lives on hold.

Aziz and Wahid, along with their friends from Afghanistan meeting us in the rain. Sid, Serbia. Photo credit: Helen Tennyson

The other piece I wrote for the anthology is about the Old Factory in Bihać, Northern Bosnia. Hundreds of people live there. I use the word ‘live’ simply as the opposite of ‘die’, it’s awful.

These people, who are mostly from Afghanistan, have fled the Taliban in the hope of a future. The European Union blocks that future by illegally denying them the opportunity to claim asylum. Time and again people like my friend Romal are pushed back from Croatia - belongings destroyed, hopes dashed.

Romal (not his real name) was in the Afghan Army, he fought against the Taliban before walking most of the way from Kabul to Bihać. A journey of 6,000 km which included danger, smugglers, fear, injury and years of his life. He is stuck in Bosnia despite having reached the European Union on multiple occasions, only for the Croatian authorities to illegally remove him back to Bosnia. A clear and documented violation of Human Rights. You can read more about the complex web of illegal pushbacks at borderviolence.eu

I would love it if you bought the book! Read the stories from around the world, and share what you have read with others. The profits from the book will go to an organisation helping displaced people, and the more we talk and stay informed, the more likely it is that something positive will come out of it.

Buy the book from Wild Goose Publications here.

Let me know what you think of the book, comment below.

Oooooh! I could sign it for you!! If you want a signed copy then send me a message and I’ll start practicing my best hand-writing.

3 Comments

Riding for women: Sponsored 100km Bike Ride

19/8/2021

1 Comment

Afghanischer Frauenverein - Afghan Women's Association.

The events in Afghanistan, and the implications that the Taliban rule will have on women and girls, are extremely worrying. Access to education and employment opportunities are just the start of the problems.

***** UPDATE! We did it! Here's the instagram post to prove it.

So we thought we'd try to do something about it. Stephanie and I are going to do a 100 km bike ride in aid of Afghanischer Frauenverein (Afghan Women's Association).

About the Ride - Saturday 28th August

The Radbahn Münsterland is a cycle path in Northern Germany. It follows an old railway line, from Coesfeld to Rheine - with Steinfurt (where we live) right in the middle. So we plan to cycle the whole thing twice - from the middle to one end and home again, and then to the other end and home again. This will be a total of 100 km, and we get to have lunch at home!

100 km on the Radbahn Münsterland will be a challenge - we're just 25 km in in this photo.

About the Organisation

The Afghan Women's Association have been working in Afghanistan since 1992. They work in remote areas to provide life necessities like clean water to drink, as well as providing education opportunities. All whilst ensuring local people are involved, the projects are run by 190 local people. They are a registered organisation in Germany.

Right now they are focusing on emergency response.

We're aiming to raise €/£500 to support people who are now displaced. You can read more about this fund-raising project here, but here is an extract:

"244,000 people, most of them women with small children, have been fleeing the escalating violence in the country since the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan in May 2021 and are desperately seeking protection between the fronts. On August 10th alone, 20,000 refugees from the disputed areas of Kunduz, Baglan, Tachar and Badachschan reached the city of Kabul. Most of them have been able to save nothing but the clothes they wear. Everything is missing: drinking water, food, shelter, hygiene options, protection and medical care."

Stephanie and I are both feeling devastated by the news footage.

We have met people who fled exactly for the reasons we are now seeing. And our friends from Afghanistan have shared with us how scared they are for remaining friends and family members, as well as how sad they are for their country.

But we are both excited to be doing something, as well as having an adventure. I've never cycled that far in one day. And our longest training ride was just over 50 km, so it will certainly be a challenge.

Please donate to this excellent organisation.

You can do so via THIS LINK. And then we'd love it if you posted a comment here to let us know and wish us luck. We aren't able to track the donations directly, so if you fancied letting us know how much you donated so that we can feel smug, that would be great too.

If you are in the UK, you can also sigh THIS PETITION to call for the UK government to show compassion to asylum seekers.

We're ready! Hannah and Stephanie kitted out for their 100 km bike ride.

1 Comment

Afghanistan: The women left behind

16/8/2021

1 Comment

Artwork by Afghan Street Artist Shamsia Hassani

Waking up to the news that Kabul had fallen and the Taliban were in full control was shocking but not surprising. Of the many people from Afghanistan that I have met, it was the Taliban that caused them to flee their homes.

I met translators for European forces, NATO, USA and UK troops relied on their skills, but left them vulnerable. Anyone helping troops was an enemy of the Taliban.

I met the brothers of those killed by the Taliban, in the opposition army or because they refused to join the extremists.

I met human rights campaigners who want the rights for women to be equal, who want education for everyone and an end to corruption.

And it is the women who will be most affected.

From A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The artist Shamsia Hassani sums up the feelings of many in her art work.

"Born April 1988, is the first female graffiti artist of Afghanistan. Through her artworks, Shamsia portrays Afghan women in a male dominant society.

Her art gives Afghan women a different face, a face with power, ambitions, and willingness to achieve goals. The woman character used in her artworks portrays a human being who is proud, loud, and can bring positive changes to people’s lives. During the last decade of post-war era in Afghanistan, Shamsia’s works have brought in a huge wave of color and appreciation to all the women in the country.

Her artworks have inspired thousands of women around the world and has given a new hope to female Afghan artists in the country. She has motivated hundreds of Afghans to bring in their creativity through her graffiti festival, art classes, and exhibitions in different countries around the world."

Artist Shamsia Hassani. Tap to buy a print.

This picture speaks to me directly. What would I do if suddenly I wasn’t allowed to be a musician? If I weren’t allowed to work at my art, or express myself? Not to mention if I had been denied the education to have that art in the first place.

And just to be clear. This isn’t about religion. Islam does not teach the oppression of women. Many Muslim people - men and women - support and campaign for equality and freedom.

What can we do?

It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of the devastation. But there are some moves we can make.

Sign this petition

Refugee Action are asking for the UK government to show compassion on those that need to seek shelter and safety by granting asylum.

Donate

Women for Afghan Women is a US based grassroots NGO. It “provides life changing, community based programs to thousands of women, children and families throughout Afghanistan. Our services include family counseling, education, and vocational training.” Donate here

Or Rukhsana Media - a woman-led media company reporting on the issues that affect women in Afghanistan.

And you can follow Shamsia Hassani on Instagram and buy her work.
https://www.shamsiahassani.net/

1 Comment

Jimmy Joy: Review Take Two

5/8/2021

0 Comments

I love a good meal replacement. Convenient, healthy, cheap, fun and tasty. And so my excitement level when Jimmy Joy sent me some freebies was through the roof! Read my original review here. And read on for my thoughts on Plenny Active Chocolate and brand new flavour Plenny Original Pistachio.

I recently spent 10 days doing a Workaway on a small farm (yup, that’s another blog post waiting to happen). I was only slightly concerned when the host said “I don’t know what vegan means.” But never fear, Jimmy Joy is here! I took a delightfully green bag of the all new pistachio flavour with me.

First impressions: as I ripped the top off the packet, it smelt great! Disappointingly, the powder isn’t as green as the packet. Probably best, since that would require unnatural food colourings… but, the first sip was delicious - kind of like marzipan, but more pistachio-y. I was in a bit of a rush (I’m always late for everything so this isn’t new to me), so I ended up chugging the shake a bit too quickly. By the end, the reality of drinking a whole marzipan drink kind of got to me and it stopped tasting quite so nice.

Plenny Pistachio, on the farm, see chicken walking by for proof.

Second impressions: the next day, both my hosts were working at their regular jobs and I was left alone with the goats, chicken, dog, cats, kittens, geese… anyhow, this meant that I didn’t have to stick to a particular schedule, so long as the chores got done. I made up my pistachio shake and put it in the fridge while I did a bit of yoga and then made some coffee. I sat at the window with my chilled shake and sipped gracefully while watching the goats frolic in their paddock (until I thought one of them was dead - but that’s the next blog post). The shake was MUCH nicer. A lovely smooth texture, nutty and sweet flavour, plus drinking slower meant I felt full and satiated. In fact, it was so nice that I had another shake for lunch that day too.

Plenny Pistachio kept me fuelled whilst digging holes, sweeping sheds, weeding vegetables patches, feeding goats and chopping wood.

When I got home, it was quite nice to change it up and finish off an open bag of Huel that I had. Then, it was the perfect moment to try out the Plenny Active Powder. This is Jimmy Joy’s direct Huel rival, as it contains more protein than the regular Plenny, and practically the same amount as Huel White Edition. I decided to have a week on it. Lunch every day last week, plus some breakfasts, and most days this week have been a Chocolate Active Shake plus a carrot and/or apple. (I love apples, I literally eat one every day.)

First impressions: as with the other shakes, it’s nicer chilled but perfectly tasty when it’s freshly shaken too. It’s a bit sweeter than Huel, but not too sweet in my opinion, and it has a smoother texture - Huel is a little bit grainy. I generally chilled it for around half an hour before lunch, whilst completing my runner’s strength training workouts. It is smooth, chocolatey, and delicious!

Everyday I’ve felt full and energetic. In fact, I feel amazing! It’s probably a combination of having had a break whilst on the farm, the physical activity, and eating more healthily, but I feel very energetic and positive.

It’s quite possible that I’m a Jimmy Joy convert. It’s a little bit cheaper than Huel and the other flavours of the Active Blend that I want to try include Chai Latte and Strawberry. I’ll probably mix and match which I buy (I’m excited to try Huel’s Salted Caramel) but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jimmy Joy.

Are you a meal-replacement fan? Do you think drinking a meal is too weird? Or are you a Huel fanatic who couldn't bare to be disloyal? Comment below.

0 Comments

Jo Bradshaw: Everest Summiter and Tesco Driver, Interview

30/7/2021

0 Comments

Jo and one of her dogs. Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

I spoke to someone who has actually climbed Mount Everest! And not only Everest but nearly all of the highest mountains on each continent. Mountain leader Jo Bradshaw, like all of us, has had an unexpected year and a half: working for Tesco and running a marathon for her 50th were both extremely surprising events. We chatted about the pandemic, sexism and she gave me some great tips too!

“Sorry, I’d been out with the dogs.” was the first thing Jo said to me, we’d not decided whether to use video or not so Jo had thought to take my call whilst out and about. But I was quite excited to actually SEE someone who had actually climbed Everest! There are few greater mountaineering achievements, although Jo has her eye on the next one: she is one peak away from completing the Seven Summits - climbing the highest mountain on every continent. But back to that later.

Is pulling a sledge easier than carrying a backpack? Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

I would have gone bonkers if I’d been stuck inside during the lockdown. During my three weeks of UK quarantine before heading to France in April 2020, I had to run a half marathon in the garden (read about that here) in to use up some energy. Jo felt the same.

“I applied to Tesco on the Thursday, hours later I had an interview, and at 6am on Monday morning I was sat at the checkout.” We both laughed at the absurdity of going from Everest climbing, semi-celebrity to the most indoor job you can think of. “Luckily it wasn’t long before I transferred to driving, which is what I wanted to do. The extent of the interview was “Can you drive?” and I said “yes”.”

I hadn’t really thought about the practicalities of supermarket delivery driving before, but it sounds like really hard work. Jo explained the system of loading and unloading: “You end up lifting a ton and a half of groceries during each 10 hour shift!”. Being busy, and earning money weren’t the only benefits - Jo told me about the other employees she met, some of whom were also Covid temps, and everyone had really interesting lives. “I did miss my dogs though. There was no way I could look after them well doing 10 hours shifts, so I left them with my Mum.”

So close! Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

Another bonus of the Tesco job was exploring locally. “I got to get to know parts of my local area that I hadn’t visited before. If you’re going to get a driving job, Wiltshire is a great plac to do it, with lots of beautiful little villages.” And driving wasn’t the only way Jo ended up adventuring during the lockdown.

“If you’d told me last year that I would run 30 miles on my 50th birthday, I’d say you were nuts!”

Inspired by Beau Miles’ A Mile an Hour (watch his adventure here) Jo ran a mile (actually some times more!) each hour for 24 hours, including overnight. And she enjoyed it! “I don’t for a minute class myself as a runner, rather a shuffler.” Jo proclaims in her blog post, but this shuffler raised over £1,600 for charity Place2Be.

Part way into Jo's 50th birthday A Mile and Hour challenge. Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

There is absolutely no denying Jo's achievements, summiting Kilimanjaro dozens of times, along with numerous other treks, and of course six of the Seven Summits. These achievements stand regardless of the fact that Jo happens to be female. She told me, “I have had sexist comments from male clients. I can choose how to respond. I can be angry in reply, or I can move on from it.” And it’s not about pleasing everyone all of the time. Mountain leaders have to make difficult decisions that won’t be popular with the whole group.

“I want to be seen as a good leader, not as a good female leader.”

Jo is absolutely right to want to be seen equally beside her male colleagues, and times are changing. “It’s oldschool gender thinking: women can’t do something because they are the weaker sex." Jo told me, after explaining that she always carried the same load as anyone else in a group. "But maybe we come up with different solutions, lateral thinking.” and we both agreed that positively lifting women up is more helpful than putting men down. “Some men will only climb with me and others refuse because they’re intimidated, but that’s on them.”

With international travel still unplannable, Jo’s schedule is looking very UK focused for the moment. Until next year that is. Who wouldn't want to do an ultra marathon in Lapland?! “I’ve signed up for the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra in Sweden next year” Jo explains, “so I’ll be getting Dave the tyre back out and getting stuck into training.” (Dave is a tractor tyre that Jo drags around the New Forest to build strength for pulling a sledge!). What an adventure! Not forgetting the final summit. Mount Carstensz in Indonesia is waiting.

Beautiful surrounds. Photo credit: Jo's website (with permission).

It was hard not to be inspired whilst researching and talking to Jo. She’s climbed Everest, (did I mention that?!) and done so many other amazing things. I was feeling especially motivated to do an at-home challenge like she had, so I’d decided on a 100km bike ride, not something I’ve ever done before. I asked for some training tips which Jo was all too happy to give.

“Go commando. I’m serious!" I was giggling, "that’s the only way to avoid chafing. Then set a date and build up gradually. You want to get your muscles used to the kind of activity you will be doing, but you don’t need to complete the whole distance before the big day. And when the day comes, plan your hydration and nutrition, eat and drink before you think you need to, and focus on smaller sections. The next hour or until the next water stop.”

Great advice! I’m so pleased that Jo agreed to talk to me, and I’m excited to continue stalking her achievements and getting ideas for my own adventures. Jo’s blog is definitely worth a read, and check out her Instagram too.

Have you got any questions for Jo? Or any tips for my 100km bike ride? Comment below. (Go on, be the first, I love getting comments!)

0 Comments

Zoe Mitchell and the John Muir Way: Hiking in Scotland

18/7/2021

0 Comments

Zoe at the start of the John Muir Way, Scotland.

Zoe Mitchell did much more than just have an adventure. She spent 11 days in July hiking on her own to raise money for No Name Kitchen and the John Muir Trust, she learnt about herself and she recharged. Here’s more about Zoe and her challenge.

The John Muir Way is a walking path in Scotland. For 215 km it wends its way through towns, across mountains, leading towards the finish point - the town of Dunbar on the East coast. It’s permitted to wild camp in Scotland, so Zoe was carrying everything she needed with her and slept outside in nature.

It was while staying at a Workaway in Kent that Zoe heard about No Name Kitchen. “I already had a plan to do a long walk, and thought I might be able to raise a bit of money too. My workaway hosts told me about No Name Kitchen.” Zoe wanted to find a small organisation who would really benefit from her contribution.

“I became self-employed during the lockdown, so I have the time and flexibility to do a long hike like this.” Zoe makes reusable sanitary pads out of hemp, take a look at her shop here. “I’d done plenty of camping before but never combined with so much walking.” And the increase in walking quickly made itself known. Zoe had to visit a minor injuries unit when her Achilles tendon became inflamed, fortunately she was reassured that it wasn’t anything more serious and she could carry on. “I was really worried that my journey would be over when I’d only just begun! I knew that people had put trust in me to complete the whole route and had donated money, so it would have been really tough to give up.”

What a view! From the John Muir Way in Scotland. Photo: Zoe Mitchell.

Lockdown has changed how people see the outside. For those in urban areas, prevented from travelling far, the lack of time in green places and nature has taken a toll. Zoe explained to me how important being in nature is for her mental health. “It was an opportunity to unplug and to engage in nature. There were things I noticed, like a bird near my camp, that I would have missed if I’d been staring at my phone.” That’s why Zoe was supporting the John Muir Trust too. Their aim is “protecting and repairing wild places” to ensure that green and are there for nature and people in the future.

Time in nature wasn’t the only benefit either. Spending that much time on your own could be daunting, you have to deal with anything that crops up without the support of another person. “I feel that I gained confidence. I had to look after myself, make decisions and ask for help and the confidence boost means I would tackle another long hike like this in the future.”

Nearly there, the coast of Scotland. Photo: Zoe Mitchell.

Our conversation circled back to No Name Kitchen. Refugees end up walking many hundreds of miles on their journeys to safer places. Zoe was impressed though, that NNK helps not only with health care and life essentials, but also the advocacy side of things. Denouncing the illegal actions of the authorities and highlighting the inequalities faced by people-on-the-move. “It was on my rest-day, I was camping in a park when the police woke me up. It was the friendliest encounter - they wanted to check I was ok as there had been a fight reported in the park. Yet it was still intimidating. I can’t imagine what it’s like for all the people who are treated badly by the police.”

Thank you Zoe, for raising much needed funds for No Name Kitchen. You can donate to Zoe’s fund-raising here, or directly to NNK here.

Have you thought about a long distance hike? What would be your concerns? Have you got a challenge planned that you could ask for sponsorship for? Comment below.

0 Comments

ASYLUM DENIED: A Friend's Story - Bosnia

9/7/2021

1 Comment

The River Una. The crystal clear waters flow beside the now closed family camp in Bosnia. Photo: Zac.

"A sad story that flows like a river all over the world, a story that all human beings are familiar with, a story that has no end, migration.

Migration is done by birds, fish, wolves, etc.

Migration has always been a good option for a better life, an option that costs a lot but is not for everyone and only for the better of us. We ?!? We are the population of human beings who are trying to find a safe place, human beings who behave like human beings and live a normal life.

This is the way we refugees have to go to any destination and work to reach our destination, home, safe house, and this work always continues.

The truth that there is no denying leads us to unfamiliar countries because of security, injustice, and thousands of other reasons. Countries that block our way, countries that take our property, countries that wait like wolves in the skin of a lamb.

But when it comes to the name of a refugee, everyone thinks of borders, and the problem is that they are not just borders, the camps and the whole country are problematic, all those people and their living conditions are problematic, until the justice that happens.

People who have no place in the camps and the police do not leave them outside the camps, parents who make shelter for their children under the trees on the street corners, young men who due to the lack of family members with them, they are not allowed to enter the camps, the problems of the refugees cannot be imagined to be over, but one can expect organization and order in their problems."

Bosnia Herzegovina isn’t a bad country. I’m sure my friends that have had to pass through will have nightmares about the way they were treated. It’s a poor country, which struggles to take care of its own citizens, let alone the thousands of others now trapped there, but the beauty and kindness of people does exist.

I first met Zac* (not his real name) in February 2021. He was 17 then. He speaks excellent English and Bosnian as well as Persian and is a keen photographer. It's his words that start this post.

We met in a cafe and chatted about how No Name Kitchen could use some of his photos. It was then that he told me about the boys living outside near the camp. The camp was for families and underage and unaccompanied boys. When the boys turn 18 then they are no longer allowed to stay inside the camp. So they had found a derelict house to sleep in.

Zac met us and introduced us to the group of boys that needed some help and gave us an overview of the situation in the camp. It was then that I learnt more about him. He and his parents and little sister had left Iran more than four years ago. They had lived in Sarajevo - the Bosnian capital - and the kids had gone to school. They applied for asylum in Bosnia. The glacially slow process took months and then their initial claim was rejected. This isn't at all surprising considering the number of successful asylum applications in Bosnia Herzegovina.

NO-ONE is granted asylum.

Compare this with the number of successful asylum claims in Germany and it’s clear that the majority of people from Iran are considered to be deserving of asylum in Germany. They were rejected because literally everyone is.

https://www.worlddata.info/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/asylum.php

https://www.worlddata.info/europe/germany/asylum.php

The day that Zac told me about the rejection, he was crushed. He’s lived the most important years of his life in Bosnia, it wasn’t an option to return to Iran and he knew from other people what it’s like to try and cross into the EU.

He’d just had his 18th birthday - it should have been a time of celebration. In a western European country he would celebrate being an adult, deciding on where to study at university or which job to apply for after school. Instead he was rejected and defeated by politics and nationality.

During that time, Zac continued to help us with translation, connections, photos and the stories of his friends. The last time I saw him, before I left Bosnia, he told me that their appeal against the asylum decision had been rejected and now they had to decide what to do.

On 5th June I had a message. He and his family, along with some friends, had crossed the border into Croatia and been illegally deported. His phone had been taken by the police but he managed to borrow one later to call me and give the details for this report for the Border Violence Monitoring Network.

“[The officers] behaviour, it was f**king bad with us. I was telling him – why do you take our phone, our money? He said to me “my sh*t is better than anyone here.” I said, whatever you want to do, do it.”

Needless to say, Zac was angry and frustrated. The small children in the group had witnessed the actions of police that they never should have had to face. Zac couldn’t understand how it was possible for humans to treat other humans in this way.

Around 10 days later he called me again. This time had been even worse. Not only had the group endured days on end of walking, but the police had mocked them, stolen their belongings and denied their human rights. Zac sounded even more hopeless, but was determined to do something against this unjust treatment. He was so motivated to provide detailed evidence for the report that he injured himself by scratching the numbers of the cars into his skin. Read the next report here.

"The officers asked if the group wanted to claim asylum. The group members replied that they did. The respondent described how the officers first of all said “Ok come with us,” then as the group were getting to their feet, the officers laughed at them and said “what are you doing? Sit down. No one wants to give you asylum.”"

I spoke to him again this week. Another pushback and another report in the making. This time they had reached the city centre of Zagreb. They were at the bus station.

They were in the centre of a European Union capital city and yet still their human right to claim asylum was denied.

Whilst we were chatting, I asked after Zac’s family. “What can I say?” was the only answer he was able to give. I can’t imagine how he or his family are feeling right now. They are stuck in a camp in Bosnia - living in a shipping container.

Zac takes a lot of the responsibility with his language skills and competence, he’s young and fit and has to watch his little sister and parents endure the physical challenges of walking day after day. And that’s without the emotional drain of expecting to be caught at any moment, of knowing what will happen if they are caught but also with the knowledge that they were so close to being safe before.

We've chatted a lot this we about how best to make this blog post and about people we both know. Zac wants to continue providing content for No Name Kitchen. We want to shout about these injustices. The repeated failings of the European Union to show compassion to people that need help.

I'm very proud to know Zac, to benefit from his help while we were in Bosnia, to share creative ideas and to have as a friend. The injustices he has already faced and those yet to come are not acceptable.

It seems really hard to know what to do about this. I know that I and others have felt angry without knowing how to channel that into action. One way to help is by making a donation to No Name Kitchen who are part of Border Violence Monitoring Network and provide volunteers on the ground who collect testimonies.

Like and share my posts on Facebook and Instagram and comment below with messages of support. It really means a lot to me and to Zac.

1 Comment